AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

&
""
Latest by
  • Domestic Fund Assets Reach 1,735 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026
    Domestic Fund Assets Reach 1,735 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026 In the first half of 2026, the total net assets of domestic public and private funds reached 1,734.5 trillion won, marking a 26% increase over six months. Public funds, driven by the growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), have now surpassed private funds in net asset size.According to the Financial Investment Association's report on '2026 First Half Fund Market Trends' released on July 31, the total net assets of all funds (public and private) stood at 1,734.5 trillion won as of the end of June, an increase of 358.2 trillion won (26.0%) from the end of last year (1,376.3 trillion won). The growth rate for the first half of this year is more than double that of the second half of last year (11.4%).The net assets of public funds rose to 897.4 trillion won, an increase of 288 trillion won (47.3%) compared to the end of last year, while private funds grew by 70.2 trillion won (9.2%) to 837.1 trillion won. As a result, the share of public funds in the overall fund market increased from 44.3% at the end of last year to 51.7%, surpassing the share of private funds (48.3%).The growth of public funds was primarily driven by ETFs. The net assets of ETFs surged from 297.1 trillion won at the end of last year to 512.4 trillion won by the end of June, an increase of 215.3 trillion won (72.4%). The proportion of ETFs within public fund net assets also grew from 48.8% to 57.1% during the same period. Excluding ETFs, the net assets of public funds still increased by 72.7 trillion won (23.3%) to 385 trillion won.Among ETF types, equity ETFs accounted for the largest share at 63.7%, followed by derivative ETFs (20.5%) and bond ETFs (10.3%).In terms of fund types, all categories except for bond funds saw an increase in net assets. Equity funds experienced the largest growth, increasing by 209.6 trillion won, followed by derivative funds (44.8 trillion won) and money market funds (MMFs) (32 trillion won). In contrast, bond funds saw a decrease of 3.3 trillion won.In the first half of the year, a total of 126.3 trillion won flowed into all funds. Public funds received a net inflow of 96.9 trillion won, while private funds saw a net inflow of 29.3 trillion won.By fund type, equity funds attracted the most capital with 50.9 trillion won, followed by MMFs (28.4 trillion won), derivative funds (12.2 trillion won), and mixed funds (10.6 trillion won). Bond funds experienced a net outflow of 3 trillion won. In public funds, capital inflows were concentrated in equity funds (54.4 trillion won) and MMFs (23.3 trillion won), while private funds primarily attracted capital in bond funds (6.7 trillion won) and mixed asset funds (6.5 trillion won).Regionally, domestic investment funds showed significant growth. The net assets of domestic investment funds reached 1,137.4 trillion won, an increase of 265.2 trillion won (30.4%) from the end of last year, accounting for 65.6% of total funds. Meanwhile, net assets of overseas investment funds rose by 93 trillion won (18.5%) to 597.1 trillion won, but their overall share decreased to 34.4% from 36.6% at the end of last year.Notably, the net assets of domestic equity funds surged from 125.6 trillion won at the end of last year to 282.9 trillion won by the end of June, reflecting a 125.2% increase and indicating a strong inflow of capital into the domestic stock market during the first half of the year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:24:00
  • Musinsa Dominates Fashion App Market Among Young Men
    Musinsa Dominates Fashion App Market Among Young Men Musinsa has effectively captured the male consumer market from teenagers to those in their 30s, solidifying its dominance in the domestic fashion platform sector. The conversion rate from product browsing to actual purchases is the highest among major fashion apps, indicating that repeat purchases have become a key competitive advantage. According to a report titled '2026 MZ Generation Fashion App Trend Report' released on July 30 by Open Survey, 45.7% of respondents aged 15 to 39 reported making a purchase on Musinsa in the last three months, up 7.1 percentage points from 38.6% in 2024. The second-place app, Ably, saw its purchase rate increase from 18.1% to 21.3%, while Zigzag rose from 16.2% to 21.0%. Notably, the gap between Musinsa and Ably has widened to 24.4 percentage points, a significant increase from two years ago. Musinsa has shown growth not only in brand recognition but also in actual usage and purchasing stages. Brand awareness rose from 80.9% in 2024 to 84.3% this year, while the percentage of respondents who reported having used the app increased from 65.6% to 74.7%. The proportion of those who made a purchase in the past year also grew from 49.2% to 57.3%. The concentration of male consumers on Musinsa is particularly pronounced. In a survey asking about the fashion apps currently in use, Musinsa's usage rates were 58.6% among teenage males, 72.7% among those in their 20s, and 67.1% among those in their 30s, making it the top choice across all age groups. The conversion rate from product browsing to actual purchases was also the highest. Among consumers who used fashion apps in the past year, 43.2% identified Musinsa as their primary app for product exploration, with a remarkable 94.4% of those completing a purchase. This was followed by Ably at 90.9%, Zigzag at 88.9%, and 29CM at 73.7%. Additionally, 27.0% of respondents indicated they purchase directly from Musinsa without comparing prices on other platforms, the highest percentage among competitors. Ably followed with 17.5%, Zigzag at 8.0%, and 29CM at 2.5%. This suggests that consumers have developed a 'purchase inertia' due to familiarity with Musinsa's product offerings, user experience, reviews, and membership benefits. In contrast, female consumer behavior differs from that of males. Among teenage females, Ably had the highest usage rate at 76.1%, while Zigzag led among women in their 20s with 30.7%. For women in their 30s, Musinsa and 29CM tied for first place at 24.4%. While the male market is concentrated on Musinsa, the female market shows a more segmented usage pattern based on age and preferences. Having established a strong foothold in the fashion platform market with male customers, Musinsa plans to enhance its offerings for female customers by expanding its range of brands and content. A Musinsa representative stated, "We plan to continuously expand related brands and content to meet the diverse tastes of female customers. Since over 75% of our customers at the Musinsa Store in Seongsu are women, we will also work to increase our engagement with female customers offline." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:20:00
  • National Assembly Passes Bill to Abolish Prosecutorial Supplementary Investigation Rights
    National Assembly Passes Bill to Abolish Prosecutorial Supplementary Investigation Rights 검찰의 보완수사권 폐지를 골자로 한 형사소송법 개정안이 31일 여당 주도로 국회 본회의를 통과했다. 국민의힘은 전날 해당 법안 처리를 막기 위해 무제한 토론(필리버스터)에 나선 데 이어 곧바로 상정된 국회법 개정안에 대해서도 필리버스터를 진행했다. 국회는 이날 본회의를 열어 형사소송법 개정안을 재석 178인 중 찬성 175인, 반대 2인, 기권 1인으로 가결했다. 국민의힘은 표결에 불참했다. 전날 법안 상정 직후 시작된 필리버스터는 더불어민주당 등 범여권 의원들의 종결 동의에 따라 24시간 만에 종료됐다. 개정안은 올해 10월 2일 시행되는 공소청법·중대범죄수사청(중수청)법의 후속 조치로, 보완수사를 포함해 검사의 직접 수사를 전면 금지하는 내용이 골자다. 검사는 보완수사권 대신 사법경찰관에 대한 보완수사 요구권을 갖고, 경찰은 요구받으면 최장 2개월 안에 수사를 마쳐야 한다. 또한 경찰의 불송치 결정에 대해 고소인·고발인·피해자가 이의를 신청할 수 있고, 수사 자료는 모두 형사사법정보시스템(KICS)에 입력하도록 했다. 아울러 △중대한 위법 수사에 의해 공소가 제기된 경우 △소추 재량권을 현저히 일탈해 공소가 제기된 경우 등이 공소기각 사유로 추가됐다. 국민의힘은 보완수사권이 폐지되면 국민이 경찰의 부실·지연 수사 등으로 고통받을 것이라고 주장했다. 정점식 원내대표는 이날 국회에서 열린 원내대책회의에서 "보완수사권이 사라지면 평범한 국민은 부실·늑장 수사 등으로 고통받을 것"이라며 "반면 대통령을 비롯한 권력자들은 범죄를 저지르고도 온갖 이유로 공소 기각을 주장하며 법원을 압박할 것"이라고 말했다. 국민의힘은 주호영 의원을 시작으로 박형수·나경원·김태규 의원까지 반대 토론을 이어갔다. 그러나 범여권의 토론 종결 동의로 인해 필리버스터 시작 24시간 만에 강제 종료됐다. 정 원내대표는 필리버스터가 강제 종료되자 "누가 봐도 재판 중지 상태에 있는 이재명 대통령을 위한 맞춤형 입법"이라며 "'이재명 탈옥법'이라는 오명을 받기 싫다면 재의요구권을 행사하라. 국민의힘은 악법을 철폐하기 위해 헌법심판 청구 등 모든 수단과 방법을 강구하겠다"고 밝혔다. 민주당은 형사소송법 개정안을 처리한 뒤 신속처리안건(패스트트랙) 심사 기간을 330일에서 90일로 줄이는 '국회법 개정안'을 상정했다. 상임위원회 180일, 법제사법위원회 90일, 본회의 60일 등 최장 330일이 걸리는 현행 패스트트랙 심사 기간을 상임위 60일, 법사위 30일, 본회의 부의 후 첫 본회의 상정으로 줄인다는 내용이 담겼다. 국민의힘은 국회법 개정안이 올라오자 '국회 거수기법'이라고 규정하며 필리버스터로 맞섰다. 다만 이날 임시국회 회기가 종료되는 만큼 필리버스터는 자정이 되면 자동 종결된다. 이에 따라 표결은 8월 임시국회 첫 본회의에서 이뤄질 전망이다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:12:10
  • KOSPI Surges Over 1,000 Points, Setting Record for Largest Daily Gain
    KOSPI Surges Over 1,000 Points, Setting Record for Largest Daily Gain Concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) and the semiconductor industry were alleviated as foreign and institutional investors flocked to the market, leading the KOSPI to achieve both the largest daily gain and percentage increase in history. This surge quickly reversed the steep declines seen over the past three days.On July 31, the KOSPI index closed at 6,595.45, up 1,001.89 points (17.91%) from the previous trading day. This marks the first time the index has risen by over 1,000 points in a single day since the domestic stock market opened. During the session, it peaked at 6,630.77, reaching an increase of 18.54% at one point.These figures surpass all previous records. The prior highest percentage increase was 11.95% on October 30, 2008, during the global financial crisis, while the largest point gain was 612.52 points, recorded on June 9 of this year. The KOSDAQ index also surged, closing at 719.76, up 74.98 points (11.63%), reclaiming the 700-point mark.The significant rise in the Korean stock market was driven by strong earnings reports from major tech companies and news of increased AI investments from the previous night’s New York stock market. The U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for June met market expectations, providing reassurance, while Microsoft and Amazon reaffirmed their robust cloud performance and plans for increased capital expenditures (CapEx), dispelling skepticism surrounding AI investments. This led to an 8.19% jump in the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, with major U.S. semiconductor stocks like Micron (up 18.4%) and SanDisk (up 26.0%) also soaring.Buoyed by positive news from abroad, the KOSPI opened at 5,657.79, up 64.23 points (1.15%). Shortly after the market opened, a wave of buying pressure emerged. Just six minutes into trading, a buying sidecar was activated, temporarily halting program trading on both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets due to the rapid rise.The surge was led by major semiconductor stocks and top market capitalization companies. Samsung Electronics closed at 262,500 won, up 26.81% (55,500 won), reclaiming a global market capitalization of $1 trillion. SK Hynix surged 29.95% to finish at 1,718,000 won, hitting the upper limit. Among the top five market capitalization stocks, three, including SK Hynix, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (up 29.92%), and SK Square (up 29.91%), also reached their price limits.In terms of supply and demand, foreign and institutional investors combined to net purchases of approximately 10 trillion won, driving the market surge. Foreign investors alone net bought 8.6355 trillion won in the KOSPI, setting a record for the largest daily net purchase, while institutions net bought 1.6774 trillion won. In contrast, individual investors, taking advantage of the short-term surge, net sold over 10.5017 trillion won, cashing in on profits. The total trading volume for the day reached 48.9092 trillion won.Analysts suggest that the recent over-leveraging by global hedge funds has subsided, allowing the market to refocus on fundamentals. For instance, Citadel acquired the margin call position of the U.S. hedge fund Situational Awareness Capital, alleviating supply-side concerns.Kang Jin-hyuk, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp, stated, "The strong performance of big tech has reaffirmed the trend of increased AI investment, and the perception that the deleveraging of global semiconductor stocks is nearing its end has spread. This has led to a significant influx of foreign capital, particularly in memory and AI-related stocks, which are now seen as undervalued."Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "The CapEx expansion plans from Amazon and Microsoft have eased concerns about the AI investment cycle. However, given the more than 17% surge in just one day, investors should be cautious of profit-taking and increased volatility in the near term."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:12:00
  • Trading Volume Drops for Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs on First Day of Increased Deposit Requirement
    Trading Volume Drops for Single-Stock Leveraged ETFs on First Day of Increased Deposit Requirement On the first day of the increased basic deposit requirement, trading volume for single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) plummeted. The basic deposit was raised from 10 million won to 30 million won, which is believed to have reduced accessibility for investors. According to the Korea Exchange, the total trading volume for 14 single-stock leveraged ETFs, including those for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, was recorded at 244.01 million shares. This marks a 73.8% decrease compared to the previous trading day, which saw a volume of 932.98 million shares before the deposit increase. The trading value of the largest fund, 'KODEX SK Hynix Single-Stock Leveraged ETF,' fell to 1.2388 trillion won, down 65.8% from the previous day's 3.6254 trillion won. Similarly, 'KODEX Samsung Electronics Single-Stock Leveraged ETF' saw its trading value drop to 507.7 billion won, a 64.3% decline from 1.4236 trillion won the day before. The trading direction of individual investors also shifted dramatically from net buying to net selling. On this day, individuals sold a net total of 1.0427 trillion won worth of the 14 ETFs. This contrasts sharply with the previous trading day, when individual investors had net bought 523.99 billion won worth of these funds. The significant price increases of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which rose by 26.81% and 29.95% respectively, likely prompted a wave of profit-taking in the single-stock leveraged ETFs. Among the individual stocks, 'KODEX SK Hynix Single-Stock Leveraged ETF' recorded the largest net selling at 591.5 billion won, followed by 'KODEX Samsung Electronics Single-Stock Leveraged ETF' at 200.6 billion won and 'TIGER SK Hynix Single-Stock Leveraged ETF' at 153.6 billion won. The single-stock leveraged ETFs based on SK Hynix closed with gains of 53% to 59%, while those based on Samsung Electronics rose by 48% to 53%. Lee Sang-hyun, a researcher at Meritz Securities, noted, "Since the announcement of the supplementary measures, the growth rate of listed shares for single-stock leveraged ETFs has slowed, and trading turnover has noticeably decreased." Starting from this day, financial authorities have raised the basic deposit for single-stock leveraged products from 10 million won to 30 million won. The basic deposit is recognized only in cash, and cash obtained from selling substitute securities will be acknowledged as a deposit starting from the T+2 day when it is actually deposited. This measure aims to prevent repetitive trading on the same day. There remains a possibility of further regulatory tightening, including additional increases in the deposit requirement. Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Ok-kyung stated during a report to the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on July 29, "The 30 million won deposit requirement will take effect on July 31, and we will consider raising it further if necessary based on market conditions." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:12:00
  • First Management Improvement Order After TMON and WEMAKEPRICE Crisis; Financial Authority Demands Capital Increases from 10 Firms Including Travel Wallet
    First Management Improvement Order After TMON and WEMAKEPRICE Crisis; Financial Authority Demands Capital Increases from 10 Firms Including Travel Wallet The management improvement system for electronic financial service providers was activated for the first time following the large-scale settlement crisis involving TMON and WEMAKEPRICE. The financial authorities have demanded capital increases from 10 companies, including Travel Wallet, and warned that failure to comply by the deadline could result in operational suspension. The Financial Services Commission announced on July 31 during its regular meeting that it has decided to require capital increases and other measures from 10 electronic financial service providers that failed to meet management guidance standards as of the end of last year. The companies affected are: △ ThePay △ VPayments △ CyrexPay △ OrangeSquare △ IromNet △ JikPay △ Connect △ Core Financial △ Travel Wallet △ PortOne Solutions. Electronic financial service providers include payment gateway (PG) companies that handle online payments and prepaid companies that operate rechargeable payment methods. These firms are required to maintain a certain level of capital and liquidity due to their handling of customer payment and recharge funds. The companies targeted by this action did not meet standards for capital, liquidity ratios, and the ratio of safe assets. ThePay, JikPay, and Connect violated capital and liquidity standards, while CyrexPay fell short of the safe asset holding standard. Travel Wallet was found to have insufficient capital compared to the unused balance of customer funds that had been recharged. The Financial Services Commission has requested that Travel Wallet increase its capital and improve its business structure to enhance profitability. The other companies have been ordered to increase their capital. The 10 companies must implement the management improvement measures by January 31, 2027. If they fail to improve by the deadline, some or all of their operations may be suspended following a decision by the Financial Services Commission. However, they can receive an extension of up to six months if they submit improvement results or specific plans. This action became possible after the revision and implementation of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act in December last year, following the TMON settlement crisis. Previously, the financial authorities lacked the means to directly demand capital increases from electronic financial service providers even if their management conditions deteriorated. The Financial Services Commission explained that this action does not constitute an operational suspension, and the companies will continue normal operations during the improvement period. Among the 10 targeted firms, seven have PG settlement funds or prepaid recharge funds of less than 100 million won, and the remaining three manage customer funds separately, reducing the likelihood of user harm.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:08:20
  • Hanwha eyes third Poland K9 deal after $1 bn quarterly profit milestone
    Hanwha eyes third Poland K9 deal after $1 bn quarterly profit milestone SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace remained bullish on the second half after nearly reaching the $1 billion milestone in quarterly operating profit, supported by a record order backlog, mass production under Poland's second K9 execution contract, deliveries to Egypt and Australia, and negotiations for a third K9 deal with Warsaw. The company reported second-quarter operating profit of 1.37 trillion won ($951 million), up 59 percent from a year earlier, on consolidated sales of 9.29 trillion won, which rose 47 percent. The results were driven by steady deliveries from its land systems business in domestic and overseas markets, alongside strong contributions from affiliates Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems. Hanwha Aerospace's land systems division generated 2.11 trillion won in sales and 533 billion won in operating profit, up 19 percent and 2 percent, respectively. Domestic revenue benefited from increased production of key weapons systems including the Chunho wheeled anti-aircraft gun system and Chungum anti-tank guided missile, while exports to Poland, Egypt and the Middle East proceeded as scheduled. The division's order backlog expanded to 38.3 trillion won at the end of June after securing additional export contracts, including a 940 billion won K9 self-propelled howitzer deal with Finland in April and an additional Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher contract with Estonia in May. During a conference call, executives said negotiations over a third K9 execution contract with Poland are progressing, with localization forming the centerpiece of the proposed agreement. "The third K9 execution contract is based on localization, and we are currently in detailed discussions," a company official said. "We expect to reach a conclusion as early as this year." The company also said construction has begun on its Chunmoo missile joint venture in Poland, with the factory scheduled for completion in 2029 and production to begin in 2030. In the United States, Hanwha Aerospace said it is awaiting the selection of a preferred bidder for the U.S. Army's next-generation self-propelled howitzer program, which could be announced around August following delays. The company is also close to finalizing the location of a planned U.S. ammunition manufacturing facility as part of its localization strategy. "We are at the stage just before finalizing the site for localization investment," the official said. "We hope to reach a conclusion in the second half and lead it to a contract." Management said defense demand remains robust across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. Rather than weakening exports, the growing emphasis on local production is becoming part of the company's strategy to secure larger overseas contracts. Hanwha Aerospace pointed to its localization projects—including the Chunmoo missile venture in Poland, K9 and Redback production in Australia, and industrial cooperation in Egypt—as examples of adapting to customers' procurement requirements. In the Middle East, executives said heightened geopolitical tensions continue to support demand for air-defense systems, although contract procedures could take longer amid regional uncertainty. They added that stronger demand for air-defense systems is complementing rather than replacing demand for traditional land systems. The aerospace division posted 760 billion won in sales and 37 billion won in operating profit, with revenue rising 17 percent from a year earlier as increased military programs helped the business return to profitability. The company also highlighted aircraft engines as its next strategic growth area. Earlier this month, Hanwha Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development unveiled two domestically developed unmanned-aircraft engine prototypes—a 5,500-pound-class turbofan for stealth UAVs and a 1,400-horsepower turboprop for medium-altitude reconnaissance drones—and began ground testing. The program marks a technological shift from missile propulsion systems, which operate for minutes, to aircraft engines designed to run reliably for thousands of hours. Hanwha Aerospace said it intends to leverage the project to participate in future government programs developing indigenous 10,000-pound-class turbofan engines and other advanced aircraft propulsion systems. Shares of Hanwha Aerospace closed 6.0 percent higher at 917,000 won on Friday. 2026-07-31 17:06:37
  • Ulsan City Allocates 7 Billion Won for Outdoor and Internet Advertising
    Ulsan City Allocates 7 Billion Won for Outdoor and Internet Advertising Ulsan Metropolitan City has conducted a comprehensive analysis of 1,963 government advertising expenditures from January 2024 to May 2026. The first part of this report examined the distribution of advertising costs across various media outlets, including television and newspapers. The second part focuses on the structure of outdoor and internet advertising, which accounts for 40.8% of the total advertising budget.The total budget allocated for outdoor and internet advertising during this period is approximately 7.09 billion won, representing 40.8% of the overall government advertising budget of 17.38 billion won. Specifically, 4.40 billion won was spent on outdoor advertising, while 2.69 billion won was allocated for internet advertising. As citizens increasingly turn to smartphones and online platforms for information, local governments are diversifying their promotional methods beyond traditional media to include digital billboards, trains, buses, portals, and social media.However, despite the significant budget allocated across various media, there is a lack of publicly available quantitative data to assess the actual exposure of these advertisements and their effectiveness in conveying government information.33.2 Billion Won Spent on Sports, Billboards, and Trains—75.5% of Outdoor Advertising BudgetIn the outdoor advertising sector, a total of 1.03 billion won was spent on promotional activities related to sports. Ulsan City utilized local professional sports teams to promote the city’s brand and key policies.Additionally, 1.14 billion won was invested in outdoor billboard advertising. The total expenditure for advertisements inside trains, including videos, station displays, walls, columns, and lighting, amounted to 1.15 billion won.When combined, the spending in these three areas totals 3.32 billion won, which constitutes approximately 75.5% of the total outdoor advertising budget of 4.40 billion won.Furthermore, 560.85 million won was spent on advertising inside and outside buses. The advantage of billboard and train advertising is that it can repeatedly expose citizens and visitors to government information while they are on the move.However, it is challenging to determine the actual effectiveness of these advertisements based on the publicly available expenditure records, as they do not provide specific data on foot traffic, expected exposure, or the reach during different times and durations.A representative from a local civic group stated, "It is essential not only to confirm that promotional materials were posted on billboards or trains but also to explain how many citizens and visitors were actually reached. Large budgets allocated to recurring projects need to be evaluated for both execution and effectiveness."26.9 Billion Won for Internet Advertising—Limited Click and Reach Data AvailableIn the internet advertising sector, 382.52 million won was spent on Naver ads. A total of 142.87 million won was allocated for Kakao and KakaoMoment ads, while 86.34 million won was spent on Instagram advertising.Portal and social media advertising allows for the segmentation of target audiences based on age, region, and interests. Basic performance metrics such as exposure counts, click counts, click rates, video views, and website traffic can be quantified, distinguishing it from traditional media and outdoor advertising.However, the publicly disclosed government advertising records primarily focus on media names and expenditure amounts, making it difficult to ascertain how much individual internet ads were exposed and how many clicks or visits to the government website resulted.Moreover, it is challenging to determine the specific goals set for each advertisement, whether actual performance met those goals, and how the effectiveness relative to the advertising budget will inform future plans based solely on the disclosed expenditure records.In particular, portal and social media advertising can be quantitatively assessed using data provided by the platforms. It has been suggested that managing exposure counts, click rates, video views, and user responses alongside expenditure amounts is necessary to compare the effectiveness of different advertising methods.A civic group representative remarked, "Government advertising is public funding aimed at effectively conveying policy information. The criteria for media selection, as well as the exposure results and promotional effectiveness after the advertising is executed, should be made available for public scrutiny."Need for Improved Performance Measurement in Media Selection and EvaluationThe effectiveness of government advertising cannot be judged solely by the fact that ads were broadcast or posted. Even with the same budget, the effectiveness of policy communication can vary based on the location and timing of the ads, the target audience, and the content.While outdoor advertising has limitations in accurately calculating the number of recipients, it can utilize estimated foot traffic, exposure range, and potential for repeated exposure as evaluation metrics. For portal and social media advertising, evaluation can be conducted using metrics such as exposure counts, click rates, and website traffic provided by the platforms.A representative from the local advertising industry advised, "It is necessary to establish performance indicators tailored to the characteristics of each media type in advance and analyze the actual results after execution to reflect them in future advertising plans and budget allocations."If Ulsan City can provide clearer criteria for media selection, promotional goals, execution results, and performance measurement data in the future, it could reduce equity concerns surrounding government advertising and enhance the credibility of public budget expenditures.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:04:00
  • HD Hyundai Reports 262.2% Increase in Q2 Operating Profit
    HD Hyundai Reports 262.2% Increase in Q2 Operating Profit HD Hyundai announced on July 31 that it recorded consolidated sales of 22.4094 trillion won and an operating profit of 4.1246 trillion won for the second quarter. This represents a 30.2% increase in sales and a 262.2% increase in operating profit compared to the same period last year. The strong results were driven by solid performances across its key sectors, including shipbuilding, construction machinery, refining, and power equipment. For the first half of the year, the company achieved cumulative sales of 42.0113 trillion won and an operating profit of 6.9594 trillion won. Breaking down the second-quarter results by sector, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering saw its sales rise by 20.2% year-on-year to 8.9270 trillion won, with operating profit increasing by 72.5% to 1.6451 trillion won, thanks to improved productivity and higher sales of high-margin vessels. The company plans to maintain its competitive edge in the high-value eco-friendly ship market and enhance profitability through a selective order strategy. HD Hyundai Marine Solutions reported a 24.1% increase in sales to 580.4 billion won, with operating profit rising 17.6% to 97.6 billion won, driven by growth in its core businesses, including ship parts and services, eco-friendly retrofitting, and digital solutions. The company aims to strengthen its competitiveness in the high-value-added AM business and accelerate its entry into the market for power engines for data centers and floating data center retrofitting. In the construction machinery sector, HD Hyundai Site Solutions experienced a 17.9% increase in sales to 2.5235 trillion won and a 79.6% rise in operating profit to 272 billion won, fueled by improved global market conditions, increased sales of next-generation excavators, and expanded industrial and defense engine sales. The company plans to lay the groundwork for sustainable growth through portfolio diversification and the development of eco-friendly technologies, including unmanned and electrified products. HD Hyundai Oilbank reported sales of 9.4774 trillion won and an operating profit of 1.8241 trillion won amid external challenges such as prolonged geopolitical risks in the Middle East and increased volatility in international oil prices. The profitability of its lubricants and petrochemicals businesses improved, positively impacting overall performance. The company plans to continue introducing various alternative crude oils and flexible procurement strategies to ensure domestic energy supply stability in the second half of the year. HD Hyundai Electric saw its sales and operating profit increase by 26% and 37.3%, respectively, to 1.1418 trillion won and 287 billion won, supported by growth in its distribution sector and improved profitability in overseas markets. The company aims to establish a sustainable growth foundation by strengthening its existing power equipment business alongside its distribution and rotating equipment sectors. An HD Hyundai official stated, "In the second quarter, we achieved performance improvements across all business areas, solidifying our business structure. We will focus on securing profitability through the expansion of selective orders for high-value vessels, exploring new markets, and improving our product mix."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:04:00
  • Top Five Financial Groups and Banks Designated as Systemically Important for 2027
    Top Five Financial Groups and Banks Designated as Systemically Important for 2027 The top five financial groups and their affiliated banks, including Shinhan, KB, Hana, Woori, and NH, have been designated as systemically important financial institutions for 2027. These institutions are required to maintain higher capital reserves than regular banks and prepare their own recovery plans for crisis situations.The Financial Services Commission announced on July 31 that it has selected the five major financial groups along with Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank, and NH Nonghyup Bank as 'systemically important banks and bank holding companies' for 2027. The list remains unchanged from last year.Systemically important banks are defined as large institutions with significant interconnectedness to other financial entities, meaning that their failure could impact the entire financial market. Regulatory authorities evaluate domestic banks, foreign bank branches, and bank holding companies annually based on size, interconnectedness, and the difficulty of substituting them with other financial institutions.In addition to the five major financial groups and banks, the Industrial Bank of Korea and the Export-Import Bank of Korea also exceeded the selection criteria. However, these two banks were excluded from the final list due to government ownership and legal provisions for loss compensation.The ten selected institutions will be required to set aside an additional 1% in capital reserves next year. Consequently, the common equity tier 1 capital ratio must be maintained at a minimum of 9%, the total capital ratio at 12.5%, and the basic capital ratio at 10.5%.However, the Financial Services Commission noted that since the selection results are the same as last year and the capital ratios of these financial institutions exceeded the minimum requirements as of the end of 2025, the new capital burden is not expected to be significant.These financial institutions are also required to submit plans for self-recovery in the event of a crisis. They must submit their recovery plans, which include measures for capital enhancement and asset sales, to the Financial Supervisory Service within three months of receiving the designation notice.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 17:00:00