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Average South Korean conscript gains 4 kg in a decade SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - South Korea's average military conscript is now nearly 4 kilograms heavier than a decade ago, underscoring a decade-long expansion of the nation's waistline that has pushed obesity to nearly one in three 19-year-old men, government data showed Friday. The Military Manpower Administration said that the data is based on military service examinations conducted on Korean men at age 19. The indicators cover 24 categories, including body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, liver function, blood tests and mental health-related classifications. This year’s analysis covered 2.95 million records from 11 years of screening data for men born between 1996 and 2006. According to the agency, the average weight of 19-year-old men rose from 69.44 kilograms to 73.37 kilograms over the 10-year period, an increase of 3.93 kilograms. The rise was more pronounced among heavier young men. The average weight of those in the top 10 percent increased by 7.8 kilograms, while the figure for those in the bottom 10 percent rose by only 0.6 kilogram. This means the weight gain among the heaviest group was about 13 times larger than that of the lightest group. The share of men classified as obese, defined as having a BMI of 25 or higher, climbed from 23 percent to 31 percent, up 8 percentage points. Over the same period, the share of men with normal weight fell from 49 percent to 41 percent, also an 8 percentage-point drop. The data also showed that obese men had higher systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels than underweight men, suggesting that risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are increasing alongside weight gain. The agency said the statistics are significant because they are based on standardized medical exams conducted under established procedures for military service classification. It said the accumulated data can be used not only for determining fitness for military duty but also as basic material for national health policy targeting young adults. The statistics will be published annually through the Korean Statistical Information Service and the public data portal. Raw data may also be made available for research purposes after personal information is removed, the agency said. 2026-07-31 13:19:13
Kwon Yu-ri Ends Exclusive Contract with SM Entertainment, Will Continue with Girls' Generation 가수 겸 배우 권유리가 SM엔터테인먼트와 19년 동행을 마무리한다. SM엔터테인먼트는 31일 “권유리와 심도 있는 논의 끝에 오는 8월 31일 자로 19년간의 동행을 마무리하기로 상호 협의했다”고 밝혔다. 권유리는 2007년 그룹 소녀시대로 데뷔했다. 이후 소녀시대 멤버로 활동하며 K팝을 대표하는 걸그룹으로 성장했고, 배우와 예능, MC 등 다양한 분야로 활동 영역을 넓혔다. SM엔터테인먼트는 “권유리가 2007년 소녀시대로 데뷔해 전 세계에 K팝 열풍을 선도하고, 시대를 대표하는 그룹으로 성장함은 물론 배우로서 빛나기까지 그 모든 여정에 SM엔터테인먼트가 함께할 수 있어 소중한 시간이었다”고 전했다. 이어 “음악, 연기, 예능, MC 등 다양한 분야를 넘나들며 올라운더 아티스트로 활약해준 권유리에게 깊은 고마움을 전한다”고 덧붙였다. 전속계약은 종료되지만 소녀시대 활동은 이어간다. SM엔터테인먼트는 “당사와의 전속계약은 종료되지만, 향후 소녀시대로서의 활동은 변함없이 이어 나갈 예정”이라고 밝혔다. 끝으로 “새로운 여정을 걸어갈 권유리의 앞날을 응원하겠다”고 전했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 13:16:00
K-Beauty Smart Manufacturing Alliance Launched to Boost Export Competitiveness The Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development announced on July 31 that it held a meeting for the K-Beauty Smart Manufacturing Alliance on July 30 at Space Share Seoul Station 3 Center.The meeting aimed to establish a public-private partnership and gather industry needs and policy opinions for the AI transformation of manufacturing sites.During the meeting, participants discussed the purpose and operational direction of the K-Beauty Smart Manufacturing Alliance, support policies for the K-Beauty manufacturing industry, and the current status of collaborative smart factory projects among government departments.Additionally, the meeting gathered feedback from attending companies and related organizations on challenges faced during the introduction and expansion of smart manufacturing, as well as their policy needs, to inform future alliance operations and collaboration strategies.The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to promote the K-Beauty Smart Manufacturing Alliance to enhance the global export competitiveness of the beauty manufacturing sector and to spread AI-based smart manufacturing innovations. According to the ministry's report on small and medium-sized enterprise export trends for the first half of 2026, cosmetics exports reached $5.07 billion, marking a 30.7% increase from the same period last year, the highest on record.Director Ahn Kwang-hyun stated, "Through the K-Beauty Smart Manufacturing Alliance, we will actively support the AI transformation of beauty manufacturing companies and continuously communicate with the industry to strengthen the global competitiveness of the K-Beauty sector."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 13:16:00
Won visits 9-month high on suspected Seoul-Tokyo intervention SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) -The South Korean won briefly climbed to its strongest level against the dollar in nine months on Friday as traders speculated that Seoul and Tokyo had stepped into currency markets to head off yen carry-driven capital flight ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy decision. The won strengthened to 1,418 per dollar around 6 a.m., its strongest level since Oct. 20, 2025, before easing to around 1,435 by midday. The Korean currency since mid-July has staged a sharp recovery from crisis-era levels near 1,500 per dollar, gaining more than 7 percent since late June. The catalyst came from SK hynix's $26.5 billion American depositary receipt listing on Nasdaq on July 10, which drew substantial foreign inflows. Friday's overnight surge coincided with an equally abrupt rally in the Japanese yen, prompting traders to suspect coordinated dollar-selling intervention by South Korean and Japanese authorities. The dollar tumbled from above 163 yen to the 157-yen range overnight before recovering to around 160 yen in Asian trading. Reuters, citing market sources, reported that Japanese authorities bought yen and sold dollars in New York trading, while a separate Reuters report said South Korean authorities had also conducted a rare dollar-selling intervention. Neither government confirmed the reports. Seoul's Finance Ministry declined to comment on whether it had entered the market. Deputy Finance Minister Moon Ji-sung said South Korea remained in close communication with the United States and Japan on foreign-exchange developments. The Bank of Korea did not immediately respond to AJP's request for comment on the won's sharp appreciation or whether authorities had intervened. Lee Min-hyuk, an economist at KB Kookmin Bank, said the synchronized appreciation of the won and yen provided grounds for markets to suspect coordinated action. "Korean authorities may have viewed the yen's rally as an opportunity to support the won while broader dollar weakness was already taking hold," he said. The won later pared part of its gains as the yen also retreated. The dollar recovered to around 160 yen, reducing one of the key forces supporting the Korean currency. Importers buying dollars for settlement and bargain hunting after the exchange rate briefly entered the 1,410 range also likely contributed to the rebound. The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, remained below the psychologically important 100 level at 99.985, suggesting the won's pullback was not driven by broad-based dollar strength. The currency move came ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy decision. As widely expected, the BOJ kept its policy rate unchanged at 1.0 percent in an 8-1 vote after raising rates in June. Board member Hajime Takata dissented, arguing for a quarter-point increase to 1.25 percent to address upside inflation risks stemming from commodity prices and overseas financial conditions. While the dissent reinforced the BOJ's hawkish bias, markets viewed it as largely anticipated. Attention has now shifted to Governor Kazuo Ueda's press conference for clues on the timing of the central bank's next rate increase. Reuters separately reported that South Korea had conducted a rare dollar-selling intervention, citing a market source familiar with the transaction. Seoul’s finance ministry did not confirm whether it had entered the market. Deputy Finance Minister Moon Ji-sung said South Korea remained in close communication with the United States and Japan on foreign-exchange issues. The Bank of Korea did not immediately answer AJP’s questions about the cause of the won’s surge and whether authorities had intervened. Min-hyuk Lee, an economist at KB Kookmin Bank, said the simultaneous appreciation of the won and yen provided grounds to suspect that authorities in both countries had acted together. He said Korean authorities may have viewed the yen’s rally as an opportunity to support the won while broader dollar weakness was already taking hold. Friday morning’s pullback in the won appeared to reflect a partial reversal of intervention-driven positions rather than a renewed broad-based surge in the dollar. The yen surrendered part of its overnight advance as the dollar returned to around 160 yen, weakening one of the main forces that had pushed the won higher. Importers seeking dollars for settlements and bargain buying after the exchange rate briefly fell into the 1,410s may also have contributed to the rebound. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major currencies, remained below the 100 mark at 99.985, suggesting that the rise in dollar-won was not driven by a broad recovery in the U.S. currency. The won is rebounding before the Bank of Japan announces its policy decision, making it difficult to link the move directly to the central bank’s pending rate decision. The Bank of Japan decided to keep its policy rate unchanged at 1 percent in an 8-1 vote, as widely expected after raising borrowing costs in June. Board member Hajime Takata dissents and proposes a quarter-point increase to 1.25 percent, citing upside risks from commodity prices and changes in overseas financial conditions. The dissent provides a modestly hawkish signal but is unlikely to carry a large immediate market impact, as Takata’s opposition had been anticipated and the remaining eight members support a pause. Attention now shifts to Governor Kazuo Ueda’s press conference for signals on whether the bank could bring forward its next increase. 2026-07-31 13:04:38
Hyundai Engineering Unveils New Value System, Aims to Connect Space and Energy Hyundai Engineering has officially announced a new value system that encapsulates the company's purpose and future growth direction, accelerating innovation across its business portfolio. On July 30, Hyundai Engineering held a ceremony at its headquarters in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to unveil the new value system, which was announced on July 31. Declaring this year as the "Year of New Beginnings," Hyundai Engineering is focusing on developing future energy businesses and advanced industrial construction as its core growth pillars, building on its existing EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) capabilities. The new value system is expected to serve as a benchmark for strengthening technological competitiveness through securing core technologies and expanding strategic partnerships. In the new value system, Hyundai Engineering defines its identity as "Creating a better life through our technology on the path connecting space and energy," and sets its future business direction as "a key player driving the evolution of the energy value chain." This reflects the company's history and philosophy of providing value in space and energy since its inception as Hyundai Comprehensive Technology in 1974. The company plans to establish a business model that offers "integrated value of space and energy" across the entire energy value chain, from production to storage, operation, and utilization. A notable example is the solar power project in Hillsboro, Texas, which broke ground in May. The renewable energy produced there will supply major North American facilities of the Hyundai Motor Group, including plants for Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai Engineering has also detailed its portfolio innovations by business sector. In the energy sector, it will strengthen next-generation energy fields such as small modular reactors (SMR), fusion, hydrogen, and solar power, while also building infrastructure to meet the rising power demand driven by the expansion of AI data centers. The chemical plant sector will expand its focus on low-carbon plants, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen production using ammonia, and LNG liquefaction. In the construction sector, leveraging its experience in large-scale industrial construction, Hyundai Engineering aims to enhance its competitiveness in advanced industrial buildings, including AI data centers utilizing next-generation energy sources. The asset management sector plans to expand its scope by starting the construction and operation of electric vehicle charging stations, launching vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects that connect vehicle battery power to the grid, and recycling used batteries into energy storage systems (UBESS). The establishment of this value system was initiated after the appointment of CEO Joo Woo-jung and was developed over approximately 10 months with input from 6,585 employees through a dedicated organization. A Hyundai Engineering official stated, "This value system serves as a standard that connects the history and future of Hyundai Engineering, which has provided the value of space and energy for the past 52 years. We will organically connect our construction capabilities and energy technology to provide better value to stakeholders and society." Meanwhile, in the '2026 Construction Capability Evaluation' announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport this year, Hyundai Engineering ranked fourth, rising two spots from the previous year. With a construction performance evaluation amounting to over 6 trillion won, it secured third place, following Samsung C&T and Hyundai Construction, and also ranked third in technical capability evaluation, behind Hyundai Construction (1.8235 trillion won) and Daewoo Engineering & Construction (1.4250 trillion won). In civil engineering and construction, Hyundai Engineering recorded a performance of 7.8 trillion won, placing it third after Hyundai Construction (10.9 trillion won) and Samsung C&T (9.7 trillion won).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:56:10
Hyundai Engineering Unveils New Value System, Aims to Connect Space and Energy Hyundai Engineering has officially announced a new value system that encapsulates the company's purpose and future growth direction, accelerating innovation across its business portfolio. On July 30, Hyundai Engineering held a ceremony at its headquarters in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to unveil the new value system, which was announced on July 31. Declaring this year as the "Year of New Beginnings," Hyundai Engineering is focusing on developing future energy businesses and advanced industrial construction as core growth areas, building on its existing EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) capabilities. The new value system is expected to serve as a benchmark that connects strategies for enhancing technological competitiveness, such as securing core technologies and expanding strategic partnerships. In the new value system, Hyundai Engineering defines its identity as "Creating a better life through our technology on the path connecting space and energy," and sets its future business direction as "a key player driving the evolution of the energy value chain." This reflects the company's history and philosophy of providing value in space and energy since its inception as Hyundai Comprehensive Technology in 1974. The company plans to establish a business model that offers 'integrated value of space and energy' across the entire energy value chain, from production to storage, operation, and utilization. A notable example is the solar power project in Hillsboro, Texas, which broke ground in May. The renewable energy produced there will supply major North American facilities of the Hyundai Motor Group, including plants for Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai Engineering has also detailed its portfolio innovations by business sector. In the energy sector, it will strengthen next-generation energy fields such as small modular reactors (SMR), fusion, hydrogen, and solar power, while also building infrastructure to meet the rising power demand driven by the expansion of AI data centers. The chemical plant sector will expand its focus on low-carbon plants, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen production using ammonia, and LNG liquefaction. In the construction sector, leveraging its experience in large-scale industrial construction, Hyundai Engineering aims to enhance its competitiveness in advanced industrial construction fields, such as AI data centers utilizing next-generation energy sources. The asset management sector plans to expand its scope by starting the construction and operation of electric vehicle charging stations, launching vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects that connect vehicle battery power to the grid, and recycling used batteries into energy storage systems (UBESS). The establishment of this value system was initiated after the appointment of CEO Joo Woo-jung and was developed over approximately 10 months with input from 6,585 employees through a dedicated organization. A Hyundai Engineering representative stated, "This value system serves as a standard that connects the history and future of Hyundai Engineering, which has provided the value of space and energy for the past 52 years. We will organically connect our construction capabilities and energy technology to provide better value to stakeholders and society." Meanwhile, in the '2026 Construction Capability Evaluation' announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport this year, Hyundai Engineering ranked fourth, rising two spots from the previous year. With a construction performance evaluation amounting to over 6 trillion won, it secured third place, following Samsung C&T and Hyundai Construction, and also ranked third in technical capability evaluation, behind Hyundai Construction (1.8235 trillion won) and Daewoo Construction (1.4250 trillion won). In civil engineering and construction, Hyundai Engineering recorded 7.8 trillion won in performance, placing third after Hyundai Construction (10.9 trillion won) and Samsung C&T (9.7 trillion won).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:56:00
Preparations Underway for World Youth Day in Seoul with Shilla Stay Partnership The 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul is ramping up preparations to welcome hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the globe. The organizing committee is establishing a partnership with a leading domestic hotel brand to ensure a solid foundation for the international event, particularly in the crucial area of accommodation.On July 30, the organizing committee, chaired by Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek, announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shilla Stay, a premium business hotel brand under Hotel Shilla, for accommodation and event operations.This agreement goes beyond a simple room supply contract; it establishes a public-private partnership aimed at ensuring the stable operation of the international event. It is particularly significant as it lays the groundwork for bishops, church leaders, and other dignitaries visiting from around the world to have a comfortable and safe stay during the event.Under the agreement, both parties will closely collaborate on various aspects during the main event in August 2027, including accommodation and event operations for key figures, access to rooms, meeting spaces, and facilities, priority room and event space reservations, and food and beverage services for participants.The World Youth Day is not just a religious event; it is a large-scale international gathering that mobilizes the host city's tourism, accommodation, transportation, and cultural capabilities. Host countries have utilized the event as an opportunity to enhance their national image by preparing hotels, transportation networks, volunteer services, and medical systems years in advance.Seoul is expected to welcome not only international pilgrims but also officials from the Vatican, bishops from around the world, religious orders, and journalists, making the establishment of international-level accommodation services a critical task.The organizing committee plans to expand collaborations with various hotels, businesses, and institutions to systematically improve the conditions for participants' stays. They aim to realize the vision of a 'Welcoming Seoul' by broadening cooperation with the private sector in areas such as accommodation, transportation, food services, and cultural experiences.Kim Nam-kyun, the secretary general of the organizing committee, stated, "As the 2027 World Youth Day is an international event welcoming youth from around the world, a stable accommodation environment and attentive hospitality are of utmost importance. We will ensure that participants can stay safely and comfortably through our collaboration with Shilla Stay."Park Sang-oh, CEO of Shilla H&M, remarked, "Based on our accumulated service experience in welcoming domestic and international customers, we will provide the best resting space for youth from around the world. We will work closely with the organizing committee until 2027 to ensure that the World Youth Day becomes an international festival that conveys inspiration and hope, leaving a lasting impression."Accommodation as the 'Invisible Competitiveness' of International EventsThis agreement is significant as it establishes the 'accommodation system,' a key infrastructure for international events, rather than just a hotel usage contract. Understanding why the accommodation agreement is considered a crucial key to the success of the World Youth Day is essential.In international events, accommodation holds more significance than merely being a place to sleep. As participants spend the most time in their living spaces, the first impression of the event and the city's image are often determined by the accommodation services.Particularly for international events like the World Youth Day, which may involve a papal visit, it is necessary to meet the accommodation needs of various tiers, including heads of state, bishops from different countries, VIPs, and general pilgrims. Therefore, host countries typically secure rooms and establish tailored service systems by signing agreements with hotels years in advance.The MOU signed with Shilla Stay is not just a simple accommodation contract; it marks the first step in building the infrastructure needed to prepare for a global international event. As private sector cooperation expands into areas such as aviation, transportation, healthcare, culture, and tourism, preparations for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul are expected to gain further momentum.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:52:00
Daekyo Newf and Foodpang Partner to Advance Senior Care Food Business Daekyo Newf announced on July 31 that it has signed a business agreement with food tech platform Foodpang to actively pursue its senior care food business.The signing ceremony, held on July 30 at Daekyo Tower in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, was attended by Daekyo Newf CEO Kim Kyung-ho and Foodpang CEO Gong Kyung-yul, along with officials from both organizations. Through this agreement, the two companies aim to enhance their competitiveness in the senior food sector by combining Daekyo Newf's operational capabilities in senior care services with Foodpang's expertise in food distribution.Based on this collaboration, Daekyo Newf plans to gradually implement several initiatives, including establishing a stable supply chain for high-quality ingredients, providing customized meal services to Daekyo Newf's long-term care facilities nationwide, and jointly developing and commercializing senior-friendly food products.This partnership aims to refine care food services that consider seniors' health conditions and nutritional needs, creating an integrated senior food service that encompasses everything from meal provision to food development.Both organizations will continuously strengthen the quality competitiveness of senior dietary services and explore new business models that can respond to the evolving senior-friendly food market and consumer demands.Additionally, Daekyo Newf will collaborate with Kyung Hee University's Age Tech Research Institute to conduct research aimed at systematic meal planning based on geriatric nutrition and the enhancement of care food services.Earlier this year, Daekyo Newf announced plans to introduce a visiting senior care model called 'Integrated Senior Care (Cognitive + Physical) Service' in February. This service combines cognitive enhancement learning with physical activities in a one-on-one visiting program, designed to allow seniors to engage in daily activities, experience achievements, and prevent frailty.A representative from Daekyo Newf stated, "In an ultra-aged society, the importance of preventive health management through healthy eating is becoming increasingly significant. With this collaboration, we plan to organically link care food and life care services to provide more specialized and differentiated senior life care services to our senior customers."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:24:00
IBK Bank to Invest 30 Trillion Won in Inclusive Finance by 2030 IBK Bank plans to invest over 30 trillion won by 2030 to support financially excluded groups and vulnerable borrowers, while also backing the growth of small and regional innovative businesses. This initiative aims to strengthen the role of the national policy bank through inclusive and productive finance.During the bank's 65th anniversary ceremony held on July 31 at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, CEO Jang Min-young announced this long-term management vision.Jang stated, “As the prolonged domestic economic downturn continues due to the global complex crisis, the difficulties faced by businesses and households are increasing. It is time to reassess the role and purpose of IBK as a policy bank.”The new vision, named 'ON-IBK,' will focus on enhancing the bank's social responsibility in finance. Jang emphasized, “We will leap forward as a bank that practices social responsibility based on the inherent value of finance,” outlining the direction of the future strategy.The bank aims to support financially excluded groups and vulnerable borrowers with over 30 trillion won by 2030. This initiative is designed to reduce the burden of financial costs while assisting customers facing management and economic difficulties in their recovery and resurgence, and to promote the spread of inclusive finance across the financial sector.IBK will also expand productive finance for small and regional innovative businesses. The bank plans to focus its financial capabilities on supplying funds to companies with high growth potential to invigorate local economies and foster future growth drivers.Additionally, IBK is accelerating its digital transformation using artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to transition into an 'AI Native Bank' that redefines organizational operations, work methods, and decision-making processes around AI, moving beyond merely applying AI technology to individual tasks.Jang stressed, “We will redesign the DNA of our organization, our working methods, and decision-making processes around AI to achieve substantial growth.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:24:00
IBK Bank Launches 'Good Rate Inclusive Loan' for Low-Credit Borrowers at 4.9% Interest IBK Bank has introduced a personal credit loan product worth 1 trillion won aimed at reducing the interest burden for low and medium credit borrowers. The bank plans to lower both financial costs and monthly repayment burdens by implementing a single interest rate and long-term installment repayment method.On July 31, IBK Bank announced the launch of the 'IBK Good Rate Inclusive Loan' for borrowers in the bottom 50% of personal credit scores (CB).This product is designed to improve funding conditions for vulnerable borrowers with limited access to financial services and to support stable financial living.Unlike existing loans where interest rates vary based on complex conditions, this product adopts a single interest rate structure. The base interest rate is set at 4.9%, with an additional 0.2% rate benefit for borrowers aged 34 and under, bringing their rate to 4.7%.The loan limit is up to 20 million won, and borrowers can repay the principal and interest over a maximum period of 10 years, which reduces the monthly repayment amount.An IBK Bank official stated, “We designed this product to allow low and medium credit customers to access funds at a lower cost. We will continue to expand inclusive finance to enhance financial accessibility and reduce customer financial burdens.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-31 12:20:00