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  • Despite Single-Stock Leverage Regulations, Investors Pour 200 Billion Won into SK Hynix
    Despite Single-Stock Leverage Regulations, Investors Pour 200 Billion Won into SK Hynix As financial authorities introduced supplementary measures for single-stock leverage products, the influx of individual investors continued unabated. On July 20, over 16.6 billion won flowed into single-stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on two underlying assets.On the same day, shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell, leading to a broader decline in related leverage products. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix closed down 4.31% and 4.23%, respectively.Despite the downturn, single-stock leverage products linked to these companies saw declines ranging from 7% to 9%. The largest funds, 'KODEX SK Hynix Single-Stock Leverage' and 'KODEX Samsung Electronics Single-Stock Leverage,' dropped 8.73% and 8.98%, respectively.Investor funds continued to flow into these products. According to the Korea Exchange, a total of 16.6 billion won was net invested in 14 single-stock leverage products on that day.Individual investors led the charge, net buying 208.1 billion won worth of these products. They purchased approximately 141.8 billion won in seven SK Hynix single-stock leverage ETFs and 66.3 billion won in seven Samsung Electronics leverage ETFs. In contrast, institutions sold off 186.5 billion won, while foreign investors sold 4.9 billion won.Looking at the past month, individual investors have net bought about 4 trillion won in seven SK Hynix single-stock leverage products and around 1 trillion won in seven Samsung Electronics leverage products.However, losses have also widened. From June 19 to July 20, the stock prices of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell by 32.69% and 34.30%, respectively. During the same period, single-stock leverage products based on these stocks recorded declines of 58% to 64%.On July 16, financial authorities announced supplementary measures for single-stock leverage products aimed at curbing excessive speculative demand and raising barriers to entry for investors. Starting around August 5, the authorities will require that the basic deposit be made entirely in cash, increasing the amount from 10 million won to 30 million won. Additionally, the pre-education requirement will be extended from two hours to three hours, and the minimum trading unit will be set at 20 shares.Meanwhile, interest from individual investors in leverage products remains strong. According to data submitted by the Financial Investment Association to Rep. Kang Myung-koo of the ruling People Power Party, the number of individuals who completed the required pre-education for investing in leverage ETFs reached 1,162,751 in the first half of this year, a 19-fold increase compared to the same period last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 17:00:00
  • Homeplus Files Immediate Appeal Against Courts Decision to End Rehabilitation Process
    Homeplus Files Immediate Appeal Against Court's Decision to End Rehabilitation Process Homeplus has filed an immediate appeal against the Seoul Bankruptcy Court's decision to terminate its rehabilitation process. This comes after the major shareholder and largest creditor agreed to provide 200 billion won in emergency operating funds (DIP funding).On July 20, Homeplus announced that it had filed the appeal in response to the court's ruling on July 3, which stated that the company had failed to secure operating funds. However, the court indicated that it could reconsider the termination decision if Homeplus submitted a plan to secure the 200 billion won in operating funds.In this context, Kim Byung-joo, chairman of Homeplus's major shareholder MBK Partners, agreed to provide a full guarantee for the entire 200 billion won. Based on this, the largest creditor, Meritz Financial Group, decided on July 17 to approve a 200 billion won DIP loan.Homeplus expects that securing operating funds will allow it to extend the rehabilitation process through the immediate appeal. The company plans to resume operations as soon as the rehabilitation process is extended and the DIP loan is disbursed. Currently, Homeplus has been temporarily closed since July 13, with 67 stores nationwide shut down.A Homeplus representative stated, "By securing operating funds, we have overcome a significant hurdle toward normalization. However, without the cooperation and support of all stakeholders, including our partners, recovery will be difficult. Therefore, we need support to ensure Homeplus can revive from a perspective of mutual growth."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 17:00:00
  • Korean Air says no change to domestic flights despite oil price surge
    Korean Air says no change to domestic flights despite oil price surge SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Korean Air said Monday it has made no changes to its domestic flight operations, even as oil prices surged on renewed concerns over disruptions to Middle East energy shipments. “There has been no change,” a Korean Air official told AJP, when asked whether the carrier had reduced domestic flights due to rising fuel costs. “Nothing has been decided.” The official said claims that the airline had cut domestic flights were “not based on confirmation from us,” adding that Korean Air continues to operate a substantial number of domestic services, including on the Gimpo-Jeju route. Fuel costs have risen sharply in recent weeks as the renewed conflict between the United States and Iran has raised fears of further disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. Brent crude rose 2.3 percent to $90.10 a barrel Monday, standing about 30 percent above its July low, as escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities raised concerns over further disruptions to Middle East oil flows. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 2 percent to $84.10 a barrel. Brent had jumped 15.9 percent last week, its biggest weekly gain since April. Oil prices extended their rally as U.S.-Iran hostilities escalated over the weekend, with Washington carrying out a ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran and Kuwait and Bahrain reporting additional Iranian attacks. Reuters reported that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained low over the weekend, while both sides have increasingly targeted maritime traffic. The Korean Air official acknowledged that fuel prices have risen but rejected any direct link to domestic flight operations. “Fuel costs have risen a lot,” the official said. “But I don’t see how that is related to domestic routes.” The official also noted that Korean Air’s main business remains international routes, while current domestic operations remain sufficient. The airline’s fuel surcharge for August, announced on July 16, was also lowered by five levels from July, suggesting that the latest oil price surge has not yet translated into higher passenger surcharges. Korean Air has said it operates a substantial number of domestic flights already, including on the Gimpo-Jeju route. 2026-07-20 16:55:55
  • Blue House Seeks Young Policy Makers for New Fellowship Program
    Blue House Seeks Young Policy Makers for New Fellowship Program 청와대가 국정 운영 과정에 직접 참여할 청년들을 공개 모집한다. 선발된 청년들은 오는 9월부터 6개월 동안 정책 발굴과 현장조사, 프로젝트 기획 등에 참여하게 된다.청와대는 20일부터 '청와대 청년 펠로우십' 1기 참여자를 공개 모집한다고 밝혔다.청와대 청년 펠로우십은 청년이 국정 운영의 동반자로 다양한 프로젝트에 참여하는 정책 참여형 프로그램이다. 청년의 시각을 국정 운영에 반영하고 리더십 있는 청년 인재에게 사회 문제 해결과 국정 참여 경험을 제공하겠다는 취지다.모집 대상은 만 19세 이상 34세 이하 청년이다. 청와대는 1기 참여자 20명 안팎을 선발할 예정이다.선발된 청년들은 오는 9월부터 내년 2월까지 6개월간 활동한다. 주요 활동은 정책 발굴 및 모니터링, 현장조사, 프로젝트 기획·운영 등이다.참여자 선발은 공개 모집을 원칙으로 서류 및 면접 심사를 거쳐 진행된다. 청와대는 지원자의 경력이나 성과보다 문제를 바라보는 시각, 성장 가능성, 협업 역량을 중점적으로 평가할 계획이다. 심사 과정에는 채용·인사 분야의 외부 민간 전문가가 참여해 공정성과 객관성을 확보한다. 신청은 청년 인재 데이터베이스(DB)를 통해 진행된다.앞서 이재명 대통령은 청년 정책 강화를 위해 비서실장 직속 청년미래비서관실을 신설하고, 초대 비서관에 구글코리아 전무 출신인 김태원 이노레드 대표를 임명한 바 있다.강훈식 대통령 비서실장은 "청와대 청년 펠로우십은 정부 청년 참여프로그램의 새로운 선도 모델"이라며 "단순 자문이나 아이디어 제안에 그치지 않고, 청년이 주체적으로 문제를 진단하고 해결 방안을 모색할 수 있도록 함께할 것"이라고 말했다다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:52:00
  • Three Yonsei University Professors Selected for Health and Medical R&D Excellence
    Three Yonsei University Professors Selected for Health and Medical R&D Excellence Three professors from Yonsei University have been selected for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's '2026 Health and Medical Research and Development (R&D) Excellence 30.' Their research achievements in early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder using artificial intelligence (AI), cancer gene mutation analysis, and chronic rhinosinusitis have been recognized for their excellence.Severance Hospital announced on July 20 that Professor Cheon Geun-a from the Department of Psychiatry, Professor Kim Hyung-beom from the Department of Pharmacology, and Professor Na Min-seok from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Yonsei University have been included in the 2026 Health and Medical R&D Excellence 30.The Health and Welfare Ministry and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute established the 2026 Health and Medical R&D Excellence 30 to identify outstanding research achievements that contribute to public health and serve as a foundation for the advancement of healthcare technology. Candidates for the outstanding achievements were selected through preliminary evaluations and assessments by the Excellence Recommendation Committee, with input from relevant organizations such as the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the National Cancer Center, and the National Mental Health Center.Professor Cheon developed a digital diagnostic support technology that uses AI to analyze behavioral videos and audio recorded at home, along with parental surveys, to screen for autism spectrum disorder at an early stage. He created a multimodal AI model that analyzes both voice and surveys, as well as an AI model that examines parent-child interaction videos, enabling the prediction of autism risk using only data collected via smartphones. Both research outcomes were published in the international journal 'npj Digital Medicine.' Through this research, Professor Cheon laid the groundwork for AI-based digital diagnostic support technology that can quickly identify high-risk groups for autism before hospital visits, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment connections.Professor Kim conducted research on the 'mass discovery of ATM gene mutations that increase cancer risk' through a global research collaboration support project. The ATM gene is responsible for detecting damaged DNA and regulating the repair process to maintain genomic stability. Mutations in this gene can affect cancer risk and patient prognosis, but it is often challenging to assess the function of individual mutations.The research team introduced approximately 23,000 single nucleotide mutations of the ATM gene into human cells to directly evaluate their functions. They also developed an AI deep learning model called 'DeepATM' to predict the functions of mutations that were previously difficult to interpret. The results of this research were published last year in the international journal 'Cell.'Professor Na conducted research on 'non-invasive biomarker discovery for diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis type 2' as part of a global physician-scientist training program. This research established a foundation for easily distinguishing types of rhinosinusitis through nasal discharge, overcoming the limitations of existing invasive testing methods. It effectively assesses the inflammatory patterns of patients before treatment begins, contributing to the realization of personalized precision medicine for chronic rhinosinusitis patients. The research findings were published last year in the journal 'Allergy.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:48:00
  • Irans Foreign Minister Claims Negotiations with U.S. Amid Bombing Threats
    Iran's Foreign Minister Claims Negotiations with U.S. Amid Bombing Threats Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that nuclear negotiations with the United States have taken place under the threat of military attacks. He stated that future negotiations would only be possible after securing clear results on the battlefield.In an interview with Iran's state-affiliated Mehr News Agency on July 20, Araghchi said he approached discussions with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wittekopf with the mindset that they could be attacked at any moment.He recounted asking Wittekopf, "Have you ever thought that the entire meeting could be bombed at any moment? Have you ever considered that this could be your last call with your family?"Araghchi also revealed that the U.S. demanded Iran completely halt uranium enrichment before any military conflict. He stated, "We resisted against the illegal and irrational demand to bring enrichment to zero and did not back down. When the U.S. realized it could not achieve its goals through negotiations, it started a war."He noted that the U.S. had offered to support the construction of power plants and infrastructure in exchange for concessions from Iran, which was rejected. "They cannot threaten or bribe us," he emphasized, adding that he enters negotiations prepared for anything, making threats ineffective.However, Araghchi left the door open for negotiations. In a separate interview with the Iranian state news agency IRNA, he stated, "War can end through complete military victory or negotiations. The appropriate time to negotiate is when we have secured clear military and strategic results on the battlefield."He added, "Determining when to stop the war and start negotiations is the most critical decision in crisis management. The continuation of the war should be decided based on the potential gains, casualties, and national burdens involved."Araghchi claimed that Iran's international influence has grown as a result of the current war, stating, "Despite some losses, we have emerged as a decisive international actor and demonstrated the strength of our regime."Additionally, he asserted that the U.S. and Israel have misjudged Iran's military response capabilities and domestic cohesion. He argued that Israel believed it could topple the Iranian regime with a short-term attack but failed to prepare for a prolonged conflict, and that the Iranian people have not turned against their government.Araghchi acknowledged that security vulnerabilities within Iran remain unresolved. He noted that the circumstances allowing the U.S. and Israel to target Iranian leadership on February 28 were due to security gaps, stating, "These vulnerabilities still exist."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:48:00
  • Koreas Q2 GDP to slow from Q1 but on track for around 3% annual growth
    Korea's Q2 GDP to slow from Q1 but on track for around 3% annual growth SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - South Korea's economy is expected to have expanded at a slower pace in the second quarter after a surprisingly strong start to the year, but growth is still likely to remain robust enough to keep the economy on track for around 3 percent expansion in 2026. The Bank of Korea will release its preliminary second-quarter gross domestic product data on Thursday, providing the first official gauge of whether the country's semiconductor-led export boom has continued to offset sluggish domestic demand and mounting external uncertainties stemming from the prolonged Middle East conflict. Economists expect quarterly growth to range between 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent, down from the first quarter's exceptional 1.8 percent expansion but comfortably above the central bank's May projection of 0.2 percent. In the January-March period, the economy grew 3.8 percent from a year earlier, driven by record semiconductor exports and strong investment. The momentum has largely continued through the second quarter. South Korea's exports reached a record $496.7 billion in the first half, fueled by booming semiconductor shipments totaling $192.4 billion, raising expectations that annual exports could exceed the $1 trillion mark for the first time. Among major forecasters, ING projects second-quarter growth of 1.0 percent from the previous quarter, the most optimistic estimate reviewed by AJP. The Dutch bank said that although export growth moderated, imports contracted even more sharply, allowing net exports to make a positive contribution to GDP. Government support measures to cushion the impact of higher energy costs also helped prevent a sharp slowdown in private consumption. Citi recently raised its second-quarter growth estimate to 0.7 percent from 0.3 percent after trade data showed net exports were considerably stronger than previously expected. KB Securities forecasts 0.5 percent quarterly growth, citing resilient export volumes and improving service-sector activity, while noting that stronger-than-expected contributions from net exports and services could lift the final figure further. Meritz Securities expects growth of around 0.7 percent as export volumes expanded more strongly than anticipated. Taken together, the forecasts point to a clear moderation from the first quarter's outsized performance but also suggest the economy has substantially outperformed the BOK's earlier expectations. Semiconductor exports, facilities investment related to chip production and net exports are expected to remain the principal drivers of growth, while weak construction investment and lingering effects from the energy shock likely weighed on domestic demand. The stronger-than-expected performance has prompted several institutions to raise their full-year outlooks. Citi now expects the economy to grow 3.7 percent this year, up from 3.5 percent previously, while ING lifted its forecast to 4.0 percent from 3.0 percent. Meritz Securities has also indicated it may revise its projection into the mid-3 percent range after Thursday's data. The government has recently revised up its growth target to around 3.0 percent, while the Bank of Korea indicated upgrade to its May projection of 2.6 percent in August. 2026-07-20 16:43:26
  • Korea and Central Asia Expand Cultural Exchange Through Arirang
    Korea and Central Asia Expand Cultural Exchange Through Arirang Korea and five Central Asian countries have established a cultural exchange platform centered around 'Arirang' and 'Hanbok.' Traditional music from each country harmonized on one stage, followed by a Hanbok fashion show themed on the Silk Road, reinforcing cultural ties between the nations.The Korea-Central Asia Friendship Association, led by President Lee Ok-ryeon, announced on July 20 that it held the '8th Korea-Central Asia Friendship Day' event on July 18 at Dongguk University’s Namsan Hall in Seoul.Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Dongguk University, the event aimed to enhance cultural exchanges between Korea and Central Asian countries, under the subtitle 'Arirang Meets the Silk Road.'The opening ceremony featured remarks from President Lee Ok-ryeon, followed by speeches from Kim Sang-wook, director of the National Asia Culture Center, and ambassadors from Central Asian countries in South Korea.Performers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took the stage in Hanbok, presenting 'Arirang' infused with their unique musical styles. The performances included Kazakhstan's 'Jindo Arirang,' Kyrgyzstan's 'Gyeonggi Arirang,' Tajikistan's 'Jeongseon Arirang,' Turkmenistan's 'Miryang Arirang,' and Uzbekistan's 'Haeju Arirang.' Participants also showcased their traditional songs while dressed in their national costumes, introducing each other's cultures.The event concluded with a fashion show by the Hanbok brand 'Hanbokgung,' themed 'Connecting Through Beauty.' The show opened with media and sound art, featuring 'The Fragrance of Tradition,' which highlighted the beauty of royal Hanbok, followed by 'Meeting the Silk Road,' which modernly reinterpreted the patterns and colors of Silk Road countries, showcasing both the elegance of traditional Hanbok and contemporary sensibilities.Lee Ok-ryeon, president of the Korea-Central Asia Friendship Association, stated, 'This was a meaningful occasion for Korea and Central Asia to understand each other's cultures and share friendship through 'Arirang' and 'Hanbok.' We will continue to promote various initiatives for cultural exchange and friendship enhancement in the future.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:40:00
  • Naver Executives Visit Brookfield in Canada for AI Investment Talks
    Naver Executives Visit Brookfield in Canada for AI Investment Talks Naver's top executives are set to visit the headquarters of Brookfield, a global alternative investment management firm. This visit comes as Brookfield is collaborating with Nvidia on a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure investment project, suggesting that discussions regarding Naver's AI factory investment and funding are imminent.According to industry sources, Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin, CEO Choi Soo-yeon, and CFO Kim Hee-cheol, along with other key executives, are expected to visit Brookfield's headquarters in Toronto, Canada, early this week.The Naver executives plan to meet with senior officials at Brookfield to focus on discussions about substantial investments and funding strategies necessary for building AI factories, which integrate AI models and cloud technology with physical infrastructure such as GPU servers, data centers, and power and cooling facilities.Notably, the presence of Naver's founder, CEO, and CFO on this overseas visit indicates that negotiations regarding the specific investment structure and scale are likely in their final stages. However, the exact investment methods have not been confirmed.Brookfield is a leading global alternative asset manager based in Canada, with strengths in infrastructure, renewable energy, and large-scale physical asset investments. In November of last year, Brookfield launched the 'Brookfield AI Infrastructure Fund' in partnership with Nvidia and the Kuwait Investment Authority, aimed at a global AI infrastructure investment program worth up to $100 billion. The investment targets include power, land, data centers, and GPU infrastructure.Meanwhile, Naver is also pursuing the establishment of a gigawatt-scale global AI factory in collaboration with Nvidia. The plan includes launching a 55-megawatt facility in the first half of 2027 and expanding it to 200 megawatts by 2028. Naver aims to ultimately build a 1-gigawatt infrastructure.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:36:00
  • KOSPI Drops 28%, Yet Bank Stocks Rise as Safe Haven
    KOSPI Drops 28%, Yet Bank Stocks Rise as Safe Haven The domestic stock market has plummeted nearly 30% in the past month, yet financial stocks have emerged as a safe haven, recording positive returns. Analysts attribute this trend to capital shifts due to semiconductor adjustments and the momentum from rising benchmark interest rates, which have bolstered bank stocks and other financial shares.On July 20, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI opened at 6,643.58, down 177.02 points (2.60%) from the previous trading day, while the KOSDAQ fell 18.63 points (2.35%) to 773.21. As losses widened, a sell-side circuit breaker was triggered in the KOSDAQ at 10:52 a.m. and in the KOSPI at 11:21 a.m. Ultimately, the KOSPI closed down 304.33 points (4.46%) at 6,516.27, and the KOSDAQ finished down 42.20 points (5.33%) at 749.64.In this recent downturn, financial stocks have stood out. According to the Korea Exchange, the KRX Bank Index rose 1.48% over the past month, making it the only sector index to record positive returns during this period, while the KOSPI fell 28.11%. Among thematic indices, the KOSPI 200 Financial High Dividend TOP 10 Index increased by 0.38%, also the only one to show an upward trend. After underperforming the KOSPI in the first half of the year, bank stocks surged 8.25% in July, significantly outperforming the market.Individually, Hana Financial Group saw a 5.79% increase over the past month, while KB Financial rose by 3.49%, and Shinhan Financial Group gained 0.99%.Market analysts suggest that the adjustment in the semiconductor sector has led institutional funds to flow into bank stocks, alongside rising benchmark interest rates and a strengthening won, which have positively influenced investor sentiment towards these stocks.Choi Jeong-wook, a researcher at Hana Securities, stated, "As the semiconductor adjustment continues, domestic institutions are persistently buying bank stocks. The Bank of Korea's interest rate hikes have also led to an increase in government bond yields, maintaining the momentum for interest rates. The strengthening of the won, which briefly fell below 1,480 won against the dollar, has further fueled expectations for improved bank fundamentals."According to Hana Securities, last week, domestic institutions sold approximately 1.6 trillion won worth of KOSPI stocks but purchased about 200 billion won in bank stocks. In contrast, foreign investors bought around 746 billion won in KOSPI stocks but sold about 109 billion won in bank stocks. This indicates that institutional funds are increasingly flowing into financial stocks amid ongoing adjustments in semiconductor shares.Market participants view the upcoming second-quarter earnings reports from banks, starting this week, as a potential factor for the continued strength of financial stocks.Choi noted, "The second-quarter earnings season kicks off this week with Shinhan Financial and KB Financial. Given the high expectations for their performance, whether they can exceed market expectations will be a key focus."He added, "While we expect bank stock prices to continue rising in the medium to long term, the recent surge may lead to temporary corrections. In the short term, we recommend focusing on bank stocks with attractive valuations."Kim, another researcher, commented, "With the second-quarter earnings season beginning this week, particularly for the banking sector, considering the solid performance improvements, it is advisable to approach this from a perspective of increasing exposure. If improvements in net interest margin (NIM) and interest income growth, along with enhanced shareholder returns, are confirmed, it could elevate the valuations of domestic banks to a new level."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-20 16:32:00