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  • Iran Strikes Back with Missile and Drone Attacks on Gulf Nations Following U.S. Airstrikes
    Iran Strikes Back with Missile and Drone Attacks on Gulf Nations Following U.S. Airstrikes As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, reports indicate that Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar on July 9.According to the Associated Press, the U.S. conducted additional airstrikes against Iran early that morning. In response, Iran initiated retaliatory strikes against the three Gulf nations.Iranian military officials had warned the day before that they would hold the U.S. accountable as American airstrikes continued for a second day.Details on the extent of damage in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar have not yet been reported. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry urged citizens and residents via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to remain calm and seek safety in nearby secure locations. The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry also stated that its air defense systems intercepted the missile and drone attacks.Previously, the U.S. struck Iranian military and port facilities in southern Iran on July 7 after Iran attacked several commercial vessels near the coast of Oman. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.President Donald Trump commented on Iran's attacks on vessels, indicating that the fragile ceasefire was effectively over and warning of a strong response.U.S. airstrikes continued on July 8. Following the second day of strikes, Iranian military officials reiterated their intent to retaliate, targeting U.S. facilities in the Persian Gulf.President Trump later posted videos on Truth Social, claiming they showed explosions in Iran, stating, "This is retaliation for the bombing of Iranian vessels yesterday." He added, "If this happens again, the situation will become much worse."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:16:00
  • SK to Establish Global Standards for Measuring Social Value in the AI Era
    SK to Establish Global Standards for Measuring Social Value in the AI Era SK is taking steps to establish global standards for objectively measuring the social value of companies in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative aims to enhance the social value measurement system, built on Chairman Chey Tae-won's 'Double Bottom Line' management philosophy, and expand it as a global standard.On July 9, the Social Value Research Institute, established by SK, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the SKT Tower in Seoul with SK Telecom and Japan's SoftBank Corp. to strengthen cooperation in measuring social value in the AI and ICT sectors.This agreement builds on the collaborative research outcomes from the first MOU signed in 2024, aiming to further enhance cooperation in measuring social value in the AI and ICT fields and jointly develop measurement methodologies suitable for the AI era.The three organizations plan to develop methodologies that reflect the new economic, environmental, and social impacts arising from the spread of AI technology. They will work together on joint research, case studies, research reports, and international forums to create internationally applicable standards for measuring social value.This agreement marks a significant turning point in expanding the experience gained from measuring social value over the past two years to align with the AI era and develop it into a global standard.The Social Value Research Institute's efforts align with Chairman Chey Tae-won's DBL management philosophy. The institute has continuously researched and developed monetization measurement methodologies, applying them in corporate settings and promoting them domestically and internationally.Building on these research achievements, the three organizations signed their first MOU in 2024 and launched a joint project to apply the DBL-based social value measurement system to SoftBank.Additionally, the organizations have shared examples of social value measurement at domestic and international events, such as the 2025 Korea Social Value Festival and the Beijing Forum, highlighting the necessity and application of these measures. This demonstrates that measuring social value can transcend internal management metrics and serve as a new management language for communicating with global stakeholders, as well as a core management system for sustainable management.Na Seok-gwon, head of the Social Value Research Institute, stated, "In the AI era, it will be increasingly important to objectively measure the value that corporate activities utilizing AI create for society, rather than the technology itself. We will work to establish social value measurement standards that can be utilized in the international community."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:12:00
  • KB Financial Group Invests 200 Million Won to Discover Young Social Innovators
    KB Financial Group Invests 200 Million Won to Discover Young Social Innovators KB Financial Group announced on July 9 that it is partnering with Hope Maker to launch the '2026 Social Designer Project.' The initiative aims to discover young social innovators. KB Financial is investing a total of 200 million won to support the entire process, from identifying cases to citizen validation, content creation, and spreading results. Applications will be accepted until September 30, and any young social innovator operating a model to solve local issues can apply, regardless of their organizational form. The selected innovators will participate in a social impact investment (SIR) competition, where approximately 200 citizen judges will determine the distribution of a total investment of 40 million won. KB Financial believes this project will enhance the effectiveness of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities while expanding connections with the local youth ecosystem. A representative from KB Financial stated, "This aligns with our goal of transforming local issues into sustainable services and businesses, and we will actively support the activities of young social innovators to reach more citizens and communities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:12:00
  • Investigation into Voting Paper Shortage Progresses as Officials are Questioned
    Investigation into Voting Paper Shortage Progresses as Officials are Questioned The joint investigation team probing the voting paper shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections has begun investigating the research project commissioned by the National Election Commission (NEC) that served as the basis for reducing the printing volume of voting papers. The aim is to examine whether the NEC's internal decision-making process was appropriate when it lowered the minimum printing standard to 50% of the number of voters.According to legal sources on July 9, the joint investigation team, led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, plans to summon one official involved in the NEC's research project as a witness for questioning. They also intend to question one official each from the Seoul City Election Commission, the Seocho District Election Commission, and the Gwangjin District Election Commission.The Korea Administrative Research Institute conducted a study in 2022 on improving election procedures at the request of the NEC. After completing the research, the institute submitted a report titled "Improvement Measures for Election Procedures - Focusing on City and County Committees" to the NEC in December of the same year.The report reportedly suggested reducing the printing volume of voting papers used on election day, citing issues such as the high number of discarded voting papers and a lack of storage space for them. Following this, the NEC is said to have utilized the report to lower the printing volume from over 60% to over 50% of the number of voters.The report included opinions on the necessity of reducing the printing volume of voting papers and noted instances where papers were stored in city and county committee meeting rooms due to a lack of storage space before distribution on the morning of election day. It also raised concerns about potential security issues from storing election materials and voting papers together, and suggested delaying the start time for early voting due to excessively early arrival times for election commission staff.The joint investigation team plans to verify the appropriateness of the research project commissioning and execution, the content of the report, and the process by which the report led to the actual policy of reducing voting paper printing. They will also investigate what internal reviews and approvals the research results underwent before being reflected in policy.Additionally, the investigation team is looking into the circumstances surrounding the disposal of voting paper storage boxes. The Seoul Eastern District Court conducted an on-site verification at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong on June 10 to secure evidence related to the voting paper shortage but found that the storage boxes in question had been disposed of.The election commission reportedly stated that the boxes were disposed of before they received the court's list of items to be preserved as evidence. The joint investigation team plans to confirm the timing and directives regarding the disposal of the storage boxes with officials from the Seoul City Election Commission. Previously, on July 3, the team also questioned officials from the Seocho District Election Commission who were responsible for operations related to the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong.This investigation marks a significant step in questioning officials based on materials secured following a search and seizure operation. On June 11, the joint investigation team conducted searches at seven locations, including the NEC and the Seoul City Election Commission, to gather materials related to the voting paper shortage.The scope of the joint investigation is expanding to encompass the entire election commission. The investigation team has recently received additional personnel from the prosecution and police to form a dedicated team focused on personnel and budget issues. This team is looking into allegations of hiring irregularities and overseas business trips raised in the political arena. The team is led by Lim Hong-seok, a senior prosecutor at the Tongyeong branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, who has experience with the Das Special Investigation Team.Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung directed the expansion of the joint investigation team during a cabinet meeting last month, instructing them to also investigate budget issues and hiring irregularities within the election commission. Consequently, the joint investigation team plans to broaden its scope to include inquiries into the overall operations of the election commission alongside identifying the causes of the voting paper shortage.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:12:00
  • LG Display Publishes Study on Gaming OLED Monitor Performance
    LG Display Publishes Study on Gaming OLED Monitor Performance LG Display announced on July 9 that it has completed performance experiments analyzing the impact of refresh rates on gaming monitor performance and has presented the findings at international conferences.According to the paper titled "Analysis of the Impact of Refresh Rate on FPS Game Performance," using monitors with higher refresh rates improves users' ability to identify moving objects on the screen, enhancing both reaction speed and accuracy.Refresh rate refers to the number of times a display refreshes the image per second. A refresh rate of 60Hz means the screen updates 60 times in one second, while 480Hz means it updates 480 times. High refresh rates are particularly crucial in first-person shooter (FPS) games, where quick judgment and rapid response can determine victory or defeat.The experiment involved 31 adult gamers and was conducted using a blind test format. Participants experienced FPS games in four different refresh rate environments: 60Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz, and 480Hz, in random order. Both quantitative metrics, reflecting actual game results, and qualitative metrics, based on user experience, were measured.Quantitative assessments included the "hit score," which indicates the number of targets hit, and the "event interval time," which measures the time taken to eliminate a target from the moment a specific situation occurs. Qualitative assessments evaluated the smoothness of screen transitions, ease of target tracking, and overall preference on a five-point scale.The results showed a significant improvement in actual game performance in high refresh rate environments. The hit score for accurately hitting targets improved by 38% in the 480Hz environment compared to the lowest refresh rate of 60Hz.Notably, performance continued to improve even beyond the already high refresh rate of 240Hz. The 480Hz environment showed an additional 10% increase in win rate compared to 240Hz. This counters the perception that users may not notice performance differences beyond a certain refresh rate, demonstrating that higher refresh rates can lead to actual improvements in gaming performance.User satisfaction also increased with higher refresh rates. Participants reported that as the refresh rate increased, screen transitions became smoother, and tracking fast-moving enemies became easier. Consequently, overall preference for the monitors also rose.LG Display explained that these results are linked to the physical characteristics of OLED technology. As refresh rates increase, OLED can reduce input lag—the time it takes for user input signals to be reflected on the screen—and minimize motion blur, where quickly moving objects appear blurry.In this experiment, the input lag time in the 480Hz environment was reduced by more than 10ms compared to 60Hz. This allowed users to receive information displayed on the screen more quickly, enabling them to more accurately identify and respond to the positions of moving enemies.Based on these research findings, LG Display plans to strengthen its strategy in the ultra-high refresh rate gaming OLED market. As the refresh rate competition in the gaming monitor market moves beyond 500Hz towards 700Hz, the company aims to leverage high refresh rates as a technological advantage that enhances user experience and gaming performance.In May, LG Display developed a "27-inch 540·720Hz DFR OLED" panel that achieves world-class refresh rates. This product received the prestigious "Display of the Year" award from the Society for Information Display (SID), the leading display conference in the world.Choi Young-seok, Chief Technology Officer of LG Display, stated, "Based on our experience in commercializing products with overwhelming performance, such as the 27-inch 720Hz DFR OLED, we will secure key technologies for next-generation displays and further strengthen our technological competitiveness in the gaming display industry."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:08:00
  • High-Yield Camping Site Investments Could Lead to Financial Loss
    High-Yield Camping Site Investments Could Lead to Financial Loss On July 9, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport warned the public about illegal schemes promoting investments in camping sites. These schemes often promise high returns, with one operator in Gyeonggi Province selling camping site memberships worth 100 million won.Under current law, individual sales or memberships for camping sites are prohibited. Camping sites must be registered and operated as a whole by the business operator, making the sale of individual plots or shares a violation of the Tourism Promotion Act.Operators engaging in illegal sales of camping sites could face up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million won. Additionally, if an operator's registration is revoked, it could restrict property rights for individual plots, making it difficult for investors to recover their funds, especially since shareholders cannot sell land without the consent of other shareholders.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:08:00
  • President Lees Approval Rating at 43.8%; Democratic Party at 39.2%, People Power Party at 25.3%
    President Lee's Approval Rating at 43.8%; Democratic Party at 39.2%, People Power Party at 25.3% President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating stands at 43.8%, according to a recent public opinion poll. On July 8, Cookie News commissioned Hankyoreh Research to survey 1,004 adults aged 18 and older nationwide from July 4 to 6. The results showed that 53.0% of respondents disapproved of the president's performance, while 43.8% approved. Additionally, 3.1% of respondents were unsure. Regionally, the highest disapproval rating was recorded in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province at 57.5%, followed by Seoul at 55.2%. Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province reported a disapproval rate of 60.8%, the highest in the country. Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province also had a disapproval rate of 53.8%, above the national average. In contrast, the Honam region showed a positive approval rating of 67.5%. By political party, the Democratic Party garnered 39.2% support, while the People Power Party received 25.3%, resulting in a gap of 13.9 percentage points between the two parties. The Justice Reform Party received 4.4%, other parties 4.1%, the Reform Party 2.8%, and the Progressive Party 2.2%. Meanwhile, 19.3% of respondents indicated they did not support any party, and 2.7% were unsure, leading to a total of 22.0% of undecided voters. The survey was conducted using 1.4% landline interviews and 98.6% mobile ARS. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 1.4%. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:08:00
  • Starbucks Korea resumes promotions after Tank Day backlash
    Starbucks Korea resumes promotions after 'Tank Day' backlash SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - Starbucks Korea is relaunching customer promotions after a marketing controversy over the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising forced the company to close every store in the country simultaneously for staff training, something it had never done in its 27 years in Korea. The coffee chain said Tuesday it will give free drink coupons and food discount coupons to all Starbucks Rewards members through Aug. 14. Existing members received the coupons the same day, and anyone who joins by July 31 will get theirs the day after signing up. Starbucks Korea's rewards program had about 15 million members as of early this year. The free drink coupon covers one tall-size iced Caffe Americano, iced Caffe Latte or iced Vanilla Latte, or their hot equivalents. At regular prices, that is a drink worth 4,700 won for the Americano and 5,200 won for the two latte options. A separate coupon offers 30 percent off sandwiches, cakes, bread and ice cream. The campaign marks a return to normal marketing for Starbucks Korea. The company spent much of June managing fallout from a tumbler promotion tied to May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement crushed by South Korea's military government in 1980. The event was branded "Tank Day," a name critics said evoked the tanks the military sent into Gwangju. Its tagline, "tak on the desk," echoed a notorious 1987 police cover-up in which officials claimed a student activist died after they "hit the desk" during interrogation. Both references touch on some of the most painful chapters in modern Korean history. The backlash was swift. Within days, Starbucks Korea's chief executive was dismissed and the company opened an internal investigation. Its chairman issued a public apology. Starbucks Korea also temporarily eased refund rules for prepaid gift cards and postponed planned promotions and summer menu launches. The response culminated on June 22. All of Starbucks Korea's roughly 2,160 stores nationwide closed early, at 3 p.m., so employees could watch training sessions on Korean history and social sensitivity. The chain had never done that before in the 27 years since its first store opened in Seoul in 1999. Shinsegae Group, which controls Starbucks Korea through its E-Mart division, said executives across its affiliates would undergo the same training. Since then, the company has gradually eased back into business as usual. It relaunched its delayed summer products in late June before restarting rewards promotions this week. A Starbucks Korea official described the summer coupon event as part of a customer benefit program the company has run for years, rather than a response to the controversy. Starbucks Korea has rolled out several other rewards-member promotions this year, including size-up offers on cold brew and other drinks in April, a cherry blossom merchandise event in March, buy-one-get-one coupons in January, and 30 percent drink discount coupons in January, February and April. 2026-07-09 11:04:32
  • South Korea Expands Trade Security to Industrial Security, Promises Increased Government Support
    South Korea Expands Trade Security to Industrial Security, Promises Increased Government Support The South Korean government has announced plans to expand its focus from trade security, centered on managing strategic materials, to industrial security aimed at protecting industrial competitiveness. This shift comes as competition for technology and resources among major countries intensifies, alongside geopolitical conflicts, making export controls, supply chain stability, and advanced technology protection critical for corporate competitiveness.On July 9, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the '2026 Trade Security Day' event at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, attended by over 350 participants, including export companies, relevant agencies, and diplomatic representatives. This year marks the 16th annual celebration of Trade Security Day, which has been held since 2011.Trade security is increasingly becoming a part of corporate risk management. As sanctions against Russia, advanced technology controls on China, and export controls on critical minerals become more complex, companies that fail to conduct prior item assessments and counterparty checks, or establish internal compliance systems, risk export disruptions and sanctions.During a pre-event forum, the Industrial Trade Security Forum presented recommendations for 'Trade Security 2.0.' Composed of members from academia, research, and industry, the forum delivered three key policy suggestions to the government: redefining trade security to focus on industrial protection and competitiveness enhancement, promoting proactive trade security negotiation strategies, and ensuring joint responsibility for trade security between the government and private sector.Additional activities included an international seminar with policy researchers from South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as well as workshops for CP companies, CEO training, and business consultations. The business consultation session featured officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy responsible for export permits, major law firms such as Kim & Chang and Pacific, the Trade Security Management Agency, and KOTRA, providing advice on export control systems and response strategies. The Ministry has also introduced a new export control consulting menu within its export voucher program to support companies facing difficulties due to major countries' export controls. This initiative was announced on July 8.The Ministry plans to continue supporting export companies and relevant agencies in enhancing their trade security capabilities in response to changes in the economic security environment.Yang Gi-wook, head of the Ministry's Industrial Resource Security Office, stated, 'As competition for technology and resources among major countries and geopolitical conflicts intensify, industrial security that can protect our industry is essential for national competitiveness. While existing trade security focused on managing strategic materials agreed upon in the international system, we will proactively strengthen industrial security through strategic export controls, advanced technology protection, and supply chain stabilization.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:04:00
  • Government Raises Eight Foreign Technical Regulations at WTO to Address Export Challenges
    Government Raises Eight Foreign Technical Regulations at WTO to Address Export Challenges The government has raised eight foreign technical regulations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee that could hinder exports for domestic companies.The National Institute of Technology and Standards and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety participated in the second WTO TBT Committee meeting held from July 7 to 10, 2026, to negotiate solutions to export challenges caused by these foreign regulations.The regulations identified by the government as specific trade concerns include the European Union's packaging waste regulations, single-use plastics directive, perfluorinated compounds regulation, Indonesia's tire national certification (SNI) regulation, and a draft decree on cosmetics management in Vietnam.These regulations are introduced under the guise of environmental, safety, and quality management. However, they can lead to increased testing and certification costs, customs delays, and product design changes for companies. This burden is particularly significant for industries like semiconductors, batteries, and displays, which are globally interconnected and may need to adjust production and export strategies in response to changes in foreign technical regulations.Recently, foreign technical regulations have expanded beyond simple quality standards to include carbon emissions, recycling, hazardous substances, and supply chain transparency. As a result, a company's export competitiveness may increasingly depend on how quickly it can understand and respond to various national regulations, in addition to price and quality.During the committee meeting, a special session on lithium batteries was also held, featuring domestic experts as moderators and speakers. They discussed the K-battery industry and the concerns faced by the industry in responding to global regulations, including the EU battery regulation. Choi Yo-han, head of the Life Cycle Assessment Team at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, served as the moderator, while Park Jung-won, head of the Trade and Environmental Affairs Division at the Battery Association, participated as a speaker.Kim Dae-ja, head of the National Institute of Technology and Standards, stated, "The government will actively work to resolve the challenges faced by our export companies due to foreign technical regulations," and urged the industry to make full use of the government's TBT consultation channels to address these export difficulties.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-09 11:04:00