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President Lee Urges Swift Action on Mega Projects Amid Political Criticism President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need for rapid progress on the government's recently announced "three mega projects" during a meeting on July 6. In response to political attacks from opposition parties, he urged them not to obstruct the initiatives even if they cannot offer support.During the joint public-private meeting at the Blue House, President Lee stated, "In the field of advanced industries, a total national effort is underway, and the outcome will depend on who moves faster." He stressed that the government must proactively address any anticipated obstacles to allow businesses to focus on investment and operations.He added, "Delays in administrative procedures that slow down investment or execution must not occur. For instance, in the case of the Yongin industrial complex, it took six years from site confirmation to groundbreaking, which is still considered fast."President Lee pointed out that delays in compensation could extend timelines, urging that such issues be avoided. He highlighted the importance of utilizing existing environmental impact assessments rather than conducting new ones unless absolutely necessary, and if new assessments are required, they should be expedited.Specifically, he noted that if there are issues with land acquisition, negotiations should begin simultaneously with compulsory acquisition procedures. He also advised that utilities such as electricity and water should be secured proactively rather than waiting for other issues to be resolved.President Lee emphasized the critical role of local governments in the permitting process, expressing gratitude to the Gwangju City Council for establishing a semiconductor investment ordinance as its first piece of legislation.He actively countered criticism of the mega projects, stating, "Some argue about the feasibility of the projects by asking, 'Why was our region excluded?' while others claim it is a scam or an impossible event. I find it perplexing that public officials responsible for managing the nation's finances adopt such attitudes."He continued, "It would be better if critics either assume the projects are impossible or point out imbalances based on the assumption that they are feasible. I hope they will not significantly hinder efforts to create new opportunities for struggling youth, even if they cannot fully cooperate."President Lee described the initiative as a historic turning point for balanced national development, noting that there is currently a surplus in tax revenue from the semiconductor industry, which will support financial assistance for the projects.He concluded by stating, "Today, we will organize the implementation system and discuss site selection to reach a decision. I urge representatives from companies to refrain from vague discussions and instead provide specific needs."He reiterated, "Historical tasks must be approached clearly and precisely to gain momentum."On June 29 and 30, as well as July 2 and 3, President Lee unveiled the three mega projects aimed at supporting the development of advanced industries in the southwestern, central, and southeastern regions of the country. Samsung and SK Group announced plans to invest a total of 475.5 trillion won in semiconductor fabs and AI data centers in non-capital regions, including Gwangju and the southwestern area. 2026-07-06 13:56:00 -
South Korea's Forex Market Shifts to 24-Hour Trading System South Korea's foreign exchange market has transitioned to a 24-hour trading system for won-dollar transactions. Major international media outlets have described this move as a symbolic change reflecting the opening of the financial market. However, concerns have been raised that extended trading hours could increase exchange rate volatility amid a continuing depreciation of the won. As of July 6, South Korea has expanded the trading hours for won-dollar transactions to 24 hours during the week. The new schedule allows trading from 6 a.m. on Monday to 6 a.m. on Saturday. The Wall Street Journal reported that this measure aims to enhance accessibility for foreign investors in the South Korean market. Reuters also noted that this change is part of efforts to include South Korea in the MSCI developed markets index. Recently, MSCI maintained South Korea's status as an emerging market in its annual market classification. Reuters highlighted that the conditions for utilizing the South Korean foreign exchange market have been cited as a limiting factor for inclusion in the developed markets index. The timing of the implementation is critical. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that the won has been depreciating against the dollar for several months. Since the beginning of this year, the won has fallen about 6% against the dollar, showing a weak performance compared to other major currencies. On the first day of the new trading system, the won-dollar exchange rate continued to decline, starting at 1,527.41 won and rising to 1,534.15 won. Factors contributing to the won's weakness include foreign capital outflows and increased demand for dollars. The Wall Street Journal cited foreign exchange strategists from OCBC, who analyzed that selling of won-denominated assets by foreigners, increased overseas investments by domestic investors, and a strong dollar are putting pressure on the won. There are also forecasts that the won's depreciation may continue. It was explained that the downward pressure on the won could ease only if foreign selling of domestic stocks decreases or if the dollar strengthens and U.S. Treasury yields decline. Bloomberg and Reuters have reported on the potential for exchange rate instability due to the expanded trading hours. The 24-hour system allows foreign investors to buy and sell won even after the South Korean market closes, helping to mitigate exchange rate risk. However, during late-night hours when trading volume is low, even small orders can cause significant price fluctuations. This change also places a burden on bank dealing rooms and foreign exchange authorities, who will need to monitor the market overnight. Foreign exchange authorities have stated their commitment to respond to rapid exchange rate fluctuations. The domestic government believes that the current value of the won is undervalued compared to the fundamental strength of the South Korean economy. They have also indicated readiness to respond if prices fluctuate sharply due to a lack of liquidity. Major international media outlets view the 24-hour system as a turning point for the opening of South Korea's foreign exchange market. However, they emphasize that for this system to serve as a practical stepping stone for inclusion in the MSCI developed markets index, sufficient trading volume and stable market operations during nighttime hours must be ensured.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 13:52:00 -
ATEEZ's new album debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - K-pop boy group ATEEZ's latest album debuted atop the Billboard's main albums chart this week, the American music chart said on Sunday. ATEEZ's 14th mini-album, "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5," which was released on June 26, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the week ending on July 11, marking the group's third chart-topper after "THE WORLD EP.FIN : WILL" in 2023 and "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2" in 2024. According to Billboard, the eight-member group have now racked up nine top 10 albums on the chart, the most among all acts in the 2020s, beginning with their first top 10 entry in 2022. In South Korea, "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5," which contains five tracks, also got off to an explosive start, selling more than 1.88 million copies in its first week of release. ATEEZ, who appeared on NBC's "The Kelly Clarkson Show" last week to promote the album, will meet fans in South Korea next week before heading to Japan for another fan meeting next month. 2026-07-06 13:44:27 -
Controversy Surrounds Girl Group Lissenne's Use of Gyeongsang Dialect The controversy surrounding Won, a member of the girl group Lissenne from Geoje, over her use of the Gyeongsang dialect expression "Musubno" has escalated to the political arena, intensifying criticism against her. On July 5, various online communities and social media platforms saw a surge of posts targeting former representative Cho Kuk and the Gyeongnam MBC PD who initially raised the issue. One user commented, "While Lissenne's Minami and Won are revitalizing local cities through their pure collaboration and cultural diplomacy, some politicians are stuck in their rooms, contemplating how to frame dialect grammar and impose an Ilbe narrative. It's shallow to use the healthy and harmless narratives created by young people as fuel for the outdated political arena. Can't they see why their support among those in their 20s is at rock bottom?" Another user pointed out that the Democratic Party was among the most vocal in the impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun, stating, "Wasn't it the Democratic Party that led the charge against Roh's impeachment? The same party that discussed permanent expulsion and was behind the media that shamed him during the bribery scandal?" They added, "It's more disgusting to see them politically exploit him now after treating him this way when he was alive. If they had shown even 1% of the respect they are now pretending to have, it would have sufficed." Additional comments included, "Ilbe has been irrelevant for over a decade, yet they keep bringing it up. Even after taking power, they only talk about insurrection without any progress," and, "People who actually use the regional dialect are the ones suffering. It's excessive to politicize dialects." The controversy began on July 1 when a PD from Gyeongnam MBC, reportedly from Busan, posted on social media criticizing the use of the "-no" expression by Lissenne's Won in broadcasts and YouTube content. The PD expressed disappointment, stating, "I was upset to see a female idol and PD exchanging '-no' in a well-received YouTube clip." As the post gained traction, netizens responded, questioning why it was an issue for Won to use her hometown dialect, with comments like, "Is dialect now subject to censorship?" The Korean Language Institute at Dong-A University also noted that "-no" is used in southeastern dialects not only for questions but also for exclamations and monologues. However, the PD maintained their stance, stating, "Many speakers and researchers of Gyeongsang dialect have pointed out that the current use of '-no' is not grammatically correct," and added in a follow-up statement, "If there are people who feel hurt by its use, we need to reconsider using '-no.'" 2026-07-06 13:44:00 -
Sookmyung scientists find bone benefit in ginseng SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) - Mice with weakened bones got stronger after being fed particles extracted from red ginseng, according to a new study out of Sookmyung Women's University. The finding is early, but it gives South Korean researchers a concrete lead on turning the country's best-known health root into an actual osteoporosis drug. The particles are called red ginseng-derived nanovesicles, or RGNVs. Think of them as microscopic delivery pouches, roughly 200 nanometers wide, wrapped in a fatty double membrane and stuffed with ginsenosides, the active compounds that give ginseng its reputation. There are functional proteins in there too. The researchers checked the particles under an electron microscope and ran nanoparticle tracking to confirm what they had. Bone health comes down to a constant tug-of-war. Osteoblasts lay down new bone. Osteoclasts break down old bones. When a person loses estrogen, as happens at menopause, the osteoclasts start winning, and bone density drops. That is osteoporosis. In lab tests, the ginseng nanovesicles tipped the fight the other way, pushing osteoblasts to build while dialing back osteoclast activity. To see if that held up in a living animal, the team removed the ovaries of mice to replicate postmenopausal bone loss, then fed some of them RGNVs. Those mice lost less bone overall. Their thigh bones came back denser, the spongy internal bone structure looked healthier under the microscope, and blood tests showed lower levels of the markers that signal active bone breakdown. Professors Mun Se-hwan and Yang Young at Sookmyung Women's University's Department of Biological Sciences led the work. Cho Young-eun of Gyeongkuk National University (GKNU) also contributed. The paper ran in June 2026 in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a journal with an impact factor of 12.6. Ginseng has been used in Korean medicine for centuries, mostly on faith and tradition. What this study adds is a mechanism, a specific set of nanoscale particles doing a specific job in bone cells, the kind of detail a drug developer could actually work with. Mun said: "Through joint research that included bone microstructure analysis and histological evaluation in an osteoporosis animal model, we confirmed the actual bone-protective effect of RGNVs. We expect this study to become a foundation for developing natural-product-based nanobio materials for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases." (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (IF 12.6, JCR top 1.9%) Title: Red ginseng-derived nanovesicles to modulate osteoblast and osteoclastogenesis for osteoporosis therapy Link/DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajps.2026.101168 2026-07-06 13:42:33 -
Court Denies Moshtan's Request to Halt Second Travel Ban Moshtan, a former professor at Liberty University, is facing allegations of defaming President Lee Jae-myung by spreading false information. He requested the court to suspend the enforcement of a second travel ban, but his request was denied.On July 6, Judge Kim Tae-hwan of the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed Moshtan's application to halt the travel ban imposed by the Minister of Justice.Moshtan filed the request to suspend the travel ban until 30 days after the ruling on his main lawsuit seeking to cancel the second travel ban.The court acknowledged that the second travel ban could cause Moshtan irreparable harm and that there was an urgent need to prevent such harm. However, it also expressed concerns that suspending the ban could negatively impact public welfare.Moshtan previously made statements at a press conference in the United States last year, claiming that President Lee was involved in a murder case during his youth, which led to his detention in a juvenile facility and prevented him from attending middle and high school. The police have since charged Moshtan with defamation against the president.On May 28, when Moshtan returned to South Korea, the police requested his presence for questioning. After he failed to comply, they sought a travel ban from the Ministry of Justice.Subsequently, on July 1, the police transferred Moshtan to prosecutors on charges of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, and the Ministry of Justice extended the travel ban until July 31.Moshtan had previously filed a lawsuit and a request for suspension against the first travel ban, which was denied. His team has since filed an immediate appeal.Additionally, Moshtan requested to disqualify the presiding judge in the first travel ban case, citing concerns about a fair trial, but this request was also denied, prompting him to file an immediate appeal.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 13:40:00 -
Prosecutor Park Sang-yong Reveals Extension of Travel Ban, Claims No Investigation Conducted Park Sang-yong, a deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, has publicly disclosed the extension notice of his travel ban, asserting that he has not undergone any investigation in the past three months. On July 6, Park shared the notice from the Ministry of Justice regarding the extension of his travel ban on his social media accounts, along with a related news photo. According to the notice Park released, the Ministry of Justice extended his travel ban for one month until July 6, citing "case investigation" as the reason, with the requesting agency listed as the "Special Prosecutor's Office of Kwon Young-bin." "Today marks the last day of the travel ban, which the special prosecutor claimed was due to a 'massive national scandal,'" Park stated. "During this time, there has been no investigation or inquiry, only continuous extensions of the travel ban." He added, "The only thing resembling an investigation has been the travel ban itself, and the special prosecutor's claim that they replaced the special prosecutor due to fairness concerns is false." Park further argued, "If there is a substantial national scandal and no investigation is being conducted, that constitutes dereliction of duty. Conversely, if there is no substance and the travel ban is enforced as if there were, that is an abuse of power. The special prosecutor should apologize for using the term 'massive national scandal' and immediately lift the travel ban." Park is under investigation by the second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, regarding allegations of interference in the investigation of the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case. The team converted Park's status to that of a suspect in April and imposed the travel ban at that time.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 13:40:00 -
Kim Han-kyu: No Plans to Delay Criminal Procedure Law Reform Kim Han-kyu, the Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party, stated on July 6 that he has no intention of delaying the processing of the Criminal Procedure Law amendment until after the party convention. He emphasized that he will not make political judgments that should be left to the next party leader. Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Kim said, "The abolition of supplementary investigative authority has been established as the party's position, and it is not a matter for further discussion." He added, "Some members of the Legal Affairs Committee expressed concerns about potential issues arising from the abolition of supplementary investigative authority. However, there is no need to revisit this debate given the significant internal consensus within the party." He also explained that the Criminal Procedure Law task force will consist of the policy committee vice chair, the Deputy Floor Leader, and the secretaries of the Legal Affairs and Public Administration committees, stating, "The formation of the task force is in line with party practices." This statement comes amid speculation that the party intentionally excluded lawmaker Kim Yong-min, known for his strong stance on prosecutorial reform. Kim clarified that the opinions of Kim Yong-min will also be taken into account in the discussions. Meanwhile, Chief Spokesperson Kang Jun-hyun announced after a Supreme Council meeting that a task force for the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Law, including the abolition of supplementary investigative authority, has been launched. He indicated that a final proposal will be prepared through coordination. However, Spokesperson Park Ji-hye noted that no specific timeline has been set for the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Law. 2026-07-06 13:40:00 -
England Defeats Mexico 3-2 to Reach Quarterfinals of 2026 World Cup England secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup by defeating co-host Mexico 3-2. On July 6, England triumphed over Mexico in the Round of 16 match held at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The game started an hour late due to severe weather conditions. England took the lead in the 36th minute with a goal from Jude Bellingham. Just two minutes later, Bellingham scored again, giving England a 2-0 advantage. Mexico responded with a goal from Julian Quinones in the 42nd minute, narrowing the gap. The second half brought unexpected developments. England faced a setback when Jarel Kwanza was sent off in the 54th minute, leaving them a man down. However, Harry Kane extended the lead with a successful penalty kick in the 60th minute. Mexico's Raul Jimenez scored from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, but they could not equalize. With this victory, England advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face Norway, who defeated Brazil. Despite strong support from home fans, Mexico's efforts in the final moments were not enough to overcome the one-goal deficit, ending their run in the tournament.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 13:36:00 -
Russia Launches Major Missile Attack on Kyiv, Killing at Least 7 Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv with drone and missile strikes, resulting in at least seven fatalities. The attack occurred just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of the possibility of further large-scale assaults by Russia. According to reports from the Associated Press and other outlets, Russia launched an assault early on July 6, utilizing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The Kyiv military administration reported that at least seven people were killed and 24 others injured in the strikes. In the Podilskyi district of Kyiv, parts of residential buildings collapsed. Several high-rise buildings in the Darnytsia district were also damaged, raising concerns that individuals may be trapped under the debris. This attack comes as Russia has been intensifying long-range strikes against Kyiv. Just days earlier, between the night of July 1 and the early hours of July 2, Russian attacks resulted in at least 31 deaths in Kyiv, marking one of the worst incidents since the conflict began in 2022. In response, Ukraine has been expanding its long-range strikes targeting Russian oil facilities and energy infrastructure. Russia, in turn, has ramped up its missile and drone attacks on major cities, including Kyiv. President Zelensky has repeatedly urged Western nations to increase air defense support, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced systems such as Patriot missiles.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-07-06 13:28:00