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Fair Trade Commission to Educate Major Corporations on Subcontract Payment Disclosure and Linkage System 공정 당국이 102개 공시대상기업집단을 대상으로 하도급대금 결제조건 공시와 연동제 관련 교육에 나선다. 허위·지연공시 등 반복적으로 적발되는 사례의 재발 방지를 안내하고 최근 주요 에너지까지 확대된 하도급대금 연동제 적용 내용도 설명한다.공정거래위원회는 오는 21일 서울 중구 대한상공회의소에서 102개 공시대상기업집단 담당자를 대상으로 '하도급대금 결제조건 공시제도 및 연동제 설명회'를 개최한다고 18일 밝혔다.공시대상기업집단에 속하는 원사업자는 하도급법에 따라 하도급대금의 지급 수단별·지급 기간별 지급금액과 하도급대금 관련 분쟁조정기구에 관한 사항을 전자공시시스템(DART)에 반기마다 공시해야 한다.하도급대금 결제조건 공시제도는 원사업자의 대금 지급 실태를 공개해 자발적인 지급 관행 개선을 유도하고 수급사업자가 이를 바탕으로 지급조건을 협의할 수 있도록 하기 위해 2023년 1월 도입됐다.공정위는 내년 1~2월 진행되는 올해 하반기 공시를 앞두고 이번 설명회에서 공시 대상과 절차, 유의사항 등을 안내한다. 특히 그동안 공시 점검 과정에서 지속적으로 적발된 허위·지연공시와 단순 누락·오기 등의 사례를 중심으로 재발 방지 교육을 진행한다.기업의 공시 업무를 돕기 위한 '하도급대금 결제조건 공시 가이드라인'과 질의응답서(FAQ)도 배포한다. 가이드라인에는 공시 대상 하도급거래의 요건과 공시 방법·절차, 작성 시 유의사항 등이 담긴다.하도급대금 연동제의 최근 개정 내용도 안내한다. 원재료 가격 변동을 하도급대금에 반영하도록 하는 연동제는 2023년 10월 본격 시행됐다. 지난 2월 하도급법 개정으로 적용 범위가 '주요 에너지'까지 확대돼 지난달 11일부터 시행되고 있다.공정위는 설명회에서 주요 에너지까지 확대된 연동제의 적용 범위와 이행 절차를 설명하고 원사업자의 우회·탈법 행위 금지 등 유의사항도 안내할 예정이다.공정위 관계자는 "하도급대금 결제조건 공시제도와 연동제가 현장에서 안정적으로 운영될 수 있도록 제도 운영 전반을 점검하고 설명회와 자료 제공 등 지원 활동을 지속할 계획"이라고 밝혔다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 10:00:20 -
605 Pass the Insurance Actuary and Adjuster Exams, Down from Last Year A total of 605 candidates passed the insurance actuary and adjuster exams this year, a decrease from last year. The Financial Supervisory Service announced on the 18th that it has finalized the list of successful candidates for the 49th Insurance Actuary and Adjuster Second Examination, held on July 25-26, 2026. This year, 104 candidates passed the actuary exam, while 501 passed the adjuster exam. The number of successful actuary candidates decreased by 16 from last year's 120. A total of 962 candidates passed across five subjects, including those who passed multiple subjects, resulting in an overall pass rate of 41.2%, down 11.7 percentage points from last year's 52.9%. To pass the actuary exam, candidates must score at least 60 points in each of the five subjects within five years of passing the first exam. In the adjuster exam, 501 candidates passed, with 60 in property, 100 in vehicles, and 341 in bodily injury. This is a decrease of five from last year's 506. The overall pass rate was 12.6%, down from 13.8% the previous year. The pass rate for property adjusters was 10.6%, and for bodily injury adjusters, it was 11.8%, both lower by 0.6 and 1.4 percentage points, respectively. The vehicle adjuster pass rate increased by 0.4 percentage points to 19.2%. By age group, 80.8% of actuary passers were under 30 years old. In contrast, 55.5% of adjuster passers were over 31. The largest group of actuary passers was aged 26-30, totaling 60, while the largest group of adjuster passers was aged 31-40, totaling 184. Candidates can check their results on the Financial Supervisory Service or the Korea Insurance Development Institute websites.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 10:00:10
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Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Rise 3-4% Amid U.S. Semiconductor Surge Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are showing strong gains of 3-4% in early trading. This follows a surge in semiconductor stocks on U.S. markets and forecasts of a memory supply shortage, leading to increased buying interest in domestic semiconductor giants.As of 9:24 a.m. on the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics was trading at 260,000 won, up 7,500 won (2.97%) from the previous trading day. SK Hynix also saw a rise of 76,000 won (4.36%), trading at 1,821,000 won. The stock started the day at 1,810,000 won and reached as high as 1,825,000 won in early trading.The strength in semiconductor stocks is attributed to the rise of related stocks in the U.S. markets overnight.On September 17, all three major indices on the New York Stock Exchange closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.61%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite increased by 1.14% and 1.69%, respectively.Notably, semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) stocks led the gains. Micron surged by 5.50%, and SK Hynix's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) rose by 4.64%. Nvidia also increased by 2.54%, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbed by 3.14%.A decline in U.S. Treasury yields also supported a preference for riskier assets. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury, which briefly exceeded 5% in the previous trading session, fell to the 4.9% range. International oil prices continued to decline as concerns over supply disruptions from Saudi Arabia eased somewhat.Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, stated, "The U.S. stock market rose as it digested the hawkish results from the recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, coupled with falling international oil prices and Treasury yields. In particular, semiconductor stocks, which had been sluggish due to recent calls for a slowdown in AI development, led the gains."Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, analyzed the rise in the U.S. stock market, saying, "With the uncertainty surrounding Federal Reserve policy easing after the September FOMC, the 10-year Treasury yield fell below 5.0%. Favorable macro conditions were created by the recovery efforts of Saudi oil pipelines, leading to lower oil prices, and the bullish sentiment in semiconductor stocks like Micron and Nvidia, following Intel's CEO's comments on a projected memory supply shortage in 2027."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 10:00:00
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GC Cell's CAR-NK Therapy Approved for Use at Seoul National University Hospital GC Cell announced that its developing CD5-targeted chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) cell therapy, GCC2005, has received approval for therapeutic use from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on September 18. The approval was requested by Seoul National University Hospital, targeting patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma who have limited treatment options after receiving prior therapies. The hospital plans to administer the investigational drug GCC2005 to these patients for therapeutic purposes. The therapeutic use approval system allows for the exceptional use of investigational drugs that have not yet received formal approval for patients in critical condition or with no alternative treatment options. GCC2005 is a candidate for a first-in-class CD5-targeted allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapy that GC Cell is developing as a key part of its pipeline. CAR-NK therapy involves genetically modified natural killer (NK) cells that are designed to recognize specific antigens on cancer cells and attack them. The therapy has completed dosing for patients in the domestic Phase 1a trial and is preparing to initiate Phase 1b. The treatment will be led by Professor Byeon Ja-min of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Seoul National University Hospital. Professor Byeon is directly involved in the domestic Phase 1 trial of GCC2005 and possesses expertise and clinical experience in the mechanisms of action and treatment of T-cell and NK lymphomas. A representative from GC Cell stated, "We are now able to provide the opportunity to administer GCC2005 to patients whose conditions are urgent and have limited treatment alternatives, making it difficult to wait for participation in Phase 1b. We will continue to advance the clinical development and global strategy for GCC2005."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 10:00:00
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LS Marine Solutions Secures Record $1.57 Billion Offshore Wind Contract LS Marine Solutions has secured the largest underwater cable construction contract in South Korea, establishing a foothold in the large-scale offshore wind sector.On September 18, LS Marine Solutions announced it has signed a contract worth approximately 156.9 billion won (about $1.57 billion) for the underwater cable construction of the Shinan Uwi offshore wind project in Jeollanam-do, in partnership with Hanwha Ocean.This contract marks the largest in the company's history, amounting to about 2.2 times its annual revenue of 72.2 billion won last year.The Shinan Uwi offshore wind project has a capacity of 390 megawatts (MW) and is the first project in the total 8.2-gigawatt (GW) Shinan offshore wind belt. It is also the first large-scale offshore wind project funded entirely by domestic capital and is considered a prime example of the competitiveness of South Korea's offshore wind supply chain.LS Marine Solutions will handle the entire process of transporting, laying, and burying the underwater cables from the second half of this year until 2028. The company plans to use this contract as a stepping stone to expand its participation in subsequent projects within the Shinan offshore wind belt and other large-scale offshore wind initiatives.A company representative stated, "If issues arise after the installation of underwater cables, it can significantly impact the stability of the national power grid and energy security. The costs and time required for recovery are substantial, making experience in executing large projects and proven construction capabilities key to our competitiveness in this business."Building on its experience as the leading underwater cable construction company in South Korea, including projects in Jeollanam-do and the Jeju underwater cable connections, LS Marine Solutions is also expanding into the global market, securing contracts for the Japan-Korea undersea communication network (JAKO) project, which is being pursued by companies like Microsoft and Amazon.The representative added, "We will expand our participation in key national power grid projects, including subsequent projects in the Shinan offshore wind belt and the HVDC energy highway along the west coast, and we will intensify our efforts to penetrate global markets, including the U.S. and Europe, based on LS Cable's underwater cable production base, LS Green Link."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:56:10
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Heavy Rain Damage in Baeksu-eup, Yeonggwang County Declared a Special Disaster Zone Baeksu-eup in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla Province, has been declared a "Special Disaster Zone" following damage from heavy rainfall that occurred from August 28 to September 1.The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on September 18 that it received presidential approval around 9 p.m. on September 17 to designate Baeksu-eup as a Special Disaster Zone.During the heavy rains, Yeonggwang County experienced rainfall of up to 107.5 mm per hour, with a total accumulation of 579.5 mm. This resulted in flooding of homes and agricultural land, as well as significant damage to roads and rivers.A joint investigation conducted by the ministry from September 11 to 14 confirmed that Baeksu-eup met the criteria for the Special Disaster Zone declaration.Areas designated as Special Disaster Zones will receive additional national funding to help cover some of the recovery costs that local governments are responsible for.Additionally, affected residents will receive disaster relief funds, as well as deferred payments for national and local taxes and reductions in utility bills, regardless of the Special Disaster Zone designation.Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, stated, "We will establish a swift recovery plan and execute the budget for recovery to help affected residents return to their daily lives as soon as possible."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:56:00
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Small Business Agency Holds Q3 Labor-Management Council Meeting and Shopping Event for Chuseok The Small Business Market Promotion Agency announced that it held its third-quarter Labor-Management Council meeting on September 17 in Dream Square, Mapo District, Seoul, followed by a shopping event at Mangwon Market in preparation for Chuseok.This meeting was conducted in an open format, allowing employees to participate, moving away from the previous approach that primarily involved agency leaders and union representatives.The agency plans to foster a trusted labor-management culture based on participation and communication among its members.Following the meeting, officials visited Mangwon Market to assess the supply and price trends of essential goods and to listen to on-site concerns.The items purchased during the shopping event will be delivered to four senior centers in the area, including Songbaek, Seorim, Daeju, and Ochil, through the Mangwon 1-dong Community Center, benefiting elderly residents living alone.Additionally, a community service activity titled 'Community Coexistence Sharing Volunteer Activity' was conducted for elderly individuals living alone in Dong-gu, Daejeon, where the proportion of solitary seniors is high.A volunteer team of 10 from the agency delivered blankets and 10 kg of rice to 50 households of elderly individuals living alone and provided companionship services to check on their well-being and health.Intae Yeon, the agency's director, stated, "We will continue to engage in field-centered social contribution activities with our employees to collaboratively address community issues and promote coexistence."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:56:00
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Telecom Companies Launch AI Communication System for Chuseok Holiday, Offering Free Video Calls The three major telecommunications companies in South Korea—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—are implementing a special communication system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare for increased communication traffic during the Chuseok holiday. They will also offer free video call services during this period.On September 18, the companies announced that they will operate a situation room from September 24 to 27, coinciding with the Chuseok holiday, to manage the anticipated surge in communication traffic.SK Telecom will coordinate its response through a comprehensive situation room linked with regional centers. During the holiday, a total of 3,625 personnel from SK Telecom, SK Broadband, SK O&S, and Home & Service, along with maintenance partners, will monitor the national communication network around the clock.The company plans to operate an AI-based network through its Network Monitoring Center (NMC), utilizing its self-developed wireless network AI operation system, A-One, to analyze nationwide network traffic and equipment status in real time. Additionally, the core network AI integrated monitoring system, Spider, will be used to continuously monitor for anomalies.KT has designated the period from September 23 to 27 as a 'network intensive management period' to check communication quality at major transportation hubs.They will also monitor 5G and LTE base stations in densely populated areas 24/7, while enhancing security monitoring to prevent smishing and cyber attacks.LG Uplus has also activated an emergency operation system, pre-checking base stations in key areas such as highways. To accommodate the expected increase in usage of U+TV and online video services, they are expanding server capacity. A comprehensive situation room will be operated at their Magok headquarters, with 24/7 monitoring planned during the holiday, utilizing the AI-based autonomous operation network platform, AION, to track real-time traffic changes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:52:10
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HD Hyundai Electric Enters European Offshore Wind Market with Transformers and Reactors HD Hyundai Electric has become the first domestic power equipment company to supply transformers and reactors to a European offshore wind farm.On September 17, HD Hyundai Electric announced the departure of a large offshore substation (OSS) via a post on its official LinkedIn account. The post featured images of the 275kV transformers and reactors being installed at the offshore substation as it left the PTSC M&C yard in Vung Tau, Vietnam, heading to the site in the Baltic Sea off Poland.This shipment marks the first instance of a domestic power equipment company transporting transformers and reactors to a European offshore wind farm. Since entering the European offshore wind market, HD Hyundai Electric has demonstrated its capability to manufacture and deliver key power equipment for global projects.The 'Sail Away Ceremony' to commemorate the departure was held on September 12 at the PTSC yard in Vung Tau. Key representatives from Ørsted, Semco Maritime, and HD Hyundai Electric attended the event to celebrate the substation's departure.The 275kV transformers and reactors supplied by HD Hyundai Electric will be utilized in the Baltica 2 project, which is being developed approximately 40 kilometers offshore Poland by Danish energy company Ørsted and Polish state-owned power company PGE.The offshore substation is a critical facility that collects electricity generated by offshore wind turbines and transmits it to the onshore power grid. It converts the electricity to a suitable voltage for transmission and delivers it through undersea cables to the onshore grid.The transformers supplied for this project will boost the wind power output to high voltage for long-distance transmission, while the reactors will help stabilize the power supply by reducing unnecessary voltage fluctuations in the grid. As the number of large offshore wind farms increases, the importance of power equipment for reliably transmitting generated electricity to the onshore grid is also growing.Power equipment for offshore wind applications must operate reliably for extended periods in harsh marine environments characterized by salt, humidity, vibration, and temperature changes. Therefore, they are typically held to higher standards of reliability and quality than land-based equipment, as access for maintenance is limited after installation.By supplying the 275kV transformers and reactors capable of meeting these operational conditions, HD Hyundai Electric has once again proven its technological prowess and product competitiveness in the offshore wind sector. As the first domestic power equipment company to reach the actual delivery stage of a European offshore wind project, the company is expected to strengthen its position for future expansion in the global market.A representative from HD Hyundai Electric stated, "The Baltica 2 project is an important example showcasing HD Hyundai Electric's technology and product competitiveness in the European offshore wind market, which demands high reliability. We will continue to enhance our technological competitiveness in the offshore wind and eco-friendly energy sectors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:52:00
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Seoul Commercial Real Estate Transactions Reach 2.6 Trillion Won Amid Shift in Deal Dynamics The Seoul commercial and office real estate market is experiencing a shift as the influence of large transactions on overall deal volume has lessened, leading to a more distributed pattern of mid-sized deals. According to a report from AlSquare on September 18, AlSquare Analytics analyzed data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, revealing that in July, the transaction volume for Seoul's commercial and office real estate reached 2.6272 trillion won, with 184 transactions recorded. The number of transactions increased by 12 from the previous month’s 172, marking a 7.0% rise. However, the transaction volume decreased by 1.843 trillion won from June’s 2.8115 trillion won, a decline of 6.6%. The average transaction value also fell from 16.35 billion won to 14.28 billion won, a drop of 12.6%. Notably, the impact of large transactions, which typically drive the overall volume, has diminished compared to the previous month. In both June and July, there were six transactions exceeding 1 billion won, but in June, the largest transaction was worth 8.112 billion won, accounting for 28.9% of the total monthly volume. In contrast, July's largest transaction was valued at 4.450 billion won, representing only 16.9% of the total. The most significant transaction in July was the sale of the Gangnam 358 Tower in Yeoksam-dong for 4.450 billion won. Other notable transactions included the Homeplus Yeongdeungpo store at 3.500 billion won, the LC Tower in Donggyo-dong at 2.650 billion won, the A1 Tower in Dangsan-dong at 1.630 billion won, the Case Square in Donggyo-dong at 1.500 billion won, and the G Square in Gwanghwamun at 1.210 billion won. This trend indicates that the market in July saw various mid-sized assets, including office and retail facilities, being traded, which has somewhat alleviated the phenomenon of monthly transaction volumes being heavily influenced by a single large deal. However, compared to the same month last year, both transaction volume and number of deals have decreased. In July 2025, there were 190 transactions with a total volume of 2.9418 trillion won, representing declines of 3.2% and 10.7%, respectively, in July 2026. Despite this, cumulative transactions for the year have increased compared to last year. From January to July, the total number of transactions reached 1,217, up 17.2% from 1,038 during the same period last year. The cumulative transaction volume for the same period was 13.9693 trillion won, an 8.2% increase from 12.9054 trillion won in the previous year. The increase in the number of transactions outpaced the growth in transaction volume, resulting in a trend of lower average deal sizes. AlSquare's research center stated, "To understand the actual market trends, it is essential to analyze not only the fluctuations in monthly transaction volumes but also the changes in the size and distribution of individual deals." Meanwhile, AlSquare Analytics has reported a cumulative client base of 150 companies, with approximately 74% of these clients being financial and investment-related firms, including trusts, asset management companies, and foreign institutional investors.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-18 09:44:10