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Kim Yong-beom Reflects on His Tenure as Policy Chief 김용범 전 청와대 정책실장이 1일 “오늘 이재명 정부의 첫 정책실장으로서 맡은 소임을 마쳤습니다”라며 퇴임 소회를 밝혔다. 김 전 실장은 이날 자신의 페이스북에 별도의 퇴임 인사 대신 자신과 가장 가까이에서 일한 정책실 동료들에게 보낸 작별 인사를 공개했다. 김 전 실장은 지난 1년 3개월 동안 아침에 시작한 회의가 밤까지 이어지고, 하나의 현안을 넘기면 또 다른 현안이 기다리는 날들이 반복됐다고 회고했다. 답이 보이지 않는 문제를 함께 고민한 동료들의 얼굴이 힘들었던 기억보다 먼저 떠오른다고도 했다. 김 전 실장은 정책실장으로서 자신의 능력보다 훨씬 큰 책임을 맡았지만 동료들이 부족한 부분을 채워줬다고 평가했다. 자신이 놓친 문제를 찾아내고 시야가 좁을 때 더 멀리 내다보면서 각종 현안에 자기 일처럼 뛰어들었다는 것이다. 그는 “정책실이 해낸 일은 여러분이 해낸 일입니다”라며 정책 성과의 공을 참모와 직원들에게 돌렸다. 정책 하나가 세상에 나오기까지 정책실 구성원들이 수많은 고민과 설득, 조정 과정을 거쳤다고 설명했다. 사퇴 결심과 관련해서는 자신이 먼저 물러나고 후임자들이 역할을 이어갈 시점이라고 판단했다는 취지로 밝혔다. 김 전 실장은 정부를 떠났다가 다시 공직으로 돌아와 정책실 구성원들과 일한 것을 자신의 공직 경력에서 큰 행운으로 자평했다. 김 전 실장은 “밖에 나가면 여러분이 얼마나 치열하게 일했는지, 이 정부의 성과 뒤에 어떤 사람들이 있었는지 더 많이 이야기하겠다”며 “앞으로 여러분이 만들어갈 일들도 누구보다 열심히 응원하겠다”고 말했다. 앞서 이재명 대통령은 전날 사의를 표명한 김 전 실장의 사표를 이날 수리했다. 김 전 실장은 이재명 정부 출범과 함께 초대 정책실장에 임명된 지 약 15개월 만에 물러났다. 2026-09-01 20:24:00 -
Iran Signals Conditional Willingness to Resume Talks with U.S. on Peace Agreement Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that Iran would take corresponding measures if the United States fulfills its obligations under the peace memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in June. This statement suggests a potential for resuming negotiations.On September 1, during a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Pezeshkian claimed that the U.S. had previously violated its agreement with Iran.Pezeshkian noted that after approximately three months of negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, an agreement on the MOU was reached. However, he accused President Donald Trump of making excessive demands, which led to the U.S. not honoring its commitments. He explained that Iran has responded in proportion to the U.S. breach of agreement.He emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through diplomacy that lacks trust and the fulfillment of promises while leaving the possibility of military action open. He also pointed out that pressure and threats complicate diplomatic resolutions. Furthermore, he stated that if the U.S. resumes its obligations under the MOU signed in June, Iran would immediately take corresponding actions.Pezeshkian criticized the attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran as clear violations of the UN Charter and international law. He cited examples such as the assassination of a top leader, the bombing of the Minab school that killed 168 students, and attacks on the Ramard Stadium and critical national infrastructure. He also mentioned that even peaceful nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been targeted, raising concerns about the international community's response.He expressed disappointment with the responses of the UN and the Security Council regarding the attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. He urged that the UN must adapt to effectively fulfill its original role in maintaining peace in a multipolar international order.As the war enters its sixth month, diplomatic negotiations for peace between the U.S. and Iran remain stalled. The '60-day deadline' set during the tentative agreement in June, which aimed to finalize a peace treaty including Iran's nuclear program, expired last month.In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's control and attacks on vessels, along with the U.S. maritime blockade of Iranian ports, are increasing pressure on global energy trade. President Trump has declared an 'economic war' against Iran and warned of sanctions against countries that engage in trade with Iran. 2026-09-01 20:04:10
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Korea Exchange Excludes ETFs and ETNs from New Aftermarket Starting September 14, the Korea Exchange will exclude exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) from its new aftermarket operations.According to the securities industry and Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Exchange recently announced this policy as part of a revision to its operational rules for the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets.As a result, ETFs and ETNs will not be tradable in the aftermarket, which will operate from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. This addition means that the existing exclusion list, which already includes stocks that did not trade during the regular market hours, investment warning stocks, risky stocks, stocks with abnormal price surges, managed stocks, and stocks with low liquidity, will now also encompass ETFs and ETNs.Initially, the exchange planned to allow trading of index products like ETFs in the aftermarket. However, this decision was reversed following concerns that single-stock leveraged and inverse ETFs based on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix had increased market volatility during recent adjustments in the global semiconductor sector.Nonetheless, trading of ETFs and ETNs will still be possible through after-hours block trading. The minimum trading requirement will be lowered from 500 shares to just one share to accommodate post-market trading needs. The aftermarket will permit only limited types of orders and will implement safety measures such as self-trade prevention (SMP) and automatic cancellation upon disconnection (COD). 2026-09-01 19:56:00
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China Ends Tax Exemption for Foreign Investors in Dividend Income China has abolished a tax exemption on dividend income for foreign investors in foreign-funded enterprises, a benefit that had been in place for over 30 years.On September 1, local time, the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration announced that a 20% personal income tax will now be imposed on dividend income received by foreigners from foreign-funded enterprises.Chinese tax law stipulates a 20% tax rate on dividend income. However, to attract foreign capital during the early years of its reform and opening-up, the Chinese government exempted foreign investors from taxes on dividend income from foreign-funded enterprises since 1994.While this tax incentive was once an effective means of attracting foreign capital, Chinese authorities believe the situation has changed as the economy has significantly grown. There is a prevailing sentiment that foreign investors now prioritize the overall business environment, including legal and regulatory stability and market size, over tax reductions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 19:48:00
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Weather Forecast: Central Region to See Temperatures Below 30 Degrees On Wednesday, September 2, daytime temperatures in the central region are expected to drop below 30 degrees, providing some relief from the heat.The morning low temperatures nationwide will range from 20 to 26 degrees, while daytime highs are forecasted to be between 25 and 32 degrees. In Seoul, the high will reach 29 degrees, while Incheon and Suwon are expected to see highs of 28 degrees. Gangneung will have a high of 26 degrees, with temperatures in the capital region and Gangwon not exceeding 30 degrees.In contrast, the southern region will continue to experience warm temperatures during the day. Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, and Ulsan are expected to reach highs of 31 degrees, while Jeonju is forecasted to hit 30 degrees.Showers are expected in parts of the Chungcheong and southern regions, as well as Jeju Island, starting in the afternoon. The anticipated rainfall amounts are 5 to 40 mm in Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Gwangju, and Jeonnam, and 5 to 40 mm in Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam. Jeju Island is expected to receive 5 to 20 mm of rain.In areas experiencing showers, gusty winds and thunderstorms may occur, so caution is advised along the coast and in other affected areas.Wave heights are expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the East Sea, and 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the West and South Seas. In the offshore waters (within about 200 km of the coastline), wave heights are forecasted to be 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the East Sea and 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the West and South Seas.Here is the weather outlook for September 2 by region:(Low~High Temperature) 2026-09-01 19:12:00
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Quriant Faces Funding Challenges Despite Advancements in Dual Payload ADC Development Quriant, a KOSDAQ-listed company, is accelerating the development of its dual payload antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) as a key growth driver. While the company is pursuing both clinical trials for existing drug candidates and the development of a new ADC platform, securing the necessary funding has become a significant hurdle. Initially, Quriant aimed to raise 140 billion won, but delays in the funding process have coincided with ongoing cash burn from research and development (R&D).According to the financial investment industry, Quriant is speeding up the development and commercialization of its dual payload ADC platform. ADCs are therapies that combine antibodies targeting specific cells, such as cancer cells, with drugs that kill those cells. The dual payload ADC approach enhances therapeutic efficacy by attaching different mechanisms of action to a single antibody.Quriant plans to expedite the platform's launch to capture a share of the global dual payload ADC market. The company is also continuing to develop its existing pipeline. The drug Adricetnib (Q702) is currently undergoing a Phase 1b clinical trial in Spain for patients with recurrent or refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Last month, the number of trial participants was expanded from a maximum of 18 to 24.To secure the necessary funds for new drug and ADC development, Quriant has pursued a large-scale external financing initiative. This includes 70 billion won in permanent convertible bonds (CB) and convertible redeemable preferred shares (CPS), along with an additional 70 billion won in general CBs, totaling 140 billion won. The company had planned to complete the fundraising by June following an investor presentation in April.However, the funding has been delayed beyond the initial timeline. As of early last month, the amount raised was approximately 70 billion won, only half of the target. With the planned fundraising schedule pushed back by more than two months, the challenge of securing additional funds for ADC and existing pipeline development has become pressing.Given the financial situation, Quriant cannot afford to delay further. According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system, Quriant's cash and cash equivalents stood at 2.3 billion won, with other liquid financial assets at 32.5 billion won as of the end of June. Combined, this amounts to about 34.8 billion won, a decrease of 15.9 billion won from approximately 50.7 billion won at the end of last year.In the first half of this year, Quriant reported an operating cash flow of negative 16.8 billion won, averaging about 2.8 billion won in cash outflow per month. If this trend continues, the company could sustain its liquidity for about 12 months based on its cash reserves as of the end of June. Without additional funding, the need for capital could become more urgent around mid-next year.The burden of R&D costs is also significant. In the first half of this year, Quriant's revenue was 3.9 billion won, while R&D expenses, before government subsidies, reached 16.5 billion won, exceeding revenue by four times. The ratio of R&D expenses to revenue stands at 429.25%. During the same period, the operating loss widened to 20.5 billion won, compared to 13.5 billion won in the first half of last year.Potential dilution of shares due to existing mezzanine financing also adds to the pressure of securing additional funds. According to the semi-annual report, as of the end of June, the total outstanding CBs amounted to 18.8 billion won. The conversion potential for the second permanent convertible bond and the fourth CB is approximately 1.31 million shares and 670,000 shares, respectively, totaling over 1.98 million shares. If additional mezzanine financing or capital increases are pursued, existing shareholders may face dilution concerns.Amid concerns over funding, Quriant's stock has experienced significant volatility. The company's share price fell by 19.9% from 25,650 won on August 26 to 20,550 won on August 31, after dropping 13.06% on the 27th and 8.97% on the 28th, before rebounding by 1.23% on the 31st. During trading on the 31st, the stock price dropped to as low as 18,170 won, indicating increased volatility.In response to the recent fluctuations in stock price, Quriant stated, "We believe this is due to rumors that differ from the facts circulating in the market." The company maintains that both the development of the dual payload platform and its funding plans are proceeding without issues, and it aims to accelerate the platform's launch to meet the growing global demand for dual payload ADCs.A securities industry official noted, "As Quriant continues to develop its ADC and existing pipeline, the key will be how much of the 140 billion won funding can be secured and how the company will address any funding shortfalls."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 19:08:00
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Increased Loan Limits for Saemaul Geumgo and Credit Unions, Limited Capacity for Home Loans The financial authorities have completed the redistribution of household loan total volume management targets for mutual finance sectors, including Saemaul Geumgo and credit unions. It is reported that these institutions, which faced penalties for exceeding last year's targets, have been granted some additional lending capacity.According to financial industry sources and Yonhap News on September 1, the Financial Supervisory Service notified the adjusted household loan total volume increase targets to the mutual finance sector and savings banks.Earlier, the financial authorities doubled the total household debt increase limit for this year from 1.5% to 3%, redistributing targets by sector and company accordingly. Of the newly secured lending capacity of 30 trillion won, amounts excluding policy reserves for housing supply and support for young and low-to-middle credit borrowers will be allocated to financial institutions.Saemaul Geumgo and credit unions, which faced a 'net increase of 0%' penalty for exceeding last year's household loan targets, have also secured additional limits through this adjustment. Saemaul Geumgo is reported to receive an additional limit of about 300 billion to 500 billion won, while credit unions will receive an additional limit of 100 billion to 200 billion won.However, given that household loans have already increased significantly in the first half of the year, the actual capacity for new loans in the second half is expected to be limited. By July of this year, household loans had increased by 2.1 trillion won at Saemaul Geumgo and 1.6 trillion won at credit unions. While this additional allocation may offset some of the excess from the first half, there is virtually no room to increase new loans, such as mortgage loans.The target allocation for banks, which account for the largest share of household loans, was completed last week. The five major banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup) reportedly received an additional limit of about 2.64 trillion won, expanding their household loan targets by approximately 60% compared to previous levels.The financial authorities are currently discussing household loan target allocations with the credit card and insurance sectors and will soon provide company-specific targets.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 19:04:00
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Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Record 820.9 Trillion Won Budget Proposal 여야는 1일 정부가 역대 최대인 820조 9000억원 규모의 내년도 예산안을 편성한 것에 대해 엇갈린 반응을 보였다. 더불어민주당은 "정부가 잠재성장률을 견인하면서 구조적 양극화 해소에 중점을 두고 있다"고 주장했고, 국민의힘은 "역대급 재정 폭주 고무줄 예산"이라고 비판했다. 민주당 정책위원회는 이날 보도자료를 내고 정부 예산안에 대해 "대한민국의 대전환·대도약, 국민의 희망을 위한 담대한 투자"라고 평가했다. 이어 이재명 정부 출범 이후 경제성장률이 증가세를 보이고 있다며 "내란정국 등으로 인한 경기침체와 중동전쟁 상황에서도 국민의 노력과 국민주권정부의 적극재정 등에 힘입어 V자형 경기회복을 이루고 있다"고 강조했다. 아울러 "내년도 예산안은 경기회복세를 유지하는데 그치지 않고 대한민국의 경제체력을 키우기 위해 잠재성장률은 견인하면서 성장의 과실을 확산하는데 중점을 두고 있다"며 △3대 메가프로젝트 △AI(인공지능) 총력 지원 △청년 성장단계별 종합 지원 △지방주도 성장 등의 예산이 증가된 것에 대해 "대한민국 성장과 국민의 미래를 위해 역대 최대 규모의 재정투자가 이뤄지는 것"이라고 했다. 또한 "대한민국 대도약을 위한 확장재정에도 불구하고 경제성장을 통해 세입이 증가하고 재정건전성이 개선되는 재정의 선순환을 시현하고 있다"며 국가채무 규모는 증가했지만 내년 예산안의 GDP 대비 국가채무비율은 올해 본예산보다 낮아진다고 했다. 반면 국민의힘은 정부가 국가채무를 늘려 미래세대에게 빚을 떠넘겼다고 질타하며 예산 삭감을 예고했다. 국민의힘은 보도자료를 통해 "경제가 나쁘다고 적자국채를 발행해서 지출을 확대하고, 초과세입이 발생했다고 지출을 확대하면 도대체 언제 국채를 상환해 미래세대의 부담을 줄여줄 것이냐"며 "정책의 방향 전환 없이 미래세대에 빚만 떠넘기는 '감당불가 대한민국'"이라고 꼬집었다. 이어 "역대 최대 규모의 지출도 모자라 미래대응기금 중 일부를 별도 여유 자금으로 운영하려고 한다"며 "이 돈은 당장 국민에게 지원되거나 필요한 사업에 지출되는 돈이 아니라 '정권의 쌈짓돈'"이라고 목소리 높였다. 그러면서 국가채무상환에 우선 사용해야 한다고 주장했다. 이와 함께 "한국은행은 물가 안정 등 민생을 지키기 위해 기준금리를 연속 인상하며 긴축으로 전환했는데, 정부가 확장적 재정정책으로 통화량을 다시 늘리겠다는 것은 심각한 정책 엇박자"라며 "전 세계는 긴축재정으로 가는데 대한민국만 확장재정으로 가는 것이다. 정권 유지를 위한 돈 풀기"라고 했다. 그러면서 "국민의힘은 정부안이 국회에 제출되는 대로 개별사업에 대한 문제점도 철저히 분석해 낭비 요소나 선심성을 철저하게 삭감하고, 재정 없이도 국민의 삶이 나아지도록 현 정부의 각종 규제 일변도의 정책을 개선하겠다"고 덧붙였다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 18:40:00
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20 Young Fellows Begin Work at the Blue House Twenty young individuals selected for the "Blue House Youth Fellowship" reported for their first day of work at the Blue House on September 1. Over the next six months, they will collaborate with Blue House staff on youth-related projects, aiming to incorporate the perspectives and voices of young people into policy-making. According to the Blue House, Kang Hoon-sik, the Chief of Staff to the President, conducted an orientation for the young fellows that afternoon. In his opening remarks, Kang expressed his hope that the fellows would serve as "sensors" to identify policies that do not align with the youth perspective and as "speakers" to communicate policies in a language that resonates with young people. The event lasted approximately 90 minutes and included the presentation of fellowship certificates, an introduction to the operational direction by the Youth Future Secretary, and a Q&A session between Kang and the young fellows. Kang emphasized, "I will strive to ensure that the opinions of the fellows regarding the shortcomings of the government are reflected in national policy. Please do your best to make youth the starting point and main agents of policy-making." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 18:28:00
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South Korea and Japan Discuss Cooperation on AI, Semiconductors, and Supply Chain Stability South Korea and Japan have discussed cooperation on fostering and protecting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and quantum technology, as well as stabilizing supply chains for energy and critical minerals. The Blue House announced that the fifth Korea-Japan Economic Security Dialogue took place on September 1 in Tokyo. Kim Sung-yeol, the economic security secretary at the Blue House, represented South Korea, while Takeshi Souda, the Cabinet Secretariat's National Security Bureau chief, represented Japan. During the meeting, the two countries assessed the recent economic security environment and shared their respective economic security policies. This exchange aimed to enhance mutual understanding of each country's policies and discuss key economic security issues. Particularly, they discussed strategic policies for fostering advanced technologies like AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology while also protecting critical technologies. Another major agenda item was establishing stable supply chains for energy and critical minerals. The two nations sought practical cooperation measures to respond to supply chain restructuring and changes in the economic and trade order. This economic security dialogue was a follow-up to the agreement made during the Korea-Japan summit on August 23 to strengthen strategic communication and practical cooperation in the field of economic security. At that time, the leaders of both countries recognized the need to enhance strategic communication between Korea and Japan in light of changes in the regional strategic environment, including the Indo-Pacific region, and the new economic and trade order. They agreed to expand communication at various government levels, including security and economic security. The two governments will continue discussions on economic security issues and plan to hold the sixth Korea-Japan Economic Security Dialogue next year. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-01 18:20:00