Uiwang Mayor Kim Seong-je expressed hope on August 21 that the recent Eulji exercise has strengthened public officials' crisis response capabilities and security awareness.During a post-exercise evaluation held in the city hall's conference room, Mayor Kim emphasized the importance of enhancing crisis response skills and establishing a robust emergency preparedness posture.The meeting was convened to report on the overall results of the Eulji exercise, which took place from August 18 to 21, and

President Lee Jae-myung has declared the cities of Geoje and Tongyeong, including the districts of Sanyang-eup and Bongpyeong-dong, as special disaster areas due to significant damage from recent heavy rainfall.In a written briefing on the 21st, Chief Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong announced that the President made this declaration in response to the unusual heavy rain that affected the southern region.Being designated as a special disaster area allows for additional national funding to

Gunpo Mayor Han Dae-hee led a joint civil-private training exercise for air raid preparedness on August 20, reaffirming that "protecting the lives and property of citizens is the top priority."During the exercise at E-Mart Sanbon, which was part of the 2026 Ulchi Training, Mayor Han conducted a demonstration of evacuation procedures for multi-use facilities in the event of an air raid.The training aimed to enhance the response capabilities of both citizens and officials in real air raid situatio

The ongoing depreciation of the yen has prompted individuals and businesses in Japan to expand their foreign currency assets.According to a report by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on August 21, the Bank of Japan's statistics show that the balance of foreign currency deposits at domestic banks reached 26.1 trillion yen (approximately $227.8 billion) in the second quarter of this year (April to June), marking an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. This increase of 3.9772 trilli

Kim Hwae-seung, a former editorial writer for Han Kyoreh, was appointed as the head of the Blue House Press Office on August 20, raising concerns about the direct transition of a current journalist into a political role. Critics have expressed worries about the independence and fairness of the media, given that Kim had recently written editorials criticizing the government and political powers without any grace period before taking on a senior position to assist the president.On August 21, the H

Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon testified that his father urged his brother, former Hyosung Vice President Cho Hyun-moon, not to withdraw a lawsuit until he repented. On August 21, Cho Hyun-joon appeared as a witness in the trial regarding his brother's alleged attempted coercion, presided over by Judge Lee Seong-yeol at the Seoul Central District Court. This marked the first time the two brothers met in court since the so-called 'Hyosung Brothers' Conflict' in 2014.Cho emphasized that the lawsui

Kakao's labor union announced its official stance on August 21 following the company's announcement of a corporate split, signaling the start of joint negotiations within the Kakao community. The union believes that the decision-making structure will become more complex after the split, making it difficult to address substantial issues through individual corporate negotiations.The Kakao chapter of the Korean Chemical and Textile Workers' Union (Kakao Union) has demanded that Kakao disclose the s

The government has decided to freeze the maximum price for oil products for the ninth time. Despite rising international oil prices, which have climbed back to around $90 per barrel due to increased uncertainty from the Middle East conflict, the decision was made with consideration for the economic burden on citizens from extreme heat and heavy rainfall.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on August 21 that starting at midnight on August 22, the maximum prices for oil products wi

In response to the crisis facing local universities due to low birth rates and a declining school-age population, there is a pressing call to shift international student policies from mere recruitment to a comprehensive strategy for nurturing and settling talent. The Korean Council of Private University Presidents (KCPUP) and the Immigration Policy Association jointly held a seminar on strengthening the connection between the recruitment, employment, and settlement of international students on A