North Korea launched over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on August 20. This action comes as President Donald Trump proposed dialogue to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, drawing attention.According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were detected around 5 p.m. as they were fired from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea. The military is currently analyzing the specifications and range of the missiles.Moreover, this launch occurred just one day before the conclusion of the UFS exercises

It was a rollercoaster two days for the South Korean stock market. After a sharp decline on August 19, the market rebounded significantly on August 20. Over the two days, the KOSPI index experienced a fluctuation rate of 12%, with a swing of more than 700 points. The index, which had been pressured by a shock in long-term U.S. Treasury yields, regained the 6800-point mark in just one day. Major semiconductor stocks, which had triggered the previous day's drop, surged by about 10%.According to th

The National Pension Service (NPS) is expanding its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment principles, which were previously limited to traditional assets like stocks and bonds, to include alternative investments such as private equity, real estate, and infrastructure. This move is expected to enhance the public nature of fund management and the accountability of national finances.The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on August 20 that the National Assembly approved an ame

The Chinese national team once again failed to qualify for the World Cup. However, the tournament was very much present in the Chinese market. As the event kicked off, advertisements featuring stars like Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, and Haaland continuously aired on Chinese television and shopping mall billboards. Chinese companies engaged in a fierce marketing competition, and stories of fans staying up all night to watch the matches were common.The final match between Spain and Argentina was broadc

The second special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has indicted former Prosecutor General Sim Woo-jung and former Chief of the Planning and Coordination Bureau Jeon Mu-gon on charges of insurrection without detention.On August 20, the special prosecutor's office announced, "We have indicted former Prosecutor General Sim and former Deputy Chief Jeon for engaging in important duties related to insurrection and for obstructing the exercise of rights by abuse of authority."Sim is accused o

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister, praised the South Korean government's approach to China during his official visit on August 20, stating that "returning Korea-China relations to a normal trajectory was the right choice." He emphasized the importance of pursuing 'strategic autonomy' while developing relations with major countries like China and the U.S., urging against siding with any particular bloc.According to China's state-run Xin

Korea Investment Trust is experiencing a notable departure of personnel in its operations, product, and marketing divisions. While job changes are common in the asset management sector, they typically peak at the beginning of the year. Departures are less frequent during the year, especially when firms are focused on sales efforts. This recent trend at Korea Investment Trust is considered unusual by industry observers.According to the financial investment industry on August 20, approximately fiv

Yoo Won-jun, chair of the Korea Association of Private University Professors, criticized the government for excessive interference and "severe state control" over private universities. He pointed out that while private institutions account for 85% of the country's higher education, the government has focused on regulation rather than fostering growth, adhering to the principle of cost-sharing for the past 80 years.During a conference held on August 20 at the National Assembly, Yoo addressed the

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology, previously focused on infectious disease vaccines, is now making significant inroads into cancer treatment. Moderna has confirmed meaningful efficacy in a large-scale Phase 3 trial of its personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, indicating that mRNA could revolutionize cancer therapy.On August 19, Moderna and Merck (MSD) announced the results of their Phase 3 trial involving 1,137 high-risk melanoma patients. The trial assessed the combination of the person