Home Mortgage Rates Rise Above Bank Loans, Yet Demand Increases
The general interest rate for the government-backed Home Mortgage Loan has begun to exceed the average mortgage rates offered by commercial banks. Until last year, these rates were lower than bank loans, but five rate hikes this year have reversed that trend. Despite this, the total debt service ratio (DSR) regulation exemption has continued to attract demand, pushing the outstanding balance of Home Mortgage Loans to over 115 trillion won.According to the Korea Housing Finance Corporation, the g
Drought Raises Concerns Over Water Supply for Agriculture and Semiconductor Industry in Honam
As a large semiconductor factory is set to be established in Honam, concerns are rising in the agricultural sector regarding water supply. With the ongoing drought, there are fears that the addition of a semiconductor plant will disrupt the supply of agricultural water. According to relevant authorities on August 10, President Lee Jae-myung has directed that the functions of the Gwangju military airport be temporarily relocated to another military airport by mid-2028, allowing the existing Air
ETF Market Suffers Major Losses Amid Stock Market Decline
국내 상장지수펀드(ETF) 시장이 최근 증시 급락의 직격탄을 맞았다. 올해 상반기 증시 강세를 타고 사상 최대 수준까지 몸집을 불렸던 ETF 시장은 불과 한달 반 만에 순자산 총액이 100조원 넘게 줄었다. 10일 한국거래소에 따르면 지난 7일 기준 국내 ETF 순자산 총액은 431조5002억원으로 집계됐다. 지난 6월 22일 기록한 532조9748억원과 비교하면 101조4746억원 감소했다. ETF 시장 규모가 고점을 찍은 지 불과 한달 반 만에 100조원 넘게 줄어든 것이다. 이 기간(6월 22~8월 7일) 순자산이 1조원 이상 줄어든 ETF는 23개에 달했다
Samsung Bioepis Applies for First Domestic Approval of Keytruda Biosimilar
Samsung Bioepis announced on August 10 that it has applied for domestic approval of its biosimilar candidate SB27 (active ingredient: pembrolizumab), which is based on the world’s top-selling immuno-oncology drug, Keytruda. This marks the first instance of a domestic pharmaceutical company seeking approval for a Keytruda biosimilar in South Korea.Keytruda, developed by Merck (MSD) in the United States, is a PD-1 inhibitor-based immuno-oncology drug. It generated approximately $31.7 billion in gl
Minister Choi Hwi-young Meets Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo to Discuss Cultural Hub Support
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is strengthening comprehensive policy cooperation with Busan City in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism.On August 10, Minister Choi Hwi-young attended the opening ceremony of the '2026 Busan World Library and Information Conference (WLIC)' at BEXCO, where he met with Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo to discuss key issues of mutual interest.During the event, Minister Choi and Mayor Jeon celebrated the opening and toured the exhibition hall to review the
Wedding Industry Thrives Again as Marriage Rates Rise
The domestic wedding industry is regaining momentum as marriage rates rebound after a period of stagnation. In response to the market recovery, wedding businesses are accelerating efforts to attract engaged couples through the introduction of digital booking systems, transparent pricing, and differentiated services.According to the National Data Agency, the number of marriages in South Korea last year reached 240,300, an increase of 17,900 (8.1%) from the previous year. This marks the highest fi
Lee Jae-myung Takes Selfie with Chinese Tourists at Gyeongbokgung
Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, has become a topic of discussion online after taking a selfie with Chinese tourists visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.According to a report on August 10 by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency's social media account, the tourists encountered President Lee during their recent visit to the historic site.Xinhua noted, "Despite the heat, President Lee, dressed in long-sleeved work attire, took the initiative to hold a mobile phone and snap selfies wi
Tire Bank Chairman Kim Jeong-kyu Withdraws Appeal, 3-Year Prison Sentence Confirmed
Kim Jeong-kyu, chairman of Tire Bank, has confirmed a three-year prison sentence after withdrawing his appeal against charges of tax evasion amounting to approximately 8 billion won through fraudulent use of dealership names.According to legal sources on August 10, Kim submitted a withdrawal of his appeal to the Supreme Court on June 22.Earlier, on June 2, he was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 14.1 billion won in a retrial. He appealed to the Supreme Court a week later, on June 9,
Emergency Response Team Activated to Protect Vulnerable Groups Amid Ongoing Heatwave
The government has established an emergency response team to address the prolonged and record-breaking heatwave, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations. Although temperatures eased somewhat over the weekend, heat advisories remain in effect, prompting officials to implement a rigorous, on-the-ground response system. The Ministry of Health and Welfare convened the first meeting of the 'Heatwave Response Emergency Headquarters' at 8:30 a.m. on August 10, led by Deputy Minister Hyun Soo-yeop
European Stock Markets Gain Attention as Alternative Investment Amid Global Tech Volatility
As global technology stocks, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, experience increased volatility, European stock markets are emerging as an attractive alternative investment. With oil prices stabilizing after a surge due to the U.S.-Iran conflict and European companies reporting stronger-than-expected earnings, investment funds previously focused on tech and AI are shifting towards Europe.According to the Financial Times on September 9, financial analytics firm FactS