As tensions rise in the Middle East due to military clashes between the United States and Iran, KOTRA has conducted an urgent review of key raw material supply chains and export logistics. While local production disruptions are limited, the potential for rising prices, freight costs, and transportation delays poses a significant burden on domestic companies.KOTRA held its fourth Post-Middle East Task Force meeting at its headquarters in Seoul on August 3, assessing production and logistics trend

Busan announced on August 3 that it will accept applications for the '2026 Preliminary Social Enterprise Designation' from August 14 to September 4.Local preliminary social enterprises aim to provide jobs and social services to vulnerable groups while contributing to the community, with the potential to grow into certified social enterprises recognized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.This application process has no limit on the number of designations. This means that businesses meeting t

The Democratic Party's Gwangju City Party has narrowed its chairperson candidates to three. The election will be held on August 15 using a preferential voting system. According to the Democratic Party's Gwangju City Party Election Management Committee on August 3, Kwon Hyang-yeop, Jo Gye-won, and Ahn Do-geol have registered as candidates. The party will hold a regular members' meeting at the Naju Comprehensive Sports Park Multipurpose Gymnasium at noon on August 15 to elect the chairperson. Voti

As a prolonged heat wave continues, some elementary schools in Ulsan have already resumed classes or are set to do so soon, raising concerns among parents.While most elementary schools are scheduled to start classes in late August, some have ended their summer break early, returning to school between late July and early August. The overlap of the peak heat period with the start of classes has particularly raised worries about the safety of younger students during their commutes.An analysis of th

A Marine Corps officer was found dead in a firearm incident at an off-base accommodation in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.On August 3, the Marine Corps reported that a non-commissioned officer was discovered dead from a gunshot wound at the officer's quarters in Pohang.At the time of discovery, there were no indications of foul play from external sources.A Marine Corps official stated, "We are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the incident in collaboration with military and

In the second quarter of this year, online shopping transactions in South Korea surpassed 73 trillion won for the first time, driven by the popularity of K-beauty products such as cosmetics and clothing. According to the National Data Agency's report on online shopping trends for June 2026, the cumulative online shopping transaction amount from April to June reached 73.6085 trillion won, marking a 10.1% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to significant incr

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is expanding its infrastructure cooperation in line with Vietnam's national development plans. The Vietnamese leadership has requested South Korea's assistance in achieving its national development goals, leading to discussions on practical agendas such as railway modernization, urban development, and industrial infrastructure.According to recent reports from local Vietnamese media, Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party and

Busan City is allocating 100 million won (approximately $100,000) from its disaster relief fund to protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled, and homeless, in response to the highest recorded temperatures in July and the first heatwave warning in the region.On August 3, Busan officials announced that they will provide cooling costs and heat illness prevention supplies to senior centers, community welfare centers, disability support centers, and homeless shelters. The city r

The Ministry of Science and ICT is launching the 'Everyone's AI Growth Ladder Project,' which will provide step-by-step support for artificial intelligence (AI) education, development, and entrepreneurship. The initiative aims to connect previously scattered AI education and development resources into learning centers, labs, and lounges, enhancing the AI capabilities of the entire population and creating a virtuous cycle where ideas from the field lead to service development and youth entreprene