Ulsan City Government Advertising Spending Reaches 17.4 Billion Won
Ulsan City has conducted a comprehensive analysis of 1,963 government advertising expenditures from January 2024 to May 2026, totaling 17.4 billion won. This amounts to an average monthly expenditure of around 600 million won of taxpayer money for promoting city policies through various media outlets.Government advertising is an administrative process where public institutions select media to convey public interest information to citizens. Therefore, the selection of media and budget allocation
Construction Firm fined $1 million for Violating Subcontracting Laws
A construction company has faced sanctions from regulatory authorities for failing to pay subcontractors and not issuing contracts for additional work.On July 30, the Fair Trade Commission announced it would impose a fine of 1.03 billion won (approximately $1 million) on Geunryong Construction for violating subcontracting laws. Geunryong Construction primarily builds medical and religious facilities.According to the commission's investigation, Geunryong Construction did not pay 100 million won t
Financial Commission Introduces IPO Cornerstone Investor and Pre-demand Forecasting Regulations
The Financial Services Commission has begun revising regulations to introduce pre-demand forecasting and cornerstone investor systems in the initial public offering (IPO) market. The aim is to enhance the rationality of pricing and mitigate significant stock price drops following large-scale sell-offs immediately after listing.On July 30, the Financial Services Commission announced that the proposed amendments to the Capital Markets Act, which will implement the pre-demand forecasting and corner
Eight Schools in Seoul Transition to Coeducation Amid Alumni Opposition
As the number of school-age children continues to decline, the transition of single-gender schools in Seoul to coeducation is accelerating. Eight middle and high schools, including Muhak High School and Seongsim Middle and High School, have been confirmed to transition to coeducation in 2027 and 2028. However, strong opposition from alumni of these long-established institutions suggests a challenging road ahead for the transition.On July 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced t
Bank ETF Trust Sales Surge Ninefold in Five Months; Financial Supervisory Service to Revise Fee Structure
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has issued a consumer alert regarding the rapid increase in bank sales of exchange-traded fund (ETF) trusts and is initiating improvements to the fee structure, internal performance evaluations, and overall sales procedures. This decision comes amid a rise in transactions among vulnerable investor groups, such as the elderly, where short-term trading and increased upfront fees have heightened consumer costs.According to the FSS, from January of last year t
Cyber Incidents Rise 19.5% in First Half of 2026 Amid AI Expansion
The number of cyber incidents in the first half of 2026 reached 1,236, marking a 19.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This rise is attributed to security threats stemming from the expansion of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the sophistication of software supply chains.The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced the findings on July 30, 2026, in their report titled '2026 Cyber Threat Trends in South Korea.'Accordin
Population in Declining Areas Reaches High Levels in February
The resident population in areas experiencing population decline reached its highest level in February. The stay population exceeded four times the registered population, indicating active local engagement.On July 30, the National Data Agency announced the results of the 'First Quarter 2026 Resident Population Assessment,' revealing that the resident population in 89 declining areas across the country was 25.82 million in February, the highest for the quarter. Among this, the stay population was
Chemical Handling Facilities Decrease, but Variety of Chemicals Increases by 18%
국내 화학물질 취급 사업장은 줄었지만 산업 현장에서 다루는 화학물질의 종류는 2년 새 18% 늘어난 것으로 나타났다. 화학물질 취급이 일부 사업장에 집중되는 동시에 취급 물질은 다양해지면서 사업장별 안전관리 부담도 커질 것으로 보인다. 기후에너지환경부는 '제6차 화학물질 통계조사' 결과 2024년 전국 3만5969개 사업장에서 총 3만8855종의 화학물질을 취급한 것으로 집계됐다고 30일 밝혔다. 2022년 제5차 조사와 비교하면 취급 사업장은 7.4%(2860개) 감소했지만 취급 화학물질은 18.1%(5945종) 증가했다. 사업장 한 곳당
New Regulations for Bottled Water Storage and Usage
먹는샘물의 실내 보관이 원칙으로 정해지고 직사광선 차단 조치가 의무화된다. 반복해서 사용하는 10ℓ 이상 대용량 생수통은 제조일로부터 최대 10년까지만 사용할 수 있다. 기후에너지환경부는 이 같은 내용을 담은 '먹는샘물 등의 기준과 규격 및 표시기준 고시'와 '먹는물 관련 영업장 등의 지도·점검에 관한 규정'을 개정해 31일부터 시행한다고 30일 밝혔다. 이번 개정은 여름철 직사광선 노출과 노후 물통 재사용 등 생수 제조·유통·보관 과정에서 발생할 수 있는 품질 저하를 예방하기 위
Barley Production Surges 47.3% Amid Rising Prices; Garlic and Onion Output Also Increases
This year, barley production has increased by more than 47% compared to last year, driven by a significant rise in planting area due to higher prices. Garlic and onion production also saw slight increases thanks to expanded cultivation and favorable growing conditions.According to the National Data Agency's report on barley, garlic, and onion production released on July 30, this year's barley output reached 135,881 tons, up 43,657 tons (47.3%) from last year's 92,224 tons.The area planted with b