In the first half of 2026, Seoul welcomed a record 8.32 million foreign tourists, who also set a new high for credit card spending.According to the Seoul city government, the number of foreign visitors from January to June increased by 21.3% compared to the same period last year. Among them, the largest group was from China, totaling 2.47 million, followed by Japan with 1.5 million, Taiwan with 880,000, and the United States with 620,000.During the same period, foreign tourists' credit card spen

Group BTS has announced that they will not submit their work for this year's Grammy Awards. This decision comes in light of the Recording Academy's establishment of a separate category for Asian pop music, including K-pop, leading to interpretations of a de facto boycott of the Grammys.BTS members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook shared on their social media on July 29, "We have decided not to submit for the Grammys this year."They added, "We hope that music can be heard and loved f

One in four small businesses anticipates a poor management outlook for next year. The proportion of businesses expecting a downturn has increased by 10.9 percentage points from this year, reflecting growing concerns over deteriorating business conditions.IBK Bank announced the findings of its '2026 Financial Survey of Small Businesses' on July 29. The survey targeted 4,500 small businesses with annual sales exceeding 500 million won to assess their financing conditions, management status, and fu

Iran has launched a preemptive strike, marking a significant shift in its military strategy. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on July 29 that it fired multiple ballistic missiles targeting U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Previously, Iran had only retaliated against preemptive strikes from the U.S. or Israel. However, this time, Iran initiated the attack without any prior provocation from either country. According to U.S. military officials, all the missiles launc

Hong Eui-rak, who was appointed as the new CEO of Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), stated on July 29 that the decades of accumulated liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain, national supply network, and global business experience are vital national assets for South Korea. He emphasized his commitment to enhancing KOGAS's competitiveness and solidifying its future growth foundation through financial recovery and increased corporate value.In his inaugural speech, Hong remarked, "KOGAS is not merely

Global consumer goods company P&G announced on July 29 that it is supporting the global advancement of Korean talent through talent development programs, including research and development (R&D) training and internship opportunities linked to employment.According to P&G Korea, fragrance expert No Su-jin recently completed a training program at the P&G Singapore Innovation Center and has begun her career as a full-fledged perfumer. Perfumers specialize in developing scents for products, with only

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that on July 28, local time, Deputy Minister Noh Yong-seok held a bilateral meeting with Brazilian Deputy Minister of SMEs Thiago Nakasio Pereira in São Paulo, Brazil, to discuss cooperation between the two countries.The meeting aimed to outline the implementation of the 'Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups' signed during Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's state visit to South Korea in February, a

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that it is hosting the 'K-Beauty Glow Week in Brazil' on July 28-29 at the Grand Hyatt São Paulo.This event is part of a global expansion project for K-brands that has previously taken place in cities such as Shanghai, Hanoi, and Rome. Brazil is recognized as the largest manufacturing and domestic market in South America, and interest in K-Beauty has been rising recently.At the São Paulo event, 21 domestic beauty companies will set up individual exhibi

Persis has launched an 'Office Subscription Service' that encompasses everything from office furniture rental to maintenance, collection, and reuse. The company aims to enhance cost efficiency for corporate clients while providing a one-stop integrated service.On July 29, Persis officially announced its entry into the office furniture rental market during a press conference held at the Persis Business Hub in Yeouido, Seoul. The new office subscription service offers over 500 types of office furn