| Policy/Politics  | 
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			President Kwon Pyong-oh of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) is extending a helping hand to SMEs and middle market enterprises using a combined 16.8 billion won in supplementary budget. KOTRA has set aside 10.8 billion won for an export v¡¦	
			 
			 
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			Offices from MAFRA and aT hold a strategic meeting designed to expand exports under the New Northern Policy Market initiative at a newly opened aT branch in Vladivostok on July 11. (Photo: aT)The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corp. ¡¦			 
		 
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			President Kim Yong-ik of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) speaks at a session to report the outcomes of the 2nd anniversary of the President Moon Jae-in¡¯s Care initiative at the Ilsan Hospital in Goyang on July 2. (Photo: NHIS)A health insurance deliberation committee failed to agree on¡¦			 
		 
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			President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Cheong Wa Dae, the Presidential Office, on June 26 before holding talks. (Photo on the courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae website)Saudi Arabia and South Korea signed an $8.3 billion economic cooperation pact on June 26 during C¡¦			 
		 
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			<President Moon Jae-in speaks about Japan¡¯s export curbs to Korea during a meeting with economic and business leaders at Cheong Wa Dae on July 10. (Photos on the courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae website)>Korean-Japanese relations have soured to their lowest level in decades, reaching the point where¡¦			 
		 
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			Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo shakes hands with minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid A. Al-Falih of Saudi Arabia after sining an agreement on hydrogen economy and auto as President Moon Jae-in and Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman look on at Cheong Wa Dae on Jun¡¦			 
		 
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			Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has pledged to focus on expanding public housing during his remaining three years in office.Park, a three-term mayor of Seoul, is likely to join the next presidential race. He says he will focus on policies that directly improve citizens' lives ¡¦			 
		 
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			Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo. (Photos: Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov)Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo said, ¡°I¡¯m devoting myself to making good on promises to help the province find a way to make a living and make it the center of Korea.¡±Reflecting on his first year in office, Gov. Lee said he h¡¦			 
		 
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			President Moon Jae-in speaks at a ceremony to declare the vision at a smart manufacturing innovation center in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, on June 19. (Photo on the courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae website)The government unveiled its vision of resurrecting the Korean manufacturing industry and vaulting it into the¡¦			 
		 
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			MOLIT Minister Kim Hyun-mee announces the plan for the 3rd New Cities on May 7 at a meeting held at the ministry¡¯s conference room in Seoul. B: A map of the series of new cities from the 1st to 3rd plans already built and to be built around Seoul and in Gyeonggi Province. (Photos: MOLIT)The Ministr¡¦			 
		 
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				President Cho Won-yong of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO). (Photos: GTO)The Gyeonggi-do provincial government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO) will hold the Gyeonggi Sea Drone Show at the Wavepark area in Siheung Turtle Island from¡¦			 
			 
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				The 2025 Incheon FESTA Every Night, which took place in Songdo from June 20 and June 29, attracts a large throng of spectators. (Photo: Incheon Tourism Organization)The 2025 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary, successfu¡¦			 
			 
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				The Jeollanam-do provincial government has selected tourist spots recommended for the month of July, including (from top) Topmeori Beach in Muan, Gamami Beach in Yeonggwang and Gagae Beach in Jindo. (Photos: Jeollanam-do)The Jeollanam-do provincial g¡¦			 
			 
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				A poster to promote the 39th Icheon Ceramic Festival, which took place in Icheon City from April 25 to May 6. The 39th Icheon Ceramic Festival saw visitors top 1 million cumulatively on May 6, marking a major milestone 12 days after Icheon¡¯s re¡¦			 
			 
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