Children cool off while playing in the water at 2026 Seoul Summer Beach, held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno District, central Seoul, on July 20.NEWS1
It's Friday here in Korea, and everyone's looking forward to getting their weekend on, including yours truly.
And in today's headlines, we'll study the travails of smaller semiconductor supply companies even amid the chip supercycle, enjoy some Korean summer desserts with a big serving of traditional ambiance, learn about girl group NewJeans's possible return, ponder whether actor Ha Ji-won's first pitch sparked the Boston Red Sox's recent winning streak, see where Korean shipbuilders are pitching their wares next, and look at Seoul's latest effort to bring people to the Han River at night.
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Today's top story
BUSINESS
Semiconductor gold rush? Not if you're a supplier.
Silence filled most of a factory in Ansan, Gyeonggi, on Wednesday. Only seven employees were seen on duty despite 88 sets of semiconductor testing machines in the chip packaging plant.
Each machine costs a hefty 800 million won ($546,000) but sits idle for roughly 10 days a month because the company cannot hire enough workers to operate the machines.
Rice cake parfaits and knots of love: Making Korean desserts and handicrafts in Seoul's hanok village
One humid July weekend, I went looking for an escape from the heat. I ended up not in a heavily air-conditioned trendy cafe, but inside a traditional Korean house, or hanok, with its wooden doors wide open to the courtyard.
Is NewJeans washed out or will the group be back in style?
After a high-profile legal defeat and former member Danielle’s departure, NewJeans appears to be finally moving closer to a comeback — potentially as a four-member group.
Ha Ji-won's lucky pitch? Red Sox match 80-year-old 15-game winning streak
The Boston Red Sox matched an 80-year-old team record by securing a 15th straight victory on Wednesday, and Korean actor Ha Ji-won, who threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game, was quickly dubbed the team's new "good luck charm."
Korean shipbuilders to square off next in Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Greece
Korea's failed bid for Canada's submarine contract is unlikely to end cooperation between its two major naval shipbuilders, who are set to enter bidding in Saudi Arabia's naval modernization program reportedly worth more than 8 trillion won ($5.5 billion).
Seoul wants you to stay out all night — at the Han River
A Seoul resident leaves home in southern Seoul’s Jamsil in the evening, takes the Hangang Bus ferry to Yeouido, rents a Ttareungi public bicycle and cycles along the river, then enjoys a swim alongside a live DJ performance at a riverside pool.
![여한구 산업통상부 통상교섭본부장이 2일 서울 여의도 글래드호텔에서 열린 2026년 플랜트 정책 포럼에서 축사하고 있다. 2026.7.2 [산업통상부 제공. 재판매 및 DB 금지] photo@yna.co.kr/2026-07-02 13:35:28/](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12827065.jpg?imageId=12827065&panox=0.00&panoy=0.00&panow=100.00&panoh=100.00&heightx=0.00&heighty=0.00&heightw=100.00&heighth=100.00&width=960&height=720&format=webp&format=jpg)
