Hormuz Contribution Debate: South Korea is reportedly weighing a before-year-end deployment of noncombat naval/air assets to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with options including a maritime patrol aircraft, logistics support ship, or mine clearance unit; the Blue House says no final decision has been made as Seoul seeks ways to contribute amid U.S. pressure over Iran. Justice Minister Nominee Under Fire: Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won faces a criminal complaint alleging he pushed approval for a 2021 COVID-19 drug clinical trial via a broker, while he insists he won’t direct prosecutors to withdraw charges involving President Lee. Capital Markets Rules Tweaked: The government will delay KOSDAQ/KOSPI delisting threshold hikes by six months and allow some firms to move to KONEX without a liquidation trading period, as Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol reviews market stabilization amid rate and Middle East-driven volatility. Tokenization Policy Shift: The Financial Services Commission will allow pooling of underlying assets in fractional investment products and expand tokenization beyond fractional securities to conventional assets like stocks and bonds. Seoul Governance & Housing: Seoul approved conditional redevelopment plans including a 39-story rebuild of Gangnam’s Gaepo Woosung 7, and continues broader redevelopment momentum. Culture Budget Boost: The Culture Ministry’s 2027 budget proposal tops 9.6 trillion won, with a major push for youth access, artist support, and K-content jobs. Diplomacy: President Lee Jae-myung is set for a France state visit to co-chair the Lumière Summit and hold talks with Macron on AI-era film and video policy. Business-Technology Ties: Samsung and SK chairmen are expected to meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in New York to deepen AI chip cooperation as U.S. investment and supply-chain issues loom.