Corporate Business Sentiment Surges on Holiday Season and Non-Manufacturing Recovery... Highest in 4 Years [1-Minute Brief]

[At a Glance]

① [Market] This Month's Corporate Business Sentiment Hits Highest Level in 3 Years and 11 Months

② [Commodities] Gas Station Post-Settlement Abolished... Up to 40% Third-Party Oil Now Allowed

③ [Defense] Supersonic Missiles to Be Deployed Next Year... Becomes World's Third Holder After Europe and Russia

MARKET INDEX : Year to date

TOP 3 NEWS

■ "During the holiday season, even the non-manufacturing sector sees business recovery" - Corporate Business Sentiment at Highest Level in 4 Years

○Bank of Korea 'August Business Survey and Economic Sentiment Index (ESI)'
○All-industry CBSI rises to 99.6, highest in 3 years and 11 months
○Among manufacturing companies, exporters post 108.5 … the highest since May 2022

■ Abolishment of post-settlement scheme at gas stations and relaxation of exclusive trade rules… Up to 40% of third-party oil now allowed

○Revision of standard agency contract for petroleum distribution
○Lifting the 'full purchase' restriction
○As long as exclusive refiner's products make up 60%, stations may mix purchases with other companies' oil

■ Supersonic Missiles to be Deployed Next Year [Nakyu Yang's Defence Club]

○Final tests for air-to-ground supersonic missiles to be completed this year
○Hanwha Aerospace involved in development – responsible for airframe structure and propulsion system
○Once mounted on FA-50 or KF-21, a boon for Korea's defense exports

Profitable Law

■ Semiconductor Super Boom, But Corporate Bankruptcies Reach All-Time High of 1,500 Cases This Year

○Cost burden and failed investments… Corporate bankruptcies up 15.7%
○Widening gap between large exporters and small businesses
○Weakened debt repayment capacity… Companies miss golden time for turnaround
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026082613543546570

■ Five Months Since Law Distortion Crime Introduced, Zero Indictments

○277 reports submitted to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as of July… Increasing every month
○30% not prosecuted… Many cases disposed of without further investigation
○Corruption Investigation Office to establish investigation criteria in October
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026082613563699447

■ LKB Pyeongsan Scales Up, Recruiting Over 70 Professionals in the Past Year

○Expanding expert staff across sentencing guidelines, narcotics, international, medical, and IP fields
○Sentencing Committee Chief and former Supreme Prosecutor’s Office Criminal Division Head among legal veterans recruited
○Diverse talent pool including former judges, prosecutors, and corporate legal experts
☞Read the article:  https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/lawtimes/2026082613590565088

※ 'Profitable Law,' a content partnership corner between The Asia Business Daily and Law Times, is published every Tuesday and Thursday.

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This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.