US-South Korea Drills Cut Short: Ulchi Freedom Shield ended early Friday after Trump ordered a major scale-down, with live drills halved and North Korea firing missiles in response; Seoul also urged Pyongyang to stop “derogatory remarks.” Hyundai Labor Fallout: About 40,000 Hyundai workers joined a one-day strike across plants, demanding higher pay/bonuses and stronger job protections amid AI and automation fears. AI Chip Windfall Returns: Samsung approved a record 2026 shareholder return plan of 90–110 trillion won (up to about $80B), including big cash dividends and a buyback, though shares fell after some investors expected more. Fuel Price Caps Kept: South Korea extended fuel price ceilings for four more weeks as West Asia tensions push Brent back toward $90. Crypto Surge at Upbit: Upbit volume jumped 273% to about $1.84B as Bitcoin rallied, with XRP leading trading activity. FIU Push on Crypto Firms: Lawmakers proposed expanding FIU powers so it can directly investigate unregistered offshore crypto operators. Arctic Shipping Test: A South Korean container ship will trial a commercial Arctic route to Europe, a move that could strain relations with Western allies. Sports & Culture: World No.1 An Se-young reached badminton worlds semis; K-pop’s Jennie teased her “Fallen Angel” video; and Malaysian animated “Papa Zola The Movie” is set for South Korean cinemas Sept. 2.