Yonhap News Summary

The South Korean government announced plans to build over 230,000 new homes in the Seoul metropolitan area to combat soaring housing prices. This includes using public land more efficiently, lifting certain greenbelt restrictions, and supporting private sector housing projects. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport outlined a comprehensive plan to boost housing supply and stabilize both rental and sales markets, with a particular emphasis on Seoul and other densely populated regions in the capital.

Meanwhile, South Korea's tax agency initiated a special investigation into KB Kookmin Bank, one of the country's largest financial institutions. Sources indicate that the National Tax Service has dispatched approximately 30 investigators to the bank's headquarters in western Seoul to gather necessary accounting documents for a tax audit.