South Korea is considering designating flood-hit cities such as Geoje and Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones after torrential rain damaged 17 traditional markets. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said the government would mobilize all available resources to help residents and merchants return to normal, while relevant ministries prepare a livelihood stabilization package to ease price pressures caused by the heat wave and heavy rain. The government also plans action against unfair trading by dominant platforms, price-fixing and consumer deception. Koo said export growth had led major institutions to raise their forecasts for this year's economic growth to the 3% range, while the ratio of short-term external debt to foreign exchange reserves remained in the low 40% range and the CDS premium was below its level before the war in the Middle East. He warned that uncertainty was rising as the 60-day deadline for a U.S.-Iran ceasefire memorandum of understanding expired, prompting a review of emergency measures to protect energy supplies and supply chains. The ninth oil price ceiling is due to be announced at 7 p.m. on the 21st and take effect from midnight on the 22nd.