Korea’s latest policy and business briefing centers on a proposed further reduction in mortgage limits for homes priced at 1.5 billion won or less, a cut in withholding tax for personal service providers, and tougher sanctions for companies linked to major workplace accidents. Lee Sung-hoon, president of Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), said current mortgage limits are excessive. Loans from financial institutions funded 40.1% of Seoul home purchases by buyers in their 30s from February to July this year, compared with 25.1% for buyers in their 40s and 14.5% for those in their 50s. The briefing also covers a reduction in the withholding rate for delivery riders, substitute drivers and other personal service providers from 3.3% to 2.2% next year. The National Tax Service is notifying 820,000 people of 163.5 billion won in refunds without charge. Separately, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act imposing fines of up to 5% of operating profit when safety-law violations contribute to the deaths of at least three workers in one year. Other items include a data leak at Shinhan Bank affecting about 25,000 people, a five-year benefits grace period for mid-sized companies that become large companies, and disagreements among AI executives at a White House luncheon despite their joint signing of a superintelligence pact.