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Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrived in Seoul for a two-day visit, reciprocating a January trip by his South Korean counterpart. The visit includes talks on expanding bilateral defense cooperation and follows the first-ever refueling of a South Korean military aircraft by Japanese forces.
South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina attended the Pax Silica Summit in Washington, where discussions focused on AI supply chain security and semiconductor cooperation. The U.S. announced the 'Pax Pass' project and a $50 million commitment to advance AI product shipping through Panama.
South Korea announced plans to train 500,000 military personnel as drone operators and produce tens of thousands of drones by 2029, aiming to make drones a standard tool for every soldier. The initiative, driven by lessons from recent conflicts and concerns over North Korea's advancing drone capabilities, includes a shift to 100% domestically produced components.
A Seoul court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for accepting gifts and bribes in exchange for political favors. She was already serving a four-year term for stock manipulation and bribery. The ruling also finalized suspended sentences for three defendants in the bribery case.
Yonhap News Agency hosted the annual Korean Peninsula Symposium in Seoul, co-hosted by the Ministry of Unification and the Institute for National Security Strategy. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called for a practical, phased approach to the North Korean nuclear issue, while President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed a commitment to pragmatic diplomacy.
Korean American professor Morse Tan has been questioned by Seoul police over allegations that he defamed President Lee Jae Myung by claiming Lee was involved in murder as a teenager. The questioning came after Tan missed an earlier scheduled session, citing media exposure concerns, and a court rejected his request to suspend a travel ban.
South Korean stocks nosedived nearly 6 percent Friday as investors locked in profits after AI-driven gains, marking the KOSPI's steepest drop in recent sessions. The index fell as much as 8 percent intraday, triggering a circuit breaker, while the won strengthened against the dollar.
Oil prices rose after an attack on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and renewed US-Iran strikes, raising doubts about the return to normal shipping in the critical waterway. Brent crude saw gains across multiple trading sessions as geopolitical tensions persisted.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced on Friday that South Korea will accelerate efforts to field a long-range suicide drone system, named K-Lucas, to bolster its unmanned weapons capabilities. The system is reverse-engineered from Iran's Shahed-136 drones, and the plan includes acquiring over 20,000 low-cost drones by 2030 and restructuring the Drone Operations Command.
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he took office, according to a Gallup Korea poll. The survey shows his disapproval rating exceeding 40 percent for the first time, with economic concerns, housing policies, and alleged irregularities cited as key factors.
South Korean stocks opened lower on Wednesday, driven by investor retreat from AI-related shares following a Wall Street tech sell-off and caution ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy update. The KOSPI fell 0.87 percent in early trading, with Samsung Electronics leading the decline.
A Seoul court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for accepting luxury gifts in exchange for job appointments and business favors. The court found her guilty on all counts, with the judge stating she disregarded her social responsibilities. Kim's lawyers plan to appeal the verdict.
The South Korean government has unveiled a logo commemorating independence leader Kim Koo, with UNESCO marking 2026 as the 150th anniversary of his birth. A special exhibition will also be held at the Old Korean Legation in Washington from June 26 to September 26.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised tests of a new multiple rocket launcher and other weapons, state media reported, as part of efforts to modernize artillery and missile systems. The tests occurred on the anniversary of the Korean War and drew attention to Seoul's delayed announcement of the launch.
South Korea announced plans to lower fuel price ceilings and freeze electricity and gas rates for the second half of the year to combat inflation, citing easing geopolitical tensions and declining global crude oil prices. The government aims to keep inflation around 3 percent.
South Korea and the US-led United Nations Command are publicly disagreeing over whether North Korea's recent border fortifications violate the 1953 armistice. While Seoul calls the actions a clear violation, the UNC says they do not breach the agreement. The dispute highlights deeper differences between the allies over the DMZ and the role of US Forces Korea.
A senior U.S. diplomat said the United States is working to ensure conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea are met as soon as possible, acknowledging Seoul's desire for a swift transition. The remarks came during a congressional hearing, highlighting ongoing discussions on timing and conditions-based criteria.
Samsung Electronics is considering Gwangju for a new semiconductor facility, as President Lee Jae Myung and Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong discuss regional investments. The government's 'three mega projects' initiative aims to strengthen advanced technology competitiveness, and Samsung also plans robotics expansion in Gumi and HBM production in Chungcheong.
South Korea's transport ministry has approved Korean Air's integration with Asiana Airlines, with the combined carrier set to launch on Dec. 17. Korean Air estimates integration costs at up to 1 trillion won, offset by synergies by 2028-2029.
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index surged 5.42% on Thursday, closing at 8,930.30, as a strong earnings report from U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology sparked a rally in semiconductor stocks. The index briefly surpassed the 9,000-point mark before closing lower. Institutional buying drove the gains, while foreign and retail investors were net sellers.