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Police raided Starbucks Korea's headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday over allegations of defamation linked to a promotional campaign critics say evoked the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising. The raid follows a complaint filed by a civic group against Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, and investigators are examining whether company officials intended to insult the movement's victims.
A 4,000-kilogram piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed into the Moon's surface at 8,690 km/h on Wednesday, as predicted by astronomers. The unintentional impact, caused by gravitational and solar forces, kicked up a plume of lunar dust, with South Korea's Danuri orbiter set to examine the impact site.
South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang reported a net loss of 865 billion won ($570 million) in Q2, reversing a year-earlier profit, after a record fine over a massive data breach. Despite the setback, sales rose 4% and the company expects further growth in the third quarter.
Bayern Munich defeated Jeju SK FC 2-1 in a preseason friendly in South Korea, with teenagers Felipe Chavez and Bastian Assomo scoring for the German champions. Coach Vincent Kompany praised the intensity and energy of the match.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the South Korean won has seen excess volatility and emphasized the importance of a stable yen for the entire region, following a rare joint intervention by Washington and Tokyo to support the Japanese currency. He also linked an overly weak yen to the 1990s Asian financial crisis.
Team K League head coach Chung Jung-yong says his All-Star squad will not back down defensively against Manchester City in Wednesday's friendly at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The match is part of the Coupang Play Series, with the English Premier League side also scheduled to face Atletico Madrid later in the week.
South Korea's president has declared a record-breaking heatwave a national disaster, with temperatures hitting a 122-year high. Reports from multiple outlets indicate at least 16 to 21 deaths and thousands of heat-related illnesses, while a Tokyo zoo reports lion deaths.
Three lions have died of suspected heatstroke at Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park amid Japan's unusually hot and humid summer. The zoo has suspended its lion exhibit as 10 of its 16 big cats fell ill, with officials pointing to the challenge of high humidity for species adapted to dry African heat.
South Korea's main opposition People Power Party has intensified its criticism of a recently passed bill that abolishes the prosecution's direct investigative powers, urging President Lee Jae Myung to veto it. The party warns the legislation weakens victim protection and benefits criminals, while the president faces questions over remarks suggesting he had not read the law.
Michelle Park Steel, the new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, officially began her duties by submitting credentials to the foreign ministry and meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The two discussed strengthening bilateral relations amid pending issues such as tensions over Coupang's data breach and Seoul's investment pledges. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac also met with Steel for the first time.
President Lee Jae Myung defended a legal revision that abolishes prosecutors' direct investigative authority, calling it the start of judicial normalization. The Cabinet approved the bill, which the National Assembly had passed, despite opposition calls for a veto. Lee also addressed potential unintended consequences and ordered protections for workers in extreme heat.
South Korea's National Police Agency announced measures to ensure fair investigations ahead of the Criminal Procedure Act revision taking effect, which transfers direct investigation authority from prosecutors to police. President Lee Jae Myung defended the change as 'the beginning of judicial normalization,' while the opposition party urged a veto.
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun is set to meet fans in Manila in October, marking his return to public activities after police dropped an underage dating charge against him due to lack of evidence. The charge originated from accusations by the family of late actress Kim Sae-ron, and a YouTuber who raised the allegations has been arrested for defamation.
Wildfires around Spokane, Washington, have displaced about 65,000 people and destroyed hundreds of structures, with officials reporting no injuries so far. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest fire, while experts link increasing wildfire intensity to human-caused climate change.
South Korea's consumer prices rose 2.8 percent in July from a year earlier, slowing from the previous two months as oil price gains moderated. Diesel and gasoline prices remained high, while core inflation also advanced 2.6 percent.
US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are underway and could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz 'literally by tomorrow,' but he accused Tehran of being 'duplicitous' for denying negotiations. Trump described the strait as 'already completely controlled by the United States Navy' and said nothing reaches Iran without US approval unless a deal or 'total surrender' is achieved.
The US and Japan have jointly intervened to support the yen, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly planning to purchase $5-10 billion in yen. This rare move, the first yen-buying intervention since 1998, follows the currency's fall to a 40-year low and involves complex motivations from both sides.
South Korea's finance ministry has proposed tax code revisions that aim to reduce tax benefits for expensive properties, revamp the comprehensive real estate holding tax, and extend support to domestic producers of critical supply chain items. The plan, announced on Monday, also seeks to bolster growth potential, improve livelihoods for low- and middle-income households, and pursue a fairer tax system.
South Korea is in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in Seoul and other regions, setting new records and prompting health emergencies. The Korea Meteorological Administration attributes the prolonged heat to overlapping high-pressure systems and strong sunlight, while scientists link such extreme weather to human-induced climate change.
The South Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar on Monday and Tuesday, as foreign investors remained net sellers of local stocks. The won closed at 1,429.8 won per dollar on Monday and 1,432.5 won on Tuesday, while the KOSPI fell 5.12% on Monday before rebounding 1.62% on Tuesday.