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SK hynix has surpassed Samsung Electronics in market capitalization for the first time, driven by surging demand for AI memory chips. The milestone marks the end of Samsung's 25-year reign as the top company on South Korea's main stock index.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is set to visit South Korea next week for talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, focusing on bilateral cooperation and the fate of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces. This marks the first such visit since 2015, with expectations of progress on the POW issue.
Following a data leak affecting 5,000 applicants to South Korea's 'Startup for All' program, the government has announced trade secret certification services and launched a police investigation. Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook has apologized, while President Lee Jae Myung has called for severe consequences for security violations.
South Korean police and prosecutors are widening their probe into ballot paper shortages that disrupted the June 3 local elections, with officials set to be questioned and raids conducted. The National Election Commission faces mounting criticism, an impending financial audit, and protests demanding a re-run.
A Realmeter poll reported by Yonhap News Agency shows President Lee Jae Myung's disapproval rating surpassing his approval rating for the first time since he took office, with approval falling to 46.7 percent and disapproval to 49.7 percent. A week later, approval fell further to 46.5 percent while disapproval declined slightly to 49.5 percent, with the decline attributed to ballot mishandling controversies and economic concerns.
South Korea's exports in the first 20 days of June jumped 60.4% year-on-year to a record $62 billion, driven by strong semiconductor shipments amid the global AI boom. Imports rose 23.2%, yielding a trade surplus of $17 billion.
Starbucks Korea will close all its stores early on June 22 for mandatory history and sensitivity training following a controversial 'Tank Day' promotion that evoked memories of the 1980 Gwangju uprising. Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin will also undergo the training, as police question an executive over the incident.
Protests demanding a rerun of South Korea's June 3 local elections, marred by ballot paper shortages, have continued for over two weeks. The demonstrations, which began June 5, have drawn thousands to the Olympic Park area, with authorities urging participants to refrain from illegal acts while a joint police-prosecutor probe into the shortages continues.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has appointed new senior presidential secretaries for communication and civil affairs, along with other key aides, as part of a reshuffle entering his second year in office. The appointments include veteran journalist Seong Ghi-hong and former prosecutor Han Chan-sik, with expectations focused on prosecutorial reform.
South Korea fell 1-0 to Mexico in their Group A World Cup match, with a late header saved and a defensive mix-up leading to the goal. Midfielder Eom Ji-sung cited bad luck, while the team remains second in the group ahead of a decisive match against South Africa.
South Korea's unification ministry reaffirmed its commitment to a phased, viable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, responding to North Korea's latest rejection of nuclear disarmament. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called for a paradigm shift toward a pragmatic, step-by-step process, with support from China.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he told US President Donald Trump that the North Korean nuclear issue requires a different approach than other countries' nuclear problems, during the G7 summit in France. Lee also revealed he asked Pope Leo XIV to visit North Korea and the Demilitarized Zone, and proposed a phased approach to denuclearization.
South Korea says it remains in close talks with the United States over the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, after a U.S. Senate bill introduced a provision requiring regular reports to Congress on the transfer road map. The provision reflects differing views between Seoul and Washington on the pace of the transfer, with Seoul seeking to complete it before 2030 and the U.S. emphasizing conditions and readiness.
South Korea's finance ministry will seek to replace the heads of two public institutions—the Government Employees Pension Service and KOICA—following a performance evaluation. Seven institutions received the lowest grade, and warnings were issued to several agency heads, including those tied to fatal workplace accidents.
Thousands of South Korean fans gathered at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square for street cheering during the 2026 World Cup group stage, including matches against Czechia, Mexico, and South Africa. Reports from Yonhap detail fan enthusiasm, heat-beating measures, and the cultural significance of street cheering since 2002.
A severed human leg found at a recycling facility in Incheon on June 10 was traced back to an 80-something patient at a nearby nursing hospital. Police confirmed that a volunteer worker mistakenly discarded the amputated limb as recyclable waste, leading to an investigation into potential medical law violations.
South Korea's finance minister said the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding to end their conflict presents both opportunities and challenges, with the government planning post-conflict economic policies. The deal follows a 106-day conflict that disrupted global supply chains, and analysts warn of lingering risks including inflation and energy insecurity.
South Korea's producer prices increased for the ninth consecutive month in May, climbing 0.8% on-month, driven by higher petroleum and raw material costs amid the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, import prices fell for a second straight month, with the index down 0.3% on-month.
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed above 9,000 points for the first time in its history on June 18, 2026, rallying 2.25 percent to 9,063.84. The surge was led by semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with foreign investors purchasing a net 1.3 trillion won, despite a hawkish Federal Reserve stance and ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.
South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index crossed the 9,000-point mark for the first time in history on Thursday, buoyed by a surge in semiconductor and AI-related stocks. The index closed at 9,063.84, up 2.25 percent, extending a dramatic rally that has seen it gain over 110 percent this year. Analysts attribute the rise to global AI investment and a recent U.S.-Iran peace agreement.