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Thomas Hatch, a 31-year-old American right-hander, has joined the SSG Landers in the Korea Baseball Organization, replacing injured starter Mitch White. Hatch, who has played in the U.S., Canada, and Japan, says he is focused on taking things day by day and contributing to the Landers' midseason turnaround.
South Korea's job market contracted in May, with employment falling by 40,000 year-on-year, the first drop in 17 months. The decline was driven by losses in manufacturing and science-technology services, while the government attributed the downturn to economic uncertainties linked to the prolonged Middle East conflict. Youth employment also saw a sharp fall, with the employment rate for those aged 15-29 dropping to 43.8%.
A second South Korean-operated vessel has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, reducing the number of stranded ships and sailors. An LNG carrier with eight Korean crew members departed after consultations between the shipper and a foreign charterer. Meanwhile, an earlier stranded oil tanker arrived in Ulsan, carrying Kuwaiti crude, as Seoul continues to seek alternative routes for oil imports.
South Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 in their Group A opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with coach Hong Myung-bo crediting altitude training in Utah. The team will next face Mexico, a match that pits midfielder Lee Kang-in against his former club coach Javier Aguirre.
The United States and Japan have reiterated their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during defense talks in Tokyo, rejecting Russia's view that the issue is closed. Washington also stated it remains open to dialogue without preconditions, while G7 leaders echoed the same commitment and expressed concern over North Korea's nuclear programs.
South Korea's National Election Commission faces mounting scrutiny after a fact-finding committee recommended criminal investigations into former Chairman Roh Tae-ak and other officials over ballot shortages during June local elections. The NEC has accepted the findings, while a parliamentary special committee has launched its own inquiry.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and EU leaders in Brussels, agreeing to expand investment in strategic industries and signing a digital trade agreement. Lee also requested EU consideration for South Korean steelmakers under new tariff rules.
South Korea's Defense Counterintelligence Command will be dissolved following its alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law declaration in December 2024. The defense ministry announced a restructuring plan that transfers core tasks to new bodies and abolishes certain investigative powers.
The LG Twins signed Puerto Rican reliever Yacksel Rios on June 3 after releasing starter Yonny Chirinos, with manager Youm Kyoung-youb slotting the hard-throwing right-hander into high-leverage bullpen work. Rios debuted on June 10 with a 158 kph fastball and earned his first KBO save on June 24, drawing strong praise from his manager while emphasizing team contribution.
Unionized employees at South Korean tech giant Kakao Corp. staged their first-ever walkout on June 10, demanding higher bonuses and profit sharing. Around 1,500 workers from five units participated, citing a 32.2% rise in executive wages versus 2.9% for regular staff. Management warns the demands could place a huge burden on operations, while the union plans a second walkout on June 29.
South Korean stocks fell sharply in late morning trading on Wednesday, extending losses amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and a technology-sector slump. The KOSPI was trading more than 3 percent lower by 11:20 a.m., with major tech shares leading the decline. Overnight losses on Wall Street, driven by concerns over AI stock valuations, added to the market's downward pressure.
BTS's album 'Arirang' continues its impressive run on the Billboard 200, returning to the top 10 in its 13th week with 34,000 album units. The album, which made history as the first K-pop act to spend three weeks at No. 1, also saw its lead single 'Swim' chart on the Hot 100. Meanwhile, other K-pop acts like aespa and &TEAM also made notable chart appearances.
South Korea's finance minister announced plans to review income tax cuts for young workers at SMEs, with potential extra benefits for those outside the greater Seoul area. Meanwhile, financial authorities stressed using expected tax revenue gains for future-oriented investment and addressing economic disparities.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has called for a comprehensive military overhaul by 2040, emphasizing AI integration and manned-unmanned teaming to address future warfare challenges and a shrinking pool of eligible recruits. The plan includes maintaining troop levels at 500,000 while increasing the proportion of officers and expanding outsourcing in non-combat roles.
A South Korean court has ordered the preservation of evidence related to ballot shortages that disrupted local elections in Seoul, as protests continue for a sixth day. The order covers ballot boxes and communications from election officials, though a key container remains missing.
South Korea's defense ministry is investigating the Korea War Memorial Organization after a promotional poster and teacher training itinerary appeared to endorse China's narrative of the 1950-53 Korean War. The agency has removed the materials, and the program has been canceled as officials face scrutiny over the incident.
South Korean stocks rebounded sharply on Tuesday, with the KOSPI closing up 8.18 percent, its largest daily gain ever, as investors regained confidence in AI-related sectors and welcomed a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Korean won also strengthened against the dollar.
South Korea's foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to denuclearizing North Korea after a summit between Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping that made no public mention of nuclear programs. Seoul is also closely watching Xi's call for expanded military cooperation, noting the unprecedented inclusion of China's defense minister in the delegation.
Samsung Electronics announced plans to transform its work processes and corporate culture by integrating artificial intelligence across its business. The company will introduce external generative AI services like ChatGPT and Gemini, with executives leading the initiative and around 2,000 executives expected to attend training.
The sixth meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) took place in Seoul on Thursday, with South Korea and the US reaffirming their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea and strengthening extended deterrence. The allies also discussed enhancing nuclear deterrence and readiness posture amid North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile capabilities.