Organization · 15 stories from 35 outlets in the last 7 days · 1,161 published stories all time
AI summarySouth Korean stocks opened at a record high on May 14 and remained near the historic 8,000-point milestone the next day, driven by gains on Wall Street led by tech shares. The KOSPI briefly touched 7,951.75, just a few points shy of the unprecedented level, as investors welcomed the US-China summit outcomes and strong performance from AI-related companies.
AI summaryU.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk concluded a three-day visit to South Korea, meeting with top officials to discuss cooperation, North Korea's human rights situation, and pressing global issues like stranded sailors in the Strait of Hormuz. The visit marked the first official trip by a U.N. human rights chief in 11 years.
AI summaryA new memorial honoring 22 countries that supported South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War has opened at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, drawing both praise and criticism. Supporters, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, see it as a fitting tribute, while critics argue the rifle-shaped sculptures militarize a space known for civic gatherings and protests.
AI summarySouth Korean shares rebounded over 2% to close at a fresh peak above 7,800, driven by semiconductor and auto stocks. The rebound came despite rising U.S. inflation and oil prices, with investors optimistic about the upcoming U.S.-China summit. The Korean won weakened against the dollar.
AI summaryThe South Korean won showed mixed performance on Wednesday amid lingering Middle East uncertainties and hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation, with reports from Yonhap indicating slight weakness by afternoon. Currency volatility persists amid stalled Washington-Tehran talks, while oil prices remain elevated above $102 per barrel.
AI summarySamsung Electronics and its largest labor union failed to reach a wage agreement after two days of government-mediated talks, raising the prospect of an 18-day strike starting May 21. The dispute over performance bonuses has prompted warnings from government officials and the central bank about potential economic damage, with a court yet to rule on Samsung's injunction request.
AI summarySouth Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Seoul will review phased contributions to efforts restoring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, after talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Possible steps range from political support to limited asset provision, short of expanded troop deployments, following an attack on a Korean-operated cargo ship. South Korea is also joining a Britain- and France-led multinational defense meeting on the waterway.
AI summaryU.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing for a three-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on trade, Iran, Taiwan, and North Korea. The leaders discussed a potential "board of trade" and China's purchase of Boeing aircraft. Following the summit, Trump confirmed talks on North Korea and Taiwan, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung received a briefing on the outcomes.
AI summaryRoh Si-hwan hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Hanwha Eagles defeated the Kiwoom Heroes 11-5 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to three games. Roh, who was demoted to the minors in April after a slow start, has been on a hot streak in May, batting .364 with six home runs and 15 RBIs.
AI summaryChoi Jeong of the SSG Landers hit his 10th home run of the season, extending his KBO record to 21 straight seasons with double-digit homers. Meanwhile, teammate Park Seong-han won the KBO Player of the Month award for March-April, powered by a record-breaking 22-game hitting streak to start the season.
AI summarySouth Korea's Supreme Court confirmed a two-year prison sentence for retired Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won for collecting military intelligence agents' personal information ahead of the December 2024 martial law declaration. In a related case, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to three years for obstructing official duties, while special counsel sought five-year terms for Kim and another former intelligence chief.
AI summarySouth Korea's unification ministry will provide 300 million won to support civic groups cheering for the North Korean women's football team during their visit for an AFC Champions League semifinal. The match marks the first visit by a North Korean sports team in over seven years, and the minister will not attend in person to respect its purely international nature.
AI summarySeoul shares fell more than 2% Tuesday, snapping a five-day winning streak, as investors took profits and worries over U.S.-Iran peace talks resurfaced. The KOSPI closed at 7,643.15, with foreigners net-selling and the won dropping sharply against the dollar.
AI summarySouth Korea's financial regulator has pledged to scale up support for artificial intelligence firms, including doubling investment and introducing a new fund with tax breaks and loss coverage. The Korea National Growth Fund has already invested 2 trillion won in AI startups this year, with a target of raising 150 trillion won over five years.
AI summaryGoogle's threat intelligence group reports that state-sponsored hackers from North Korea and China are increasingly using AI to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities, with North Korea's APT45 group sending thousands of AI-generated prompts to probe for weaknesses. Separately, Kaspersky has linked a North Korean hacking group to AI-assisted malware development targeting South Korean government systems.
AI summarySouth Korea will play friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in late May and early June as final preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The matches will be held in Utah, where the team will also hold a pre-tournament training camp to acclimatize to high altitude before their Group A games in Mexico.
AI summarySouth Korea's KF-21 fighter jet program faces potential delays as production costs for the follow-on phase are projected to rise sharply. Despite a recent successful combat readiness evaluation, budget pressures and economic factors threaten the timeline for delivering 120 jets by 2032.
AI summaryA South Korean court has temporarily suspended the antitrust regulator's designation of Coupang founder Kim Bom as the company's de facto controlling entity, following a lawsuit and injunction request filed by the e-commerce giant. The suspension is effective until July 15, pending a hearing on the injunction. The FTC had designated Kim as the 'same person' of the group, citing his brother's involvement in management, amid heightened scrutiny after a data breach last year.
AI summarySouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for an 'all-out war' against crimes targeting vulnerable groups after a 17-year-old female high school student was fatally stabbed in a random attack in Gwangju. The presidential chief of staff also ordered special safety measures and stronger police patrols. The suspect, 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, has been arrested and referred to prosecutors.
AI summaryPop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, alleging the company used her photograph on television packaging without permission. She seeks at least $15 million in damages for copyright, trademark, and publicity rights violations. Samsung denies the claims, stating it had authorization through a content partner.