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Investigators to question election watchdog officials soon over local election ballot shortage

A joint team of police investigators and prosecutors will soon question election watchdog officials over shortages of ballot papers during the June 3 local elections, legal sources said Sunday. The expected move comes as the National Election Commission (NEC) has taken flak for the shortages that temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations, mostly in Seoul, during the elections earlier this month. The team completed a search and seizure on NEC's servers on Saturday to secure internal messages and other records as part of a probe into the cause of the shortages. The team plans to soon call in front-line NEC officials stationed in areas that experienced the shortages for questioning before summoning senior officials, including the NEC's former chief who resigned over the incident. The investigation is focused on whether NEC officials exerted undue influence regarding the printing of the ballot papers and how they responded to the shortages. Under the election law, civil servants are restricted from using their position to exert undue influence in an election. The team raided seven lo

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Airlines on high alert over strengthening dollar, prolonged oil price hike

Korea’s aviation industry is facing severe headwinds, as a combination of high oil prices and a weakening Korean won is feared to slow down major airlines' earnings recovery. According to estimates by market tracker, FnGuide, the nation’s five major listed airlines are forecast to report combined operating losses of around 823.6 billion won ($542 million) in the second quarter. The weakening local currency and rising fuel costs have directly weighed on airlines' profitability, as fuel expenses typically account for about 30 percent of an airline's total operating costs. For instance, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines consume an estimated 42.05 million barrels of jet fuel this year. This means a mere $1 fluctuation per barrel triggers a direct impact of approximately $42.05 million on their combined bottom lines. The average price of Singapore kerosene, a benchmark for jet fuel, spiked from $89.03 per barrel in February to $151.73 per barrel in May. This is a surge of around 70 percent following the outbreak of armed conflicts in the Middle East in late February. The won-dollar exchange r

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BTS celebrates 13th birthday with two-night homecoming stand in Busan

BUSAN — K-pop juggernaut BTS marked its 13th anniversary with a massive homecoming, bringing the group's ongoing "ARIRANG" World Tour to Busan's Asiad Main Stadium on Friday and Saturday for a two-night run that felt as much like a celebration as a concert. The timing was no accident. The shows landed squarely on June 13, the group's debut anniversary, sending fans worldwide into a frenzy well before the first note dropped. Busan, too, carries deep meaning for the group — it is the hometown of members Jimin and Jung Kook, and the site of "Yet to Come," the sprawling farewell concert that preceded the members' mandatory military service in 2022. The group's return had been building for weeks. "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG BUSAN," a large-scale urban festival running since early June, had transformed the city's landmarks into extensions of the "ARIRANG" album's themes, stretching from a grand welcome at Busan Station to a drone light show above Gwangalli Beach. By Saturday evening, 55,000 fans packed the stadium, a crowd that had already endured a roughly 75-minute delay the night before and a

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Trump says deal to end war will be signed on Sunday; Iran questions timing

DUBAI/WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan said on Saturday an initial deal to end the war in the Middle East would be signed on Sunday, although Iran denied the signing would take place so soon. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks next week. Trump said in a social media post that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies which Iran has blocked, would be immediately "open to all" after it was signed. Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned against commenting on the timing of the signing. "We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow," state media quoted Baghaei as saying. "The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out. However, due to the hesitat

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SK chairman calls for full-fledged AI transformation

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won urged executives and employees to pursue full-fledged efforts toward artificial intelligence (AI) transformation in order to seize the current opportunity stemming from the strong alignment between the group’s business portfolio and the AI value chain, the conglomerate said Sunday. Chey made the remarks during the 2026 Icheon Forum, an annual seminar attended by SK employees and outside experts, held from Thursday through Saturday. “Now is the time to launch our AI transformation effort at full speed across every corner of our businesses,” Chey said. “For this, we must first have to clearly define our business and determine what and how we can innovate through AI.” He stressed the importance of AI transformation in improving SK Group’s operation capability, urging the use of AI agents across the organization. “More than 90 percent of our employees are already using AI, but we now need AI that goes beyond individual use and genuinely helps the team by turning those efforts into organizationwide performance," he said. Chey said SK Group is now wi

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National Museum of Korea, Uffizi Galleries sign MOU on collection exchanges

Two prominent museums of Korea and Italy signed an agreement Saturday on enhancing cooperation in exchanging their collections, Seoul's presidential office said. The National Museum of Korea and the Uffizi Galleries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to that end in Florence during President Lee Jae Myung's visit to the Italian museum, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Lee's visit to the Uffizi Galleries was part of a special guest protocol. The Korean president is on a state visit to Italy, which began Wednesday in Rome. Under the MOU, the two institutions will enhance cooperation in collection exchanges, exhibitions and collection management, and restoration, as well as publications. Both sides will also jointly develop programs for planned exchanges. The signing of the MOU came after Lee and Italian President Sergio Mattarella agreed earlier this week to elevate bilateral relations to a special strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in advanced technology, trade, cultural exchanges and other areas.

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Defense chief to propose target year for wartime OPCON transfer at year-end meeting

The target year for Korea regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States will be proposed to the presidents of both countries at the end of this year, Seoul's defense chief said Sunday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster KBS, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration has sought to complete the transfer within Lee's term, which ends in 2030. "Discussions on the verification of full operational capability (FOC) will take place with the U.S. defense secretary at the Security Consultative Meeting in November and based on this, a proposal will be made to both presidents," Ahn said. "Then, the year for wartime OPCON recovery will be decided." The allies are in the process of verifying the FOC — the second part of a three-phase program aimed at vetting Seoul's capabilities to lead the allies' combined forces. Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was then transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when the command was launched in 1978. Korea

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Anthropic cuts access to AI models over US 'national security' order

SAN FRANCISCO — Anthropic said Friday it has suspended access to two powerful AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, to comply with a U.S. national security order. Just three days after publicly launching Fable 5, the company said in a blog post that it received a government directive banning all foreign nationals, even ones who work at Anthropic, from accessing Fable 5 and Mythos 5 over national security concerns. "The net effect of this order is that we must abruptly disable Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for all our customers to ensure compliance," it said. The company said it received the letter at 5:21 pm (2121 GMT) Friday. Axios reported that the letter came from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The U.S. Commerce officials did not immediately respond to a request from AFP. The firm said that the letter did not state what specifically concerned the government. However, the firm's "understanding is that the government believes it has become aware of a method of bypassing, or 'jailbreaking'" the Fable 5 model such that it could aid hacking. Fable 5, released Tuesday, is a locked-down version of

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Lee Kang-in gearing up for match vs. ex-club coach: 'He's just an opponent'

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — In an intriguing subplot for Korea in their upcoming Group A match against Mexico at the FIFA World Cup, midfielder Lee Kang-in will try to beat his former club coach who is now in charge of Mexico, Javier Aguirre. It was under Aguirre at the Spanish outfit RCD Mallorca that Lee first demonstrated his playmaking chops during the 2022-2023 La Liga season. He set career highs with six goals and seven assists then, and parlayed that into a deal with the French giants Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023. Aguirre saw potential in Lee that the Korean's other coaches might not have identified, and the Mexican tactician was once quoted as saying, "I believe that (Lee) is the most talented player in the squad and he's so lethal in one-on-one situations." Now 25, Lee is widely considered one of Korea's most important players, a creative force who can thread the needle through tight gaps. In Korea's 2-1 win over Czechia in their Group A opener on Thursday, Lee set up the team's equalizer by Hwang In-beom with a sharp through ball that punctured a hole on the opposing defe

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IAEA chief highlights verification role in potential US-Iran nuclear deal, says NPT remains effective tool

VIENNA — The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said the agency stands ready to verify any nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, stressing that monitoring and verification would be central to its role if such a deal is reached. U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (U.S. time) that a peace agreement with Iran was in "pretty final shape" and could be signed in Europe within the week, adding that he understood Iran's top leader had approved the deal. "The most important thing about the agency is verification, and the fact that we are going to be part of the resolution is a very important formality that needs to be there," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said during a meeting with reporters on the sidelines of a seminar organized by the agency for journalists from global news outlets, including Yonhap News Agency. "When they agree on something and they ask us to do the verification, I have to go to my board ... to ask them for permission to do that," he added. Grossi also suggested that any such agreement would likely require comprehensive m

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N. Korea calls denuclearization an 'irreversibly finalized' matter

North Korea on Sunday called denuclearization an "irreversibly finalized" matter as it denounced recent talks between South Korea and the United States that reaffirmed the goal of the North's denuclearization. An unnamed spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry issued the criticism, after South Korea and the United States reaffirmed the shared goal at the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group meeting on Thursday. "It is an unreasonable talk and fantastic daydream to mention about disarming the other belligerent party's nuclear weapons," the spokesperson said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The U.S. and its vassal forces' meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK and cooperation in posing a nuclear threat to it can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state," the spokesperson said. "The 'denuclearization' is an irreversibly finalized matter." DPRK stands for the North's official name — the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The spokesperson also took issue with the bilateral Extended Deterrence Dialogue between the U

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What China offered a Korean researcher to live, work in Shenzhen

A long line of travelers stretched in front of airport check-in counters and security checkpoints, their faces weary as they waited. At Shenzhen Baoan International Airport in Guangdong province, a regional hub in southern China connected to major airports across the country, it was a familiar sight — until one man breezed past them as if the line did not exist. Shin Young-chul, a professor from Korea, was ushered down a carpeted priority lane to a dedicated counter. The stringent ID checks often associated with Chinese airports were waived for him, and within seconds, he passed through security and was guided to a VIP lounge. After the entire process, which took less than five minutes, Shin leisurely waited for his flight before departing for Dali, Yunnan province. For Shin, who has been based in Shenzhen for five years, the experience no longer comes as a surprise. As an associate research professor in the department of chemical biology at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), he is recognized by the Guangdong provincial and Shenzhen municipal governments as h

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1 out of 3 Koreans obese, highest among men in 30s, 40s: data

One out of three Koreans was obese as of 2024, data showed Sunday, with obesity rates among men in their 30s and 40s hovering above 50 percent. According to data compiled by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the obesity rate among Koreans aged 19 or older came to 34.4 percent in 2024. The survey was conducted on 230,000 participants. It marked a slight rise from 32.2 percent recorded in 2021, the agency said. The figure stood at 26.3 percent in 2015. Korea defines individuals with a body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, of 25 or higher as obese. The obesity rate among men came to 41.4 percent, far above the 23 percent recorded for women. The survey showed men in their 30s and 40s posted obesity rates of 53.1 percent and 50.3 percent, respectively. The figure gradually declined to 26 percent among those aged 70 and older. Women in their 30s and 40s, on the other hand, posted obesity rates of around 21 percent, with the figure gradually rising to a peak of 27.9 percent among those in their 70s. The report also showed men living alone were less

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K-content boom effect? Foreign arrivals to Korea jump 20%

The number of foreign visitors entering Korea surged by more than 20 percent in the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2025.. According to the Incheon Airport Immigration Office, June 11, a total of 22.13 million people entered Korea between January and May this year, up 11.1 percent from 19.92 million during the same period last year. The increase was particularly pronounced among foreign visitors. While the number of Korean nationals returning to the country rose 5.5 percent to 13.12 million, foreign arrivals jumped 20.4 percent, climbing from 7.49 million to 9.01 million — an increase of more than 1.52 million people. Given that total cross-border travel in 2025 reached 98.32 million, already surpassing the pre-pandemic record of 93.54 million set in 2019, officials believe foreign arrivals could reach an all-time high this year. The immigration authorities noted that the growth was broadly distributed across multiple countries rather than concentrated from a single market. However, arrivals from China and Taiwan posted particularly strong gains. China an

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Impressive Korea starts World Cup with a bang

Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Thursday evening (local time) in Guadalajara to start the 2026 World Cup with a deserved win, even if it was touch and go for a while. Some missed chances meant that for a while, it looked like the points were slipping away, but in the end it was a fine performance from coach Hong Myung-bo’s men. The Taegeuk Warriors' first opening win at the World Cup since 2010 sets them up nicely to get out Group A and into the knockout stages. The three points are welcome, but so is the fact that Korea played some exciting and attractive soccer, in contrast to the physical Czechs who mostly threatened from set pieces. Hwang In-beom was the star; the midfielder scored a fine equalizer and then assisted Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winning goal. After all the pretournament criticism and uncertainty, there were big smiles on the faces of the Korean players and their army of fans in Mexico. The first half belonged to the 2002 semifinalists. Lee Kang-in was pulling the strings going forward, picking out passes and finding space. Son Heung-min is still th

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Hana Institute of Finance hosts seminar on productive finance

The Hana Institute of Finance held a joint seminar Thursday with the Korea Institute of Finance and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) to discuss the role of productive finance in supporting industrial growth, Hana Financial Group said Sunday. The event examined how industrial and financial policies can be better aligned to strengthen national competitiveness amid ongoing shifts in global supply chains. Participants also discussed ways to improve coordination between public and private financing and how support frameworks for future high-tech industries could evolve. In a congratulatory address, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo emphasized the role of private financial institutions in driving industrial transformation. “Industrial ecosystems at home and abroad are rapidly shifting toward tech-driven sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), data and energy. To keep pace with these changes, financial and industrial policies must work in tandem as complementary pillars of the country’s growth strategy,” he said. The chairman noted how financia

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2026 local elections

Protests over ballot shortages continue for 9th day

Protests over ballot shortages continue for 9th day

Protests demanding a re-run of last week's local elections marred by ballot shortages continued for the ninth day Saturday morning, though participants decreased sharply compared with the previous night. About 700 protesters chanted slogans and waved national flags around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil as of 9 a.m., down from some 8,000 people gathered Friday night. The protests were sparked by the unprecedented ballot shortages in the June 3 mayoral and gubernatorial elections. According to the National Election Commission, voting was suspended at 26 polling stations across the nation and some voters were reported to have returned home without casting their votes due to the lack of ballot papers. The protests had grown to some 30,000 people, many of them in their 20s and 30s, last weekend, but has since gradually decreased, with many older people replacing younger voters at weekday rallies. The NEC has apologized, saying it failed to print enough ballot papers due to an incorrect prediction of voter turnout. However, it has maintained that the ballo

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Editor's Pick

‘It’s about democracy, suffrage, sovereignty of people’

‘It’s about democracy, suffrage, sovereignty of people’

University students across the country denounced the ballot shortages in last week's local elections as a fundamental violation of the right to vote and the Constitution, demanding sweeping reforms at the National Election Commission (NEC). They warned the political parties, both liberal and conservative, that they should not use the issue for their own political gains, saying the students are calling for a thorough investigation to establish the reason behind the ballot shortages and measures to prevent a repeat of the incident. Student bodies at 18 universities issued a joint declaration Wednesday, a week after at least 91 polling stations nationwide faced ballot shortages, leaving many voters unable to cast their ballots or forced to wait past the 6 p.m. closing time. Former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak resigned days later to take responsibility, and a joint police-prosecution investigation was launched this week. “We gathered here not merely to speak about the flaws in the electoral system, but to speak about the one vote that was taken from us,” Hwang In-seo, emergency council head

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Life in Korea

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

Taste of Busan: Taxi drivers' guide to Jimin & Jung Kook’s hometown flavors

As hundreds of thousands of BTS fans from all corners of the globe descend on the southern port city of Busan for their highly anticipated concert this weekend, the streets are alive with an undeniable buzz. While the main mission of most visitors is to see BTS on stage, any trip to the city wouldn't be complete without exploring the flavors of Jimin and Jung Kook's hometown. Forget generic online reviews and sponsored blog posts — those who want the real, unfiltered flavors can put their trust in the ultimate insiders: Busan’s taxi drivers. The "Taxchelin Guide" (a portmanteau of "taxi" and "Michelin"), a bulletproof culinary map curated by the city's most seasoned drivers, who know the city’s hidden culinary gems better than anyone. Launched in 2016 as a collaborative effort between Busan's municipal tourism bodies and local taxi associations, this annual guide has evolved over the years from a word-of-mouth insider secret into an official, highly respected restaurant guide. 'Camellia flower' marks spot Based on three strict criteria — consistent taste, reasonable pricing and dis

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Lifestyle

Can't give up noodles? Try these vegetable alternatives

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As temperatures rise, many people find themselves craving a refreshing bowl of noodles rather than a heavy meal. Whether it's spicy mixed noodles or a chilled noodle dish, noodles are a popular summer comfort food. The downside is that noodle-based meals are often high in carbohydrates and may leave you feeling hungry again not long after eating. For those who can't imagine giving up noodles, there is a simple solution: reduce the amount of wheat noodles and replace part of them with vegetables cut into noodle-like strands. Zucchini, carrots and cucumbers can all be sliced into long, thin strips using a julienne peeler or vegetable slicer, creating "vegetable noodles" that add bulk, texture and nutrients while lowering the calorie content of a meal. Zucchini Zucchini is one of the easiest vegetables to turn into noodles. Because it contains a lot of water and has a mild flavor, it pairs well with a wide variety of seasonings. At just 16 calories per 100 grams, zucchini can be added generously without significantly increasing the calorie count o

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Can't give up noodles? Try these vegetable alternatives

K-Culture

Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

Actor Koo Kyo-hwan’s momentum this year has been hard to ignore. With hit drama “We Are All Trying Here” and zombie film “Colony,” Koo has moved between television and the big screen in the first half of the year, making his presence felt across genres. His rise appears to be only gaining speed. Since making his commercial film debut with “Peninsula” in 2020, Koo has built a steady career across films and dramas, including “Escape” (2024), “Once We Were Us” (2025), Netflix’s “D.P.” series, “Parasyte: The Grey” (2024) and “Monstrous” (2022). He has four upcoming projects awaiting release, including “White Blast” and “Seeking the King.” “Once We Were Us” was an especially meaningful addition to his filmography, both in terms of its reception and his performance. Koo has always shown a different face in each project while maintaining his distinct style, but in this film, his acting shone more brightly than ever before. Once regarded as a leading figure in Korea’s independent film scene, Koo is now establishing himself as an actor who can bal

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Koo Kyo-hwan is on a roll, and for a good reason

Celebrities

Aespa's Karina, Winter cheer on Korean national team at World Cup match

Members of K-pop girl group aespa, Karina and Winter, showed their support for the Korean national football team. On Friday, Karina and Winter shared updates on their personal social media accounts ahead of Korea's match against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Karina posted a video of herself wearing Korea's signature red cheering shirt and waving the national flag, along with the message, "Go, players!" Winter also uploaded a video capturing the atmosphere inside the stadium, joining in support of the team. Singer Kwon Eun-bi is also reported to have participated in the away support event. Earlier in the day, the World Cup opened with a performance by renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Korean American singer-songwriter EJAE, who gained global attention through the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." EJAE and Bocelli sang the tournament's official theme song, "DNA," signaling the start of the competition. Meanwhile, the Korean national team opened its World Cup campaign against the Czech Republic on Friday, to be followed by

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Aespa's Karina, Winter cheer on Korean national team at World Cup match

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Opinion

Top 10 Stories

  1. Trump says deal to end war will be signed on Sunday; Iran questions timing

  2. National Museum of Korea, Uffizi Galleries sign MOU on collection exchanges

  3. Justice ministry looking into possibly missing 100 rounds of live ammunition at Daejeon prison

  4. K-content boom effect? Foreign arrivals to Korea jump 20%

  5. Every trial became blessing in disguise: Dad behind Korea’s new World Cup hero

  6. What China offered a Korean researcher to live, work in Shenzhen

  7. IAEA chief highlights verification role in potential US-Iran nuclear deal, says NPT remains effective tool

  8. Lee Kang-in gearing up for match vs. ex-club coach: 'He's just an opponent'

  9. S. Korea, US, Japan hold talks on N. Korea

  10. Anthropic cuts access to AI models over US 'national security' order

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