President Lee's Approval Rating Drops to 57% Amid Election Concerns President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has fallen to 57%, marking the lowest level this year, according to a survey released on June 12.The Korea Gallup poll, conducted from June 9 to 11 with 1,002 eligible voters aged 18 and older, found that 57% of respondents rated Lee's job performance positively. This represents a 7 percentage point drop from a survey conducted just before local elections in the third week of May. Lee's approval rating had previously reached 58% in surveys from the third June 12, 2026

Kyowon Wells' Wellness Talk Show 'Shinshin Dangbu' Surpasses 13 Million Views Kyowon Wells' wellness talk show series 'Shinshin Dangbu' has surpassed 13 million cumulative views. On June 12, Kyowon announced that 'Shinshin Dangbu' is a YouTube content series featuring brand ambassador Shin A-ra sharing wellness tips for daily living. The series has been presented since March as part of Kyowon Wells' wellness branding strategy. The content is designed to promote Kyowon Wells' wellness solutions, targeting the health-conscious 40 to 50 age group, with a focus on di June 12, 2026

Han Byeong-do: No Plans to Hand Over Legislative Committee to People Power Party Han Byeong-do, the leader of the Democratic Party, demanded on June 12 that the People Power Party cooperate in the formation of committees, stating, "The position of the chair of the Legislative and Judiciary Committee is not negotiable." He emphasized the need to secure the committee to expedite the processing of national agenda items and legislation affecting people's livelihoods. During a Supreme Council meeting held in Gwangju, Han noted, "The legislative progress in areas where the June 12, 2026

Government Seeks Cooperation from Major Exporters Amid Currency Stability Concerns The South Korean government has requested cooperation from major exporters, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, to stabilize the foreign exchange market as the won-dollar exchange rate has remained above 1,500 won for 17 consecutive trading days. This news has drawn criticism online, with many users arguing that the government is overly reliant on corporations. On June 11, Heo Chang, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Moon Shin-hak, the Vice Minis June 12, 2026

Kioxia Surpasses Toyota to Become Japan's Most Valuable Company Amid AI Memory Boom On June 12, Kioxia Holdings, a Japanese semiconductor memory company, briefly surpassed Toyota Motor Corporation to become the most valuable publicly traded company in Japan during trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. This milestone was fueled by a surge in demand for NAND flash memory, driven by increased investments in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, allowing a semiconductor firm to outpace the iconic Japanese manufacturer. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), Kio June 12, 2026

Hyundai Rotem Unveils Strategy for K-Rail Industry Growth and Collaboration Hyundai Rotem is launching a cooperation program with its partners to promote the growth of the K-rail industry. On June 11, Hyundai Rotem held the '2026 Hyundai Rotem Rail Solution Cooperation Conference' at its Changwon plant in Gyeongnam, where it announced strategies to enhance financial support for partners and expand joint ventures abroad. The event aimed to strengthen the foundation for sustainable growth with partners and create an innovative ecosystem in the rail industry. Atten June 12, 2026

Understanding the Concept of 'Actual Residence' in Housing Policy The real estate market is difficult to navigate, and so is home ownership. Government policies are equally challenging. This is where the complicated view of real estate begins. In terms of area, one region in South Korea rivals Seoul. However, its population has been steadily declining, now teetering around 50,000. The proportion of residents aged 65 and older has surpassed 40%, while the youth demographic is below 10%. Although the administrative boundaries remain unchanged, the populat June 12, 2026

South Korea Prepares Approval for 27.4 Million Flu Vaccine Doses The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) is gearing up to approve approximately 27.4 million doses of flu vaccine for this year. The agency is also establishing a support system to ensure smooth distribution of the vaccine in the second half of the year and timely vaccinations for the public. On June 12, the KFDA announced it will hold an information session for manufacturers and importers of the flu vaccine to assist with the national approval process. National approval is a system June 12, 2026

Safety Measures Enhanced for World Cup Viewing Events in Gwanghwamun The Ministry of Interior announced that it will implement joint safety management measures for the World Cup viewing event taking place in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, on June 12, 2026. This viewing event marks the first of its kind during the World Cup, prompting thorough assessments of potential risks at every stage of the event. The Ministry is collaborating with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jongno District, police, and fire departments to inspect risk factors in and around the v June 12, 2026

Surge in Stock Market Drives Demand for Borrowing to Invest, Banks Tighten Credit Controls The recent surge in the stock market has led to a significant increase in demand for borrowing to invest, prompting banks to tighten their management of credit loans. According to the financial sector on June 12, Hana Bank has implemented voluntary measures to ensure stable management of household debt. The bank will limit the maximum credit loan amount for all borrowers, including high-income earners, to 100 million won. Hana Bank will also strengthen its management of overdraft acco June 12, 2026