Democratic Party Leaders Absent from President Lee's Europe Farewell Event On June 9, the absence of the Democratic Party leadership from the farewell event for President Lee Jae-myung's European trip has drawn attention. President Lee departed from Seongnam Seoul Airport for Brussels, Belgium, to attend the G7 summit.Attendees at the farewell event included Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Jin-ah, and ambassadors f June 10, 2026

President Lee Advocates for Permanent Rural Basic Income Increase President Lee Jae-myung stated on June 10 that the rural basic income program, initially introduced as a temporary measure for two years, has shown significant benefits. He emphasized that making it permanent and increasing the payment amount would yield even greater results.In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Lee shared an article highlighting the population rebound in Okcheon County, a region previously facing population decline, following the introduction of the rural basic income. H June 10, 2026

Binggrae Participates in K-Heritage Art Exhibition Featuring 'Banana Flavored Milk' Design Binggrae announced on June 9 that it is participating in the K-Heritage Art Exhibition, titled "Mi-baek (未白)," held at The Gallery Lake in Songpa, showcasing a piece inspired by its iconic banana flavored milk container. The exhibition, organized by the Songpa District Office and supervised by Savers Korea and the Korean Heritage Cultural Foundation, runs until July 26. The theme "Mi-baek" translates to "the light of dawn that has yet to brighten," exploring the modern expansion possibi June 10, 2026

Dabong Korea's Paik Dabang Supports 2,000 Navy Personnel with Coffee and Bakery Items Dabong Korea's coffee brand, Paik Dabang, provided coffee and bakery items to Navy personnel in honor of National Defense and Veterans Month. On June 8, Paik Dabang visited the Navy's 3rd Fleet Command in Jeollanam-do, serving approximately 2,000 personnel with drinks and baked goods. This initiative aimed to express gratitude to service members working for national security and public safety while boosting their morale. Paik Dabang set up a coffee truck on-site, offering 600 drinks June 10, 2026

Pulmuone Breaks Ground on Korea's First Land-Based Seaweed R&D Center Pulmuone has announced the construction of Korea's first land-based seaweed research and development (R&D) center in the Saemangeum National Industrial Complex, aiming to foster the future of the seafood industry. On June 9, Pulmuone revealed that it has begun construction on the 'Seaweed Land-Based Aquaculture R&D Center' in Saemangeum, which is part of a national project led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to develop sustainable high-quality seaweed seed production and land-base June 9, 2026

President Lee Jae-myung Arrives in Brussels for First European Visit Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, arrived in Brussels, Belgium, on June 9, marking the first stop of his European tour ahead of the G7 Summit. The President began his itinerary with a dinner meeting with expatriates. On the morning of June 10, he is scheduled to hold a summit with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and meet with King Philippe. In the afternoon, he will have discussions with António Costa, the President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, June 9, 2026

South Korea's Justice Ministry Plans New Agency to Address Juvenile Crime The South Korean government is restructuring and elevating its juvenile crime policy agency to reduce the recidivism rate among juvenile offenders, which is higher than that of adults.On June 9, the Justice Ministry, led by Minister Jeong Seong-ho, announced a strategy to reduce recidivism rates among juvenile offenders, including the establishment of a dedicated organization for juvenile delinquency prevention and improvements in the treatment of juveniles in the field.The ministry plans to cre June 9, 2026

Joint Investigation Launched into Voting Paper Shortage in South Korea Joint investigation team formed to probe voting paper shortage during local elections6·3 지방선거 과정에서 발생한 '투표용지 부족 사태'를 수사할 검·경 합동수사본부가 서울중앙지검에 설치된다. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on June 9 that a joint investigation team comprising prosecutors and police will be established at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to swiftly and thoroughly investigate issues that hindered citizens' exercise of their voting rights during the Jun June 9, 2026

Protests Continue Over Ballot Shortage as Songpa Police Chief Resigns The chief of the Songpa Police Station has resigned amid ongoing protests related to a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. On June 9, police announced that Oh Sang-taek, the Songpa Police Chief, submitted his resignation due to a worsening health condition. Oh, a senior officer, is reportedly approaching retirement later this year. Protests demanding a re-election continue in the area around the Handball Stadium at Olympic Park in Songpa, in response to the ballot June 9, 2026

President Lee: Record Growth in National Income Signals Economic Progress President Lee Jae-myung highlighted the latest national income statistics from the Bank of Korea, stating, "I will do my best to ensure that the leap in the South Korean economy translates into growth for all citizens." In a Facebook post on June 9, President Lee noted that the real Gross National Income (GNI) growth rate reached 9.2% in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter, marking the highest level since the data was first recorded in 1960. He added that the GNI increased June 9, 2026