Foreign Investors Sell 57 Trillion Won in Samsung, SK Hynix Amid Month of Net Selling ◆Ajou Economic Key News ▷Foreign investors have sold 57 trillion won in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix for a month straight - Foreign investors have aggressively sold off shares in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. - Over the past month, foreign investors have net sold approximately 69 trillion won in the domestic stock market, with the sell-off heavily concentrated in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Meanwhile, individual and institutional investors have countered with significant net June 8, 2026

Iran Imposes Fees on Ships Passing Through Hormuz Strait Iran has begun charging fees for ships passing through the Hormuz Strait. This move comes as the United States has initiated a maritime blockade targeting vessels entering Iranian ports, escalating tensions over control of this vital global shipping route. According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, citing Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, Iran is collecting an average service fee of $1.5 million to $2 million (approximately 2.3 billion to 3 billion won) per vessel transiting the Hor June 8, 2026

Israel Strikes Beirut, Iran Responds with Missiles as Trump Calls for Restraint Israel's airstrike on Beirut has prompted a missile retaliation from Iran, marking the first direct confrontation since a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran in April. President Donald Trump has urged Tehran to return to negotiations and called on Israel to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation. On June 7, local time, reports from AP and The Guardian indicated that Israel conducted airstrikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut. The Israeli military stated that the strikes target June 8, 2026

Iran Launches Missiles at Northern Israel in First Direct Attack Since Ceasefire Iran launched missiles toward northern Israel, marking the first direct attack on Israeli territory since a ceasefire was established in April. This strike is seen as retaliation for Israel's airstrikes in Lebanon, which have complicated ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. On June 7, local time, reports from AP and the Financial Times indicated that Iran fired ballistic missiles at northern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed that it intercepted the missiles. Air raid sirens were activated June 8, 2026

Trump Urges Iran to Halt Attacks and Return to Negotiations President Donald Trump has called on Iran to cease its attacks and return to the negotiating table. He also urged Israel to exercise restraint in retaliation. His remarks come as US-Iran negotiations appear to be progressing, with the aim of preventing military conflict from derailing talks. In a phone interview with Fox News on June 7, Trump stated, "Iran has fired missiles, so it’s time to stop and come back to the table to negotiate." He added, "Iran's attacks will not help negotiations June 8, 2026

Best-Selling Books of the First Half of 2026: 'Project Hail Mary' Tops the List The book market in the first half of 2026 was dominated by literature and investment titles. Novels that gained renewed attention through films, television, and YouTube swept the best-seller charts, while investment books continued to enjoy steady popularity amid a booming stock market. According to Yes24, the top-selling book of the first half of the year was Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary," which saw a surge in sales following the release of its film adaptation in March. Sales of the June 8, 2026

The Allure of Gold: Humanity's Fascination with the Precious Metal "Gold, a metal born from the death of stars, has captivated humanity for thousands of years. It is a marvel in itself." (p. 52) Gold symbolizes divinity and desire. Once considered the flesh of gods, it transformed into a symbol of rulers' immortality and authority. Today, it shines as a token of marriage and a stable asset amid market fluctuations. The book "The Story of Gold That Changed World History" (by Rebecca Zorach et al., translated by Seo Soul) chronicles humanity's fascination June 8, 2026

New Book Highlights Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho's Imprisonment Records Kim Dae-jung and Lee Hee-ho Imprisonment Records=Planned by Yonsei University Kim Dae-jung Library, Hangilsa The book focuses on the years from 1976 to 1982, during which former President Kim Dae-jung was imprisoned due to the March 1st Democratic National Declaration and the 1980 conspiracy incident. It vividly recounts the tense circumstances of that time through the notes, letters, and international rescue efforts documented by Lee Hee-ho. Notably, 20 pieces of material, including v June 8, 2026

KOTRA Operates Korean Pavilion at Bulgaria's Defense Exhibition KOTRA has operated a K-defense promotional booth at the largest defense exhibition in the Balkans. This initiative comes as European countries increase their defense spending amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East, targeting the Eastern European market. According to industry sources, KOTRA set up the Korean pavilion at the 'Bulgaria International Defense Industry Exhibition (HEMUS)' held in Plovdiv from June 3 for four days. Nine domestic defense companies, June 8, 2026

Election Commission Faces Backlash Over Voting Paper Shortages "The Election Commission should handle election operations independently. No more using local government employees as scapegoats." This statement was made by a public servant from Songpa District, who is believed to have supported the local elections held on June 3. The writer criticized the Songpa District Election Commission, questioning how no staff members were present at the polling stations and stating, "I can no longer work with such an inadequate group." During the June 3 local June 8, 2026