National Assembly Elects New Leadership with Cho Jung-sik as Speaker On June 5, the National Assembly convened a plenary session and elected Cho Jung-sik of the Democratic Party as the Speaker for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. Alongside this, 14 newly elected lawmakers from the recent by-elections also began their terms. During the session, Cho was elected as Speaker with 267 votes in favor out of 276 eligible members. He emphasized the need to address challenges such as the AI revolution, climate crisis, unstable international situations, June 5, 2026

Silence from the People Power Party Following Oh Se-hoon's Election? Lawyer Says Re-vote Should Be Requested by Jeong Won-oh As demands for a re-vote continue following the "ballot shortage" incident during the 9th nationwide local elections, a lawyer has stated that the key party able to file an election nullification lawsuit is candidate Jeong Won-oh. On June 5, Lawyer A shared on their social media account that "for a re-vote to occur in the current situation, the Supreme Court must issue a ruling nullifying the election through a lawsuit." They noted, "Many believe that Mayor Oh Se-hoon should demand a r June 5, 2026

Japan's National Cancer Center Recommends Abstaining from Alcohol to Prevent Cancer Japan's National Cancer Center has strengthened its alcohol consumption guidelines in its cancer prevention recommendations, shifting from advising moderation to recommending complete abstinence. This change reflects accumulating research indicating that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of developing cancer. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the National Cancer Center announced on June 3 that it has released an updated version of its booklet titled "5+1 Cancer Preventi June 5, 2026

Korean Beef Association to Host Symposium on Digital Information and Productivity The Korean Beef Association (KBA) announced on June 5 that it will hold a symposium titled "Utilizing Digital Information and Improving Productivity in Korean Beef Farming" on July 2 at the Hongik University International Training Center in Sejong City. The symposium will focus on "Data-Driven Profit-Centered Korean Beef Farming Techniques and Management Strategies." Experts in digital information, ruminant nutrition, carcass performance, and individual management will present their fi June 5, 2026

Jeju Air Celebrates 20th Anniversary as Top Low-Cost Carrier Jeju Air, South Korea's low-cost carrier (LCC), marked its 20th anniversary on June 5. The airline has been credited with popularizing air travel in the country by maintaining cost competitiveness and operational efficiency through its single aircraft type strategy. Jeju Air began operations on June 5, 2006, with flights between Gimpo and Jeju. It quickly expanded to include routes from Gimpo to Busan and from Busan to Jeju, establishing itself in the domestic LCC market. In 2009, the airli June 5, 2026

KT Alpha Shopping to Host Mid-Year Review Festival Focused on Self-Care KT Alpha Shopping announced on June 5 that it will hold its "2026 Mid-Year Review Festival" to assess the first half of the year. The event will take place from June 8 to June 27. KT Alpha Shopping plans to showcase popular brands and products across key categories such as fashion, beauty, food, and home goods. Ahead of the festival, KT Alpha Shopping analyzed sales data from the first half of the year and selected ten brands, highlighting "self-care" as the year's consumer keyword. T June 5, 2026

Justice Ministry Honors Fallen Correctional Officers in June Memorial On June 5, the Justice Ministry's Correctional Headquarters, led by Lee Hong-yeon, visited the "Memorial Tower for Fallen Correctional Officers" at the Seoul Southern Correctional Facility to pay tribute and honor the spirits of the deceased. The event, held in recognition of the sacrifices made by correctional officers who lost their lives in service to the nation and its citizens, included the participation of families of the fallen officers, adding to its significance. The memorial to June 5, 2026

Legal Battle Looms Over Voting Paper Shortage in Local Elections A historic shortage of voting papers during the June 3 local elections is set to escalate into a legal battle. A constitutional petition has been filed alleging violations of voters' rights, while defeated candidates are preparing lawsuits to invalidate the election and seek state compensation, indicating a broad legal confrontation ahead. According to legal sources on June 5, the Constitutional Court has accepted a petition filed by a citizen against the National Election Commission (NEC June 5, 2026

Investors Suffer Losses as Samsung and SK Hynix Stocks Plummet Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw significant declines, leading investors in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to incur substantial losses. On June 5, the Korea Exchange reported that Samsung Electronics closed at 329,000 won, down 22,500 won (6.40%) from the previous trading day. SK Hynix also fell by 228,000 won (9.92%), ending at 2,070,000 won. The drop in these leading stocks caused related leveraged products to plummet as well. The KODEX Samsung Electronics Si June 5, 2026

Election Commission Chair Resigns Amid Ballot Shortage Crisis In the wake of ongoing controversy over a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, Na Tae-ak, the Chair of the National Election Commission, has resigned, taking responsibility for the crisis. On June 5, Na announced his resignation during a public apology at the commission's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, stating, "I feel a deep sense of responsibility for all that has transpired and will step down from my position as Chair of the National Election Commission." He adde June 5, 2026