Government to Address Delays in Arts Activity Certification Processing The South Korean government is taking steps to address delays in processing the Arts Activity Certification, a crucial system for supporting artists. With a surge in applications leading to significant backlogs, officials plan to enhance efficiency through staff expansion and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. During a meeting on June 4 at the Seoul Square Arts Welfare Foundation, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated, "We will seek to i June 4, 2026

South Korea Launches 2045 Science and Technology Frontier Strategy The Ministry of Science and ICT is preparing a national science and technology blueprint aimed at the 100th anniversary of Korea's liberation in 2045. The initiative focuses on securing technological sovereignty for South Korea and aims to elevate the country to a leading position in science and technology (G3) by establishing the '2045 Science and Technology Frontier Strategy,' centered on future strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnology. On June 4, 2026

New Rules to Compensate Consumers for Hotel Booking Cancellations To prevent hotels from unilaterally canceling reservations to raise prices, new consumer compensation regulations will be established. Under the proposed measures, hotels that cancel existing bookings to sell rooms at higher rates will be required to refund the deposit and compensate consumers with 200% of the canceled accommodation fee. On June 4, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol chaired a meeting of the Special Task Force on Living Costs at the Gove June 4, 2026

President Lee Emphasizes Cooperation with New Local Governments President Lee Jae-myung stated on June 4 that with the elections concluded, the political sphere must unite to focus on improving the livelihoods of citizens, achieving regional balanced development, and fostering national unity.During a senior secretary meeting at the Blue House, President Lee congratulated those who were elected and offered condolences to those who faced disappointing results.Wearing a tie featuring blue, red, and white colors to symbolize unity, President Lee emphasized, "Reg June 4, 2026

Farmers' Cooperative Invests $882 Million to Support Onion Prices Amid Decline Recently, as onion prices have plummeted, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) announced on June 4 that it will invest 882 billion won (approximately $682 million) to implement additional purchases and loss compensation measures for farmers.According to the NACF, the wholesale price of onions at Garak Market last month was 570 won per kilogram, a 30% decrease from 812 won during the same period last year. In response, the NACF is rolling out support measures ahead of the peak June 4, 2026

Election Commission Apologizes for Ballot Shortage Amid Ongoing Protests The National Election Commission (NEC) issued a public apology for an unprecedented ballot shortage that prevented voters from casting their votes during the June 3 local elections. Despite the apology, conservative groups have continued to protest outside the NEC headquarters since the previous night, and several top officials have been reported to authorities. On June 4, conservative groups gathered outside the NEC office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to express their outrage over the June 4, 2026

Korean Beef Promotion Agency Promotes Beef Jerky on Jerky Day The Korean Beef Promotion Agency launched a campaign to promote Korean beef jerky on June 4, coinciding with Jerky Day. According to the agency, Jerky Day is a unique food industry celebration derived from the pronunciation of the numbers 6 (육) and 4 (포). As the trend of "healthy pleasure" gains traction, beef jerky is increasingly recognized as a convenient snack for protein supplementation, moving beyond its traditional role as a drinking companion. The agency is actively promoting t June 4, 2026

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon: Close Support for Labor-Management Negotiations in Second Half of Year The Ministry of Employment and Labor is activating its support system for labor-management negotiations ahead of the wage and collective bargaining season in the second half of the year. In light of the recent explosion at Hanwha Aerospace, the ministry also plans to strengthen joint inspections of industrial safety and labor standards in the defense and semiconductor sectors.On June 4, the ministry held a national agency heads meeting at the Government Sejong Complex, chaired by Minister Kim Yo June 4, 2026

Lee's 'AI Highway' Gains Momentum with West Coast Belt The Lee Jae-myung administration's vision for an 'AI Highway' is expected to gain traction with the establishment of a West Coast belt following the June 3 local elections. On June 4, industry and political sources reported that candidates from the Democratic Party, who made AI industry development a key campaign promise, were elected in regions dense with AI infrastructure, including South Chungcheong, Daejeon, North Jeolla, and South Jeolla. With the Democratic Party dominating the ar June 4, 2026

Naver to Meet Nvidia's Jensen Huang as Physical AI Gains Traction Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, is scheduled to visit Naver's headquarters on June 8 to meet with Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin, raising interest in the potential expansion of AI collaboration between the two companies. Industry observers are noting Naver's potential emergence as a key player in the Physical AI era, beyond just Sovereign AI. According to industry sources, Naver has proactively secured data and ecosystems, which are critical components of Physical AI. Naver's D2SF currently alloc June 4, 2026