Park Min-ji Achieves 20th Career Win on KLPGA Tour with MBN Women's Open Victory Park Min-ji has made history by becoming the third player in KLPGA Tour history to achieve 20 career wins, following the late Ku Ok-hee and Shin Ji-ae. On May 31, at the The Starhue Golf & Resort in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Park recorded an impressive final round at the KLPGA Tour Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open, finishing with eight birdies and no bogeys for an eight-under-par 64. With a total score of ten-under-par 206, Park edged out second-place Kim Ji-yoon, who finished at nine May 31, 2026

Intense Final Campaign Battle Between Candidates for Seoul Mayor As the June 3 Seoul mayoral election approaches, a fierce exchange of negative campaigning is intensifying between Jung Won-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party. With polls showing a tight race, both candidates and their parties are ramping up efforts to sway voters in the final days of the campaign. Lee In-young, the head of Jung's campaign committee, held a press conference on May 31 and asserted, "Oh is not free from severe criticism regarding negligence May 31, 2026

Weather Changes as June Begins: Heat and Rain Expected The first week of June will see generally cloudy weather across the country, accompanied by early summer heat. On June 1, daytime temperatures in Seoul are expected to reach 29 degrees Celsius, while Gangneung and Daegu could see highs of 32 degrees. Rain is forecast for Jeju Island. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the weather on June 1 will start off mostly cloudy, with occasional breaks of sun in the morning. Jeju Island will experience cloudy conditions with rain May 31, 2026

South Korea's Lee Administration Marks One Year of Diplomatic Achievements The Lee Jae-myung administration has focused on pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests over the past year, seeking a diversified diplomatic strategy. The government has made progress in discussions regarding nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear energy cooperation with the United States, while also improving relations with China and Japan. Amid North Korea's declaration of the South and the U.S. as 'hostile nations,' finding a path to restore inter-Korean relations remains a May 31, 2026

Democratic Party Criticizes Oh Se-hoon for Low Attendance at Cabinet Meetings The Democratic Party criticized Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, for claiming he would attend cabinet meetings and advocate for the five key demands of Seoul citizens if elected mayor. "Who would believe that he is looking out for the rights of Seoul citizens?" said Cho Seung-rae, head of the Democratic Party's central election campaign, during a press conference on May 31. Cho pointed out that since the launch of the people's sovereignty government, there have been May 31, 2026

Korea's Ministry of Land and Korail Order 146 New ITX-Maum Trains for 3.987 Trillion Won 국토교통부와 한국철도공사(코레일)가 무궁화호 대체 차량 도입을 위해 ITX-마음(EMU-150) 열차 146칸을 신규 발주한다. 총 3987억원을 투입해 2029년 하반기부터 2030년까지 순차적으로 도입할 계획이다. 국토교통부와 코레일은 31일 다음 달 1일 ITX-마음 신규 구매 입찰을 공고한다고 밝혔다. 이번 발주는 기존 납품 지연으로 차질을 빚었던 무궁화호 대체 차량 도입을 정상화하기 위한 조치다. 국토부와 코레일은 그동안 태스크포스(TF)를 구성해 무궁화호 정밀 안전 진단과 리모델링 등 대책을 추진해왔다. 신규 도입 차량은 May 31, 2026

Defense Minister Ahn Kyubak Discusses Japan-Korea Military Agreement at Shangri-La Dialogue Defense Minister Ahn Kyubak announced on May 31 that discussions regarding the Korea-Japan Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (ACSA) took place during the recent defense ministerial meeting between South Korea and Japan. He emphasized the need for public understanding and persuasion, indicating a cautious stance on the matter. During a press briefing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, where the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue is being held, Ahn responded to questions about whether ACSA was May 31, 2026

Lee Myung-bak Supports Park Hyung-jun in Busan Mayoral Race Former President Lee Myung-bak visited Busan on May 31 to urge citizens to support Park Hyung-jun, the People Power Party's candidate for mayor. According to Park's campaign committee, Lee's visit was part of a series of endorsements from former conservative presidents, following a visit by former President Park Geun-hye on May 27. Lee attended a worship service with Park at the Suyeongro Church in Haeundae, then moved to a nearby pork soup restaurant where they shared a meal. After dini May 31, 2026

[6·3 Local Elections] 'Party Leader Risk' Persists as Jeong Cheong-rae and Jang Dong-hyuk Face Challenges As the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections approach, concerns about the "party leader risk" surrounding Jeong Cheong-rae of the Democratic Party and Jang Dong-hyuk of the People Power Party continue to grow. Political analysts note that both leaders have contributed to negative perceptions through repeated gaffes and are increasingly relying on extreme support bases amid competition for party leadership. According to reports on May 31, with just three days until t May 31, 2026

Banks Tighten Loan Standards Amid Domestic and Export Challenges As high exchange rates and oil prices increase financial burdens on companies, banks are implementing comprehensive loan management strategies. With the possibility of further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Korea, banks are tightening loan assessments, particularly for industries facing economic challenges, as a proactive risk management measure. According to the financial sector on May 31, Bank A has identified new key management industries for the first half of the year, including th May 31, 2026