CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun Reviews North American Strategy, Promotes K-Lifestyle CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun has been actively overseeing the company’s North American K-lifestyle strategy by visiting key business locations in the United States. This management initiative, which began at the CJ Cup in Texas, has extended to Minnesota and California, signaling a commitment to intensify efforts in the U.S. market through a synergy of food, beauty, and content sectors. On May 31, CJ Group announced that Chairman Lee inspected the first CJ Olive Young store in Pasaden May 31, 2026

U.S. Defense Secretary Confirms Strong Iran Maritime Blockade Amid Military Actions U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the commitment to maintaining a maritime blockade against Iran, stating that military intervention could resume if peace negotiations fail. On May 30, during a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore following the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hegseth emphasized, "We have the capability to resume operations if necessary, and our resources are more than adequate both there and globally." He added, "This reflects how we balance precision May 31, 2026

SoftBank to Build Europe's Largest AI Data Center in France SoftBank Group will invest up to 75 billion euros (approximately 131 trillion won) to build the largest artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Europe in France. This initiative aims to expand AI computing infrastructure, which is currently concentrated in the United States, while establishing France as a new base due to its high reliance on nuclear power for stable electricity supply. Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on May 31 that SoftBank Group plans to construct a total of May 31, 2026

President Lee: Voter Apathy Gives Power to Self-Serving Individuals President Lee Jae-myung stated on May 31 that "the silence and apathy of voters give opportunities to those who deceive the public, abuse power for personal gain, and ruin the lives of themselves and their families." In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he quoted the Greek philosopher Plato, saying, "The cost of political indifference is being ruled by the worst of the worst." He urged citizens to actively participate in voting to demonstrate that the residents of this country are the May 31, 2026

Son Heung-min Scores Twice as South Korea Defeats Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 Hong Myung-bo's squad achieved a decisive victory in their first warm-up match ahead of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup. The South Korea national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, defeated Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in a friendly match held on May 31 at Brigham Young University's South Field in Provo, Utah. After suffering consecutive losses to Ivory Coast (0-4) and Austria (0-1) during a European tour in March, this victory marked South Korea's first win in three May 31, 2026

Vietnam's Durian Exports to South Korea Surge Amid Inspection Challenges Vietnam's durian exports are rapidly increasing, particularly in the South Korean market, showing a clear growth trend. However, in the Mekong Delta, the largest production area, delays in residue testing are causing both price drops and shipping disruptions. While export figures continue to rise, a lack of inspection infrastructure remains a significant constraint. According to various Vietnamese media reports on May 30, customs data shows that from January to April, durian exports reache May 31, 2026

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Faces Controversy Over Taiwan Night Market Incident NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has sparked debate after a video surfaced showing him suggesting he would pay for everyone’s food at a night market in Taiwan to skip the line. The video, which circulated on social media and online communities, features Huang at the Raohe Night Market in Taipei, where he was surrounded by fans and tourists eager to see him. In the footage, Huang, upon seeing the long queue, proposed, "I buy everybody's, can I get the first one?" Many online users viewed this as May 31, 2026

Life and Non-Life Insurance Associations Select 22,305 Certified Advisors The Life Insurance Association and the Non-Life Insurance Association announced on May 31 that they have selected a total of 22,305 certified advisors for this year. The certification period will begin on June 1 and last for one year. The certified advisor program has been in operation since 2008, aimed at enhancing the professionalism of insurance advisors and establishing a culture of consumer protection. To qualify as a certified advisor, individuals must have worked for the same i May 31, 2026

Trump Delays Approval of Iran Ceasefire MOU, Sends Revised Proposal President Donald Trump has reportedly withheld approval for a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran. According to a report by The New York Times on May 30, citing three officials, Trump did not approve the draft MOU intended to formalize the cessation of war between the two nations. The report indicates that Trump has strengthened the terms of the ceasefire agreement and sent a revised document back to Iran. The specific cha May 31, 2026

Naver Labs and Lotte Innovate Expand Physical AI Business As the market for Physical AI, which enables artificial intelligence to perceive and interact with the real world, continues to grow, Naver Labs and Lotte Innovate are enhancing their related businesses. Naver Labs is focusing on building infrastructure that allows robots to navigate spaces, while Lotte Innovate is accelerating the commercialization of service robots and humanoids based on its retail and logistics operations. Naver Labs is concentrating on creating a robot-friendly enviro May 31, 2026