AI Technology Competes with Drug Detection Dogs Who feels the most tension at airport arrivals? Smugglers. And the entity they fear most is not customs officers or advanced scanning equipment, but detection dogs. For decades, dogs have been at the forefront of the war on drugs. Detection dogs, such as German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers, have demonstrated abilities beyond human olfactory imagination, locating drugs hidden deep within travelers' bags or concealed in containers. Generally, a dog's sense of smell is known to be tens to thou May 31, 2026

Changes to Electricity Rates and Housing Pension Starting in June Starting in June, significant changes will take place regarding electricity rates and housing pensions, which are closely tied to everyday economic life. Users of general electricity (Type II) will have more options for their electricity pricing, and seniors owning low-cost housing will see expanded benefits from the housing pension program. Beginning in June, general electricity (Type II) users will have an expanded choice of pricing options. The government and Korea Electric Power Corpo May 31, 2026

Jang Dong-hyuk: Protect Freedom and Property Through Voting Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, emphasized on May 31 that the upcoming election is about protecting the "future of the next generation," stating, "Voting for the People Power Party is about safeguarding my freedom and property, as well as the future of our descendants." During a press conference at the party's office in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Jang urged citizens to exercise their voting rights on June 3. He referenced President Lee Jae-myung's recent social media post, May 31, 2026

Korea's Fair Trade Commission Mandates Disclosure for AI-Generated Characters in Advertising Advertisements featuring virtual characters created using artificial intelligence (AI) must now clearly indicate that these characters are not real. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced on May 31 that it will implement revised guidelines for advertising disclosures and endorsements starting June 1. The guidelines categorize unfair advertising practices into four types: false or exaggerated claims, deception, unfair comparisons, and defamation. These rules provide specific criteria May 31, 2026

Jung Won-oh's Camp Sees Strong Support Ahead of Local Elections Jung Won-oh's campaign for the Democratic Party has interpreted the high early voting turnout in Seoul as a sign of solid support for his candidacy. With just three days remaining until the main election, the campaign plans to highlight the incompetence of Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, and appeal to Seoul residents for a well-functioning city government alongside the Lee Jae-myung administration. Lee In-young, the campaign's chief strategist, held a press confere May 31, 2026

Government Launches Focused Reporting Period for Employment Insurance Fraud in June The government announced on May 31 that it will operate a focused reporting period for fraud related to unemployment benefits and employment incentives throughout June. During this time, employment authorities will also conduct special inspections for fraudulent claims.From June 1 to June 30, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will accept self-reports and tips regarding fraudulent receipt of various employment insurance benefits, including unemployment benefits, parental leave pay, employment May 31, 2026

Democratic Party Criticizes Seoul Mayor Candidate Oh Se-hoon Over Safety Management The Democratic Party intensified its criticism of Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, on May 31. They linked his handling of the recent rebar omission incident at Samsung Station on the metropolitan express train (GTX) to President Yoon Suk Yeol's perceived arrogance. Kang Jun-hyeon, the party's chief spokesperson, held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "Oh's arrogant mindset is problematic." He pointed out that during a recent debate, when May 31, 2026

Growing Concerns Over Profit-Sharing Bonuses Amid Labor Demands The Korea Employers Federation warned on May 31 that demands from large corporate labor unions for profit-sharing could infringe on management rights. This warning comes as the Samsung Electronics Union pushes for performance bonuses linked to operating profits, reflecting a growing trend among labor groups. In a special recommendation regarding labor unions' demands for profit distribution, the federation stated, "Labor unions are seeking to formalize a system that allocates a certain per May 31, 2026

Korea's Privacy Commission Approves Naver's AI Tab After Review The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has reviewed and approved Naver's AI agent service, known as "AI Tab." On May 28, the PIPC held a plenary meeting where it concluded the review of Naver's AI Tab service, announcing the decision on May 31. The pre-approval review is a system designed to help companies establish appropriate legal measures when the application of personal information protection laws is unclear during the planning and development of new technologies and May 31, 2026

Fair Trade Commission Fines 'Gwi Han Sarang Deul' 210 Million Won for Misleading Franchise Practices A company that inflated the number of its stores while failing to disclose profits received from suppliers has been caught by fair trade authorities. The Fair Trade Commission announced on May 31 that it has imposed a corrective order and a fine of 210 million won on Gwi Han Sarang Deul for not reporting profits received from suppliers in its information disclosure statement while exaggerating the number of franchise stores. Gwi Han Sarang Deul operates the Gwi Han Jokbal franchise. Acco May 31, 2026