KOSPI Hits Record High Amid Strong Institutional Buying, Closes at 8476 The KOSPI index reached a new record high, closing at 8476.15, driven by strong institutional buying. The index maintained its upward momentum, buoyed by gains in semiconductor and large-cap stocks. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI rose by 290.86 points (3.55%) from the previous trading day. It opened at 8384.31, up 199.02 points (2.43%), and fluctuated throughout the day, surpassing the previous high of 8457.09 at one point. In terms of trading activity, individuals and foreig May 29, 2026

Labor Ministry Accelerates Preparations for Public Workers Committee Launch in September The Ministry of Employment and Labor is ramping up efforts to establish the operational framework for the Public Workers Committee ahead of its launch in September. Government officials, labor representatives, and experts have reached a consensus on the draft enforcement ordinance that outlines the committee's structure and operational guidelines, and they plan to begin detailed discussions on policy agendas and committee composition.On May 29, the Ministry held the second plenary meeting of the May 29, 2026

Coinone Secures Investment from Hanwha Investment & Securities and OKX Coinone, a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, is expanding its collaboration with Hanwha Investment & Securities, OKX Ventures, and Com2uS Holdings in the digital asset sector. On May 29, Coinone announced that it had signed a strategic equity investment agreement with Hanwha Investment & Securities and OKX Ventures. The investment involves the acquisition of existing shares held by Cha Myung-hoon, CEO of Coinone, and Com2uS Holdings, along with newly issued shares. As a result, Hanw May 29, 2026

President Lee Casts Early Vote in Incheon for Local Elections President Lee Jae-myung cast his vote on May 29 at a polling station in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, near the Blue House, on the first day of early voting for the local elections.According to the Blue House, President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung participated in an "out-of-district vote" for their registered address in Incheon’s Gyeyang-eul district.Dressed in a gray tie, President Lee headed to the polling station, intentionally avoiding colors associated with any specific political party to May 29, 2026

National Assembly Leadership Concludes Term; Woo Won-sik Emphasizes Unity The leadership of the 22nd National Assembly, including Speaker Woo Won-sik and Deputy Speakers Lee Hak-young and Joo Ho-young, officially concluded their terms during a retirement ceremony on May 29. Speaker Woo reflected on the past two years, stating, "The National Assembly must always prioritize the people." During the ceremony held in the National Assembly, Woo remarked, "I believe we have worked to protect democracy and, through that democracy, to safeguard the lives of the people." May 29, 2026

Kia and Hyundai Face Tensions as Wage Negotiations Begin As Hyundai Motor Group enters the wage and collective bargaining phase this year, tensions are rising in the automotive industry. While Hyundai has already accelerated negotiations, Kia has shown differences even before scheduling its initial meeting, increasing pressure on the group.According to industry sources on May 29, Kia plans to hold its first meeting between labor and management as early as next week to kick off this year's negotiations. The Kia union had initially proposed to meet on t May 29, 2026

Early Voting Begins for June 3 Local Elections in South Korea 6·3 지방선거와 국회의원 재·보궐선거 사전투표가 29일부터 이틀간 실시되는 가운데 여야 지도부 및 후보들은 적극적으로 사전투표에 나서며 시민들의 참여를 독려했다.Early voting for the June 3 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections began on May 29 and will continue for two days. Leaders and candidates from both major parties actively participated in early voting and encouraged public participation.Jung Cheong-rae, the head of the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, cast his v May 29, 2026

Early Voting Kicks Off for Local Elections Amid Calls for Housing Solutions On the first day of early voting for the June 3 local elections, the early voting site at the Yeouido Community Center in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, was bustling with voters during lunchtime. Many citizens voiced their concerns, calling for solutions to the housing crisis as they participated in the voting process. Located in Yeouido, where many office workers are employed, the community center saw long lines forming outside the polling station by 11:30 a.m., reflecting the high interest in thi May 29, 2026

White Buffalo Resembling Trump Saved from Slaughter in Bangladesh A white buffalo in Bangladesh, famous for resembling U.S. President Donald Trump, has dramatically escaped slaughter just before it was to be sacrificed. The local government halted the slaughter due to "excessive public interest and safety concerns." According to the UK’s Daily Mail on May 28, the buffalo, weighing 750 kilograms, gained attention online while living on a farm near the capital, Dhaka. With its blonde-like forelock and pink skin, the buffalo became popular on social med May 29, 2026

Ruling Party Warns Opposition Candidates of Serious Consequences Amid Election Controversies On May 29, the Democratic Party issued a warning to the opposition amid ongoing controversies surrounding the local elections, specifically addressing allegations of deepfake video production and distribution linked to Park Wan-soo, the People Power Party's candidate for Gyeongnam governor, and accusations of online comment manipulation involving Oh Se-hoon, the party's candidate for Seoul mayor. The party asserted that these issues would lead to serious consequences for the opposition. K May 29, 2026