Starbucks Considers Selling Its Profitable Japanese Operations Starbucks is reportedly considering the sale of its Japanese operations, which have been a stable source of revenue. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on June 14 that the U.S.-based Starbucks has begun reviewing the potential sale of its Japanese subsidiary, Starbucks Coffee Japan. The Japanese subsidiary generates annual sales exceeding 340 billion yen (approximately $3.24 billion) and operating profits of over 22 billion yen (about $210 million), placing it among the top perform June 14, 2026

Why Seoul Chose Oh Se-hoon Again: A Focus on Individuals Over Parties "I voted for the Democratic Party for the district chief, but for mayor, I chose Oh Se-hoon." This statement from a man in his 40s, encountered near Sillim Station in Gwanak District, encapsulates the essence of the recent Seoul mayoral election. He expressed skepticism about politics, saying, "I honestly don’t trust it much, but I feel that Seoul has become a bit more comfortable during my commute." This indicates that he judged the mayoral candidate by different criteria than his poli June 14, 2026

Lotte Biologics Completes Production Facility in Songdo, Boosting Capacity to 160,000 Liters Lotte Biologics has completed its biopharmaceutical production facility in Songdo International City, Incheon. On June 14, the city of Incheon announced that Lotte Biologics has finished construction on its first factory at the Songdo Bio Campus and has applied for operational approval from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority. The company began construction in July 2024 on a site in Block Ki20 of Songdo's 11th district, creating a facility with a production capacity of 120,000 li June 14, 2026

Dongwon F&B Launches Second Plant in Jincheon as Global Protein Production Hub Dongwon F&B announced on June 14 that it has officially commenced operations at its newly completed Jincheon Second Plant in Gwanghye-won, Jincheon County, North Chungcheong Province. The facility, which cost 140 billion won to build, spans approximately 8,000 pyeong (26,446 square meters) with a construction area of 4,400 pyeong (14,545 square meters) and features two floors of advanced production capabilities. With this new plant, Dongwon F&B has established the 'Protein Nexus' producti June 14, 2026

HD Hyundai Launches Development of Eco-Friendly Offshore Wind Support Vessels HD Hyundai is moving beyond the development of next-generation eco-friendly vessels to focus on the domestic production of eco-friendly offshore wind support vessels (SOVs). According to industry sources, HD Korean Shipbuilding, the intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai's shipbuilding division, recently signed a mutual cooperation agreement with MARCON LC, a company specializing in marine engineering and offshore consulting, to jointly develop Korean-style offshore wind support vessel June 14, 2026

Olive Young Opens Second Store in California to Boost K-Beauty Presence CJ Olive Young is accelerating its entry into the U.S. K-Beauty market with the opening of its second store in California.On June 13, Olive Young announced the launch of its Century City store in Los Angeles. The store spans 250 square meters (approximately 2,700 square feet) and is located in the Westfield Century City, a prominent shopping mall in LA. It is situated just a 5 to 10-minute drive from the affluent Beverly Hills and the luxury shopping district of Rodeo Drive. Within a 10-kilomete June 14, 2026

KOSPI Hits 8000 Amid Market Polarization with Record Highs and Lows The KOSPI, South Korea's main stock index, is experiencing unprecedented highs, but the performance of individual stocks is sharply divided. The number of stocks reaching 52-week highs is nearly equal to those hitting 52-week lows. According to statistics from the Korea Exchange, as of June 12, out of 2,875 listed stocks, 1,508 have recorded 52-week highs since the beginning of the year, including 545 on the KOSPI. Large-cap stocks have driven the index's rise, with major players like Sa June 14, 2026

Mexican Man Apologizes for Racist Gesture During World Cup Match A Mexican man has publicly apologized following a racism controversy. The incident began when YouTuber Inonyang, who has 6.6 million subscribers, posted a video on June 12 after attending the World Cup group stage match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico. The video shows Inonyang filming the atmosphere in the stands with a selfie camera. As nearby spectators waved at the camera, a man seated behind him made a gesture by placing his June 14, 2026

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Promotes Cultural Diplomacy in Italy Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, engaged in cultural diplomacy during his visit to Florence, Tuscany, on June 13, 2026. He met with the governor and visited the Uffizi Gallery, marking his first European trip since taking office.This visit to a city other than the capital, Rome, aligns with the tradition of state visits to Italy. During his visit in 2023, Italian President Sergio Mattarella toured the Korean Peninsula, including the Demilitarized Zone and Haeinsa Temple in Gyeongnam. June 14, 2026

Energy Voucher Program to Begin Cash Support for Vulnerable Groups Starting this year, vulnerable groups who previously found it difficult to use vouchers due to energy costs being included in rent or management fees will be able to receive cash support. The government plans to fully implement the energy voucher program beginning in July.The Climate Energy Environment Ministry announced on June 14 that applications for the 2026 energy voucher program will be accepted from June 15 to December 31 at local administrative welfare centers and through the WelfareNet June 14, 2026