Weather Today: Mostly Clear Nationwide with Highs Reaching 28 Degrees On Sunday, the 24th, the weather across the country is expected to start cloudy but gradually clear up by the morning. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that the rain that fell nationwide the previous day will taper off by the morning of the 24th. However, it noted that Jeju Island will continue to experience cloudy conditions. Overall, the weather is predicted to be favorable for outdoor activities. Morning low temperatures are expected to range from 11 to 16 degrees Celsius, whi May 24, 2026

Voter Registration Reaches 44.6 Million Amid Concerns Over Aging Population and Regional Decline The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has announced that the total number of registered voters for the June 3 local elections is 44,649,908. This figure represents an increase of over 340,000 from the 2022 local elections and is also higher than the number of voters in last year's presidential election. While these numbers may seem like mere statistics, they encapsulate the direction in which South Korea is heading. The concentration in the metropolitan area, deepening aging, the crisis of re May 24, 2026

Kim Yong-beom's Leadership at Meritz Financial: From Profit Design to Capital Reallocation Kim Yong-beom, vice chairman of Meritz Financial Group, bases his leadership on the question of how to generate profit. He views finance not merely as a sector but as a system for capital allocation. By reducing unnecessary expansion, focusing on high-profit areas, and making quick decisions, he has driven significant performance improvements.This strategy has substantially boosted Meritz Financial's performance and market capitalization, establishing a strong presence in the market. Notably, th May 24, 2026

Korean Lawmaker Kim Gun Advocates for Neutrality Amid Middle East Crisis The international order is undergoing a significant transformation. The strategic competition between the United States and China has expanded into a technological hegemony war, while the Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East are simultaneously shaking global supply chains and security structures. The security environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula is also challenging, with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats becoming a daily reality. Balancing diplomacy amid the U.S.-China co May 24, 2026

Trump Hints at Finalization of Iran Peace Agreement Soon President Donald Trump has indicated that the final terms and details of a peace agreement with Iran are currently under discussion, suggesting an announcement could come soon. On May 23, Trump stated on social media that an agreement involving the United States, Iran, and several other countries has largely been negotiated, with only final confirmations remaining. He added that, among other elements, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. While he did not specify a timeline for th May 24, 2026

USCIS Advises Green Card Applicants to Apply from Outside the US On Friday, May 22, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a six-page memo that has caused significant upheaval in the immigrant community. Immigration law offices have been inundated with calls. While some argue that the memo merely reaffirms existing principles, the prevailing view is that it signals a tightening of the application process, particularly affecting marriage-based and student visa green card applicants. According to CBS News, USCIS stated that most f May 24, 2026

Seoul Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Safety and Development Issues Ahead of Elections Jung Won-o Highlights Safety Concerns Over Samsung Station Construction As the June 3 local elections approach in 11 days, negative campaigning between Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate, is intensifying. On May 23, during his first weekend of official campaigning, Jung repeatedly raised concerns about the missing rebar issue at Samsung Station, emphasizing it as a sign of Oh's neglige May 24, 2026

President Lee Criticizes Starbucks Over Controversial 'Siren Event' President Lee Jae-myung has publicly criticized Starbucks Korea over allegations surrounding its past "Siren Event." This comes amid controversy over the company's "Tank Day" marketing campaign, with some netizens raising questions about an event held on April 16. On May 23, President Lee expressed his concerns on social media platform X, stating, "To hold a Siren Event on the anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster (April 16) is something I hope is not true. It is an act that cannot be d May 24, 2026

Dreaming of Meeting President Lee Jae-myung Leads to Lottery Win "After dreaming of meeting President Lee Jae-myung and the First Lady, I felt I had to buy a lottery ticket to capture that good energy, so I didn’t tell anyone about it." As interest in the winning numbers for the 1225th Lotto draw on May 23 grows, the story of the winner of the 1st prize (1 ticket) and 2nd prize (4 tickets) in the 310th Pension Lottery 720+ is making headlines. In a recent post on the Donghaeng Lottery winners' bulletin board, the winner of the 310th Pension Lottery 72 May 24, 2026

Gas Explosion in Chinese Coal Mine Claims 90 Lives, 9 Missing A gas explosion at a coal mine in Shanxi Province, central China, has resulted in at least 90 fatalities. According to reports from state media including Xinhua and China Central Television (CCTV), the explosion occurred at 7:29 p.m. on May 23 in an underground tunnel in the city of Changzhi, specifically in Qinyuan County. At the time of the incident, 247 workers were present in the mine. Local authorities initially reported that by 6 a.m. on May 24, eight people had died and 38 were May 24, 2026