CJ Group Employee Personal Information Leaked via Telegram CJ Group has reported a leak of employee personal information through a Telegram channel. According to industry sources, the channel, established in 2023, contained the mobile phone numbers, job titles, internal phone numbers, and photos of over 330 female employees of CJ Group. Immediately following the leak, CJ Group initiated an investigation, suspecting that the information was accessed by an insider rather than through external hacking. The company is also preparing to report the inc May 18, 2026

Special Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrant for Former KTV Director Lee Eun-woo on Sedition Charges The second special investigation team led by Kwon Chang-young is pursuing the arrest of Lee Eun-woo, the former director of KTV (Korean Broadcasting System), on charges of promoting sedition following the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. On May 18, the special investigation team announced in a press release that it had applied for an arrest warrant for Lee on sedition charges. The team alleges that Lee used his authority over news broadcasts and scrolling news on the public May 18, 2026

President Lee Visits Andong Market Ahead of Japan-South Korea Summit President Lee Jae-myung visited the Andong Market in North Gyeongsang Province on May 18, engaging with citizens and assessing local economic conditions.According to a written briefing from Deputy Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong, the visit was organized to connect with residents and demonstrate a commitment to revitalizing the local economy, one day before the summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, scheduled to take place in his hometown of Andong on May 19.During his visit, President L May 18, 2026

President Lee Criticizes Starbucks' 'Tank Day' Marketing as 'Mockery of Democracy' President Lee Jae-myung strongly criticized Starbucks Korea on May 18 for its controversial 'Tank Day' marketing campaign, stating it was a "mockery of the sacrifices made by the victims in Gwangju and the bloody struggle of its citizens."The criticism comes as Starbucks Korea's CEO, Son Jeong-hyun, was abruptly dismissed amid the backlash. President Lee's public condemnation adds to the mounting pressure on the company.On his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), President Lee wrote, "To May 18, 2026

Shinsegae Group CEO Dismisses Starbucks Korea Head Amid Controversy Shinsegae Group Chairman Jeong Yong-jin has dismissed Sohn Jung-hyun, CEO of Starbucks Korea (SCK Company), following a marketing event that sparked public outrage on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. On May 18, Shinsegae Group announced that Chairman Jeong had officially notified Sohn of his dismissal. Jeong reportedly expressed his anger upon learning of the marketing controversy involving the Starbucks Korea app and website, instructing that the strongest disciplinary measures b May 18, 2026

Samsung Electronics and Labor Union End First Day of Mediation Ahead of Strike As a strike deadline approaches, Samsung Electronics and its labor union concluded the first day of mediation at the Central Labor Relations Commission without significant progress. On May 18, Samsung Electronics and the joint labor struggle headquarters began their first day of mediation at the Central Labor Relations Commission in Sejong City at 10 a.m. The meeting wrapped up around 6:20 p.m., approximately 40 minutes earlier than the scheduled 7 p.m. end time. After the negotiations, May 18, 2026

Candidates Honor Victims of May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, and Yang Hyang-ja, the People Power Party candidate, visited Gwangju on May 18 to honor the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and pledged to uphold the spirit of May. Jo Eung-cheon, the Reform Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, also expressed his commitment to reflecting the May spirit in governance. Choo and Yang paid their respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in northern Gwangju before attendi May 18, 2026

Drunken Marine Found with Live Ammunition During Leave A Marine on leave has been placed under military investigation after being found intoxicated and in possession of live ammunition. Authorities suspect the Marine may have smuggled the ammunition during training. According to the Marine Corps, on May 16, police received a report of a man passed out from intoxication near Yongsan Station in Seoul. Upon arrival, officers identified the man as Marine A, who was on leave. During a search of A's belongings, police discovered multiple rounds of li May 18, 2026

Court Limits Samsung Electronics Union Strike, Emphasizes Semiconductor Process Obligations Samsung Electronics' labor union received a significant setback just three days before its planned general strike, as a court largely upheld the company's request to prohibit strike actions. On May 18, the Suwon District Court's Civil Division 31, led by Judge Shin Woo-jung, granted most of Samsung's injunction against the union's planned strike activities. The court cited Article 38, Section 2 of the Labor Union Act, which mandates that operations to prevent damage to work facilities o May 18, 2026

Starbucks Korea CEO Apologizes for Inappropriate Reference to May 18 Movement Starbucks Korea issued an additional apology after facing backlash for using language associated with the May 18 Democratic Movement in an online event. On May 18, CEO Son Jeong-hyeon released a statement saying, "We deeply apologize to the spirits of the May 18 Movement, the May organizations, the citizens of Gwangju, and the families of the late Park Jong-cheol, as well as all those who have contributed to Korea's democratization, for the inappropriate expression used in our ma May 18, 2026