Police disperse protesters, secure ballot boxes after election day disruption in Seoul SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - Police on Friday dispersed protesters from a polling station in southern Seoul after a days-long standoff over the removal of ballot boxes following shortages in ballot papers that disrupted voting during Wednesday's local elections. More than 1,000 police officers were mobilized to the polling station in Jamsil, Seoul's Songpa district, from around 7:30 a.m. to secure two ballot boxes that had remained inside the polling station for more than 35 hours after voting ended, leaving roughly 2,000 ballots uncounted. The standoff stemmed from a shortage of ballot papers at several polling stations in southern Seoul on election day, which extended voting beyond closing time and left some voters unable to cast their ballots. The ballot boxes could not be transferred to a counting center after protesters gathered outside the polling station, demanding an investigation into the ballot shortage and accountability from election officials. Some demonstrators also raised allegations of election fraud. These protesters initially consisted largely of affected voters and local residents seeking an explanation for the disruption, but the crowd swelled as politicians and YouTubers raising allegations of election fraud joined in. Police estimated that as many as 1,300 people had gathered at the site by Thursday night. As protesters ignored repeated orders to disperse and blocked the removal of ballot boxes, police forcefully entered the polling station and secured the boxes. Minor clashes were reported during the operation, and authorities warned that interfering with election officials or police could lead to criminal punishment. Minor clashes were reported between the two sides, while authorities warned that interfering with election officials or police could result in criminal charges. The NEC said the secured ballot boxes would be moved to a counting location to finalize results in the affected districts. 2026-06-05 10:22:29

Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Surges to 1540 Won Amid Foreign Stock Sell-Off The won-dollar exchange rate continues to show strength in the 1500 won range. As of 10:08 a.m. on June 5, the exchange rate in the Seoul foreign exchange market stood at 1543.8 won per dollar, down 0.7 won from the previous session's close of 1529.0 won. This marks the first time the rate has exceeded 1540 won during trading since March 10, 2009, when it reached 1561.0 won. The rate hit the 1540 won mark during overnight trading, reaching its highest level since the global financial crisis. Although it opened lower today, ongoing foreign net selling in the domestic stock market appears to be exerting upward pressure on the exchange rate. At the same time, foreign investors sold a net 15.21 trillion won in the securities market, contributing to a decline in the index. In the previous night’s trading, U.S. stocks showed mixed results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 874.86 points, or 1.73%, at 51,561.93. The S&P 500 index rose by 30.63 points, or 0.41%, to close at 7,584.31, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell by 23.02 points, or 0.09%, ending at 26,830.96. International oil prices declined after Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire. August futures for Brent crude settled at $95.03 per barrel, down 2.8%, while July futures for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $93.04 per barrel, a decrease of 3.1%. Min Kyung-won, an economist at Woori Bank, stated, "Today, the won-dollar exchange rate is expected to attempt to stabilize in the 1530 won range, driven by foreign net selling triggered by profit-taking in semiconductor stocks. The semiconductor rally has shown signs of slowing following Broadcom's earnings report, which could lead to continued outflows of foreign capital from the domestic market known as memory trades." He added, "This selling is more than just profit-taking; it has a strong rebalancing nature, which is increasing demand for foreign remittances in the foreign exchange market, causing ongoing upward pressure on the exchange rate. If the symbolic level of 1530 won is breached, speculative buying could further contribute to a weakening of the won."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:15:00

Shin Young Securities Shares Surge Over 9% Following Buyback Announcement Shin Young Securities has seen its shares rise by over 9% in early trading following the announcement of a significant share buyback plan. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:58 a.m., Shin Young Securities shares were trading at 206,500 won, up 18,100 won (9.61%) from the previous trading day. Investor sentiment has been buoyed by expectations that the large-scale buyback will enhance earnings per share (EPS) and shareholder value. The company announced on June 4 that it will hold its 72nd annual general meeting on June 19, where it will discuss plans for the buyback and utilization of 8.42 million shares currently held. Of these, 5,262,283 shares will be retired within the timeframe stipulated by corporate law. This represents 32.01% of the total issued shares and 62.48% of the treasury shares. Based on the previous day's closing price, the buyback is valued at approximately 999 billion won. The remaining 3.16 million shares will be retained for future shareholder returns and employee performance compensation. Additionally, the company plans to increase its dividend. For the current fiscal year, Shin Young Securities has set the dividend for common stock at 7,500 won per share, an increase of 2,500 won from the previous year. The total dividend payout will exceed 20 billion won, meeting the criteria for high-dividend companies, allowing shareholders to benefit from separate taxation on dividend income. 2026-06-05 10:15:00

Hanwha Aerospace Opens Memorial for Victims of Daejeon Explosion Hanwha Aerospace announced on June 5 that it has established a memorial service for the five victims of the Daejeon explosion at ten locations nationwide. The memorials will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until June 25. Locations include the Hanwha Building in Janggyo-dong, Seoul, as well as facilities in Changwon (Sites 1, 2, and 3), Asan, Daejeon, the Daejeon R&D Center, Boeun, Yeosu, and the Pangyo R&D Center. A Hanwha Aerospace representative expressed condolences, stating, "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and have created this memorial space for all employees to pray for the souls of the deceased." In the wake of the incident, Hanwha Aerospace has suspended production lines, excluding essential processes, and has initiated special safety inspections and training. Following the explosion, Hanwha Group and Hanwha Aerospace released a statement expressing their sorrow, saying, "We are heartbroken and saddened by the loss of our five valued employees. We offer our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:12:00

Krafton's Subnautica 2 unveils update roadmap shaped by player feedback SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - Krafton's creative studio Unknown Worlds released its eighth developer vlog for "Subnautica 2," outlining short- and long-term update plans drawn from global player feedback after the underwater survival sequel's early-access launch on May 14. In the video, lead designer Anthony Gallegos detailed recent hotfix results and a roadmap that promises richer resource deposits and rebalanced predator attacks, changes aimed at sharpening the game's exploration and survival experience in response to community input. The studio said upcoming smaller updates will expand the Biomods adaptation system with additional passive slots and new early-game survival options, while proximity voice chat, emotes and character customization are in development for multiplayer. A larger content drop will open a new region inhabited by the towering Collector Leviathan and introduce fresh vehicles. "Player feedback and voices are the most important signpost showing the direction Subnautica 2 should take," said Fernando Melo, executive producer, adding that the studio would continue an open-development approach that places user opinion first. Developed by Unknown Worlds, founded by Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, "Subnautica 2" is the direct successor to the genre-defining "Subnautica" series, built on Unreal Engine 5 and offering up to four-player co-op for the first time across Steam, the Epic Games Store and Xbox Series X|S. 2026-06-05 10:09:20

June Mock Exam Concludes, College Admissions Golden Time Begins The June mock exam, a precursor to the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has concluded, marking the beginning of serious college admissions strategy planning for students. This mock exam, organized by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, serves as a benchmark for assessing the difficulty and trends of the actual CSAT, drawing significant attention from students as it influences their approach to both early and regular admissions. According to reports from the education sector on June 5, a total of 488,343 students registered for this June mock exam, with 96,931 repeat students, accounting for 19.8% of the total. Their presence is expected to have a considerable impact on the results. This year's exam is particularly significant as it represents the last opportunity for current students to take the CSAT under the existing elective subject system before the 2028 admissions reform. As a result, the dynamics of subject selection and the phenomenon of students gravitating towards social studies are likely to be more pronounced than in previous years. With the strong presence of repeat students, current students may face tighter cutoff scores, necessitating a focus on objective analysis rather than getting overly concerned with immediate raw scores. Consequently, students should conduct a thorough review of their exam performance immediately after receiving their scores, categorizing mistakes into three clear areas: lack of knowledge, simple errors, and misunderstandings. Additionally, even before receiving their score reports on July 1, students should analyze their cumulative scores since March to assess their competitiveness for the CSAT and proactively identify potential universities for regular admissions. Students focusing on early admissions should also use the results of this mock exam to critically evaluate their chances of meeting the minimum CSAT score requirements for their target universities and should aim to identify at least ten potential candidates for early admissions early on. Moving forward, students must choose tailored study strategies that align with their current performance levels. For those in the top 1-2 grade range, the focus should be on understanding the rationale behind incorrect answers and establishing connections between concepts, rather than merely increasing the volume of practice problems. For students in the 3-4 grade range, it is essential to secure a solid grasp of medium-difficulty questions to avoid losing points on easier ones, while also revisiting key concepts. For those scoring below 5, mastering fundamental terms and basic concepts from textbooks is the quickest route to improving scores. Admissions experts advise that the results of the June mock exam should not be viewed as final scores but rather as a valuable diagnostic tool for addressing weaknesses during the summer break. Kim Byeong-jin, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Etoos, emphasized that early admissions do not guarantee acceptance, and maintaining a study routine that includes CSAT preparation during the early admissions period is crucial. He noted that the remaining five months provide ample time to improve scores, urging students to stop comparing themselves to others and to give their best effort until the end. Jin Hwan-cheol, head of the Admissions Strategy Research Institute at Jinhaksa, stated, "The June mock exam is not a predictor of CSAT scores but a means to assess one's current standing." He advised that for students considering universities with minimum score requirements, it is advisable to prioritize CSAT study after final exams. Lee Man-ki, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Yuhak, echoed this sentiment, stressing that the true purpose of the June mock exam is to confirm one’s national standing and to determine what to prioritize during the summer break.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:09:00

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Meets with eSports Star Faker in Seoul Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is set to visit South Korea on June 5, where he will meet with key figures from major domestic companies and experience aspects of Korean culture, including PC bangs, samgyeopsal, and baseball.According to NVIDIA and the IT industry, Huang is expected to arrive at Gimpo International Airport around 1 p.m. local time, where he will briefly share his impressions upon arrival and participate in a Q&A session.His first stop in Korea is reportedly a PC bang operated by the eSports team T1.Sources indicate that Huang will meet with the T1 League of Legends team at the 'T1 Base Camp' PC bang located in Hongdae. The meeting will include all five members of the team: captain Lee Sang-hyeok, known as 'Faker,' Choi Hyun-jun ('Doran'), Moon Hyun-jun ('Owner'), Kim Soo-hwan ('Phase'), and Ryu Min-seok ('Keria'). They are expected to discuss ways to enhance the eSports industry while interacting with players and team officials.Huang has expressed a strong affection for Korea's gaming industry and eSports. During his visit last year, he remarked, "Without PC gaming, PC bangs, and eSports, NVIDIA would not exist today."After visiting the PC bang, Huang is scheduled to have dinner at a samgyeopsal restaurant called 'Hyungnim Jeoyo' near Hongdae, where he will meet with prominent business leaders, including Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, Koo Kwang-mo, chairman of LG Group, and Lee Hae-jin, chairman of Naver.The dinner, known as a 'samso meeting'—a combination of samgyeopsal and soju—is expected to focus on broad cooperation in areas such as AI semiconductors, robotics, physical AI, and AI data center infrastructure.Initially, a restaurant in Seongsu-dong was considered for the meeting, but the location was changed to Hongdae due to logistical considerations.Given the bustling nature of the Hongdae area, there is also speculation that Huang may have the opportunity to interact with local citizens.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:09:00

HJ Shipbuilding to Develop 10,000 TEU Biofuel-Powered Container Ship HJ Shipbuilding has received design concept approval from the Korean Register (KR) for a 10,000 TEU biofuel-powered container ship. On June 4, during the Posidonia exhibition held at the Metropolitan Expo Center in Athens, HJ Shipbuilding CEO Yoo Sang-cheol and KR Executive Vice President Cho Byung-sam met to sign the certification agreement. Posidonia is recognized as one of the world's top three maritime and shipbuilding exhibitions, alongside Norway's Nor-Shipping and Germany's SMM in Hamburg. Biofuel for ships refers to a carbon-reducing fuel that blends traditional fossil fuel-based marine oil with a certain percentage of plant and animal oils. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightening carbon emission regulations and the European Union (EU) implementing new environmental regulations, including maritime fuel regulations and the EU Emissions Trading System, the use of biofuels is increasing in major ports worldwide, emerging as an eco-friendly alternative fuel. Interest in biofuels has grown among shipowners attending Posidonia, prompting the shipbuilding industry to proactively secure technology and respond to market demands. To secure relevant technology, HJ Shipbuilding collaborated with KR last year, applying a biofuel propulsion system to the 10,000 TEU container ship it is currently building. The company completed its technology development last month and obtained certification on this day. Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding, stated, "The development of biofuel-powered container ship technology is expected to have a positive impact on our sales and order activities in the eco-friendly ship market. Building decarbonized ships is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and we will secure technological competitiveness to build trust with shipowners." Meanwhile, HJ Shipbuilding reported a more than 347% increase in operating profit in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, indicating significant performance improvement. The company is expected to continue this positive trend as it advances from high-value shipbuilding to biofuel propulsion. 2026-06-05 10:06:00

Travel Industry Shifts to Themed Experiences Amid Changing Consumer Preferences Domestic travel agencies are significantly enhancing their lineup of "themed and experiential" products to cater to the diversifying preferences of consumers. Moving away from traditional package tours that merely skim popular tourist spots, the industry is now focusing on journeys that fulfill specific interests in art, cuisine, and sports. ◆ Japan's Small Towns Rise as Art and Culinary Destinations The most notable change is occurring in Japan, a key market for short-haul overseas travel. Repeat visitors, fatigued by the repetitive visits to major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, are now turning their attention to small towns with distinct local characteristics. According to internal data from Modu Tour, bookings for small town products in Japan increased by 35% in May compared to the same period last year. In response to this demand, the industry is promoting themed travel packages centered around Takamatsu, the representative city of Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku. These packages allow travelers to leisurely explore contemporary art sites like the Chichu Art Museum and the Lee Ufan Museum on Naoshima Island, while also deeply experiencing local cuisine, such as Sanuki udon. The itineraries are designed to enhance travel quality by minimizing the burden of moving between accommodations. ◆ Running the Great Wall and Park Golf Trains Heat Up Domestic Tourism Recently, a surge in running culture among the MZ generation has led to the introduction of special purpose tourism (SIT) products that allow participants to run on iconic heritage sites. Nolyuniverse has partnered with the city of Chengde in Hebei Province, China, to offer a trail running package along the UNESCO World Heritage section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling. Participants can choose from 10K, half-marathon, or full marathon courses, running along the wall while enjoying the sunrise and connecting with local cultural resources like Beijing's 798 Art District to attract outdoor enthusiasts. In the domestic tourism market, a surge in middle-aged and older adults participating in recreational sports has led to the rise of rail products linked to sports. Korail Tourism Development plans to operate themed trains in collaboration with local governments in Chungcheongnam-do, such as Cheongyang and Buyeo, for the 3.5 million park golf enthusiasts across the country. Travelers can enjoy rounds at local park golf courses like Wangjin Naru and Baengma River without the hassle of highway traffic, while also sampling local dishes like lotus leaf rice and goji berry grilled ribs. ◆ Cruises to the Other Side of the World: Experience is the Key to Spending This trend is also extending into the long-distance premium market. In South America, a continent often listed on bucket lists, premium long-stay packages that combine large cruises with business class flights are gaining popularity. Hanjin Travel is launching a 30-day South America travel package featuring the 140,000-ton Majestic Princess cruise ship. The itinerary combines maritime travel with land tours to iconic locations such as Brazil's Iguazu Falls, Peru's Machu Picchu, and Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni, maximizing comfort. Industry experts analyze that the activation of themed travel is a result of the demand from economically active seniors and younger generations who invest in their personal hobbies. As simple sightseeing can be replaced by online information, providing exclusive content that can only be experienced locally is essential to attract consumers. A travel industry representative stated, "As consumers accumulate travel experiences, their preference for products that guarantee personal tastes and leisurely stays increases. In the future, competition to develop customized themed products that combine local cultural assets, sports, and cruises will become even more intense."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:03:00

Proponents of Chinhang Demand Resignation of Leader Jang Dong-hyuk After Election Loss People Power Party lawmakers aligned with the Chinhang faction called on Jang Dong-hyuk to take responsibility for the results of the June 3 local elections and resign.Woo Jae-jun, a senior member of the party, stated on YTN Radio's "Jang Seong-cheol's News Myungdang" that while many candidates lost, the overall results were slightly better than initially feared. He noted, "Although we have a score of 12 to 4, there were also more victories in local government positions, and we narrowly lost in several metropolitan areas." He added, "It is difficult to evaluate that the leadership significantly contributed to this local election. Many candidates are likely aware of this, and the leadership must reflect on it. It is appropriate for them to take responsibility accordingly."Woo pointed out both the strengths and weaknesses of Jang's leadership during the election process. He expressed, "It would be good if he resigned. On one hand, he worked hard. There were areas where he performed well and others where he did not." He specifically criticized Jang for expending too much energy on expelling Han Dong-hoon, which negatively impacted the Busan mayoral election. However, he acknowledged that Jang contributed to resolving some confusion in Daegu and helped achieve some victories in South Chungcheong Province.He concluded, "I believe it would be beneficial for him to step down to help resolve conflicts. If Jang continues to hold on, the conflicts will not be resolved. It would be better for him to step down and hold a formal party convention to receive a proper evaluation, which would help us gather our thoughts on the future direction of our party."Park Jeong-hoon also echoed the call for the entire leadership under Jang Dong-hyuk to resign. Speaking on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," Park stated, "Ultimately, we suffered a crushing defeat in this election. Almost all the metropolitan leaders were incumbents. Despite the incumbent advantage, eight incumbents lost, which is a significant defeat."He attributed the election difficulties to the decision to expel Han Dong-hoon, which he claimed divided the party. "The reasons for the expulsion were nonsensical and unrelated to him. The individuals most responsible are Jang Dong-hyuk, Shin Dong-wook, and Song Eon-seok," he asserted.Park predicted, "If a confidence vote were held now, I believe Jang would lose. We need to conduct the next general election under this leadership, but can we win with Jang Dong-hyuk's face leading the charge?" He added, "After this experience, it seems that Jang Dong-hyuk's leadership has led to losses. Some have even referred to him as the 'grim reaper of elections.' I believe party members have realized through this election whether Jang's leadership can lead us into the next general election."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 10:03:00