Netmarble to Open First Popup Store for 'Monster Taming: Stardive' at Starfield Hanam Netmarble announced on June 2 that it will host the first popup store for its monster-taming action RPG, "Monster Taming: Stardive," at Starfield Hanam. The popup store will operate from June 3 to June 7 in the Central Atrium on the first floor of Starfield Hanam. Visitors can participate in various interactive experiences, including "Monster Touch! Catch!", "Today's Monster", and a popularity vote for the game. Coins earned through these activities can be exchanged for various prizes. The store will also sell official merchandise for "Monster Taming: Stardive." Among the items debuting at the popup store are the "SD Acrylic Diorama" and "LD Acrylic Stand," along with the popular "Meow Cushion" that received positive feedback at gaming events like G-Star and Tokyo Game Show. A demonstration zone will allow visitors to play the game directly. Attendees can experience the action combat of "Monster Taming: Stardive" using portable gaming PCs (UMPCs). "Monster Taming: Stardive" is a sequel to the 2013 release "Monster Taming." It features high-quality graphics and storytelling based on Unreal Engine 5, along with real-time tag play in three-person parties. A Netmarble representative stated, "As this is the first popup store since the launch of 'Monster Taming: Stardive,' we have prepared a variety of engaging content and official merchandise for users to enjoy. We hope many users will visit and create special memories at the event." More information about the popup store and the game can be found on the official "Monster Taming: Stardive" website and forum.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:42:00

Shindongah Construction Wins First Urban Housing Project of the Year in Anyang Shindongah Construction, which recently completed its rehabilitation process, has secured its first urban housing redevelopment project of the year in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. On June 2, Shindongah Construction announced that it has been selected as the contractor for the Bisan-dong urban housing redevelopment project. The project will involve the construction of two apartment buildings with a total of 124 units, along with 12 officetel units and community facilities, covering an area in Bisan-dong, specifically at 557-7. The total project cost is estimated at 50.4 billion won. The company plans to enhance the project's appeal by applying specialized designs from its apartment brand, 'Familie.' Kim Se-jun, president of Shindongah Construction, stated, "We will focus our bidding capabilities on relatively larger small-scale redevelopment projects and private participation in public housing projects to achieve sustainable growth." Shindongah Construction applied for court rehabilitation proceedings in January of last year due to liquidity issues stemming from a downturn in the construction market. However, it successfully concluded the rehabilitation process in October of the same year, finishing court management in about nine months. Recently, the company received an A- rating from NICE D&B, a corporate credit rating agency, and a BBB- rating from the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation, indicating improved conditions for public project bidding and guarantee issuance. Founded in 1977, Shindongah Construction is a mid-sized construction firm known for its apartment brand 'Familie.' The company has participated in the construction of notable buildings such as the 63 Building in Yeouido and the LG Gwanghwamun Building, focusing on housing, architecture, and civil engineering projects. As of last year, it ranked 58th in construction capability evaluations. Additionally, mid-sized construction firms are increasingly focusing on smaller projects, such as urban housing redevelopment and private participation in public housing, to recover their performance, rather than pursuing large-scale reconstruction and redevelopment projects.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:39:00

Park Min-ji Achieves 20th KLPGA Victory, Jumps 57 Spots in World Ranking Park Min-ji has reached a significant milestone in her career by securing her 20th victory on the KLPGA Tour, resulting in a jump of 57 spots in the world rankings. As of June 2, Park is ranked 104th in the latest women's golf world rankings, a notable rise from the previous week. She achieved this milestone by winning the Shinhyup Bank MBN Women's Open on May 31 at The Star Hill Golf & Resort in Yangpyeong, South Korea. This victory places her alongside the late Gu Ok-hee and Shin Ji-ae as one of only three players in KLPGA history to reach 20 wins. It marks the first time since Shin Ji-ae in 2010 that a player has achieved this feat in 16 years. Park's last win on the KLPGA Tour was nearly two years ago at the Celltrion Queens Masters in June 2024. Since beginning her professional career in 2017, Park reached a career-high world ranking of 12th in 2022. In related news, Joo Soo-bin, who tied for 4th place at the ShopRite LPGA, moved up 42 spots to rank 210th. The top three positions in the world rankings remain unchanged, with Nelly Korda of the United States at number one, followed by Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand in second, and Kim Hyo-joo in third.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:39:00

KOSPI retreats after record close as foreign investors sell SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI slipped in morning trade on Tuesday, retreating from the previous day's record close as investors took profits in major stocks. The index dropped to around 8,700 after closing at an all-time high of 8,788.38 the previous session. Shares of LG affiliates, which had led the previous session's rally, came under selling pressure, while a surprise US$80 billion equity raise by Google parent Alphabet prompted investors to reassess the outlook for semiconductor demand. The decline was largely confined to a handful of stocks. LG Corporation fell 16.6 percent to 138,300 won ($91.3), LG CNS dropped 11.1 percent to 127,800 won, and Naver gave back 7.7 percent to 250,500 won, a sharp reversal in the precise names that had surged on Monday's physical AI rerating. Samsung Electronics, by contrast, rose 1.4 percent to 354,000 won, the market continuing to distinguish between the confirmed HBM4E shipment milestone that drove its Monday surge and the more speculative physical AI trade unwinding around it. The divergence between the two leaders, Samsung firm on a product catalyst while the LG complex retreated on an unconfirmed partnership, defined the early session. The new external variable came from Alphabet, which announced after Monday's U.S. session $80 billion in equity offerings to fund AI compute infrastructure, including a $10 billion private placement from Berkshire Hathaway. The scale of the raise, roughly 120 trillion won, reinforces the structural demand underpinning Korean memory makers, since Alphabet's capital expenditure flows toward the high-bandwidth memory and advanced packaging that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix supply. Yet the decision to fund it through share issuance rather than cash flow, which sent Alphabet stock lower in after-hours trading on dilution concerns, signals how capital-intensive the AI buildout has become and introduces a note of caution into a chip rally that has priced in uninterrupted hyperscaler spending. The unwind in the LG names suggests Monday's group-wide move, built on expectations of a formal Nvidia partnership around chief executive Jensen Huang's Seoul visit, had run ahead of confirmed substance. Doosan Robotics bucked the broader weakness, rising 8.5 percent to 150,200 won, with Robostar up 19.6 percent to 146,200 won, a sign the robotics theme retains a momentum separate from the LG complex even as those names correct. Foreign investors extended their selling streak into a seventeenth consecutive session, net sellers of 1.38 trillion won in early trade, while institutions bought a net 458 billion won and retail investors added 931.2 billion won, the same domestic-absorption pattern that has underpinned the market through May's foreign exodus. The junior KOSDAQ fell 2.2 percent to 1,026.90, underperforming the main board for a second session as the junior bourse's growth names bore the brunt of the risk reduction. Across the region, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.7 percent to 66,475.32 as SoftBank Group gave back part of Monday's surge, while China's Shanghai Composite opened little changed near Monday's 4,055 close, with mainland investors still awaiting direction ahead of the July Politburo meeting. For South Korea, investors are assessing whether the retreat is a temporary pause or the beginning of a broader market decline. The selective nature of the selling, punishing the unconfirmed physical AI trade while sparing Samsung's confirmed memory catalyst, points to the former. But with foreign capital now selling for a seventeenth straight session, the market's dependence on domestic institutional and retail buying to absorb the outflow remains the structural fragility beneath every record this rally has set. 2026-06-02 09:38:07

Sejong Law Firm to Host Seminar on Labor Legislation Trends Post-Local Elections Sejong Law Firm, led by Managing Partner Oh Jong-han, announced on June 2 that it will hold a hybrid seminar titled "Labor Legislation Trends After the Local Elections" on June 8 at 2 p.m. in the seminar room on the 24th floor of Sejong Grand Seoul. Following the local elections, discussions are expected to intensify regarding the implementation of labor pledges by the Lee Jae-myung administration, including the worker presumption system, the Basic Law for Workers, retirement age extension, and the abolition of the comprehensive wage system along with reduced working hours. The Sejong Labor Group aims to provide insights into the legislative trends and progress related to these key labor issues, as well as to identify potential legal challenges that may arise if new laws are enacted. The seminar will also offer practical strategies for companies to proactively respond to these changes. The seminar will begin with opening remarks from Kim Min-seok, a senior advisor who previously served as the Vice Minister of Employment and Labor. The first session will feature Cho Chan-young, an attorney who joined Sejong early last year after working as a judge in the Labor Division of the Seoul High Court, discussing the worker presumption system and the Basic Law for Workers. Next, attorney Yoon Hye-young, who has extensive experience with cases related to wage peak systems, will address retirement age extension and age discrimination. Finally, Kim Jong-soo, head of the Sejong Labor Group, will outline key issues surrounding the abolition of the comprehensive wage system and working hour measurement. Managing Partner Oh Jong-han remarked, "The worker presumption system and retirement age extension are critical issues that could significantly impact the labor and industrial sectors, similar to the Yellow Envelope Law. I hope this seminar will help assess labor legislation trends in light of changes in the political and policy environment, enabling companies to respond more strategically to future regulatory changes." Participation in the seminar is available both in-person and online, with inquiries for registration directed to the Sejong Planning Office at seminar@shinkim.com. Additionally, the Sejong Labor Group, led by Kim Jong-soo, consists of approximately 50 attorneys and experts, and has been strengthening its capabilities, including the recent recruitment of Lee Seung-jae, an attorney from Kim & Chang. The group is proactively responding to significant changes in labor policies and legislative environments, providing comprehensive legal services that encompass collective labor relations, industrial safety, and serious accidents.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:33:00

WNMC 26: NYT chair delivers a rallying cry for journalism in the AI age MARSEILLE, June 02 (AJP) - For 40 minutes, A.G. Sulzberger stood before an audience of more than 1,300 editors, publishers and journalists from around the world and delivered what many attendees would later describe as one of the defining speeches of the World News Media Congress. The New York Times chairman and publisher did not simply warn about artificial intelligence. He mounted a sweeping defense of journalism itself — arguing that AI companies are building trillion-dollar businesses on the back of original reporting while simultaneously threatening the economic foundations that make that reporting possible. After Sulzberger concluded his keynote, the audience responded with sustained applause. Moments later, BBC journalist and conference moderator Ros Atkins offered his own assessment. "One of the most impressive addresses I've heard on journalism in the age of AI," Atkins told the audience. The reaction reflected the mood in the room. While many discussions at WNMC 2026 focused on how publishers can adapt to AI, Sulzberger focused on a more fundamental question: what happens if the institutions that produce reliable information are weakened in the process? 'Original reporting is how you know what you know' Speaking on the theme "AI Journalism and the Uncertain Future of the Public Square," Sulzberger made clear he was not arguing against artificial intelligence itself. "The New York Times has a long record of embracing technology to advance the mission of independent journalism," he said. "We had a history of respectful partnerships with tech companies." He noted that Times journalists are already using AI tools "responsibly, ethically and with humans making the decisions," adding that "holding a powerful new technology at arm's length is a recipe for failure." Yet the speech repeatedly returned to a central argument: AI systems ultimately depend on journalism. "AI models are made of four basic ingredients," Sulzberger said. "Talent, compute, energy and data." The first three, he noted, are paid for. "In contrast, AI companies take data without consent or compensation." What technology companies call "data," he argued, often means something far more specific: journalism, books, music, films and other copyrighted creative works. "What might more accurately be called copyrighted content." The heart of the speech came when Sulzberger described the unique role of journalists in creating information that does not previously exist. "Reporters are the ones enriching the public record with previously unknown information," he said. "That surprising fact, that telling detail, that quote from an eyewitness, that secret document." Then came a line that many attendees later cited as the keynote's defining message. "Original reporting is very often how you know what you know." The value behind the headlines To illustrate the scale of that work, Sulzberger pointed to The New York Times' own investment in journalism. Last year alone, he said, the Times produced nearly half a million pieces of journalism — articles, photographs, videos and podcasts — at a cost of more than $2 billion. The organization deployed journalists across all 50 U.S. states and in 155 countries. In Ukraine alone, more than 70 journalists and support staff worked on the ground during 2025. "This original work is valuable," Sulzberger said, "because it's been carefully written and edited, independently verified, held to the highest standards of fairness and accuracy." Yet, he argued, many AI companies have treated that work as a free resource. "OpenAI confessed that it would be impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials," he said. And while AI companies pay engineers, purchase chips and build massive data centers, "AI companies take data without consent or compensation." 'We cannot sit by' The most forceful portion of the address came when Sulzberger called on publishers to stop being passive. "Our profession has been too quiet, too passive and too fragmented in the face of abuses by the companies leading the AI revolution," he said. "We cannot allow AI cheerleaders to dominate the public conversation." Nor, he said, can publishers remain silent while their content is used to create products that compete directly with them. "We cannot sit by as this work is used to build replacement products that undermine our ability to earn the audience and revenue necessary to continue reporting the news." The audience responded with one of the keynote's strongest rounds of applause. A threat beyond journalism Sulzberger argued that the stakes extend far beyond the news industry. Creative industries worldwide employ millions of people and generate trillions of dollars in economic value annually. The erosion of intellectual property protections, he warned, would weaken not only journalism but books, film, music and research. But his deepest concern centered on public trust. As AI-generated content proliferates online, distinguishing truth from fiction becomes increasingly difficult. "It is becoming harder and harder to know where things came from and whether they are true," he said. This dynamic, he warned, risks producing a culture in which people no longer trust anything. "The effect isn't just that people believe untrue things." "It's that they no longer believe true things." According to Sulzberger, that loss of trust is already encouraging many people to disengage from public life altogether. Four calls to action Rather than ending with a warning, Sulzberger closed with a challenge to the industry. His first message was blunt. "Stand up for your rights." "Intellectual property rights must hold if our profession is to have a path forward." Second, he urged publishers to negotiate carefully with AI companies. Third, he called on news organizations to push lawmakers to strengthen protections for journalism and intellectual property. And fourth, he encouraged publishers to work together. "The news industry's only path to counteracting that influence is by working together." At the same time, he argued that newsrooms must embrace AI responsibly rather than reject it. "Use AI the right way." And perhaps most importantly, he urged publishers to build direct relationships with audiences rather than relying on platforms. "Be a destination first." 'Information is valuable. Journalism is valuable.' As the address drew to a close, Sulzberger returned to a phrase that echoed throughout the hall. Decades ago, Silicon Valley popularized the idea that "information wants to be free." But, he said, many people forgot the second half of Stewart Brand's famous observation. "Information wants to be expensive because it's so valuable." Then came the line that served as both a warning and a defense of journalism's future. "Information is valuable. Journalism is valuable." In a digital environment increasingly crowded by bots, synthetic content and misinformation, Sulzberger argued that trusted journalism may become more important, not less. "News organizations should stand up as the reliable alternative to this mess." As delegates rose from their seats and applauded, the message appeared to resonate. For many in Marseille, the speech was not simply about AI. It was about whether journalism can preserve the economic and civic foundations necessary to continue producing the original reporting on which both democracy — and increasingly AI itself — depend. 2026-06-02 09:27:34

Singer Jeong Sewoon to Enlist in Military on June 23 가수 정세운이 오는 23일 군 입대한다고 밝혔다. On June 1, Jeong Sewoon's agency, C9 Entertainment, announced through multiple media outlets that he will enlist in the military on June 23. The agency expressed, "We ask for your support as Jeong Sewoon fulfills his duty to the country and returns healthier and more mature. We hope you look forward to seeing him grow as an artist after his service." Previously, Jeong Sewoon shared his enlistment news with fans during a recent live broadcast. Born in 1997, Jeong Sewoon is 30 years old this year. He gained recognition through SBS's 'K-Pop Star' Season 3 and Mnet's 'Produce 101' Season 2 before debuting in 2017. In March, he released the EP 'Love in the Margins' and held a solo concert titled 'Margins' in April to connect with his fans. Fans have reacted positively, saying, "It's just like Jeong Sewoon to want to go quietly," "As long as he returns healthy, that's all that matters," and "I look forward to the day we meet on stage again." Others expressed their hopes for him to create good memories before his enlistment and noted how touching it was to hear the news directly from him during the live broadcast. Many conveyed their support, wishing him a safe and healthy service, and expressed excitement for his return as a more mature artist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:27:00

[[6·3 Local Elections]] Ruling Party Calls for Support of Lee Government, Critiques Ineffective Yoon Administration The Democratic Party urged voters on June 2 to support the capable Lee Jae-myung government in the upcoming June 3 local elections, emphasizing the need to judge the ineffective local governments established under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. During a meeting at the National Assembly, Han Byung-do, the party's floor leader, stated, "This election is a starting point for normalizing the nation and moving toward a country where local communities thrive." He highlighted the progress made in the past year, noting that the KOSPI index is nearing the 9,000 mark. Han emphasized, "We cannot allow irresponsible local governments that have damaged our regions to continue, especially those that emerged with the support of Yoon Suk-yeol four years ago." Han Jeong-ae, chair of the party's policy committee, remarked, "Over the past year, the public has felt the effectiveness of the regime change brought about by the capable Lee Jae-myung government." She pointed out that the early voting turnout for this local election has reached a record high, reflecting the public's desire to judge the ineffective local governments under the Yoon administration and to support the capable Lee government. Additionally, Han urged the National Election Commission to provide clear guidance, noting that many local council candidates are nominated by a single party, which can lead to invalid votes if voters select multiple candidates. She requested that voters be advised to vote for only one candidate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:06:00

Jang Dong-hyuk Appeals for Votes to Stop President Lee's Agenda Ahead of Local Elections Jang Dong-hyuk, chairman of the People Power Party, made a public appeal on June 2 for voters to support his party in order to halt President Lee Jae-myung's agenda, just one day before the local elections. He criticized the president and the Democratic Party for neglecting the public's livelihood and emphasized the need for checks on their power. In a statement at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Jang urged, "A vote for the People Power Party will be a step toward reviving the South Korean economy and protecting our lives. Please vote for us." Jang highlighted the economic challenges facing the country, stating, "The triple threat of high exchange rates, inflation, and interest rates is weighing heavily on our economy. We must stop President Lee and the Democratic Party's reckless governance that harms the public's well-being." He sharply criticized President Lee's real estate policies, saying, "Many experts and opposition figures had predicted that housing prices would rise, but the president ignored their warnings. Housing prices have skyrocketed even more than during the previous administration's tenure, which was marked by a housing crisis." Jang continued, "The ladder to homeownership for ordinary citizens has been completely severed. Now, asking the minister for solutions is futile. We must stop the tyranny of Lee Jae-myung, who has driven up housing prices." He also addressed youth employment issues, noting, "There are 1.71 million young people in the 2030 age group who are not working, with 720,000 of them simply idling. The suffering of the youth is being overlooked, and it is time for them to take action for change." He added, "Every vote from the youth for the People Power Party will translate into better job opportunities." Jang pointed to President Lee's legal troubles, stating, "What matters to the president is not the economy, public welfare, foreign affairs, or security, but erasing his own crimes. He will suppress the opposition and the media to remove obstacles related to his trials." He concluded, "With control over the government and the legislature, and influence over the judiciary and media, the president has nothing to fear. If we allow this to continue, the country will become one solely for him. We must hold him accountable through our votes."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-02 09:03:00

Samsung Electronics to relocate US headquarters from New Jersey to Texas SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will relocate the headquarters of its U.S. unit from New Jersey to Texas, according to industry officials. The electronics giant has reportedly informed employees that it plans to relocate its U.S. headquarters from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to Plano, Texas, by the end of this year. The move, which industry observers say is intended to strengthen coordination across Samsung's semiconductor, mobile, and network businesses, would come about a year after it relocated its U.S. headquarters from Ridgefield Park to Englewood Cliffs, both in New Jersey. About 1,000 employees currently work at the Englewood Cliffs office. Samsung is expected to relocate most of them to Plano, while retaining a small number of staff to manage local operations. Plano is home to Samsung's U.S. mobile and network operations, while nearby Austin has a semiconductor manufacturing plant. Samsung is also building an advanced foundry facility in Taylor, also in Texas, which is slated to begin operations by the end of the year. Texas has emerged as a major investment hub for global companies, supported by relatively low corporate taxes, various tax incentives, and lower real estate costs. Companies such as Tesla and Oracle have also relocated their headquarters or expanded key operations in the state in recent years. 2026-06-02 09:00:30