[[6·3 Local Elections]] Jeong Cheong-rae and Jang Dong-hyuk Suspend Campaigns After Hanwha Aerospace Explosion Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, and Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, suspended their campaign schedules on June 1 following an explosion at Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon’s Yuseong District. The two had planned to hold a campaign event in Ulsan’s Nam District just two days before the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections but canceled after the incident resulted in casualties. Jeong was scheduled to visit Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, Goesan in North Chungcheong Province, Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, and Ulsan’s Nam District, but only completed his visit to Andong. While supporting candidates in Goesan, he stated, "If there are necessary measures regarding the incident, I will do my best," adding, "The primary virtue of our politics and the duty of the state is to protect the lives and safety of the people." Jang also had plans to visit Jeju’s Jeju and Seogwipo cities and Ulsan’s Nam District but canceled his remaining schedule after learning of the explosion before reaching Seogwipo. He expressed condolences on Facebook, saying, "I pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the Hanwha Aerospace explosion and sincerely offer my condolences to the bereaved families. I hope the government will do its best for a swift recovery and damage control. The People Power Party will also spare no support as needed." Additionally, both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party issued a ban on the use of campaign songs and choreography for all candidates and campaign teams nationwide. The Democratic Party further instructed its members to suspend all on-site campaigns and events until further notice. Jeong and Jang were scheduled to campaign in Ulsan’s Nam District at similar times that evening. Ulsan is a hotly contested area due to the upcoming National Assembly by-election (Ulsan Nam-gap) and the agreement between the Democratic Party and the Justice Party to unify their mayoral candidates. Both parties view this region as a battleground, which is why the leaders aimed to secure moderate voter support just two days before the elections. However, the large-scale human tragedy prompted them to prioritize understanding the situation over campaigning. Meanwhile, the political sphere is closely monitoring how long the impact of this incident will last on the campaign trail. Both parties had previously paused their campaigns for a period following a deadly collapse of the Seosomun Overpass in Seoul on May 26. With the latest explosion occurring just two days before the elections, if the suspension of campaigning continues for an extended period, it could effectively end their election efforts.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 15:03:00

[[6·3 Local Elections]] Opposition Criticizes Song Eon-seok's Meeting as Negative Campaigning The Democratic Party criticized Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, on June 1 for his recent public appeal meeting, stating it was filled with candidate attacks and government criticism. They called for an end to negative campaigning and the introduction of a law to prevent such tactics. Cho Seung-rae, the party's secretary-general, spoke to reporters at the National Assembly, saying, "This was likely Song's last appeal to the public, but it was filled with attacks on candidates and criticism of the government." Cho specifically pointed out the lack of concrete policies and messages addressing citizens' livelihoods in Song's remarks during the meeting. "There was no specific vision or message regarding policies and livelihoods. It appeared that there was an intention to conduct the election using negative tactics until the end," Cho asserted, adding, "What is needed now is a law to prevent election crimes by the People Power Party." He also expressed concerns about candidates from the People Power Party, including Oh Se-hoon, Park Wan-soo, and Kim Du-gyeom, who are running in the local elections. "Looking at Oh's pledges, some are identical to those from four years ago. What has he done in the past four years to present the same promises? This is evidence of inaction. The citizens of Seoul will judge Oh's incompetence over the past four years," he warned. Cho also criticized Park and Kim, stating, "Park is under suspicion of mobilizing public officials to create deepfake videos," and "Kim has made absurd excuses regarding the operation of an illegal campaign office, claiming he was trying to avoid the rain." Additionally, he commented on former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who are participating in the People Power Party's campaign, saying, "Relying on past power to influence the election is the epitome of outdated politics. Reasonable citizens will not tolerate two former presidents who have been imprisoned for corruption and abuse of power."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 15:03:00

Special Prosecutor to Publicly Summon Yoon Suk Yeol on June 6 The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has decided to publicly summon former President Yoon Suk Yeol. This will mark the first time Yoon appears before the media while restrained by handcuffs. On June 1, the special prosecutor's office announced during a briefing at its Gwacheon office that Yoon would appear publicly on June 6, Saturday, to uphold the public's right to know. On that day, Yoon will arrive in a transport vehicle from the Seoul Detention Center and will be presented in front of reporters while restrained, in accordance with detention center regulations. However, the special prosecutor's office has requested that only one camera reporter and one journalist be allowed due to space constraints. When asked about the stance of Yoon's legal team regarding the public summons, a special prosecutor official stated, "They did not particularly oppose it." However, they added that the situation could change the day before the appearance, so they are monitoring the response. Contrary to the special prosecutor's position, Yoon's legal team issued a statement saying, "We are in discussions with the special prosecutor's office, and the public appearance has not been definitively confirmed." Yoon is accused of instructing the National Intelligence Service and others to convey messages to the international community justifying the declaration of martial law shortly after the December 3 martial law was announced. This will be Yoon's first appearance before the special prosecutor's team. The team is currently investigating former National Intelligence Service chief Jo Tae-yong as a suspect for his involvement in the alleged insurrection. Yoon is also scheduled to appear before the special prosecutor's team again on June 13 to be questioned as a suspect regarding charges of being a leader of a rebellion under military law. However, the special prosecutor's office has not confirmed whether this will also be a public summons. Additionally, there are no confirmed plans for public summonses for other individuals under investigation, including First Lady Kim Keon-hee and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min. During the briefing, Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi stated that investigations are intensifying, having questioned 15 suspects and 40 witnesses last week. Notably, they have secured internal testimonies indicating that preparations for the martial law declared on December 3, 2024, began as early as November 2023. Kim revealed, "According to the investigation results of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo, many officials advised against the legality of deploying troops to the National Assembly at the time of the martial law declaration, but their concerns were ignored." As a result, the special prosecutor's office has summoned and is investigating former Fire Chief Heo Seok-gon and former Deputy Fire Chief Lee Young-pal, who are suspected of involvement in the insurrection. They plan to summon former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won on June 5 to focus on his actions leading up to the lifting of martial law on December 4. The investigation into allegations of covering up the case involving Kim's involvement is also expanding. The special prosecutor's office has charged Choi Jae-hoon, the former head of the Anti-Corruption Division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, with the crime of falsifying official documents related to the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. The special prosecutor's office believes that Choi predetermined the conclusion of the investigation that cleared Kim of any wrongdoing in October 2024 and manipulated data during the report revision process. They have completed searches of his mobile phone and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's information and communication division. Furthermore, in connection with the allegations of covering up the luxury bag investigation, the special prosecutor's office has seized the mobile phones of three personnel from the Ministry of Justice's personnel department from May 2024 and requested forensic analysis from the National Forensic Service. The special prosecutor's office has also completed the analysis of seized items related to the allegations of changing the route of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway and plans to investigate the circumstances surrounding the declaration of nullification with the relevant officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport during former Minister Won Hee-ryong's tenure. Additionally, in relation to the allegations of covering up the Unification Church investigation, the special prosecutor's office will continue to exert pressure by executing search warrants on the mobile phones of four police executives, including former National Police Chief Yoon Hee-keun. 2026-06-01 15:00:00

Democratic Party Appeals for Support for Kim Boo-kyum in Daegu Mayoral Race Democratic Party lawmakers on June 1 urged voters to support Kim Boo-kyum, stating that Choo Kyung-ho, the People Power Party's candidate for Daegu mayor, lacks the capacity to care for the city due to his legal troubles. They emphasized that Daegu is in need of change. During a press conference at the National Assembly, Kwon Chil-seung, co-chair of Kim's campaign, along with lawmakers Park Hae-cheol, Lee Jae-jeong, Im Mi-ae, and Han Jeong-ae, highlighted that Choo is facing serious charges and is currently under indictment for important duties related to insurrection. They expressed concern that a mayor who needs to address pressing economic issues in Daegu might frequently find himself in court, stating, "Choo may have to sit in the defendant's seat at the Seoul Central District Court on a regular basis, as his criminal trial schedule is packed." They argued that what Daegu needs now is a leader who can pull the city out of a deep economic slump and create opportunities for change and development, referring to Kim as that person. The lawmakers also noted a positive atmosphere surrounding the mayoral election. One lawmaker remarked, "The atmosphere on the ground is very passionate," adding that there is a strong desire for change in Daegu, with some believing this may be their last chance. Another lawmaker shared, "Over the past decade, I've visited Daegu during election periods, and the frequency of people expressing their opinions has noticeably increased compared to previous elections." Kwon further noted that when Kim previously ran for mayor, he was not welcomed at Seomun Market, but this time he received an enthusiastic reception from the merchants. Kwon assessed the electoral landscape, stating, "While there are many shy conservatives, it seems that there are even more shy supporters of Kim Boo-kyum," expressing hope for victory.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 15:00:00

GC Green Cross's Bimax Wins Four Brand Awards This Year, Strengthening Its Position in High-Dose Vitamin B Market As the market shifts from a focus on general multivitamins, there is a growing demand for high-dose Vitamin B products aimed at fatigue management. Even at higher price points, products emphasizing fatigue relief are gaining market share. GC Green Cross announced on June 1 that its high-dose Vitamin B complex, Bimax, won the top award in the high-dose Vitamin B category at the '2026 Consumer Recommended Brand Awards' held on May 28. The Consumer Recommended Brand Awards evaluate consumer satisfaction, brand trust, and market competitiveness to select leading brands in various categories. Including this latest accolade, Bimax has received four brand awards in the first half of this year. It previously won honors at the 'Hall of Fame for Korean Brands,' '2026 Best Brand in Korean Consumer Evaluation,' and '2026 Most Loved Brand Awards in Korea.' Bimax contains high-dose active Vitamin B and is primarily sold through pharmacy distribution channels. Its flagship product, Bimax Jet, is noted for its high-dose active Vitamin B and various vitamins and minerals, appealing to consumers needing fatigue management. GC Green Cross is expanding its advertising and marketing efforts by featuring actor Jung Ji-hoon as its model. A company representative stated, "We aim to develop products that reflect consumer needs and become a leading vitamin brand in South Korea."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 15:00:00

Young Adults Struggle with Debt as Savings Become Elusive The government has introduced various asset formation policies for young people, including the Youth Future Savings program. However, the financial reality for many young adults is more about managing debt than saving. Young people have recorded the highest loan delinquency rates among all age groups, with many resorting to borrowing to cover living expenses. This raises concerns that, contrary to the government's focus on savings, debt management has become a more pressing issue for a significant number of young adults. As of the end of March this year, the average delinquency rate for household loans among those under 20 at the five major banks—KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup—was 0.44%, the highest across all age groups. Those aged 60 and above followed closely with a rate of 0.41%, while the rates for those in their 50s and 40s were 0.36% and 0.32%, respectively. The lowest rate was 0.22% for those in their 30s. Although the delinquent balance for those under 20 was 125.3 billion won, the smallest among all age groups, the high delinquency rate suggests that young adults are relatively more vulnerable in terms of repayment capacity. Financial experts note that young adults often have limited income and insufficient financial assets, making them more susceptible to delinquency when faced with short-term expenses like living and housing costs. The primary factor reducing the savings capacity of young adults is the burden of living expenses. A survey conducted by the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center last year found that 67.9% of 1,025 young individuals under 29 who applied for personal rehabilitation cited covering living expenses as the main reason for incurring debt. Many are turning to credit cards or loans to fill the gap, indicating a growing trend of prioritizing debt repayment over savings. Given this situation, it remains to be seen how effective asset formation policies targeting young adults will be in reaching those most in need. The Youth Future Savings program, which is open for enrollment this month, aims to support long-term savings for young people but requires a certain income level and monthly contribution capacity. For those currently lacking income or struggling with living expenses and debt repayments, both enrolling in and maintaining the program may prove challenging. Similar limitations have been observed with the existing Youth Leap Account. Participants in this program have an average credit score of 876.2, higher than the overall average of 814.1 for young people. This suggests that those with better financial conditions and higher credit scores are benefiting more from these policies, potentially leaving the most vulnerable young adults further distanced from institutional support. The government is aware of the challenges faced by vulnerable young adults who are often excluded from existing policy frameworks. Recently, the Office of National Integration at the Presidential Office held discussions with young people in caregiving roles, those experiencing isolation, and youth preparing for independence to address the difficulties faced by those in policy blind spots. However, current financial policies for young people are primarily designed to support asset formation, which may not adequately address the needs of those already burdened by debt. A financial sector representative stated, "While youth asset formation policies are necessary, many young people are more concerned about managing living expenses and debt repayments than saving. An approach that addresses both savings support and debt management is essential." 2026-06-01 15:00:00

Daewoong Pharmaceutical Introduces BaroEjet, Customized Treatment Strategy for Patients Daewoong Pharmaceutical presented new treatment options for patients with dyslipidemia through its combination drug BaroEjet (Pitavastatin 1mg and Ezetimibe 10mg) during a recent symposium. The event focused on sharing clinical data and discussing tailored treatment strategies for various patient groups, confirming the practical applicability of these strategies in clinical settings.On June 1, Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced the conclusion of the BaroEjet launch symposium, which took place over April in Busan, Gyeongju, and Seoul.The event was attended by 210 medical professionals nationwide and centered on sharing the results of BaroEjet's Phase 3 clinical trials while proposing customized treatment strategies for different patient groups. The discussion included a wide range of patients, from those at low to moderate risk to those at very high risk.BaroEjet specifically targets the low to moderate risk group, which comprises over 70% of the adult population in South Korea. The importance of early LDL cholesterol management was emphasized, particularly for patients with prediabetes or metabolic disorders, as they may face increased cardiovascular risks.The Phase 3 clinical trial results were also revealed. In a study involving 129 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia in South Korea, BaroEjet demonstrated a 43.9% reduction in LDL cholesterol after eight weeks, significantly outperforming the single-agent Pitavastatin (29.1%).The drug's characteristics were highlighted as strengths. Pitavastatin has a low interaction burden with CYP enzyme-based medications, making it relatively safe for patients on multiple drugs. Additionally, it poses a lower risk of new diabetes onset compared to other statins, reducing the burden of blood sugar management. Daewoong Pharmaceutical explained that BaroEjet is an option that considers both achieving LDL-C targets and long-term medication adherence.For high-risk treatment strategies, rapid LDL-C reduction is crucial for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with the rosuvastatin and ezetimibe combination drug Crezet being a primary option. In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the potential use of atorvastatin-based Litovajet was discussed due to its lower renal excretion dependency.In patients with mixed dyslipidemia, managing residual cardiovascular risk was emphasized. For those with elevated triglycerides and low HDL-C, the combination of Pitavastatin and Fenofibrate, known as Barofen, was presented as a means to simultaneously reduce LDL-C, lower triglycerides, and improve HDL-C.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 14:54:00

Strong Semiconductor Demand Drives Record May Exports, $1 Trillion Goal Possible Last month, South Korea's exports surged more than 50% year-on-year, setting a new record. The significant increase in semiconductor exports, along with steady growth in non-semiconductor items, has fueled this rise. Observers suggest that this year could see exports exceed $900 billion for the first time, with the possibility of reaching the ambitious $1 trillion mark. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Customs Service, exports in May totaled $87.7 billion, a 53.2% increase from the previous year. This marks the highest monthly export figure on record, with exports surpassing $80 billion for three consecutive months. The average daily export amount, adjusted for working days, reached $4.28 billion, exceeding $4 billion for the first time, surpassing the previous record set in March at $3.79 billion. The robust performance of semiconductor exports played a significant role in this growth. In May, semiconductor exports soared to $37.16 billion, a staggering 169.4% increase compared to last year, marking an all-time high. This growth is attributed to a steady increase in volume and rising fixed memory prices driven by increased capital investment from major U.S. tech companies. Exports of non-semiconductor items also saw a 16% increase. Computer exports surged by 290.7% to $4.18 billion, driven by demand for SSDs for artificial intelligence servers, while wireless communication device exports rose by 12.6% to $1.46 billion, buoyed by strong sales of new products. Consumer goods exports also showed solid growth. Cosmetic exports reached $1.18 billion, a 24.2% increase from last year, setting a record for May. Agricultural and fishery product exports rose by 4.7% to $1.07 billion. The export value of petroleum products surged by 46.6% to $5.25 billion, driven by high export prices due to rising oil prices. Petrochemical product exports increased by 11.1% to $3.7 billion. Kang Gam-chan, head of the Trade and Investment Promotion Division at the Ministry of Trade, stated, "While semiconductor exports are leading the current export situation, other items are also performing well. Even excluding semiconductors and computers, we see a 9.5% increase, which is a significant figure in itself, despite the high growth rate of semiconductors." Imports rose by 20.8% to $60.8 billion, with energy imports increasing by 15.9% to $11.75 billion. Notably, crude oil imports rose by 25.0% to $8.5 billion, despite a decrease in volume due to conflicts in the Middle East, driven by higher import prices. Non-energy imports increased by 22.0% to $49.05 billion. With exports exceeding imports, the trade surplus for May reached $26.95 billion, an increase of $20.03 billion from the previous year. This marks the 16th consecutive month of trade surpluses. The cumulative trade surplus from January to May stands at $101.91 billion, surpassing the annual record of $95.2 billion set in 2017. As South Korea's exports remain strong, optimistic projections for this year's trade continue. The Bank of Korea recently forecasted that exports could reach $952 billion this year. The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade also raised its export forecast to $924.4 billion, representing increases of 34.2% and 30.3% respectively from last year. Some analysts predict that buoyant semiconductor exports could push South Korea's exports beyond the $1 trillion mark this year. Meritz Securities recently estimated that exports could reach $1.02 trillion, a 44.2% increase from last year. If exports exceed $1 trillion, South Korea could move from being among the world's top five exporters to potentially challenging the top four. Last year, only China, the United States, and Germany surpassed the $1 trillion export threshold. Kang noted, "If the current trend continues, we could approach or even exceed the forecasts provided by the Bank of Korea and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. With an optimistic outlook, achieving $1 trillion in annual exports is not an impossible target. Factors such as potential further increases in semiconductor prices, the sustainability of high oil prices, and protectionist measures from the U.S. and the European Union will be crucial for achieving this goal."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 14:51:00

SK Telecom Introduces NVIDIA Omniverse-Based Digital Twin at GTC Taipei SK Telecom (SKT) announced on June 1 that it is utilizing NVIDIA's digital twin platform, Omniverse, to establish a digital twin for SK Hynix's semiconductor fab and optimize it for large-scale manufacturing environments. During the keynote speech at NVIDIA's GTC Taipei event in Taiwan, SKT was introduced as a key partner in physical AI for the manufacturing sector. The keynote video showcased how SKT applied digital twin technology to semiconductor manufacturing processes using Omniverse. As part of its 'Autonomous Fab 2030' initiative, SK Hynix completed a proof of concept (PoC) for semiconductor fab digital twin technology with SKT last year and plans to gradually commercialize it in the future. A digital twin replicates actual factories and equipment in a virtual space, allowing for pre-validation of the impacts of process changes or equipment layout adjustments. This technology is considered a core physical AI tool that reduces trial and error on the manufacturing floor and supports data-driven decision-making by simulating various scenarios in a virtual environment. SKT has also developed 'Agentic Digital Twin Modeling' technology, which uses NVIDIA's Agent Toolkit to automatically process equipment and spatial structure data for the digital twin environment. This approach aims to enhance the efficiency of the digital twin construction and operation process through data transformation, scene optimization, and performance improvement. Additionally, SKT is enhancing the platform by integrating the NVIDIA Omniverse library to improve loading speeds, execution performance, and GPU and memory usage efficiency for large-scale 3D scenes. This advancement is expected to enable the stable and scalable construction of digital twins in complex manufacturing environments like semiconductor fabs. Jo Ik-hwan, head of physical AI at SK Telecom, stated, "We have confirmed that manufacturing digital twins can evolve beyond simple 3D visualization into a physical AI platform that allows AI to understand and optimize large-scale data in manufacturing environments. We will expand our collaboration with NVIDIA across various manufacturing industries, including semiconductors." Meanwhile, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to visit South Korea on June 5. He is expected to meet with leaders including the heads of SK and Hyundai Motor Group, as well as LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin, among others.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 14:51:00

Explosion at Hanwha Aerospace in Daejeon Leaves 5 Dead, 2 Injured A deadly explosion occurred at Hanwha Aerospace's facility in Daejeon. According to Yonhap News, police, and fire authorities, the explosion took place at 10:59 a.m. on June 1 at the Hanwha Aerospace plant in the Oesam-dong area of Yuseong District, resulting in five fatalities. One individual suffered severe burns, while another sustained minor injuries. Fire authorities declared a Level 1 response at 11:17 a.m. and deployed 100 personnel and over 30 pieces of equipment, managing to control the fire within 50 minutes. The fire was fully extinguished by 1:07 p.m., and the Level 1 response was lifted shortly after at 1:08 p.m. The blaze completely destroyed a single-story building covering an area of 544 square meters. A representative from Hanwha Aerospace stated that the explosion likely occurred in the cleaning room of Building 56, where workers were engaged in cleaning operations related to explosives. At approximately 1 p.m., Yuseong Fire Station and Yuseong District Health Center held a joint briefing in front of the main entrance of the facility. They confirmed that all five deceased individuals were found within the explosion site. The two injured individuals managed to escape on their own. The person with severe burns is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, while the individual with minor injuries has been treated and discharged. Authorities reported that the condition of the deceased was so severely damaged that identification has not yet been completed.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-01 14:51:00