Will Changing Superintendents Transform Our Schools? What Parents Should Watch After Local Elections The superintendent elections held alongside the June 3 local elections may not attract as much attention, but they significantly impact the daily lives of students and parents. Superintendents lead the local education offices and play a crucial role in shaping regional education policies. A change in superintendent does not immediately alter the school environment. The terms for local government heads, local council members, and superintendents are all four years, with the official terms for the newly elected officials starting on July 1 and running until June 30, 2030. Superintendents are responsible for executing educational and cultural affairs within their jurisdictions. Their duties include drafting ordinances, preparing budgets, establishing educational regulations, managing the establishment, relocation, and closure of schools and educational institutions, overseeing curriculum operations, determining student attendance zones, managing educational facilities and equipment, and handling personnel matters for affiliated staff. As a result, the outcomes of the superintendent elections can shift the focus of local education policies. Areas such as the expansion of academic assessments, support for basic academic skills, extended school programs, student rights ordinances, protection of teachers' rights, guidelines for digital device usage in schools, meal and transportation support, special education, and multicultural education may see changes in priority based on the new superintendent's policy direction. Another notable aspect of the superintendent elections is that they are conducted without political party nominations. Superintendents are elected directly by residents, and candidates must have experience in education or educational administration. Additionally, candidates must not have been members of a political party for at least one year prior to the registration of their candidacy. This structure aims to ensure the political neutrality and professionalism of education. However, even with a new superintendent, not all policies will change immediately. The school environment is intertwined with academic schedules, budgets, ordinances, and the operation of the education office. To halt ongoing projects or introduce new initiatives, internal reviews and budget adjustments are necessary. Depending on the issue, discussions in local councils or amendments to ordinances may also be required. Therefore, parents should focus less on whether their child's school will change immediately and more on what policies the new superintendent will prioritize. The messages regarding basic academic skills, extended school programs, teachers' rights, student rights, digital education, and high school curricula communicated before and after the inauguration will indicate the direction for the next four years. While mayoral and gubernatorial elections determine the direction of local development and welfare, superintendent elections can alter the atmosphere in classrooms and the priorities of schools. As the new term begins on July 1, parents should pay close attention to signals of changes in education policy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 16:03:00

Former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik Requests Suspension of Imprisonment Kim Bong-sik, the former chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, has requested a suspension of his imprisonment related to charges of participating in a coup and performing significant duties during a state of emergency. According to legal sources on June 5, Kim submitted his request for suspension on June 2 to the Seoul High Court's dedicated coup trial division (Judges Lee Seung-cheol, Jo Jin-goo, and Kim Min-a). The reason for his request is reported to be attendance at a family event. The suspension of imprisonment is a legal provision that allows for temporary release if the court recognizes urgent reasons, such as serious illness, childbirth, or attending a family funeral. The court plans to carefully review Kim's reasons before making a decision. Kim was arrested and indicted in January of last year. He was granted bail during the first trial in June of the same year. However, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February and has remained in custody while awaiting further proceedings. Born in 1967, Kim graduated from the National Police University and was appointed as an inspector in 1989. He has held various positions, including chief of the Daegu Dalseo and Dongbu Police Stations, head of the investigation division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, director of the National Police Agency's Investigation Bureau, and chief of the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency. He was appointed as the chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in August 2024. He faces charges for actively participating in the enforcement of martial law, including issuing orders to block the National Assembly's perimeter during the state of emergency declared on December 3 of the same year. However, Kim, along with former President Yoon Suk Yeol, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and former Director of the Military Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won, filed a motion to disqualify the coup trial division last month. As a result, the trials for Kim and the remaining defendants, including former Police Chief Jo Ji-ho and former National Assembly Security Chief Mok Hyun-tae, are currently being conducted separately.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:57:00

Yuhan Corporation Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Donations and Collaboration with YouTuber Kim Seon-tae Yuhan Corporation announced on June 5 that it has launched collaborative content with YouTuber Kim Seon-tae and engaged in community donation activities to mark its 100th anniversary. On May 29, the company donated a total of 50 million won to the senior welfare center and food market in Chungju. The funds will be used to support vulnerable groups in the community. A special promotional video featuring Kim Seon-tae was also produced. The video, released on June 5, showcases the significance and history of the 100th anniversary, as well as the company's research and development facilities. In celebration of its centennial, Yuhan Corporation is continuing customer engagement events and social contribution activities. Until June 21, the company’s official online store, Budal Market, will host various promotions, including: an additional four weeks of the blood sugar probiotic 'DangQulac' with purchase, a 100 won special price event every weekday at 6 PM, a '100th Anniversary Golden Ticket Event' where customers receive a raffle ticket for every 50,000 won spent, and a 'Networking King Event' offering prizes based on the actual payment amount of referred friends. Yuhan Corporation will officially celebrate its 100th anniversary on June 20. The company has grown from the independent spirit and belief in public health of its founder, Dr. Yoo Il-han. A Yuhan Corporation representative stated, "We wanted to express our gratitude to our customers and the community on the occasion of our 100th anniversary. Yuhan Corporation plans to continue various activities aimed at enhancing public health and realizing social value, based on the spirit of our founder, Dr. Yoo Il-han."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:57:00

President Yoon to Address Vatican on June 14, Requesting North Korea Visit President Yoon Suk Yeol will visit the Vatican on June 14 to meet with Pope Leo XIV and deliver a speech on the theme of 'Peace on the Korean Peninsula and the World.'National Security Office Director Wi Seong-rak announced this during a briefing on the president's travel schedule at the Cheong Wa Dae on June 5.This visit marks the first time a South Korean leader has visited the Vatican since Pope Leo XIV ascended to the papacy about a year ago in May 2025.Wi stated, "Through President Yoon's speech at the special mass at St. Paul Outside the Walls, we aim to express South Korea's commitment to global peace and solidarity, seeking the Vatican's support for this initiative."He also highlighted that the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD), scheduled to take place in Seoul in August 2027, will be a key agenda item. This event will be the second WYD held in an Asian country and the first in a nation where Catholicism is not the majority religion.There are speculations that President Yoon may request a visit to North Korea during his meeting with Pope Leo XIV in connection with the 2027 event.A senior official at the Cheong Wa Dae remarked on the possibility of discussing North Korea, saying, "We are aware of the significant expectations for discussions regarding inter-Korean relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, but it is premature to specify the details of any discussions at this time."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:57:00

South Korea sees record drug tests as narcotics use rises among young people SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - The number of drug tests is rising as synthetic drugs spread among teenagers and cases of fatal mixed-drug use increase. According to a report released by the National Forensic Service (NFS) earlier this week, the number of drug tests conducted reached 140,775 last year, the highest on record. Drug-related busts and the amount of narcotics seized have both risen steadily year after year. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) seized 769 kilograms of drugs in 704 cases in 2023, 787 kilograms in 862 cases in 2024, and 3,381 kilograms in 1,256 cases in 2025. The tests included 26,350 urine tests, 35,993 hair analyses and 78,432 analyses of confiscated materials such as syringes and drug powders. The steady increase follows intensified anti-drug crackdowns after a massive sex scandal in 2019 involving several celebrities including Seungri, a former member of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, and expanded enforcement efforts in subsequent years. The number of cases stood at around 63,000 in 2019 and 65,000 in 2020 before rising to about 127,000 in both 2023 and 2024. While urine and hair tests declined from a year earlier, analyses of confiscated drugs rose sharply from about 54,000 cases in 2024. The NFS said the increase reflected a shift in focus from identifying drug users to targeting traffickers and supply routes. Methamphetamine accounted for 52.7 percent of all drugs detected in confiscated materials, making it the most commonly identified substance. New synthetic drugs also accounted for a significant share. Synthetic cannabis accounted for 15.1 percent of detected substances, while ketamine represented 10.6 percent, with the combined share of emerging synthetic drugs reaching 31.5 percent. The NFS cautioned that liquid synthetic cannabis products, often disguised as e-cigarette cartridges, were spreading rapidly among teenagers. It also warned of continued cases of acute poisoning and deaths linked to "mixed drug use," in which users consume multiple narcotics simultaneously. 2026-06-05 15:54:42

Dong-A Pharmaceutical Completes 15th Charity Bazaar, Donates All Proceeds Dong-A Pharmaceutical announced on June 5 that it donated 107 million won to the Dongdaemun District Social Welfare Council, which includes contributions from sponsors such as Seonghyun International, All For You, Dongmun Enterprise, Eve's Place, Rewind, and Gyeongdong Market, during the donation ceremony for its 15th Charity Bazaar held on June 4. The ceremony took place at the Dongdaemun District Social Welfare Council, attended by Baek Sang-hwan, President of Dong-A Pharmaceutical, and Kim Young-seob, Chairman of the council, among other officials. Launched in 2009, the Charity Bazaar has reached its 15th edition this year, accumulating approximately 1.7 billion won in donations. The proceeds will be used to support low-income and marginalized communities through emergency living expenses, scholarships, and heating and cooling supplies. Dong-A Pharmaceutical continues its commitment to social responsibility under the principle of fulfilling its corporate duties in accordance with social justice. A company representative stated, "The donations will be used to support marginalized and low-income individuals, and Dong-A Pharmaceutical plans to contribute to the spread of a culture of giving through ongoing social contribution activities."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:54:00

KOSPI Plummets 5.5% Amid Broadcom Shock, KOSDAQ Falls Below 1000 South Korea's stock market fell sharply on June 5, driven by a decline in U.S. semiconductor stocks and foreign selling. The KOSPI dropped over 5%, while the KOSDAQ fell below the 1000 mark for the first time in three months, sliding into the 900s. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed at 8,160.59, down 478.82 points (-5.54%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 8,323.20, down 316.21 points (-3.66%), and further widened its losses. A sell-side circuit breaker was activated at 9:08:25 AM due to a sharp decline in the KOSPI 200 futures index, halting sell orders for five minutes. The decline was primarily driven by selling from foreign and institutional investors. In the main stock market, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 35.39 trillion won and 9.39 trillion won, respectively, while individual investors bought a net 39.44 trillion won. Most of the top market capitalization stocks also showed weakness. Samsung Electronics fell 6.69%, SK Hynix dropped 10.53%, SK Square declined 7.71%, Hyundai Motor slipped 0.14%, LG Energy Solution decreased 1.90%, Samsung Life fell 5.59%, and Samsung C&T plummeted 14.02%. However, Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose 2.56%, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries gained 2.15%. The KOSDAQ also experienced a significant decline, closing at 1,002.44, down 47.29 points (-4.50%) from the previous day. During trading, it fell as low as 992.80, down 56.93 points (-5.42%), breaking below the 1000 mark for the first time since March 4. Although buying interest emerged, the index closed just above the 1000 level. In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors led the decline with a net sell of 178.1 billion won, while individual and institutional investors bought a net 33.9 billion won and 144.8 billion won, respectively. Most of the top KOSDAQ stocks also saw declines. Alteogen fell 4.18%, EcoPro BM dropped 8.56%, EcoPro decreased 7.84%, Rainbow Robotics slipped 6.72%, Juseong Engineering plummeted 16.17%, Kolon TissueGene fell 9.41%, Rino Technology dropped 5.72%, Samchundang Pharmaceutical decreased 5.82%, and HLB fell 3.81%. In contrast, Wonik IPS rose 4.17%. The sharp decline in the stock market is attributed to a correction in U.S. semiconductor stocks. On the previous night, shares of Broadcom fell 12.59%, Micron Technology dropped 7.74%, SanDisk declined 3.92%, and Western Digital fell 3.13%. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "Broadcom provided third-quarter AI revenue guidance of $16 billion, falling short of the expected $17.2 billion. This disappointing guidance has dampened investor sentiment in the semiconductor sector, leading to profit-taking in domestic semiconductor stocks and an overall decline."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:51:00

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Praises Korean Esports After Meeting Faker Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, visited South Korea for the first time in seven months and began his official schedule by meeting pro gamer Faker, also known as Lee Sang-hyeok, showcasing his affection for Korean gaming culture and the esports industry. According to Yonhap News, on June 5, Huang visited T1's esports PC cafe, T1 Base Camp, located near Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where he met with Faker and the T1 team. T1 is a leading esports organization in South Korea, known for its association with the globally recognized League of Legends star, Faker. During the meeting, Huang stated, "Gaming was the starting point for NVIDIA," and added, "South Korea is the optimal market for esports." He noted that Korean gamers choose the best graphics processing units (GPUs) to secure victories, which he identified as NVIDIA GPUs. Huang also referred to South Korea as the birthplace of esports, expressing, "I am also a fan of you (T1)." He had previously mentioned Faker during a public event in South Korea last year, demonstrating his admiration. After conversing with Faker, Huang gifted him a signed GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. He also engaged warmly with fans present, shaking hands and posing for photos. Business circles are noting Huang's choice to visit the esports scene first, rather than meeting with major corporate leaders or semiconductor factories immediately after arriving in South Korea. This move is interpreted as a symbolic gesture, highlighting that while NVIDIA is currently a dominant player in the AI semiconductor market, its roots lie in the PC gaming sector. Upon his arrival, Huang emphasized the importance of collaboration with South Korea, stating, "Core semiconductor production will become even more critical in the future," and pledged to strengthen partnerships with South Korean semiconductor companies. During his visit, Huang is scheduled to meet with key figures from major companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor Group, LG, and Naver to discuss cooperation on AI semiconductors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and AI infrastructure. This meeting with Faker symbolizes both NVIDIA's origins and its future as the company evolves from gaming into a leader in the AI era.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:51:00

Newly Elected Lawmakers Vow to Serve the Public Following their victories in the recent by-elections, newly elected lawmakers from the Democratic Party, including Song Young-gil, Kim Nam-jun, and Kim Nam-kook, expressed their commitment to finding ways to serve the public. Song, who won in Incheon Yeonsu-gap, spoke to reporters after a party meeting on June 5, stating, "During the four years I was away from the National Assembly, I felt the pain and injustices faced by many ordinary citizens. This experience will serve as a valuable asset in my legislative work. As I have emphasized before, I will engage in politics that alleviates the tears of the people." He also noted the importance of securing the support of younger voters, saying, "If we do not win their hearts, there is no future for our Democratic Party. We need a turning point to regain the support of those in their 20s and 30s who are drifting away from us." Kim Ui-gyeom, representing Jeonbuk Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap, remarked, "This is a moment to start anew after the tumultuous period under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. I will work calmly and productively. With new opportunities arising in Saemangeum, I hope to successfully attract investments from companies like Hyundai Motor." Kim Nam-kook, from Gyeonggi Ansan-gap, stated, "I will find a role within the party and engage in legislative activities for the benefit of the public." Notably, Kim Nam-kook congratulated Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker with whom he had previously clashed over cryptocurrency trading allegations in 2023. When asked if he planned to visit Han, he replied, "I believe we will naturally greet each other." The 14 newly elected lawmakers, including Song, Han, Kim Ui-gyeom, and Kim Nam-kook, officially began their legislative activities with the National Assembly session on this day.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:51:00

Telecom Companies Accelerate AI Energy Strategies Amid Power Consumption Surge The focus of AI competition is shifting from language models and graphics processing units (GPUs) to power efficiency. The concept of "intelligence per watt" is emerging as a new competitive edge in AI services, prompting South Korea's three major telecom companies to accelerate their energy strategies. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data center electricity consumption is projected to more than double from 415 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 to a maximum of 945 TWh by 2030. The power density of NVIDIA GPU racks has surged from 13 kilowatts (kW) in 2020 to 130 kW in 2025, with forecasts suggesting it could reach 600 kW in the future. Without sufficient power to operate these GPUs, maintaining competitiveness becomes increasingly difficult. A recent report by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) analyzed the shift of scarce resources in the AI industry in three stages. It noted that access to frontier models and GPU and cloud capacity has now given way to electricity itself as the key bottleneck. The report termed this a "value cycle" and emphasized that "AI strategies can no longer be separated from energy strategies." In response to this power bottleneck, South Korea's telecom companies are unveiling their strategies. They are differentiating their approaches through advancements in cooling technology, infrastructure efficiency, and renewable energy procurement. SK Telecom Reduces Cooling Power by 93% with Liquid Cooling SK Telecom (SKT) is leading in investments in cooling technology. In collaboration with SK Enmove and U.S. liquid cooling specialist GRC, the company has demonstrated that liquid cooling in its data centers can reduce cooling power by 93% and server power by over 10%. This method involves submerging heat-generating devices in a non-conductive special liquid, lowering the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) from over 1.5 for air-cooled data centers to around 1.1, resulting in more than a 30% reduction in power loss. The company is also enhancing its infrastructure operations. SKT has invested $200 million in Smart Global Holdings (SGH), a U.S. AI infrastructure firm, to combine SGH's AI cluster development and operational capabilities with its data center management systems and liquid cooling solutions. Since last year, SKT's investments in the AI sector have exceeded $300 million. KT Cloud Launches Korea's First Commercial Liquid Cooling KT Cloud opened Korea's first commercial liquid cooling AI data center in November 2025. This system directly circulates cooling water over GPU chips, improving cooling efficiency by about 40% compared to air cooling and reducing overall power consumption by an average of 15%. The PUE improved from the previous range of 1.4-1.6 to below 1.2, and carbon emissions decreased by approximately 20%. Liquid cooling can operate at high temperatures (over 45 degrees Celsius), facilitating pre-cooling (natural cooling) and integration with renewable energy. KT Cloud believes that securing energy efficiency in its infrastructure will be key to long-term competitiveness as demand for AI data centers rapidly increases. LG Uplus Implements Dual-Track Strategy with Cooling and Renewable Energy LG Uplus has adopted a dual-track strategy, pursuing both cooling technology and renewable energy procurement. In partnership with LG Electronics, it has introduced a Direct to Chip (D2C) liquid cooling method, which attaches a dedicated metal plate (cold plate) to GPU chips to directly remove heat using a cooling water distribution unit (CDU). Internal tests showed a 24% improvement in energy efficiency compared to air cooling. LG Electronics has already begun supplying liquid cooling solutions to the Pyeongchon 2 Center, and mixed cooling scenario tests are underway at the Anyang data center. On the procurement front, LG Uplus signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with GS Engineering & Construction in January. This contract will supply approximately 17 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy from a solar power plant in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, over 20 years, starting in September. The agreement aims to replace up to 50% of the power used with renewable energy, potentially reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 7,000 tons. From 2027, the company plans to pursue an additional procurement of approximately 10 megawatts (MW) annually for three years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-05 15:48:00