KOSPI Index Falls Below 8,000, Triggering Circuit Breaker The KOSPI index fell below 8,000, triggering a circuit breaker for the first time since March 9, shortly after the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war. The decline follows a sharp drop in U.S. semiconductor stocks over the weekend and a rise in the won-dollar exchange rate, which exceeded 1,560 won in overnight trading. As of 9:09 a.m. on June 8, the KOSPI index was down 683.13 points (8.37%) at 7,477.46. The KOSPI 200 index also fell by 110.58 points (8.53%) to 1,186.44. The exchange halted trading on the securities market for 20 minutes starting at 9:03:42 a.m. after the KOSPI index dropped more than 8% compared to the previous day’s closing price. At the time of the circuit breaker activation, the KOSPI index had fallen 685.85 points (8.40%) to 7,474.74. All stocks listed on the securities market were temporarily suspended from trading, along with futures and options related to stocks. On June 5, U.S. markets saw a sell-off in semiconductor stocks after Broadcom's growth in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor business fell short of market expectations. Concerns grew that despite increased investment in AI infrastructure, the pace of monetization may not meet expectations, leading to a sharp decline in investor sentiment. As a result, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plummeted by 10.3%, marking its largest drop since March 2020. Major semiconductor stocks, including NVIDIA, fell sharply, highlighting valuation pressures across AI-related stocks and leading to a correction in U.S. tech shares. Currently, foreign and institutional investors are net sellers in the securities market, offloading 240.1 billion won and 68.7 billion won, respectively. In contrast, individual investors are showing a net buying position of 304.6 billion won. Top market capitalization stocks are experiencing significant declines. Samsung Electronics is down 9.27%, while SK Hynix has dropped 8.02%. Other notable declines include SK Square (-11.53%), Hyundai Motor (-10%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-9.16%), Samsung Life (-14.91%), Samsung C&T (-12.27%), and Hyundai Mobis (-12.05%). The KOSDAQ index is also in a downward trend. At the same time, the KOSDAQ index recorded a drop of 61.34 points (6.12%) to 941.10. The index fell over 4% shortly after opening, losing the 1,000-point mark and further widening its losses. A sell-side circuit breaker was also activated during the initial drop. In the KOSDAQ market, foreign and institutional investors are net buyers of 156.9 billion won and 10.5 billion won, respectively, while individual investors are net sellers of 146.8 billion won. Most top market capitalization stocks in the KOSDAQ are also underperforming. Stocks such as Alteogen (-6.92%), EcoPro BM (-7.05%), EcoPro (-8.23%), Rainbow Robotics (-6.14%), HLB (-4.84%), and Samchundang Pharm (-7.71%) are all declining. Meanwhile, the exchange held an emergency market inspection meeting in response to increased volatility in domestic and international markets, discussing the situation following the sharp declines in the U.S. market and overnight futures.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:39:00

BYD Korea Expands Daegu Service Center to Enhance EV After-Sales Network BYD Korea announced on June 8 that it has relocated and expanded its BYD Auto Daegu Service Center to strengthen its after-sales service (AS) capabilities for electric vehicles in the Yeongnam region. The Daegu Service Center opened in January 2025, coinciding with the launch of BYD Korea's passenger vehicle division. It was one of the initial AS hubs established to enhance customer satisfaction and trust. This expansion, occurring approximately 1 year and 5 months after its opening, aims to significantly improve after-sales service capabilities based on initial operational experiences. GNB Mobility, BYD Korea's official dealer, decided to relocate and expand the service center in response to the rapidly increasing demand for AS services, which has surged alongside the growing distribution of BYD vehicles in South Korea. The newly opened BYD Auto Daegu Service Center offers specialized one-stop services for electric vehicles. It spans approximately 971 square meters and features work bays capable of servicing up to five vehicles simultaneously. A dedicated area for high-level battery maintenance has also been established. To enhance customer flow and work efficiency, the customer reception area, service reception, and large parts warehouse are interconnected. The two-story design includes a premium customer lounge and office space on the second floor. The BYD Auto Daegu Service Center is strategically located near major highways, including the Daegu-Busan Expressway and Gyeongbu Expressway, improving connectivity with regions such as Gyeongsan, Yeongcheon, and Pohang. A representative from GNB Mobility stated, "We pursued this expansion based on our operational experience at the previous location, creating a space that ensures customer safety and trust beyond just vehicle repairs." According to the Korea Imported Car Association, BYD's sales reached 1,032 units last month, marking the third consecutive month of sales exceeding 1,000 units. Since officially starting sales in April 2025, BYD has surpassed a cumulative total of 10,000 units by April 2026, achieving the fastest cumulative sales milestone for imported vehicles in South Korea. Thanks to the increase in sales, BYD Korea plans to establish a total of 26 service centers by the end of this year. A BYD Korea representative remarked, "The relocation and expansion of the Daegu Service Center is part of our efforts to rapidly enhance customer touchpoints and service capabilities. We will continue to improve both quantitatively and qualitatively to provide a reliable service environment nationwide." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:33:00

HJ Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Avikus Sign MOU for Autonomous Navigation Solutions HJ Shipbuilding has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HD Hyundai Avikus to supply autonomous navigation solutions and collaborate on technology development. The company is also moving forward with the construction of vessels equipped with next-generation autonomous navigation technology, which is considered a high-value addition to ships. According to industry sources, the MOU was signed on June 4 at the Posidonia maritime exhibition in Athens, Greece, with HJ Shipbuilding CEO Yoo Sang-cheol and HD Hyundai Avikus CEO Kang Jae-ho in attendance. HD Hyundai Avikus is a subsidiary established by HD Hyundai in 2020, specializing in autonomous navigation solutions for ships. The agreement stipulates that HJ Shipbuilding will apply the HiNAS Control, a second-stage autonomous navigation solution developed by HD Hyundai Avikus, to the vessels it designs and constructs, and the two companies will continue their technical collaboration in the future. An HJ Shipbuilding representative explained that the MOU aims to enhance the company's competitiveness in smart ship and digital vessel technologies while expanding the application of autonomous navigation technology to secure a proactive stance in the next-generation high-value ship market. As demand for digitalization and autonomous vessels grows in the global shipping and shipbuilding markets, competition to develop smart ship technologies that maximize safety and efficiency in vessel navigation is intensifying. Utilizing autonomous vessels can significantly reduce operating costs, which account for approximately 80% of commercial shipping expenses, including fuel and labor costs. Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding, stated, "As the trend towards unmanned vessels accelerates, the need for proactive responses in the future ship market is increasing. This agreement lays the foundation for our development of autonomous vessels, and we will continuously build our track record to enhance our technological capabilities." Additionally, on June 4, HJ Shipbuilding received design concept approval from the Korean Register (KR) for a 10,000 TEU biofuel-powered container ship, demonstrating its proactive approach to meeting the demand for high-value vessels in the global shipbuilding market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:33:00

President Lee's Approval Rating Drops to 55.2% Following Local Elections A recent poll revealed that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating for his administration dropped by 3.9 percentage points following the June 3 local elections. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter at the request of the Energy Economy Newspaper, the approval rating for President Lee's governance fell to 55.2% from the previous week. The poll surveyed 2,013 eligible voters aged 18 and older nationwide from June 1 to 2 and June 4 to 5. The disapproval rating increased to 41.0%, rising by 4.2 percentage points from the last survey, while 3.8% of respondents indicated they did not know. Regionally, the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam areas saw the largest decline, with a 6.9 percentage point drop to 49.7%. In Incheon and Gyeonggi, the approval rating decreased by 4.7 percentage points to 55.9%. Seoul (47.4%) and Daegu and Gyeongbuk (47.1%) also experienced declines of over 3 percentage points during the same period. Among political affiliations, approval ratings fell by 6.5 percentage points among moderates (56.7%) and by 5.8 percentage points among conservatives (22.6%). By age group, the largest drops were seen among those in their 30s (38.8%, down 10.7 percentage points) and those in their 60s (56.6%, down 5.3 percentage points). Professionally, students (31.1%, down 13.2 percentage points) and office, management, and professional workers (56.6%, down 5.3 percentage points) also reported significant declines. Realmeter noted that the drop in approval ratings was influenced by administrative accountability issues stemming from a shortage of ballots during the elections and the Democratic Party's failure to reclaim the Seoul mayoral position. Additionally, the surge in exchange rates later in the week contributed to the decline in support following the elections. The survey was conducted using a wireless automated response method, with a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level and a response rate of 5.7%. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Committee's website. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:27:00

Nvidia deepens South Korea push with Naver, SK hynix pacts SEOUL, June 08 (AJP) - Nvidia tightened its grip on South Korea's artificial intelligence buildout, unveiling parallel partnerships with Naver to construct a gigawatt-scale AI factory and with SK hynix to co-develop next-generation memory for its computing platforms. The dual announcements made Monday, timed to CEO Jensen Huang's visit to Seoul, underscore how the chip giant is weaving itself into the country's two pillars of the AI economy: hyperscale infrastructure and the high-bandwidth memory that powers it. Under the Naver agreement, the two companies will build a gigawatt-scale global AI factory spanning Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with Naver serving as a core partner that shares both the risks and rewards. Construction begins in 2027 with a 55-megawatt phase, scaling to 200 MW by 2028. A single gigawatt is about four times the maximum capacity of "Gak Sejong," Naver's largest domestic data center, and could house hundreds of thousands of Nvidia's latest GPUs. The facilities will run on Nvidia's DSX platform, fused with Naver's homegrown GPU cluster expertise to drive down token costs. Separately, SK hynix said it had forged a multi-year technology partnership to co-develop advanced memory aligned with Nvidia's infrastructure roadmap, deepening years of close collaboration. The chipmaker will supply memory for Nvidia's Vera Rubin AI supercomputer, Vera CPU, RTX Spark PC and Jetson Thor robotics platform, pushing into AI infrastructure, personal AI and physical AI. "AI factories are the engines of the next industrial revolution, and advanced memory is essential to their performance," Huang said, calling SK hynix an exceptional partner. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said the pact reflected the depth of the two firms' work together. The companies will also accelerate chip design and manufacturing using Nvidia software, with SK hynix tapping the CUDA-X libraries and Omniverse tools to build a "digital twin" of its fabs and move toward fully autonomous plant operations. Naver, meanwhile, recently became the first South Korean firm to join Nvidia's Nemotron Coalition. 2026-06-08 09:26:37

Dunamu Launches Data Investment Magazine 'Intelligence' to Expand Investor Engagement Dunamu, the operator of the cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, is enhancing its data-driven investment information services. The company has launched a content platform that offers everything from market analysis reports to AI news summaries and real-time market alerts, aiming to broaden its engagement with investors.On June 8, Dunamu announced the release of its new content magazine, 'Intelligence,' from the Upbit Data Lab.The magazine includes: △'Market Letter,' which provides high-quality data-driven market analysis and interpretations; △'Data Digging,' an educational content series for investors; △AI news briefings that analyze key news; △'Value Up,' educational content on digital asset projects; and △a real-time market alert service.The flagship content, Market Letter, delivers weekly insights on major market issues, indicators, sector analyses, technical analyses, and investor sentiment indicators.Data Digging is designed to explain key indicators provided by the Upbit Data Lab in an accessible manner. Currently, it features content related to the Upbit Comprehensive Index, volatility indicators, and the Fear & Greed Index.The existing AI news briefing service has also been integrated into Intelligence. Additionally, a section called 'Value Up' has been created to help users understand digital asset projects.A new real-time data alert service has been added, providing updates on Bitcoin and Ethereum price fluctuations, occurrences of golden and dead crosses, and changes in volatility. The service also includes a regular alert feature that delivers key data, such as top assets in the Fear & Greed Index and sector-specific growth rates, at scheduled times.Kim Dae-hyun, Chief Data Officer of Dunamu, stated, "Intelligence is a starting point for sharing the data and analytical capabilities that the Upbit Data Lab has accumulated with a broader audience. We will continue to expand user engagement by linking various data services and content in the future."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:21:00

Hanon Systems' Ohio Plant Earns Ford's Prestigious Q1 Certification Hanon Systems, a global automotive thermal energy management solutions provider, has received recognition from Ford for its quality and production capabilities. On June 8, Hanon Systems announced that it held an official ceremony to commemorate the Ford Q1 certification awarded to its Carey plant in Ohio earlier this year. The Ford Q1 certification is a mark of excellence awarded to top-performing manufacturing plants that demonstrate outstanding achievements in quality, delivery, and manufacturing capability. With this certification, Hanon Systems now has a total of 27 plants worldwide that have received the Ford Q1 designation. The ceremony was attended by Ford representatives who visited the Carey plant to present a plaque and Q1 flag symbolizing the certification's recognition of global quality standards. Employees from Ford's Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) team and the leadership from the Americas region and the Carey plant were present to celebrate the achievement. The Carey plant, which began operations in 2017, primarily produces HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) assemblies for vehicles and serves as a key hub for the North American market. "In the automotive industry, the Ford Q1 is a prestigious symbol of quality excellence, manufacturing competitiveness, and customer satisfaction," said Brian Trudeau, Vice President of the Americas Business Group. Seong Ho-seok, the plant manager, emphasized, "The Carey plant values Ford as a key partner for sustainable growth." Meanwhile, thermal management systems, which influence the driving range and charging speed of electric vehicles, are emerging as a new growth area in the automotive parts industry. Hanon Systems, a leading player in the domestic thermal management market, reported a preliminary operating profit of 97.2 billion won for the first quarter of this year, marking a 361.1% increase compared to the same period last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:21:00

President Lee Jae-myung Questions Inaps' Bond Issuance Amid Stock Manipulation Concerns President Lee Jae-myung raised concerns about potential stock manipulation related to the issuance of exchangeable bonds by KOSDAQ-listed Inaps. On June 8, he shared a related article on his X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning, "Isn't this stock manipulation?" According to a report by Asia Economy, Inaps issued 13 billion won (approximately $10 million) in exchangeable bonds last October, which included a call option allowing the company to redeem the bonds if its stock price exceeded a certain level. Critics argue that this structure could incentivize investors to short-sell, thereby limiting stock price increases. According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system, Inaps issued the 13 billion won exchangeable bonds last October, with 630,792 of its own shares as the exchange target. The exchange price was set at 20,609 won, with an interest rate of 0%. The issue arises from a clause that allows the company to redeem the bonds at face value if the stock price exceeds 130% of the exchange price for ten consecutive trading days. This creates an incentive for investors to keep the stock price within a certain range rather than allowing it to rise significantly, potentially leading to short-selling to suppress the stock price. In fact, Inaps was designated as a stock subject to short-selling restrictions four times in the seven months following the bond issuance. Prior to this, it had never been classified as such. Market analysts have criticized this structure as being contrary to the government's efforts to address the 'Korea Discount' and promote value enhancement policies. President Lee has previously highlighted the need for legislation to prevent artificial stock price suppression, citing concerns over inheritance tax burdens. His recent comments suggest he is directly questioning the implications of this situation. 2026-06-08 09:18:00

Teacher Burns 4-Year-Old Girl's Lip with Hot Glue Gun in China A kindergarten teacher in China is facing backlash after reportedly burning a 4-year-old girl with a hot glue gun. According to the South China Morning Post, the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on May 27 at a kindergarten in Fengxian, Jiangsu province. CCTV footage from the classroom shows the teacher, identified as Chen, lining up several students for talking during class. She made a boy touch a hot glue gun, causing him to immediately pull his hand away. After sending the boy back to his spot, Chen pulled the 4-year-old girl forward and, despite her attempts to avoid it, pressed the glue gun against her upper lip twice. A male teacher was present in the classroom but did not intervene. That afternoon, the girl returned home with blisters on her lip, and her condition worsened, leading to pus discharge. When she began to cry, her parents took her to the hospital and subsequently reported Chen to the police. The girl's mother expressed her outrage to local media, stating, "I reviewed the CCTV with the police, and my heart shattered when I saw the footage. I cannot understand how a 4-year-old could have done anything so wrong to deserve such cruelty." Adding to the parents' anger was Chen's initial explanation, which significantly differed from the CCTV evidence. She first claimed the girl had injured herself, then later changed her story to say it was an accident. The glue gun used by Chen was reportedly a craft tool intended for a classroom decoration project. Local education authorities have suspended the teacher from her duties, and police are investigating the incident. Additionally, psychological counseling is being provided to the other children in the affected class.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:18:00

Samsung Heavy Industries Secures LNG Carrier Contract Worth 385.5 Billion Won Samsung Heavy Industries announced on June 8 that it has secured a contract for one LNG carrier from a shipping company in Oceania, valued at 385.5 billion won. The company has recently been on a winning streak in the LNG value chain, following its success with FLNG projects and now with LNG carriers. A representative from Samsung Heavy Industries stated, "Our differentiated competitiveness in the LNG sector is reflected in our continuous order achievements. We will continue to focus on selective orders centered around high-value ship types while thoroughly preparing for multiple FLNG projects currently under discussion." In May, Samsung Heavy Industries also secured a contract for three LNG carriers from an Oceania-based shipping company for a total of 1.1242 trillion won. With a cumulative order total of $5.2 billion this year, Samsung Heavy Industries has achieved 91% of its annual target of $5.7 billion, indicating a strong possibility of meeting its yearly goal ahead of schedule.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-08 09:18:00