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Coupang Aids Small Businesses with AI and Big Data Coupang announced on June 9 that it is recruiting participants for its '2026 Digital Jump-Up Academy.' This program aims to assist local small businesses with limited digital capabilities by providing online sales training and tailored mentoring to help them enter the online market and boost sales. The training will be conducted through a combination of in-person and remote sessions, considering the sales environment of small businesses. Key lectures and mentoring will be held online via video conferencing to reduce the burden on participants from rural areas, while the kickoff event and product review will take place in person. Participants will engage in a four-month program covering topics such as AI and big data-based product planning, online sales strategies, brand marketing, and sales enhancement strategies. There will also be special lectures from current Coupang brand managers with online sales experience. Coupang plans to assess product competitiveness through a product review session, which will help improve products and evaluate market potential. Outstanding participants will have the opportunity to take part in Coupang's promotional events, supporting the goal of translating educational outcomes into actual sales growth. Applications for the program can be submitted from June 8 to June 19 on the website of the training organization, Sapiens 4.0. A representative from Coupang's social contribution department stated, "The growth of local small businesses directly contributes to the vitality of the local economy, and we will continue to expand our collaborative initiatives with the community." Additionally, Coupang operates a permanent promotional section called 'Good Store' to help rural areas and small businesses develop digital sales channels. This section features local specialties and products from small businesses, with cumulative sales exceeding 5 trillion won as of February.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:51:00 -
Hanyuwon Hosts First Home Shopping Consultation for Small Businesses The Korea Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Agency (KOSME) is set to hold the "2026 First Home Shopping Consultation Meeting" to assist small businesses in entering the home shopping market. According to Hanyuwon on June 9, the consultation will take place on June 10 at the Peace and Park Convention Center in Yongsan, Seoul, as part of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Online Sales Support Project for Small Businesses." The project aims to help small businesses become competitive and self-sufficient in the online market. In the first round held in March, over 12,000 small businesses participated, and 6,410 companies applied during the second recruitment on May 27. The consultation will feature 20 merchandise directors from six home shopping channels, including NS Home Shopping and Home & Shopping, along with 76 small businesses. Participating small businesses will receive free one-on-one consultations with merchandise directors, focusing on product competitiveness analysis, home shopping entry strategies, and QA coaching. A second consultation meeting is scheduled for August. Lee Tae-sik, CEO of Hanyuwon, stated, "While entering the home shopping market can be challenging, it is an attractive channel that allows businesses to promote and sell their products to consumers nationwide through the powerful medium of television. I hope the small businesses participating in this event can gain their own insights into entering the home shopping market through consultations with the merchandise directors."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:51:00 -
Korean Innovative Companies Hold Investment Roadshow in Chengdu, China Korean innovative companies held an investment roadshow in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to engage with local businesses and investors for potential collaborations. The "Korean Innovation Companies Roadshow K-Demo Day" took place on June 9, co-hosted by the Global Innovation Center (KIC China), KIST Innovation, the Chengdu High-tech Zone Science and Technology Innovation Bureau, and the National Technology Transfer Center of Southwest China. Twelve domestic innovative companies from the bio, medical device, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence sectors participated in the event. The participating companies included Alt Medical, Ready Cure, Near Brain, True Pixel, Gopher Soft, Cross Hub, Depot Lab, Gensel Med, Dayton, Aid All, EMS, and Megazone. These firms introduced their core technologies and business models to investors and industry stakeholders, exploring opportunities for technological exchange and collaboration between Korea and China. The event attracted over 180 attendees, including government officials, academics, and industry representatives. Chinese participants included officials from the Chengdu city government, local businesses, and investment institutions, who engaged in business consultations and networking with the Korean companies. Attendees shared insights on the technological competitiveness of the bio and medical device sectors and discussed collaboration strategies for clinical and regulatory approvals. They also explored the market expansion potential of the semiconductor and ultra-precision component industries, which are expected to lead the AI and metaverse era, as well as future strategies for information and communication technology (ICT) development. Kim Jong-moon, head of KIC China, stated, "To address the complex challenges in the bio and semiconductor fields, collaboration that combines the excellent technological capabilities and market accessibility of both countries is essential. KIC China plans to expand technological business in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone and support technology cooperation between Korean and Chinese innovative companies through both online and offline channels."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:48:00 -
Stock Market Rebounds, But Forced Liquidations Hit 3-Year High The stock market has experienced unprecedented volatility. After a drop of over 8% the previous day, the KOSPI surged more than 8% on June 9, reclaiming the 8,000-point mark. Despite the index's sharp rise, the impact of the recent market downturn has led to forced liquidations exceeding 300 billion won. Analysts suggest that individual investors who engaged in leveraged trading are facing significant losses.According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of June 8, the actual amount of forced liquidations due to margin calls was recorded at 139.1 billion won. When combined with the 166.2 billion won recorded on June 5, the total forced liquidation amount over the past two trading days reached 305.3 billion won.Forced liquidations occur when investors fail to repay borrowed funds used to purchase stocks or cannot maintain the required collateral ratio due to falling stock prices. As stock prices decline, losses increase, and the likelihood of forced liquidations rises. The scale of forced liquidations has surged in tandem with the recent market downturn. The KOSPI fell 1.84% on June 4, followed by a 5.54% drop on June 5. Consequently, the actual forced liquidation amount jumped from 24.3 billion won on June 4 to nearly seven times that amount the following day. On June 8, the KOSPI plummeted by 8.29%, leading to forced liquidations exceeding 100 billion won on that day alone.Notably, the forced liquidation amount on June 5 was the highest since October 24, 2023, when it reached 548.7 billion won, marking the fifth-largest figure since records began in 2006. Given that the top four records were linked to issues such as the Youngpoong Paper incident in October 2023, the recent forced liquidation pressure due to the index's decline is considered unusual. The cumulative forced liquidation amount over the past two trading days is also at its highest level since October 2023.While the stock market rebounded by 8.18% on June 9, concerns about volatility remain. In particular, the level of individual investors' leveraged investments is nearing an all-time high, raising the possibility of further forced liquidations. As of June 8, the balance of margin trading loans stood at 37.779 trillion won, and the balance of securities collateral loans reached 26.5509 trillion won, both at record levels.A financial industry official stated, "In a highly volatile environment, the scale of investors' leveraged investments is also at unprecedented levels. If the market correction continues, the pressure for forced liquidations will inevitably increase."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:45:00 -
Controversy Over 'Anti-American Aid' Expression in War Memorial Program The War Memorial Foundation, under the Ministry of National Defense, has initiated an investigation after including China's claim that the Korean War is an 'Anti-American Aid' war in an educational program for the Month of National Defense and Veterans. According to the foundation on June 9, the program titled 'Korean War: Different Interpretations' has been accepting participants through its website since May 30. The foundation explained that the program aims to compare the perspectives of South Korea and China on the Korean War, allowing for a multifaceted understanding of the conflict. Promotional materials for the program featured the phrase 'Korean War: Different Interpretations' alongside the South Korean flag and the Chinese flag, with the term 'Anti-American Aid' presented in parallel with 'Korean War.' 'Anti-American Aid' refers to China's propaganda term justifying its military intervention in the Korean War, portraying the conflict as a response to American aggression. This contrasts with the South Korean government's emphasis on the war being initiated by North Korea's illegal invasion, hence the use of the term 'Korean War.' The program's presentation has sparked controversy, as it appeared to suggest that China's narrative is one of several acceptable perspectives. A foundation official stated, "The intent of this education is to critically view China's distorted claim that the Korean War is an Anti-American Aid war. It is not accurate to say we are teaching from China's perspective." A Ministry of National Defense official explained that the program was designed to clarify that the Korean War began with North Korea's illegal invasion. The official added, "The War Memorial Foundation has determined that the expression used in the related promotional materials was inappropriate and has deleted the post today. The foundation will investigate the circumstances and take necessary actions according to relevant regulations and procedures."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:45:00 -
Panic Over Forced Liquidation Grows as Margin Debt Reaches 64 Trillion Won Amid Market Volatility As the domestic stock market experiences a sharp decline, concerns over forced liquidations are rapidly increasing. Recent official statistics indicate that the amount of forced liquidations from margin trading has reached 305.3 billion won, and when considering the historically high margin debt levels, the actual pressure for forced liquidations in the market could be significantly greater than the statistics suggest. According to the Korea Financial Investment Association, as of June 7-8, the actual amount of forced liquidations compared to margin trading debts was recorded at 305.3 billion won. The proportion of forced liquidations to margin debts was notably high, reaching 9.1% on June 5 and 8.2% on June 8, compared to the usual range of 1-2%. However, this figure does not represent the total amount of forced liquidations in the market. The statistics compiled by the Korea Financial Investment Association are limited to margin trading. The scale of forced liquidations arising from margin loans, where investors borrow funds from brokerage firms to purchase stocks, is not disclosed separately. Margin trading is a common leverage investment tool that allows investors to borrow money from brokerage firms to buy stocks. While rising stock prices can amplify profits, falling prices can quickly lead to significant losses. If the value of collateral falls below a certain level, investors must deposit additional margin, and failure to do so results in brokerage firms forcibly liquidating their holdings. Currently, the amount of margin loans in the domestic stock market is at a historic high. As of June 8, the total balance of margin trading loans stood at 37.779 trillion won, with the securities market accounting for 28.3265 trillion won and the KOSDAQ market for 9.4639 trillion won. Additionally, the balance of collateralized securities loans was recorded at 26.5509 trillion won. Combined, the total margin debt reaches an unprecedented 64.3413 trillion won. This indicates that if stock prices continue to decline and investors fail to meet additional margin requirements, a large volume of forced liquidations could occur. Notably, individual investors have net purchased about 17 trillion won in the KOSPI market this month, which means that if market volatility increases sharply, the value of collateral for margin traders could deteriorate rapidly. While analysts believe that the long-term upward trend of the stock market has not been compromised, they anticipate continued high volatility in the short term. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "Given the significant shock from the two-day plunge, there will be a struggle between investors looking to reduce their positions and those seeking new entry opportunities during this rebound. There is a possibility that high volatility will persist for the remainder of the week." She added, "As we process the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) announcement for May, Oracle's earnings, and the SpaceX listing event, the KOSPI may temporarily dip below the 7,400 level, but this is likely to be a short-term undershooting."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:45:00 -
Mirae Asset Securities Gains Ground in AI IPO Market Previously Dominated by Samsung Securities Mirae Asset Securities is increasingly asserting its presence in the advanced technology IPO market, which has traditionally been dominated by Samsung Securities. Several promising AI companies that had previously partnered with Samsung Securities are now switching to Mirae Asset Securities or opting for joint underwriting arrangements, indicating a shift in the market landscape. According to investment banking sources on June 9, there has been a notable trend among domestic AI tech companies to change their lead underwriter from Samsung Securities to Mirae Asset Securities. Recently, Superb AI, a company specializing in vision AI, appointed Mirae Asset Securities as its sole underwriter as it began the listing process on the KOSDAQ. Superb AI had initially selected Samsung Securities as its lead underwriter in the first half of 2024 but decided to switch to Mirae Asset Securities. The company is currently preparing for a preliminary listing review, aiming to submit its application within the year using the technology exception listing method. Another example is MakinaRax, an industrial AI solutions provider that successfully listed on the stock market after changing its underwriter to Mirae Asset Securities. Initially, MakinaRax had chosen Samsung Securities but faced setbacks during the preliminary review. After switching to Mirae Asset Securities, the firm successfully navigated the listing process, with Mirae Asset highlighting the company's growth potential in its equity story. Mirae Asset Securities has also facilitated the listing of Nota, an AI technology company, on the stock market. Following Upstage and Furiosa AI, Superb AI is now among the major AI firms whose IPOs are being managed predominantly by Mirae Asset, solidifying its dominance in the AI IPO market. This success is attributed to Mirae Asset's extensive capital investment leveraging its affiliate infrastructure. For instance, while Mirae Asset Securities was not included in the final underwriting group for Rebellion, a leading AI semiconductor unicorn, Mirae Asset Ventures has made multiple investments, positioning itself as a major institutional shareholder. A representative from Mirae Asset Securities stated, "Our differentiated one-stop financial capabilities and platform, from early-stage equity investments to issuance loans, pre-IPO, and final IPO underwriting, are our competitive advantages." In contrast, Samsung Securities maintains a strong foothold in the biotechnology sector, successfully completing significant technology exception deals, including the preliminary listing review for Ingenia, a major biotech firm, this year, following successful listings for Algenomics and Theraview last year. Its ability to identify and list promising companies continues to be highly regarded in the industry. However, after failing a technology evaluation, Adel, a developer of Alzheimer's treatments that had been exclusively underwritten by Samsung Securities, has now added Mirae Asset Securities as a joint underwriter for its re-evaluation efforts. This marks a shift as Mirae Asset Securities enters into deals that were previously led by Samsung Securities. Samsung Securities commented on the changes in underwriters for some AI companies, stating, "There are cases where issuers change underwriters based on their circumstances during the deal process. We have successfully managed numerous AI-related IPOs last year and this year and still have a robust pipeline." The firm expressed confidence in maintaining its performance, noting, "Currently, we are ranked among the top in the league table for deals in the first half of the year. Last year, we ranked second in KOSDAQ underwriting and fourth overall, and we are committed to improving our rankings further based on significant achievements expected in the second half of this year." A capital market analyst remarked, "While Samsung Securities has established a solid defense in the biotech sector with impressive results, the recent trend in the AI sector, highlighted by the MakinaRax case, indicates a shift in leadership toward Mirae Asset Securities. The competition for underwriting in the technology exception IPO market is expected to intensify between the two firms in the second half of the year."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:42:00 -
Insurance Companies Face Triple Challenges Amid Loan Regulations The South Korean government's tightening of household loan management is increasingly impacting the insurance sector. As the economy slows, insurance policy cancellations are rising while new contracts are declining. This situation is compounded by concerns over reduced interest income due to lower loan limits, placing insurance companies in a so-called "triple bind." According to the insurance industry on June 9, the total payout refunds from 22 life insurance companies reached 17.84 trillion won at the end of the first quarter, a 29.7% increase from 13.76 trillion won during the same period last year. Analysts attribute this rise to consumers seeking cash through refunds rather than maintaining coverage amid high inflation and economic downturn. New contracts are also on the decline. The total number of new individual insurance contracts at the end of the first quarter fell to 3,094,295, a decrease of 3.9% compared to the previous year. The total value of new contracts dropped from 51.9 trillion won to 46.21 trillion won, a decline of 11.0%. Life insurers reported an insurance profit of 1.07 trillion won in the first quarter, down 7.5% from 1.16 trillion won in the same period last year, largely due to losses from investment performance. Facing challenges in their core business, insurers are also experiencing restrictions in their lending operations. The government's stringent household loan management policies have extended beyond banks to include the second financial sector, affecting insurance companies as well. Major insurers have reduced the loan limits on products that previously allowed borrowing up to 90% of the payout refund to a 10 percentage point decrease since April. This change primarily affects whole life insurance, endowment insurance, and savings insurance. Insurance policy loans allow policyholders to borrow against their accumulated payout refunds without credit checks or income verification, making them a popular source of emergency funds. As of the end of the first quarter, the outstanding balance of insurance policy loans stood at 71.4 trillion won, accounting for 53.1% of total household loans from insurers. However, financial authorities have expressed concerns that insurance policy loans could be used as a means for "debt investment" in stocks or virtual assets, prompting calls for enhanced internal controls. While insurance policy loans do not constitute a large portion of overall insurer revenue, the combination of declining new contracts and increasing cancellations is worsening the operating environment for insurers. The contraction in lending operations further diminishes their ability to defend profitability. An industry insider stated, "The government's tightening of household loan management is extending beyond banks to the insurance sector, slowing growth in lending operations. With declining new contracts and increasing cancellations weakening core profitability, restrictions on lending could further increase the operational burden for some insurers."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:36:00 -
Pearl Abyss Introduces First Dividend and Plans 100 Billion Won Share Buyback Pearl Abyss is set to implement its first dividend policy and initiate a share buyback program worth 100 billion won as part of its commitment to returning value to shareholders. On June 9, Pearl Abyss announced its plans to enhance corporate value, which include the introduction of dividends and the retirement and buyback of treasury shares. This follows the shareholder return policy outlined during the regular shareholders' meeting in March. The company plans to distribute either 10 billion won annually or 10% of its net profit, whichever is greater, as cash dividends. This marks Pearl Abyss's inaugural dividend initiative. Of the 2,803,945 treasury shares it holds, approximately half, or 1,403,945 shares, will be retired. The value of the share retirement is estimated at about 54 billion won based on the closing price as of June 8, and approximately 17.3 billion won based on book value. The retirement is scheduled for June 12. Additionally, the company plans to buy back an additional 100 billion won worth of treasury shares in the second half of 2026. This dual approach of share retirement and buyback aims to enhance shareholder value and improve corporate worth. During the March shareholders' meeting, Pearl Abyss stated, "With the successful launch of Crimson Desert, we have secured the capacity for shareholder returns and will announce our dividend plans within this year."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-06-09 16:36:00 -
Choi Soo-young and Jung Kyung-ho End 14-Year Relationship Actors Jung Kyung-ho and Choi Soo-young have ended their public relationship of 14 years, drawing attention to the reasons behind their breakup. A representative from Choi Soo-young's agency, Saram Entertainment, confirmed to Sports Seoul on June 9, "It is true that Choi Soo-young recently broke up with Jung Kyung-ho. They have decided to remain good colleagues." Similarly, a source from Jung Kyung-ho's side mentioned to Sportivi News on the same day, "Jung Kyung-ho and Choi Soo-young have recently separated. They have grown distant and decided to end their relationship." The couple first met as seniors and juniors in the Theater and Film Department at Chung-Ang University and publicly acknowledged their relationship in 2012. Given their long-term relationship, the news of their breakup has come as a shock to many fans. Born in 1983, Jung Kyung-ho debuted as a KBS talent in 2003 and has received consistent acclaim for his roles in dramas such as "I'm Sorry, I Love You," "Prison Playbook," "Life on Mars," and "Crash Course in Romance." He is currently filming a new romantic comedy for ENA titled "Romance in the Moonlight." Choi Soo-young, born in 1990, debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007 and has since expanded her career into acting. She has appeared in dramas like "38 Task Force," "The Man Who Sets the Table," "Run On," and "Nam Nam," and recently announced her participation in the new KBS2 weekend drama "I Went to School." Jung Kyung-ho and Choi Soo-young have been regarded as a prominent couple in the entertainment industry, often expressing their affection for each other publicly. The news of their transition from a romantic relationship to colleagues has left many fans feeling disappointed. 2026-06-09 16:36:00