news highlight

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  Lee's approval rating falls below 60% as controversy over local elections deepens SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 57 percent, the lowest level so far this year, according to a survey of over 1,000 adults conducted by pollster Gallup Korea early this week and released on Friday. Some 57 percent said Lee is doing a good job, down 7 percentage points from a similar survey conducted just before the June 3 local elections. After months of strong approval ratings since early February, his support slipped below 60 percent June 12, 2026
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  Another fire breaks out at SK hynix's plant in Cheongju SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - A fire broke out at SK hynix's chip plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province on Friday, injuring one worker and forcing about 4,000 employees to evacuate. The fire came less than two weeks after a similar incident at the same plant on June 1. According to workers and fire officials, flames started at around 9:55 a.m. in a gas room on the second floor of its M15X facility at the plant. The fire was fully extinguished within about 10 minutes after th June 12, 2026
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  World Cup 26: Scenes from first World Cup SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) -South Koreans were united at lunchtime Friday, erupting in cheers, gasps and sighs of relief as they gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, offices, restaurants and homes nationwide to watch the national team's opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. June 12, 2026
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  Disgraced ex-president sentenced to 30 yrs in prison over drone-related charges SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday over one of several charges related to his botched martial law debacle in 2024. In a televised verdict, the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul found him guilty of ordering the dispatch of drones to North Korea several times in October 2024, about two months before his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The court determined that the drone dispatches were intended to esca June 12, 2026
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  Italy honors Lee with highest state decoration SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Italy rolled out a red carpet and gave some of its highest state honors to President Lee Jae Myung during his state visit on Thursday, highlighting deepening ties as the two countries upgraded their relationship to a special strategic partnership and expanded cooperation in technology, defense, and trade. Lee received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Italy's highest-ranking state decoration, typically awarded to foreign heads of state and indi June 12, 2026
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  First South Korean-flagged vessel to pass through Strait of Hormuz arrives in Ulsan SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - HMM's very large crude carrier arrived at a port in Ulsan on Wednesday, becoming the first South Korean-flagged vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since its blockade due to the Middle East conflict, according to the shipping company, formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine. The Universal Winner arrived with 21 crew members including nine South Koreans and 12 foreign nationals, carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil to be supplied to SK Energy a June 10, 2026
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  Son Heung-min named among '26 players to watch' at upcoming World Cup SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Striker Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC (LAFC) has been named among the "26 players to watch" at this year's FIFA World Cup, which is set to kick off in North America later this week. Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday unveiled its list of standout players from 48 countries for the quadrennial football tournament, just days before the month-long event kicks off across the three host countries of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. on Thursday. Son, set to mak June 10, 2026
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  Korea's election watchdog faces scrutiny over ballot-printing cuts in June 3 vote SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - South Korea's election watchdog is facing growing scrutiny after it emerged that the minimum ballot-printing threshold for the June 3 local elections was lowered from 60 percent to 50 percent of registered voters through internal approvals without a formal commission meeting, a move that could be associated with the unprecedented ballot shortages. The controversy has fueled calls for investigations and reforms amid ongoing blockade of a polling station i June 10, 2026
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  Chipmakers emerge as best companies to work for among job seekers as tech firms lose ground SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - South Korea's two major chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics were voted the best companies to work for by job seekers, recruitment portal Job Korea said on Tuesday. In a recent survey of about 3,287 job seekers conducted by Job Korea, SK hynix ranked first among companies for which respondents said they would "start work immediately," followed by Samsung Electronics. Internet, IT and platform companies that once dominated such June 9, 2026