CORTIS rocks Gwanghwamun before World Cup match SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Boy group Cortis performs on stage before South Korea's Group A match against the Czech Republic at a public viewing event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 12, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun June 12, 2026

Bicycle band boosts spirits at World Cup 2026 SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Dongmi Bicycle Music Band performs during a street cheering event for South Korea's Group A match against the Czech Republic at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 12, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun June 12, 2026

Cargo-handling robot wows at Seoul tech event SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - A robot demonstrates cargo-handling capabilities during Smart Tech Korea 2026 at COEX in Seoul on June 11, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun June 12, 2026

Human-Like robotic hand unveiled in Seoul SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - A robotic hand designed to mimic human hand movements is demonstrated during Smart Tech Korea 2026 at COEX in Seoul on June 11, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun June 12, 2026

Dancing robots dazzle at COEX in Seoul SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Robots perform a dance demonstration at the AGIBOT booth during Smart Tech Korea 2026 at COEX in Seoul on June 11, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun June 12, 2026

Over 500 companies showcase latest technologies at expo in southern Seoul SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - South Korea's largest annual tech expo in southern Seoul has been drawing visitors since its opening this week, bringing tech professionals and others together to explore the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and extended reality (XR). Under the theme "The Tech Nexus," the annual "Smart Tech Korea" expo, which kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday, runs until Friday, showcas June 11, 2026

Seoul braces for this summer's heatwave with air-conditioned shelters SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - More than a dozen makeshift shelters have been installed in public areas, including Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, as another record-breaking summer season approaches, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Thursday. These shelters are equipped with air conditioners, fans, tables and chairs, allowing Seoul residents to rest comfortably and find temporary relief from high temperatures. They will be ope June 11, 2026

Kakao workers stage first-ever strike amid pay disputes SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Unionized workers at mobile messaging giant Kakao staged a rally on Wednesday, their first-ever strike since the company's founding in 2006. They gathered in front of their office in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province at around 10 a.m. before marching for about an hour in a partial strike, chanting slogans demanding job security and management's resignation. They claimed about 1,000 Kakao employees as well as 1,500 workers across its affiliated companies par June 10, 2026

Healthcare-themed event kicks off in central Seoul SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - A healthcare-themed event kicked off in central Seoul on Tuesday, bringing together industry workers and health-conscious visitors. Now in its fourth year, the three-day event at Seoul Plaza showcases the latest trends in health-related industries and displays of medical devices, wellness equipment, and other smart technologies. The event also offers a wide range of health-related programs, exhibitions, and hands June 9, 2026

Chip sell-off sends KOSPI below 8,000 SEOUL, June 8 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed at 7,484.41, down 676.18 points, or 8.29 percent, from the previous session, falling below the 8,000-point level According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI opened at 8,048.09, down 112.50 points, or 1.38 percent, from the previous close, before extending its losses throughout the session. The index fell as low as 7,442.73 during intraday trading. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also declined sharply, ending the day at 911.39, d June 8, 2026