Joint Investigation Team Probes Election Official Over Ballot Shortage
The Joint Investigation Team, led by Kim Tae-hoon, deputy chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, is investigating the head of the Seocho District Election Commission in connection with the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections.According to legal sources on August 19, the team has summoned the Seocho District Election Commission's secretary as a suspect for questioning regarding the ballot shortage incident.Additionally, the team is investigating a represe
Trump Pushes for Meeting with Kim Jong Un as China's Wang Yi Visits South Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly pushing for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, coinciding with the visit of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and the country's foreign minister, to South Korea. This has raised questions about a potential turning point in the situation on the Korean Peninsula.On August 19, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Wang Yi would visit South Korea and Indonesia. A ministry spokesperson stated, "In res
Lotte Department Store Opens First Palace Store in South Korea at Lotte World Mall
Lotte Department Store is set to enhance its street fashion lineup at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil by introducing the first Palace store in South Korea, a high-end streetwear brand from the UK. The store, measuring approximately 155 square meters, will open on the first floor of Lotte World Mall on the 22nd, making it the third Palace store in the country and the tenth globally. This marks the first time a South Korean retailer has brought Palace into its lineup. Founded in 2009 in London by Lev T
Venture Investment Reaches Record 8.9 Trillion Won in First Half of 2026
In the first half of 2026, domestic venture investments approached 8.9 trillion won, marking the highest level ever recorded for this period. Analysts attribute this surge to significant investments in deep tech sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and robotics, indicating a robust recovery in the venture investment market.The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced these findings on August 19, detailing the trends in new venture investments and fund formations for the f
Kim Min-seok Criticizes Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Over Controversial Appointments
Kim Min-seok, the leader of the Democratic Party, criticized Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on August 19 for his controversial nomination of two Supreme Court justices, stating, "Are you trying to walk the path of a co-conspirator in insurrection? You should resign immediately." Cho had recommended the appointments to President Lee Jae-myung the previous day.During his first on-site Supreme Council meeting held at the Busan City Party headquarters, Kim recalled former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's de
Korean Minister Kim Jong-kwan Meets with USTR Representative to Address Trade Relations
Following the dismissal of Yeohang-gu, head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau, South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jong-kwan has taken a proactive role in addressing strategic investment and tariff issues with the United States. He has engaged in discussions not only with his counterpart, Secretary of Commerce Howard Rutnik, but also with USTR Representative Jamieson Greer, effectively stepping into the forefront of U.S.-Korea trade negotiations.According to the Ministry of Tr
Park Hong-geun Urges Disability Rights Group to Halt Commuter Protests
Park Hong-geun, the Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, strongly urged the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) to stop protests that repeatedly disrupt the daily commutes of citizens.In a Facebook post on August 19, Park stated, "While the demand for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities should be respected, it must not infringe upon the rights of non-disabled individuals or the laws of the st
Arco Ensemble to Perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA on August 20
The Arts Council Korea (Arco) announced that the youth classical talent development project, Arco Ensemble, will participate in the 25th Annual Benefit Concert hosted by the Koreatown Youth Community Center (KYCC) at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on August 20.This annual fundraising concert aims to support local Korean American youth and low-income multicultural families. During the event, the Arco Ensemble will collaborate with the KYCC Festival Orchestra and the Seocho Symphony O
Unitree's Stock Soars 629% on Debut, Founder Gains $28 Billion
Chinese humanoid robotics company Unitree (宇樹科技) officially listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market today.The initial public offering price was set at 150.8 yuan per share. On debut, Unitree's opening price surged to 1,100 yuan, 7.29 times the IPO price. As of 9:33 a.m. local time, the stock price had risen by 570.4% to 1,011 yuan.Based on the IPO price, the company's market capitalization was 60.9 billion yuan (approximately $13 billion), while the opening price gave it a market
Gachon University Concludes Successful International Summer Program with 285 Students
Gachon University successfully concluded its '2026 Gachon International Summer Program' on July 22. According to Gachon University on August 19, this year's program included 55 domestic students and 230 international students from 14 universities across nine countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and Hungary, totaling 285 participants. The Gachon International Summer Program allows domestic and international students to engage in classes and