Stories from Seoul · South Korea

A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon to 30 years in jail over a 2024 drone case. The former leader received a sentence of 15 years. The verdict comes after a period of scrutiny over past actions. The source indicates this is a development in South Korean politics. The former president ordered drones into North Korea. The source indicated the sentence was related to an attempt to face evidence. His legal team denied any prior or subsequent approval by him for the drone operation cited. The former president was previously accused of accepting bribes. The source stated that illegal circulation of crypto will become a criminal offense in Russia. This anniversary is being marked with various events.

A Lancet study projects that by 2030, Korean women will be the first population in history with an average life expectancy above 90 years. This projection exceeds even Japan's expected life expectancy. Projections indicate that South Korean women are expected to live beyond 90 years of age by 2030, making them one of the longest-living populations globally. This demographic trend highlights advancements in healthcare and lifestyle in South Korea.

A court ruled that the state bears some responsibility for canceling a performance by singer Lee Rang. The government had objected to lyrics in the song 'The Wolf Has Appeared'. A South Korean court has ruled against government censorship, upholding freedom of expression.

KB Kookmin Bank issued $100 million in blockchain digital bonds, marking a first for South Korea. This move is part of the bank's strategy to integrate new technologies. WhiteBIT Coin (WBT) is trading at $50.75, up 0.2% in the last hour and up 13.5% in the last 24 hours, with an all-time high of $64.48. The price of DeXe has moved +39.8% to $5.37, while Stable has moved +13.1% to $0.04. Bitcoin Cash is trading at $198.43, down 5.4%. The bank is based in Seoul. Further details on the bond issuance were not immediately provided. This move is expected to pave the way for further innovation in financial services. Hyperliquid saw a 10.7% decrease over 24 hours, trading at $55.49. The bank is ranked ninth in market capitalization. The market move for Solana (SOL) was -5.1% at $63.30, Hyperliquid (HYPE) was -11.5% at $55.40, and Zcash (ZEC) was -11.4% at $423.80.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced a 'common prosperity' strategy aimed at broader economic growth.

Jensen Huang has signed multi-year contracts with SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Naver, and Doosan. These deals are for AI memory chips. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has signed new deals for AI chips during his tour of Asia. The deals involve major technology firms.

The value of a South Korean text is under investigation by corporate bosses at SK Group. South Korea's stock market halted trading after falling more than 8% on Monday. Market regulators are monitoring the situation closely. South Korea's KOSPI index halted trading after dropping 8% on Monday. The market experienced a decline, prompting the trading suspension. Further details on the cause of the sharp fall were not immediately available. The source provided market data for several cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin Cash, Worldcoin, and Solana. Market analysts are assessing the reasons behind the sharp sell-off. This is the largest single-day drop in years. This market downturn has triggered emergency measures.

Samsung SDS has attracted an investment of 1.2 trillion won from KKR and announced a 10 trillion won investment roadmap for AI and cloud services, leading to a stock price surge. This investment underscores confidence in Samsung SDS's future. The investment comes from a consortium of global financial institutions. This investment signals confidence in the company's growth strategy. This substantial investment is likely to fuel expansion and technological development within the company. Further details on the investment were not disclosed. Samsung SDS has secured a investment totaling $1 billion. Samsung is set to seize new opportunities within China's 15th Five-Year Plan by increasing investment in emerging industries.

South Korea's stock market triggered a trading halt after plunging more than 8% at the open. The Kospi index experienced a drop, leading to the trading suspension. This is the first time trading has been halted due to a market drop in several years. Market regulators are monitoring the situation closely. The sell-off appears to be driven by investor concerns over global economic stability. The Kospi index fell sharply, triggering the circuit breaker. Political leaders in South Korea are clashing over issues related to upcoming elections. Panic is reportedly spreading following the sharp decline. Trading was suspended to prevent further losses. The Korea Exchange suspended trading due to extreme volatility. The extent of the market downturn and its causes are under investigation. This is the first market halt in South Korea since 2011.

A shortage of ballots occurred during the June 3 local elections, infringing on voters' rights. The incident is attributed to the Election Commission's administrative convenience and budget cuts. An election in South Korea has been affected by a shortage of ballots. The extent of the shortage and its impact on the election results are unclear. South Korea's election is experiencing a shortage of ballots in some polling stations. Election officials are working to address the problem. This issue could potentially impact the voting process and election results. Officials are addressing the issue to ensure all eligible voters can cast their ballots. The shortage is part of efforts to strengthen the electoral system. This issue has caused delays and concerns about voter access.