A citizen feeds pigeons at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 1. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will strengthen crackdowns on pigeon-feeding-prohibited zones and impose fines on violators.NEWS1
Happy Saturday, y'all! This week saw abusers, big wagers, winners and losers. We'll take a look at accused canine criminals, the end to a monthlong ballot blockade, yet another massive tech investment in a non-Seoul region, how the Korea exchange is starting to look more like a casino than a market, and the departure of the Taeguk Warriors' team manager after a dismal World Cup exit.
Here's what you need to know!
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Prosecutors seek prison time for men accused of shooting BBs at dogs in Geoje, killing two
Prosecutors sought two-year prison sentences Friday for two men accused of firing thousands of BBs at dogs tied up in a restaurant yard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, an attack that lasted 37 minutes and left two of the three dogs dead.
They were indicted on charges including special trespassing, special property damage and possession of a fake firearm on suspicion of breaking into the yard of a restaurant on June 8 last year and firing indiscriminately at the dogs there using an illegally modified handgun.
Prosecutors also asked for an 18-month sentence for a third man, an accomplice in the case.
Lawmakers finally inspect Seoul vote-counting center after 27-day blockade
Day 27 of the protest against the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, and lawmakers finally managed to break past the protesters to begin a long-awaited field investigation inside southern Seoul's polling center.
At 10 a.m., lawmakers of the National Assembly's special committee on the ballot shortage visited the Songpa District’s election commission office and the vote-counting center later in the day. The vote-counting venue is Olympic Handball Gymnasium, which is located inside the Olympic Park in Songpa District, southern Seoul.
Samsung, SK hynix and Celltrion to invest a combined $252 billion in Chungcheong region
Leading companies including Samsung, SK hynix and Celltrion announced plans to invest a total of 392 trillion won ($252 billion) in the Chungcheong region, the latest in a series of regional investment drives by the Korean government.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources unveiled its strategy to foster advanced industries in the Chungcheong region during a public briefing on Thursday, with companies detailing investment plans. The announcement followed Samsung and SK hynix unveiling their investment projects for the Gwangju and Jeolla areas on Monday.
Korea's stock market is becoming a casino for one-day wagers
Korea's stock market is increasingly resembling a casino, where retail investors place short-term wagers through leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETF) as volatility erodes the appeal of long-term investing.
"I feel like my life has been turned upside down because I'm constantly glued to the stock screen," said a job seeker surnamed Seo, who recently suffered a heavy loss after selling their gold to start leveraged trading.
"But I'm afraid that if I do nothing, I'll be left behind.”
Hong Myung-bo resigns as Korea manager after leading team to defeat at World Cup
Hong Myung-bo resigned as manager of the Korean men's national football team on Sunday after the team failed to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America.
The 57-year-old announced his resignation in a statement on Sunday at Chivas Verde Valle, the national team's training base in Zapopan, Mexico.
Hong was appointed national team manager in July 2024 and had been under contract through the AFC Asian Cup in January next year. However, he decided to step down as calls for accountability intensified, even from the political sphere.
