S. Korea: Coupang Fined Record 624.7 Billion Won, Police Raid Election Watchdog

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.

■ (LEAD) Coupang fined record 624.7 billion won over massive data breach, unauthorized data collection

SEOUL -- South Korea's data protection regulator on Thursday fined e-commerce company Coupang Corp. a record 624.7 billion won (US$410 million) over privacy violations, including a massive data breach that affected more than 37 million users.

The Personal Information Protection Commission has decided to impose a record fine of 423.6 billion won for the data breach and levy an additional 201.1 billion won in fine for the unauthorized collection of records of online user activities and other violations.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610005151315

■ (LEAD) Police raid election watchdog over ballot shortages during local elections

SEOUL -- Police on Thursday raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and some of its local offices in Seoul as part of an investigation into shortages of ballots during last week's local elections.

More than 100 police investigators were mobilized for the searches and seizures at seven locations, including the NEC's headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and its local offices in Seoul that experienced the ballot shortages.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611002252315

■ (LEAD) Lee arrives in Italy for talks with Italian president, PM

ROME -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Italy on Wednesday for talks with the country's top leaders on bilateral ties.

Italy is the second stop on Lee's 10-day trip to Europe, his first visit to the region since taking office in June last year, which is widely aimed at broadening his diplomatic outreach in the region.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610011151315

■ (2nd LD) S. Korea loses 40,000 jobs in May, first drop since 2024 martial law bid

SEOUL -- South Korea lost 40,000 jobs in May from a year earlier, government data showed Thursday, marking the first decline in 17 months as the impact of the prolonged Middle East war weighed on the manufacturing sector.

The number of employed people came to 29.12 million in May, compared with 29.16 million a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611001552320

■ (LEAD) Another S. Korea-operated vessel transits through Strait of Hormuz

SEOUL -- Another vessel operated by a South Korean shipper has successfully passed through the crisis-stricken Strait of Hormuz, marking the second case of its kind, Seoul's oceans ministry said Thursday.

The vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier operated by a Korean shipping company under a charter agreement with a foreign party, with eight Korean crew members on board, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Details of the ship, the company and the foreign charterer were undisclosed.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260610011051320

■ (World Cup) S. Korea coach confident in team's preparation for tournament

ZAPOPAN -- On the eve of his team's first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo said Wednesday he is confident in the level of his players' preparation.

South Korea will face Czechia to begin Group A play at 8 p.m. Thursday at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, near Guadalajara. The kickoff is at 11 a.m. Friday (South Korean time).

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611000600315