Yonhap News Agency Summaries: Election Probe, Loan Growth, Sam Altman Visit, World Cup Cheering, BIGBANG Tour

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

■ Nat'l Assembly begins procedure for potential probe on election ballot shortage

SEOUL -- The National Assembly on Thursday launched formal procedures for a potential parliamentary investigation into ballot shortages reported during last week's local elections, with requests for the probe submitted by both the ruling and opposition parties being reported to a plenary session.

The head of the Proceedings Division of the National Assembly Secretariat said that the requests for a parliamentary probe were submitted separately by the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), with all lawmakers from each party sponsoring their respective requests.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611006400315?section=national/politics

■ Banks' household loan expands at fastest clip in nearly 2 yrs in May on stock investments-related loans

SEOUL -- Household loans extended by banks rose at the fastest pace in nearly two years in May as lending linked to stock investment grew amid a market rally, data showed Thursday.

Outstanding household loans by banks grew 6.9 trillion won (US$4.5 billion) to 1,181.8 trillion won last month, accelerating from the previous month's 2.1 trillion-won rise, according to data by the Bank of Korea (BOK).

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611003300320?section=economy-finance/economy

■ (LEAD) OpenAI's Sam Altman to visit S. Korea for talks with major tech firms

SEOUL -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will visit South Korea next week for meetings with major technology companies, including Samsung Electronics Co., to discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), industry sources said Thursday.

During the two-day visit beginning Sunday, Altman is also expected to meet executives from portal operator Naver Corp. and mobile platform operator Kakao Corp., they said.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611003151320?section=k-biz/index

■ (World Cup) Gwanghwamun Square to host street cheering for S. Korea's World Cup group matches

SEOUL -- Gwanghwamun Square will host street cheering for South Korea's Group A matches this month at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Seoul government said Thursday.

The events are scheduled for South Korea's matches against Czechia, Mexico and South Africa, at 11 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. June 19 and 10 a.m. June 25, respectively, according to the local government.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260611006200315

■ BIGBANG unveils plans for world tour marking 20th anniv.

SEOUL -- Veteran K-pop group BIGBANG on Thursday unveiled dates and venues for its upcoming world tour to mark its 20th anniversary.

According to a tour poster released on its agency YG Entertainment's official social media, the tour will begin in South Korea's Goyang in August and continue across North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia through February 2027.