World Cup Buzz: South Korea kicked off FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-1 comeback over Czechia in Guadalajara, with Hwang In-beom scoring and assisting before Oh Hyeon-gyu sealed it in the 80th minute; the win put Korea level on points with Mexico at the top of Group A. Empty Seats Row: FIFA pushed back on claims of inflated attendance after TV showed many vacant seats, saying official numbers are based on ticket scans and people inside the stadium footprint, not what viewers see from seats. Coupang Data Breach: South Korea’s privacy watchdog hit Coupang with a record fine of about $408 million (624.68 billion won) over a breach affecting 33 million-plus users and alleged failures to notify authorities on time. Court Fallout for Yoon: Ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years over a 2024 drone operation tied to the lead-up to his failed martial law bid. Korea-Italy Ties: President Lee Jae-myung and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni signed MOUs to deepen cooperation in advanced science and technology and explore joint projects in Africa, aiming for a “special strategic partnership.” North Korea-US Tensions: Pyongyang condemned a US approval of advanced air-to-air missile sales to South Korea, calling it a move that worsens peninsula tensions. AI Dealmaking: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and South Korean partners signed major AI infrastructure and memory deals, including a state AI GPU procurement and plans for gigawatt-scale AI cloud buildouts.