Yonhap News Summary

On Friday, the presidential office in South Korea decided not to nominate one of two candidates for a Supreme Court justice position recommended by the chief justice. Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae was accused of overstepping the president's authority by bypassing the usual practice of suggesting candidates after consultation with the office. The presidential spokesperson, Kang Yu-jung, announced this decision.

In a recent Gallup Korea poll, President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating plummeted to a record low of 42 percent. This decline came amid criticism of the government's real estate policy. The poll surveyed 1,001 individuals aged 18 and above between Tuesday and Thursday.

Seoul stocks experienced a sudden reversal after a three-day upward trend, closing down 1.79 percent on Friday. The decline was primarily driven by investors offloading tech companies due to external uncertainties, including the recent trade policies implemented by the United States. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar during the same period, which may have influenced the market sentiment.

A recent Gallup Korea poll also revealed that 65 percent of South Koreans support the idea of their country possessing nuclear weapons. This figure represents a significant majority, with only 30 percent opposing the notion of independent nuclear armament.