Ruling Party Reports Terror Plot Against Leader Jeong Cheong-rae, Requests Police Protection The Democratic Party announced on May 17 that there have been threats of a terror plot against its leader, Jeong Cheong-rae, prompting a request for police investigation and personal protection. Kang Jun-hyeon, the party's chief spokesperson, held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "We have received multiple reports indicating that a collective terror plot against Leader Jeong is being discussed in social media group chats." He added that the party has reque May 17, 2026

Household and Health Issues Lead to Retirement, Lottery Win Offers Comfort "I was exhausted from household chores and health issues, and this win has brought me great comfort." As the 1224th Lotto draw on May 16 draws attention, the story of the winner of the 307th Pension Lottery 720+ has become a topic of interest. In a recent post on the Donghaeng Lottery winners' board, the winner of one first-place ticket and four second-place tickets shared, "I usually buy the pension lottery in sets, but that day I suddenly thought of the lottery when I saw a distant vend May 17, 2026

Record 513 Uncontested Candidates in Upcoming Local Elections The candidate registration for the 9th nationwide local elections and the National Assembly by-elections, scheduled for June 3, highlights the current state of South Korean local politics. According to the National Election Commission, a total of 7,829 candidates have registered, with an average competition rate of 1.8 to 1, marking the lowest level historically, similar to the 2022 local elections. Notably, the number of uncontested candidates has reached a record high of 513. Uncontested ele May 17, 2026

May Heatwave Raises Alarm Over Early Heat-Related Deaths The boundaries of the seasons are collapsing. Shortly after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency activated its heat-related illness monitoring system, an 80-year-old man in Seoul was reported dead from heat-related illness. This marks the earliest recorded death since the monitoring system began, highlighting the significant implications of this event. It goes beyond a mere isolated incident, illustrating how climate change is altering the timeline of our daily lives. On May 16, the May 17, 2026

U.S. Targets Raúl Castro's Financial Network in Cuba The U.S. government is reportedly preparing to charge Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, as attention turns to GAESA, the military-run state enterprise that controls much of Cuba's economy. GAESA, which Raúl Castro helped establish, monopolizes Cuba's internet services and operates around 100 hotels, leading to concerns about the privatization of the economy. According to reports from the New York Times and CNN on May 15, GAESA was founded May 17, 2026

Putin's Visit to China and Xi Jinping's Strategy: New Coordinates in a Shifting World Order In diplomacy, 'order' conveys a message. Who arrives first and who follows reveals not just a schedule but the distribution of power and strategy. This is evident in the recent events in Beijing. Following President Donald Trump's visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit shortly thereafter, just days apart. This arrangement appears to be less coincidental and more a product of China's orchestrated 'staged diplomacy.' China is employing a dual strategy of managing competi May 17, 2026

U.S.-China Agreement on Tariff Reductions Signals Need for South Korea to Revise Export Strategy The United States and China have announced a principled consensus on reducing tariffs and easing non-tariff barriers during their recent summit. China's Ministry of Commerce stated that both countries have agreed to discuss mutual tariff reductions on a range of products and to improve market access in certain sectors, including agriculture. However, specifics regarding which items will see tariff reductions and the timeline for implementation have yet to be finalized, and negotiations are ongoi May 17, 2026

Ruling Party Responds to Kim Du-gyeom's Allegations of Collusion in Ulsan Mayoral Race The Democratic Party on May 15 responded to allegations of collusion made by Kim Du-gyeom, the candidate from the People Power Party, regarding the unification of progressive candidates for the Ulsan mayoral election. Jo Seung-rae, the party's Secretary-General, expressed confidence that they would not unify with independent candidate Park Maeng-woo. While Kim Sang-wook of the Democratic Party and Kim Jong-hoon of the Progressive Party agreed to unify their candidacies through a 100% opini May 17, 2026

Former Minister Ju Young-seop Discusses Korea's AI Strategy Artificial intelligence is reshaping the industrial landscape. As the competition shifts from technological prowess to purposeful innovation, where should South Korea's industry head? Ju Young-seop, the former Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, offers a pragmatic and strategic perspective on this question. With experience as a CEO, government policy maker, and academic, he views AI not merely as a technology but as a "key tool for restructuring industries." He asserts, "The A May 17, 2026

China and U.S. Reach Preliminary Agreement on Tariff Reductions The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that the United States and China have reached a preliminary agreement on tariff reductions and the easing of non-tariff barriers during their recent summit. According to Yonhap News on May 16, a ministry spokesperson stated in a press release posted on their website that both countries achieved initial results in economic and trade discussions during high-level talks held on May 13 in South Korea and the summit in Beijing on May 14. The spokesper May 17, 2026