Launch of South Korea's Climate Citizen Assembly, the World's First Permanent Body The Climate Citizen Assembly, the world's first permanent national-level body for climate discussions, has been launched in South Korea. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok attended the assembly's launch on May 16, where he expressed his commitment to incorporating the recommendations generated by citizens into government policy. "The Climate Citizen Assembly represents a new model of climate governance where citizens actively participate in policy formation and implementation, rather than being May 16, 2026

Son Heung-min Named to South Korea's 2026 World Cup Roster South Korea's national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo announced the 26-player roster for the upcoming 2026 World Cup on May 16. The announcement took place at the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Seoul and included star player Son Heung-min of LAFC, along with three reserve players. This will be Son's fourth World Cup appearance, following previous tournaments in Brazil in 2014, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022. He is joined by key European players such as Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), K May 16, 2026

Considering Ordination? Join Us in Jongno on May 17 If you are contemplating ordination, head to Jongno, Seoul, on May 17. The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism's General Affairs Department announced that it will operate an "Ordination Counseling Booth" at the Traditional Culture Fair on Ujeongguk-ro in Jongno from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 17. This booth is open to anyone curious about the life of a practitioner and Buddhist culture. The department plans to engage the public through interactive programs, including on-site counseling, distr May 16, 2026

'Garden of Gratitude' Becomes Election Issue as Candidates Clash As the June 3 Seoul mayoral election approaches, the 'Garden of Gratitude' in Gwanghwamun Square has emerged as a contentious political issue. The Democratic Party has launched a full-scale offensive, criticizing the installation as a "hasty display of administrative showmanship," while the People Power Party defends it as a "historical space of gratitude for the countries that protected South Korea's freedom." The sculpture in the heart of Gwanghwamun has become a symbolic issue in t May 16, 2026

Samsung Electronics and Labor Union to Resume Negotiations After Leadership Change Samsung Electronics and its labor union have agreed to resume negotiations on May 16, following the replacement of the company's chief negotiator as requested by the union. According to Yonhap News, Choi Seung-ho, chairman of the Samsung Electronics branch of the Samsung Federation of Trade Unions, announced that the chief negotiator has been changed from Vice President Kim Hyung-ro to Yeom Young-gu, head of the Device Solutions People Team. Choi noted, "I have been informed that not May 16, 2026

Putin to Officially Visit China on May 19-20 at Xi Jinping's Invitation The Kremlin announced on May 16 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will officially visit China for two days starting May 19. According to Yonhap News, the Kremlin stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping invited President Putin, and noted that the visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries. During the visit, President Putin is expected to hold a summit with President Xi to discuss key issues in b May 16, 2026

Sejong Mayor Candidates Focus on Buddhist Faith Ahead of Election On May 16, the first weekend following the registration of candidates for the June 3 local elections, the candidates for Sejong Mayor engaged with the community ahead of Buddha's Birthday. According to Yonhap News, Jo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party candidate, expressed his intention to attend a celebratory ceremony at Sejong Lake Park, stating, "I wish for peace and happiness in Sejong City alongside the citizens as we approach Buddha's Birthday." He added, "I will listen to the voices of May 16, 2026

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon Meets Samsung Executives to Mediate Union Dispute Five days before a planned general strike by the Samsung Electronics union, Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon met with the company's executives to urge the resumption of labor-management dialogue and to mediate the ongoing dispute. According to Yonhap News on May 16, the Ministry of Labor announced that Kim met with Samsung executives for about an hour on the same day. The ministry stated, "Minister Kim explained the government's position and the content of his discussions with the labor uni May 16, 2026

Weather Forecast: Mostly Clear and Warm Nationwide with Highs of 31°C in Seoul and 33°C in Daegu On Sunday, May 17, the weather will be mostly clear across the country, with rising daytime temperatures leading to warm conditions. Most regions, including the capital area, will enjoy clear skies, making it a suitable day for outdoor activities. However, with significant temperature differences between day and night, residents should dress accordingly in the morning and evening. Morning lows are expected to range from 12 to 19 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will reach betwee May 16, 2026

Lee Jae-yong Apologizes for Internal Issues at Samsung Electronics Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, publicly apologized on May 16 for causing concern over internal issues related to performance bonuses amid labor disputes. Speaking to reporters shortly after arriving at Gimpo International Airport around 2:25 PM from a business trip, he said, "I sincerely apologize to our global customers and the public for the worries caused by internal company issues." This marks the first time Lee has publicly addressed the upcoming strike at Samsung Electronic May 16, 2026