Hyundai Targets Japan and China for Global Expansion Hyundai Motor Group is set to re-enter the Japanese and Chinese markets. In Japan, facing severe labor shortages due to an aging population, the company will introduce purpose-built vehicles (PBVs). In China, where competition among local electric vehicle manufacturers is fierce, Hyundai plans to launch thoroughly localized electric vehicles under its "In China, For China" strategy. Unlike its successful foothold in the U.S. and Europe, and its emerging growth in India and Southeast May 15, 2026

Song Eon-seok Campaigns for Lee Jang-woo in Daejeon to Target Chungcheong Voters Song Eon-seok, co-chair of the People Power Party's election campaign committee, visited Buyeo and Daejeon on May 15 to rally support in the Chungcheong region. He urged voters to back the party's candidates while emphasizing the need to check the government of President Lee Jae-myung.In the morning, Song attended the opening of the campaign office for Buyeo county mayoral candidate Lee Yong-woo, where he also expressed support for Yoon Yong-geun, a candidate in the upcoming by-election for the May 15, 2026

SC First Bank Reports Q1 Net Profit of 104.9 Billion Won, Down 6.3% Year-on-Year SC First Bank reported a decline in profits for the first quarter of this year, attributed to rising operating costs. On May 15, the bank announced that its net profit for the first quarter was 104.9 billion won, a decrease of 6.3% compared to the same period last year.Interest income fell due to a decline in the net interest margin (NIM). For the first quarter, interest income was 291.5 billion won, down 5.1% from the previous year. During the same period, NIM decreased by 0.23 percentage point May 15, 2026

Samsung Electronics DS Division Leadership Engages with Labor Union Samsung Electronics' semiconductor (DS) division leadership visited the labor union office at the Pyeongtaek campus on May 15 to engage in active dialogue with union representatives.According to Samsung Electronics, Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun and other executives from the DS division met with the joint action headquarters of the Samsung Electronics labor union at the union office located at the Pyeongtaek campus.The meeting included four executives from Samsung Electronics: Vice Chairman Jeo May 15, 2026

Chabi Reports Q1 Revenue of 20.7 Billion Won, 21% Growth Year-on-Year Chabi announced that its consolidated revenue for the first quarter reached 20.7 billion won, marking a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. The charging service segment recorded sales of 13.9 billion won, a 13% year-on-year growth, demonstrating stable growth. The charger manufacturing segment also saw a 41% increase in revenue, totaling 6.8 billion won compared to the previous year. Due to the seasonal nature of export volumes, which are concentrated in the fourth quarte May 15, 2026

Samsung and SK Hynix Launch Leveraged ETFs Amid Fee Competition Single-stock leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are set to launch at the end of this month. Major asset management firms are simultaneously introducing related products, intensifying fee competition in the ETF market. According to the financial investment industry on May 15, eight asset management companies, including Samsung, Mirae Asset, Korea Investment, KB, Shinhan, Hanwha, Kiwoom, and Hana Asset Management, completed disclosu May 15, 2026

[6·3 Local Elections] Ruling Party Responds to Opposition's Claims of Election Interference The Democratic Party on May 15 responded to claims by Song Eon-seok, co-chair of the People Power Party's election committee, who labeled President Lee Jae-myung's market visits as election interference. "Should the government be paralyzed during the election period?" Jo Seung-rae, Secretary General of the Democratic Party, asked during a press conference at the National Assembly. "Does that mean the president should not do anything? If that's the case, then even the Cabinet meetings woul May 15, 2026

Oh Se-hoon Criticizes Jung Won-o's Property Tax Relief Proposal for Homeowners Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, criticized Jung Won-o's proposal to reduce property taxes for homeowners, calling it "disappointing and merely a stopgap measure." Oh made his remarks on the afternoon of May 15 during a visit to a site in Gangdong District, where he held a meeting with the "Citizens' Countermeasures Committee for Real Estate Hell." He stated, "As property values rise across Seoul, property taxes will inevitably increase. Proposing to redu May 15, 2026

SeAH Steel Holdings Reports 1st Quarter Operating Profit of 26.7 Billion Won, Down 59% Year-on-Year SeAH Steel Holdings announced on May 15 that it recorded consolidated sales of 991.9 billion won and an operating profit of 26.7 billion won for the first quarter. While sales increased by 4.7% compared to the same period last year, operating profit fell by 59%. Despite weak demand in key sectors like construction, sales rose due to strong product sales in the North American oil and gas market. However, a decline in the selling price of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and delays in logist May 15, 2026

Financial Supervisory Service Chief Calls for Funding Shift to Productive Sectors The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) is intensifying oversight to redirect funds concentrated in household loans and real estate project financing (PF) toward more productive sectors. The aim is to encourage financial institutions to actively support corporate investment and the real economy rather than relying solely on stable interest income. On May 15, the FSS held a plenary meeting of the 2026 Financial Supervisory Advisory Committee at the Bank Hall in Seoul, where they discussed t May 15, 2026