Choo Mi-ae Defends AI National Dividend Proposal Amid Controversy Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi governor, addressed the recent controversy surrounding the AI national dividend proposal suggested by policy chief Kim Yong-beom. She stated that while misunderstandings could influence voter sentiment, it is impossible to determine which side would benefit politically. In an interview on KBS 1 Radio's "Current Affairs," Choo remarked, "As robotics and AI technology advance, productivity can significantly increase, but existing job May 15, 2026

Jung Cheong-rae Criticizes People Power Party's Negative Campaigning Jung Cheong-rae, chairman of the Democratic Party's central election committee, criticized the People Power Party for its negative campaigning, stating, "They seem to be focused on negative tactics rather than offering a vision for the future." Speaking at a Central Election Countermeasure Committee meeting in Jeju on May 15, Jung expressed concern that the People Power Party does not understand the public's desire for constructive policies that improve their lives. "It is frustrating, b May 15, 2026

Intensifying Political Maneuvering Ahead of Local Elections in South Korea The National Election Commission will close candidate registration for the June 3 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections on May 15. As the deadline approaches, both major parties are engaged in intense negotiations over candidate unification, a key factor in determining election outcomes. On the same day, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party held a press conference at the National Assembly, announcing their agreement on a unification strategy for the Ulsan mayora May 15, 2026

Actor Jang Dong-joo Announces Retirement 배우 장동주가 은퇴한다고 밝혔다. On May 15, actor Jang Dong-joo announced his retirement via social media, stating, "I have received so much love and support while living as an actor for a long time." He added, "Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera has been the brightest time of my life," expressing gratitude to the directors, staff, and fellow actors who believed in him and supported him throughout his career. Jang emphasized, "Above all, I have been able to walk th May 15, 2026

Nobel Laureate Peter Howitt: Education, Finance, and Welfare Must Adapt to AI Era Peter Howitt, a Nobel laureate in economics and professor at Brown University, emphasized that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally transform not only industries but also education, social safety nets, and financial systems. He urged South Korea to undertake a comprehensive redesign of its economic framework. The Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Economic and Social Research Institute hosted a conference on May 15 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, w May 15, 2026

KOSPI Surges Past 8000 Before Sharp Decline, Breaking Below 7500 The KOSPI index briefly surpassed the 8000 mark for the first time in history but then plummeted by over 5% due to a wave of profit-taking, falling below 7500 to around 7400. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 2:46 PM, the KOSPI was trading at 7456.55, down 524.86 points (-6.58%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 7951.75, down 29.66 points (-0.37%) from the previous day, but managed to rise above 8000 early in the session. However, a rapid influx of profit-taking, May 15, 2026

Samsung Executives Call for Unconditional Dialogue Amid Strike Threat Samsung Electronics executives, including Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun and President Roh Tae-moon, have reiterated their call for 'unconditional dialogue' with the union amid indications that the union may proceed with a general strike. In an official statement titled 'We Apologize to the Public,' the executives acknowledged, "We have caused significant burden and concern to the public and the government due to labor-management issues at Samsung Electronics," adding, "As our achievements grow, May 15, 2026

Teachers Face Restrictions on Celebrating Teacher's Day in South Korea "The grace of a teacher is like the sky, the more I look up, the higher it seems. The true teacher who teaches us to be righteous is like a parent in our hearts. Oh, thank you for the love of a teacher, oh, I will repay the grace of a teacher." This song, traditionally sung on Teacher's Day, has become increasingly rare to hear. Small classroom celebrations have also come under scrutiny. The Gyeongsangbuk-do Office of Education announced through an internal bulletin that under the Anti-C May 15, 2026

Korea Financial Group Shares Decline Despite Strong Earnings as KOSPI Drops Shares of Korea Financial Group, which had shown strength earlier in the day, are now declining as the KOSPI index turns sharply downward. As of 2:51 PM on May 15, Korea Financial Group's stock was trading at 257,000 won, down 0.39% from the previous session. At one point, the stock had risen by more than 8%. The stock initially gained traction in the morning as the KOSPI index surpassed the 8,000 mark, buoyed by expectations of improved performance amid a favorable market. However, th May 15, 2026

Blue House Hopes for Resolution as Samsung Workers Threaten Strike The Blue House expressed concern on May 15 regarding the Samsung Electronics labor union's announcement of a potential general strike, stating, "Given Samsung's significant role in the national economy, we hope that a strike can be avoided and that negotiations between labor and management conclude successfully." Lee Gyu-yeon, the Blue House's chief of public relations, addressed questions during a briefing at the Chunchugwan regarding whether the government is considering invoking emergency May 15, 2026