KOSPI Surpasses 8,000 Points for the First Time in History The KOSPI index, which had fluctuated around the 8,000-point threshold throughout the week, finally broke through this milestone during trading on May 15. This achievement comes just seven trading days after the index surpassed 7,000 points. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:15 a.m., the KOSPI was up 29.41 points (0.37%) at 8,010.82. The index opened lower at 7,951.75, down 29.66 points (0.37%) from the previous trading day, but quickly turned upward to exceed the 8,000-point mark. May 15, 2026

The Evolution of Guanxi: Values Take Precedence Over Drinks in China In China, dinner gatherings often feature unfamiliar faces. The host typically provides a brief explanation: "They are ziziren (自己人, 'one of us')." This single phrase clarifies the reason for their presence and their respective positions.The term 'ziziren' goes beyond mere familiarity; it serves as a marker of trust. In China, friends do not require lengthy introductions through mutual acquaintances. The term ziziren suffices, a concept that may seem somewhat rude in South Korea.Many still pe May 15, 2026

SK Magic's New Water Purifier Ad Featuring Byun Woo-seok Surpasses 10 Million Views SK Magic announced on May 15 that its new water purifier campaign video, released in April, has surpassed a combined total of 12.8 million views on YouTube and Instagram within a month. The MEGA ICE segment garnered approximately 3.8 million views, while the Two Water segment reached around 9 million views.This response aligns with current summer consumer trends. As highball and home café cultures become deeply ingrained this summer, 'large ice' has emerged as a new consumer keyword. What was on May 15, 2026

Samsung's Executive Calls for Steady Management Ahead of Union Strike Jeon Young-hyun, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics and head of the Device Solutions (DS) division, recently urged executives to maintain steady management in light of the union's announcement of a general strike. He emphasized the need to remain vigilant and enhance core technological competitiveness despite achieving record results in the first quarter.According to industry sources, during a management briefing for executives on May 8, Jeon stated, "We should not rest on our laurels and must May 15, 2026

Elon Musk Misses Final Arguments in OpenAI Trial Amid Trump’s China Visit Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, did not attend the final arguments in the OpenAI trial. He is reportedly accompanying President Donald Trump on his visit to China. On May 14, Musk's lead attorney, Steven Molo, apologized to the jury for Musk's absence during the final arguments held at the federal court in Oakland, California. Molo emphasized that Musk is passionate about the case and that his absence does not indicate a lack of interest. The trial stems from a lawsuit Musk filed agai May 15, 2026

Samsung Workers Plan Nationwide Strike Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute The labor dispute at Samsung Electronics is escalating toward a nationwide strike. The National Labor Relations Commission's mediation efforts have failed, prompting the Samsung Electronics Labor Union to announce a strike starting on the 21st. The disagreement centers around the formalization of a performance bonus system. However, the current situation at Samsung extends beyond mere wage disputes, raising significant concerns about potential impacts on South Korea's semiconductor industry and May 15, 2026

North-South Women's Football Match in Korea Sells Out in 12 Hours North Korea's My Hometown Women's Football Team's visit to South Korea has generated significant interest, leading to the complete sellout of tickets for the semifinals of the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) within just half a day. According to the Korea Football Association, tickets for the AWCL semifinals, which went on sale on May 12, sold out within approximately 12 hours, with 7,087 of the total 9,000 seats being purchased. The AWCL semifi May 15, 2026

Hana Financial Becomes Major Shareholder in Dunamu with $1 Billion Investment Hana Financial Group has made a significant investment of 1 trillion won (approximately $1 billion) in Dunamu, positioning itself as the fourth-largest shareholder in the company. This investment is seen as a culmination of the long-standing trust between Hana Financial Chairman Ham Young-joo and Dunamu Vice Chairman Kim Hyung-nyeon.On May 15, Hana Financial announced that the Hana Bank board approved the acquisition of 2,284,000 shares of Dunamu from Kakao Investment for about 1.03 trillion won May 15, 2026

Artists Struggle with Lengthy Process of Arts Activity Certification Illustrator Jeong So-hee took over two years to pass the Arts Activity Certification process. Despite having over 20 exhibitions to his name, he faced repeated rejections and requests for additional documentation before finally receiving approval this year. He stated, "I had to invest more energy in writing a report to prove I am an artist than in creating my work."The controversy surrounding the Arts Activity Certification is spreading throughout the cultural and artistic community. Artists poi May 15, 2026

Big Tech's AI Power Struggle Intensifies Among Companies, Government, and Security The global AI industry is escalating beyond mere model competition, with a focus on corporate, security, and platform dominance. On May 14, developments included Anthropic's rapid expansion in the corporate AI market, tensions between OpenAI and Apple, and increased AI oversight by the U.S. government. Anthropic Surpasses OpenAI in Corporate AI Market Anthropic is quickly establishing its presence in the corporate AI sector. According to market data firm Ramp's AI index, Anthropic's adop May 15, 2026