Trump and Xi Hold 135-Minute Summit in Beijing Amid Tensions "Can the U.S. and China overcome the 'Thucydides Trap'?" <Chinese President Xi Jinping>"It is an honor to meet you again and be friends." <U.S. President Donald Trump>On May 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for the first time in six months. Their opening remarks revealed a stark contrast in tone. While Xi emphasized the importance of managing U.S.-China tensions and preventing conflict, Trump focused May 14, 2026

Korean Economic Outlook: Kim Yong-beom Discusses AI and Excess Profits Note: This article reinterprets Kim Yong-beom's Facebook post in a Q&A format with a fictional financial expert for easier understanding. Kim Yong-beom, the Blue House Policy Director, poses a critical question in his recent Facebook post: "Is the KOSPI reaching 7,500, and potentially 10,000, merely a sign of stock market overheating, or is it an indication of a structural shift in Korea's industrial landscape in the AI era?" The focus is on the structural excess profits that could arise May 14, 2026

U.S. Approves Nvidia H200 Sales to China, But No Deliveries Yet The U.S. government has granted permission for Nvidia to sell its high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor, the H200, to Chinese companies. However, no actual deliveries have been reported so far, indicating that the approved transactions are still affected by the ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry. According to Reuters on May 14, the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved Nvidia H200 purchases for about ten Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD May 14, 2026

Lotte Tour Development Reports Record Q1 Operating Profit of 28.8 Billion Won Lotte Tour Development achieved a record operating profit of 28.8 billion won in the first quarter of this year, more than doubling its profit from the previous year, thanks to strong performances in its casino and hotel sectors. The company reported consolidated revenues of 156.2 billion won and an operating profit of 28.8 billion won for the first quarter, as announced on May 14. Revenue increased by 28.1% compared to the same period last year, surpassing 150 billion won for the first t May 14, 2026

President Lee Calls for Reform of Agricultural Cooperatives Amid Corruption Issues President Lee Jae-myung on May 14 criticized the opaque decision-making structure and corruption issues within agricultural cooperatives, urging swift reforms including direct elections for members.During a senior advisors meeting at the Blue House, President Lee stated, "The transformation of rural areas and agriculture must begin with correcting the structural ailments present in our agricultural sector."He identified the normalization of agricultural cooperatives as a prerequisite for this tr May 14, 2026

Iran Displays 'Five Key Conditions for Ending War' in Tehran, Excluding Nuclear Issues A large sign outlining Iran's key conditions for ending the war has appeared in the capital city of Tehran. According to local media, including Eghtesad News, the sign, installed on major roads and overpasses in Tehran, lists the "Five Key Conditions for Ending the War" under its title. The conditions proposed by Iran include: 1) Lifting all sanctions, 2) Payment of war reparations by adversaries, 3) Establishing Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, 4) Release of frozen funds, and 5 May 14, 2026

Seragem Establishes 'Recovery Lounge' to Support National Athletes Seragem has upgraded the experience zone at the Jincheon National Training Center, creating the 'Seragem Champions Recovery Lounge.'According to Seragem, the newly unveiled 'Seragem Champions Recovery Lounge' features a complete renovation of the existing space under the slogan, "A new level of relaxation completes victory." The lounge includes the latest healthcare products, such as the premium massage chairs from the 'Pauze M Collection' (M10, M8 Fit, M6) and spinal care medical devices fr May 14, 2026

Vietnam Turns to Korean Agricultural Model Amid Durian Export Challenges As China's tightened cadmium import standards disrupt durian exports from Vietnam's Dong Thap province, local authorities are looking to a "Korean-style soil restoration model" as a solution. The aim is to shift focus from agricultural expansion to improving soil quality itself. According to Vietnamese media outlet Zing News on May 13, the Dong Thap People's Committee is establishing a laboratory to analyze agricultural soil quality and is developing a long-term plan for tailored improvem May 14, 2026

Retail Investors Shift Focus to ETFs Amid Market Surge As the domestic stock market continues to rise sharply, driven by semiconductor stocks, retail investor funds are rapidly flowing into the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market. Following the KOSPI's historic breach of the 7,000 mark, expectations for the '8,000 KOSPI' have grown, with nearly 100 ETFs surpassing 1 trillion won in total assets under management (AUM). According to the Korea Exchange on May 14, the number of ETFs with AUM exceeding 1 trillion won reached 96 as of the previous da May 14, 2026

Oh Se-hoon Proposes Debate with Jung Won-o Ahead of Local Elections Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, reiterated his call for a one-on-one debate with Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate, on May 14, just six days before the local elections. Oh suggested that Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae could moderate the debate, stating, "I hope at least one or two debates can be held." Speaking at a forum hosted by the Korean Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors Association in central Seoul, Oh said, "I am open to any format, time, May 14, 2026