Seoul Forest Hosts 'Garden' While Seongsu Features 'Popup' as Construction Firms Revamp Marketing The Seoul International Garden Expo has been underway since May 1 at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, attracting visitors to the newly created 'K-Construction Zone' where construction companies showcase their brand gardens. This marks a shift in construction marketing from traditional model homes to gardens, popups, and lifestyle spaces. Upon entering the grassy area of Seoul Forest on May 13, visitors were greeted by a red gate, a circular garden, and lush green pathways. Many strolle May 14, 2026

South Korea Approves Visit of North Korean Women's Football Team South Korea's Ministry of Unification announced on May 14 that it has approved the visit of the North Korean women's football team, Naegohyang, to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Champions League (AWCL) semifinals scheduled for May 20 in Suwon. The approved delegation consists of 39 members, the same number initially submitted by North Korea to the AFC. The visit is authorized from May 17 to May 24. Once the visit is approved, an entry permit will be issue May 14, 2026

KOTRA Expands Market for K-Robots and AI in Vietnam KOTRA is supporting the entry of domestic robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) companies into Vietnam, which is emerging as a hub for advanced manufacturing. As Vietnam expands its investments in smart manufacturing and automation, the demand for K-robots and manufacturing AI solutions is also increasing. KOTRA announced that it will operate a "K-Robot Pavilion" at the Vietnam International Machinery Industry Expo (VINAMAC EXPO 2026) from May 14 to 16 at the I.C.E International Exhib May 14, 2026

Unreleased Footage from 'I Am Solo' Sparks Controversy Over Final Couples ENA and SBS Plus's dating show 'I Am Solo' Season 31 is facing backlash after unreleased footage featuring contestant Oksun was posted online and subsequently removed. The controversy intensified as various online communities began sharing lists of the final couples. Recently, the YouTube channel 'Chonjang Entertainment TV' uploaded previously unseen footage from Season 31. In the clip, Oksun is seen waiting for a conversation between Kyungsoo and Youngsook to end, telling Sunja, "Is this May 14, 2026

NS Home Shopping Hosts International Museum Day Event at Napoleon Gallery NS Home Shopping will celebrate International Museum Day on May 18 by hosting interactive programs at the Napoleon Gallery located in its Pangyo headquarters.The company announced on May 14 that it will hold special programs on May 20 and 27 in honor of International Museum Day, designated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).The program will feature explanations of artifacts related to Napoleon and his life, followed by a hands-on activity where participants can create custom keycap k May 14, 2026

Hwang Myung-pil Withdraws as Ulsan Mayor Candidate, Seeks Unification with Kim Sang-wook Hwang Myung-pil, the Justice Innovation Party's candidate for Ulsan mayor, announced his withdrawal on May 14 and declared his intention to unify with Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-wook. He expressed hope for a unification between Kim Sang-wook and Kim Jong-hoon of the Progressive Party as well. During a press conference at the Ulsan City Council, Hwang stated, "Given the urgency felt by both Kim Sang-wook and myself, we have made a political decision to unify, setting aside party i May 14, 2026

KOSPI Approaches 8000 as Retail Investors Favor Direct Stocks Over ETFs The KOSPI index is just 19 points shy of reaching the 8000 mark. It peaked at 7999.67 during trading, but closed at 7981, reflecting strong expectations for a breakthrough. This closing figure marks a record high for the index. Retail investors have been the primary drivers of this increase, showing a preference for direct investments in the KOSPI spot market over exchange-traded funds (ETFs) amid a rally that has seen recent record highs. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI finish May 14, 2026

Korean Bar Association Hosts Mentoring Event for New Lawyers Senior lawyers stepped in as guides for new attorneys who recently passed the 15th Bar Exam and are beginning their legal careers. On May 13, the Korean Bar Association's Young Lawyers Committee successfully held the "2026 New Lawyer Mentoring" event at the seminar room of the Korean Bar Association headquarters in Seocho-dong, Seoul. The event was designed for 120 new lawyers to provide practical strategies for adapting to the rapidly changing legal environment and enhancing their profess May 14, 2026

Yoon Suk Yeol and Co-Defendants Request Recusal of Judges in Insurrection Case Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection case faced disruptions on its first day as he and other key defendants filed for the recusal of the judges, leading to a temporary halt in proceedings. On May 14, the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 12-1, presided over by judges Lee Seung-cheol, Jo Jin-goo, and Kim Min-ah, announced that it would separate the arguments and schedule future hearings after acknowledging the recusal request from Yoon's legal team. Yoon, who submitted a notice of absence the p May 14, 2026

Samsung Workers Consider Switching to SK Hynix Amid Ongoing Strike As the strike by Samsung Electronics' labor union intensifies, reactions are emerging on online communities suggesting that investors should sell their Samsung shares and switch to SK Hynix. Amid a booming semiconductor market, the prolonged labor dispute is affecting investor sentiment. On May 13, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (전삼노), the largest union at Samsung, announced it would continue its strike without further negotiations with management. The union stated, "The May 14, 2026