Korean Scholarship Foundation and Labor Welfare Corporation Join New Leap Fund The Korean Scholarship Foundation and the Labor Welfare Corporation have expressed their intention to join the New Leap Fund, confirming their commitment to financial authorities. Following the controversy surrounding the private bad bank, Sangnoksoo SPC, the review of long-term delinquent loans has expanded, prompting discussions about including policy-related bonds held by public institutions into the New Leap Fund. The New Leap Fund is a program designed to purchase unsecured loans unde May 14, 2026

AI Fuels Nuclear Renaissance: Opportunities for K-Nuclear Exports As global electricity demand surges due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy is re-emerging as a key power source. With countries worldwide expanding their nuclear capabilities, South Korea, which has experience operating the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and possesses APR1400 reactor technology, is seeing new export opportunities arise.According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand is projected to increase by about 40% by 2035 compared t May 14, 2026

Andy Weir's 'Project Hail Mary' Reclaims Top Spot on Bestseller List Andy Weir's science fiction novel Project Hail Mary continues to capture readers' attention, bolstered by its recent film adaptation. It has reclaimed the number one spot on the bestseller list at major bookstores like Kyobo Bookstore and Yes24. As of May 14, Yes24 reported that Project Hail Mary returned to the top during the second week of May, maintaining its long-term popularity. After five consecutive weeks at number one in April, it briefly dropped to second place due to Children's D May 14, 2026

Seoul City and Ultra Marathon Organizers Clash Over Legality of Event The upcoming Seoul Han River Ultra Marathon is causing a significant clash between Seoul City and the event organizers, leading to confusion among participants. The city has even hung banners at the event site declaring it an "unauthorized illegal event" as tensions escalate. The controversy began when banners were installed around Ttukseom Han River Park, stating, "The Seoul Han River Ultra Marathon on May 16 is an unauthorized illegal event," and warning that "the organizers will bear a May 14, 2026

Civic Group Reports Average of 4,000 Housing Units Supplied Annually in Seoul Over 14 Years As candidates for the upcoming June 3 local elections propose promises to enhance housing supply through urban renewal projects, a recent investigation reveals that net supply has been minimal over the past decade. The analysis also confirms a significant increase in housing prices following these projects, prompting calls for a reevaluation of related campaign promises.The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice reported that from 2012 to 2025, during the terms of Mayors Park Won-soon and Oh S May 14, 2026

Korea's Housing Market Faces Dual Pricing After Lease Law Implementation Research from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements indicates that the introduction of the two lease laws has led to a rapid increase in new rental prices, creating a distinct "dual pricing" structure between new and renewal contracts. On May 14, the institute released its report titled "Analysis of Recent Changes in the Housing Rental Market Structure and Policy Implications," noting that "recently, new prices have exceeded renewal prices, indicating a shift toward a prefe May 14, 2026

Jung Cheong-rae Visits Ulleung to Support Rural Basic Income Initiative On May 14, as candidates for the local elections officially began their activities, Jung Cheong-rae, chairman of the Democratic Party, visited the challenging terrain of Ulleungdo in Gyeongbuk to listen to residents' concerns and lay the groundwork for electoral success. Jung started his day at Dodong Park, followed by attending the Buk-myeon Sports Festival, visiting local shops in Jeodong and Dodong, and holding on-site discussions with community members. He was accompanied by senior p May 14, 2026

Kevin Warsh Set to Lead Federal Reserve Amid Economic Challenges Kevin Warsh is poised to take over as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve. While President Donald Trump anticipates interest rate cuts, Warsh faces a challenging economic landscape. Inflation is rising again, and within the Fed, there is a growing sentiment for caution rather than immediate rate reductions. On May 13, the U.S. Senate confirmed Warsh's nomination as Fed Chair with a vote of 54 in favor and 45 against. All 53 Republican senators supported the nomination, while only Democra May 14, 2026

Megazone Cloud Turns Profit, Accelerates Growth in AI and Security Megazone Cloud is leveraging its recent profitability to accelerate its expansion in artificial intelligence (AI) and security services. As demand for AI transformation among businesses surges, the company aims to evolve from a simple cloud management provider to an 'AI orchestrator' that integrates and manages various AI services. With an initial public offering (IPO) on the horizon, Megazone is positioning AI and security as key drivers of future growth to enhance its corporate value. A May 14, 2026

Japan Watches U.S.-China Summit with Concern Over Taiwan and Rare Earths Japan is approaching the U.S.-China summit with caution rather than anticipation. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on May 14 that key issues such as the situation in Iran, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S.-China trade relations, rare earth export regulations, and the Taiwan issue are expected to be discussed. All these matters are directly linked to Japan's security and economy. Japanese media view this summit as a critical moment not only for assessing whether U.S.-China trade ten May 14, 2026