South Korea's Renewable Energy Goals Face Challenges Amid Infrastructure Concerns South Korea's renewable energy transition policy has faced setbacks over the past two decades, marked by unmet targets, shifts in policy direction, and insufficient investment in the power grid, according to a national research institute. Concerns have been raised that the government's goal of achieving 100 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030 may be unrealistic without concurrent improvements in infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.On May 11, the National Assembly Future Rese May 11, 2026

SpaceX IPO Approaches as Space ETFs See Increased Trading but Poor Returns With the SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) just over a month away, major asset management firms in South Korea are seeing increased investments in aerospace exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, most of these funds have recorded negative returns over the past month. According to the Korea Exchange on May 11, Samsung Asset Management's KODEX U.S. Aerospace ETF has seen a return of -5.64% over the past month, with trading volume reaching 53.7 billion won as of May 8. Hana Asset Managem May 11, 2026

K-AI Integrates into Daily Life with Practical Services Domestic artificial intelligence (AI) companies are accelerating the integration of proprietary AI models into practical services across various sectors, including communication, translation, education, and finance. This shift goes beyond mere technological development, contributing to the establishment of a 'K-AI ecosystem' that citizens can experience firsthand. The Ministry of Science and ICT unveiled K-AI case studies centered around companies participating in the Independent AI Foun May 11, 2026

Kim Yong-nam Apologizes for Past Comments on Sewol Ferry Disaster Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party candidate for Pyeongtaek, acknowledged on May 11 that his past comments regarding the Sewol ferry disaster caused deep pain for the victims' families. In a post on Facebook, Kim stated, "I did not fully consider how much my remarks would hurt the families of the victims. I recognize that my words left an indelible scar on their hearts." In 2015, while a member of the Saenuri Party, he faced backlash for saying that the special investigation committee on May 11, 2026

South Korea Proposes AI Safety and Cybersecurity Collaboration with Anthropic The South Korean government has proposed a collaboration with the American AI company Anthropic, focusing on AI safety and cybersecurity through the AI Safety Research Institute (AISI). According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, a meeting took place on the morning of May 11 in the Gwanghwamun conference room in Seoul, attended by Deputy Minister Ryu Je-myung, AISI Director Kim Myung-joo, Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) Director Oh Jin-young, and Anthropic's Global Policy Lead M May 11, 2026

Trump and Xi's Beijing Summit: A Test of New Global Order Amid Conflict The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing transcends typical diplomatic engagement, serving as a critical test for a new international order marked by conflict over war, supply chains, energy, and technological supremacy. Particularly in the context of the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, this meeting underscores the urgent need for both nations to manage potential clashes.While tariffs, investment, semiconductor issues, and Taiwan appear to May 11, 2026

Robots to Handle Parking and Shuttle Services in Apgujeong 3 District Residents can use a demand-responsive transport (DRT) autonomous shuttle through a dedicated app to reach nearby subway stations without walking. After work, they can be dropped off at a hotel-style private drop-off zone, where a valet robot will park their car, while Hyundai's mobility robot, MobED, transports heavy luggage to their doorstep. On May 11, the promotional center for Apgujeong 3 District showcased Hyundai Construction's vision for future living technologies. The DRT autono May 11, 2026

Lotte Engineering Secures 300 Billion Won Through AAA-Rated Asset-Backed Securities Lotte Engineering has successfully raised 300 billion won through cash flow from its nearly completed projects. The company has significantly reduced borrowing costs through collaboration with commercial banks, demonstrating its credibility in the capital markets and accelerating its financial restructuring efforts. According to industry sources on May 11, Lotte Engineering recently issued asset-backed securities (ABS) based on construction receivables from projects nearing completion. The ABS c May 11, 2026

Iran Demands Sovereignty Over Hormuz Strait and War Reparations in Response to U.S. Proposal Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has stated that he cannot accept Iran's response to the U.S. peace proposal. In that response, Iran reportedly demanded recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for war damages. On May 11, CNN cited Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, reporting that Iran's response included demands for recognition of sovereignty over the blocked Strait of Hormuz and compensation for war damages. The response also reportedly called May 11, 2026

Shin Seong-hwan: Inflation Control Essential Despite Economic Polarization Shin Seong-hwan, a member of the Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee, stated on May 11 that controlling inflation is imperative despite the ongoing economic polarization. He made these remarks during a press conference as he prepares to retire on May 12, highlighting the persistent upward pressure on prices due to the entrenched 'K-shaped growth' and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Shin noted, "It has become burdensome to discuss interest rate cuts," acknowledging that whi May 11, 2026