Customs Agency Intensifies Efforts to Secure Petrochemical Raw Materials Amid Middle East Tensions The Customs Agency has launched on-site inspections to address the instability in the supply of petrochemical raw materials resulting from prolonged tensions in the Middle East.On May 11, Lee Jin-hee, Director of the Customs Agency, visited the SK Geo Centric plant located in the petrochemical complex in Ulsan to evaluate the supply situation of key petrochemical raw materials such as naphtha and toluene, and to listen to the industry's concerns. This visit was organized to verify the effective May 11, 2026

Judge Ji Gwi-yeon Questioned by Anti-Corruption Agency Over Room Salon Allegations Yoon Suk Yeol's former chief judge in the insurrection case, Ji Gwi-yeon of the Seoul Northern District Court, has been summoned for questioning by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) over allegations related to a room salon. According to legal sources on May 11, the ACRC questioned Judge Ji as a suspect on May 7 regarding charges of bribery and violations of anti-corruption laws. This marks the first time Judge Ji has faced questioning since the ACRC initiated a forced May 11, 2026

Trump to Visit China from May 13 to 15 at Xi Jinping's Invitation President Donald Trump will make a state visit to China from May 13 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on May 11. The White House also confirmed on May 10 that Trump will visit China during this period. According to the announcement, Trump is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on the evening of May 13, hold a bilateral summit with President Xi on May 14, and tour the Temple of Heaven in Beijing before attending a state dinner. On May 11, 2026

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon Welcomes Samsung Labor Adjustment Process Kim Young-hoon, the Minister of Employment and Labor, expressed his support on May 11 for the initiation of post-adjustment procedures by the Central Labor Relations Commission, following an agreement between Samsung Electronics and its labor union. He urged both parties to approach the adjustments with a sense of social responsibility, in line with Samsung's motto of being "Another Family, Samsung." During a policy review meeting at the Government Sejong Center, Minister Kim stated, "Just May 11, 2026

Neowiz Reports 1st Quarter Operating Profit of 7 Billion Won, Down 32% Year-on-Year Neowiz reported growth in revenue due to the performance of its live intellectual property (IP) games, but its operating profit fell 32% compared to the same period last year. Increased revenue from mobile games led to higher platform fees and revenue sharing costs. On May 11, Neowiz announced that its consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached 101.4 billion won, a 14% increase year-on-year. However, operating profit dropped to 7 billion won, a decrease of 32% from the prev May 11, 2026

Jung Cheong-rae Reaffirms Commitment to Victory in Gangwon Ahead of Local Elections Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, reaffirmed his commitment to winning the local elections on May 11, emphasizing the need for unity among candidates for Gangwon governor and local council members. He urged that they must work together for the future of both South Korea and Gangwon Province. At a candidate selection meeting in Chuncheon, Jung stated, "Our slogan and banner for the June 3 local elections is 'Normalization of the Nation and Efficient Local Government.'" He e May 11, 2026

Special Prosecutors Investigate Prosecutors Over Allegations of Covering Up Deutsche Motors Case The second special prosecution team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, is investigating prosecutors from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office over allegations of covering up the stock manipulation case involving Kim Geon-hee and Deutsche Motors. The special prosecutors are focusing on whether there was any interference from the prosecution leadership or the presidential office during the decision not to prosecute Kim. On the morning of May 11, the special prosecutors May 11, 2026

First Comprehensive Review of 'Blue Seed' Retirement Pension for SMEs The government has initiated its first review of the 'Blue Seed' retirement pension system designed for workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This assessment aims to ensure the stability of fund management and internal controls ahead of an expansion of eligible participants. On May 11, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it, along with the Financial Supervisory Service, will conduct a comprehensive review of the Blue Seed fund over the next two weeks. This marks May 11, 2026

Increase in Choking Incidents Among Infants and Seniors Prompts Consumer Safety Alert As incidents of choking due to foreign object ingestion among infants and seniors continue to rise, the government has issued a consumer safety alert.On May 11, the Fair Trade Commission reported that last year, the Korea Consumer Agency's Consumer Hazard Monitoring System (CISS) recorded 809 cases of foreign object ingestion. Over the past five years, the trend has shown fluctuations: 728 cases in 2021, 949 in 2022, 972 in 2023, and a temporary decrease to 655 in 2024, followed by a rise again May 11, 2026

Government Launches Pilot Project for Comprehensive Management of Refrigerants The government is set to launch a pilot project aimed at managing the entire lifecycle of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, from usage to recovery, regeneration, and disposal. This initiative seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from refrigerant leaks and to lay the groundwork for future legislation on refrigerant management. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation announced that they will hold a kickoff meeting for the 'Refrigera May 11, 2026