President Lee Vows to Recover All Profits from Price Collusion President Lee Jae-myung has issued a strong warning to the business community, stating that the government will recover all profits gained from collusion and market disruption. This declaration makes it clear that practices such as price collusion, self-dealing by conglomerate families, and unfair internal transactions will no longer be tolerated as mere customs or compromises. The Fair Trade Commission is also working to significantly strengthen its penalties for collusion and increase sanction May 11, 2026

Lotte Energy Materials Reports $4.4 Million Operating Loss in Q1 Lotte Energy Materials has continued to face losses in the first quarter of 2026, despite efforts to defend its performance through increased demand for high-value copper foil products. The company reported a consolidated revenue of 159.8 billion won (approximately $4.4 million) and an operating loss of 5 billion won (about $4.4 million) on May 11. In terms of business segments, sales of battery foil for energy storage systems (ESS) and circuit boards increased, aided by improved productiv May 11, 2026

Jeonse Prices Surpass Sale Prices in Seoul, Raising Concerns of Rental Crisis This year, the nationwide increase in apartment jeonse prices has outpaced the rise in sale prices, signaling renewed instability in the rental market. Both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas have experienced a surge in jeonse prices, with Seoul also nearing a point where jeonse prices could surpass sale prices. According to the Korea Real Estate Agency on May 11, the cumulative increase in nationwide apartment jeonse prices reached 1.56% as of the first week of May. In comparison, t May 11, 2026

KB Kookmin Bank Selects Director Jang Hang-jun and Writer Kim Eun-hee as New Models KB Kookmin Bank announced on May 11 that it has selected film director Jang Hang-jun and television writer Kim Eun-hee as its new models.Director Jang is recognized as a national filmmaker, having surpassed 16 million viewers with his film "The King and the Man," which was released in February.His wife, Kim, has been praised for opening new horizons in Korean genre dramas with works like "Signal" and "Kingdom."The couple shares their lively and relatable daily life, resonating with a wide range May 11, 2026

Half of Female Drivers Report Driving Five or More Times a Week Nearly half of female drivers, or 49.8%, reported that they drive five or more times a week, indicating a trend toward becoming more routine drivers. While driving has expanded to include commuting, childcare, shopping, and leisure activities, many still face significant challenges due to a lack of information regarding vehicle maintenance, insurance, and selling used cars. Hanwha General Insurance released the results of its "2026 Female Driver Survey" on May 11, which included responses May 11, 2026

Democratic Party Leads with 48.7% Support, Gap Widens with People Power Party A recent poll indicates that the gap in support between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party has widened. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on May 7-8, commissioned by Energy Economy Newspaper, the Democratic Party garnered 48.7% support, while the People Power Party received 30.9%. The Democratic Party's support increased by 0.1 percentage points from the previous week, while the People Power Party's support decreased by 0.7 percentage points. This resulted in a gap of 17. May 11, 2026

Coway Reports Record Quarterly Earnings, Shares Surge Over 10% Coway's shares surged over 10% in early trading following the announcement of record earnings for the first quarter. As of 9:12 a.m. on May 11, Coway's stock was trading at 97,100 won, up 9,500 won (10.84%) from the previous trading day. The company has seen a three-day streak of gains, with increases of 4.45% and 0.81% on May 7 and 8, respectively. Analysts attribute the stock's rise to strong earnings and expectations for stable cash flow-based shareholder returns. Coway reported on May 11, 2026

LS Cable & System and Korea Electric Power Technology Collaborate on Floating Offshore Wind Power LS Cable & System is partnering with Korea Electric Power Technology to secure a foothold in the floating offshore wind power market. The collaboration aims to enhance competitiveness from the initial design phase by integrating submarine cable technology with power system design capabilities. On May 11, LS Cable & System announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Electric Power Technology for cooperation in floating offshore wind power. The agreement focuses May 11, 2026

Comedian Yang Sang-guk Faces Criticism for Attitude on TV Show Comedian Yang Sang-guk is once again under fire for his attitude during a recent broadcast. In the latest episode of tvN's "Amazing Saturday," Yang appeared in his alter ego character, Sang-pil. When fellow cast member Kim Hae-jun mentioned a two-letter initial hint, Yang insisted on sticking to a one-letter hint. He stated, "I think one letter would be fine. Two initials seem too easy, and one letter might spark more conversation." Kim Hae-jun responded, "Wouldn't two initials be a bit May 11, 2026

KOSPI Surges Past 7800 Mark as Samsung and SK Hynix Lead Gains The KOSPI continues its upward trend, surpassing the 7800 mark shortly after the market opened and consistently breaking previous records. The index is being driven by strong performances from semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:09 a.m., the KOSPI was up 307.33 points (4.10%) at 7805.33. The index started at 7775.31, an increase of 277.31 points (3.70%) from the previous trading day, and has continued to rise. In the securities May 11, 2026