Market Stalls as Capital Gains Tax on Multiple Homeowners Resumes Multiple homeowners are facing a resumption of increased capital gains taxes for the first time in four years. Starting today, the tax will apply to those owning multiple properties in designated adjustment areas, with rates ranging from 6% to 45%, plus additional surcharges. For those holding three or more properties, the effective tax rate could reach as high as 82.5%. Our team visited the area just one day before the tax increase took effect. On the afternoon of May 8, near the Eunma Apa May 11, 2026

Democratic Party Launches Election Committee for Local Elections The Democratic Party held the launch ceremony for its National Normalization Election Committee on May 10, aiming to secure victories in the June 3 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections. The committee plans to support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration by overcoming insurrection and reclaiming local power. During the ceremony at the National Assembly, Jung Cheong-rae, the party leader, stated, "The election is just 24 days away. We are beginning our journey t May 11, 2026

Myeongryun Jinsagalbi Franchise Used Policy Funds for High-Interest Loans The operator of the all-you-can-eat meat restaurant chain Myeongryun Jinsagalbi has been found to have provided high-interest loans to franchise owners using low-interest policy funds. Financial authorities plan to block this structure that shifts financial burdens onto franchisees. On May 10, the Financial Services Commission and the Fair Trade Commission announced measures to address high-interest improper loans by franchise headquarters utilizing policy funds. This follows an investiga May 11, 2026

Shinhan Financial Group's CEO Jin Ok-dong Promotes Investment in North America Jin Ok-dong, the CEO of Shinhan Financial Group, is visiting the United States, Mexico, and Canada to hold investor relations (IR) meetings with overseas institutional investors. According to Shinhan Financial Group, Jin will meet with major global asset management firms and pension fund investors in North America over the next two weeks, starting from May 10 until May 22. During his visit, Jin will explain the stability and fundamentals of the South Korean financial market and will also visit l May 11, 2026

KOSPI Surpasses 7000 Mark, Sparking Surge in Investment Literature Sales As the stock market heats up, the first place to feel the surge is not the trading floors of brokerages, but rather bookstores.Following the KOSPI's unprecedented rise above the 7000 mark, sales of stock-related books in South Korea have surged by 305% compared to last year, according to recent research. While these numbers may suggest a simple investment frenzy, they reveal deeper trends in the direction of South Korean society.Past stock booms were often linked to a 'get-rich-quick' mentality, May 11, 2026

KB Kookmin Bank to Automatically Apply Interest Over 5% to Principal Repayment KB Kookmin Bank is launching a financial support program aimed at alleviating the interest burden for individual business owners. The initiative will automatically apply a portion of the interest exceeding 5% on business loans toward principal repayment, thereby reducing both interest and principal repayment obligations. On May 10, KB Kookmin Bank announced that it will implement a program that utilizes the interest amount exceeding 5% on individual business loans to reduce debt burdens. May 11, 2026

Remembering Goha Song Jin-woo: A Legacy of Journalism and Integrity On May 8, 2026, at 3 p.m., a gathering took place at the Memorial Hall of the National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul, where attendees paid their respects to a prominent journalist. The event commemorated the 136th birthday and the 81st anniversary of the passing of Goha (古下) Song Jin-woo.Hosted by the Goha Song Jin-woo Memorial Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Dong-A Ilbo, the ceremony was more than just a memorial; it was a moment to reflect May 11, 2026

The Semiconductor Surge: AI Revolution, Memory Wars, and Wall Street's Greed The global stock market in spring 2026 is once again revolving around semiconductors. The tickers on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are consistently glowing red, with investors focused on a single term: artificial intelligence (AI).The recent surge in semiconductor stocks on the U.S. market is not merely a rise in tech shares; it signals that the new industrial revolution driven by AI is shaking financial markets, industrial structures, national strategies, and geopolitics simultaneously May 11, 2026

The Rise of Semiconductor Companies and South Korea's Semiconductor Leap The global capital market is undergoing a significant transformation in 2026. Just a few years ago, the world's stock markets were dominated by platform companies and consumer-centric industries. However, a look at the top companies by market capitalization today reveals a complete shift. Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centers, cloud computing, advanced power grids, and biotechnology have emerged as the new pillars of this era. While oil and steel were once the heart of the i May 11, 2026

Remembering Lee Hong-koo: A Statesman and Scholar Lee Hong-koo, a distinguished elder statesman and scholar of South Korea, passed away on May 5, 2026, at the age of 92. He played a significant role in South Korea's modern history, contributing to academia, politics, and diplomacy. Born in 1934 in Kaesong, he attended Gyeonggi High School and Seoul National University, later studying at Emory University and Yale University. After returning to Korea, he served as a professor of political science at Seoul National University for 20 years. He held May 11, 2026