Minister Park Hong-keun Calls for Strengthened Central-Local Cooperation to Revive Solar Industry Park Hong-keun, the Minister of Economy and Finance, stated on May 8 that strengthening cooperation between the central government and local governments is essential for reviving the solar industry ecosystem. During his visit to Hanwha Solutions Q CELLS, a domestic solar cell manufacturer in Jincheon, Minister Park toured the production facilities for solar cells and modules and gathered feedback from officials. He highlighted the significance of the veranda solar power supply project in May 8, 2026

Daewoong Pharmaceutical Partners with Tion Lab Therapeutics to Develop Monthly Obesity Treatment Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Tion Lab Therapeutics are officially launching the development of a monthly injectable treatment for obesity, utilizing their proprietary platform technologies. The two companies aim to begin patient dosing in domestic clinical trials within the year.The global obesity treatment market is projected to grow at an annual rate of over 30%, potentially reaching $200 billion by 2030. This growth is expected to intensify competition around 'shortened dosing intervals and co May 8, 2026

French Prosecutors Intensify Pressure on Elon Musk Amid Expanded Investigation French prosecutors have escalated their investigation into Elon Musk and the social media platform X, transitioning the case into a judicial inquiry. The scope of the investigation now extends beyond the platform to include the artificial intelligence service Grok. According to Reuters on May 8, the Paris prosecutor's office has moved the case related to X into the judicial investigation phase. This means that a judge will now oversee the proceedings. Prosecutors are in the process of form May 8, 2026

Trump to Address Nation Early May 9 Amid Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions President Donald Trump is set to make a public address. The timing comes shortly after renewed tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict, raising questions about whether he will discuss military actions, ceasefire management, or issues related to the Strait of Hormuz. The White House announced that Trump will speak at noon on May 8 in the Rose Garden. This translates to 1 a.m. on May 9 in South Korea. The specific topics or key messages of his address have not been disclosed. This speech coincid May 8, 2026

Deputy Minister Warns of Risks in AI Transition for Manufacturing Sector Deputy Minister Moon Shin-hak of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy emphasized that the transition to artificial intelligence in manufacturing is not optional but essential, stating, "If we fall behind in competition with companies from other countries, we will inevitably be eliminated." He acknowledged the ongoing strike movements by the unions at Samsung Biologics and Samsung Electronics, saying, "While it is not appropriate to comment directly on specific corporate issues, the impact May 8, 2026

Korean Kolmar Reports Record Q1 Operating Profit of 78.9 Billion Won Amid K-Beauty Export Surge Korean Kolmar, a cosmetics contract manufacturer, reported its highest-ever quarterly performance in the first quarter of this year, driven by a surge in global demand for sun care products in anticipation of early summer heat. According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure system on May 8, Korean Kolmar's consolidated operating profit for the first quarter reached 78.9 billion won, a 31.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Sales rose to 728 bil May 8, 2026

Korea-Vietnam Business Forum Strengthens Green Economy Cooperation The Vietnam Eco-Friendly Product Manufacturing Association (EPMA) and the Korea-Vietnam Economic and Cultural Association (KOVECA) signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the green economy during the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum. The signing took place as part of the official schedule of the economic delegation at the forum held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event was attended by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan and Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thanh May 8, 2026

Samsung Electronics Launches Development of Humanoid Robots Samsung Electronics is re-establishing its focus on robotics. The company is bolstering its Future Robotics Team and has created a new execution organization within its Device Experience (DX) division to oversee AI-based future projects, accelerating preparations for the commercialization of manufacturing robots and humanoids. According to industry sources on May 8, Samsung's DX division has recently conducted internal recruitment for the Future Robotics Team, with applications accepted u May 8, 2026

People Power Party's Jo Bae-sook and Park Deok-heum Announce Candidacy for National Assembly Vice Speaker People Power Party lawmakers Jo Bae-sook and Park Deok-heum declared their candidacies for the position of National Assembly Vice Speaker on May 8, stating, "The National Assembly must change." During a press conference at the National Assembly's communication hall, Park emphasized the importance of maintaining open dialogue, saying, "We must show the public that we will not close the door to conversation, even if there are differences between the ruling and opposition parties." He add May 8, 2026

OpenAI Added to List of Companies Required to Disclose Information Security Practices OpenAI has been newly included in the list of companies required to disclose information security practices due to a surge in domestic users. Platforms such as AliExpress, Musinsa, Tving, and CJ Olive Young, which have rapidly expanded their user bases in South Korea, are also on the list. On May 8, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the 693 companies that are obligated to disclose their information security practices for 2026. This requirement, established under the Information P May 8, 2026