Korea to streamline customs for critical imports, expand FTA use to diversify supply chains As supply-chain disruptions from the Middle East war become more visible, South Korea’s customs authorities will simplify import clearance and unloading procedures for items deemed necessary for supply-demand management to speed deliveries of raw materials and intermediate goods. The Korea Customs Service also said it will pursue regulatory changes and identify additional support targets to help diversify supply chains. The agency announced the steps on the 7th at a ministerial task force May 7, 2026

Boucheron sued in South Korea after diamond falls from ring; brand denies refund French luxury jeweler Boucheron has been sued by a South Korean consumer after refusing to exchange or refund a ring that the buyer says had a major defect. The lawsuit follows a claim that a diamond fell out of the ring about a week after purchase, and the company offered only repairs. According to the complaint obtained by Ajunews on the 6th, the customer, identified as A, bought one signature “Quatre Classic Small Ring” in early January at a Boucheron boutique inside a depart May 7, 2026

Hyundai Motor Securities: Celltrion’s New Biosimilars to Drive Sales Growth Hyundai Motor Securities on Thursday maintained its “buy” rating on Celltrion and kept its target price at 270,000 won, saying rapid growth in the company’s new biosimilar lineup is expected to lead sales gains. Kim Hyeon-seok, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities, said most of the new products were launched in the second half of last year, and he expects growth to accelerate further in the second half of this year. He added that factors expected in the second half — including Omliclo’ May 7, 2026

SK Securities Raises SK Hynix Target Price to 3 Million Won on AI Memory Revaluation SK Securities said May 7 that a structural revaluation of memory semiconductors is gaining momentum in the artificial intelligence era, raising its target price for SK Hynix to 3 million won from 2 million won, a 50% increase. It maintained its “buy” rating. Analyst Han Dong-hee said the revaluation “is still only at an early stage,” citing what he described as top-tier profit and profitability among global AI-related stocks, improving structural earnings stability and a broader base of b May 7, 2026

Insurers’ Overseas Units Near $200 Million in Net Profit, Up 24% on Year Korean insurers’ overseas units posted a sharp rise in net profit last year, helped by Hanwha Life Insurance’s acquisitions of an Indonesian bank and a U.S. securities firm. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s preliminary 2025 results released Wednesday, insurers’ overseas units earned $197 million in net profit, up 23.8% from $159.1 million a year earlier. Life insurers’ net profit rose 70.8% to $109.3 million, driven by newly consolidated overseas units. Excluding two new May 7, 2026

South Korea’s industry minister presses Canada submarine bid, calls it partnership turning point South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan, visiting Canada, has stepped up efforts to support defense exports, including a bid tied to Canada’s submarine program. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said May 7 that Kim met with Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly in Ottawa on May 5 (local time) and shared updates on industrial cooperation related to the submarine bid, including a memorandum of understanding between companies from the two countries. Kim and Joly also discuss May 7, 2026

BTS to Meet Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Ahead of Mexico City Concerts BTS is set to meet Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum ahead of the group’s Mexico City concerts.  On May 6 (local time), Sheinbaum said at her regular morning news conference, known as the “Mañanera,” that BTS will visit the presidential offices. She said the balcony will be opened so the group can greet citizens gathered in the plaza. Sheinbaum praised the group’s music, saying it “always delivers a message of friendship and peace, and love.” Sheinbaum had earlier welcomed confirmatio May 7, 2026

Hana Securities Raises KCC Target Price on Expected Silicone Price Upcycle Hana Securities said on the 7th that KCC is likely to benefit as the silicone market enters a full upcycle, extending a trend of rising selling prices. Reflecting gains in the value of KCC’s stake in Samsung C&T and the impact of treasury-share cancellations, the brokerage raised its target price to 730,000 won from 600,000 won and maintained its “buy” rating. In a report, Hana Securities analyst Yoon Jae-seong said a price-to-book ratio target of 0.77 — a level seen at the 2021-22 pe May 7, 2026

At 63, Ni Xia Lian Stuns at World Table Tennis Championships for Luxembourg In elite sports, age is often treated as a barrier — and, eventually, a biological limit. In table tennis, where split-second reactions and explosive power can decide matches, a player in her 60s competing on the international stage is rare. One point needs to be clear: Ni Xia Lian is not a typical late-blooming amateur. She came through China’s national team in the 1980s, when it was widely regarded as the world’s strongest, and spent decades in top-level training environments. Reducing her May 7, 2026

Bitcoin Holds Above $81,000 as Hopes for U.S.-Iran Deal Lift Risk Appetite Bitcoin edged higher and held above $81,000, supported by improved risk appetite tied to expectations of progress in end-of-war talks between the United States and Iran. Bitcoin was trading at $81,308 as of 8 a.m. on the 7th, up 0.24% from a day earlier, according to CoinMarketCap. After reclaiming the $81,000 level on May 5 for the first time in four months, it has remained around that range. Major altcoins were mostly higher. Solana rose 2.82% to $89.06, and XRP gained 0.42% to $1.42. May 7, 2026