South Koreans’ Crypto Holdings Halve in a Year as Stablecoin Holdings Double South Korean investors’ crypto holdings and trading volume have dropped by more than 60 trillion won over about a year, while stablecoin holdings moved in the opposite direction, more than doubling. The shift is widely attributed to money moving into a strong stock market and to a preference for dollar-linked assets amid a weak won. Data the Bank of Korea submitted on Monday to Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the Rebuilding Korea Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Planning and Finance Commi May 5, 2026

CJ Cup Byron Nelson Opens May 21 in Texas With Scheffler, K-Culture Showcase CJ Group-sponsored PGA Tour event The CJ Cup Byron Nelson will be played May 21-24 at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The tournament will offer a $10.3 million purse (about 15.16 billion won) and is a full-field regular-season PGA Tour event with 144 players. The winner earns 500 FedExCup points and a two-year tour exemption, along with entry into that year’s signature events and next season’s Players Championship, plus spots in the major championships. First held in 2017, The CJ Cup May 5, 2026

NXT to Start Charging for Market Data as KRX Raises Prices, Expands Services Nextrade (NXT) is moving to charge for market data it has provided for free. With the Korea Exchange (KRX) also revamping prices and services, South Korea’s stock-market data business is entering a more direct monetization phase. According to the financial investment industry on May 5, Nextrade plans to begin charging for market data starting next March. A Nextrade official said, “NXT has provided data free of charge since launching in March last year, but we plan to switch to a paid sys May 5, 2026

White House: No Trump-Kim Meeting Planned During Mid-May China Trip President Donald Trump has no meeting planned with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his mid-May trip to China, the White House said May 4 local time. A White House official, responding to a question, said, “There is no such meeting on the schedule at this time,” Yonhap News Agency reported. The White House said Trump’s China visit is set for May 14-15, with a U.S.-China summit planned with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The White House’s use of the qualifier “at this time” indicates May 5, 2026

Korean court orders matchmaking client to pay marriage fee and penalty despite quitting A Seoul court has ruled that a matchmaking service member must pay a contracted marriage “success fee” even after quitting over alleged personal data exposure. The court also said the member owed a penalty for failing to notify the company of the marriage. According to legal officials on May 5, Judge Bang Chang-hyeon of the Seoul Central District Court, sitting alone in Civil Division 83, ordered B to pay matchmaking company A a success fee of 11.88 million won and a penalty of 35.64 mil May 5, 2026

Samsung Display, LG Display unveil next-generation OLED tech at SID 2026 in Los Angeles Samsung Display and LG Display are showcasing next-generation technologies at Display Week 2026 (SID 2026), the world’s largest display event, as they compete for leadership in the global market. Industry officials said Tuesday the companies will present differentiated technology road maps at the exhibition, held May 5-7 (local time) at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Samsung Display is highlighting “display innovation expanded by AI,” while LG Display is focusing on “the evolution of May 5, 2026

Seoul’s ‘Ap-Ye-Mok-Seong’ rebuild zones set off fierce contractor battles Seoul’s top redevelopment districts — Apgujeong, Yeouido, Mok-dong and Seongsu — are moving into full-scale contractor selection. Known collectively as “Ap-Ye-Mok-Seong,” the areas sit along the Han River and major residential corridors, making them a focal point for builders’ brand competition. As of May 5, the industry said 12 key projects in these districts have either selected a builder this year or are preparing to do so: Apgujeong Districts 3, 4 and 5; Yeouido’s Sibeom Apartments; May 5, 2026

Jang Dong-hyeok Slams Special Prosecutor Plan as Bid to Drop Lee Jae-myung Indictments Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, said May 5 that President Lee Jae-myung was writing a “dictatorship guidebook” that would be remembered in world history. Speaking at a news conference at the National Assembly, Jang said Lee had not only adopted “every method” used by dictators to control the judiciary, but was now seeking to appoint a special prosecutor to “erase” alleged crimes. Jang also criticized Lee’s call for public input and deliberation on a special prosecu May 5, 2026

Incheon Port Authority to Subsidize K-Beauty SMEs’ Costs for 2026 Beauty & Healthcare Show Incheon Port Authority is offering support to help small and midsize K-beauty companies expand overseas, including subsidies to participate in a major local beauty and health expo and opportunities to meet foreign buyers. The authority, known as IPA, said on May 5 it is recruiting companies for its support program tied to the 2026 Beauty & Healthcare Show expo. Demand for K-beauty products has been rising. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Korea’s cosmetics exports totaled $3. May 5, 2026

Top 5 South Korean Banks’ Corporate Loans Jump Over 5 Trillion Won for Second Month Corporate loan balances at major commercial banks rose by more than 6 trillion won in April, marking a second straight month of increases exceeding 5 trillion won. The rise suggests companies are leaning more on bank borrowing as higher government bond yields spill over into the corporate bond market. As of the end of last month, corporate loans at the country’s five largest banks — KB, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — totaled 866.0646 trillion won, up 6.2909 trillion won from a mo May 5, 2026