2.47 million apply for first round of South Korea high-oil-price relief; 1.4013 trillion won paid The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Monday that 2,466,596 people had applied for the first round of the government’s “high-oil-price relief payment” as of midnight Saturday, or 76.4% of those eligible. The total amount paid was 1.4013 trillion won. By payment method, 1,076,418 applicants chose credit or debit cards, 814,481 chose prepaid cards, 508,490 chose mobile or card-based local gift certificates, and 67,207 chose paper local gift certificates, the ministry said. By region, May 4, 2026

Germany’s Merz Calls U.S. ‘Most Important Partner’ Despite Planned Troop Cuts German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed Germany’s alliance with the United States, calling Washington the most important partner in the North Atlantic alliance even after the U.S. announced plans to cut 5,000 troops stationed in Germany. According to Reuters, Merz said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD on May 3 (local time) that while he acknowledged differences with U.S. President Donald Trump over issues including Iran, “nothing changes in the course of cooperation May 4, 2026

Seoul-Area Opposition Candidates Urge Withdrawal of Democratic Party Special Prosecutor Bill Seoul-area metropolitan candidates from opposition parties running in the June 3 local elections met Monday and denounced a Democratic Party-backed “special prosecutor bill on alleged fabricated prosecutions,” calling it an “Lee Jae-myung self-pardon special prosecutor bill.” They said they would begin a nationwide resistance campaign to stop what they described as a “judicial coup.” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Incheon mayoral candidate Yoo Jeong-bok of the People Power Party, along with N May 4, 2026

Half of Dual-Income Couples With Preschoolers Face Severe Time Poverty, Study Finds More than half of dual-income households with preschool-age children in South Korea lack enough personal time, a new analysis found, as child care and housework squeeze both leisure and sleep. The Korea Labor Institute said Monday it analyzed the 27th time-use survey from the Korea Labor and Income Panel Study, focusing on married-couple households with spouses ages 20 to 64. Compared with couples without children, households with children spent 49 more minutes a day on mandatory time — May 4, 2026

China Corruption Cases Point to Stablecoins as Emerging Bribery Tool, Report Says A string of recent corruption cases in China has a common thread: allegations that bribes were paid and received through stablecoins, Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao reported on May 4. Those implicated include Hu Henghua, the former Chongqing mayor; Luo Lin, the former party secretary of Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area; and Lin Xiucheng, chairman of San’an Group, described as China’s “LED king,” the report said. According to the report, Hu was brought down on March 20 for serious disciplina May 4, 2026

South Korea Firms Take Diverging Paths in Vietnam’s LNG Power Market Two large liquefied natural gas-fired power projects in Vietnam are moving in opposite directions. Ca Na LNG in Khanh Hoa province took a first step after signing an investment and project contract in April. But Nghi Son LNG in Thanh Hoa province has stalled after failing to attract a single bidder in three tenders. Vietnam’s Finance and Investment Newspaper, an outlet under the Ministry of Finance, reported on May 4 (local time) that South Korean companies are now pursuing different stra May 4, 2026

South Korea to Recruit 25,000 for Youth Savings Accounts Aimed at Low-Income Workers The South Korean government is rolling out a program to help low-income young workers build assets. On May 4, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will recruit 25,000 new participants for this year’s Youth Tomorrow Savings Account program from May 4 to 20. The program supports working young people on low incomes in saving a lump sum over a three-year term. Eligible applicants are working youths ages 15 to 39 in households earning 50% or less of the median income. Participants wh May 4, 2026

Vietnam Draws $18.24B in FDI in First Four Months, Led by Singapore and South Korea Vietnam is boosting growth momentum by expanding both foreign direct investment and public spending. In the first four months of this year, total registered FDI reached $18.24 billion, up 32.0% from a year earlier, while disbursed FDI rose 9.8% to $7.4 billion, the highest for the period in the past five years. Singapore ranked as the top investor with $6.05 billion, and Thai Nguyen and Nghe An led provinces in attracting capital. Vietnam’s Finance Ministry said total registered FDI as of May 4, 2026

Hong Joon-pyo Slams Conservative Candidates as ‘Shameless’ Ahead of June 3 Local Elections Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu, on Monday criticized conservative figures running in the June 3 local elections and by-elections, calling them “shameless” and “thick-faced.” In a Facebook post, Hong said they were seeking office after “ruining the administration,” adding that they were running in by-elections and local government races “just to save themselves.” He also faulted parties for nominating them and voters for supporting them, saying South Korea’s conservative camp had be May 4, 2026

Japan Airlines’ Mileage Programs Tested as Fuel Surcharges Surge Japanese airlines’ mileage businesses are facing a key test as a surge in global oil prices drives up the real cost of award tickets and pushes carriers to tighten program rules. According to the Nikkei business daily, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines sharply raised international fuel surcharges for tickets issued starting May 1, after jet fuel prices jumped following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On one-way flights from Japan to Europe, ANA raised its surcharge from May 4, 2026