Report: Middle East war could boost China’s renewable energy edge despite oil shock Energy supply shocks triggered by the Middle East war are rattling the global economy, but China could emerge as a medium- to long-term beneficiary in renewables despite near-term pain, a report said. According to the International Finance Center’s report, titled “China’s windfall gains from the Middle East war,” the conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in global energy supply chains, prompting governments and businesses to accelerate adoption and conversion to renewable energy. With ins May 4, 2026

Yang Hyang-ja says Gyeonggi needs a tech expert, not a legal specialist, as governor Yang Hyang-ja, a People Power Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, criticized Democratic Party candidate Chu Mi-ae on Monday, saying the province needs “a capable governor who can revive the economy, not a legal technician.” Speaking on KBS radio’s “Jeongyeok Sisa,” Yang said Chu is “South Korean politics’ representative brawler,” and claimed Chu was involved in the impeachments of three presidents, including President Roh Moo-hyun. Yang said Gyeonggi’s 14 million residents need “a wor May 4, 2026

An Se-young’s 20 Wins Show Routine, Not Luck, Behind Her Dominance The scoreline was simple: 21-10, 21-13. But it reflected more than a routine win. Against the world No. 2, An Se-young did not allow a single tie, extending a run that has produced 20 victories. An holds a career record of 20 wins and five losses against China’s Wang Zhiyi. The margin is large enough to invite talk of a difficult matchup for Wang. Still, dominance over one opponent does not automatically mean control of an entire sport. Matchups and styles can shift outcomes. Even so, th May 4, 2026

Krafton shares jump nearly 14% on plan to form autonomous driving venture with Socar Krafton shares rose more than 13% in early trading on news it will work with Socar to commercialize autonomous driving services. According to the Korea Exchange, Krafton was trading at 302,000 won as of 10:01 a.m. on the 4th, up 37,000 won, or 13.96%, from the previous session. Krafton said on April 30 that it will participate in Socar’s plan to establish a 150 billion won autonomous driving company, Apex Mobility. The new entity is expected to be set up this month. Krafton May 4, 2026

Choo Mi-ae Questions Jang Dong-hyuk’s Conduct as a Former Judge Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, criticized Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, on the 4th, saying it was “puzzling” that he is a former judge. Choo made the remarks during a morning appearance on the radio program “Kim Eo-jun’s Humility Is Hard, News Factory,” responding to a host’s question about how she views Jang. “Judges are used to hearing both sides. They don’t speak after making quick assumptions,” she said. Choo, who said she May 4, 2026

Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Says Rate-Cut Cycle Is Over, Hints at Possible Hikes Bank of Korea Deputy Governor Yoo Sang-dae said it may be time to consider shifting monetary policy toward an interest-rate hiking cycle. Yoo, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting, made the remarks during a May 3 (local time) briefing with a traveling press pool. He said the economy has been stronger than expected and inflation is likely to run higher than forecast. “Monetary policy moves in cycles,” Yoo said. He described the rate trend as having b May 4, 2026

Daewoo E&C Unveils ‘SUMMIT Silo’ Garden at 2026 Seoul International Garden Show Daewoo Engineering & Construction has unveiled its corporate companion garden, “SUMMIT Silo,” at the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show at Seoul Forest, showcasing the philosophy of its high-end housing brand, SUMMIT. The company said May 4 that it joined the show, which opened May 1, and built the “SUMMIT Silo” garden at a point in Seoul Forest where major pedestrian routes intersect. The name combines “Silence,” meaning calm, and “Silo,” meaning a storage facility. This year’s May 4, 2026

SK Hynix Hits Record High as Chip Stocks Rally; Samsung Electronics Gains SK Hynix shares hit a record high on the 4th, as buying interest grew on strong results from global big tech companies including Apple and expanded investment in AI production facilities. According to the Korea Exchange, SK Hynix was trading at 1,353,000 won as of 9:47 a.m., up 67,000 won (5.21%) from the previous session. The stock rose as high as 1,364,000 won during the session, setting an all-time high. Samsung Electronics was up 4,000 won (1.81%) at 224,500 won at the same time. Th May 4, 2026

People Power Party calls DP’s ‘fabricated indictment’ special counsel bill unconstitutional The People Power Party on May 4 criticized a recently proposed “fabricated indictment” special counsel bill by the Democratic Party, calling it an unconstitutional attempt to erase Lee Jae-myung’s alleged crimes. Speaking at a party Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said, “A law that exists for only one person is not law, but violence and a crime.” Jang said there is “exactly one person on the Korean Peninsula who does not go to prison no matt May 4, 2026

SoftBank Partners With South Korea’s Cosmos Lab on Zinc-Halogen Batteries for Data Centers SoftBank of Japan is moving into next-generation batteries that do not rely on rare metals, partnering with South Korean deep-tech startup Cosmos Lab, founded in 2021. The Nikkei business daily reported on Monday that SoftBank and Cosmos Lab plan to jointly develop a “zinc-halogen battery” and begin mass production during fiscal 2027. The production base will be set up at the Sakai plant site in Osaka once owned by Sharp, which SoftBank acquired in 2025. Nikkei said SoftBank plans to inc May 4, 2026