Korean Horror Film 'Salmokji' Tops 2.6 Million Admissions, Ranks No. 3 All Time The horror film 'Salmokji' has surpassed 2.6 million admissions, ranking third among the top-grossing horror films in South Korea’s box office history. According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated ticketing network, the film’s cumulative audience topped 2.6 million on Saturday. That moved it past the 2002 release 'Phone' (estimated 2.6 million) into third place on the all-time domestic horror list. 'Salmokji' reached 2.4 million admissions — three times its break-even point — and cr May 3, 2026

Iran Proposes Hormuz Strait Controls, Fees; Would Bar Israeli Ships and Demand Reparations Iran is moving to place the Strait of Hormuz effectively under its control and impose transit fees. Iran International, a U.K.-based opposition outlet, reported that Ali Nikzad, the first deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, said during a visit to Bandar Abbas that a 12-point plan on Hormuz controls and transit rules would ban Israeli vessels from passing through the strait under any circumstances. Nikzad added that ships belonging to “hostile” countries would not be allowed to transit May 3, 2026

Takaichi Unveils Revised ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ Plan in Hanoi, Puts Economic Security First Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, visiting Vietnam, used a foreign policy speech to lay out a new diplomatic line, revising the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) concept first advanced in 2016 by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The update shifts the emphasis decisively toward economic security, including stronger supply chains for critical goods, analysts said. Speaking at Vietnam National University in Hanoi to an audience of 270 students and experts, Takaichi said, “The envir May 3, 2026

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok campaigns in Daegu for mayoral hopeful Choo Kyung-ho Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, visited Daegu on Saturday to rally support for Choo Kyung-ho, the party’s candidate for Daegu mayor, saying the conservative stronghold should not be handed to Kim Boo-kyum. Jang’s appearance followed his attendance a day earlier at the opening of Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyung-joon’s campaign office, as the party seeks to consolidate its base. Speaking at Choo’s campaign office opening in Suseong District, Jang said he had checked wh May 3, 2026

Song Min-hyeok wins GS Caltex Maekyung Open in playoff for first career title Song Min-hyeok won the 45th GS Caltex Maekyung Open, claiming his first career title after a playoff at Namseoul Country Club (par 71) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Song shot a 1-under 71 in Sunday’s final round with three birdies and two bogeys to finish at 11-under 273. He then beat Cho Min-kyu on the first extra hole at the par-4 18th, sealing the win with a par putt. The victory earned Song 300 million won in prize money. By winning the event, co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, he a May 3, 2026

Hanwha Solutions’ Rights Offering Faces Second Regulator Revision Request Hanwha Solutions’ plan for a rights offering has been halted again after South Korea’s financial regulator demanded another revision, even after the company reduced the deal size. The latest move has sharpened scrutiny on investor protection and whether the company can justify how it plans to use the funds. Industry officials said Saturday that Hanwha Solutions disclosed it was asked by the Financial Supervisory Service on April 30 to submit a revised registration statement for the rights May 3, 2026

High-Profile By-Elections Ahead of June 3 Local Vote Seen as ‘Mini General Election’ With parties entering the final stretch of nominations ahead of the June 3 local elections, attention is intensifying on the by-elections and re-elections, which some observers say have grown into a “mini general election” as heavyweight figures enter the race. Political circles said May 3 that 14 constituencies have been confirmed for the contests. Re-elections will be held in two districts: Gyeonggi Province’s Pyeongtaek-eul and North Jeolla Province’s Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gap. By-electio May 3, 2026

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urges People Power Party to back constitutional amendment vote Woo Won-shik, the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly, said Saturday that a plenary vote on a constitutional amendment bill jointly introduced by 187 lawmakers was expected within days, and urged the People Power Party to take part in the vote. In a Facebook post, Woo said the bill's passage remained uncertain because the People Power Party opposes it as a party line. He again asked the party to lift its opposition and participate in the vote. Addressing the party, Woo said it was May 3, 2026

South Korea, China and Japan Finance Chiefs Pledge Closer Coordination, Boost Regional Safety Net South Korea, China and Japan brought their finance ministers together to coordinate responses to global uncertainty and other medium- to long-term challenges, including steps to strengthen the region’s financial safety net. South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol chaired the 26th trilateral meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors on May 3 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The three countries hold the meeting annually to share economic May 3, 2026

Yu Hyeon-jo wins inaugural DB Women’s Championship for first 2026 KLPGA title Yu Hyeon-jo, last season’s Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour grand prize winner, won her first title of the 2026 season Sunday at the newly created DB Women’s Championship, which has a total purse of 1.2 billion won. Yu shot an even-par 72 in the final round at Rainbow Hills Country Club (par 72) in Eumseong, North Chungcheong province, with two birdies and two bogeys. She finished at 7-under 281, edging a three-way tie for second — Go Ji-won, Kim Min-sol and Lee Da-yeon — b May 3, 2026