South Korea to Provide 3.1 Billion Won in Aid to Fish Farmers Hit by Cold-Water Losses The government has provided 3.1 billion won in support to fishing households that suffered losses from abnormal weather and other natural events. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Sunday that it provided disaster relief payments and loans to affected households on April 30 to help with recovery. Low water temperature refers to a sharp drop in sea-surface temperatures during winter cold snaps. Farmed species are vulnerable because their immunity weakens, while feed intake and dig May 3, 2026

Labor Strains at Samsung Electronics, Samsung Biologics Raise Questions About Internal Cohesion Labor disputes erupting at Samsung Electronics, the world’s fourth-largest information technology company, and Samsung Biologics, the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biopharmaceuticals, are more than routine wage talks. They underscore structural tensions inside the Samsung group as it enters the early stage of the artificial intelligence era. While Samsung is viewed externally as a top-tier global company, internal interests and workplace order are May 3, 2026

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Jung-sik resigns as presidential aide to seek National Assembly speaker post Cho Jung-sik, a Democratic Party lawmaker running in the race for speaker of the National Assembly in the second half of the 22nd Assembly, said Saturday he will resign as presidential special adviser for political affairs. In a Facebook post, Cho said he was stepping down from the post under President Lee Jae-myung to pursue what he called a “bolder path,” pledging to move toward a “people’s sovereignty National Assembly” and a “livelihood-focused National Assembly.” Cho said that sin May 3, 2026

‘Super Mario Galaxy’ Holds No. 1 at Korea Box Office for Second Straight Day The film 'Super Mario Galaxy' continued its holiday run at the top of the Korean box office, holding the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive day. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing network, the movie drew 157,843 admissions the previous day to remain No. 1. Total attendance reached 499,472. The film opened April 29 and has been gaining momentum over the May holiday period, attracting family audiences. 'Super Mario Galaxy' follows brothers Ma May 3, 2026

Reform Party’s Cho Eung-cheon calls Seoul-area candidates meeting over special counsel bill Cho Eung-cheon, the Reform Party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor, on May 3 criticized a Democratic Party-backed bill to appoint a special counsel to probe alleged “fabricated indictments,” calling it “a special counsel bill to cancel indictments” and “a bill to erase crimes” aimed at covering up “all of President Lee Jae-myung’s offenses.” He proposed an emergency joint meeting of Seoul-area candidates for metropolitan government posts. Speaking at a morning news conference at the Nati May 3, 2026

KB Financial Discusses Digital Asset Cooperation With Pantera Capital KB Financial Group said Saturday it discussed ways to cooperate in blockchain with Pantera Capital, a U.S. blockchain-focused venture capital firm and hedge fund. Founded in 2003, Pantera Capital launched the first U.S. bitcoin fund in 2013 and specializes in blockchain investments. It currently manages about $5.2 billion in assets. The two sides shared the latest trends in the global blockchain industry and looked for areas that align with KB Financial’s digital asset agenda, the compan May 3, 2026

PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Slams Ruling Party’s Special Counsel Bill to Drop Charges Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, on May 3 criticized a bill introduced by the Democratic Party to create a special counsel empowered to cancel prosecutions, calling it “like a thief appointing the police.” Speaking at a news conference at the National Assembly, Song said it would amount to “police appointed by a thief trying to make the thief’s crime disappear.” He said President Lee Jae-myung had insisted he was the target of a “fabricated indictment” and pushed a p May 3, 2026

Why AKMU’s ‘Paradise of Rumors’ Is Striking a Nerve in an Exhausted Korea “Weary and sick traveler, lonely traveler, your incurable illness cannot exist there.” (omitted) “Walk slowly, for a long time, to Paradise of Rumors.” (lyrics excerpt from ‘Paradise of Rumors’) One of the quietest songs to move people lately is, unusually, very slow. There are few trendy electronic sounds and no punchy hook. Instead, there is an old guitar tone and a voice that feels like wind. It settles on the listener, very gradually, like late-afternoon light slipping through a window. May 3, 2026

Trump Signals Deeper Cuts to U.S. Troops Stationed in Germany Beyond 5,000 The U.S. military has announced plans to cut about 5,000 troops stationed in Germany, and President Donald Trump suggested the reduction could be even larger. CNN reported that Trump told reporters in Florida on Friday, before boarding Air Force One, that the United States would “reduce troops significantly” and cut “much more” than 5,000. His comments came less than a day after the Pentagon said it would withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months. Trump had May 3, 2026

LG Electronics Wins 27 Red Dot Design Awards, Including Top Prize for OLED evo W6 LG Electronics said Saturday it won 27 prizes at the Red Dot Design Award 2026, including a top honor. The Red Dot Design Award is considered one of the world’s three major design prizes, along with the iF Design Award and IDEA. LG Electronics also won 26 prizes at the iF Design Award 2026 in February. The company said products recognized then included the LG CLOiD home robot, designed to fit into home environments and interact by responding to facial expressions, voice and gestures, and May 3, 2026