Samsung Electronics union sees surge in resignations amid dispute over bonus demands Resignations from a Samsung Electronics labor union are rising, led by members outside the company’s semiconductor division, as complaints grow that the union’s performance-bonus demands favor chip workers. The union has warned of an 18-day general strike starting on the 21st, and a decision to keep dues automatically deducted during the dispute has brought long-simmering grievances into the open. Industry officials said that posts seeking to withdraw from the Samsung Electronics branc May 3, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group wins 7 US News awards for 2026 hybrids and EVs Hyundai Motor Group said it captured more than one-third of the awards in a major U.S. media outlet’s hybrid and electric vehicle rankings, underscoring its competitiveness in North America’s electrified-vehicle market. The group said it aims to build on that quality reputation as it posts record sales in the region. The automaker said Saturday that it won seven of 19 categories in U.S. News & World Report’s “2026 Best Hybrid and Electric Cars Awards.” U.S. News evaluated 138 vehicle May 3, 2026

Lee Si-jong: Local election candidates should win on results, not vote-seeking “With the June 3 local elections about a month away, candidates should guard against excessive ambition and talk about their region’s future,” Lee Si-jong said. Voters will choose provincial governors, mayors and county chiefs, local council members and superintendents of education. The vote will shape local administrative priorities, budgets, industrial strategy, welfare and education for the next four years, he said. Lee, described in the interview as a former North Chungcheong Province govern May 3, 2026

Kim Jong Un Tells Youth ‘Steel-Like Fighting Strength’ Is Source of National Pride Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s chairman of the State Affairs Commission, met with young people and urged them to play a larger role in advancing the state and strengthening loyalty to the system. According to Yonhap, the Korean Central News Agency reported May 3 that Kim met the previous day with participants in the 11th congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, a youth organization affiliated with the ruling Workers’ Party, and posed for a commemorative photo. KCNA said Kim was ac May 3, 2026

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon Holds Weekly Seoul Rally After Visiting Yoon; U.S. Warns on Hormuz Fees 'Yoon visit' Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon holds weekly Gwanghwamun rally, says martial law possible On May 2, Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon held a rally in central Seoul after visiting former President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to Yonhap News Agency. Jeon’s group, the Korea Restoration National Movement Headquarters, began the rally at 11:30 a.m. near the Dongwha Duty Free Shop in the Gwanghwamun area. About 6,000 people attended, based on an unofficial police estimate, waving South Korean and May 2, 2026

South Korea’s Cho Hyun urges safe passage for ships in Strait of Hormuz in call with Iran South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by phone Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss the situation in the Middle East. It was the third call between the two ministers since the U.S.-Iran war began Feb. 28. The ministry said the call was made at Iran’s request. The two exchanged views on regional developments. Araghchi outlined Iran’s position on talks between the United States and Iran. Cho said he hoped peace and stability May 2, 2026

People Power Party Scraps Ethics Meeting as Jeong Jin-seok Nomination Dispute Grows The People Power Party is facing widening internal conflict over former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Jeong Jin-seok’s application to seek the party’s nomination in the Chungnam Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang by-election. The party’s ethics committee had planned to meet on May 2 to discuss Jeong’s request to rejoin the party, but abruptly canceled the session. Jeong applied for the nomination and also filed to be reinstated. The committee had been expected to review whether to grant an exce May 2, 2026

South Korea to Assess Impact of Trump Plan to Raise U.S. Tariffs on EU Cars The presidential office said Friday it is tracking developments after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on passenger cars and trucks from the European Union, and that it will analyze any impact on South Korea and respond accordingly. An official said the government has been continuously monitoring follow-up steps to the U.S.-EU tariff agreement. The official said Seoul is also in frequent, close communication with Washington on follow-up measures tied to the May 2, 2026

Korean Court Sentences Teen to Prison for Newborn’s Death After Toilet Birth A teenager who gave birth in a toilet at her home and then left the newborn unattended, leading to the baby’s death, has been sentenced to prison. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 11, presided over by Chief Judge Song Byeong-hun, sentenced the girl, identified only as A, to an indeterminate term of 2 years to 2 years and 6 months for child abuse resulting in death. The court also ordered her to complete 40 hours of a child-abuse treatmen May 2, 2026

Online Reactions Follow Reported Prison Update on Jeon Cheong-jo, Jailed for Fraud An update on Jeon Cheong-jo, who is imprisoned on fraud charges involving about 3 billion won, has drawn a wave of online reaction. A video titled “Reading updates on notorious criminals in prison” was posted April 30 on the YouTube channel “Ilkda.” The video includes accounts from inmates who said they lived with Jeon. One source, identified as A, claimed Jeon introduced themself as bisexual and said they had previously been pregnant and had lived with a man. The source also alleg May 2, 2026