Lee Jae-myung Marks Labor Day; Unions Rally, Exports Top $80B Again, PPP Picks By-Election Candidates 'Former child factory worker' Lee says growth without labor is only half a success Lee Jae-myung said Thursday, Labor Day, that “growth with labor is growth with a future.” Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Blue House’s Yeongbin-gwan, Lee said respect for labor “is not simply a matter of consideration or charity.” “Growth without labor is only half a success and is not sustainable,” he said, pledging to build “a win-win ecosystem” where labor and management can “respect e May 1, 2026

Democratic Party’s Jeong tours sites as PPP’s Jang wages online fight on holiday Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, and Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, took sharply different approaches on May 1, the first day of the holiday period. Jeong spent the day on the ground, while Jang kept no public schedule and continued his attacks on the ruling camp through social media. Jeong visited the Pyeongtaek Port Vessel Traffic Service Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and encouraged staff on duty. He then traveled to South Chungcheong Pr May 1, 2026

Japan Intervenes in FX Market for First Time in 22 Months; Media Estimate 5 Trillion Yen Buy Japan moved to support the yen by intervening in the foreign exchange market, selling U.S. dollars and buying yen. It was Japan’s first market intervention in about 22 months, since July 2024, when the yen-dollar rate rose to 161.7 yen. Kyodo News and other foreign media reported on May 1, citing a Japanese government official, that the government intervened on April 30. Japanese media, based on projections for the Bank of Japan’s current account balances, estimated the yen-buying opera May 1, 2026

Korea’s Two Biggest Labor Federations Rally on First Labor Day Holiday, Seek Stronger Rights Large labor rallies were held across central Seoul on May 1, Labor Day, as unions marked the first Labor Day since it was designated a public holiday for the first time in 63 years. The country’s two biggest labor federations called for stronger protections for workers’ basic rights. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) held a Labor Day event in Yeouido, while the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) staged its rally near Gwanghwamun Station. At the FKTU’s “136th World L May 1, 2026

Crowds Jam Seoul, Highways and Incheon Airport as 5-Day Holiday Begins; Pokemon Event Halted Crowds surged across Seoul, on expressways and at Incheon International Airport on the first day of a holiday stretch that can run as long as five days. In Seongsu-dong in Seoul’s Seongdong district, a 30th anniversary event for the Japanese anime and game franchise “Pokemon” drew such heavy foot traffic that police and firefighters were dispatched over safety concerns. According to the game industry, Pokemon Korea opened “Pokemon Mega Festa 2026” in the Seongsu area to mark the 30th an May 1, 2026

Investigators Suspect Gas Explosion in Uiwang Apartment Fire That Killed 2 Authorities said a gas explosion is the leading suspected cause of an apartment fire in Uiwang, south of Seoul, that killed two people and injured six others. Police, fire officials and the National Forensic Service inspected the unit on the 14th floor where the fire started and confirmed the kitchen gas valve was open, officials said. With no flammable materials found at the scene, they are presuming the blaze was triggered by a gas explosion. The fire broke out with an explosion abou May 1, 2026

People Power Party Nominates Lee Jin-sook, Lee Yong for June 3 By-elections; Park Min-sik to Face Primary The People Power Party on April 30 finalized candidates for seven of the districts holding June 3 parliamentary by-elections, including Daegu Dalseong. Lee Jin-sook, who previously served as chair of the Korea Communications Commission, was nominated in Daegu Dalseong, and Lee Yong, a former lawmaker, was nominated in Gyeonggi Province’s Hanam Gap. The party put nominations on hold in South Chungcheong’s Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang, where Chung Jin-suk, who previously served as presidential May 1, 2026

U.S. Tests Its Own War Rules as Trump Administration Cites Iran Ceasefire Wars are often launched in the name of principle, but when major powers act, they can also reshape the meaning of order itself. That is the argument now surrounding the Trump administration’s approach to the Iran war and its claim that military action can remain legitimate even at the edge of U.S. law and international norms. At the center is the War Powers Resolution, which requires a president to end military action within 60 days or obtain congressional approval if Congress has not authorize May 1, 2026

Funeral Begins for Cargo Truckers Union Member Killed at Jinju Logistics Center Rally Funeral rites began May 1, Labor Day, for a Cargo Truckers Union member who died at a rally outside the BGF Logistics CU distribution center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. Yonhap News Agency reported that the South Jeolla headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions set up a memorial altar that afternoon at a funeral home in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. The start of the funeral came 11 days after the union member was killed April 20 when struck while trying to block May 1, 2026

Lee Jae-myung says voice phishing losses down, vows to push toward zero President Lee Jae-myung, citing recent reports that voice phishing losses have fallen, said it was "truly fortunate" that public losses dropped in a short period and praised government workers for their efforts. In a post Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, Lee shared a news report saying voice phishing losses in January-March fell 45% from a year earlier, attributing the decline to results from arrests focused on higher-level figures. "This is thanks to the dedication of frontline public May 1, 2026