Samsung Biologics union launches first full strike as labor dispute escalates Samsung Biologics’ labor union began its first full strike since the company’s founding, intensifying a standoff in which both sides are trading blame. The union says management is responsible and is urging talks, while the company is calling for restraint and warning of heavy losses. Yonhap reported May 1 that the Samsung Biologics branch union will hold a five-day full strike from May 1 through May 5. Rather than a traditional walkout, members are participating by using annual l May 1, 2026

Alleged Supplier to ‘Drug Kingpin’ Park Wang-yeol Deported From Thailand to South Korea A man in his 50s accused of supplying drugs to Park Wang-yeol, described by police as a “drug kingpin,” has been arrested in Thailand and sent back to South Korea, authorities said. Investigators said securing the alleged key supplier will help expand the probe into the broader distribution network. The National Police Agency said Choi, 51, arrived at Incheon International Airport on May 1. Wearing a hat and mask, he was escorted by officers and did not answer reporters’ questions before May 1, 2026

Novelist Ye Sun-young Reimagines Queen Soheon in the 1426 Great Hanseong Fire Ye Sun-young is a writer who moved from the front lines of record-keeping to the work of fiction. As a reporter, he spent years chasing events and verifying facts, documenting the surface of history. In that process, he says, he found another truth: Records are never complete, and many people disappear without ever being written down. His fiction begins in that gap. Between the lines of the Annals, beneath the numbers in statistics, and in the margins of history books are people who existed but May 1, 2026

Lee Jae-myung urges end to 'pro-labor vs. pro-business' divide in Labor Day speech President Lee Jae-myung said Thursday that South Korea can move toward a better future only by breaking what he called an outdated binary that “pro-labor is anti-business” and “pro-business is anti-labor.” Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Blue House, Lee said he would “open a path of shared growth where labor and business move forward together.” Lee said growth that leaves no future for workers — who make up most of the public — “cannot be called real growth.” He described worke May 1, 2026

Lee Jae-myung Says Growth Without Labor Is ‘Only Half’ as He Marks Labor Day President Lee Jae-myung said May 1 that “growth with labor is growth with a future,” calling for a sustainable economy built on respect between workers and companies. Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Cheong Wa Dae State Guest House, Lee said respect for labor “is not simply a matter of consideration or charity.” “Growth without labor is only half, and it is not sustainable,” he said, pledging to build “a cooperative ecosystem” in which labor and management respect each other and May 1, 2026

South Korea Exports Top $80B for Second Straight Month on AI Chip Surge South Korea’s exports stayed above $80 billion for a second straight month in April, extending the momentum after first crossing the threshold in March, led by a sharp rise in semiconductor shipments tied to the global boom in artificial intelligence. With the Middle East war sending shock waves across industries, exports are being seen as a key support for the economy. According to Yonhap, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy released April trade figures on Thursday. Exports r May 1, 2026

Holiday Weekend Forecast: Cool Mornings, Highs Up to 26C; Dry Air and Poor Dust in Seoul Area Saturday, the second day of the holiday weekend, is expected to bring chilly mornings and evenings but warmer conditions during the day. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that morning lows are forecast at 8C to 16C, with daytime highs of 19C to 26C. Temperatures are expected to vary by about 15C between day and night, and starting on the 3rd, readings are forecast to fall below seasonal averages. With dry weather alerts in effect, the air will be very dry in Seoul, inland parts of the May 1, 2026

Busan mayoral race tight as voters split between change and conservative unity With the June 3 Busan mayoral election approaching, voter sentiment appears split with no clear direction, clouding the outlook. The contest is taking shape as a clash between calls for a change in government and appeals for conservatives to unite, with televised debates and the Buk-gu Gap by-election emerging as key variables. Democratic Party candidate Jeon Jae-su and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon plan to face off in at least three TV debates before Election Day: May 12 May 1, 2026

Hanwha Solutions Rights Offering Stalled as Regulators Seek More Disclosure Hanwha Solutions’ plan for a rights offering has been held up after financial regulators repeatedly demanded revisions. Even after the company cut the size and resubmitted the filing, it was blocked twice, underscoring that the issue goes beyond paperwork. The episode shows that corporate fundraising is no longer treated simply as a matter of raising money, but as a test of market trust and disclosure. A rights offering is a basic way for companies to strengthen capital. Raising funds to reduc May 1, 2026

Lesson From Korea Mine Reclamation Corp.’s Boleo Exit: Overseas Resource Investment Needs Clear Rules After investing 3 trillion won, it exited for about 2,900 won. By the numbers alone, the outcome is shocking and, judged only by the result, a clear failure. The Mexico Boleo copper mine project involving the Korea Mine Reclamation Corp. ended with a withdrawal that effectively wiped out most of the investment. The case is more than a bad deal; it highlights where South Korea’s approach to overseas resource development broke down. But drawing the conclusion that South Korea should scale back o May 1, 2026