Taiwan’s Q1 GDP Growth Hits 13.69%, Highest Since 1987 on AI Chip Boom Taiwan’s economy posted 13% growth in the first quarter, fueled by a surge in demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors, marking its strongest pace in decades. According to Yonhap on Wednesday, Taiwan’s statistics agency, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, said first-quarter gross domestic product rose 13.69% from a year earlier. The figure topped the previous quarter and was the highest since 1987, far above market expectations in the 11% range. April 30, 2026

South Korea’s presidential office monitors Samsung Electronics as union strike nears As a Samsung Electronics union’s planned general strike draws closer, Cheong Wa Dae is closely tracking developments. Yonhap reported on Wednesday that the presidential office’s policy team recently prepared a report analyzing the potential impact on the South Korean economy if a strike at Samsung Electronics materializes. The report was prepared amid concerns that a walkout could ripple across multiple areas, given Samsung Electronics’ role in driving economic growth and a strong stock April 30, 2026

LG Energy Solution Seen Supplying BMW With More Than 10 Trillion Won in EV Batteries LG Energy Solution posted a first-quarter loss despite expectations for large orders, but analysts say it is laying groundwork for a rebound by expanding its electric-vehicle battery and energy storage system businesses. Yonhap reported on Wednesday that LG Energy Solution is expected to supply BMW with more than 10 trillion won worth of cylindrical batteries for electric vehicles. The batteries are expected to be used in BMW’s next-generation EVs, and the contract term is projected to ru April 30, 2026

Special Prosecutor, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Clash Over Records Request Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special prosecutor team and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have clashed head-on over the submission of records. Yonhap reported Thursday that the special prosecutor team said the acting prosecutor general refused its request for records and labeled the move an “obstruction of investigation,” asking the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary procedures. The team said it sent two official requests in March and April seeking inspection-related materia April 30, 2026

Democratic Party Picks Ha Jeong-woo, Jeon Eun-su for June 3 By-Elections The Democratic Party on the 30th made strategic nominations of Ha Jeong-woo, a former senior presidential secretary for AI Future Planning, in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district and Jeon Eun-su, a former presidential spokesperson, in South Chungcheong Province’s Asan Eul district for the June 3 by-elections. Senior party spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon told reporters at the National Assembly that Ha is a Busan native who spent his school years there, calling him the right person to carry on the cons April 30, 2026

Seoul mayoral rivals Jeong Won-oh and Oh Se-hoon roll out Labor Day pledges On April 30, a day before Labor Day, Seoul mayoral candidates Jeong Won-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party released labor pledges as they sought support from workers. Jeong said, “If Seoul runs on labor, the city government must also take responsibility for the time of working citizens,” as he unveiled proposals centered on expanding flexible work arrangements and supporting paid sick leave for freelancers. Under the banner of “Seoul, a special city that April 30, 2026

Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 Numbers Awaited as Winner Story Draws Attention "A long time ago, an ancestor appeared in my dream and gave me lottery numbers, but I thought, 'No way,' so I didn't buy them — and I actually missed the first prize." As interest builds in the Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 winning numbers on April 30, a winner's account from Draw 293 has drawn attention. The person won with one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets, according to a post on Donghaeng Lottery's winners' bulletin board. The winne April 30, 2026

Korea parliamentary probe ends; Democrats introduce special counsel bill, PPP pushes back A National Assembly special committee investigating allegations of politically driven, fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration effectively wrapped up its work on April 30, 42 days after it began, as the Democratic Party-led panel adopted its final report. The committee also voted to file complaints against 31 people on allegations including perjury. After the committee ended, the Democratic Party said it would “realize judicial justice” and introduced a special co April 30, 2026

LPGA’s Yoon Ina Apologizes for Remarks Blaming Caddie in Past Wrong-Ball Incident Yoon Ina has apologized after drawing criticism for comments she made in a local-media interview during the LPGA Tour major Chevron Championship about a past wrong-ball incident. In a statement released Thursday through her management company, Sema Sports Marketing, Yoon said she was not careful enough in how she described the situation in an interview ahead of the final round. “Because I was explaining it in an urgent situation right after the match, I was not careful in my wording durin April 30, 2026

Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to Back Up to 30 Biotech Startups at Songdo C-Lab Outside Samsung Biologics said Wednesday it plans to select and support biotech companies to join “C-Lab Outside” in Songdo in partnership with Eli Lilly. The company unveiled an operating roadmap for C-Lab Outside, which is scheduled to be established next year, at the “Bio Korea 2026” event. Lee Sang-myeong, executive director in charge of CDO development at Samsung Biologics, said Songdo International City is expected to grow into the world’s largest bio cluster by 2030 and called it an ideal April 30, 2026