Court Extends Suspension of Detention for Unification Church Leader Han Hak-ja Citing Health A court has extended by one month the suspension of detention for Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, who was temporarily released citing worsening health. According to the legal community on the 30th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27, chaired by Presiding Judge Woo In-sung, decided the previous day to extend Han’s suspension of detention. A suspension of detention allows a defendant to be temporarily released when the court finds an urgent reason such as seriou April 30, 2026

EasyAI Pitches AI Video Safety System to Help Workers Get Home Safely EasyAI said it is proposing an AI-based safety management solution aimed at helping industrial workers return home safely, timed to May’s Family Month and Children’s Day. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s provisional results released last month on the “2025 status of fatal accidents subject to disaster investigation,” the number of workplace accident deaths covered by the investigation totaled 605 in 2025, up 16 from 589 a year earlier. By sector, construction accounted April 30, 2026

Rep. Kwak Sang-eon says he won’t be defined only as Roh Moo-hyun’s son-in-law Rep. Kwak Sang-eon of the Democratic Party has long been known by a single label: the son-in-law of late President Roh Moo-hyun. In an interview, he did not dodge the weight of that association. “I lived as Kwak Sang-eon, but the world often saw me as President Roh’s son-in-law,” he said. Kwak said that experience taught him, firsthand, what political power owes the public and left him with compassion for other people’s lives. But in the interview, Kwak presented himself as more than “Roh’s April 30, 2026

Seoul Apartment Prices Rise 0.14%; Seocho Joins Songpa in Turning Up Price declines eased in Seoul neighborhoods packed with high-end apartments, while gains also cooled in areas dominated by mid- to lower-priced units. After Songpa-gu turned higher last week, Seocho-gu also shifted into gains, as bargain listings dried up following the end of a suspension of heavier capital gains taxes on home sales. Seoul’s weekly apartment sale prices rose 0.14% in the fourth week of April, the Korea Real Estate Board said Thursday. In northern Seoul, gains slowed acr April 30, 2026

China’s top financial regulator Li Yunze reportedly demoted amid discipline probe China’s top financial regulator, Li Yunze, has reportedly been demoted over discipline violations. Li’s information was removed on April 29 from the “leadership” section of the official website of the National Financial Regulatory Administration. His last public appearance was on April 22 at a meeting on an all-out campaign to prevent and crack down on illegal financial activity. Hong Kong’s Ming Pao and other outlets reported that Li was internally dismissed on April 28 and is likely to April 30, 2026

Samsung Electronics Says HBM Sales to Triple in 2026, HBM4 to Top Half From Q3 Samsung Electronics said Thursday on its conference call for 2026 first-quarter results that it expects its high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, sales this year to surge to more than triple last year’s level. The company said it has secured “industry-leading” product competitiveness based on advanced processes and helped drive an upward revision in HBM4 performance specifications. “As customers adopt it, our outstanding performance is translating into a real premium,” the company said, addi April 30, 2026

Jang Dong-hyeok says South Korea is becoming a monarchy under Lee Jae-myung Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, stepped up his criticism of the ruling camp on April 30, saying South Korea was becoming a monarchy where “the state is me.” Speaking at a party Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Jang said that with “one word from President Lee Jae-myung,” the ruling party and government were “busy pushing things through without discussion or review.” Jang said Lee’s remark that “it is fair for nonregular workers to be paid more” was fo April 30, 2026

Subway to Raise Prices Starting May 7; 15 cm Sandwiches Up 210 Won on Average Subway will raise menu prices starting May 7, citing higher ingredient costs and rising operating burdens for franchisees. The sandwich chain said April 30 that the increases will apply to sandwiches, sides and drinks. For its best-selling 15 cm sandwiches sold a la carte, prices will rise by an average of 210 won, or about 2.8%. A la carte drinks and set menus will be adjusted by 100 won to 200 won. Among major 15 cm items, the Egg Mayo will increase to 6,200 w April 30, 2026

Fed Holds Rates as Dissent Rises, Complicating Bank of Korea’s Next Move The Federal Reserve again held its benchmark rate at 3.50% to 3.75%. While the decision signaled a pause, uncertainty over the policy path has deepened. At the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting, four members dissented — the largest number in 34 years — underscoring a break in the Fed’s usual unity. That split is quickly reverberating in Seoul, adding to the Bank of Korea’s policy challenge. The most striking feature of the decision was not the outcome but the division behind it. Four April 30, 2026

South Korea Says No Talks With U.S. on Cutting American Troops in Korea South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday there have been no discussions with the United States about reducing U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, after President Donald Trump said Washington is considering cutting forces in Germany. Asked about the issue at a regular briefing, ministry spokesperson Jeong Bitna said, "There have been no discussions at all between South Korea and the United States regarding a reduction of U.S. Forces Korea." She said the main mission o April 30, 2026