Korea Construction Groups Clash Over Expiring Small-Project Protections South Korea’s construction industry is heading toward a direct clash as a sunset clause approaches for a “protected segment” in the cross-entry market system. Specialty contractors are calling for permanent safeguards for their right to perform work directly, while general contractors argue the current framework should remain to promote fair competition. According to the Korea Research Institute for Construction Policy on Tuesday, Japan has maintained an “exclusive right” structure i April 29, 2026

FSS chief’s expense account disclosed for first time; averaged 2.09 million won a month over 8 months Details of official expenses used by Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Lee Chan-jin since taking office have been disclosed for the first time, with most spending tied to discussions on supervisory issues, staff encouragement and media briefings. According to financial authorities on the 29th, the FSS posted the governor’s expense-account records on its website the previous day. The disclosure covers eight months of spending from August last year, when Lee took office, through March t April 29, 2026

Regional Korean Banks Post Higher Profit as Delinquency Rates Surge Regional financial holding companies posted improved first-quarter results, but warning signs are flashing on asset quality as delinquency rates climbed to as much as four times the level at major commercial banks. According to the financial industry on April 29, BNK Financial Group is expected to report first-quarter net profit of 224.6 billion won, up 30.7% from a year earlier. JB Financial Group posted 166.1 billion won, up 2.1%, and iM Financial Group reported 154.5 billion won, up 0. April 29, 2026

South Korea’s Capital Gains Tax Surcharge Returns, but Many Landlords Hold On With the end of South Korea’s temporary suspension of heavier capital gains taxes just 10 days away, analysts say the market is tilting toward holding rather than selling. With tax burdens expected to approach an effective top rate of 80%, many multiple-home owners are seen choosing gifts to family members or long-term holding instead of listing properties. Government officials have signaled additional steps, including changes to the long-term holding deduction and a broader overhaul of p April 29, 2026

Nvidia Executive Visits Doosan Robotics to Discuss Industrial Humanoid Commercialization Doosan Robotics and Nvidia are teaming up to prepare for the next phase of humanoid robotics. Doosan Group said on the 29th that Madison Hwang, Nvidia’s senior director for Omniverse and robotics product marketing, visited the Doosan Robotics Innovation Center in Bundang-gu, Seongnam, and met with Doosan Robotics CEO Kim Min-pyo to discuss technical cooperation between the two companies. The visit was arranged to explore how Nvidia’s AI and robotics ecosystem could be applied to Doosan Ro April 29, 2026

Philip Morris Korea Names Heated-Tobacco Specialist Lee Hong-seok as New CEO Philip Morris Korea has appointed an internal marketing and strategy executive to lead its push for a “smoke-free future,” naming Lee Hong-seok, head of its smoke-free products business, as its next chief executive. The company said Tuesday that Lee, currently director in charge of smoke-free products, will become CEO effective May 1. Lee joined Philip Morris Korea in 1999 and has spent more than 25 years across key roles, the company said, earning recognition for results in domestic April 29, 2026

Japan Pushes Defense Spending Hike While Pursuing Tax Cuts, Subsidies Japan is pursuing an unusual fiscal course: sharply increasing defense spending while also pushing consumption-tax cuts and continuing subsidies, according to a report by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, or Nikkei, on April 28. With the Donald Trump administration pressing allies to spend more on defense, many major countries are seeking new revenue or cutting other outlays to pay for it. Japan, by contrast, is trying to do both — fund “guns” and “butter” at the same time, the report said. A April 29, 2026

EcoPro BM Q1 Operating Profit Jumps 823% as ESS Cathode Sales Rise EcoPro BM said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that it posted first-quarter consolidated revenue of 605.4 billion won and operating profit of 20.9 billion won. Revenue fell 3.9% from a year earlier, while operating profit surged 822.6%. The company attributed the results to increased cathode material supply for electric vehicles in Europe and rising global demand for energy storage systems driven by the spread of AI infrastructure. Sales of cathode materials for ESS used to provide st April 29, 2026

Blue House Unveils Plan to Strengthen Civil Service, Including Fast-Track Promotions The Blue House said April 29 it will pursue a broad overhaul to strengthen the civil service, including training specialist officials, revamping promotion systems and expanding recruitment from the private sector. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik told a briefing at the Blue House press center that the government needs stronger expertise and skills among public officials “not only to overcome emergency situations, but to turn crises into opportunities and make a leap forward.” April 29, 2026

Rep. Park Hyeong-su urges balanced expansion of renewables and nuclear power Rep. Park Hyeong-su of the People Power Party said South Korea needs a major shift to an “energy mix” that can deliver both stable power supplies and carbon reductions, calling for balanced expansion of renewable energy and nuclear power. In written remarks for the “2026 Ajunews Energy Forum” held Tuesday at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Park said the country should not repeat “past mistakes” of concentrating national capacity on a single energy source based on ideology or bloc April 29, 2026