Insurers’ K-ICS Solvency Ratios Improve as Higher Rates Cut Liabilities Major insurers affiliated with financial holding groups posted broadly improved K-ICS solvency ratios in the first quarter, helped by rising interest rates that reduced insurance liabilities and by additional capital raising, the industry said. According to the insurance industry on Tuesday, Tongyang Life’s first-quarter K-ICS ratio rose to 185.8% from 127.2% a year earlier. KB Insurance’s ratio increased to 188%, while Shinhan Life and KB Life improved to about 200% and 277%, respective April 29, 2026

Seoul Apartment Listings Diverge Ahead of Capital Gains Tax Surcharge Deadline With the deadline 10 days away for the end of a temporary suspension of heavier capital gains taxes on home sales, Seoul’s apartment market is showing a sharper split in how quickly listings are being cleared. In the Han River belt and outer districts, bargain-priced homes are being snapped up by end users, while transactions in the Gangnam area have largely stalled. According to the real estate big-data platform Asil, Seoul had 72,699 apartment listings as of the previous day. That is do April 29, 2026

DL E&C Stake in X-energy Jumps After Nasdaq IPO, Nearly Sixfold in Three Years DL E&C said its stake in U.S. small modular reactor developer X-energy has surged in value after the company’s successful Nasdaq listing, rising nearly sixfold in about three years. DL E&C said Tuesday that the value of its holdings increased to about 172 billion won after X-energy’s initial public offering. The stake was worth $20 million (about 30 billion won) when DL E&C joined X-energy’s Series C round in January 2023, meaning the value has grown about 5.7 times. The gain followed April 29, 2026

Korea’s Completed Unsold Homes Top 30,000 as Mid- to Large-Size Units Pile Up Outside Seoul Completed but unsold homes nationwide — often called “distressed” inventory — have topped 30,000 units, with unsold stock rising fastest in non-capital regions and in mid- to large-size housing, deepening structural imbalances in the market. An analysis of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s unsold-housing data for the past five years showed that as of February, completed but unsold homes stood at 31,307 units, setting a record high for the sixth straight month. Their sha April 29, 2026

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young Pledges Policy Support for Energy Shift National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young said on the 29th that he would do his best to reflect voices from the field in national policy so South Korea can move toward becoming a global leader in energy. Speaking at the '2026 Aju News Energy Forum' at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Lee said the National Assembly would not spare legislative and institutional support needed for a successful energy transition and for building firm energy security. Lee called the reshaping April 29, 2026

U.S. Blocks Chipmaking Equipment Exports to China’s Hua Hong, Tightening AI Chip Curbs U.S. authorities have moved to block equipment exports to Hua Hong, China’s No. 2 semiconductor foundry, raising pressure in the race over artificial intelligence chips. The step comes at a sensitive time ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China in May. U.S. blocks equipment exports over concerns about advanced processes Reuters reported on April 28 that the Commerce Department recently sent letters to U.S. equipment makers including Lam Research, Applied Materials and K April 29, 2026

People Power Party Nominates Ahn Gyo-jae for Suwon Mayor, Park Tae-kyung for Hwaseong Mayor The People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee on April 28 finalized Ahn Gyo-jae as its candidate for Suwon special city mayor and Park Tae-kyung as its candidate for Hwaseong special city mayor. Committee Chair Park Deok-heum told reporters at the party's central headquarters in Seoul's Yeouido that the committee had completed the vote count for the internal primaries to pick the Suwon and Hwaseong mayoral nominees. Park also outlined the next steps for National Assembly by-e April 29, 2026

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