How to Use Korea’s RIA Account as the Kospi Hits Record Highs Korea’s Domestic Market Return Account, known as the RIA, has marked its first month on the market, introduced to steer money back into local stocks. With the Kospi repeatedly setting record highs, investor interest in the account has also grown. Experts say investors should weigh the benefit structure, restrictions and the direction of the local market, rather than signing up solely for tax breaks. The RIA is a special account the government introduced on a limited-time basis this year t May 2, 2026

Theme Parks Roll Out Children’s Day Events With Safaris, MapleStory and Fireworks Major theme parks in South Korea are stepping up Children’s Day programming on May 5, offering expanded attractions, content tied to popular intellectual property and large-scale fireworks shows. ◆Everland targets families with revamped safari and kids club Everland is promoting an “Ever Kids Club” theme day aimed at children and parents. Across the park — including Panda World and Sky Garden Road — it is running 10 hands-on programs such as “Little Animal Explorers” and “French Little C May 2, 2026

Japan Steps In to Support Yen, Sending Dollar Rate From 160s to 155s Until the day before, many in the market had played down the likelihood of intervention. Within a day, that view flipped. Japan’s government and the Bank of Japan moved on April 30 to curb yen weakness, buying yen and selling dollars. The Nikkei newspaper reported the yen slid into the high 160s per dollar during trading, then fell to the 155 range within hours, a swing of about 5 yen. A Japanese government official also acknowledged the intervention to Nikkei. It was the first such act May 1, 2026

KT Wiz First to 20 Wins, Hold 1.5-Game Lead Over LG in KBO KT Wiz became the first team to reach 20 wins this season, beating the Kia Tigers 4-3 on Thursday in Gwangju. KT improved to 20-9 and maintained a 1.5-game lead over second-place LG Twins (18-10). KT led 2-0 after scoring in the third and fourth innings, then traded runs with Kia to go up 3-1. Kia tied it 3-3 on Kim Do-yeong’s RBI single in the sixth and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. In the ninth, Jang Seong-woo delivered the go-ahead single to right with one out and runners on f May 1, 2026

Lee Jae-myung Marks Labor Day; Unions Rally, Exports Top $80B Again, PPP Picks By-Election Candidates 'Former child factory worker' Lee says growth without labor is only half a success Lee Jae-myung said Thursday, Labor Day, that “growth with labor is growth with a future.” Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Blue House’s Yeongbin-gwan, Lee said respect for labor “is not simply a matter of consideration or charity.” “Growth without labor is only half a success and is not sustainable,” he said, pledging to build “a win-win ecosystem” where labor and management can “respect e May 1, 2026

Democratic Party’s Jeong tours sites as PPP’s Jang wages online fight on holiday Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, and Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, took sharply different approaches on May 1, the first day of the holiday period. Jeong spent the day on the ground, while Jang kept no public schedule and continued his attacks on the ruling camp through social media. Jeong visited the Pyeongtaek Port Vessel Traffic Service Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and encouraged staff on duty. He then traveled to South Chungcheong Pr May 1, 2026

Japan Intervenes in FX Market for First Time in 22 Months; Media Estimate 5 Trillion Yen Buy Japan moved to support the yen by intervening in the foreign exchange market, selling U.S. dollars and buying yen. It was Japan’s first market intervention in about 22 months, since July 2024, when the yen-dollar rate rose to 161.7 yen. Kyodo News and other foreign media reported on May 1, citing a Japanese government official, that the government intervened on April 30. Japanese media, based on projections for the Bank of Japan’s current account balances, estimated the yen-buying opera May 1, 2026

Korea’s Two Biggest Labor Federations Rally on First Labor Day Holiday, Seek Stronger Rights Large labor rallies were held across central Seoul on May 1, Labor Day, as unions marked the first Labor Day since it was designated a public holiday for the first time in 63 years. The country’s two biggest labor federations called for stronger protections for workers’ basic rights. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) held a Labor Day event in Yeouido, while the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) staged its rally near Gwanghwamun Station. At the FKTU’s “136th World L May 1, 2026

Crowds Jam Seoul, Highways and Incheon Airport as 5-Day Holiday Begins; Pokemon Event Halted Crowds surged across Seoul, on expressways and at Incheon International Airport on the first day of a holiday stretch that can run as long as five days. In Seongsu-dong in Seoul’s Seongdong district, a 30th anniversary event for the Japanese anime and game franchise “Pokemon” drew such heavy foot traffic that police and firefighters were dispatched over safety concerns. According to the game industry, Pokemon Korea opened “Pokemon Mega Festa 2026” in the Seongsu area to mark the 30th an May 1, 2026

Investigators Suspect Gas Explosion in Uiwang Apartment Fire That Killed 2 Authorities said a gas explosion is the leading suspected cause of an apartment fire in Uiwang, south of Seoul, that killed two people and injured six others. Police, fire officials and the National Forensic Service inspected the unit on the 14th floor where the fire started and confirmed the kitchen gas valve was open, officials said. With no flammable materials found at the scene, they are presuming the blaze was triggered by a gas explosion. The fire broke out with an explosion abou May 1, 2026