South Korea Exports Top $80B for Second Straight Month on AI Chip Surge South Korea’s exports stayed above $80 billion for a second straight month in April, extending the momentum after first crossing the threshold in March, led by a sharp rise in semiconductor shipments tied to the global boom in artificial intelligence. With the Middle East war sending shock waves across industries, exports are being seen as a key support for the economy. According to Yonhap, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy released April trade figures on Thursday. Exports r May 1, 2026

Holiday Weekend Forecast: Cool Mornings, Highs Up to 26C; Dry Air and Poor Dust in Seoul Area Saturday, the second day of the holiday weekend, is expected to bring chilly mornings and evenings but warmer conditions during the day. Yonhap News Agency reported Friday that morning lows are forecast at 8C to 16C, with daytime highs of 19C to 26C. Temperatures are expected to vary by about 15C between day and night, and starting on the 3rd, readings are forecast to fall below seasonal averages. With dry weather alerts in effect, the air will be very dry in Seoul, inland parts of the May 1, 2026

Busan mayoral race tight as voters split between change and conservative unity With the June 3 Busan mayoral election approaching, voter sentiment appears split with no clear direction, clouding the outlook. The contest is taking shape as a clash between calls for a change in government and appeals for conservatives to unite, with televised debates and the Buk-gu Gap by-election emerging as key variables. Democratic Party candidate Jeon Jae-su and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon plan to face off in at least three TV debates before Election Day: May 12 May 1, 2026

Hanwha Solutions Rights Offering Stalled as Regulators Seek More Disclosure Hanwha Solutions’ plan for a rights offering has been held up after financial regulators repeatedly demanded revisions. Even after the company cut the size and resubmitted the filing, it was blocked twice, underscoring that the issue goes beyond paperwork. The episode shows that corporate fundraising is no longer treated simply as a matter of raising money, but as a test of market trust and disclosure. A rights offering is a basic way for companies to strengthen capital. Raising funds to reduc May 1, 2026

Lesson From Korea Mine Reclamation Corp.’s Boleo Exit: Overseas Resource Investment Needs Clear Rules After investing 3 trillion won, it exited for about 2,900 won. By the numbers alone, the outcome is shocking and, judged only by the result, a clear failure. The Mexico Boleo copper mine project involving the Korea Mine Reclamation Corp. ended with a withdrawal that effectively wiped out most of the investment. The case is more than a bad deal; it highlights where South Korea’s approach to overseas resource development broke down. But drawing the conclusion that South Korea should scale back o May 1, 2026

Regulator’s warning to Lotte Card CEO signals tougher accountability for data breaches South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service has reportedly decided on a business suspension and an administrative fine for Lotte Card over a large-scale customer data leak, and also issued a disciplinary warning to former CEO Cho Jwa-jin. Holding a top executive responsible in a financial-sector data breach carries clear symbolic weight. It signals that security failures will not be treated solely as an IT department mistake or only as the work of outside hackers. In many past incident May 1, 2026

NH NongHyup Bank’s 500 billion won capital raise puts focus on corporate lending strategy NH NongHyup Bank is pursuing a 500 billion won capital increase as it moves to expand corporate finance. The bank aims to build capital in advance to increase corporate lending and narrow the gap with top-tier commercial banks. Strengthening capital while supporting the real economy is a sound direction. The question is whether the move ends as simple balance-sheet expansion or becomes a responsible growth strategy. Debate over “share dilution” misses the point. NongHyup Bank is not list May 1, 2026

Korea Resorts Sell Out for May Holiday as Operators Push On-Site Experiences As the May holiday stretch began on May 1, South Korea’s resort industry reported a surge in demand, with many properties effectively sold out. With one day of leave on May 4, travelers can take up to five days off, and many family travelers have shifted to domestic trips amid a strong exchange rate and sharply higher airline fuel surcharges. Resort operators said they are focusing on programs that make on-site spending feel worthwhile, moving beyond simple lodging toward “all-inclusive”, May 1, 2026

Apple’s iPhone Sales Miss Expectations as Chip Shortage Highlights Supply-Chain Risks Apple posted record revenue for the January-March quarter, but iPhone sales fell short of market expectations because of a semiconductor supply crunch. Apple said revenue rose 17% from a year earlier to $111.18 billion. Still, iPhone revenue came in slightly below forecasts, and CEO Tim Cook said limited flexibility in the chip supply chain constrained sales. The results underscored that even companies with deep pockets and strong procurement networks are not immune to supply disruptions. May 1, 2026

Shin Bong-gil: India Is Korea’s Manufacturing Base, Market and Strategic Partner South Korea’s diplomatic map is shifting. For decades, Seoul operated within a so-called “four-power diplomacy” centered on the United States, China, Japan and Russia — shaped by the peninsula’s division, the U.S.-South Korea alliance, economic dependence on China, historical disputes with Japan and outreach to Russia. But today’s international environment no longer fits that frame. U.S.-China strategic rivalry has become prolonged, supply chains are being recast in security terms, and the wars May 1, 2026