Vietnam Jewelry Gold Demand Hits Record as Bullion Buying Slumps; PM Urges Less Hoarding Vietnam posted a record for gold jewelry demand in the first quarter, even as demand for gold bars and coins fell sharply, highlighting a split between consumer buying and investment flows. The government says it will continue to recognize citizens’ right to hold gold as an asset, while seeking to curb hoarding and speculation and steer money toward the real economy. Vietnamese media on April 30, citing the World Gold Council’s first-quarter report, said Vietnam’s gold jewelry demand tota April 30, 2026

Da Nang Apartment Presale Prices Jump as New Supply Shifts to Luxury Units Da Nang’s apartment market is increasingly centered on high-end and luxury projects, pushing prices higher even as sales show signs of slowing amid high borrowing costs. All newly launched units were in the luxury segment, and presale prices posted double-digit gains, Vietnamese media reported Thursday, citing industry data. CBRE said 100% of apartments newly introduced in Da Nang in the first quarter were luxury units. The average initial presale price was about 83 million dong per squar April 30, 2026

Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Seeks Discipline of Acting Prosecutor General for Alleged Probe Obstruction Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special prosecutor team has asked the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary proceedings against Ku Ja-hyeon, the acting prosecutor general, over alleged obstruction of its investigation. According to legal sources on the 30th, the team requested that the ministry open discipline procedures against Ku and others in connection with what it described as interference with the comprehensive special prosecutor’s probe. In a notice to the media, the tea April 30, 2026

Samsung Electro-Mechanics tops 3 trillion won in first-quarter sales on AI demand Samsung Electro-Mechanics said it posted record quarterly results, with sales topping 3 trillion won for the first time, helped by expanding demand tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company said momentum is expected to continue in the second quarter, led by higher-value industrial and automotive products. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the company reported first-quarter consolidated sales of 3.2091 trillion won and operating profit of 280.6 billion won. Sales ros April 30, 2026

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Pledges Citywide Mental Health Plan to Fight Loneliness Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s candidate for Seoul mayor, said April 30 he would pursue a policy package called “Seoul Mind Fitness Recovery” so that “Seoul residents can be healthy not only in body but also in mind.” Oh announced the mental health pledge at the Seoul Mind Convenience Store Gwanak branch inside Seongmin Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Sillim-dong, saying he would “overwhelmingly complete” changes launched under the city’s “Loneliness-Free Seoul” policy initia April 30, 2026

LG Uplus to Retire 5.4 Million Treasury Shares in 80 Billion Won Cancellation LG Uplus said Wednesday it will cancel all about 5.4 million treasury shares it bought last year, as it moves to accelerate its “value-up plan” aimed at boosting shareholder value. In a regulatory filing, the company said it will cancel treasury stock worth about 80 billion won in book value on May 15. The cancellation covers all roughly 5.4 million shares acquired since last year, equal to 1.26% of total shares outstanding. LG Uplus previously canceled about 6.78 million shares, worth April 30, 2026

Democratic Party’s Lee Kwang-jae shrugs off ‘parachute nomination’ criticism in Hanam by-election bid Lee Kwang-jae, confirmed as the Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate for the June 3 parliamentary by-election in Gyeonggi Province’s Hanam Gap district, said he would take criticism over his nomination as a call to work harder for the area.  Responding to remarks by People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo of Bundang Gap, whom Lee faced in the 22nd general election, Lee said at a news conference at the National Assembly on April 30 that he would accept the criticism as meaning he should April 30, 2026

Court Extends Homeplus Restructuring Plan Deadline by Two Months as Express Sale Nears A South Korean court extended the deadline for Homeplus to win approval of its rehabilitation plan by about two months, citing progress in the sale of its Homeplus Express supermarket unit. The company is expected to sign a share purchase agreement, or SPA, with preferred bidder Harim Group (NS Home Shopping) as early as next week. The Seoul Rehabilitation Court’s Rehabilitation Division 4, headed by Chief Judge Jeong Jun-young, on Wednesday moved the approval deadline to July 3 April 30, 2026

BGF Logis, Cargo Truckers Union Reach Deal; Improvements to Apply to All Drivers BGF Logis, the logistics unit of BGF Retail, said it has reached a final agreement with the Cargo Truckers Union, ending a dispute that disrupted deliveries. In a statement released April 30, BGF Logis said talks with the union concluded that day and that the resulting improvements in working conditions will apply equally to all transport workers who work with the company, regardless of affiliation or union membership. The company said blockades at its logistics centers and ready-to April 30, 2026

Democratic Party Taps Kim Seong-beom as Third Recruitment Pick Ahead of June 3 By-Elections The Democratic Party on April 30 named Kim Seong-beom, a former vice minister of oceans and fisheries, as its third “talent recruitment” pick ahead of the June 3 parliamentary by-elections. Kim is widely expected to run in Seogwipo, Jeju, the seat vacated by Wi Seong-gon after Wi confirmed his bid for Jeju governor and resigned his lawmaker post. Kim said he wants to work for his hometown of Seogwipo. Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae introduced Kim at a National Assembly event, calling him “ April 30, 2026