Ruling Party Panel Says Probe Found Prosecutorial Misconduct in Alleged Fabricated Indictments Democratic Party lawmakers serving on a National Assembly special committee investigating allegations of politically motivated, fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration reported on their work April 29, a day before the panel is set to end its activities. They also said they would push for a special prosecutor to pursue accountability. At a morning news briefing at the National Assembly, the committee said its probe had brought to light what it described as prosecutori April 29, 2026

Vietnam’s Sun Group Breaks Ground on Phan Thiet Airport Civilian Facilities Vietnam real estate and resort developer Sun Group began construction April 27 on the civilian-use portion of Phan Thiet Airport in central Lam Dong Province. Total project costs are expected to exceed 3.9 trillion dong (about 23.5 billion yen), with completion projected in 2028. Phan Thiet Airport will be a joint military-civil facility. Sun Phan Thiet Airport Co., a Sun Group unit, is responsible for developing the civilian section. The company will build an airport meeting the Internat April 29, 2026

Chernobyl at 40: Nuclear Power Recast as a Strategic Asset Amid Energy and AI Demand On April 26, 1986, the explosion of Unit 4 at the Soviet-era Chernobyl nuclear plant was more than an environmental disaster. The radioactive cloud darkened not only Europe’s soil but also public trust in nuclear power for a generation. In 2026, as the disaster reaches its 40th anniversary, the world is paradoxically turning back toward nuclear energy. Geopolitical instability in the Middle East continues to rattle energy markets, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed Europe’s energy-se April 29, 2026

WSJ: Trump Tells Aides to Prepare to Extend Iran Maritime Blockade President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare to extend a maritime blockade on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported April 28, citing sources. The report said Trump is leaning toward keeping economic pressure on Iran through the blockade as he seeks a decisive victory but lacks a clear exit strategy. According to the report, Trump favored maintaining economic pressure through the blockade and related measures in a series of recent meetings, including a Situation Room session on April 29, 2026

China’s March Smartphone Shipments Fall 6.3%, Down for Fourth Straight Month China’s domestic smartphone shipments in March 2026 fell 6.3% from a year earlier to 20.087 million units, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a think tank under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The pace of decline narrowed by 6.3 percentage points from the previous month, but shipments fell for a fourth consecutive month. Total mobile phone shipments, including smartphones, dropped 7.1% to 21.15 million units. Domestic brands a April 29, 2026

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok unveils regional economy, livelihood pledges Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, announced region-specific pledges on the 29th, saying he would revive local economies and people’s livelihoods with policies that “open up” opportunities rather than “block” them. Speaking at a news conference at the National Assembly, Jang said he would “energize regional economies so that people’s lives improve.” He said South Korea’s economy faces an “unprecedented crisis,” citing surging prices and a falling potential growth rate, April 29, 2026

South Korea to Accept Voluntary Pet Dog Registration Reports Through June South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Tuesday it will run a first voluntary reporting period for animal registration through June and then carry out intensified enforcement in July. Under the Animal Protection Act, pet dogs aged 2 months or older must be registered with the local government. Owners who fail to register or do not report changes may face administrative fines of up to 1 million won or up to 500,000 won. Fines will be waived for those who re April 29, 2026

South Korea’s Official Apartment Prices Rise 9.13% in 2026; Seoul Up 18.60% The nationwide average of South Korea’s officially assessed prices for multi-family housing rose 9.13% from a year earlier, the Land Ministry said Tuesday, finalizing figures that affect property-related taxes. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it will publish the assessed prices on April 30 for 15.85 million households nationwide, calculated as of Jan. 1. The final numbers reflect a public review and opinion-gathering period held from March 18 to April 6 for April 29, 2026

Registration Opens for 2026 Seoul Foreigners Palace Walk, Set for May 31 The 2026 Seoul Foreigners Palace Walk, hosted by Aju Media Group (Aju Economy·ABC·AJP), will be held May 31 at the Play Yard of Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Registration opens on the 29th on a first-come, first-served basis. The event brings together foreign residents, international students, tourists and local citizens to walk through major palaces and traditional cultural sites in downtown Seoul. The roughly 7-kilometer route starts at Gwanghwamun Square and pass April 29, 2026

Siwoo Law Firm Signs MOU With China’s Jiangsu Tianni Law Firm Siwoo Law Firm has expanded its on-the-ground legal cooperation network in China by signing a strategic memorandum of understanding with TIANNI Law Firm, based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Siwoo said it signed the MOU on the 20th at its Seoul office in Seocho-dong. Attorney Ryu Seung-ho of Siwoo and Managing Attorney Zhang Zhihua of Tianni attended the ceremony and signed the agreement. Ryu oversees international work at Siwoo and handles legal matters involving greater China. Zhang serves as April 29, 2026