Prosecutors Drop Case Alleging Preferential Treatment in Korea Gas Corp. Site Development Tied to President Lee President Lee Jae-myung’s case stemming from allegations of preferential treatment in the development of a Korea Gas Corp. site in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, has been closed without indictment after three years. Yonhap News reported Monday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3 dismissed the complaint on April 17. The case alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of others’ exercise of rights and dereliction of duty. The allegations April 27, 2026

Appeal Opens in Yoon Suk Yeol Insurrection Ringleader Case; Defense Challenges Special Court Law Yoon Suk Yeol’s appeal trial on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection tied to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law began on the 27th. The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1 held the first pretrial hearing in Yoon’s case that day. Proceedings also began for seven senior military and police officials indicted with him, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho. Defendants are not required to attend pretrial hear April 27, 2026

Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Term for Park Sung-jae in Martial Law Insurrection Case Park Sung-jae, a former justice minister indicted on charges of participating in insurrection-related crimes tied to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration and acting on an alleged request involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, was asked to be sentenced to 20 years in prison. At a closing hearing Monday before the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok requested the sentence for Park on charges including playing a key role in an insurrecti April 27, 2026

Special counsel seeks 20 years for Park Sung-jae over martial law role, alleged Kim Keon-hee favor Special counsel prosecutors on Sunday sought a 20-year prison term for Park Sung-jae, a former justice minister on trial for allegedly taking part in the Dec. 3 martial law episode and acting on a request tied to an investigation involving first lady Kim Keon-hee. The team led by special counsel Cho Eun-seok asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-kwan, to sentence Park to 20 years in prison on charges including playing a key role in a April 27, 2026

South Korea Unveils Slogan for Kim Gu’s 150th Birth Anniversary UNESCO Commemoration “My Wish, Culture of Peace.” Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Monday convened the Lee Jae-myung government’s first National Patriots and Veterans Committee meeting at the Government Complex Seoul. The committee finalized a plan to carry out commemorative projects for the UNESCO commemoration year marking the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth and announced the official slogan. The government chose “My Wish, Culture of Peace” to underscore what it ca April 27, 2026

Mirae Asset Securities Seen Leading Q1 Operating Profit on SpaceX Valuation Gain A shift may be underway in the race for the top spot between Korea Investment & Securities and Mirae Asset Securities. After trailing for three straight years, Mirae Asset is increasingly seen as likely to reclaim the lead in first-quarter operating profit, helped by gains tied to its SpaceX investment. Attention is also turning to whether the annual ranking could flip as well. Financial data provider FnGuide said Monday that Mirae Asset’s consolidated first-quarter operating profit April 27, 2026

Democratic Party Picks Lee Kwang-jae, Kim Yong-nam and Kim Nam-kuk for Gyeonggi By-elections The Democratic Party said it has decided to make strategic nominations for upcoming by-elections in Gyeonggi province, naming Lee Kwang-jae, a former Gangwon governor, for Hanam Gap; Kim Yong-nam, a former lawmaker, for Pyeongtaek Eul; and Kim Nam-kuk, a former lawmaker, for Ansan Gap. Kang Jun-hyeon, the party’s chief spokesperson, told reporters after a meeting of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 27th that the committee appro April 27, 2026

LG Innotek, Samsung Electro-Mechanics defy seasonal slump on AI-driven demand LG Innotek and Samsung Electro-Mechanics are posting unusually strong results despite what is typically a seasonal lull for electronics parts makers, helped by an artificial intelligence-driven boost in demand. Steady smartphone camera-module sales and rising shipments of high-value semiconductor substrates used in AI data centers and servers are supporting growth. LG Innotek said in a regulatory filing on 27 that its first-quarter consolidated revenue rose 11.1% from a year earlier to April 27, 2026

Hyundai, Kia and Tesla Battle for South Korea EV Market as Subsidy Rules Shift South Korea’s electric vehicle market is seeing intensifying competition between domestic automakers and imported brands, with policy changes poised to reshape the landscape. The government has revised EV subsidies to award extra points based on contributions to domestic industry, raising the prospect of a shift in market dynamics. The local auto industry is also urging the government to include EVs in a planned “domestic production promotion” tax credit — often described as a Korean vers April 27, 2026

Korean Shipbuilders Ramp Up Offshore Wind Bets, but Grid and Port Infrastructure Lags Domestic shipbuilders are accelerating into offshore wind as a new growth engine, but the infrastructure needed to support the industry is not keeping pace. While corporate investment is rising quickly, structural constraints that could slow broader expansion remain, industry officials say. According to the shipbuilding industry on the 27th, Hanwha Ocean has been among the most aggressive. The company said it held a board meeting that day and disclosed plans to participate in a paid-in cap April 27, 2026