JW Pharmaceutical Completes Phase 3 Dosing for Gout Drug Candidate; Results Due by Year-End JW Pharmaceutical completes Phase 3 dosing for gout drug candidate epaminurad; results due by year-end JW Pharmaceutical said April 27 it has completed dosing the last patient in a multinational Phase 3 trial of its gout treatment candidate epaminurad (URC102). Epaminurad is an oral uricosuric drug designed to selectively inhibit hURAT1, promoting uric acid excretion. The company is developing it for hyperuricemia and gout, conditions marked by abnormally high blood uric acid levels. J April 27, 2026

Honda Korea’s Auto Sales Exit Raises Used-Car, Service Concerns for Owners Honda Korea’s decision to end its auto sales business is fueling anxiety among current owners, from fears of falling used-car prices to concerns about gaps in after-sales service. Industry watchers say the pressure on resale values could intensify if the company discounts remaining inventory ahead of its exit and if cancellations of existing contracts increase. According to the industry on the 27th, Honda Korea has begun follow-up procedures to close the auto sales business by the end o April 27, 2026

Korean Power-Equipment Makers Pause in Q1, but Backlogs Hit Records on AI Data Center Demand AI data centers are driving a surge in electricity demand, and South Korea’s power-equipment makers posted strong year-over-year growth in the first quarter even as results cooled from the prior quarter. Industry officials said April 27 that Hyosung Heavy Industries, LS Electric, HD Hyundai Electric and Iljin Electric generally expanded sharply from a year earlier but saw some quarter-on-quarter easing. They cited a base effect from record fourth-quarter results and the seasonal first-qua April 27, 2026

Renault Korea’s Grand Koleos Gains Attention as SUV Buyers Prioritize Quality Competition in the SUV market is shifting from size to overall execution, as buyers focus less on body dimensions and seat counts and more on comfort and usability in real-world driving. In that environment, Renault Korea's midsize hybrid SUV, the Grand Koleos, has drawn favorable reviews as a well-built model aimed at everyday practicality. Industry officials said the Grand Koleos is positioned as an SUV that balances design, utility and fuel economy, serving both daily commuting and April 27, 2026

Daesang Chungjungone Marks 30th Anniversary at Seoul Spring Festival; Woongjin, KGC Launch Promotions Daesang Chungjungone runs '30th anniversary' brand booth at Seoul Spring Festival Daesang’s Chungjungone brand is taking part in the “2026 Seoul Spring Festival” to expand consumer engagement, the company said Sunday. The city-center culture and tourism festival is co-hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization. It began on April 10 and runs through May 5 along the Han River. About 820,000 people attended last year, including about 22% foreign tourists. April 27, 2026

KOVO Fines Volleyball Setter Ahn Hye-jin 5 Million Won, Issues Warning Over DUI Ahn Hye-jin, a professional volleyball setter who sparked controversy over drunk driving ahead of free-agent talks, has been disciplined by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) with a stern warning and a 5 million won fine. KOVO said it convened its disciplinary committee on April 27 at its office in Seoul’s Mapo district and decided on the penalty after reviewing the case. The committee called drunk driving a serious antisocial act but said it considered several factors: her blood al April 27, 2026

Hyundai’s Ioniq V Takes on China’s EV Battery and Energy-Tech Surge "When AI is combined with electric vehicles, the car chooses and manages energy on its own, so cost-effectiveness (efficiency) improves beyond imagination. That aligns with the Chinese government’s push for extreme energy efficiency. The era of a 4-minute full charge and 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles) per charge has already arrived. There is no inconvenience that overwhelming value can’t solve," said an official at a Chinese company identified only as Company A. This year’ April 27, 2026

Seoul Voters Split Ahead of June 3 Local Elections: Jung Won-oh vs. Oh Se-hoon 6·3 local elections are shaping up as a tight contest in Seoul, with voters voicing divided support for Democratic Party mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh and People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon. With President Lee Jae-myung’s job-approval rating averaging above 60%, some expected Jung — often described as Lee’s pick — to dominate. But interviews suggested a competing desire among some voters to check the government and ruling party. Aju Economy spoke on April 27 with residents in Seou April 27, 2026

Bond Markets Watch for Hawkish Signals as G7 Central Banks Set Rate Decisions Major central banks are set to decide policy rates this week, and while markets broadly expect them to hold steady, bond investors are watching closely for any hawkish signals. Oil prices have surged amid the U.S.-Iran war, raising concerns that inflation pressures could build again. According to Bloomberg on the 27th, the U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada will all hold policy meetings this week. It is unusual fo April 27, 2026

Special Counsel Expands Martial Law Probe With Raids on Prosecutors’ Network, Joint Chiefs Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special counsel team, which is investigating remaining allegations after the three special counsel probes (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee and the deceased Marine), is accelerating its follow-up investigation into the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The team has carried out searches and seizures targeting the prosecution’s internal network and Joint Chiefs of Staff-related suspects, while questioning Yeo In-hyeong and National Security Office officials a April 27, 2026