Debate Grows Over Extending Korea Exchange Stock Trading Hours Disagreement is widening inside South Korea’s market over the Korea Exchange plan to extend stock trading hours. The exchange says longer hours would boost global competitiveness and investor convenience, but securities firms and some retail investors question the benefits and warn of confusion. Even if change is needed, a revamp that fails to win market trust is unlikely to succeed. The exchange had pushed to add a premarket and after-hours session, expanding the trading day from the c April 25, 2026

South Korea Forecast: Clear Skies Nationwide, Highs Up to 27C Saturday will be sunny nationwide, with daytime highs rising to as much as 27 degrees Celsius. The Korea Meteorological Administration said daytime temperatures will range from 20 to 27C, higher than usual. In inland areas, the day-to-night temperature gap will be around 20 degrees, and people should take care with their health. Dry weather advisories are in effect for the central region, North Gyeongsang Province and parts of North Jeolla Province, and the advisories could expand to April 25, 2026

Kim Gu’s ‘My Wish’ at 150: Weighing a Strong Korea Against a Beautiful One One hundred fifty years is long enough to commemorate a person. But when that name still poses a question, the anniversary is also about the present. Marking the 150th anniversary of independence leader Kim Gu’s birth, the issue is not only what he achieved, but what he asked: What kind of country are we building now? Among Kim’s best-known writings is “My Wish.” He said he wanted a beautiful country, not merely a strong one. He envisioned a nation respected for its culture, not one that rules April 25, 2026

South Korea to Start High Fuel Price Relief Payments; Eligibility, Amounts and Use Rules Applications and payments for South Korea’s high fuel price relief payment begin April 27, drawing attention to who qualifies and how much they can receive. The government is rolling out the program to help stabilize household finances as international oil prices rise and inflation pressures grow. Payments vary by income and place of residence, ranging from 100,000 won per person to a maximum of 600,000 won. Basic livelihood security recipients will receive 550,000 won in the Seoul metrop April 25, 2026

Duo Data Leak Exposes 430,000 Matchmaking Profiles, Raising Questions About Trust Marriage has long carried an element of transaction, even when it is wrapped in the language of love. The film “Materialists” captured that idea with a blunt line from a couple manager who builds matches by salary, looks, education and age: “Love is a variable, and marriage is a calculation.” That logic depends on collecting ever more personal information. But the more complete the calculation becomes, the more exposed people can be. A data breach at Duo, South Korea’s largest matchmaking compa April 25, 2026

Coupang Scrutiny Should Focus on Numbers, Not Emotion, After Data Leak and Lobbying An old saying about others doing the work while someone else takes the money has resurfaced in South Korea as questions grow over Coupang’s structure and conduct. Built on a logistics network supported by 35 million Korean consumers, with Korean workers making pre-dawn deliveries and Korean small businesses paying platform fees, Coupang posted last year’s results of 45.4555 trillion won in revenue, 2.2883 trillion won in operating profit and 1.5891 trillion won in net profit. Operating profit ro April 25, 2026

China’s ‘Soul Ferry’ Returns as 100% AI-Generated Film, Drawing Backlash A thriller series that drew huge audiences in China in 2014 is returning to theaters about a decade later — this time as a film made entirely with artificial intelligence. The movie, titled ‘Soul Ferry·Floating Life Dream’ (靈魂擺渡·浮生夢), is scheduled for release this summer, according to China News Network and other local outlets. It is co-produced by the online video platform iQiyi and Chuangxin Media. ‘Soul Ferry’ began as a web drama in 2014 and surpassed 5 billion cumulative view April 25, 2026

KOSPI’s W-Shaped Rebound Faces Test as Chip Earnings and Fed Meeting Loom After setting a record high and completing a so-called W-shaped rebound, South Korea’s stock market is expected to face a key test next week over whether the rally can extend. Semiconductor-driven earnings momentum has supported gains, but heavy foreign selling and a U.S. monetary policy event could increase volatility. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed the previous session down 0.18 point, or flat, at 6,475.63. The index rose to the 6,490 level early in the day but gave u April 25, 2026

Blue House swaps senior civil affairs and discipline aides; special inspection team moved The Blue House confirmed that its senior secretary for civil affairs and its senior secretary for public service discipline swapped posts on April 24. According to the Blue House, Lee Tae-hyeong, the senior secretary for civil affairs, and Jeon Chi-young, the senior secretary for public service discipline, began working in their new roles that day. The special inspection team, which had been under the public service discipline office, was also moved under the civil affairs office, off April 25, 2026

President Lee Jae-myung Returns to Seoul After State Visits to India and Vietnam President Lee Jae-myung returned to South Korea on April 24 after a six-day trip to India and Vietnam. Air Force One, carrying Lee, first lady Kim Hye-kyung and aides, arrived at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, at about 9:03 p.m. They were greeted by Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung a April 25, 2026