Rep. Kim Min-jeon Proposes Law Requiring Substitute Staff for Kindergarten Absences Kim Min-jeon, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party, introduced a bill on the 24th to require substitute staff at kindergartens when teachers or other employees are unexpectedly unable to work, aiming to prevent disruptions and keep schools running smoothly. The proposed revision to the Early Childhood Education Act would mandate assigning a substitute teacher when a staff member cannot perform duties due to illness, infectious disease or other unforeseen reasons, creating a gap i April 24, 2026

Korea watchdog issues online harm casebook, warns of data theft in used-goods job scams A growing number of cases last year involved personal information being stolen during hiring and job-seeking processes conducted through used-goods trading apps, leading to unauthorized sign-ups for specific apps, officials said. Authorities warned the stolen data could be used for follow-on crimes such as financial fraud. The Korea Communications and Media Commission and the Korea Information and Communications Promotion Association said Thursday they published the “2025 Online Harm Cou April 24, 2026

Robots and R&D Draw Crowds at 2026 Korea Science and Technology Expo At KINTEX in Goyang, just outside Seoul, children stopped to gather around a dog-shaped robot, while a long line formed for photos in front of a boxing robot. Under the slogan, “Imagination becomes everyday life,” robots blended into a scene that no longer felt unusual. The Ministry of Science and ICT, the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity are holding the 2026 Korea Science and Technology Expo from April 24 to 26. April 24, 2026

Hyundai Steel Q1 Operating Profit Falls 63.7% to 15.7 Billion Won Hyundai Steel said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that its first-quarter operating profit fell 63.7% from the previous quarter to 15.7 billion won ($11.3 million), while revenue rose 4.6% to 5.7397 trillion won on higher product sales volume. The company attributed the profit drop to a weaker won and higher raw material prices. It said operating profit is expected to gradually rebound from the second quarter as fewer low-priced imported products enter the domestic market, improv April 24, 2026

TV Personality Boom Welcomes Second Daughter, Agency Says Mother and Baby Healthy TV personality Boom has become the father of two daughters. His agency, TN Entertainment, said on the 24th that Boom and his wife welcomed a healthy baby girl weighing 2.74 kilograms at 9:38 a.m. "Both the mother and baby are in good health," the agency said, adding, "Please send your support to Boom and his wife as they welcome a new member of their family." Boom married his partner, who is seven years younger, in April 2022 and welcomed their first daughter in March 2024. After wi April 24, 2026

HD Hyundai Marine Solution Q1 Operating Profit Rises 12.5% to 93.4 Billion Won HD Hyundai Marine Solution, HD Hyundai’s marine-industry solutions unit, said Thursday it posted first-quarter revenue of 574.6 billion won and operating profit of 93.4 billion won. Revenue rose 18.3% from a year earlier and operating profit increased 12.5%. The company said growth in its core aftermarket parts and services business, along with higher sales from its bunkering business, drove the gains. Aftermarket revenue climbed 21.4% from a year earlier, led by sales tied to large engin April 24, 2026

Dongkuk Steel Group posts 21.4 billion won Q1 operating profit, returns to black Dongkuk Steel said it posted first-quarter 2026 revenue of 857.2 billion won, operating profit of 21.4 billion won and net profit of 6.2 billion won on a separate K-IFRS basis. In a regulatory filing on Thursday, the company said revenue rose 5.2% from the previous quarter, operating profit jumped 2,886.2%, and net income swung to a profit. From a year earlier, revenue increased 18.1%, operating profit rose 403.9%, and net profit climbed 153.3%. Dongkuk Steel said the earnings im April 24, 2026

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo’s Sister Kim Ji-yoon to Make TV Debut on tvN Survival Show BLACKPINK member Jisoo’s older sister will make her broadcast debut on a survival variety show set to air in May. The official social media account for tvN’s “Kill It: Style Creator War” recently announced that influencer Kim Ji-yoon, Jisoo’s sister, will appear on the program. A teaser video released with the post shows Kim, who has 550,000 followers and is known by the nickname “Gunpo Han Hyo-joo.” Kim’s casting comes as attention has focused on a separate controversy involving Jisoo’ April 24, 2026

Statement Defending Streamer “Gwagjuice Seyeon” Spreads Amid Cosmetics Collaboration Backlash A natural-ingredient dermocosmetics brand has come under fire over a collaboration with streamer Gwagjuice Seyeon, as a statement defending her spread online and fueled further debate. On the 24th, online communities and social media widely shared a statement from the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, known as Hansa-seong. Titled “We Reject the Divide Between ‘Mainstream’ and ‘Underground,’” it criticizes attacks on women who work as internet broadcast “BJ” streamers and the br April 24, 2026

NH Investment & Securities to Decide Governance Overhaul, Likely to Adopt Co-CEO Structure NH Investment & Securities was set to decide on a governance overhaul at a board meeting on Thursday, with the company widely expected to shift to a co-CEO structure in which two chief executives each hold independent authority. The decision is also expected to accelerate a stalled process to pick the next CEO. According to the financial investment industry, the firm planned to convene another special board meeting Thursday, following one held the previous day, to discuss whether to p April 24, 2026