Lee Jae-myung calls for scaling back tax breaks for nonresident homeownership President Lee Jae-myung said April 24 that tax relief tied to long-term homeownership should focus on people who actually live in their homes, not on owners who hold property as an investment. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said that to protect single-home owners, capital gains tax relief based on the period of actual residence is needed. But he said cutting taxes on the sale of expensive homes “just because someone invested for a long time without living there” is not a housing April 24, 2026

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Calls Lee Jae-myung a ‘Soft Dictator,’ Warns Checks and Balances Eroding Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday labeled President Lee Jae-myung a “soft dictator” and criticized him directly. In an interview with TV Chosun released by the Seoul city government, Oh said Lee was “insulting the judiciary” while having “completely” taken control of the legislature and the executive branch. “If this continues, the separation of powers will collapse,” Oh said. “In that case, the likelihood of moving toward a ‘soft dictatorship’ is high.” Oh said that if a government April 24, 2026

Samsung to Hold Galaxy S26 Family Festa Promotion for May Samsung Electronics said on the 24th it will run a “Galaxy S26 Family Festa” promotion ahead of May, widely observed in South Korea as Family Month. For purchases of the Galaxy S26 series through May 10, all buyers will receive a 50,000-won discount coupon for game items usable in the Galaxy Store, the company said. Samsung said customers who buy the Galaxy S26 series on Samsung.com with a Samsung Card and join the “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club” will also be eligible for up to 55,000 April 24, 2026

Lee’s tailored gifts to India, Vietnam highlight cultural ties and promote K-culture President Lee Jae-myung used what his office called “tailored gift diplomacy” during state visits to India and Vietnam, selecting items reflecting each leader’s cultural background, personal preferences and governing priorities. The presidential office said the gifts were intended to go beyond protocol, signaling cultural links and promoting Korean beauty and cultural industries. The presidential office on April 24 (local time) disclosed the gifts Lee presented to Indian Prime Minister April 24, 2026

South Korea seeks quick return to normal U.S. cooperation after minister’s North Korea nuclear remarks Cheong Wa Dae said it is consulting with the United States to “return as soon as possible to a normal state of cooperation” following remarks by Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young about North Korean nuclear facilities. Wi, the national security office director, made the comments April 23 (local time) at a press center in Hanoi while meeting with the traveling press corps covering President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to India and Vietnam. Asked about the U.S. reaction to Jeong’s remarks, Wi April 24, 2026

Korea Launches First Tax Credit for Overseas Fund Investors; Must Claim in May Filing 올해부터 펀드를 통한 해외투자에 대한 세액공제 제도가 처음 시행되면서, 해당 투자자는 5월 종합소득세 신고 시 공제 신청 여부를 확인해야 한다. The National Tax Service said on 24일 that a new tax preference for overseas investments made through funds applies for the first time to income attributable to 2025. The measure is intended to encourage overseas investing and diversification. Individuals who invest in qualifying overseas-investment funds may claim a tax credit when filing their compreh April 24, 2026

Aeon Fantasy Opens Kidzooona Safari Indoor Playground in Surabaya, Indonesia Aeon Fantasy, an operator of amusement facilities, has opened a large indoor playground called Kidzooona Safari in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia's second-largest city. It is the company's fifth location in Indonesia under this business format. The site opened at Pakuwon Mall Surabaya, a major commercial complex in western Surabaya. The store covers 1,169 square meters. Membership pricing starts at 100,000 rupiah (about 920 yen) for one hour on weekdays. Miki Kawashima, president April 24, 2026

Bloomberg Hosts ‘Invest in Asia’ Forum in Seoul, Spotlighting China’s Financial Markets 블룸버그는 서울에서 중국 금융시장과 아시아 투자 전략을 주제로 한 포럼을 열고 글로벌 자본과의 연결 확대를 모색했다. 블룸버그는 최근 서울에서 ‘인베스트 인 아시아: 중국을 조명하다(Invest in Asia: China Spotlight)’ 포럼을 개최했다고 밝혔다. 행사에는 한중 양국 정부 관계자와 금융시장 전문가들이 참석해 중국 금융시장 개방 흐름과 투자 기회, 양국 간 금융 협력 가능성 등을 논의했다. 이번 포럼에는 다이빙 주한 중국대사가 기조연설자로 나섰으며, 한국은행, 중국외환거래센터, 채권통 등 주요 기관과 자산운용 April 24, 2026

Acecook Vietnam Breaks Ground on Ho Chi Minh City R&D Center Vietnam’s largest instant-noodle maker, Acecook Vietnam, held a groundbreaking ceremony on the 20th in Ho Chi Minh City for a research and development center. The company said it aims to strengthen its R&D system to develop more health-oriented products and speed up global expansion. The center will be built in the Tan Binh Industrial Park. The site covers more than 7,000 square meters, with completion planned for 2027. Guided by its philosophy of “creating the value of food culture from April 24, 2026

Youth Foundation Expands Finance Job Mentoring With Working Professionals The Youth Foundation said it is strengthening job support for young people seeking work in finance by running a mentoring program focused on specific roles. The foundation said it held its “Youth Working-Professional Job Mentoring” sessions on April 14 and 15 and again on April 23 via the Zoom video platform. Assistant manager- and manager-level finance employees served as mentors, offering guidance on job preparation, understanding day-to-day work and even consultations related to changi April 24, 2026