Third U.S. Aircraft Carrier Moves Closer to Middle East as Ceasefire With Iran Is Extended The U.S. military’s third aircraft carrier has moved closer to the Middle East as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been extended. Washington is pushing to hold a second round of talks on ending the war while reinforcing forces in case fighting resumes. CNN, citing photos posted on the Pentagon’s website, reported Thursday local time that the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush has been in the Indian Ocean since April 21. With the Bush arriving, the U.S. Navy will soon hav April 23, 2026

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok meets acting U.S. ambassador in Seoul Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of South Korea’s People Power Party, met with James Heller, the acting U.S. ambassador in Seoul, to discuss the results of Jang’s recent trip to the United States and ways to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance, political sources said. According to the sources, Jang held the meeting Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. He also raised controversy over remarks by Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young about North Korean nuclear facilities, the source April 23, 2026

South Korea Fines Duo and Two Others After Data Leaks Expose Hundreds of Thousands South Korea’s privacy watchdog said it imposed a combined 4.7882 billion won (about $47.9 billion won) in administrative fines and 17.4 million won in penalties on three businesses, including matchmaking firm Duo Information Co., for violating personal data protection rules. The Personal Information Protection Commission said it made the decision at its seventh plenary meeting on the 23rd, also ordering corrective measures and public disclosure. Key violations included large-scale data April 23, 2026

MBC’s “True Story Investigation” Probes Alleged Group Assault at Fitness Center MBC’s “True Story Investigation” is examining an alleged indiscriminate assault at a gym. The program airing on the 23rd focuses on a group assault that occurred in March at a large fitness center in the greater Seoul area. The victim, Minjun (alias), suffered serious injuries and was taken to an emergency room that day. His family said his face was so swollen it was hard to recognize, and he was bleeding heavily. CCTV footage obtained by the production team shows the assault in a small April 23, 2026

Democratic Party gubernatorial and mayoral candidates pledge unity for June 3 local elections The Democratic Party of Korea’s candidates for 16 metropolitan mayors and provincial governors in the June 3 local elections pledged to act as “one team,” saying they will help ensure the success of the Lee Jae-myung government. They said they aim for a decisive victory by campaigning in coordination and creating synergy across regions. The candidates made the remarks at a joint meeting held April 23 at the National Assembly. Daegu mayoral candidate Kim Boo-kyum and South Gyeongsang gov April 23, 2026

Court Limits Parts of Samsung Biologics Strike; Union Says Walkout Still Set for Next Month A South Korean court has partially blocked a planned full-scale strike by the Samsung Biologics union, limiting walkouts only in certain final-stage processes tied to preventing drug spoilage. The union said it still plans to begin a strike next month. According to the legal community on April 23, the Incheon District Court’s Civil Division 21, led by Presiding Judge Yoo Aram, partially granted Samsung Biologics’ request for an injunction against the Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng branch of April 23, 2026

South Korea Says Lee’s Vietnam Trip Deepens Energy, Infrastructure Cooperation The presidential office said Thursday (local time) that President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to Vietnam produced agreement to upgrade cooperation in areas including infrastructure and energy. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said at a briefing at a press center in Hanoi that Lee and To Lam, Vietnam’s Communist Party general secretary and state president, shared the view at their summit the previous day that the two countries are each other’s most reliable partners in driving development. April 23, 2026

Iran Reports First Strait of Hormuz Transit Fee Deposit to Central Bank Local media reported on April 23 (local time) that a transit fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz has been deposited with Iran’s central bank for the first time. Yonhap News Agency and local outlets cited Hamid Reza Haji Babaei, a deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, as making the statement. No details were released on the amount or the timing of the deposit. Iran’s military sealed off the strait by force on Feb. 28, shortly after attacks by the United States and Israel, in what April 23, 2026

People Power Party Leadership Reconsiders Seoul Jung-gu Mayor Nomination; Seoul Chapter Vows Reapproval The People Power Party's central leadership said April 23 it did not approve the Seoul chapter's nomination of incumbent Jung-gu Mayor Kim Gil-seong as the party's candidate for the June 3 local elections. The Seoul chapter, led by Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, said it would finalize the nomination through a revote.  Choi Bo-yoon, the party's senior spokesperson, told reporters after a meeting of the party's top leadership that Kim's nomination was not approved and had been sent back to the Seoul ch April 23, 2026

South Korea Freezes Fuel Price Caps for Fourth Round, Citing Inflation Risks The South Korean government has again frozen the maximum prices applied to petroleum products supplied to gas stations, citing lingering uncertainty from the prolonged war in the Middle East and concerns that any increase could add to inflation. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Thursday that starting at midnight April 24, the fourth round of the price-cap system will apply for the next two weeks at the same levels as the second and third rounds: 1,934 won per liter for reg April 23, 2026