Bank of Korea to Issue Up to 6.6 Trillion Won in Monetary Stabilization Bonds in May The Bank of Korea said on the 23rd it plans to issue up to 6.6 trillion won ($) in Monetary Stabilization Bonds next month. It will sell 6 trillion won through competitive bidding and 500 billion to 600 billion won through subscription-based sales. Competitive auctions will be held seven times: four auctions for 91-day bills (May 4, 11, 18 and 26) and one each for 1-year (May 13), 2-year (May 6) and 3-year (May 20) maturities. The subscription auction is set for May 27. For early red April 23, 2026

Hyundai E&C, DL E&C tout design and financing in Seoul Apgujeong 5 redevelopment bid Hyundai Engineering & Construction and DL E&C, both bidding for the redevelopment of Apgujeong District 5 in Seoul’s Gangnam district, have unveiled their proposed terms. Hyundai E&C is emphasizing a luxury residential complex featuring AI-based services and panoramic river-view design, while DL E&C is pitching a construction cost of 11.39 million won per 3.3 square meters and what it calls the industry’s lowest interest rate. Hyundai E&C said April 23 it proposed the April 23, 2026

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok Visits Yeosu Petrochemical Complex to Review Naphtha Supply Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited LG Chem’s plant at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in South Jeolla Province on the 23rd, toured its naphtha cracking center (NCC) and urged steady production and supply of petrochemical products to help stabilize domestic supply chains. After receiving a briefing from LG Chem officials on global naphtha supply and demand, Kim shared concerns about the crisis facing the petrochemical industry, including instability in naphtha supplies linked to April 23, 2026

South Korea’s People Power Party Moves to Seek Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young’s Dismissal South Korea’s People Power Party decided to make it party policy to submit a National Assembly motion recommending the dismissal of Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young over his remarks about a “North Korean Kusong nuclear facility.” The party said the comments could damage trust between South Korea and the United States. The party adopted the plan at a lawmakers’ meeting on the 23rd at the National Assembly. Afterward, party leader Jang Dong-hyeok convened a closed-door meeting with P April 23, 2026

South Korea Raises Fines Fivefold for Illegal Fishing in EEZ, Allows Forced Removal of Abandoned Ships Foreign vessels caught fishing illegally in South Korea’s exclusive economic zone will face fines up to five times higher under legislation passed by the National Assembly. The government will also be able to forcibly remove long-idled ships left without authorization at port facilities. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said revisions to the Act on the Exercise of Sovereign Rights over Foreign Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone, along with amendments to the Port Act and other relat April 23, 2026

South Korea Passes Law to Shift Science and R&D Policy Power to Regions South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT said a bill to enact the Act on Promoting Region-Led Science and Technology Innovation passed the National Assembly’s plenary session on the 23rd. The measure is intended to institutionalize a region-centered science and technology policy framework and to decentralize research and development authority and funding to local governments to strengthen regional innovation capacity. Key provisions include building region-led governance and dedicated a April 23, 2026

Lotte Cultureworks Revamps ‘Inside the Play’ With Immersive Show Tied to Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Gunche’ Lotte Cultureworks is relaunching its immersive, interactive performance brand, INSIDE THE PLAY, starting with a new production created in collaboration with director Yeon Sang-ho's film 'Gunche'. The brand is designed to pull audiences into a story world beyond the screen. Viewers take part directly, interacting with actors in real time and helping complete the narrative, rather than watching from the outside. The project is built around 'Gunche,' which was officiall April 23, 2026

Samsung Card Scales Back Appliance Installment Loans as Subscriptions Grow Samsung Card’s installment financing for home appliances is shrinking quickly as buying patterns change and the burden of purchasing appliances has eased. With subscription services spreading, demand for loan-based appliance purchases is fading further. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s financial statistics system, Samsung Card’s durable-goods installment financing assets totaled 361.3 billion won at the end of last year, down 1.3% from 365.9 billion won a year earlie April 23, 2026

South Korea Passes Bills to Tighten Oversight of High-Risk Sex Offenders, Aid Illegal Lending Victims South Korea’s National Assembly passed revisions aimed at tightening oversight of high-risk sex offenders and strengthening protections for victims of illegal private lending, the Justice Ministry said. According to the ministry on the 23rd, amendments to the law governing electronic monitoring cleared the Assembly’s plenary session that day. The changes expand the scope of cases eligible for one-on-one supervision by a dedicated probation officer for high-risk sexual violence o April 23, 2026

Kyobo heir Shin Joong-hyun moves to SBI Savings Bank, faces leadership test Kyobo Life Insurance’s third-generation owner family member, Shin Joong-hyun, has moved from Kyobo Lifeplanet to SBI Savings Bank, putting his management credentials under closer scrutiny as the group pursues a shift toward a financial holding company structure. According to the financial industry on Wednesday, Kyobo Lifeplanet has posted a cumulative net loss of 219.2 billion won from its 2013 launch through last year, after piling up annual losses of more than 10 billion won. Kyobo Li April 23, 2026