Platinum Bridge Wraps Up Cosmoprof Bologna 2026, Steps Up K-Beauty Push in Europe Platinum Bridge, which supports K-beauty brands seeking to enter Europe, has completed its participation in the global beauty trade show “Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026” in Bologna, Italy. Cosmoprof is widely known as one of the world’s largest beauty industry events, drawing brands and buyers from dozens of countries each year and showcasing trends across skincare, makeup, hair care and ingredients. At the exhibition, Platinum Bridge highlighted its premium skincare brand EQULIB. Europ April 23, 2026

Samsung Targets Europe With High-Efficiency Built-In AI Appliances Samsung Electronics said it held an appliance technology seminar, “The Brief Milan,” on April 21 (local time) at a showroom inside its Italian subsidiary in Milan for major local media and influencers. The company highlighted high-efficiency AI appliances tailored to energy-conscious European consumers, along with SmartThings-based features such as “AI Energy Saving Mode.” Samsung showcased a range of laundry products that meet Europe’s energy-efficiency Grade A standard. The Bespoke April 23, 2026

NH Financial Group’s 100-Year Life Research Institute Targets Retirement Planning As South Korea moves deeper into a super-aged society, competition in finance is shifting. Wealth management, once centered on high-yield products and affluent clients, is increasingly focused on planning for 30 to 40 years after retirement. With pensions, inheritance, housing and medical costs now requiring integrated management, firms are competing less on returns and more on retirement-planning capability. NH Financial Group has moved early. In 2011, it established the 100-Year Life Re April 23, 2026

South Korea to Speed Development of Next-Generation Power Semiconductors as AI Drives Demand As artificial intelligence spreads and demand surges for data centers, electric vehicles and next-generation power grids, the South Korean government is accelerating efforts to foster a next-generation power semiconductor industry. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it held a "Next-Generation Power Semiconductor Forum" on April 23 at the EL Tower in Seoul’s Seocho district, attended by officials from related ministries and experts from industry, academia and research institu April 23, 2026

South Korea cites chip boom, policy support for Q1 GDP surge; warns Q2 slowdown likely The government said Thursday that South Korea’s stronger-than-expected first-quarter gross domestic product growth reflected a combination of a semiconductor-led upswing, policy support and a swift response to the Middle East war. It cautioned, however, that a second-quarter slowdown is likely as base effects fade and war-related risks intensify. The Bank of Korea said real GDP grew 1.7% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, a preliminary estimate. That was well above the centra April 23, 2026

Korea Standards Agency Launches 7th Product Safety Creators Program The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Korean Agency for Technology and Standards said Thursday that its seventh group of Product Safety Creators has officially launched. The agency held a kickoff ceremony for the 2026 Product Safety Creators at the ENA Suite Hotel in Seoul's Jung District. The participatory program, made up of high school and university students, is designed to deliver product safety information in an easy, approachable way. Participants plan and produc April 23, 2026

Korea Customs Seizes 657 kg of Drugs From Thailand and Cambodia, Blocking 1.81 Million Doses Customs authorities blocked an attempted smuggling of drugs into South Korea in the first quarter that they said amounted to enough for about 1.81 million people to take at once. The Korea Customs Service said April 23 that it seized a total of 657 kilograms (1,449 pounds) of narcotics from January through March through joint anti-smuggling operations with customs authorities in Thailand and Cambodia. The seizures covered 32 cases involving methamphetamine, marijuana, yaba and etomidat April 23, 2026

Samsung Electro-Mechanics Steps Up Push for AI Data Centers, CEO Says Components Drive System Edge Samsung Electro-Mechanics said April 23 it is hosting its overseas customer event, the 2026 SEMCO Component College (SCC), in Busan. First held in 2004, SCC is the company’s annual global customer outreach program. This year’s event, themed “The Core of AI Future,” is aimed at highlighting the importance and competitiveness of key components for the AI era and strengthening cooperation with customers. The company said 160 overseas customers and about 300 participants are attending April 23, 2026

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol to announce 4th fuel price cap at 7 p.m.; Q1 GDP up 1.7% Koo Yun-cheol, deputy prime minister and minister of finance and economy, said April 23 the government will announce a fourth round of maximum prices for petroleum products at 7 p.m. and apply them starting April 24. Koo made the remarks while convening the seventh meeting of the interministerial task force on special management of consumer prices at the Government Complex Seoul. He said gross domestic product grew 1.7% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, the highest gr April 23, 2026

Malaysia Envoy Proposes Korea Energy Security Partnership Beyond Gulf Risks As President Lee Jae-myung’s trip to India and Vietnam helps accelerate South Korea’s “Global South” diplomacy, Malaysia has proposed energy security cooperation with South Korea as a new strategic pillar. Citing supply shocks tied to the Middle East, the idea is to redesign energy supply chains by combining the two countries’ strengths. Mohamed Zamruni bin Khalid, Malaysia’s ambassador to South Korea, said in an interview Tuesday with Ajou Economy and AJP that “energy security is the starting April 23, 2026