South Korea’s Q1 GDP Grows 1.7% as Semiconductor-Led Exports Jump South Korea’s economy grew 1.7% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, helped by a surge in exports led by semiconductors.  The Bank of Korea said on the 23rd that real gross domestic product rose 1.7% in the January-March period from the prior quarter, based on a preliminary estimate. The figure exceeded the central bank’s February forecast of 0.9%. Exports climbed 5.1%, driven by IT products including semiconductors. Imports rose 3.0% as purchases of machinery and equipment a April 23, 2026

Wall Street Rallies on Extended Iran Ceasefire, Earnings Optimism; S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit Records President Donald Trump’s extension of a ceasefire with Iran, combined with optimism about corporate earnings, helped lift U.S. stocks to a strong finish on April 22. While Middle East tensions have not fully eased, investors focused more on the ceasefire holding and signs of improving profits than on the immediate risk of a wider war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 340.65 points, or 0.69%, to 49,490.03. The S&P 500 gained 73.89 points, or 1.05%, to 7,137.90, and the Nasdaq clim April 23, 2026

SK, Doosan Join Korea Business Delegation as President Lee Begins Vietnam Visit President Lee Jae-myung, fresh from a state visit to India, has arrived in Vietnam, his second stop, as business leaders converge to carry out an economic delegation schedule. The push reflects an effort to expand business in Vietnam — seen alongside India and Brazil as a key “Global South” market — and to hedge against global uncertainty. Large-scale investment announcements are expected again at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum on the 23rd. According to the business community on the 22n April 23, 2026

Korea Stocks Hit Record, but Gains Concentrate in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix ◆Aju Economy Top News ▷"Korea market sees only semiconductors"…70% of foreign buying flows to Samsung and SK Hynix; ETFs also dominated by chips -Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has set a record and moved above 6,400, but the rally has been concentrated in semiconductor heavyweights such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, fueling concerns about market crowding. -Combined, the two companies now account for more than 40% of total market capitalization and have made up more than 55% of this year’s April 23, 2026

iM Securities Raises Unid Target Price 10% on Fertilizer Supply Concerns iM Securities on the 23rd raised its target price for Unid to 110,000 won from 100,000 won, citing expectations that global fertilizer supply disruptions will lift selling prices. It maintained a “buy” rating. Analyst Jeon Yu-jin said price increases have continued since the second half of 2025 as China’s potassium chloride supply tightened. She added that the Iran situation has disrupted supplies of nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P) fertilizers, expanding substitution demand for potassium (K April 23, 2026

DS Investment Raises Samsung Biologics Target Price to 2.1 Million Won, Keeps Buy Rating DS Investment & Securities on Wednesday maintained its “buy” rating on Samsung Biologics and raised its target price to 2.1 million won from 1.3 million won, citing steady growth after first-quarter results broadly matched market expectations. . Analyst Kim Min-jung said Samsung Biologics posted 2026 first-quarter revenue of about 1.2571 trillion won, up 25.8% from a year earlier, and operating profit of about 580.8 billion won, up 35.1%. Operating margin was 46.2%. The results were April 23, 2026

SK hynix posts record Q1 operating profit of 37.61 trillion won on 52.58 trillion won revenue SK hynix said on the 23rd it posted first-quarter revenue of 52.5763 trillion won and operating profit of 37.6103 trillion won, for an operating margin of 72%. Net profit was 40.3459 trillion won, a net margin of 77%. On a quarterly basis, revenue topped 50 trillion won for the first time. Operating profit and the operating margin were also the highest since the company was founded, at 37.6 trillion won and 72%, respectively. Operating profit roughly doubled from the previous quarter, un April 23, 2026

Track Obstruction at Oido Station Delays 9 Seoul Subway Line 4 Trains A track obstruction disrupted service at Oido Station on Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 4.  Yonhap News Agency reported that the problem occurred at about 4:18 a.m. Thursday at Oido Station on the Ansan Line in Siheung, south of Seoul, delaying nine trains by 10 to 30 minutes. KORAIL said an initial response team was dispatched and service returned to normal at about 6:08 a.m. It said trains were running normally but some residual impact could continue into the morning commute.* This arti April 23, 2026

Hyundai Bets on IONIQ EVs and Self-Driving Tech to Rebuild in China China is the world’s largest auto market, with about 25 million new vehicles sold a year, and Hyundai Motor Group is trying to regain ground there. The company is now leaning on its IONIQ electric-vehicle brand, after past missteps in reading China’s fast-changing demand. Industry officials said China’s shift to electrification is moving quickly, with electric vehicles accounting for about 50% of new-car sales. Hyundai, citing that trend, decided to deploy IONIQ models designed to match April 23, 2026

Gangnam Prices Cool, but Seoul’s Midpriced Apartments Keep Rising The recent cooling in apartment prices in Seoul’s most expensive districts is being cited by some as a sign the housing market is stabilizing. The data show weakness in high-end areas, but prices and rents in neighborhoods where most buyers can realistically compete are still rising. According to weekly figures from the Korea Real Estate Board, Seoul apartment prices rose 0.10% in the second week of April, while the so-called Gangnam three districts extended their downt April 23, 2026