China Recasts Coal as Power-Grid Backstop Amid Energy Security Concerns China is again elevating coal in its energy policy as surging electricity demand, the intermittency of renewables and geopolitical uncertainty sharpen concerns about energy security. Analysts say Beijing, which has promoted a shift away from coal, is redefining it as a “safety valve” to help keep the power grid stable. The direction was underscored at a recent State Council meeting. China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on April 21 that the State Council held its 19th group study April 21, 2026

Park Chan-dae to Officially Enter Incheon Mayoral Race on Tuesday Democratic Party lawmaker Park Chan-dae, the party’s candidate for Incheon mayor, said he will make his official announcement of candidacy on April 22, launching his campaign in earnest. Park told reporters on April 21 after visiting Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang province, and paying respects at the grave of the late President Roh Moo-hyun that he would “make the announcement tomorrow.” It will be his formal entry 49 days after the party finalized its nomination on March 4. April 21, 2026

Taiwan TV Host Dee Hsu Says She Urged Late Sister Barbie Hsu to Take Japan Trip, Feels Guilty Taiwanese TV personality Dee Hsu (Hsu Hsi-ti) has spoken publicly about her grief after the death of her older sister, the late Hsu Hsi-yuan, known as Barbie Hsu. According to Taiwan media outlets including ETtoday, Hsu said at the taping of a local variety show on Sunday that her sister’s death left “a long period” of emptiness in her life and that she felt so lost she did not even know what she was doing. She said she drank with their mother and talked about her sister, calling April 21, 2026

South Korea’s National Assembly to Host Forum on AI-Era Job Training Reform A National Assembly forum will be held to discuss how vocational training should evolve in the AI and digital era. The Korea Federation of Vocational Schools said April 21 it will hold the forum April 23 in the main auditorium of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building under the theme, “Ways to Develop Vocational Training in the AI and Digital Era.” Organizers said the event is intended to share the need to shift the vocational training system amid rapid industrial change and to di April 21, 2026

Budget Office, Finance Ministry Review Conditions for 2027 Budget, Keep Expansionary Fiscal Stance The government plans to maintain an expansionary fiscal stance as external economic uncertainty grows, including the war in the Middle East, to cushion spillover effects on the real economy. Officials also agreed that sustained, proactive fiscal policy will be important to address structural challenges such as an industrial shift driven by artificial intelligence and demographic change. The Ministry of Planning and Budget and the Ministry of Finance and Economy on 21 held a meeting at the April 21, 2026

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik urges PPP to back constitutional amendment on May 18 spirit National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the spirit of the May 18 movement left South Korea with a historic lesson that “no power can defeat the people,” and urged the People Power Party to join a parliamentary vote on a constitutional amendment reflecting that spirit. According to Yonhap News Agency, Woo visited the May 18 National Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, on April 21 and reiterated that the May 18 spirit should be included in the preamble to the Constitution. On April 21, 2026

Daebang Construction Tightens Companywide Quality Controls to Prevent Defects Daebang Construction is stepping up efforts to strengthen construction quality management. The company said April 21 it is operating a companywide quality-control system built around three priorities: strict oversight of construction quality, reducing defects and responding actively after problems arise. A key feature is joint inspections by headquarters and job sites. In addition to on-site staff, the headquarters architecture team visits all sites in person to check common areas and April 21, 2026

Gijang Anchovy Festival Marks 30th Anniversary at Daebyeon Port April 24-26 Busan’s Gijang County said it will hold the 30th Gijang Anchovy Festival from April 24 to 26 at and around Daebyeon Port in Gijang-eup. County officials said this year’s event, marking the festival’s 30th anniversary, will feature expanded programs for visitors. Gijang’s spring anchovies are known locally for their high calcium content and, during peak season, their higher fat content and tender texture. A free raw-anchovy tasting will run throughout the three-day festival, and visitor April 21, 2026

People Power Party Picks Kim Gi-ha as Donghae Mayor Candidate Kim Gi-ha, 66, has been confirmed as the People Power Party’s candidate for mayor of Donghae. The party’s Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province chapter nomination committee announced the final primary results on the 21st at a meeting in Chuncheon and approved Kim’s nomination. Candidates and other officials attended as the results were released. Kim won the final primary against Choi Jae-seok, who had advanced from the preliminary round, and will run as the party’s nominee in the Don April 21, 2026

Samsung Bioepis Unveils Preclinical Data on First New Cancer Drug Candidate at AACR 2026 Samsung Bioepis said it has disclosed preclinical data for SBE303, a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) cancer drug candidate, for the first time at the American Association for Cancer Research’s AACR 2026 annual meeting, as it moves beyond biosimilars to accelerate development of its own new medicines. The company said the data were presented at the meeting in San Diego, held April 17-22 (local time). SBE303 is a next-generation ADC designed to target nectin-4, a protein ove April 21, 2026