Rising Construction Costs Shake Foundations of Public Housing in South Korea Rising construction costs are disrupting the long-standing formula for housing supply in South Korea. The construction cost index reached a record high of 134.42 in March, marking the seventh consecutive month of increases. Compared to 2020, costs have surged by over 30% in just six years, driven by soaring material and labor costs. The issue extends beyond mere cost increases; it is shaking the very calculations behind public housing supply. Construction sites are already facing unb May 28, 2026

Dong-A ST Expands Digital Healthcare-Based CSR in Ethiopia Dong-A ST announced on May 28 that it is expanding its digital healthcare-based corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in medically underserved areas of Ethiopia. The company’s phased CSR initiatives go beyond simple donations, incorporating local medical staff training and data-driven collaboration to enhance healthcare accessibility and disease management in the region. In 2024, Dong-A ST began its support for digital healthcare in Ethiopia by donating the remote patient moni May 28, 2026

Civic Group Evaluates Seoul Mayor Candidates' Promises as Lacking Specificity In the lead-up to the local elections, a civic group has assessed the campaign promises of major party candidates for Seoul Mayor, finding them appropriate for citizens' livelihood issues but lacking in diversity and specificity regarding budget and funding.The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) released its evaluation on May 28, based on responses from four candidates regarding their three main campaign promises.CCEJ evaluated the candidates' promises based on several criteria, inc May 28, 2026

Education Ministry Unveils Support Measures for School Field Trips The Ministry of Education is reforming regulations to reduce the legal burdens on teachers related to safety incidents during field trips, including school excursions and retreats. In the event of an accident, the education office will immediately assign a dedicated lawyer to assist with investigations and legal responses. The ministry is also pursuing legal amendments to ensure that teachers are not held civilly or criminally liable unless intentional or gross negligence is proven. Ac May 28, 2026

Chinese Dissident Dong Guangping's Arrest Warrant Denied; Seeks Asylum in Canada A South Korean court has denied an arrest warrant for Chinese dissident Dong Guangping, who was apprehended after entering South Korean waters by rubber boat. According to Yonhap News, Judge Seok Ji-sung of the Daejeon District Court's Seosan branch conducted a pre-arrest interrogation on May 28 and stated, "It is difficult to recognize the reasons and necessity for detention." The court concluded that there was no significant risk of flight or evidence tampering. Upon arriving at the May 28, 2026

Jensen Huang Teases New Products, Predicts Record-Breaking Second Half for Nvidia Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, announced that the company has an undisclosed new product and predicted that the second half of this year will be the largest ever for both Nvidia and Taiwan. On May 28, local media outlets in Taiwan, including the Central News Agency and Liberty Times, reported that Huang made these remarks after dining with executives from foundry company Quanta Computer the previous evening, where they discussed expanding production capacity and strengthening collaboration May 28, 2026

Bank of Korea Plans to Issue Up to 6.8 Trillion Won in Monetary Stabilization Bonds The Bank of Korea announced on May 28 that it plans to issue up to 6.8 trillion won in monetary stabilization bonds next month. Of this amount, 6.2 trillion won will be issued through competitive bidding, while 500 billion to 600 billion won will be raised through a subscription method. The competitive bidding will consist of eight rounds, with five rounds for 91-day bonds scheduled for June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. One round each will be held for one-year bonds on June 10, two-year bond May 28, 2026

Audit Agency Supports Domestic Pesticide Development, Aiming to Replace $4.5 Million in Imports On May 28, the Audit Agency announced that it has selected the case of supporting the development of domestic pesticides for fire blight as an "Outstanding Pre-Consulting Case for May."Fire blight is a bacterial disease that causes the flowers and leaves of apple and pear trees to turn black, ultimately leading to the death of the entire tree. Since its first occurrence in South Korea in 2015, it has spread nationwide, causing significant damage to farmers. In the past six years, compensation pa May 28, 2026

Song Mi-ryong: Export Boom Comes at the Expense of Agriculture Song Mi-ryong, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated on May 28 that the recent export boom, primarily benefiting large corporations, has come at a cost to the agricultural sector. During a press conference marking the first anniversary of the government's inauguration in Jeonbuk, she emphasized the need for social discussions regarding the damages incurred by agriculture during the economic opening. "It is difficult to assess accurately, but we must also address the sacrif May 28, 2026

Vigloo Launches AI Animation Tab to Accelerate Short Drama IP Expansion Short drama platform Vigloo is accelerating its expansion into AI-based content by launching a dedicated animation tab. This new feature will categorize AI animation and AI live-action dramas separately, enhancing its multi-format IP strategy in the short-form content market.On May 28, global content platform Spoon Labs announced the establishment of the animation tab on its short drama platform Vigloo, marking a significant expansion of its AI-based content lineup.The creation of the animation May 28, 2026