Seoul Mayoral Candidates Share Messages on Buddha's Birthday Seoul mayoral candidates Jung Won-o of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party met on May 24 to celebrate Buddha's Birthday. Jung stated, "I will become a mayor who takes care of the lives of vulnerable groups," while Oh expressed his commitment to "embracing the socially disadvantaged and creating a community in Seoul where the quality of life improves." The two candidates attended the Buddha's Birthday ceremony at Jogyesa Temple and later shared their celebratory May 24, 2026

Rain Expected Nationwide on Monday with Temperature Variations On Monday, May 25, which is a substitute holiday, rain is expected across the country. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced on May 24 that rain will begin in Jeju Island in the afternoon and will spread to the Jeolla region and western South Gyeongsang Province by night. By May 26, cumulative rainfall is forecasted to reach 30 to 80 mm in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, and Chungcheong Province, while areas along the southern coast of Jeolla and near Jirisan Mou May 24, 2026

President Lee Jae-myung Promises a Government That Saves Lives On Buddha's Birthday, President Lee Jae-myung stated at a ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul that he aims to create a government that "saves the lives of the people." He emphasized, "I will pay closer attention to the lives of each citizen and listen to the voices from the lowest levels of society." Highlighting the Buddhist principle of 'harmonious unity,' he stressed the need to overcome the nation's crises with collective strength. In a time of deepening political polarization and social con May 24, 2026

Justice Innovation Party Calls for Kim Yong-nam to Consider His Position Amid Loan Shark Allegations The Justice Innovation Party criticized Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek, on May 24, calling him a "three-time disqualified candidate" due to allegations of being involved in loan sharking. They urged him to "seriously consider his position." Shin Jang-sik, a member of the Justice Innovation Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "Kim has betrayed the trust of Pyeongtaek citizens and abandoned the minimum moral integrity re May 24, 2026

U.S. and Iran Near Agreement on 60-Day Ceasefire and Hormuz Strait Access The possibility of a renewed ceasefire in the Middle East has increased as the United States and Iran edge closer to an agreement. According to U.S. online media Axios and Yonhap News, the two nations are nearing a deal that includes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls.Axios reported, citing a draft agreement obtained from U.S. government officials, that both sides are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will be valid fo May 24, 2026

Kim Sang-wook Halts Unification Polls Amid Allegations of Interference As the Democratic Party and the Progressive Party conduct unification polls for the Ulsan mayoral race starting May 23, Kim Sang-wook, the Democratic Party's candidate, announced that he would halt the polls due to suspicions of organized interference by certain factions. The Progressive Party responded by expressing strong regret over what they termed a unilateral declaration. In a statement on May 24, Kim said, "I received information this morning that the polling agency discovered unus May 24, 2026

CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun Visits 'The CJ Cup' in the U.S. Lee Jae-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group, visited the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, which has a total prize of $10.3 million, to watch the tournament and evaluate global business operations. On May 24, Korean time, he visited TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. This marks his first visit to the tournament since it was moved to the U.S. in 2020 due to COVID-19 and scheduling conflicts. During the event, he stayed in a hospitality tent set up between the 10th tee and the 18th green. He clos May 24, 2026

Financial Authorities Revamp Network Separation Regulations to Combat AI Threats In an effort to support the financial sector's transition to artificial intelligence (AI), South Korea's financial authorities announced plans to temporarily relax network separation regulations for security-focused AI applications. They are also considering a complete removal of these regulations for certain financial institutions in the future. Additionally, the authorities aim to bolster the establishment of an AI-based security framework in the financial sector through the creation of May 24, 2026

Kevin Warsh Takes Office as Chair of the Federal Reserve Amid Dollar Strength Kevin Warsh has officially taken office as the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Fed announced on the 22nd that Warsh was sworn in as chair and elected as the head of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). Former chair Jerome Powell served as interim chair until Warsh's appointment. The Federal Reserve, while the central bank of the United States, wields influence beyond its borders. A single statement from the Fed chair can shift the value of the dollar, affect U.S. Treasury yields, an May 24, 2026

Japan Shifts AI Strategy, Moves Away from ChatGPT Competition Japan's political landscape is changing its perspective on artificial intelligence (AI). Instead of the rallying cry of "catching up to the U.S. and China," a more pragmatic approach has emerged, focusing on areas where Japan can excel. This shift is symbolized by recent AI policy proposals from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which emphasize that "complete domestic production of AI across all fields is neither realistic nor strategic."Historically, Japan has been known for its strong May 24, 2026