Jung Won-oh Criticizes Oh Se-hoon on Safety Issues at Guui Station Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, intensified his criticism of Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, on safety issues during his campaign on May 22. He highlighted the recent construction flaws at Samsung Station on the GTX-A line as a key concern. Jung began his day by attending a memorial event for the 10th anniversary of the Guui Station industrial accident in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. He referenced the recently passed Life Safety Basic Act in May 23, 2026

Candidates Present Plans for Gyeongnam Governor in TV Debate In a televised debate ahead of the June 3 local elections, Gyeongnam Governor candidates Kim Kyung-soo of the Democratic Party, Park Wan-soo of the People Power Party, and Jeon Hee-young of the Progressive Party outlined their visions for the region's development while also engaging in negative campaigning over military service and hiring favoritism allegations. The candidates participated in the debate held at Gyeongnam MBC on May 22, emphasizing the need for cooperation with the central May 23, 2026

Park Geun-hye to Support Daegu Mayor Candidate Choo Kyung-ho Former President Park Geun-hye is set to support Choo Kyung-ho, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Daegu, ahead of the June 3 local elections. With recent polls showing a tight race against Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum, Park's public appearances are expected to rally conservative voters. According to the People Power Party, Park will visit Chilseong Market in northern Daegu with Choo on May 23 at 2 p.m. They plan to campaign together for about 30 minutes, aiming to b May 23, 2026

U.S. SM-6 Long-Range Naval Missile to Be Deployed by 2034 The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on May 22 that it has finalized plans to purchase the U.S.-made SM-6 long-range naval surface-to-air missile for deployment on Aegis destroyers (KDX-III). On the same day, DAPA held the 175th Defense Acquisition Promotion Committee meeting in Yongsan, Seoul, where it reviewed and approved the decision on the SM-6 missile procurement. The SM-6 missile project aims to acquire these missiles through the Foreign Military Sales May 23, 2026

Why the Seoul Election Race is Tightening Again Assessing public sentiment in Seoul is always challenging. The city serves as a microcosm of South Korean politics, yet it does not always follow national trends. While it can be a barometer for presidential elections, local elections tend to be surprisingly pragmatic. Voters prioritize practical governance over ideology and administrative promises over slogans. This makes predicting the outcome of the Seoul mayoral election particularly difficult. A poll released on May 22, just 18 da May 23, 2026

LG to Burn All Remaining Treasury Shares Worth 350 Billion Won LG has announced plans to burn all of its remaining treasury shares to enhance shareholder value. This follows the company’s decision last year to burn half of its treasury shares, as it accelerates its shareholder return initiatives. On May 22, LG disclosed that it will burn 3,029,581 common shares, which represents 1.96% of its total issued shares. Based on the closing price on that day, the total value of the shares is approximately 350 billion won. The book value, calculated at an a May 23, 2026

Democratic Party Targets Voter Support in Chungbuk and Gangwon Regions The Democratic Party intensified its campaign efforts in Chungbuk and Gangwon provinces on May 22, the second day of the official election period for the June 3 local elections. This push comes after the opposition People Power Party won control of local governments in these regions during the last election. Jung Cheong-rae, the party's chief election strategist, is focusing on regaining voter support. The campaign kicked off in the morning with greetings at the SK Hynix Cheongju campus, May 23, 2026

Weather Forecast: Rain Expected Across Most of the Country on Saturday On May 23, overcast skies will prevail nationwide, with rain expected in most areas. Dense fog is anticipated in the mountainous regions of Gangwon and some inland areas, prompting caution for traffic safety. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, rain will begin in Busan, Ulsan, and the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang Province from early morning until the afternoon, spreading to most of the country except for the eastern coast of Gangwon. Expected rainfall amounts are May 23, 2026

Huons to Absorb Subsidiary Huons Life Science in Merger Huons plans to absorb its wholly-owned subsidiary, Huons Life Science, in a merger. The company is moving forward with the process, relying solely on board approval without holding a separate shareholders' meeting. On May 22, Huons announced that its board of directors had completed the resolution for the small-scale merger with Huons Life Science. During the period for shareholders to express dissent, only 59,403 shares were opposed, representing about 0.5% of the total issued shares. Th May 23, 2026

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Leverage ETFs Set to Launch The domestic exchange-traded fund (ETF) market is witnessing intense competition as the first single-stock leverage products are set to debut. The "Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Leverage" ETFs will be listed on May 27, with most asset management firms offering the lowest total fees in the industry, leading to a lack of differentiation among the products from an investor's perspective. According to the financial investment industry on May 22, among the eight asset management firms launc May 23, 2026