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

Hanwha Solutions Pushes Forward with $1.8 Billion Capital Increase Hanwha Solutions is demonstrating a strong commitment to a capital increase of 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) despite two previous setbacks from financial authorities. The company has significantly enhanced its securities registration statement to address the authorities' concerns regarding the necessity of the capital increase, asset sale plans, and performance forecasts, leading to increased optimism about its success. According to industry sources on May 22, the securities registratio May 23, 2026

RE100 Energy Demand in South Korea Expected to Reach 160 TWh by 2038 RE100, which stands for 100% renewable energy, has become a benchmark influencing global supply chains and industrial competitiveness, leading to an increase in renewable energy demand among domestic companies. While long-term forecasts suggest sufficient renewable energy supply, concerns remain about grid limitations and other challenges. According to a report by the Korea Energy Economics Institute titled "Insights into the Global Energy Market - Trends in Domestic and International RE10 May 23, 2026

Five Candidates Enter Race for Next Head of Credit Finance Association Five candidates from the finance, academia, and political sectors have declared their intention to run for the next president of the Credit Finance Association. According to the association on May 22, the application period for the 14th president closed on May 19, with the following candidates submitting their applications: Kim Sang-bong, a professor at Hansung University; Park Kyung-hoon, former CEO of Woori Financial Capital; Yoon Chang-hwan, former policy chief to the National Assembly S May 23, 2026

Korean Won Approaches 1520 Against Dollar Amid Middle East Tensions The won-dollar exchange rate has approached the 1520 won mark, prompting foreign exchange authorities to intervene verbally to stabilize the currency. The exchange rate finished the week at a high level, the highest in about a month and a half since April 2. The Bank of Korea and the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued a joint message shortly before the close of trading in the Seoul foreign exchange market, stating, "The foreign exchange authorities are monitoring the movement of the w May 23, 2026

Lotte Energy Materials Sells 90% Stake in Lotte EcoWill to Relson Private Equity 롯데에너지머티리얼즈가 릴슨프라이빗에쿼티와 주식매매계약을 체결하고 롯데에코월 지분 90%를 매각한다고 22일 밝혔다. Lotte Energy Materials announced on May 22 that it has signed a stock purchase agreement with Relson Private Equity to sell a 90% stake in Lotte EcoWill. The company specializes in curtain wall construction, which involves creating a separate glass exterior wall outside concrete walls. Last year, Lotte EcoWill reported approximately 130 billion won in sales and an operating pro May 23, 2026

Oh Se-hoon Leads Jung Won-o in Tight Seoul Mayor Race As the local elections approach in 12 days, the race for Seoul mayor is becoming increasingly competitive. Recent polling indicates that Oh Se-hoon, the candidate from the People Power Party, is narrowly leading Jung Won-o of the Democratic Party within the margin of error, making him a key player in the final stretch of the campaign. According to a poll released on May 22, Oh garnered 44.8% support, while Jung received 42.0%. The gap between the two candidates stands at 2.8 percentage p May 23, 2026