Samsung Electronics Union Begins Vote on Wage Agreement, Participation at 25.56% The Samsung Electronics Union has commenced a vote among its members regarding this year's provisional wage negotiation agreement. The outcome of this vote will determine the legal validity of the agreement, drawing significant attention both inside and outside the company. According to industry sources, the joint negotiation team of Samsung Electronics began the online vote on the provisional agreement at 2:12 PM on May 22. Voting will continue for six days, concluding at 10 AM on Ma May 23, 2026

Nexon's 'MapleStory' Expands Offline Presence in Jamsil Nexon is collaborating with the Lotte Group to expand the offline presence of its flagship intellectual property (IP), MapleStory, in the Jamsil area. Following the introduction of the themed space "Maple Island" at Lotte World Adventure in April, they have now launched a large-scale exhibition and pop-up store at Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake. This initiative aims to enhance the experiential content of the long-running IP, which has been in service for 23 years. On May 22, Nexon an May 23, 2026

2026 Seoul International Book Fair to Feature 530 Publishers The 2026 Seoul International Book Fair will take place from June 24 to 28 at COEX in Samseong-dong, featuring over 530 publishers from Korea and abroad. The Korean Publishers Association announced on May 22 that this year's theme is "Homo duduri," unveiling related programs. "Duduri" refers to a mythical figure from ancient Korean texts and the old name for a blacksmith. The theme emphasizes the importance of questioning and expanding human thought in an era where AI provides quick ans May 23, 2026

KOSDAQ Surges Amid KOSPI Stabilization; Buy Sidecar Activated for Second Day On May 22, the KOSPI showed signs of stabilization following a significant surge the previous day, while the KOSDAQ soared over 5%, prompting the activation of a buy sidecar for the second consecutive day due to strong net buying from foreign and institutional investors. Analysts suggest that the focus is shifting from large-cap semiconductor stocks to a broader rotation that includes secondary batteries, biotechnology, and small to mid-cap growth stocks. According to the Korea Exchange, May 23, 2026

Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Chief Hong Jang-won Appears for Special Investigation Hong Jang-won, the former Deputy Chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who gained attention as a whistleblower during the December 3 martial law, appeared before the special investigation team to face charges of insurrection involvement. On May 22, the special investigation team summoned Hong to its office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to investigate his alleged significant role in insurrection-related tasks. According to the special investigation team, Hong is accused of b May 23, 2026

Ruling Party Leads in Election Polls Ahead of Local Elections Ahead of the June 3 local elections, a survey indicates that more voters believe candidates from the ruling party should win than those from the opposition. According to a Korea Gallup poll conducted from May 19 to 21 with 1,002 eligible voters aged 18 and older, 46% of respondents said that more candidates from the ruling party should be elected, a 2 percentage point increase from the previous survey. In contrast, 33% expressed support for more opposition candidates, unchanged from the May 23, 2026

People Power Party Calls Editing of Kim Tae-heum's Remarks a Clear Violation of Election Law People Power Party officials criticized Daejeon MBC on May 22 for omitting candidate Kim Tae-heum's opening remarks during a televised debate for the Chungnam governor position, calling it "a clear violation of election law and deliberate electoral fraud," and announced plans for legal action.Jang Dong-hyuk, the party's representative, stated at a central election committee meeting in Yeouido, "I hope the Election Commission and police will immediately investigate MBC and thoroughly uncover the May 23, 2026

Public Participation Growth Fund Sells Out on First Day The 'Public Participation National Growth Fund' has generated explosive interest, selling out its online allocation on the first day of its launch. The fund's appeal lies in its investment in advanced strategic industries, along with tax benefits and loss mitigation features for investors.According to the financial sector on May 22, all allocated shares of the National Growth Fund were sold out at the five major banks: KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, and NH Nonghyup. The total allocation for May 23, 2026

U.S.-Iran Negotiations Stalled Over Uranium and Hormuz Strait Issues U.S. and Iranian ceasefire and peace negotiations have reached a critical juncture. Both sides have reportedly made significant progress toward a draft peace agreement through messages exchanged via a mediator. However, issues surrounding Iran's export of enriched uranium and navigation through the Hormuz Strait have emerged as key obstacles, preventing a final agreement. On May 21, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a directive against the export of enriched uranium. Se May 23, 2026

Growing Interest in Buddhism Ahead of Buddha's Birthday As Buddha's Birthday approaches on May 24, more people are heading to bookstores and art galleries to explore Buddhism. With the younger generation embracing Buddhism as a trendy culture, there is a growing movement to experience the teachings of Buddha outside of temples. According to Kyobo Bookstore, Hermann Hesse's novel "Siddhartha" ranked seventh on the comprehensive bestseller list for the third week of May, climbing two spots from the previous week. Online bookstore Yes24 also rep May 23, 2026