French-Korean Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 140 Years of Diplomatic Relations The French-Korean Chamber of Commerce (FKCCI) held a celebration on May 20 at the National Assembly to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, as well as the 40th anniversary of FKCCI. The event highlighted the history of cooperation between the two nations from the Joseon Dynasty to the present day. Following French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Korea last month, the event featured remarks from FKCCI President David Pierre Jalicon, French Ambas May 22, 2026

Kakao Union Votes for Strike Amid Ongoing Labor Dispute As labor disputes over bonuses and job security escalate, Kakao faces its first potential strike at its headquarters since its founding. The Kakao branch of the National Chemical Fiber Food Industry Workers' Union has approved a strike vote, increasing pressure on the company. The outcome of the second mediation session with the Gyeonggi Provincial Labor Relations Commission on May 27 is expected to be a critical turning point. On May 21, the information technology (IT) industry reported May 22, 2026

Trump's Red Line: Iran's Enriched Uranium and the Shadow of Hormuz 2026 May has seen the Middle East publicly discussing ceasefires and peace negotiations, yet it remains precariously positioned atop a massive powder keg. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that "the war will soon end." However, beneath the negotiation table, the most dangerous flashpoints are becoming increasingly evident. At the center of this tension is a single issue: Iran's enriched uranium. On May 21, Trump asserted at the White House, "We will secure it." He reaffirmed t May 22, 2026

Eli Lilly's New Obesity Drug Shows 28% Weight Loss in Clinical Trials Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity treatment has demonstrated an average weight loss of over 28% in late-stage clinical trials, surpassing the weight loss rates seen in previous major obesity drug studies, drawing significant market interest. On May 21, Reuters reported that Eli Lilly announced its experimental obesity drug, retatrutide, resulted in an average weight reduction of 28.3% over 80 weeks among participants. The trial focused on obese patients without diabetes and the figure i May 22, 2026

Trump Announces Deployment of 5,000 Additional U.S. Troops to Poland President Donald Trump announced that the United States will deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland. This announcement follows confusion surrounding the planned deployment of 4,000 troops to the country. On May 21, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, "The U.S. will send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland." He cited the election of Karol Nawrocki, the Polish president he supported, as a key factor in this decision. Prior to this announcement, there had been controversy regard May 22, 2026

U.S. State Department: Iran's Toll Proposal Would Block Diplomatic Agreement Mark Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, identified Iran's proposal for a toll in the Strait of Hormuz as a significant obstacle to U.S.-Iran diplomatic negotiations. While some positive signals have emerged in talks between the two nations, the issue of tolls in the Strait has become a critical factor in determining the feasibility of an agreement. On May 21, Reuters reported that Rubio stated in a press conference, "If Iran implements a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz, a diplomatic agree May 22, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Return to Diplomatic Dialogue, Criticizes Military Reliance Pope Leo XIV has urged the international community to return to diplomatic dialogue. He emphasized the need to revive bilateral, regional, and multilateral diplomatic channels amid a reliance on military force in international relations. On May 21, according to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV met with the newly appointed non-resident ambassadors to the Holy See from eight countries: Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Yemen, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Chad, and Sri Lanka. During the meeting, he stated, May 22, 2026

Dow Jones Hits Record High as Oil Prices Drop The three major U.S. stock indices rose together as expectations for peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran led to a drop in international oil prices, easing energy cost pressures and boosting investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high. On May 21, the Dow gained 276.31 points, or 0.55%, finishing at 50,285.66. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 12.75 points, or 0.17%, to close at 7,445.72, while the Nasdaq Composite increased by 22.74 points, or 0. May 22, 2026

U.S. Uses Half of THAAD Missiles for Israeli Defense, Raising Security Concerns in Asia The United States has reportedly expended a significant portion of its advanced interceptors in defense of Israel against Iranian missile attacks. Approximately half of the U.S. stockpile of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) interceptors has been used. This depletion of missile defense resources is raising security concerns among Asian allies, including South Korea and Japan. According to the Washington Post on May 21, the U.S. launched over 200 THAAD interceptors to bolster Isra May 22, 2026

Putin Introduces Plan to Export Iranian Uranium to Russia in Meeting with Xi Jinping Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a plan to export enriched uranium from Iran to Russia during an informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This proposal comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he will not allow Iran to retain high-enriched uranium. According to the TASS news agency on May 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov briefed reporters on the discussions between Putin and Xi. Peskov noted that Xi explained to Putin details regarding Trump’s recent vi May 22, 2026