Seoul Apartment Prices Rise 0.31%, With Significant Gains in Gwanak and Gwangmyeong Apartment prices in Seoul have increased by 0.31% in the third week of May, driven by strong demand in the Gangnam Three Districts (Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa) and an influx of actual buyers in the outskirts. According to the Korea Real Estate Agency's weekly apartment price trends released on May 21, the increase reflects a growing interest in mid- to low-priced apartments, particularly in areas where buyers have access to loans. Gwanak District saw the largest rise at 0.45%, up 0.25 May 21, 2026

Government to Expand Experience-Based Economic Education with Tailored Content The Economic Education Association held discussions with stakeholders on enhancing economic education and innovating through artificial intelligence (AI). The government announced plans to build an economic education ecosystem that responds to the digital transformation era by expanding experiential learning and strengthening tailored content for different life stages. The Economic Education Association hosted its "2026 First Half Workshop" on May 21 at the DB Life Human Resources Devel May 21, 2026

Korean Finance Ministry Promotes K-GX for Climate Crisis Response On May 21, Heo Chang, the Second Vice Minister of Finance, stated that combining South Korea's climate technology and development experience with the Global Green Growth Institute's (GGGI) project development capabilities and the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) financial resources could present a new growth model in response to the climate crisis. He made these remarks during the GGGI-GCF joint conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, which was attended by over 100 participants, i May 21, 2026

Labor Deputy Minister Warns of Potential Employment Crisis Amid Middle East Tensions Kwon Chang-jun, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on May 21 that the recent instability in the Middle East could lead to significant employment shocks, warning that small signs of trouble may escalate into a broader crisis. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent employment instability from spreading. During the eighth emergency meeting on labor conditions with representatives from the plastic and textile industries, Kwon assessed the impact of the prolon May 21, 2026

Oh Se-hoon Calls for Voter Warning to the Blue House in Local Elections Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, emphasized on May 21 that "this election should serve as a warning to the Blue House, urging a shift in government policies affecting people's livelihoods and preventing a drift towards dictatorship." Speaking in Samyang-dong, where he spent his childhood, Oh remarked, "It seems that President Lee Jae-myung has already relaxed his vigilance less than a year into his term, ignoring the cries of ordinary citizens." Samyang-d May 21, 2026

Homeplus Requests Bridge Loan from Meritz Amid Financial Struggles Homeplus has once again requested a bridge loan from Meritz Financial Group to secure emergency operating funds. This request comes as the company prepares for the inflow of funds from the sale of Homeplus Express at the end of next month, which is expected to cover about a month’s worth of operational expenses. On May 21, Homeplus stated, "The proceeds from the sale of Homeplus Express, which is part of our supermarket division, are expected to arrive by the end of next month. We have May 21, 2026

Cheil Worldwide's Dorco SLEEK Razor Campaign Surpasses 30 Million Views Cheil Worldwide's campaign for the Dorco premium razor brand SLEEK has surpassed 30 million views on YouTube. The campaign, featuring actor Kim Woo-bin, has been praised for its engaging direction that has rapidly gone viral.According to Cheil Worldwide, the campaign uses the slogan "Skin Loves SLEEK" and reinterprets the daily shaving routine as the "first step in skincare."The campaign emphasizes SLEEK's innovative patented technology, which minimizes skin irritation after shaving.The campaign May 21, 2026

Gartner Projects 47% Surge in AI Spending This Year, Driven by Infrastructure Investment Global spending on artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to increase by 47% this year, with infrastructure investments leading the charge. Technology companies and hyperscalers are pouring significant funds into AI servers, semiconductors, and networks, driving overall expenditure upward. According to market research firm Gartner, global AI spending is projected to reach $2.5957 trillion this year, up from $1.7649 trillion last year. By 2027, spending is expected to rise to $3.4934 tril May 21, 2026

South Korea Welcomes Release of Two Citizens Detained by Israel South Korea's Blue House expressed its welcome on May 21 for the release of two South Korean citizens who were detained by the Israeli military after being on a humanitarian ship bound for Gaza.Kang Yoo-jung, the chief spokesperson for the Blue House, stated during a briefing that the government strongly regrets the Israeli military's actions in detaining South Koreans but appreciates their immediate release.Kang noted that President Lee Jae-myung expressed serious concerns regarding the safety May 21, 2026

Daewoong Pharmaceutical Advances Development of Anti-Aging Treatments Daewoong Pharmaceutical has officially entered the competition to develop anti-aging treatments by securing key technologies from a U.S. biotechnology firm. The company aims to go beyond merely slowing aging, focusing instead on strategies that restore cellular functions at the cellular level. On May 21, Daewoong announced that it acquired core technological assets from Turn Bio Technologies through an auction. This acquisition will enable the company to intensify its research and develop May 21, 2026