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

Jensen Huang: NVIDIA Has Given Up on China's AI Chip Market to Huawei Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, expressed disappointment that U.S. export restrictions have allowed Huawei to dominate the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chip market. In an interview with CNBC on May 20, Huang stated, "We have effectively ceded that market to them, and the local semiconductor ecosystem is thriving because we have withdrawn from it. Huawei has had a record year and is expected to achieve remarkable results next year as well." He added, "We have essentially given that ma May 21, 2026

President Lee Orders Investigation into Missing Rebar at GTX-A Samsung Station President Lee Jae-myung has instructed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to conduct a thorough investigation and safety checks regarding the missing rebar at the GTX (Greater Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit) A line's Samsung Station.During a briefing at the Cheong Wa Dae, Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong conveyed the president's directives.When asked about the reasons for the instructions, Kang explained, "Given the upcoming summer ra May 21, 2026

Jung Won-oh Launches Campaign for Seoul Mayor in Wangsimni Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Mayor, called on voters on May 21 to support his vision of revitalizing the city’s economy, similar to the progress seen in Seongdong-gu. At his campaign launch held in Wangsimni, his political hometown, Jung stated, "We need to change the capabilities of local government in this election." He praised President Lee Jae-myung for delaying a total strike at Samsung Electronics and for the first passage of a Korean ship through the Strai May 21, 2026

Blue House Supports Reasonable Adjustments Following Samsung Labor Agreement On May 21, the Blue House stated that it would actively support reasonable adjustments in the wage negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its labor union. Kang Yoo-jung, the chief spokesperson, made this remark during a briefing at the Chunchugwan when asked about the potential impact of the negotiations on the broader industrial sector. "The impact of this conflict on the national economy is significant," she said.Kang acknowledged that while labor issues are primarily decided autonomousl May 21, 2026

Jang Dong-hyuk Calls for Victory in Local Elections to Resume President Lee's Trial As the local elections approach, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, visited Daejeon on May 21 to urge voters, stating, "The People Power Party must win this local election to resume President Lee's trial." He later visited Daejeon Central Market to connect with the public. In the afternoon, he plans to visit Gongju and Asan in South Chungcheong Province to further appeal for voter support. At the 'June 3 Daejeon Citizens' Victory' campaign launch held at Seogwang Square ne May 21, 2026

Choo Mi-ae Calls for Voter Judgment Against 'Insurrection Forces' in Gyeonggi Election Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party's candidate for Gyeonggi governor, urged voters to judge "insurrection forces" during her campaign kickoff on May 21. She emphasized that she is not a candidate who has taken the easy path. At a rally near Seohyeon Station, Choo stated, "The People Power Party still acts as the bodyguard for Yoon Suk Yeol, bowing to him even while he is in prison. The 'Yoon Again' forces are dreaming of a revival." She continued, "As the judiciary delays judgment on these May 21, 2026

KOSPI Surges Past 7700 After Four Days of Decline, Driven by Samsung and SK Hynix Gains The KOSPI index, which fell below 7100 after initially surpassing 8000 on May 15, rebounded sharply after four days of decline, breaking through the 7700 mark. As of 12:49 PM on May 21, the KOSPI was up 7.66% from the previous trading day, reaching 7761.43. Early in the session, the index surged, triggering simultaneous buy-side circuit breakers for both KOSPI and KOSDAQ. Investor sentiment improved following a tentative wage agreement reached between labor and management at Samsung El May 21, 2026

SC First Bank Hosts Masterclass with Park Se-ri for High-Net-Worth Clients SC First Bank is accelerating its tailored programs for ultra-high-net-worth individuals amid fierce competition in the private banking market. On May 15, SC First Bank successfully held a Masterclass featuring renowned golfer Park Se-ri, the bank announced on May 21. The Masterclass is part of SC First Bank's private banking program, which invites top leaders from various fields to provide lectures and experiences for clients with assets exceeding 1 billion won (approximately $900,000). This se May 21, 2026