First Arrest Warrant Issued by Special Prosecutors for Former KTV Head Lee Eun-woo Lee Eun-woo, the former head of the Korea Policy Broadcasting System (KTV), faces a critical moment as he is accused of insurrection propaganda related to the December 3 martial law. This marks the first attempt by the second comprehensive special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, to secure an arrest warrant, focusing on a charge that lacks legal precedent. The Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Jong-rok, began the warrant hearing May 21, 2026

Samsung Electronics Strike: Implications for South Korea's Semiconductor Industry In 2026, South Korea's industrial sector faces a significant challenge. The strike by the Samsung Electronics labor union and the debate over performance bonuses have expanded beyond mere labor disputes, raising critical questions about the structure of South Korean industrial capitalism, future competitiveness, and the new distribution order in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Recently, Samsung Electronics reached a final agreement in labor negotiations, which included wage increases, a May 21, 2026

NCSoft Decides Not to Pursue Legal Action Against YouTuber for False Claims About Aion 2 NCSoft has decided to refrain from pursuing legal action against the operator of the YouTube channel "Gamchanghyeon," who has been accused of spreading false information and excessive defamation related to the new game "Aion 2." On May 21, the company announced that it had withdrawn its ongoing civil and criminal legal actions. Reports indicate that NCSoft submitted a withdrawal notice to the Seoul Central District Court on May 11. Previously, NCSoft had filed a criminal complaint against May 21, 2026

King Charles III's Death Reported in Major False Alarm by UK Radio A UK radio station has issued an official apology after mistakenly reporting the death of King Charles III. According to Yonhap News, Radio Caroline, a broadcaster once known for its pirate radio roots, apologized via social media on May 20 for the false report regarding the king's death, which was also covered by AFP and The Guardian. The error occurred due to a computer malfunction at the station's studio in Essex, England, the day before. UK broadcasters maintain a 'king's death p May 21, 2026

K-Rice Belt Initiative Exceeds Seed Production Goals in Africa, Sierra Leone Joins Efforts The K-Rice Belt initiative, aimed at producing and distributing rice seeds in African countries with weak rice production bases, is progressing well, exceeding its initial production targets. On May 21, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that through the K-Rice Belt initiative, a total of 6,365 tons of high-quality, high-yield rice seeds were produced last year across seven African countries. The production figures for the seven countries are as follows: May 21, 2026

HP Partners with Upstage to Target Enterprise AI Assistant Market HP Korea is teaming up with the domestic artificial intelligence company Upstage to drive innovation through AI agents. On May 21, HP Korea announced that it signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Upstage on May 20 in Seoul to collaborate in the AI agent sector. The two companies plan to integrate Upstage's generative AI technology with HP's high-performance workstations and device ecosystem to support enterprise customers in adopting AI. The signing ceremony was attended b May 21, 2026

SH to Partially Relocate Headquarters in Jungnang-gu, Construction Planned for 2027 The Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH) is reviving its long-stalled plan to relocate its headquarters in Jungnang-gu, Shinnae-dong, through a "partial relocation" approach. Instead of moving all employees and departments, the plan now involves retaining some functions at the current headquarters in Gangnam's Gaepo-dong. This shift is attributed to concerns over project viability and financial burdens. Internally, SH is reportedly aiming to begin construction in the second half May 21, 2026

Ruling Party Targets Oh Se-hoon on First Day of Official Campaign The Democratic Party launched a concentrated attack on Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, on the first day of the official campaign period, demanding he "apologize to citizens" and asserting he is unfit for the position. The party also announced plans to investigate allegations regarding the omission of rebar in the GTX-A line, which has recently sparked controversy. Chun Jun-ho, the party's deputy floor leader, stated during a policy coordination meeting at the May 21, 2026

Han Byeong-do Appeals for Support in Local Elections, Urges Voters to Choose Government Aligned with Lee Jae-myung Han Byeong-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, called for public support on May 21, the official start of the election campaign, urging voters to choose local governments that will work in tandem with the Lee Jae-myung administration. He also warned of severe consequences for actions that mock democracy, referencing recent controversies involving Starbucks and Musinsa. During a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly, Han stated, "This local election will determine May 21, 2026

Jang Dong-hyuk Calls for Victory to Prevent Lee Jae-myung's Rule Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, urged supporters on May 21, the first day of the official campaign for the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections, to secure victory to prevent Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party from gaining unchecked power.In a post on Facebook, Jang stated, "This election is about protecting the freedom and democratic order of South Korea."He expressed concern that President Lee would seek to erase his trial through a special investigati May 21, 2026