ASML CEO: Strong AI Demand Will Keep Semiconductor Supply Short A surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to prolong the global semiconductor supply shortage. The simultaneous growth in semiconductor needs for AI data centers, satellites, and robotics is outpacing production capabilities. On May 20, Christoph Hocke, CEO of ASML, stated at the Imec Technology Forum in Antwerp, Belgium, that "AI demand is extremely strong," and warned that the semiconductor market could remain in a state of supply shortage for a significant period. May 21, 2026

Fire in Daejeon Apartment Claims Life of Elderly Man, Injures Daughter A fire in a Daejeon apartment resulted in the death of an elderly man in his 80s and serious injuries to his daughter, a woman in her 60s. According to Yonhap News, the fire broke out on the first floor of the apartment in Jung-gu at approximately 7:37 PM on May 20. Fire authorities received reports of the blaze and quickly dispatched fire trucks and personnel to the scene for firefighting and rescue operations. The fire spread within the apartment, but firefighters managed to extinguish May 21, 2026

Domestic Banks Earn 2.4 Trillion Won from Overseas Branches Last Year Last year, domestic banks earned approximately 2.4 trillion won (about $16.5 billion) from their overseas branches. The number of overseas branches increased to 211, and total assets surpassed 330 trillion won.According to a report released by the Financial Supervisory Service on May 21, the net profit of domestic banks' overseas branches reached $1.651 billion (approximately 2.4 trillion won), a 2.3% increase from the previous year. This figure represents 9.8% of the total net profit of domesti May 21, 2026

Shinhan Investment Corp. Projects Continued Profitability for Kyungdong Navien Shinhan Investment Corp. stated on May 21 that considering changes in tariff rates and related non-operating income, Kyungdong Navien's profitability is expected to improve continuously in the second quarter and throughout the year. The firm maintained its target stock price at 89,000 won and its investment recommendation at 'Buy.' Research analyst Heo Seong-kyu noted, "The strong performance in the first quarter of this year is different from the favorable results due to advance orders i May 21, 2026

Gong Seung-yeon Discusses TWICE's Jeongyeon and Her Battle with Cushing's Syndrome Actress Gong Seung-yeon expressed her affection for her younger sister, Jeongyeon, a member of the popular girl group TWICE. During an appearance on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block" on May 20, Jeongyeon reflected on her difficult battle with Cushing's syndrome, recalling, "It was a mentally challenging time, and I don't remember much because it was so hard. I relied heavily on my sister during that period." She added, "My sister noticed something was wrong with my health and su May 21, 2026

Financial Authorities File Criminal Charges Against NH Investment & Securities for Insider Trading Financial authorities have imposed sanctions on executives and associates of NH Investment & Securities for alleged insider trading related to tender offers. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), under the Financial Services Commission, has filed criminal charges and imposed the maximum administrative fines as part of a strong response to actions that undermine the capital market order. On May 21, the SFC announced that during its 10th regular meeting on May 20, it reported eight individ May 21, 2026

U.S.-South Korea Deputy Foreign Ministers Meet to Launch Joint Fact Sheet Group Park Yoon-joo, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Christopher Landau, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, in Washington on May 20 to discuss specific measures for implementing the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS) from the recent summit between the two nations. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 21, the two deputy ministers emphasized that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is a cornerstone for peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. They agreed that May 21, 2026

Candidates Launch Campaigns for Seoul Mayor Election Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul Mayor, and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, will officially launch their campaigns on May 21. According to political sources on May 20, Jung will visit the Dongseoul Postal Distribution Center in Gwangjin-gu at midnight to meet with workers on the night shift. Joining him will be Democratic Party officials, including Representative Jung Cheong-rae and former lawmakers Park Joo-min and Jeon Hyun-hee, who are part of the ' May 21, 2026

Bitcoin Recovers to $77,400 as Investor Sentiment Improves Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies saw a significant rise in prices. This increase is attributed to a recovery in global risk asset investor sentiment, which has led to increased buying activity in the cryptocurrency market. According to CoinMarketCap, as of 8 a.m. on May 21, Bitcoin was trading at $77,424, up 0.92% from the previous day. Ethereum also rose by 0.92%, reaching $2,126. Binance Coin (BNB), Solana, and Ripple (XRP) recorded increases of 1.51%, 2.25%, and 0.62%, trading May 21, 2026

KT HCN to Broadcast Ulleung County Mayor Candidate Debate KT HCN announced it will broadcast a debate featuring candidates for the Ulleung County mayoral election on May 26 at 8 p.m. on its local channel. The debate will allow candidates to express their positions on local issues, key pledges, and governance direction. The company aims to provide Ulleung County voters with an opportunity to evaluate the candidates ahead of the June 3 local elections. Due to the island's geographical isolation, travel conditions can vary based on weather and fer May 21, 2026