Industry Minister Thanks Gas Stations for Efforts Amid Middle East Crisis Kim Jeong-gwan, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, stated on May 19 that the stability of domestic oil prices is largely due to the efforts of local gas stations. He expressed hope that the government, businesses, and citizens can work together to navigate the ongoing crisis stemming from the Middle East. On this day, Minister Kim visited the "Dae Won Self-Service Gas Station" in Guro-gu, Seoul, where he held a meeting with representatives from gas stations recognized as "good gas May 19, 2026

South Korea Aims to Become a Top 10 Renewable Energy Nation by 2030 The South Korean government has officially set a goal to expand its renewable energy capacity to 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to transition to renewable energy in response to the energy crisis stemming from the Middle East and the tightening of global carbon regulations. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment announced the "First Basic Plan for Renewable Energy" during the 38th Energy Committee meeting held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce May 19, 2026

Vietnam Begins Construction of Vinh-Tan Thuy Highway to Connect Northern Region and Laos Vietnam has commenced construction on the Vinh-Tan Thuy Highway, which will connect the northern region with Laos. The project has a total investment of approximately 24 trillion dong (about $1.37 billion) and spans 65 kilometers, with a completion target set for 2029. This highway is a key segment of the Hanoi-Vientiane regional corridor. According to Vietnamese media outlet VnExpress, the groundbreaking ceremony took place on May 18 in Nghe An province, following a previous event in Dai May 19, 2026

SK Innovation Begins $2.3 Billion LNG Project in Vietnam SK Innovation has officially launched a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation project in Vietnam, valued at approximately 3.3 trillion won ($2.3 billion), accelerating its efforts to penetrate the Southeast Asian power and advanced industry markets. The company aims to implement a 'Korean-style energy and industrial cluster' model that integrates AI data centers and industrial complexes. On May 18, a consortium formed by SK Innovation, Vietnam's state-owned power company PV May 19, 2026

Philippine President: Taiwan Conflict Would Impact Us Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the President of the Philippines, stated that if a military conflict occurs in Taiwan, the Philippines would be unable to avoid its effects. This is due to the country's geographical proximity to Taiwan and the presence of approximately 200,000 Filipinos living there. On May 19, Bloomberg reported that President Marcos made these comments during an interview with Japanese media in Manila the previous day. He emphasized, "The Philippines has no choice," adding, "Taiwan May 19, 2026

Byun Woo-seok Apologizes for Historical Distortion Controversy in '21st Century Great Lady' Actor Byun Woo-seok has once again apologized regarding the historical distortion controversy surrounding his recently concluded drama, '21st Century Great Lady.'On the morning of May 19, a production presentation for the new Netflix variety show 'Yoo Jae-suk Camp' was held at the Grand Ballroom on the LL floor of the JW Marriott Dongdaemun in Seoul. Attendees included PDs Jung Hyo-min, Lee So-min, and Hwang Yoon-seo, along with broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk, actors Lee Kwang-soo, Byun Woo-seok, and J May 19, 2026

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Arrives in Daegu for Korea-Japan Summit Takaichi Sanae, the Prime Minister of Japan, arrived at Daegu International Airport on May 19 for a Korea-Japan summit with President Lee Jae-myung. The meeting is set to take place in Andong, the hometown of President Lee.Takaichi landed at Daegu Airport around 11:53 a.m. on a private jet. Upon exiting the aircraft at 12:09 p.m., she bowed in greeting and waved with a smile. She then shook hands with Kim Jin-ah, the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, among others.Walking along a red carpe May 19, 2026

Think Big, Start Small, Scale Fast: Strategies for AI Adoption As 2025 passed, the questions surrounding AI for South Korean companies fundamentally changed. The focus shifted from "Should we adopt AI?" to "How can we operate it efficiently?" According to the McKinsey Global AI Survey (2025), 88% of companies worldwide are utilizing AI in at least one business function. However, behind these impressive figures lies a harsh reality. Only one-third of companies have scaled AI across their entire organization, while the remaining two-thirds remain stuck May 19, 2026

US-China Summit Signals Start of AI and Semiconductor Rivalry The US-China summit held in Beijing in May 2026 appeared calm on the surface. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping projected an image focused on management rather than confrontation. Immediately after the meeting, both nations issued a generic statement expressing their commitment to continue dialogue, which provided some relief to the markets.However, the essence of this summit was far from a mere diplomatic event. It marked the official beginning of a new era of hegemonic co May 19, 2026

Standard Chartered to Cut Over 7,000 Jobs with AI and Automation Standard Chartered (SC) plans to reduce its back-office and support staff by more than 7,000 by 2030 through the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. This restructuring aims to improve cost efficiency and profitability. On May 18, local time, SC announced its strategy to investors, stating it will cut more than 15% of its corporate function workforce by 2030. The 15% reduction pertains specifically to corporate functions, including human resources, risk management, May 19, 2026