Yang Hyang-ja Calls for Samsung Labor Agreement, Begins Indefinite Hunger Strike Yang Hyang-ja, the People Power Party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, announced on May 18 that she would begin an indefinite hunger strike to urge a labor agreement at Samsung Electronics. She stated that her protest aims to prevent a crisis in the country's key semiconductor industry. According to Yang's campaign, she will start her hunger strike in front of Samsung's Pyeongtaek campus in Gyeonggi Province starting that evening. Her team expressed hope that "this small stru May 18, 2026

Candidates Clash Over Allegations in Busan Mayoral Debate In a heated debate on May 18, Busan mayoral candidates Jeon Jae-soo of the Democratic Party and Park Hyung-jun of the People Power Party exchanged accusations over various allegations, including the promotion of Busan as a maritime capital. The candidates participated in a debate hosted by the International Newspaper at Pukyong National University’s Daeyeon Campus, where they raised suspicions against each other. During his opening remarks, Park brought up allegations of Jeon receiving May 18, 2026

Ingenia Therapeutics Set to Reveal KOSDAQ Listing Review Results Amid IPO Market Revival The sluggish initial public offering (IPO) market is expected to see a resurgence with the entry of major companies. Ingenia Therapeutics, a U.S. biotech firm, is set to reveal the results of its KOSDAQ listing review as early as this week, paving the way for several companies with market capitalizations ranging from hundreds of billions to trillions of won to join the listing race. According to investment banking sources on May 18, the Korea Exchange is expected to finalize its review re May 18, 2026

Doosan Expands Semiconductor Territory with Support from KDB and Woori Banks KDB Industrial Bank and Woori Bank will jointly arrange financing for Doosan Group's acquisition of SK Siltron. The funding is aimed at strengthening the national semiconductor supply chain, with the final amount currently under negotiation. According to financial sources on May 18, Doosan Group plans to sign a stock purchase agreement (SPA) with SK Group for the acquisition of SK Siltron by the end of this month. The company's valuation is estimated to be around 5 trillion won. To secure May 18, 2026

Seoul Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Safety Concerns and Transparency Jung Won-o, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, called on his opponent, Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, to clarify when he first became aware of the omission of rebar in the construction of the GTX-A line at Samsung Station. Oh countered by asserting that he has never concealed reports from construction companies and demanded that Jung disclose details of his trip to Cancun, Mexico. After announcing youth housing measures in front of Seoul City Hall, Jung told reporters May 18, 2026

Airfare Prices Drop Ahead of Vacation Season as Fuel Surcharge Decreases As fuel surcharges decrease, international airfare prices are expected to drop slightly next month. According to industry sources on May 18, tickets issued for June will apply a fuel surcharge of 27 stages (ranging from 410 to 419 cents per gallon). This marks a reduction from the 33 stages (over 470 cents per gallon) applied this month. The fuel surcharge is an additional fee airlines impose to offset losses incurred from rising oil prices. The reduction in surcharge stages is due to the averag May 18, 2026

Political Tensions Rise Over GTX Construction Issues in Seoul Tensions escalated on May 18 during a full meeting of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, as both the ruling and opposition parties engaged in accusations against candidates for Seoul mayor. The Democratic Party and the People Power Party each alleged that their respective candidates, Oh Se-hoon and Jung Won-oh, violated election laws. The conflict intensified following allegations of Jung's misconduct and issues related to the rebar omission in the GTX-A project, as w May 18, 2026

Education Industry Faces Crisis Amid Declining Birth Rates Amid a declining birth rate, leading education companies in South Korea are expressing a sense of crisis, stating they are at a "survival crossroads." The drop in birth rates directly impacts the school-age population, which is essential for the education market. Facing slowed growth, major education firms are seeking solutions through global expansion driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and edtech, as well as diversifying their portfolios to include senior care and lifelong learning. Ac May 18, 2026

Weather Forecast: Continued Heat with Daytime Temperatures Above 30 Degrees On Tuesday, May 19, early summer weather is expected to continue across the country, with heat intensifying. In particular, daytime temperatures are forecasted to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, especially in the Gyeongsang region, necessitating caution for health management. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the morning low temperatures nationwide are expected to range from 14 to 20 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will be between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius. In Daegu a May 18, 2026

Voters in Jeonnam and Gwangju Express Support for Min Hyung-bae Amid Calls for Checks on Democratic Party Dominance In the Democratic Party's stronghold of Jeonnam and Gwangju, support for the party's candidate, Min Hyung-bae, is overwhelming. However, there are also signs of a push to elect candidates from the People Power Party to counter the party's dominance. Opinions on the administrative merger of Jeonnam and Gwangju lean more negative than positive.Aju Economy visited Gwangju and Suncheon on May 18 to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the June 3 local elections, which will see the election of the first in May 18, 2026