Hyundai Engineering Applies 120 Years of Expertise from Seoul Club to Apgujeong Hyundai Engineering announced on May 18 that it has signed a business agreement with the Seoul Club to apply the club's operational expertise to the Apgujeong Hyundai community. Established in 1904, the Seoul Club is the only international social club in South Korea, fostering social exchanges among diplomats and both domestic and foreign members for 120 years. Hyundai Engineering reported that this marks the first time the club has formed a strategic partnership with an external entity. May 18, 2026

Nexon Partners with Naver to Enhance User Experience and Expand Gaming Ecosystem Nexon is teaming up with Naver to enhance user convenience and expand the gaming and streaming ecosystem. On May 18, Nexon announced a transition event for 'Naver Login Members' and introduced the Chijijik 'N Connect' project. Naver Login Members can use their Naver ID to log into Nexon and make payments through Naver Pay. Nexon users aged 14 and older who have completed identity verification can convert their existing accounts to a Naver ID. After switching to a Naver Login Member, us May 18, 2026

Government Launches Policy Council to Address Public Employee Issues The South Korean government is initiating serious discussions to improve the treatment of public employees involved in 24-hour disaster response and various emergency duties. On May 18, the Ministry of Interior and Safety held the first meeting of the "2026 Public Employee Union Policy Council," chaired by Deputy Minister Kim Min-jae. About 20 representatives from three major public employee unions—the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, the Federation of Korean Public May 18, 2026

South Korea's AI Safety Institute Faces Scrutiny Over Lack of Results The Korea AI Safety Institute (AISI), established to evaluate the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) models, has come under fire for failing to report any assessments related to the potential use of AI in terrorism and various crimes. Concerns have been raised about the effective use of approximately 15 billion won (about $13 million) in taxpayer money, especially as the institute's website has been down for several days. As of May 18, the AISI's website has been inaccessi May 18, 2026

CU and GS25 Expand 24-Hour Convenience Store Delivery with Coupang Eats Convenience store chains CU and GS25 are partnering with Coupang Eats to expand their 24-hour delivery services. This move comes as demand for late-night deliveries increases, prompting the convenience store sector to enhance its quick commerce capabilities.According to industry sources, CU will begin offering 24-hour delivery through Coupang Eats starting May 19. Previously, CU provided delivery services from 6 AM to 3 AM the following day via platforms like Pocket CU and Coupang Eats.With the May 18, 2026

Korean Won Surpasses 1500 Mark Amid Strong Dollar and Foreign Investor Exodus The won-dollar exchange rate has surpassed the 1500 mark for the first time in a month, reflecting heightened volatility in the foreign exchange market. This surge is attributed to a combination of strong dollar pressures, significant foreign investor capital outflows, and rising international oil prices. On May 18, the weekly closing rate for the won against the U.S. dollar in the Seoul foreign exchange market was recorded at 1500.3 won, down 0.5 won from the previous trading day. Despit May 18, 2026

Hana Card Begins Second Round of Applications for High Oil Price Relief Fund Hana Card announced on May 18 that it has begun accepting applications for the second round of the "2026 High Oil Price Relief Fund."This second round is aimed at approximately 32.56 million citizens in the bottom 70% income bracket, as well as vulnerable groups who missed the first application period. The application window is open from today until July 3.During the first week of applications, from May 18 to 22, a birth year-based system will be implemented to ensure smooth processing.The relie May 18, 2026

Bithumb Celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day with Promotions for New Customers Bithumb announced on May 18 that it will hold an event in celebration of Bitcoin Pizza Day, offering Bitcoin and pizza sets to new customers making their first deposit. Any new customer without a deposit history at Bithumb can participate. After completing the application on the event page, customers who make a net deposit of 50,000 won or more during the event period will be automatically entered. The event runs until May 31. There are three main benefits. All participating customers May 18, 2026

Vietnam Expands Trade and Investment Cooperation with Busan A Vietnamese business delegation is visiting Busan to explore entry into the Korean market. The Busan Economic Promotion Agency (BEPA) hosted an export consultation meeting in Vietnam last October and reached an agreement with the Consul General of Vietnam in Busan in November on a joint business plan for 2026. This forum is expected to yield results from a year of collaborative groundwork. On May 17, the Overseas Market Development Bureau of Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade annou May 18, 2026

Global Executions Reach Record High in 2025, Driven by Iran and China The number of executions worldwide exceeded 2,700 last year, marking the highest level in 44 years. According to a report from Amnesty International cited by the German news agency dpa on May 18, 2025 saw 2,707 executions carried out across 17 countries. This figure represents a 78% increase from the previous year's total of 1,518 executions, the highest since Amnesty began tracking these statistics in 1981. The report attributes the significant rise in executions to an increase in p May 18, 2026