Domestic Ultra-Pure Water Supply Begins for Semiconductor Manufacturing The South Korean government is accelerating the domestic production of ultra-pure water, a critical component in semiconductor manufacturing processes. The domestically developed ultra-pure water production technology is now being applied in actual semiconductor manufacturing sites, raising expectations for stabilizing the advanced industry supply chain and enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic water industry.The Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment announced on May 19 that it wil May 18, 2026

Increase in Banner Installation Ahead of Local Elections; Labor Ministry Urges Safety Compliance As the nationwide local elections approach in two weeks, labor authorities are urging candidates to take precautions against accidents that may occur during the installation and removal of campaign banners. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on May 18, a surge in banner work is expected ahead of the June 3 local elections, the ninth of its kind. Each candidate is allowed to post banners up to twice the number of administrative districts they represent. In cases where electora May 18, 2026

South Korea to Revamp Battery Recycling Certification System Ahead of 2027 Launch The South Korean government is set to improve its battery recycling standards and regulations ahead of the introduction of a certification system for recycled battery materials in 2027. This initiative will include not only waste batteries but also byproducts and defective products from manufacturing processes as eligible for certification. The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of the critical mineral supply chain by updating the recycling standards for black mass. The Climate Energy Envir May 18, 2026

KOSPI Reclaims 7500 Mark Amid Heavy Buying by Individual Investors The KOSPI index has reclaimed the 7500 mark, bolstered by significant buying from individual investors despite a sell-off by foreign investors. In contrast, the KOSDAQ index is experiencing a decline of over 2%, primarily driven by weakness in biotech and robotics stocks. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:50 a.m. on May 18, the KOSPI rose by 18.83 points (0.25%) to reach 7512.01. Earlier in the session, it had dipped below 7200 but rebounded thanks to strong buying from individua May 18, 2026

President Lee: We Will Boldly Uphold the Spirit of May 18 President Lee Jae-myung stated on May 18, "The government of the people will boldly carry forward the spirit of May 18, striving for the 'country where the people are the masters' that Gwangju has long yearned for."In his commemorative speech at the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement held at the May 18 Democratic Square in front of the former Jeonnam Provincial Office in Gwangju, President Lee emphasized, "With the freedom, equality, and unity that May Gwangju has left us, I will May 18, 2026

Jung Won-oh Vows to Uphold May 18 Spirit Amid Criticism from Oh Se-hoon Camp On the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, emphasized the need to restore democracy and constitutional order. Meanwhile, the camp of Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, continued its attacks on Jung regarding a past assault incident. On May 18, Jung posted on Facebook, stating, "We have recently experienced another precarious time when democracy is shaken. The nights of martial law and insurrection are not May 18, 2026

Apartment Transactions Surge 265% in Guri as Buyers Shift from Seoul As regulations in Seoul tightened this year, demand has shifted to the Gyeonggi and Incheon apartment markets, resulting in a more than 30% increase in transaction volume compared to last year. According to Zigbang, from January to April 2026, the number of apartment transactions in Gyeonggi and Incheon reached 66,294, a 33% increase from 50,013 during the same period last year. This surge is attributed to buyers dispersing to areas with relatively fewer regulations as land transaction p May 18, 2026

Samsung Workers Threaten to Leak Technology Amid Labor Dispute As negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its labor union intensify, some employees have sparked controversy by suggesting they would leave for a Chinese semiconductor company to leak technology. According to industry sources, a post titled "Samsung Internal Opinion" appeared on the anonymous workplace community Blind on May 17. The author wrote, "If negotiations fail, everyone will move to CXMT and leak technology." CXMT is the largest DRAM manufacturer in China, Changxin Memory T May 18, 2026

Iran Threatens to Charge Fees for Undersea Cables in Hormuz Strait Concerns are growing that Iran may target undersea communication networks in addition to energy transport routes in the Strait of Hormuz. On May 17, CNN reported that Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Central Military Command, stated on X (formerly Twitter) last week, "We will impose fees on internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz." Media outlets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that the Iranian government is pursuing ways to ge May 18, 2026

Candidates for Seoul Mayor Attend 46th Anniversary of May 18 Democratic Uprising Jeong Won-o, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor, and Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate, both attended the May 18 Democratic Uprising memorial ceremony on May 18. This marked their first face-to-face meeting since registering as candidates for the June 3 local elections last week. The two candidates attended the 46th anniversary ceremony held on the eighth floor of Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu as special guests. Upon arriving at the venue, both candidates signed the g May 18, 2026