Weather Forecast: Clear Skies and Early Summer Heat with Highs Reaching 34°C On Monday, May 18, clear skies are expected across the country, with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, leading to hot weather conditions. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on May 17, the morning low temperatures on May 18 are forecasted to range from 12 to 20 degrees Celsius, while the daytime highs will reach between 24 and 34 degrees Celsius. These temperatures are above the seasonal averages of 10 to 15 degrees in the morning and 21 to 26 degrees dur May 17, 2026

Top 10 Securities Firms Report Combined Q1 Profit of 4.3 Trillion Won The dominance of banks in South Korea's financial market is being challenged as securities firms report record profits. Following a strong stock market rally that began in the second half of last year, the top 10 securities firms achieved unprecedented earnings in the first quarter of this year. Their combined net profit surpassed 4 trillion won for the first time, narrowing the gap with the five largest banks to just 1.1 trillion won.According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service's el May 17, 2026

KT Ensures Reliable Communication Services on Ulleungdo Island On May 12, a passenger ferry departed from Pohang around midnight and arrived approximately six hours later at Ulleungdo, South Korea's easternmost island, located about 208 kilometers from the mainland. Despite its isolation risks during severe weather, Ulleungdo maintains a communication network with stability comparable to that of the mainland. According to KT, approximately 3,800 of the 5,500 households on Ulleungdo subscribe to internet services, while over 4,200 households use IPTV May 17, 2026

KT SAT Introduces Starlink Internet on Ulleungdo Cruise Ship "It feels like the internet is faster on the ship than at home." On May 12, aboard the New Sea Dao Pearl, a large passenger ferry traveling between Pohang and Ulleungdo, a video call was made via KakaoTalk with a friend on land. The call maintained high quality without interruptions or audio delays for about 40 minutes, using approximately 1GB of data with no noticeable drop in speed. The onboard communication environment exceeded simple web browsing and video calls, proving suitable for May 17, 2026

Mama Chicken Shifts Focus to Delivery and Takeout, Expands Franchise Business Mama Chicken, the chicken brand of Korea's Papa John's, is set to expand its franchise business by focusing on delivery and takeout-oriented store models. On May 17, Mama Chicken announced that it will restructure its operating strategy to center around delivery and takeout specialized stores, based on data accumulated from three years of operating company-owned locations. Launched in 2023, Mama Chicken entered the market with an American-style chicken concept, featuring signature item May 17, 2026

Pulmuone Launches Eco-Friendly Hiking Campaign in Jirisan National Park Pulmuone announced on May 17 that it conducted a 'Healthy Food, Healthy Hiking' campaign in collaboration with the National Park Service at the Nogodan shelter in Jirisan National Park, located in Gurye, South Jeolla Province. The campaign aimed to encourage visitors to practice environmental protection voluntarily and reduce food waste and single-use items during their hikes. Pulmuone has been engaged in ecosystem restoration activities since signing a memorandum of understanding with th May 17, 2026

Controversy Erupts Over '21st Century Great Lady' Historical Distortion; IU Vows Greater Responsibility MBC's Friday-Saturday drama '21st Century Great Lady' concluded on May 16 amid controversy over historical distortion. Following an apology and commitment to revisions from the production team, lead actress IU expressed her intention to take greater responsibility in front of fans. The upcoming script book is also expected to include some revised expressions.On the show's final day, IU held a group viewing event at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, where she celebrated her birthday with fans whi May 17, 2026

Trump Suggests Weapon Sales to Taiwan Depend on China Negotiations Donald Trump, President of the United States, indicated that the issue of arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China following a recent U.S.-China summit. In an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier aired on May 15, Trump responded to a question about whether he would approve additional arms sales to Taiwan, stating, "I have not approved it yet. I could approve it, or I could not approve it." He added, "I am holding off on the arms sales to Taiwan, a May 17, 2026

Namyang Dairy Reports Growth in Q1 Revenue and Operating Profit After Five Years of Losses Namyang Dairy has reported increases in both revenue and operating profit for the first quarter of this year, driven by growth in exports and business-to-business (B2B) channels. This marks a continuation of the company's recovery following its return to profitability last year. According to data released on May 17 by the Financial Supervisory Service, Namyang Dairy's consolidated revenue for the first quarter reached 225.2 billion won, a 4.4% increase compared to the same period last yea May 17, 2026

320 Policy Suggestions Received in 100 Days: Minister Responds to SMEs The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has confirmed that approximately 320 policy suggestions have been received through its "Direct Suggestions to the Minister" portal over the past 100 days. As of May 13, a total of 322 suggestions were submitted from February 2 to May 13, averaging 3.5 suggestions per day. Of these, 211 have received responses. The participation of a diverse group, including representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), small business owners, startup fo May 17, 2026