Democratic Party Reports Threats Against Leader Jeong Cheong-rae to Police As the June 3 local elections approach, the Democratic Party has reported to the police threats of a terror plot targeting its leader, Jeong Cheong-rae. The party leadership is taking the matter seriously and has indicated a strong response as the official campaign period nears. On May 17, Kang Jun-hyun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's central election campaign committee, stated at a press conference that "reports of collective terror plotting are coming in from group chat rooms o May 17, 2026

Auto Insurance Losses Weigh on Major Korean Insurers Auto insurance is significantly impacting the financial performance of the property insurance sector in South Korea. As the cumulative effects of premium reductions take their toll, rising costs for parts and repairs have worsened the profitability of major insurers. Additionally, concerns are growing that the introduction of discounts linked to vehicle registration policies will further strain profitability. According to the insurance industry on May 17, the top five property insurers—Sams May 17, 2026

Song Eon-seok Criticizes Jeong Won-o Over Assault Allegations On May 17, Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized Jeong Won-o, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, regarding allegations of assault. He questioned, "Is this the dignity of progressivism?" In a Facebook post, Song stated, "Jeong has lectured Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, saying he should learn 'the dignity of conservatism.' However, the dignity of conservatism has been used as a weapon by the Democratic Party a May 17, 2026

SK Square Dominates New Stock Valuation Rankings as Naver Falls The KOSPI index has surpassed 8,000 points for the first time, leading to significant shifts in the rankings of stocks based on adjusted stock prices, which standardize face values for comparison. Semiconductor and beauty stocks have risen, while platform and gaming stocks have dropped in rank. According to the Korea Exchange, as of May 15, following the KOSPI's brief touch of 8,000 points, SK Square maintained its top position in the adjusted stock price rankings. It was followed by APL, May 17, 2026

Intense Diplomacy Follows US-China Summit as Putin Heads to China and Takaiichi Visits South Korea Donald Trump’s recent visit to China has sparked renewed diplomatic activity in Northeast Asia. Following the US-China summit, which did not yield significant breakthroughs on key issues like Iran and trade, neighboring countries such as Russia and Japan are ramping up their diplomatic efforts. On May 16, the Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin will visit China from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The Kremlin stated, "This visit coincides with the 25th a May 17, 2026

U.S. Stock Holdings Exceed 300 Trillion Won as Big Tech Rally Resumes The resurgence of a rally centered on major U.S. tech companies has pushed the total value of U.S. stock holdings to over 300 trillion won. Following a period of hesitation due to domestic market stimulus policies and expectations for the KOSPI to reach 8,000, overseas investors are preparing to return to the U.S. market. According to the Korea Securities Depository's securities information portal, Saveuro, as of May 14, the value of U.S. stocks held by domestic investors was recorded at $200.11 May 17, 2026

Lee to Hold Summit with Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi on May 19 The Blue House announced on May 17 that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will be welcomed with honors equivalent to a state visit ahead of the upcoming South Korea-Japan summit on May 19. This summit marks the first return visit since President Lee Jae-myung met with Prime Minister Takaichi in Nara Prefecture, Japan, in January, and will take place in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the president's hometown. Blue House spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated, "This visit is significant a May 17, 2026

Housing Loans in South Korea Increase by 5.5 Trillion Won as Authorities Target Business Loan Loopholes The increase in housing loans from financial institutions in South Korea expanded in April, reaching the highest level in eight months. Financial authorities are closely monitoring the potential for rising household loans as housing transactions increase, while also significantly tightening regulations on the misuse of business loans for real estate purchases. According to the Financial Services Commission on May 17, total household loans across all financial sectors rose by 3.5 trillion May 17, 2026

Democratic Party Condemns Negative Campaigning Against Seoul Mayor Candidate The Democratic Party on May 17 condemned negative campaigning directed at Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-o, urging an immediate halt to what they described as "malicious smear tactics." The party specifically referenced the controversy surrounding the missing rebar in the GTX-A line, promising a thorough investigation at the national assembly level. Lee In-young, the head of Jung's campaign, spoke with reporters at the National Assembly, stating, "We strongly condemn the smear tactics a May 17, 2026

Professor Yeo Hyun-deok Discusses AI Management in New Book Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological issue; it has become a management, human, and civilizational concern. More crucial than how quickly companies adopt AI is the question of how humans will relate to it. In light of this, Yeo Hyun-deok, head of the KAIST G-School and professor responsible for the AI Management program, has released a new book titled AI Management: Child Soldiers and Einstein and engaged with readers.Professor Yeo held a book concert on May 16 at the Youngpo May 17, 2026