Journalist
Lee Hugh
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U.S. intelligence weighs Iran response if Trump declares unilateral victory, sources say U.S. intelligence agencies are analyzing how Iran might respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory, as political pressure grows with the war dragging on, according to a Reuters report. Reuters, citing U.S. government officials, reported April 28 local time that intelligence officials are reviewing the potential fallout if Trump declares victory in the roughly two-month war with Iran. The report said the analysis, requested by senior administration officials, is part of broader scenario planning. Some officials and advisers are concerned the conflict could lead to a major Republican defeat in the midterm elections, and they want to understand the consequences if Trump pulls back from the war. No specific decision has been made, but Trump could expand military operations again if needed. A rapid de-escalation could ease political pressure, officials said, but it could also allow Iran to rebuild nuclear and missile capabilities and expand its regional influence. U.S. intelligence has conducted similar assessments before. After initial airstrikes in February, one assessment found that if Trump declares victory and reduces troop levels, Iran would be likely to treat it as a de facto victory. If Trump declares victory while keeping forces in place, it could be seen as a negotiating tactic, but would be unlikely to end the war, the assessment said. The White House says it remains open to talks. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the United States is still negotiating with Iran and will not rush into a bad deal. She said the president will agree only to a deal that puts U.S. national security first and has made clear Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. Public opinion in the United States has worsened, the report said. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 26% said the military operation was worth the cost, and 25% said it made the United States safer. The prolonged war is also weighing on energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked, is a key shipping route through which about 20% of the world’s oil cargo passes. Continued disruption has kept pressure on international crude prices and U.S. gasoline prices. A diplomatic solution remains unclear. Trump signaled skepticism about progress by canceling a weekend trip to Pakistan by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the report said. Military options are still being reviewed inside the administration, though one U.S. government official and another source said the most hard-line option, such as an invasion of the Iranian mainland, appears less feasible than it did several weeks ago. Iran, meanwhile, is believed to be using a ceasefire period to repair military assets damaged in the initial airstrikes. Analysts said that if full-scale fighting resumes, the military costs could be higher than at the outset.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:36:04 -
South Korea’s Business Succession Bill Needs Market Fixes, Not Just Tax Breaks Small and midsize businesses in South Korea are disappearing — and not only because they are losing money. Even profitable firms with strong technology are shutting down. Owners are aging, there is no successor, and even when they try to sell to a third party, suitable buyers often do not emerge. Discussion of a proposed “special act on business succession,” raised by the Democratic Party’s Euljiro Committee, starts from that reality. The direction is right, but whether the prescription is sufficient needs scrutiny. The first question is the cause. Labeling the closure of profitable companies as a simple “policy failure” is too narrow. It is true that tax benefits for third-party acquisitions lag those for family succession, and that is a real barrier. But it is not the whole story. Many small manufacturers face low margins, unstable trading relationships and heavy reliance on domestic demand. A company may show a profit on paper, but if its growth prospects are unclear, outside investors’ reluctance is a market judgment. That means the succession problem is not only about taxes; it is about the industrial ecosystem. Cutting taxes alone will not solve it. A structure that can generate profits and a market that can support growth must be built alongside any tax relief. Otherwise, tax incentives will be only a temporary fix. Even so, a special act on business succession is needed. With family succession increasingly difficult, keeping companies alive through third-party acquisitions is a practical alternative. From the standpoint of preserving technology and jobs, mergers and acquisitions are a far better option than closure. Tax support comparable to family succession and simplified procedures should be pursued. The point is that these steps are necessary, but not sufficient. Foreign examples also need to be used carefully. Germany’s competitiveness among midsize firms is not simply the result of “passing companies down through generations,” but of long-term investment, stable business relationships and strong technological capabilities. A family-succession model and a third-party M&A model work differently. South Korea cannot simply copy Germany and must design a succession model that fits local conditions. Another challenge is balancing speed and protection. The longer a succession takes, the more a company’s value can fall, so streamlining procedures and speeding transactions matters. At the same time, safeguards are needed to prevent technology theft. These goals can conflict. A practical approach is to limit access to information early and institutionalize step-by-step deal structures in which core technology is disclosed only after a certain level of trust is secured. Achieving both speed and protection requires more precise design, not just fewer steps. The biggest issue comes after the acquisition. The goal of the proposed law is not merely more deals, but the preservation of technology and jobs. Private investors, however, act for profit, not public interest. The risk cannot be ruled out that a buyer could take tax benefits, acquire a company, then strip key assets and cut staff. To prevent that, post-deal oversight is essential, including clear requirements to maintain employment for a set period, limits on overseas leakage of core technology, and conditions for clawing back tax benefits in stages. In sum, a special act on business succession is needed, but it is not enough on its own. Tax support, procedural reform, technology protection and post-deal management must be designed as a single package. Beyond that, policies must also create a market environment in which small and midsize businesses can grow. Emphasizing succession without fair trading structures and stable profit foundations is like trying to grow a tree without roots. South Korea’s economy may appear to be holding up, but its industrial base is weakening. If small and midsize businesses collapse, large companies cannot hold out either. Business succession is not a problem of individual firms; it is directly tied to the sustainability of the broader industrial system. Politics cannot afford further delay. But rushing is not enough, either. The direction is right, and the design must be more precise. Keeping companies going is not simply inheritance; it is protecting the industrial foundation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:35:05 -
DB HiTek to Showcase Next-Gen SiC and GaN Power Chip Processes at PCIM 2026 DB HiTek said Tuesday it will take part in PCIM 2026, Europe’s largest power semiconductor exhibition, to be held June 9-11 in Nuremberg, Germany, where it plans to present its latest technology. In its second consecutive year at the show, the company will share the latest development status of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) processes, which it described as next-generation power semiconductors. DB HiTek also plans to discuss cooperation with customers in Europe, focusing on its BCDMOS process, which it said has secured industry-leading capabilities. The company said it is accelerating work to secure next-generation processes. In December, it produced products for more than 20 customers through a multi-project wafer (MPW) run based on SiC and GaN processes. It said deliveries to customers have recently been completed and evaluations are under way. Based on those results, DB HiTek said it plans to finalize the process technology and begin full-scale mass production starting in 2027. DB HiTek said it is currently in mass production with about 400 customers in its core power semiconductor business. It also said it plans to keep increasing the share of industrial and automotive products, supported by specialized image sensor process technologies such as single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) devices.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:34:25 -
South Korea Navy Names First Female Senior Enlisted Adviser, Highlighting Broader Shift A milestone in South Korea’s Navy history was marked with the appointment of its first female senior enlisted adviser. The Navy named Master Chief Petty Officer Hwang Ji-hyeon to the symbolic post of senior enlisted adviser at the Maritime Operations Command. Hwang, commissioned as a noncommissioned officer in 2006, has repeatedly set “firsts,” including serving as a training company commander and advancing in shipboard specialties, the column said. It described her appointment as more than a routine personnel move, calling it a signal of how the military is changing. The military has long been defined by tradition and strict discipline, and “first” records can indicate shifting standards, the column said. Hwang’s rise, it argued, reflects a move toward evaluating service members by ability and experience rather than gender. It said she has trained thousands of noncommissioned officers and built operational experience on major combat ships, adding that her record is viewed as “proven capability” before “first female.” Still, the column cautioned against treating one case as proof of complete, organizationwide change. Individual achievement can show what is possible while also underscoring remaining barriers, it said, arguing the moment is better understood as a transition than an endpoint: the door has opened, but the path through it is not yet wide enough. The column said demographic decline and changes in force structure are pushing the military toward new choices, arguing it can no longer sustain itself by limiting participation by specific groups. It added that broader opportunity does not mean lower standards; rather, competition can intensify and criteria can become more precise. In that framing, population shifts open the door, but performance remains the standard for passing through it. It described Hwang as a “pioneer” not because she began with special advantages, but because she accumulated results within existing standards. Her appointment, it said, is less about a single hero than about steady work reaching a point that changes expectations, becoming a benchmark for the next generation. From there, the column turned to the question of what society chooses to remember, arguing that change is built on time and accumulation that often go unseen. It pointed to the “Bohun New Year Literary Contest,” hosted each June by Ajunews during the month dedicated to veterans affairs, describing it as more than a writing competition: an effort to bring past sacrifice into present language and restore stories that were not recorded. At first glance, the appointment of a female senior enlisted adviser and the literary contest may seem unrelated — one a current achievement, the other an act of remembrance — but the column said both are linked by continuity. Past sacrifice shapes the present, and today’s choices become tomorrow’s standards, it argued, adding that veterans affairs is not only about the past but also a force that influences the present. Hwang’s path, it said, was made possible by years of gradual opening within the military and by the accumulated work of many people who served without recognition. For that reason, the column argued, her “first” should be understood as a community story as well as a personal one. It said the literary contest carries a similar message: society may remember the names of heroes while forgetting the many ordinary lives that made those achievements possible. The strength that sustains a country, it argued, often comes from people doing their jobs in everyday roles and from choices that were real even if they were never written down. The column added that change that begins in the military can extend across society. Recognizing diversity and judging people by ability, it said, is a principle that applies to companies, public institutions and schools alike, arguing that national competitiveness depends not only on systems but on standards. Memory, it said, helps shape those standards. A society that forgets the past can lose direction, while one that remains stuck in the past cannot move forward. What matters is connecting past remembrance to present choices and expanding those choices into future norms, it argued. June’s month of veterans affairs, the column said, is a time to reflect on that connection, and the literary contest is a venue for turning it into concrete language. Through writing, it said, people revisit the past and reconsider the present, allowing individual experience to become shared memory. Hwang’s step, it concluded, is not an end but a beginning — and a starting point for someone else. In the same way, it said, a single written story or a single remembered life can become a standard for the next generation. The column ended with two questions: What will we remember, and what standards will we set through that memory? It argued that the Navy’s first female senior enlisted adviser and the Bohun literary contest, though different scenes, pose the same challenge — to remember the past, choose in the present and prepare for the future — and that the answer lies in doing one’s role and recording the stories that accumulate into a society’s direction.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:31:08 -
Gyeonggi governor candidate Cho Eung-cheon says Choo Mi-ae has 'no attack points' against him Cho Eung-cheon, the Reform Party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor, said Tuesday that Democratic Party candidate Choo Mi-ae would be “the easiest” opponent and “not uncomfortable,” adding that she would have “no attack points” against him. Cho made the remarks on YTN Radio’s “Jang Seong-cheol’s News Myeongdang” when asked whether he found Choo a difficult rival. Cho said the key question was whether a candidate had given serious thought to Gyeonggi Province, and said that when he watched the Democratic Party’s primary debate, Choo appeared to turn to talk of prosecutorial reform when she was stuck. He criticized her as having focused on political fights in national politics during her time in the legislature. He also questioned her motives for running, saying it seemed she needed the position rather than having a plan for what to do as governor. He said he suspected she was using the race as a steppingstone to “a bigger place” in four years. Asked about the People Power Party’s primary for the Gyeonggi governor nomination, Cho said he did not know much about it and that party members would decide, but added that “there seems to be no answer” no matter who wins. The People Power Party will hold its primary from April 30 through May 1, and will announce its final nominee on May 2 from among Ham Jin-gyu, a former lawmaker; Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja; and former MBC announcer Lee Seong-bae. Asked whether he would consider aligning with the People Power Party nominee, Cho said he had “no intention at all.” Cho also criticized party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, saying he changed sharply after becoming leader and suggesting he had “sold his soul” to the “Yoon Again” forces for a presidential bid and his own political ambitions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:30:17 -
Online Reaction to Chef Ahn Seong-jae’s Korean Pork Ad After Wine-Switch Controversy A full TV commercial featuring chef Ahn Seong-jae, a promotional ambassador for Korean pork, has been released, drawing reactions from users on online communities. On the 28th, one online community shared a campaign video titled, “A global ingredient, close at hand: Korean pork.” The ad highlights the appeal of Korean pork through close-up visuals of meat cooking and juices running. In a segment labeled “Superfood,” it also presents a nutritional angle, describing Korean pork as a daily ingredient that provides protein and essential nutrients and supports a balanced diet. Some commenters, however, pointed to Ahn’s recent “wine switch” controversy and compared the timing to Baek Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea, who previously faced criticism over disputes about the Korean pork content in his “Baek Ham” product. Comments included, “A Korean pork ad at this timing feels loaded,” and “It’s like Korean pork showed up as a grim reaper.” Some users argued over whether the ad’s release coincided too neatly with recent controversies. The debate follows a dispute involving wine service at “Mosu Seoul,” a fine-dining restaurant operated by Ahn. A user identified as A wrote on a Naver cafe that after visiting Mosu Seoul and ordering an expensive wine, a different wine was served. A said, “The sommelier who served us explained the wine while holding a bottle labeled as a ‘2005’ vintage, and the explanation was also for 2005. But after tasting the wine and looking at the wine pairing list, I realized only then that a 2000 vintage should have been served.” Mosu Seoul posted an apology on its official social media account on the 23rd, saying, “We bow our heads in apology regarding the matter recently shared through online communities.” The restaurant said, “On the 19th, during the wine pairing service, accurate guidance was not provided to the customer, causing confusion. We also sincerely apologize for not providing a sufficient explanation during our response afterward, which caused great disappointment.” It added, “After the incident, we separately apologized to the customer, and (the customer) accepted it generously, but in light of the expectations placed in our restaurant, we take seriously that the process was still not sufficient.” Some users who saw the apology said they remained dissatisfied. 2026-04-29 09:29:31 -
SK Networks Expands Hands-On Programs, Executive Forums to Strengthen Workplace Culture SK Networks is expanding hands-on employee programs and executive communication events as it pushes to build what it calls a company that grows together. The company said the effort goes beyond benefits, aiming to strengthen interaction and collaboration among employees through workplace culture. The company said it recently held a “carnation candle-making” event ahead of Family Month and Parents’ Day, allowing employees to create gifts for their parents. Earlier, during the Lunar New Year holiday period, it ran an “icing cookie class” where employees decorated cookies as a creative break from work. SK Networks said it continues to offer experience-based programs that support work-life balance, including a spring “Cheonggyecheon running class” and a “personal tea blending class.” The company said the activities are intended to do more than provide hobbies, helping employees communicate more naturally and build a collaborative culture. One employee who joined the icing cookie class said it was “a time to put down work stress for a while and recharge creative energy,” adding, “I hope there will be more programs like this where we can communicate comfortably with colleagues.” The company is also strengthening forums that bring management and employees together. SK Networks said it runs “SKMS Day” on the third Friday of every month, including a “Connect Time” session in which the CEO and other executives share the company’s status and direction. Connect Time includes team introductions, presentations on best practices in AI and digital transformation, an SKMS quiz and lectures by outside speakers, the company said. It is held both online and offline so all employees can participate, and it also serves as a platform where employee feedback can be reflected in management, SK Networks said. The company said interest and participation have risen this year as it has expanded content on strong AX (AI transformation) cases and practical experience sharing. SK Networks said it plans to further broaden field-focused communication to strengthen execution and organizational cohesion. “Communication between management and employees is key to strengthening execution,” a SK Networks official said. “As an AI-centered business holding company, we will continue to expand sincere communication programs to build a foundation for growth.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:28:45 -
Yeosu Soje District’s First Presale Draws 12,000 Visitors to Model Home The first presale project in Yeosu’s Soje District, the “Yeosu Soje Jungheung S-Class Umi Lin,” is drawing heavy traffic to its model home, boosting expectations for strong sales. The Soje District is a planned housing area intended to improve residential stability and living conditions for workers at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex. Jungheung To-gun, part of Jungheung Construction Group, and Umi Construction said April 28 that about 12,000 people visited the model home after it opened April 24, over the following three-day weekend. The project is being supplied in Soho-dong, Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The model home was crowded even on its weekday opening day with visitors checking floor plans and design. It remained busy over the weekend with prospective buyers seeking subscription consultations and reviewing contract terms. Visitors cited the project’s status as the Soje District’s first presale offering and a “reasonable” price set under Korea’s housing price cap system as key advantages. The site’s potential sea views from some units also drew attention, reflecting expectations of an “ocean-view premium.” The complex will include community facilities such as an indoor golf practice range, fitness center, climbing zone, small library, sea-view yoga zone and guesthouse. The developers also said features aimed at convenience, including donating a school bus, were viewed positively. A sales official said, “As the first presale project in the Yeosu Soje District, it has symbolic value, and the price was set at a reasonable level compared with nearby market prices, which appears to have driven the turnout.” The official added, “Because subscriptions are open nationwide with no residency restrictions, inquiries are continuing not only from Yeosu but also from Gwangju, Suncheon and Gwangyang in the Jeonnam region, as well as from the Seoul metropolitan area.” The development will be built on A3 and A4 blocks near 828 Soho-dong, with five basement levels and up to 25 stories above ground. It will comprise 21 buildings and 1,679 households. Units will be offered in 84, 109 and 135 square meters, centered on small and mid-sized homes with some larger options. The subscription schedule begins with special supply on May 4 and May 6, followed by first-round applications on May 7 and second-round applications on May 8. Winners will be announced May 14 for the A3 block and May 15 for the A4 block. Standard contracts are scheduled for May 26-28. Subscriptions are open nationwide with no residency restrictions. Financial incentives include interest-free interim payments covering 60% of the price, a 5% down payment, and a fixed first down payment of 10 million won. Move-in is planned for June 2029 for the A3 block and April 2029 for the A4 block.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:24:25 -
KORLOY Marks 60th Anniversary at SIMTOS 2026, Calls Itself a 'Trusted Partner' Cutting-tool maker KORLOY, led by CEO Lim Jeong-hyeon, held events at SIMTOS 2026 to mark its 60th anniversary. KORLOY took part in SIMTOS 2026, held April 13-17 at KINTEX in Ilsan, and set up an exhibition booth themed around its 60th anniversary ahead of its June 11 founding anniversary. The booth featured a 60th-anniversary emblem installation and graffiti-style design elements. Inside, the company also created a history zone highlighting key milestones by year, presenting its growth as a cutting-tool specialist and its brand identity to visitors. On the second day of the exhibition, KORLOY held a product seminar for overseas customers. It presented its latest cutting-tool technologies and application cases, and shared industry-specific machining solutions and strategies for responding to global markets. On-site consultations were also run with a practical focus. R&D staff joined booth meetings to answer technical questions based on customers’ machining environments and to explain how products could be applied. The company said it strengthened expert consultations so customers could obtain more detailed technical information. After the second day ended, KORLOY hosted a dinner for overseas customers. The program included a performance by a traditional Korean music band and a screening of a 60th-anniversary video, introducing Korean culture alongside the company’s history. Lim said it was meaningful to mark the 60th anniversary with long-standing partners and customers, calling the event a chance to reflect on shared time and trust. He said the company would further strengthen quality and technological capabilities in the cutting-tool industry and maintain stable supply amid changing conditions. He added that KORLOY would continue innovation and product improvements to raise customers’ productivity and value, and remain a trusted partner.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:23:42 -
LS Electric Signs $220 Million Power Distribution Supply Deal With Bloom Energy LS Electric said April 29 it signed a power distribution solutions supply contract worth about $220 million, or 319 billion won, with global power company Bloom Energy. Under the deal, LS Electric will supply key distribution systems — including switchgear and transformers — for a power infrastructure project for a hyperscale data center being built in New Mexico for a major big-tech company, the company said. LS Electric has recently won a series of large power infrastructure projects in North America. It said the latest contract follows an additional order after securing a 170 billion won project this month to build power solutions for a major big-tech data center. The order momentum has carried into results. LS Electric posted first-quarter consolidated revenue of 1.3766 trillion won and operating profit of 126.6 billion won, its best first-quarter performance on record. The company is expanding its direct current power distribution business aimed at next-generation data centers. It said DC distribution can improve energy efficiency by reducing power conversion steps, helping cut operating costs and carbon emissions at AI data centers that consume large amounts of electricity. LS Electric said it plans to move early to capture the market, citing its low-voltage direct current distribution, or LVDC, solutions and operating know-how from its “DC Factory” at its Cheonan site. “The U.S. data center market is seeing distribution infrastructure investment expand rapidly as AI spreads and power demand rises,” an LS Electric official said. “We will expand large-scale orders in North America and further accelerate growth by strengthening local supply chains and partnerships and leveraging core technology capabilities such as next-generation DC solutions.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:23:01