Journalist
Lee Hugh
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Philippine Airlines Fuel Surcharge Raised Near Cap for April 16-30 The Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the benchmark used for airlines’ passenger fuel surcharges to “Level 19,” near the ceiling, for the April 16-30 period. For passenger flights, the surcharge for international routes will range from 2,070.77 to 15,397.15 pesos depending on the destination, while domestic routes will be charged 627 to 1,834 pesos. That is about 2.5 times higher than the April 1-15 period. The CAB sets fuel-surcharge benchmarks on a Level 0-20 scale. It had stayed at “Level 4” for a long period through March, but raised it to “Level 8” for April 1-15 as fuel prices surged amid conflict in the Middle East. Price monitoring and surcharge-setting had been done on a monthly cycle, but starting in April it was temporarily shifted to a 15-day cycle to respond more quickly to price swings.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:59:35 -
Seoul Expands Floor-Area Ratio Relief to Station-Area Long-Term Lease Housing Redevelopment Seoul is expanding its policy to ease baseline floor-area ratio limits to include station-area long-term lease housing projects, raising expectations that redevelopment zones with approved plans can improve feasibility by reducing required rental housing shares. The city said April 23 that station-area long-term lease housing sites already designated as redevelopment zones and with plans finalized will apply the eased baseline floor-area ratio at the later integrated review stage. Under Seoul’s plan to promote station-area long-term lease housing, developers can receive up to a 30% increase in the baseline floor-area ratio through two steps. First, supplying at least 20% small homes of 60 square meters or less raises the baseline by 20%. An additional increase of up to 10% can be granted by applying a project profitability adjustment factor. In the first project to apply the policy, the Singil station-area redevelopment in Yeongdeungpo District increased the number of units for sale to the public by 29, to 628 from 599. The area received approval for a revised redevelopment plan in 2024, and the change passed the city’s seventh integrated review committee for redevelopment projects on April 16. The adjustment factor applied was 1.45. The city calculates the figure by dividing Seoul’s average officially assessed land price by the project area’s average assessed price, then adding coefficients for site area and household density. A Seoul official said that if the city eases the baseline floor-area ratio by up to 30%, the 20% portion is fixed, while the remaining 10% can vary depending on the adjustment factor. The official said the factor is intended to provide a boost when a project area’s assessed land price is lower than the city’s average for reconstruction and redevelopment. Districts such as Seodaemun and Dongdaemun, where assessed land prices are below the average, are expected to benefit. A key example is the Hongje station-area long-term lease housing urban renewal-type redevelopment near Hongje Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 in Seodaemun District. The district opened a public review of a redevelopment plan in November to build a complex of 3,026 households. Of those, 392 would be redevelopment rental units and 784 public rental units, leaving 1,850 for general sale. If the baseline floor-area ratio is eased through the adjustment factor, the rental share could fall further. In Dongdaemun District, the city on April 16 completed an official notice designating the redevelopment zone and finalizing the plan for the Sinimun 2 station-area long-term lease housing urban renewal-type redevelopment. The project calls for 1,200 households, including 115 rental units and 247 long-term lease units. The official said that with baseline floor-area ratio easing now applied to station-area long-term lease housing redevelopment, the average proportional rate is expected to rise by about 10%. The profitability adjustment factor, however, will not apply in Seoul’s three Gangnam districts and Yongsan District. In the Wonhyoro 1-ga station-area long-term lease housing urban renewal-type redevelopment, for example, the project can receive only the 20% easing tied to supplying at least 20% small homes of 60 square meters or less. Even with that benefit, the project expects the rental share to shrink to 27% from 29%. 2026-04-23 15:58:42 -
Court Upholds Culture Ministry’s Call for Heavy Sanctions Against KFA Chief Chung Mong-gyu A South Korean court ruled that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism acted lawfully in ordering the Korea Football Association to seek heavy disciplinary action against its president, Chung Mong-gyu. The Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 5, led by Presiding Judge Lee Jeong-won, ruled Thursday against the association in its lawsuit seeking to overturn the ministry’s notice of special-audit results and related corrective demands. The court said that while some findings may have been inappropriate, that alone did not make the ministry’s corrective demands unjust or illegal. It added that the level of disciplinary action requested fell within the ministry’s discretionary authority. The court also said the association is not unconditionally required under the Public Audit Act to comply with the ministry’s demands. If the association does not comply, the ministry may conduct another audit, but it has no direct means to impose discipline or force implementation, the court said. In November 2024, the ministry announced the results of a special audit of the association and demanded disciplinary action of at least a suspension of qualifications against Chung and other key figures. The audit said it confirmed 27 cases of illegal or improper handling of 업무, including problems in the process of appointing the national team’s coaching staff. The ministry launched the special audit in July that year after controversy over alleged unfairness surrounding the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the national team. At the time, the ministry demanded disciplinary action of at least a suspension of qualifications against Chung, then full-time vice president Kim Jeong-bae and Technical Director Lee Im-saeng, citing responsibility for poor institutional management. It also ordered the association to report back within one month. The association sought reconsideration, but the ministry rejected the request. The association then filed suit to cancel the ministry’s action and also sought a suspension of enforcement. An association official said the ministry sought disciplinary action against nearly 20 staff members and executives at the roughly 100-person organization, and that it would be difficult to accept all of the demands. In February last year, the court granted the request to suspend enforcement, allowing Chung to run in the next association presidential election and win. The court said then there was an urgent need to prevent irreparable harm to the association from enforcement of the ministry’s action, and that a suspension was unlikely to significantly harm the public interest. That decision was upheld in September last year by the Supreme Court on a re-appeal. The ministry appealed, but the Seoul High Court reached the same conclusion in May that year, and the Supreme Court later finalized it. With the association losing the main lawsuit, the ministry’s disciplinary-action demand against Chung has regained effect. Chung won a fourth consecutive term in February last year, receiving 156 of 182 valid votes in the election for the 55th KFA president.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:57:47 -
S. Korean researchers identify protein mechanism to overcome leukemia drug resistance SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital, and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology has identified a new molecular mechanism that controls how chronic myeloid leukemia responds to anticancer drugs, the state-operated research institute located in the central city of Daejeon said Thursday, April 23, 2026. Chronic myeloid leukemia is caused by an abnormal protein called BCR::ABL1 that sends continuous growth signals to cells, causing them to multiply. While targeted drugs are the standard treatment to block this protein, some patients develop resistance or show a low response to the medication. The researchers focused on how these drugs affect the internal "protein factories" of cancer cells, known as ribosomes. They found that the treatment causes these ribosomes to jam and crash into each other, a process called ribosome collision. This creates intense internal stress that leads the cancer cell to destroy itself. A protein named ZAK was identified as the key sensor for these collisions. The study found that ZAK plays two opposing roles depending on the environment. Under normal conditions, it assists cancer growth by connecting with certain signals. However, once drug treatment begins, it switches to a monitoring role that triggers cell death. The team verified this mechanism by analyzing cancer cells from leukemia patients. They found that using additional drugs to increase ribosome collisions significantly improved the effectiveness of the treatment. In contrast, cells with low ZAK function were more likely to resist the anticancer drugs. These findings suggest that a patient's ZAK activity levels could be used to predict how they will respond to treatment. It also opens the door for new combination therapies that could help patients who have built up a resistance to current drugs. "This research shows how important the process of a cell detecting abnormal protein synthesis and converting it into a death signal is for treatment," Professor Lim Jung-hoon said. "Since we have confirmed that ribosome collisions are the key switch that determines the death of cancer cells, we plan to expand our research to various types of cancer," Dr. Park Ju-min said. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Leukemia Title: BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors induce ribosome collisions to activate ZAK-dependent ribotoxic stress and apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia Link/DOI: https://bit.ly/4vIofWw 2026-04-23 15:56:37 -
Korea, Vietnam deputy prime ministers discuss expanding science and technology cooperation South Korea and Vietnam held deputy prime minister-level talks on the sidelines of President Lee Jae-myung’s state visit to Vietnam, agreeing to develop science and technology cooperation into a new core pillar of bilateral ties. The two sides broadly discussed ways to expand practical cooperation in advanced fields including semiconductors, artificial intelligence and smart cities. According to Vietnam’s government official newspaper, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung met South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon on the morning of the 22nd (local time) at the government headquarters in Vietnam. Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh, along with officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office, also attended. ◆ "Science and technology is a new pillar showing early results" Ho said the visit was significant for maintaining and advancing the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership across all areas. He said cooperation in science and technology has produced positive early results and is emerging as a new pillar of cooperation. He said he hoped the visit would become “new momentum” to deepen ties in a more substantive and effective direction. Ho said Vietnam is focused on implementing national strategic goals for a new stage of development and wants to further strengthen cooperation with South Korea in a spirit of trust, partnership and shared development. He asked South Korea to continue exchanges of delegations at various levels, including senior officials, and to pursue balanced, sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation. Ho also urged South Korean companies to increase new investment in Vietnam and expand their operations. He highlighted priority areas including infrastructure development, advanced electronics manufacturing, semiconductors, big data, biotechnology and smart cities. He said ministries and agencies should closely coordinate to run cooperation mechanisms efficiently and turn policy agreements into concrete projects that deliver results. ◆ South Korea: "High regard for Vietnam’s talent; focus on AI and semiconductors" Bae said the two countries held a joint science and technology committee meeting earlier this month and discussed drafting a comprehensive cooperation plan in the field. He said the meeting would provide an important foundation for expanding cooperation in a range of areas. He said many major South Korean companies “highly value Vietnam’s development potential and excellent human resources,” adding that cooperation is also expanding in areas such as agriculture, workforce training and official development assistance projects. Bae pointed to the potential of Vietnam’s young workforce and said he hoped to strengthen cooperation in key areas the South Korean government is prioritizing, including AI and the semiconductor industry. He particularly emphasized expanding the role of the Korea-Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST). Calling VKIST a model case of bilateral cooperation, he said he hoped it would continue to develop and become a symbol of cooperation between the two countries. South Korea pledged to actively support and coordinate the efficient implementation of VKIST-related projects. The plan is to develop VKIST beyond a research facility into a hub for cooperation between companies in both countries, while also building it into a platform to jointly develop training programs in areas such as software and AI. Bae said the cooperation has already involved multiple exchanges at the ministerial and department levels, adding he was confident more concrete activities would lead to shared goals and tangible results.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:54:10 -
Vitol CEO Warns Mideast War Could Cost Oil Markets 1 Billion Barrels The chief executive of Vitol, the world’s largest independent energy trader, warned that the fallout from the war in the Middle East could leave global crude and refined-product markets short by at least 1 billion barrels in cumulative losses. According to the Financial Times and Vitol disclosures on the 23rd, CEO Russell Hardy said at the FT Global Commodities Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, that “600 million to 700 million barrels of supply have already disappeared, and losses could reach at least 1 billion barrels before the market recovers.” The FT reported that even if the war ended tomorrow, combined losses in crude and refined products could still reach that level as production, refining and logistics normalize. Hardy said about 12 million barrels a day of hydrocarbon supply is currently off the market, and he estimated refining volumes are down by roughly 6 million barrels a day. He said product inventories of 300 million to 400 million barrels are filling a short-term demand gap, but described them as only a temporary buffer that will ultimately need to be replenished. He also cautioned on demand. Hardy said demand has fallen by 4 million barrels a day so far and could drop further if the situation drags on, as the shock spreads from supply disruptions to slower growth and weaker consumption. A key variable is the Strait of Hormuz. The FT said Hardy believes the market impact could last longer if the blockade near the strait continues. Energy Intelligence also reported that Hardy warned a prolonged blockade would add downward pressure on global demand.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:53:25 -
Seoul Studio Apartment Rent Averages 710,000 Won as Monthly Leases Rise, Jeonse Dips In March, Seoul’s studio rental market showed mixed movement, with monthly rents rising while jeonse deposits edged down. Real estate information platform Dabang said it released its “March Dabang Yeojido” report on the rental and jeonse levels for studio units in Seoul’s multi-family housing — row houses and villas with exclusive floor space of 33 square meters (355 square feet) or less — based on March data. Using a 10 million won deposit as a benchmark, the average monthly rent for a Seoul studio was 710,000 won, up 40,000 won (5.2%) from the previous month, Dabang said. The average jeonse deposit was 213.86 million won, down 830,000 won (0.4%), suggesting the earlier rise has slowed. “Dabang Yeojido” compares each district’s average monthly rent and jeonse deposit with the Seoul average (set at 100%), using transaction prices reported to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Readings above 100% indicate prices higher than the citywide average. By district, monthly rents were strongest in the Gangnam area and major central neighborhoods. Gangnam-gu was the highest at 141% of the Seoul average, followed by Seocho-gu (122%), Seongdong-gu (122%), Yongsan-gu (118%) and Jungnang-gu (116%). Including Gwangjin-gu and Dongdaemun-gu (108%) and Gangseo-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu (101%), nine districts were above the city average. For jeonse deposits, Seocho-gu ranked highest at 125%, followed by Jung-gu (120%), Gangnam-gu (119%), Gwangjin-gu (113%), Dongjak-gu (112%) and Yongsan-gu (110%). Including Yeongdeungpo-gu (106%), Mapo-gu (104%) and Dongdaemun-gu (101%), nine districts were above average. Dabang said its March figures cover studio transactions in Seoul and calculate monthly rents using a 10 million won deposit after applying a rent-to-jeonse conversion rate, while jeonse figures are based on all jeonse transactions. Monthly rent data were compiled from deals with deposits under 100 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:52:35 -
Hyundai E&C Proposes 'Apgujeong Hyundai Galleria' Name for Apgujeong 5 Redevelopment Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which is bidding for the redevelopment of Apgujeong District 5 in Seoul’s Gangnam district, said on the 23rd it has proposed the complex name “Apgujeong Hyundai Galleria.” The company said the name combines “Apgujeong Hyundai,” long seen as a symbol of top-tier housing in South Korea, with “Galleria,” the department store brand associated with luxury lifestyle. Hyundai E&C said it will work with Hyundai Motor Group to apply advanced robotics across the complex, including demand-responsive transport, or DRT. The company said residents would be able to summon an unmanned DRT shuttle from their homes, creating a mobility network that links Apgujeong “like a single city.” Other proposals include nanomobility for personal movement support; porter robots and robo-stations for contactless deliveries; parking robots and EV charging robots for a smart parking system; and unmanned firefighting robots. On the residential side, Hyundai E&C said it designed “Zero Wall” wide panoramic views extending up to 240 degrees, beyond 100% Han River views for all units, and applied a 3-meter coffered ceiling height to enhance openness. Planned amenities include “Club Apgujeong,” a large community facility of 12 pyeong per household, and “The Circle 420,” which the company described as the country’s first circular community space to be built at the center of the complex. Hyundai E&C also said it plans to work with Hanwha so residents can access services through a dedicated membership, including use of VIP lounges at Galleria’s luxury store, shopping benefits and participation in exclusive programs. Apgujeong District 5, which will redevelop Apgujeong Hanyang 1 and 2 apartment complexes, is being 추진되고 있다 under Seoul’s fast-track integrated planning system. Once completed, it is set to include eight buildings ranging from five basement levels to 68 stories above ground, with 1,397 housing units. It is the only Apgujeong redevelopment project being bid competitively, with Hyundai E&C and DL E&C participating.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:52:07 -
Malaysia Food Culture Fair Set for June 17-30 at ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe The agriculture section of the Embassy of Malaysia in Japan said April 22 it will hold a special fair, “Taste of Malaysia,” with Malaysia’s government tourism office at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe from June 17 to 30 to showcase Malaysian cuisine. The event will also include a tasting for industry participants featuring Malaysian seafood, aiming to raise awareness in the Japanese market and expand business. The fair will offer a buffet of traditional dishes, including seafood imported directly from Malaysia, nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk), chicken satay and beef rendang. During the event, tastings will be held for HoReCa operators — hotels, restaurants and catering services — and food-industry buyers to present Malaysian seafood in greater detail. Japanese dishes will also be served alongside Malaysian cuisine to suggest a wider range of uses. Organizers said they plan to create opportunities for direct exchanges with Japan’s food industry to support future deals and business cooperation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:51:16 -
Amara Raja to Double Telecom Lithium Storage Deployments in India to 2 GWh by 2026 Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd., a major Indian maker of industrial and automotive batteries, said on April 21 it plans to double cumulative deployments of lithium energy storage systems in the telecommunications sector to 2 gigawatt-hours by the end of 2026. The company said cumulative installations have already exceeded 1 gigawatt-hour, with systems deployed at 50,000 telecom sites nationwide as India’s energy transition accelerates. In a statement, the company said energy storage is becoming “core infrastructure” for India’s shift in energy use. Amara Raja said demand for high-performance storage products is rising domestically as fifth-generation, or 5G, mobile networks and data centers expand, and it is aiming to reach the 2 gigawatt-hour target by late 2026. It identified data centers and broader industrial uses as its next growth areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:46:01