AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

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WOO JOOSEONG
  • Jeonbuk Gov. Kim Kwan-young to Run as Independent, Plans Preliminary Filing
    Jeonbuk Gov. Kim Kwan-young to Run as Independent, Plans Preliminary Filing Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who was expelled from the Democratic Party over allegations of handing out cash labeled as chauffeur fees, has decided to run as an independent. According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim’s aides told reporters on May 5 that he will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. on May 7 at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council to announce his independent bid. The event was initially planned for a lawn in front of the provincial government building but was moved after internal discussions, they said. Kim is expected to explain his decision and release campaign pledges at the news conference. At a briefing with reporters at the provincial government building on May 4, Kim said, “There is clearly anger among residents over Representative Jung Cheong-rae’s high-handedness and disregard for the people of the province, and there is a demand in this voting process to choose the governor with our own hands,” signaling he was leaning toward an independent run. He plans to visit the Jeonbuk election commission on May 6 to register as a preliminary candidate. As the incumbent governor, Kim would have his duties suspended under the Local Autonomy Act upon registering as a preliminary candidate, but he would not lose his post. Kim was expelled from the Democratic Party on April 1 after controversy over a dinner last November attended by about 20 people, including members of the party’s Jeonbuk youth committee, where he allegedly distributed 20,000 to 100,000 won per person as chauffeur fees. After investigating, the Jeonbuk election commission filed a complaint against Kim for alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. Police have also questioned him as the investigation accelerates. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 21:30:16
  • Court Upholds Order to Disclose Yeongpoong-MBK Deal Papers in Korea Zinc Fight
    Court Upholds Order to Disclose Yeongpoong-MBK Deal Papers in Korea Zinc Fight MBK Partners and Yeongpoong remain locked in a legal dispute over whether contract documents tied to their bid to take control of Korea Zinc must be disclosed. According to Yonhap News Agency on May 5, the Seoul High Court’s Civil Division 25-2 rejected an immediate appeal filed by Jang Hyeong-jin, an adviser at Yeongpoong, challenging a court order to submit documents related to a management cooperation agreement. Korea Zinc, through its affiliate KZ Precision, had asked the court to order disclosure of contracts, including a call option agreement, that Yeongpoong and MBK Partners signed while pursuing what Korea Zinc describes as a hostile merger-and-acquisition attempt. After a lower court granted the request in December, the appeals court also concluded that all contract documents between MBK Partners and Yeongpoong must be disclosed. KZ Precision said the court recognized the request as a legitimate exercise of shareholder oversight and noted that Yeongpoong’s potential damages could vary depending on parts of the contracts that have not yet been publicly disclosed. MBK Partners said it signed a shareholder agreement in September 2024 with Yeongpoong and members of Jang’s family to jointly exercise voting rights, and that it would be granted call options on some shares owned by Yeongpoong and related parties. Korea Zinc has alleged that Yeongpoong entered into the call option deal to allow MBK to buy Yeongpoong’s Korea Zinc shares at a low price, raising suspicions including breach of trust. Korea Zinc has filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit seeking about 930 billion won against Jang and Yeongpoong directors. Separately, Yeongpoong said an immediate appeal filed by KZ Precision in another case over a document submission order for a management cooperation agreement was also rejected on April 29, following a lower-court decision. In that case, KZ Precision filed a lawsuit seeking to stop what it calls illegal conduct, arguing the management cooperation agreement amounts to breaches of Yeongpoong directors’ duties of care and loyalty and constitutes breach-of-trust conduct. It also sought a court order requiring submission of related contract documents during the proceedings.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 21:03:15
  • Iran Foreign Minister Heads to Beijing for Talks With China’s Wang Yi Amid Hormuz Tensions
    Iran Foreign Minister Heads to Beijing for Talks With China’s Wang Yi Amid Hormuz Tensions As the United States and Iran entered an armed standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to China on 5 (local time), Iran’s Foreign Ministry said. Yonhap News Agency reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on its Telegram channel that Araghchi would visit Beijing. The ministry said Araghchi plans to exchange views with China’s foreign minister on ways to develop bilateral relations and on rapidly changing regional and international developments. China’s Foreign Ministry also said in an afternoon statement on 5 that Araghchi, responding to an invitation, is scheduled to visit China on 6. A spokesperson said Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and China’s foreign minister, will meet with Araghchi. Araghchi and Wang spoke by phone on April 15 to discuss the war situation and other issues. At the time, Wang said that as a coastal state on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights and interests should be respected and protected, while freedom and safety of navigation through the international waterway must also be ensured. He said efforts to restore normal passage through the strait were “the unified voice” of the international community. Wang added that China supports maintaining momentum toward a ceasefire and negotiations. Earlier, the U.S. military used force on the first day of what it called the “Liberation Project,” deploying Apache helicopters in the Strait of Hormuz and sinking Iranian fast boats that were threatening merchant ships, in an effort to ensure safe passage. Iran also fired missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates, about a month after a ceasefire took effect on April 8, keeping the standoff going.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 20:54:15
  • South Korea to Probe HMM Ship Fire After Blast in Strait of Hormuz
    South Korea to Probe HMM Ship Fire After Blast in Strait of Hormuz A process is expected to move forward to determine the cause of a fire that broke out with an explosion aboard the HMM Namu, a vessel operated by South Korean shipping company HMM in the Strait of Hormuz. Yonhap reported on May 5 that the Cheong Wa Dae said it plans to tow the ship to a nearby port and then dispatch personnel from the Dubai office of the Korean Register, investigators from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and forensic experts from the National Fire Agency to examine the cause. When a ship cannot navigate under its own power after a fire at sea, it is typically moved to a nearby port by tugboat. The HMM Namu was believed to be unable to sail on its own due to the fire. An emergency backup generator was operating, and food and drinking water were secured, so life aboard the ship was reported to be stable for the 24 crew members, including six South Koreans. Once a tugboat is arranged, the HMM Namu is expected to head to Dubai Port. A full investigation is to begin after the ship berths there. The Korean Register, the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and the National Fire Agency are among the agencies deployed to investigate the causes of maritime accidents. The Korean Register is a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies and conducts inspections and certification to ensure ship safety and quality. The Central Maritime Safety Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries that determines the causes of maritime accidents and issues rulings. The National Fire Agency works with the tribunal on on-site examinations to identify the cause of ship fires. If the incident is confirmed to have resulted from an Iranian attack, it is expected to carry significant diplomatic repercussions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 20:48:15
  • WHO Raises Concern of Possible Person-to-Person Hantavirus Spread on Atlantic Cruise Ship
    WHO Raises Concern of Possible Person-to-Person Hantavirus Spread on Atlantic Cruise Ship The World Health Organization said it suspects a hantavirus outbreak on an Atlantic cruise ship may have involved person-to-person transmission. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, told reporters on May 5 (local time) that “we think there may have been human-to-human transmission among very close contacts,” adding that the first patient may have been infected before boarding. Hantavirus is typically spread through exposure to rodent urine, droppings or saliva. In rare cases, it can also spread between people. According to the WHO, there have been two confirmed cases and five suspected cases linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which is currently in the territorial waters of Cabo Verde. Three people have died: a Dutch couple, ages 70 and 69, and a German national. Reuters reported that the Dutch couple, the first fatalities, had traveled in South America, including Argentina, before boarding the MV Hondius, which departed from the southern tip of Argentina. The WHO said Spain has decided to accept the ship, which has 147 passengers and crew aboard, and it is heading to Spain’s Canary Islands off West Africa. The MV Hondius is a luxury cruise ship that departed in late March, carrying mainly passengers from the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain, and is reported to have visited remote areas including the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island. The operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, said that of the seven people confirmed or suspected to be infected, four — including the German who died and other suspected cases — remain on the ship. The Dutch couple died, and a British passenger is hospitalized in an intensive care unit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hantavirus was first identified in rodents near the Hantan River by the late South Korean virologist Lee Ho-wang. Early symptoms can include fatigue, fever, chills and muscle aches that may feel like the flu. As the virus damages the heart, lungs and kidneys, it can lead to severe respiratory illness and organ failure. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 20:36:06
  • Iran Foreign Minister Visits China as U.S.-Iran Tensions Rise in Strait of Hormuz
    Iran Foreign Minister Visits China as U.S.-Iran Tensions Rise in Strait of Hormuz Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to China on May 5 local time as the United States and Iran faced off militarily over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on its Telegram channel that Araghchi would visit Beijing that day, according to Yonhap News Agency. The ministry said Araghchi plans to meet China’s foreign minister to discuss ways to develop bilateral ties and to exchange views on rapidly shifting regional and international conditions. Araghchi and Wang Yi, director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and foreign minister, spoke by phone on April 15 to discuss the war situation, the ministry said. Wang said Iran’s sovereignty, security and legitimate rights as a country on the Strait of Hormuz should be respected and protected, while freedom and safety of navigation through the international waterway must also be ensured. He added that efforts to restore normal passage through the strait reflect a unified voice of the international community. Wang also said China supports maintaining momentum toward a ceasefire and negotiations. The report said U.S. forces used force a day earlier, on the first day of what it called the “Liberation Project,” deploying Apache helicopters to sink Iranian fast boats that were threatening merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in response, launched missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates, continuing a standoff about a month after a ceasefire took effect on April 8, the report said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 20:03:15
  • HMM cargo ship that caught fire near Strait of Hormuz awaits tow to Dubai
    HMM cargo ship that caught fire near Strait of Hormuz awaits tow to Dubai An HMM-operated cargo ship that caught fire while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz is running on an emergency generator and waiting to be towed, the company said. Yonhap reported Tuesday that the HMM NAMU remained in waters near the United Arab Emirates, where the fire broke out a day earlier. The blaze triggered an automatic power shutdown, leaving the vessel unable to move under its own power. Once a tug is secured, it is expected to be taken to Dubai port. Six South Korean crew members plan to return home afterward. HMM said all 24 crew members, including the South Koreans, stayed aboard and reported no injuries or other harm from the fire. An HMM official said the crew could disembark immediately if they chose, but appeared to have decided to remain because the fire had been extinguished and there were no additional risk factors. The company said it was seeking tugboats in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, coordinating from its ship operations situation room in Busan. HMM said it could take several days to begin an investigation into the cause, given towing procedures and the sailing schedule. Crew members have not yet entered the area where the fire occurred, it said. An explosion and fire broke out at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korea time) on the HMM NAMU in waters near the UAE within the Strait of Hormuz. No casualties were reported.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 19:36:15
  • Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang backs U.S. government in dispute with Anthropic
    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang backs U.S. government in dispute with Anthropic Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has sided with the U.S. government in a dispute between U.S. AI company Anthropic and the Department of Defense. According to Yonhap, Huang said at the Milken Global Conference 2026 economic and finance forum held Sunday afternoon local time at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles that he “fully believes the government will use technology in the right way.” He praised Anthropic as “an amazing company with a great culture and a deeply rooted belief system,” but added, “I don’t agree with all of their positions.” Huang said his view is that if the U.S. government decides to use technology to protect the country and families, and that use is legal and for national security, “I would hope they wouldn’t ask me whether they can use that technology in wartime.” Noting that “a CEO is not an elected official,” he said people who disagree can vote or protest as citizens, but he would not “stand in the way when the country is trying to protect our families.” Anthropic has provided its AI model, Claude, to U.S. military classified systems. But it has clashed with the Pentagon by saying its model should not be used for large-scale surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons. The Defense Department, in a rare move involving a U.S. company, designated Anthropic as a “supply chain risk to national security.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have also sharply criticized Anthropic. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 19:24:28
  • South Korea Forecast: Sunny Wednesday With Highs Up to 27C, Big Day-Night Swings
    South Korea Forecast: Sunny Wednesday With Highs Up to 27C, Big Day-Night Swings Wednesday the 6th is expected to be clear nationwide, with a wide gap between daytime highs and overnight lows. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast morning lows of 7-16C and daytime highs of 21-27C. Under the influence of a high-pressure system moving east from the southern Yellow Sea, inland areas are expected to see day-night temperature differences of around 15C, the agency said. Forecast morning lows in major cities are: Seoul 11C, Incheon 12C, Chuncheon 7C, Gangneung 16C, Daejeon 10C, Daegu 9C, Jeonju 11C, Gwangju 9C, Busan 12C and Jeju 12C. Forecast highs are: Seoul 23C, Incheon 21C, Chuncheon 24C, Gangneung 25C, Daejeon 25C, Daegu 26C, Jeonju 25C, Gwangju 25C, Busan 22C and Jeju 21C. Fog is expected in parts of the mid-Yellow Sea offshore waters, and mariners are advised to use caution. Some islands in South Jeolla province may see dense fog with visibility under 200 meters and light drizzle through the morning. Waves are forecast at 0.5 to 1.0 meters in nearshore waters of the East and Yellow seas and 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the nearshore South Sea. In offshore waters, wave heights are expected at 0.5-2.5 meters in the East Sea, 0.5-2.0 meters in the Yellow Sea and 0.5-1.5 meters in the South Sea. Fine dust levels are expected to range from "good" to "moderate" nationwide. 2026-05-05 19:15:16
  • Seoul Area Jeonse Supply-Demand Imbalance Hits Worst Level in Five Years
    Seoul Area Jeonse Supply-Demand Imbalance Hits Worst Level in Five Years The jeonse rental market in the Seoul metropolitan area is showing a supply-demand imbalance approaching the level seen during the 2020 jeonse crisis. With Seoul’s jeonse supply-demand index at its worst level in five years, more households unable to secure leases are shifting to buying midpriced homes in Seoul or apartments in nearby Gyeonggi Province. According to KB Real Estate statistics released on the 5th, the monthly jeonse supply-demand index for the capital area (Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon) stood at 176.8 last month, the highest since August 2021 (179.1). Incheon posted 181.4, its highest since October 2021, while Gyeonggi came in at 175.1, reaching a critical level for the first time in 56 months since August 2021. In Seoul, the index for the city’s 14 northern districts rose to 187.2 last month, the highest since November 2020 (190.7), a 65-month high. The shortage is also visible in listings. Asil data show that the Boram Apartments complex in Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, with about 3,315 households, had zero jeonse listings as of that day. A local broker said the remaining listings — fewer than five — were all taken by the end of last month. SK Bukhansan City in Gangbuk-gu, a 3,830-household complex, had only two registered jeonse listings. The article attributes the decline in rental supply to tighter owner-occupancy requirements after the Oct. 15 measures, which designated all of Seoul as a land transaction permit zone. Jeonse prices are rising quickly. KB Real Estate data show the average jeonse deposit for Seoul apartments reached 681.47 million won last month, the highest since the series began. Gangbuk-gu’s jeonse price increase in April was 3.86%, a record. Seongbuk-gu (1.86%), Seongdong-gu (1.32%) and Gwanak-gu (1.31%) also posted monthly gains of more than 1%. The squeeze is accelerating a shift from jeonse demand to homebuying in nearby Gyeonggi cities. In March, sale prices jumped in Anyang’s Dongan-gu (up 2.73%), Gwangmyeong (up 2.65%) and Hanam (up 2.40%). The article says the dominant view is that the surge reflects “survival buying” by end users fleeing the rental crunch, rather than pure investment demand. Despite concerns in the market, the government struck an optimistic tone. Kim Yong-beom, the presidential office’s policy chief, said at a briefing on the 4th that it was “highly unusual” to see prices falling in the so-called “warm spots” such as Seoul’s three Gangnam districts and Yongsan, calling it evidence the market is moving toward normalization. He added that rising prices in outlying areas were not a major concern because apartments priced under 1.5 billion won are seeing substantial purchases by younger end users. The government also said it would maintain the long-term holding special deduction while considering a redesign focused on actual occupancy, a move intended to reduce benefits for periods when owners do not live in the home. Some observers warned it could further reduce rental listings. Nam Hyeok-woo of Woori Bank’s Real Estate Research Center said supply conditions, including the availability of jeonse and monthly-rent listings, have an outsized impact on the midpriced market. “The price strength now seen in Seoul’s lower- and mid-tier areas will spread to nearby Gyeonggi areas where rental listings are also scarce,” he said, urging policymakers to consider measures to expand non-apartment supply, including increased purchases of non-apartment housing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-05 16:03:15