Lotte Tour Development Revamps Jeju Dream Tower Food Court With Budget-Friendly Menu With dining costs rising, a five-star hotel in Jeju is betting on sharply lower prices. Lotte Tour Development has overhauled its food court at the Jeju Dream Tower integrated resort, rolling out a menu that starts with bakery items priced in the 1,000-won range and tteokbokki in the 4,000-won range. Lotte Tour Development said on 27 it reopened the renovated “Dream Food Court” on the third floor of Grand Hyatt Jeju inside the Jeju Dream Tower integrated resort. The renovation rebrands the former “Popup Plaza,” aiming to offer premium dishes cooked by five-star hotel chefs at prices comparable to street food. The venue kept its existing cafe and juice bar and added three new counters — Korean Fried, Korean Rice & Noodle, and a bunsik snack shop — to broaden choices. ◆ Five-star chefs, street-level prices Prices have been cut significantly. Popular Korean street-food staples such as gimbap and tteokbokki are priced in the 4,000- to 5,000-won range. Dishes including spicy pork rice bowls, kimchi fried rice and noodle items are kept under 10,000 won. Fried chicken is available in the 13,000-won range. The company said it is strengthening its lineup of reasonably priced Korean food to draw not only hotel guests but also walk-in visitors. ◆ Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hours have also been extended. The food court will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., covering breakfast through late-night snacks. A “Morning Bakery Selection” runs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., selling freshly baked croissants and salt bread in the 1,000-won range, targeting customers looking for a cheaper alternative to a breakfast buffet. Health-focused items such as salads, wellness juices and yogurt are also offered for under 8,000 won. All items are available for takeout through an “All day Grab & Go” service. Customers can pack sandwiches or bibimbap for outings to Jeju’s oreum hills or beaches, or bring chicken and fried items back to their rooms. “In a time when eating-out costs have become a burden, we raised both value and satisfaction so anyone can enjoy premium dishes prepared by five-star hotel chefs without 부담,” a company official said. “We will provide a wide range of dining experiences tailored to travel schedules and tastes.” Jeju Dream Tower, described by the company as a landmark for Jeju tourism, has 1,600 all-suite rooms and 14 food-and-beverage outlets staffed by global star chefs.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:45:30

Woman Arrested for Drugging and Robbing Men in North Gyeonggi Province A woman in her twenties has been arrested for drugging men she met through marriage agencies and stealing millions of won from them. The Uijeongbu Police Department announced on the 27th that they have detained the suspect, identified as A, on charges of robbery and violating drug control laws. A is accused of drugging four men from December of last year to April of this year in the greater Seoul area, stealing approximately 48 million won (about $36,000). She reportedly approached her victims through marriage agencies or introductions from acquaintances, built relationships while living with them, and then administered sleeping pills in their food or drinks to carry out her crimes. Once the victims were unconscious, A used their mobile phones to transfer money to her account or purchase items worth millions of won. In a related case, substances found in the urine of a suspect, identified as Kim So-young, who was convicted of murdering two men in a motel in Gangbuk District, were similar to those used in A's crimes. During police questioning, A claimed she was prescribed sleeping pills for panic disorder and insisted that the men had taken the drugs voluntarily. Police stated that there is no evidence suggesting A mimicked Kim So-young's crimes. 2026-04-27 17:44:35

Sookmyung Women's University team develops gene data modeling tool SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Sukjoon Yoon at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea has created an ontology-based framework to quantitatively interpret gene-based biological data, the prominent university said Monday. Biological data has historically been difficult for artificial intelligence to interpret because it lacks the clear contextual relationships found in standard text. To address this, the team used biological ontologies—systems that structure concepts for computer processing—to help AI analyze genetic information more effectively. The researchers developed an algorithm called NetCrafter that measures how much functional or disease-related context-specific genes share. It converts these relationships into numerical networks, allowing for a more precise analysis of complex interactions within multi-omics data. The team is currently working with CBiS Inc., a startup founded at the university, to build AI models that can automate the study of drug targets, biomarkers, and biological mechanisms. The NetCrafter technology is already available globally through the Q-omics platform, and the university is currently pursuing a patent for the system. "This research will contribute to the realization of biological intelligence that understands data more deeply, moving beyond large language models," Professor Yoon said. Professor Hohsuk Noh at Sookmyung Women's University's Department of Statistics and Eunah Chung, a researcher at the Research Institute of Women's Health, contributed to the study, alongside Dr. Jaemoon Shin from the Life Science Data Center in Japan. The findings appeared in the journal Briefings in Bioinformatics. (Reference Information) Journal/Source: Briefings in Bioinformatics (IF 7.7, JCR top 2.78 percent) Title: NetCrafter: ontology-derived gene network modeling and functional interpretation Link/DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bbaf631.024 2026-04-27 17:44:30

Boy band NEXZ showcase new album in Seoul SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Boy band NEXZ, made up mostly of Japanese-born members, held an event in Yongsan, Seoul on Monday to promote their new album. According to their management agency JYP Entertainment, "Mmchk," an onomatopoeic word coined to reflect the rhythmic sound of their music, is the septet's second album, following their debut in May 2024 after being formed through a global audition. The album contains three tracks, which are set to be available on major streaming sites later in the day. 2026-04-27 17:44:29

Seoul Voters Split Ahead of June 3 Local Elections: Jung Won-oh vs. Oh Se-hoon 6·3 local elections are shaping up as a tight contest in Seoul, with voters voicing divided support for Democratic Party mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh and People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon. With President Lee Jae-myung’s job-approval rating averaging above 60%, some expected Jung — often described as Lee’s pick — to dominate. But interviews suggested a competing desire among some voters to check the government and ruling party. Aju Economy spoke on April 27 with residents in Seoul’s Jongno, Yongsan, Seongdong and Seocho districts. In Jongno, home to the presidential office complex and major government buildings, and in Yongsan, a key part of the so-called “Han River belt” of swing districts, voters offered mixed views rather than rallying behind one candidate. Some Jung supporters cited trust in the president more than the candidate himself. A 71-year-old woman selling snacks at Gwangjang Market said, “You have to pick someone who does a good job. This time, everyone says they’ll vote No. 1, the Democratic Party,” adding, “Isn’t the president doing well?” A 74-year-old taxi driver said the president’s approval “keeps going up” and that Lee “seems to work hard and pay attention even to small things.” He argued that Oh has served as mayor multiple times and said, “He hasn’t done anything, and we need to change to someone new.” Oh supporters, however, voiced skepticism about the government’s cash-aid policies. A 66-year-old who has run a wrapping-cloth shop at Gwangjang Market for 20 years criticized what she called “just handing out money,” saying it drives up prices and fabric costs and “the damage all goes to consumers.” She said politics should focus on the long term, not “momentary politics.” A 25-year-old woman working part time at a store inside Yongsan Station said she planned to vote for Oh because “there are a lot of things I don’t like about the current government’s policies.” She questioned whether handing out consumer coupons was anything more than temporary. At the Sewoon Arcade, an 80-year-old shop owner selling heating and cooling equipment said, “Everyone around here supports Oh Se-hoon,” adding that Oh’s pledge to redevelop the area should be completed with another term. Reactions were sharper in Seongdong, where Jung served three terms as district mayor, and in conservative-leaning Seocho. In Seongdong, several residents said they felt Jung’s policies delivered results. An 84-year-old woman who has lived in the district for more than 40 years said that when she called in complaints during Jung’s time as district mayor, she often saw changes “reflected the next day.” She said she had hoped he would become Seoul mayor even before he ran as a Democratic Party candidate. A 56-year-old self-employed resident of Geumho-dong said he would vote for Jung and hoped that, based on his administrative record, support for small businesses — such as Seoul Pay — would be strengthened. In Seocho, residents interviewed largely said they would back Oh. A 24-year-old who said he was born and raised in the district argued that Oh should be mayor “to check and stop the runaway” of the Democratic Party, which he described as the dominant ruling party. A 70-year-old resident who moved to Banpo-dong during a reconstruction project 10 years ago said Oh’s city administration was not perfect, but added, “No matter what, shouldn’t we vote for the People Power Party?” He said Oh’s push for development in northern Seoul appeared to be a strength. A 54-year-old resident of Bangbae-dong said she would vote for Oh but called for broader reform within the People Power Party and “new figures” to counter the Democratic Party. She also said party leader Jang Dong-hyeok should step down and take responsibility for the party’s falling approval ratings. 2026-04-27 17:43:28

Bond Markets Watch for Hawkish Signals as G7 Central Banks Set Rate Decisions Major central banks are set to decide policy rates this week, and while markets broadly expect them to hold steady, bond investors are watching closely for any hawkish signals. Oil prices have surged amid the U.S.-Iran war, raising concerns that inflation pressures could build again. According to Bloomberg on the 27th, the U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada will all hold policy meetings this week. It is unusual for Group of Seven central banks to make rate decisions in the same week. Together, they influence about half of the global economy. Markets expect the major central banks to keep benchmark rates unchanged. The focus, however, is less on the decision itself than on the message. How Fed Chair Jerome Powell and ECB President Christine Lagarde assess the war-driven oil shock could shape the direction of bond markets. Bloomberg said the U.S.-Iran conflict has raised the risk of what it described as the largest-ever potential disruption to crude supply, heightening central banks’ inflation vigilance. If policymakers emphasize the oil shock as a serious price risk, selling pressure in government bonds could intensify. Stocks and credit markets have rebounded as investors looked past the initial shock, but government bonds have lagged. Investors are already positioning defensively. Amy Xie Patrick of Pendal Group said she has closed out all bond positions vulnerable to rising rates this month. “What do central banks have to lose by sounding hawkish right now?” she said. “There’s an oil shock, and the inflation outlook is uncertain.” In the U.K., the oil shock is already showing up in inflation data. The March consumer price index rose 3.3% from a year earlier, up from 3.0% the previous month, with higher motor fuel prices a key driver. Bloomberg reported that U.K. money markets have begun to price in at least two possible rate hikes this year, up from just one last week. The U.S. has seen a similar shift. Fed officials have warned the war could further stoke inflation and that rate hikes may need to be considered depending on conditions, while also stressing uncertainty over how long higher oil prices will last. Molly Brooks, a U.S. rates strategist at TD Securities, said she expects Powell to take a “neutral stance” given uncertainty about the Middle East shock’s longer-term effects. The Bank of Japan is also in focus. BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda has said policymakers need to assess both upside and downside risks to underlying inflation. Evercore ISI said the BOJ could hold rates at this meeting but opt for a “hawkish hold” that keeps the door open to possible hikes in June and December. The ECB, too, is unlikely to ease its inflation guard. Lagarde has stressed in a recent speech that uncertainty has increased. Bloomberg reported that swap markets are pricing in a June ECB rate hike as nearly certain and are also factoring in the possibility of an additional increase in September. Inflation is not the only variable. If high oil prices and geopolitical tensions curb consumer spending and business activity, market attention could shift back to slowing growth. In that case, both central bank rates and market yields could face downward pressure. Wee-Khoon Chong, senior Asia-Pacific market strategist at BNY, said markets will look for hawkish signals that would justify the rate-hike expectations already priced in for the eurozone, the U.K., Canada and Japan. “Geopolitical uncertainty and high oil and petrochemical prices raise both upside inflation risks and downside growth risks,” he said. He added that central banks are likely to maintain a cautious hawkish tone while avoiding firm commitments on the future rate path. 2026-04-27 17:42:26

South Korea to Expand Export Vouchers to Ease Middle East-Driven Shipping Costs The government said it will sharply expand export voucher support to help companies cope with Middle East-related shipping disruptions and rising costs. Up to 10,900 small and midsize exporters are expected to be covered by year’s end. Lim Ki-geun, vice minister of the Office of Planning and Budget, visited construction equipment maker Daemo Engineering in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday to review the program’s progress and hear business concerns. The visit was arranged to assess how higher logistics costs and supply-chain uncertainty tied to the prolonged Middle East war are affecting companies. South Korea operates export vouchers that provide bundled support for overseas expansion, from design development to logistics and marketing, to strengthen the competitiveness of smaller firms. As geopolitical instability in the Middle East has persisted and uncertainty has grown due to higher oil prices and shipping disruptions, the government has focused on easing on-the-ground difficulties, including by creating a “Middle East-specialized emergency logistics voucher.” The export support infrastructure utilization program reviewed during the visit totals 250.2 billion won, including a supplementary budget. Demand has been strong, with about 7,050 companies applying immediately after the first recruitment notice. The government said it had executed about 80% of the 150.2 billion won in the main budget as of the end of April and plans to support up to 10,900 companies by year’s end, including 100 billion won secured through the supplementary budget. “We will swiftly execute the existing export voucher program so the effects of fiscal support reach the field quickly,” Lim said. He said the “Middle East-specialized emergency logistics voucher” was strengthened by adding support items that reflect business needs, including costs for rerouted shipments via the Middle East, return shipping, and demurrage charges. Lim added that, with the budget significantly expanded through the supplementary budget, the government will introduce a fast-track review system to complete beneficiary selection within one month of application to speed up support.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:39:27

Kookmin University partners with PriestmanGoode for urban mobility design project SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - The Department of Automotive and Transportation Design at Kookmin University (KMU) is launching a joint industry-academic project with PriestmanGoode (PG), a British design consultancy, to develop mobility solutions for urban environments. The initiative aims to address traffic congestion and urban sprawl in South Korea's capital through design-led research, Kookmin University said Monday. The year-long project focuses on the Seoul 2050 Grand Plan, examining how user-centered mobility ecosystems can alleviate the logistical pressures of a growing megacity. Students and researchers will analyze shifts in transportation environments to propose new infrastructure and devices centered on public transit and shared mobility services. While the primary research focuses on the specific urban layout of Seoul, the university plans to develop these findings into flexible models that can be adapted for other global cities such as London, Shanghai, and New York. The partnership is designed to provide students with practical experience in tackling global urban challenges while enhancing the international competitiveness of the department. Upon completion of the project, high-performing students will be eligible for design internships at the PG headquarters in London. This exchange is intended to provide South Korean students with international professional experience and expand the university's global network for industrial collaboration. "We are very pleased to start this collaborative project with Kookmin University," said Lee Harding, Associate Director at PG. "We look forward to working with students on future-oriented mobility design projects that respond to the major challenges faced by expanding cities. We are paying close attention to how students research Seoul's urban spaces and implement that into user-experience-centered designs." Professor Roe Jae-seung of the KMU Department of Automotive and Transportation Design noted that the collaboration will provide a platform for students to propose practical solutions based on a deep understanding of metropolitan traffic environments. "This project will serve as an opportunity to propose new mobility designs based on a practical understanding of the transportation environment in Seoul and other large cities," Professor Roe said. "Through collaboration with a global company, we expect to enhance students' practical capabilities and contribute to strengthening the international competitiveness of the department." 2026-04-27 17:35:52

Hanssem Showcases Remodeling Expertise on tvN’s ‘Unpredictable’ Hanssem’s remodeling design capabilities have drawn attention after they were featured on the tvN reality entertainment program “Unpredictable,” which follows cast members as they renovate an abandoned house on Jeju Island and deal with unexpected challenges. Hanssem said viewers responded to the company’s detailed consultations and professional design work. The company said the program showed its approach goes beyond arranging furniture to planning a living space around a customer’s overall lifestyle. According to Hanssem on 27일, the April 3 broadcast showed cast members visiting “Hanssem Flagship Nonhyeon,” located in Seoul’s Nonhyeon-dong furniture district, to seek help with interior design decisions. In the episode, a Hanssem remodeling specialist proposed interior references that reflected a cast member’s preference for a nature-friendly style. The Nonhyeon flagship store is positioned as a “total living solution” space that brings together Hanssem’s 56-year brand philosophy, offering services from furniture to remodeling in one place. Its remodeling section is a library-style showroom where visitors can view a range of kitchens, storage solutions, bathrooms and building materials, and combine materials and run simulations to plan customized interiors. The store also includes a dedicated “Kitchenbach” area showcasing Hanssem’s premium kitchen line. The April 17 broadcast showed cast members reviewing design proposals at a Jeju Rehouse store. Hanssem said remodeling older homes on Jeju can require advanced expertise because of variables such as the island’s humid climate and aging structures. A Hanssem remodeling specialist with extensive local project experience analyzed the environment and the home’s structure and presented a plan reflecting the cast member’s wish list. Hanssem said it is also pushing digital changes aimed at making customer communication smoother and more transparent. As part of that effort, the company said it partnered with Salesforce, described as the world’s No. 1 CRM company, to introduce a new sales management system that digitizes the process from interior consultations through construction. Hanssem said the system integrates customer consultation histories and on-site data that had previously been managed separately, allowing the full process — consultation, measurement, estimates and construction — to be visualized in real time. A Hanssem official said the company’s offline stores are designed so customers can experience its housing values “with all five senses.” The official added that, as shown in the program’s renovation transformation, Hanssem hopes more customers nationwide will be able to realize their own dream homes through its consultation and design services.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:31:08

South Korea Foreign Ministry Sets Up Korea-India Cooperation Task Force After Summit South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday it has set up a “Korea-India Practical Cooperation Task Force” to carry out follow-up steps from the leaders’ summit. The ministry said the new team will move quickly and systematically to implement the summit agreements across areas including the economy, culture, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with local governments. It said it will coordinate closely with relevant domestic ministries and agencies, and will actively use local networks in India, including South Korean diplomatic missions and honorary consuls. The task force is led by the ministry’s Asia-Pacific director-general and launched with eight working-level officials from the Asia-Pacific Affairs Bureau, the Bilateral Economic Diplomacy Bureau and the International Legal Affairs Bureau. The ministry said it also plans to add staff. The ministry said it held a video meeting Sunday with the South Korean Embassy in India and the consulates general in Chennai and Mumbai to discuss cooperation between headquarters and overseas missions. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 17:30:18