Seoul Land-Deal Permit Requests Hit Record in March as Prices Ease March applications for permits to trade apartments in Seoul hit a record high, but the total value of applications edged down, pointing to a split market of rising transactions and cooling prices. The Seoul city government said Monday that new applications for apartment land-transaction permits totaled 7,653 as of the end of March, up 69.7% from 4,509 a month earlier. It was the highest monthly figure since the land-transaction permit system was expanded across Seoul in October last year. Cumulative applications over that period reached 28,535, of which 24,669, or 86.5%, had been processed. City officials attributed the March surge to a rush of listings ahead of the May 9 end of a temporary suspension of heavier capital gains taxes for multi-homeowners. After declining in recent months, the share of applications rose again in March in the three Gangnam districts, Yongsan and areas along the Han River. By contrast, the share fell in 10 northern districts and in four outer southern districts — Gangseo, Gwanak, Guro and Geumcheon. The share of applications from outlying districts had grown from 53.6% in October to 67.3% in February, but slipped to 61.4% in March, suggesting some demand shifted back toward central areas. Multi-homeowner listings accounted for 1,310 applications, or 17.1%. The share was higher in Han River areas (25.0%) and in Gangnam and Yongsan (21.6%) than in the 10 northern districts (13.3%) and the four outer southern districts (12.4%). The city said selling appeared more active in high-priced areas as owners sought to reduce tax burdens. Even as applications rose, prices weakened. The total value of March permit applications fell 0.08% from the previous month. Midpriced and lower-priced apartments and outlying areas stayed on an upward track, but gains slowed, while high-priced areas such as Gangnam and the Han River belt turned down. The city said tighter lending rules have kept end-user demand concentrated in relatively affordable homes and outer districts, while high-priced areas faced growing downward pressure as more properties came onto the market and deals centered on quick sales.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 21:18:20

Vietnam Domestic Airfares Surge Ahead of April 30-May 1 Holiday Break 연휴(4월 30일과 5월 1일)를 며칠 앞둔 베트남에서 국내선 항공권 시장이 성수기 정점에 진입한 것으로 나타났다. 일부 노선은 2026년 설(뗏) 연휴 수준에 근접했고, 인기 노선은 이코노미석이 조기 매진되기도 했다. 21일(현지 시각) 베트남 뚜오이째(Tuoi Tre)에 따르면 4월 25일~29일 호찌민~하노이 노선 편도 이코노미석은 항공사에 따라 360만~420만 동(약 20만~23만 원)으로 집계됐다. 이는 2026년 설 연휴 당시와 비슷한 수준이며, 지난해 같은 기간보다 8~10% 높다. 관광 노선도 고가를 유지하고 있다. 4월 29일 기준 호찌민~다낭 편도는 180만~320만 동(약 10만~18만 원), 하노이~다낭은 210만~380만 동(약 11만~21만 원) 수준이다. 특히 '베트남의 제주도'로 불리는 푸꾸옥은 이번 연휴 최고 인기 여행지로 꼽히며, 성수기 피크 날짜의 직항편은 이코노미석이 상당수 매진됐다. 이 때문에 일정에 맞추려는 여행객들은 편도 약 500만 동에 달하는 경유편을 선택해야 하는 상황도 나오고 있다. ◆ Demand spread eases ticket crunch, but late-holiday return flights tighten 항공사들은 비용 변동을 이유로 운임을 올렸지만, 여행 수요는 여전히 높다는 분석이 나왔다. 다만 올해는 수요가 연휴 첫날과 마지막 날에 쏠리지 않고 기간 전반에 분산되면서, 과거처럼 운항 시스템에 부담이 급격히 집중되는 현상은 줄었다는 설명이다. 실제로 25일, 26일, 29일, 30일 출발편은 호찌민과 하노이 출발 다수 노선에서 예약률이 낮고 빈 좌석도 상당수 남아 있는 것으로 나타났다. 베트남 국내선 중 가장 붐비는 호찌민~하노이 노선도 탑승률이 20~40%에 그쳐, 예년 주요 연휴보다 낮은 수치를 기록했다. 다만 호찌민~꼰다오, 하노이~뚜이화, 동허이 등 일부 노선은 공급 좌석이 제한적인 데다 운임도 크게 오르면서 탑승률 90% 이상을 기록했다. 반면 연휴 후반으로 갈수록 가격 상승 압력이 커지고 있다. 5월 2일과 3일 지방에서 호찌민과 하노이로 돌아오는 귀경편은 피크 시간대를 중심으로 좌석이 빠르게 줄고 있으며, 일부 항공편은 이코노미석이 이미 매진돼 더 비싼 좌석만 남아 있다. 4월 30일과 5월 1일은 베트남의 대표적인 연휴다. 4월 30일은 1975년 북베트남군이 사이공(현 호찌민시)을 함락하며 베트남 전쟁이 끝난 날로, '남부 해방 기념일(통일절)'로 기념된다. 이튿날 5월 1일은 국제 노동절이다. 두 공휴일이 이어지고, 올해는 일정상 4월 30일(목)부터 5월 3일(일)까지 나흘 연속 휴무가 형성돼 전국적으로 교통과 숙박 수요가 집중되는 시기가 되고 있다. 한편, 최근 유가 영향으로 항공권 가격이 오르자 온라인에는 베트남 누리꾼들의 반응이 이어졌다. 한 누리꾼은 "올여름엔 해외여행 대신 교외 별장을 손보러 가겠다"고 했고, 또 다른 누리꾼은 "미국은 아무 문제없으니 걱정할 것 없다"고 말했다. "지구가 이미 자원 한계에 도달한 것 아니냐"는 냉소적인 반응도 나왔다. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 20:54:22

South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung Arrives in Hanoi Ahead of Summit With Vietnam’s To Lam After wrapping up a state visit to India, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Hanoi on April 21 (local time) to begin a state visit to Vietnam. The presidential aircraft carrying Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung landed at Noi Bai International Airport that afternoon. Lee is scheduled to hold a luncheon meeting with South Koreans living in Vietnam on April 22, then meet with To Lam, Vietnam’s Communist Party general secretary and state president, for summit talks. The schedule also includes an exchange of memorandums of understanding, a joint press statement and a state banquet. On April 23, Lee is to meet Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, then attend a Korea-Vietnam business forum to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation. On the final day, April 24, Lee and To Lam are set to tour the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a major cultural heritage site in Hanoi, as part of a friendship program. National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac said in a pre-visit briefing that To Lam visited South Korea last year as the first state guest of Lee’s presidency, and that Lee is the first foreign leader to make a state visit since Vietnam’s new leadership took office. Wi said the visit aims to strengthen mutually beneficial, strategic cooperation in key areas of national development, including nuclear power, and to bolster cooperation on stabilizing energy supply chains and securing critical minerals.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 20:51:16

Jung Dae-cheol calls North Korea’s ‘two states’ claim anti-Korean, anti-historical Jung Dae-cheol, chairman of the Korea Constitutional Association, a group of former lawmakers, on April 21 criticized North Korea’s claim of an “hostile two states” approach, calling it “an anti-Korean, anti-historical theory that denies the Korean people.” Speaking at a unification forum at Heungsadan headquarters in Seoul, Jung said the “two states” line overturns Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s asserted rationale for unification and their claim of “one Korean people.” He said it also contradicts past inter-Korean agreements, including outcomes from inter-Korean summits. Jung described the idea as a “permanent division theory,” arguing that the Korean people are “a real concept” that has maintained a shared identity and cannot be sustained or discarded by political declaration. He said the peninsula has a historical record of living as a unified state for at least 1,300 years. Jung said Kim Jong Un, chairman of North Korea’s State Affairs Commission, may have advanced the hostile two-states line because it has become difficult to beat South Korea in system competition. He said Kim may believe peaceful unification is impossible and only unification by force is feasible, or may have concluded that improving inter-Korean relations does not benefit North Korea. Jung also said North Korea could be seeking gains by sharpening inter-Korean confrontation within a “new Cold War” structure centered on South Korea-U.S.-Japan versus North Korea-China-Russia. Jung urged the South Korean government to pursue a broad policy response guided by principles he listed as firmness, indivisibility, consistency and noncompromise. He said Seoul should lead unification discourse centered on freedom, peace and a national community, and reaffirm the government’s commitment to peaceful unification. He warned that repeated small clashes could expand into a larger war, and said military confrontations should be avoided and deterred. He called for South Korea, the United States and Japan to share information and expand South Korea-U.S. combined exercises to help prevent clashes or war. Jung also urged efforts that can emphasize the goal of integration and shared identity for North Korean residents. He said the government should continue to announce plans for humanitarian aid to North Korea and repeatedly stress to the international community South Korea’s sense of responsibility for North Korean residents.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 20:39:18

Volkswagen CEO Says Group Weighs Cutting Annual Production Capacity by Up to 1 Million More Volkswagen Group is considering cutting its annual production capacity to about 9 million vehicles. Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume said in an interview with German business outlet Manager Magazin on April 21 (local time) that “it is difficult to maintain excess capacity over the long term,” adding that the company is reviewing an additional reduction of up to 1 million vehicles to reflect market conditions. Volkswagen’s capacity was about 12 million vehicles in 2019, before the pandemic. Since then, it has scaled back by roughly 1 million vehicles each in China and Europe. If the latest plan is carried out, total capacity would be down about 25% from 2019. Sales have also weakened. Global deliveries fell from 10.97 million vehicles in 2019 to about 8.98 million last year. Blume said the market environment has “completely changed” since the pandemic and that around 9 million vehicles is becoming the new baseline. How the cuts would be implemented has not been decided. Blume said there are “various options” beyond plant closures, but added that the company is reviewing “every cost item,” leaving open the possibility of further job cuts. Volkswagen is already pursuing a major restructuring in Germany, including halting production at two of its 10 domestic plants and planning to cut up to 50,000 jobs by 2030. Some sites are being repurposed. The Dresden plant, which stopped production in December, is to be used for artificial intelligence and robotics research. At the Osnabrueck plant, a possible acquisition by a defense contractor and others is under review. Lower Saxony’s state government, Volkswagen’s second-largest shareholder, has also recently proposed joint production with a Chinese company as one option for using the facilities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 20:30:11

Iran Says Tanker Entered Its Waters Despite U.S. Naval Blockade Iran’s military said on April 21 (local time) that one of its tankers entered Iranian territorial waters after breaking through a U.S. maritime blockade. In a statement, the military’s public affairs office said the Iranian tanker Silicity, backed by an operational escort from Iran’s navy, passed through the Arabian Sea overnight and entered Iranian waters. It claimed the U.S. Navy issued repeated warnings and threats, but that the tanker reached Iranian territorial waters under what it called full security support from Iran’s navy and docked at a southern port. There was no immediate official comment from the U.S. military. The U.S. military has stepped up maritime control operations in response to Iran’s moves to block the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command has been interdicting vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman since April 13 and previously said it had blocked 27 Iran-linked ships through April 20. On April 19, the U.S. military fired on and seized the cargo ship Tuska after it ignored warnings to turn back while heading to Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 20:00:20

NS Home Shopping Named Preferred Bidder for Homeplus Express Acquisition NS Home Shopping, an affiliate of Harim Group, has been named the preferred bidder in the final round to acquire Homeplus Express, the corporate supermarket business of Homeplus, which is undergoing corporate rehabilitation proceedings. Homeplus said April 21 that it designated NS Home Shopping as the preferred bidder after the public tender for Homeplus Express closed that day. It said it plans to quickly wrap up negotiations on details and sign a final contract. NS Home Shopping said it participated in the final bidding and is awaiting the result. A preferred bidder is the company that offers the most favorable terms among multiple candidates in a competitive process and receives priority negotiating rights for a set period. Selection does not guarantee the deal will be completed. A preliminary bid held March 31 was reported to have drawn interest from MGC Global, the operator of Mega MGC Coffee, among others, though it has not been confirmed whether those firms joined the final round. Multiple bidders participated in the final bidding, establishing effective competition, according to reports. Harim Group is a major conglomerate ranked around the top 30 in South Korea, with total assets nearing 17 trillion won. Homeplus is expected to move faster to secure liquidity through the sale of its Express unit. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 19:39:17

Prosecutors Seek Prison Terms for Chinese Teens Accused of Filming South Korean Fighter Jets Prosecutors on Monday sought prison terms for two Chinese teenagers accused of repeatedly filming fighter jets near South Korean military facilities and major airports. At a closing hearing at Suwon District Court, the court’s Criminal Division 12, presided over by Chief Judge Park Geon-chang, heard prosecutors request an indeterminate sentence of three to four years in prison for A, and four years for B. Prosecutors also asked the court to confiscate cameras and other equipment used in the filming. Under South Korean law, minors may receive indeterminate sentences with both minimum and maximum terms set. Prosecutors described the case as a serious crime that could threaten military security, saying the defendants had not shown sufficient remorse after the alleged offenses and should be punished strictly. The hearing also focused on messages from a WeChat group chat used by B. Prosecutors cited remarks including that “C told us to film” and references to money, arguing they suggest a possible person behind the operation — someone who directed the filming and intended to pay for it. Defense lawyers rejected that interpretation, saying the chat was taken out of context and amounted to a light joke about pinning blame on a specific person if they were caught, not evidence of real instructions. The defense said the teens were students who photographed aircraft as a hobby, not participants in an organized effort, and asked for leniency. In their final statements, the defendants said they did not realize their curiosity would lead to such serious consequences and that they were deeply remorseful. Prosecutors allege that from the second half of 2024 through March last year, the teens entered South Korea three times and twice, respectively, and made hundreds of detailed recordings of fighter jet takeoffs and landings and air traffic control facilities. The locations included four South Korea-U.S. military sites — Suwon Air Base, Pyeongtaek Osan Air Base (K-55), a U.S. base in Pyeongtaek (K-6), and Cheongju Air Base — as well as Incheon, Gimpo and Jeju airports. They were caught March 21 last year while filming near Suwon Air Base after a resident reported suspicious activity to police. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict at 10 a.m. on the 14th of next month.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 19:36:20

Korean Drivers Boost Auto Insurance Coverage While Cutting Premiums With Mileage Discounts Even as vehicle prices rise, auto insurance customers are increasingly buying higher coverage limits while paying less in premiums, reflecting a clear shift toward cost-conscious policies. Wider use of non-face-to-face sales channels and discount riders is helping drivers pursue both stronger protection and lower costs. According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute on Monday, its analysis of 2025 private passenger auto insurance policies found the average insured value of new cars rose to 52.43 million won in 2025 from 48.47 million won in 2023. As values climbed, 85% of policyholders carried property-damage liability limits of at least 300 million won, and 51% carried limits of 1 billion won or more. Comprehensive coverage for damage to the insured vehicle was purchased by 85.8% of drivers. Among electric-vehicle owners, the take-up rate reached 96.1%, reflecting battery replacement costs and the risk of total loss. The institute said the move toward higher coverage appears tied not only to higher vehicle prices but also to growing repair burdens driven by rising parts costs and labor rates. Sales channels are also shifting quickly toward online purchases. The share of policies sold through CM (online) channels, which tend to offer lower premiums, reached 51.4%, well ahead of in-person sales at 31.7%. Among drivers in their 30s, CM usage was 69.1%. The institute said online enrollment is also increasing among those 60 and older, narrowing the gap between channels. Discount riders have effectively become standard. The mileage-based discount rider had an enrollment rate of 88.4%, and 66% of those enrolled met the refund threshold, receiving an average refund of 133,000 won. The refund amounted to about 10% of total premiums. Discounts for advanced safety features are also expanding. Installation rates for automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping systems rose to about 44% each, and insurers are continuing to broaden eligibility for discounts. At the same time, the share of policyholders in preferred rating tiers that qualify for premium discounts increased to 89.5%. “The tendency to consider both expanded coverage and premium savings at the same time is strengthening,” the institute said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:33:42

Consul General Jeong: Vietnam a Key Partner for Peace on the Korean Peninsula President Lee Jae-myung is to make a state visit to Vietnam from April 21 to 24. With South Korea now Vietnam’s largest investor, the trip is expected to be a turning point for expanding cooperation into advanced sectors such as semiconductor supply chains, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. Consul General Jeong Jeong-tae in Ho Chi Minh City said he also hopes Vietnam will play a role beyond economic ties, including in security, defense and efforts related to peace on the Korean Peninsula. In an interview published Tuesday local time by Vietnam’s Tuoi Tre newspaper, Jeong said the visit comes as Vietnam’s new leadership is being consolidated and “clearly shows the high level of political trust and the maturity of relations” between the two countries. He called it “an important milestone” for setting a future direction for cooperation, not simply a diplomatic event. ◆ Investment tops $95 billion; cooperation shifts to quality Jeong said cooperation has been moving from quantitative growth to higher-quality collaboration since the relationship was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. South Korea is Vietnam’s largest investor, with cumulative investment exceeding $95 billion. He said cooperation in southern Vietnam, centered on Ho Chi Minh City, has been widening into research and development, smart manufacturing, AI, fintech and digital platforms. He added that expanding cooperation in security, defense and public order also reflects the deepening relationship. As global supply chains are reshaped and digital transformation accelerates, Jeong said securing supply-chain stability and strengthening digital competitiveness are directly tied to both countries’ economic security. He said the comprehensive strategic partnership framework could support discussions on specific cooperation programs. Jeong said he hopes cooperation will expand from semiconductor supply chains to joint research, workforce training and digital infrastructure development in key technologies such as AI, data and smart manufacturing. He also said both sides could promote business exchanges and investment cooperation in startups and innovation ecosystems to find new growth engines. ◆ “Vietnam is a reliable partner for peace on the Korean Peninsula” Jeong said that amid instability in the Middle East and a more complex international environment, the two countries are continuing to pursue shared goals of peace, stability and sustainable development. He said they have worked closely through multilateral frameworks including ASEAN and will keep cooperating to uphold a rules-based international order and strengthen regional cooperation. Jeong noted Vietnam’s experience hosting U.S.-North Korea summits, calling it a trusted partner in the international community. He said he hopes Vietnam will “contribute positively” to efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, adding that he believes Vietnam can be an excellent partner in pursuing peaceful coexistence and shared development based on trust. He said he hopes President Lee’s visit will help make those efforts more concrete and lift bilateral ties to a new level. Jeong, who took office in February, has worked for 15 years as a lawyer in Ho Chi Minh City, supporting South Korean companies entering Vietnam. His past roles include head of the Vietnam office of law firm Jipyong, an operating committee member of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, and an advisory lawyer to the Ho Chi Minh City office of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. He said he aims to attract more South Korean companies to Vietnam and build a model of shared growth with Vietnam as a partner between nations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:22:00