Brokerages Tighten Margin Lending as Retail Debt-Fueled Trading Heats Up Again As the Kospi extends its rally, signs of overheating have reappeared in retail investors’ debt-fueled trading, prompting brokerages to tighten credit and step up risk controls. According to the financial investment industry on the 22nd, KB Securities began restricting new purchases of SK hynix through contracts for difference, or CFDs, from 9 a.m. the previous day. CFDs are high-risk over-the-counter derivatives that settle only price differences without owning the underlying asset. Because they can be highly leveraged, losses can grow quickly when market volatility rises. Mirae Asset Securities also adjusted margin requirements and stock classifications for some names starting that day. Twenty stocks — including Alteogen, HYBE, Kakao and LG Energy Solution — were moved up from group E to group F. Margin requirements for 10 stocks, including Hana Micron and Daeduck Electronics, were raised to 100% from 30% to 40%. Stocks set at 100% margin or placed in group F face limits such as restrictions on new margin-buying and extensions of loan maturities. Toss Securities, after raising margin requirements to 100% the previous day for some stocks including Korea Information & Communication and Jusung Engineering, expanded the list that day to include Korea Airport and Samsung Electro-Mechanics preferred shares. Kakao Pay Securities halted all new margin-buying orders, citing exhaustion of its credit limit. “Depending on market conditions, we are implementing additional risk-management measures such as adjusting margin requirements,” the firm said. The moves follow a sharp rise in margin trading. Data from the Korea Financial Investment Association showed outstanding margin loans across the main Kospi market and the Kosdaq market topped 34 trillion won for the first time on the 17th, reaching 34.0279 trillion won, and then rose to 34.2592 trillion won on the 20th. Market watchers said retail investors have been placing more aggressive leveraged bets as the Kospi set fresh record highs and expectations for further gains grew. Some also warned that momentum-driven buying aimed at quick profits could add downside pressure if volatility increases. A brokerage industry official said leveraged investing can magnify losses as quickly as gains, calling for extra caution. The official said investors should approach carefully by closely weighing their ability to repay and their tolerance for risk, especially during periods of rising volatility. 2026-04-22 14:36:17

Nongshim teams with Jeonju film festival for Shin Ramyun’s 40th anniversary Nongshim is marking the 40th anniversary of its Shin Ramyun brand with a partnership with the Jeonju International Film Festival, aiming to link Korean food and culture. Nongshim said April 22 that it signed an agreement a day earlier at its headquarters in Seoul’s Dongjak district with the festival’s organizing committee for special screenings tied to the anniversary. Under the deal, the company participated in producing two short films featuring Shin Ramyun that will be shown during the festival. The films are director Oh Se-yeon’s “Before the Noodles Bloom” and director Kim Tae-yeop’s “When the Ramen Runs Out.” They portray Shin Ramyun as a familiar presence known for an unchanged taste over time. The shorts will be screened three times: May 2 and 3 at CGV Jeonju Gosa, and May 5 at Megabox Jeonju Gaeksa. A “Shin Ramyun Studio” pop-up store will also open on Jeonju’s Film Street, offering a hands-on program where visitors can mix noodles, seasoning and toppings to make their own ramen. It will run from the festival’s opening day, April 29, through May 5. Nongshim, which is sponsoring the festival for a third year, will also present the “Nongshim Shin Ramyun Award” for new directors in the Korean Competition section for a second consecutive year. “We want to connect with audiences through the art of film as we mark Shin Ramyun’s 40th anniversary,” a Nongshim official said. “We will continue cultural and arts collaborations to help promote the competitiveness of Korean culture.” The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival will be held from April 29 to May 8 around Jeonju’s Film Street.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:35:02

Japan's Takaichi Sends Another Offering to Yasukuni Shrine Despite South Korea, China Criticism Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made an additional offering to Yasukuni Shrine. Kyodo News and NHK reported on the 22nd that Takaichi, through Haruko Arimura, chair of the Liberal Democratic Party’s General Council, donated out of her own pocket the fee for a ritual offering known as a “tamagushi.” After visiting the shrine, Arimura told reporters that she had prayed with Takaichi’s sentiments in mind and said the prime minister likely hopes to pay her respects there in person someday. On the first day of the spring festival the previous day, Takaichi did not visit but sent a “masakaki” offering in the name of “Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.” The South Korean and Chinese governments immediately issued critical statements. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a spokesperson’s comment that it was “deeply disappointed and regretful” that responsible Japanese leaders again sent offerings to, or repeatedly visited, Yasukuni, which it said “glorifies Japan’s past wars of aggression” and enshrines war criminals. China’s Foreign Ministry also criticized the move, calling Yasukuni “a symbol of Japan’s militarist wars of aggression” and saying it firmly opposed related developments. The 22nd marked the second day of the spring festival, and Minoru Kiuchi, the minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, visited the shrine in person. It was the first confirmed visit by a Cabinet minister since the Takaichi Cabinet took office in October last year. Some ministers sent offerings the previous day but did not visit. After his visit, Kiuchi told reporters he had expressed gratitude and respect for the spirits of those who “gave their precious lives for the nation.” Also visiting were junior government officials including Cabinet Office Parliamentary Vice Minister Jun Tsushima and Internal Affairs and Communications Parliamentary Vice Minister Noriko Horiuchi. About 120 lawmakers from a cross-party parliamentary group also went to the shrine together. Yasukuni commemorates about 2,466,000 people who died in conflicts from the period around the Meiji Restoration through wars waged by imperial Japan, many linked to the Pacific War. It has long been a diplomatic flashpoint because it also enshrines Class-A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:34:11

South Korea opens World IT Show 2026 with spotlight on physical AI and robotics SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Wednesday opened the World IT Show 2026, a three-day exhibition at COEX showcasing the latest advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and information and communications technology. The event, running through Friday, drew 460 companies and institutions from 17 countries to a 24,800-square-meter exhibition hall under the slogan "Beyond Idea, Into Action: AI moves Reality." Organizers said the show was designed to offer hands-on experience with what they called the "physical AI transformation." Major Korean firms including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and SK Telecom joined the exhibition alongside robotics specialists such as Maum.AI. The floor was divided into four themed pavilions covering award-winning technologies, global exhibitors, entertainment tech and the country's AI semiconductor ecosystem. At an opening-day ceremony, AI audio platform developer Gaudio Lab received the Presidential Award for a tool that automates music separation, dubbing and subtitling in K-content exports. Law-focused AI firm Law & Company took the Prime Minister's Award, while Samsung Electronics was among six companies honored with the minister's prize. A separate export consultation fair paired with about 190 Korean firms with 50 overseas buyers from 14 countries for business matchmaking sessions aimed at supporting startups and mid-tier ICT companies seeking global partnerships. "The World IT Show is an important venue to experience the convergence of physical AI and cutting-edge technologies," Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung said at the opening. "We hope it becomes a meaningful occasion for our AI and ICT companies to share the fruits of innovation and forge new partnerships." 2026-04-22 14:32:27

S. Korea resumes public repatriation of Chinese war dead in sign of thaw SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - South Korea on Tuesday repatriated the remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950–53 Korean War, resuming a public handover ceremony for the first time in three years in a move seen as signaling a modest thaw in ties with Beijing. The Defense Ministry said the 13th transfer ceremony was held at Incheon International Airport, attended by Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee and Xu Yao, vice minister of China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The remains of 12 Chinese soldiers were returned, bringing the total repatriated since 2014 to 1,023. The ceremony included the signing of transfer documents, a Chinese memorial rite and the loading of the remains onto a military aircraft. China's state broadcaster CCTV said a delegation arrived in South Korea on April 19 and departed the same day with the remains aboard a Y-20B strategic transport aircraft. Seoul had conducted the past two handovers without public ceremonies. The restoration of a formal, vice-ministerial event under the administration of President Lee Jae Myung was viewed as a gesture of goodwill. "This handover ceremony has resumed as a public event for the first time in three years, reflecting the restoration of South Korea-China relations and the spirit of good-neighborly friendship," Lee Kwang-seok, director-general for international policy at the ministry, said. "We will continue to repatriate the remains of Chinese soldiers discovered in the future." The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, and ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953, drew in a U.S.-led United Nations Command supporting South Korea and Chinese forces backing North Korea, turning the peninsula into a major Cold War battleground. Sixteen countries sent combat troops under the UN flag. The United States deployed about 1.79 million personnel, the largest contingent, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Australia and the Philippines. Others — including Thailand, the Netherlands, Colombia, Greece, New Zealand, Ethiopia, France, Belgium, South Africa and Luxembourg — also contributed forces, while several countries provided medical and humanitarian support. China entered the war in October 1950 through the People's Volunteer Army. Chinese military deaths are estimated at between 180,000 and 400,000, though figures vary. The conflict remains one of the deadliest since World War II, with total casualties — including civilians — estimated at up to 4 million, about 70 percent of them civilians. Seoul said it will continue to return the remains of Chinese soldiers found on its soil in line with humanitarian principles and international law. 2026-04-22 14:32:02

SMEs Ministry Launches K-Startup AI League, Offers Top Prize of 500 Million Won The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has created an artificial intelligence league under the pan-government startup competition “K-Startup of the Year” and is recruiting participants. The ministry said on April 22 that “K-Startup of the Year” is a major national startup competition run jointly by nine ministries. It serves as a platform to discover promising startups and provide opportunities to grow. This year’s event is being promoted under the new name “K-Startup of the Year,” replacing “Challenge! K-Startup.” The ministry said it plans to refocus the competition on early-stage startups to better identify companies with strong growth potential. A total of 130 teams selected through preliminary rounds will advance to the integrated main competition. The final 20 early-stage startups will compete in a year-end championship round in December. Winners in the championship round will receive prize money of up to 500 million won and preferential consideration for follow-up support programs, including the Early-Stage Startup Package. To discover and nurture AI startups, the ministry newly established an AI League. The AI League targets startups less than three years old that have products in the AI field. The top 10 companies chosen through preliminaries will advance to the integrated main round alongside top firms from other leagues. The ministry is also recruiting for an “Innovative Startup League,” open to any startup less than three years old with strong technology and business potential, regardless of sector. It will select 22 companies. Cho Kyung-won, the ministry’s director general for startup policy, said, “With the launch of the AI League, we hope the growth of innovative AI companies like Wrtn Technologies, which grew through ‘K-Startup of the Year,’ will accelerate further.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:30:56

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shares jump on icebreaker, generator orders HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shares rose on April 22 after the company reported back-to-back large orders. According to the Korea Exchange, the stock was trading at 624,000 won as of 2:22 p.m., up about 8.33% from the previous session. The company said it won a 514.8 billion won contract from the Swedish Maritime Administration to build one dedicated icebreaking vessel. The ship will be 126 meters long with a displacement of 15,000 tons, and will have PC4-class icebreaking capability and an electric propulsion system. Delivery is scheduled by 2029. The high-spec vessel can continuously break through about 1 to 1.2 meters of ice to secure shipping lanes and will be deployed in polar operations, including the Baltic Sea. The win was seen as demonstrating the company’s technical competitiveness in a market where Nordic shipbuilders have been strong. The company also disclosed that it signed a 627.1 billion won contract the same day with U.S.-based Aperion Energy Group to supply engine generators. The deal is equivalent to 3.57% of revenue, with a contract period running through 2030. The equipment will be used for power plant construction projects in the United States, under milestone-based payments that include a 20% advance payment. Market participants said the expanded order book across shipbuilding and energy equipment supports efforts to diversify the company’s business portfolio. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:30:15

Trump’s Iran War Drags On as China Tariff Fight Remains Unresolved Nearly two months after the Iran war began, U.S. President Donald Trump’s early prediction that it would end in four to six weeks has been overtaken by events. The timeline has already passed his stated “deadline,” and the Middle East remains clouded by unresolved tensions and uncertainty over further destruction. Trump’s repeated promises that an end to the fighting was close have also slipped. After unilaterally extending a two-week ceasefire that had been set to expire on the 21st by one day, he said a day later that the ceasefire would be postponed indefinitely “until Iran presents a unified proposal.” Trump opened the conflict in tandem with Israel, but now appears unable to say when or how it will end. The delay cannot be attributed solely to Washington. In Iran, divisions between hard-liners and moderates over how to respond to the United States have complicated efforts to form a single negotiating position. Still, the deeper problem is that the war began without a clear rationale or strategic objective. The United States had been moving forward with nuclear talks with Iran before abruptly shifting to military action, and it offered no clear blueprint for war aims, a postwar order or an exit strategy. With goals unclear, an end remains difficult to define. Trump has often cited “The Art of War,” which argues that the best course is to avoid war and, if it begins, to end it quickly. His current course has moved in the opposite direction. The Iran war has slid into a prolonged conflict without a clear victory, raising the risk of draining U.S. power and intensifying global geopolitical instability. Iran is not the only conflict Trump has struggled to bring to a close. The trade war with China, though pushed to the background, continues to weigh on the global economy as an unfinished fight. The dispute began after Trump, soon after taking office last year, imposed steep tariffs on China. It then stalled as China countered with retaliation involving rare earths, leaving Washington without a clear solution. A one-year truce agreed to reluctantly at an October summit in Busan last year amounted to a pause, not a win. About half of that truce period has now passed. As November approaches, the world faces a growing possibility of being pulled back into a new round of “tariff shocks” and supply-chain disruption. With the Russia-Ukraine war still unresolved after more than four years, the overlap of the Iran war and a U.S.-China economic conflict could also push global affairs toward an uncontrollable “compound crisis.” Against that backdrop, President Lee Jae-myung’s recent meetings with foreign leaders and his trip to India and Vietnam carry added significance. Efforts to build strategic buffers with middle powers against future shocks from Trump-driven conflicts are encouraging. The government should follow through so that economic and security outcomes from the trip translate into practical cooperation and reduce South Korea’s risks. 2026-04-22 14:27:20

SK hynix breaks ground on Cheongju advanced packaging plant to bolster AI memory output SK hynix has begun construction of an advanced packaging production facility in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, as it moves to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence memory market. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony on the 22nd at a 230,000-square-meter (about 70,000-pyeong) site in the Cheongju Technopolis industrial complex for the new fab, named P&T7. SK hynix said the plant will have about 150,000 square meters (about 46,000 pyeong) of cleanroom space, combining roughly 60,000 square meters (about 18,000 pyeong) across three floors of process lines and about 90,000 square meters (about 28,000 pyeong) across seven floors of wafer test (WT) lines. The company is targeting completion of the WT lines in October next year and completion of the wafer-level packaging (WLP) lines in February the following year. P&T7 is a dedicated facility for advanced packaging, a key step for producing AI memory such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Packaging, part of the back-end semiconductor process, has gained importance as a way to overcome limits of chip miniaturization and improve performance and power efficiency. SK hynix said it chose the site to maximize synergy with its existing Cheongju production base, including the operating M11, M12 and M15 fabs and the M15X fab now under construction, to improve logistics and operations. The company plans to link DRAM produced at M15X to P&T7 to complete final HBM products under an integrated production system. SK hynix said P&T7 is more than an expansion of production capacity, calling it “the result of trust built together by the region and the company.” It added that it will work closely with the local community and aim to set “a successful milestone” for balanced national development.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:16:08

Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Ho-young rushed to hospital on 12th day of hunger strike Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Ho-young, who has been on a hunger strike for 12 days while alleging unfairness in the party’s North Jeolla governor primary, was rushed to an emergency room. Ahn entered the primary but lost to candidate Lee Won-taek. Since then, he has demanded a renewed inspection into allegations that Lee’s meal expenses were paid on his behalf. According to Ahn’s side, at about 1:40 p.m. on the 22nd he was transported by ambulance to Noksaek Hospital in Jungnang-gu, following recommendations from presidential political affairs aide Cho Jung-sik and medical staff. Earlier, senior party officials Lee Eon-ju and Kang Deuk-gu held an emergency news conference at the National Assembly urging Ahn to end the fast. Also present was North Jeolla Gov. Kim Kwan-young, who was expelled over allegations involving the distribution of cash-filled envelopes and was unable to take part in the primary. Kim has voiced support for Ahn’s protest. Lee Eon-ju said the party leadership held a heated debate after controversy involving Lee Won-taek surfaced but failed to push through a delay of the primary. “It hurt to see Ahn demanding a fair process through a hunger strike,” she said, adding that Ahn’s condition was not good. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik also visited Ahn’s tent protest site the previous day and urged him to stop fasting. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:15:18