Jeonju Prosecutors Office Chief Lee Jeong-ryeol Tops New Asset Disclosures at 8.77 Billion Won Three senior prosecutors ranked first through third in assets among 92 newly disclosed senior public officials this year. According to the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee’s ad hoc asset disclosure released on the 23rd, Jeonju District Prosecutors Office Chief Lee Jeong-ryeol reported the largest total, 8.773 billion won, among incumbents newly subject to disclosure due to status changes in January and February. Lee reported 4.46 billion won in land owned by him and his spouse, 2.331 billion won in buildings including an apartment and an officetel in Seoul’s Seocho District, and 2.007 billion won in deposits. Daegu High Prosecutors Office Deputy Chief Prosecutor Cho Ara, a prosecutor general-level official, ranked second with 7.095 billion won. Cho reported 2.033 billion won in real estate including an apartment jointly owned with her spouse, 4.479 billion won in deposits, and 508 million won in stocks. Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Director of Trial and Litigation Ahn Seong-hui, also a prosecutor general-level official, ranked third with 6.642 billion won. Ahn reported 4.895 billion won in real estate, including a factory and an apartment owned by his spouse, and 2.405 billion won in private loans receivable. Other disclosures included 5.002 billion won reported by Jang Hye-young, director of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Scientific Investigation Division, and 1.648 billion won reported by Jeong Gwang-su, deputy chief prosecutor at the Daejeon High Prosecutors Office. Separately, Hong Ik-pyo, senior presidential secretary for political affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, reported total assets of 6.07835 billion won, including about 3.3 billion won in unlisted shares held in his spouse’s name. Hong’s assets were disclosed for the first time after his appointment in January. Much of Hong’s reported wealth was in securities, including 3.32251 billion won in unlisted shares of an interior design company run by his spouse and 752.93 million won in family-held deposits. He jointly owns an apartment in Seoul’s Seongdong District valued at 985 million won with his spouse. The total value of building-related rights, including a jeonse deposit right for an apartment in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, and jeonse deposit rights for an officetel and an apartment in Seoul’s Seocho District, was reported at 2.9305 billion won. 2026-04-24 10:21:18

Hanwha Galleria hits limit-up on expectations for governance overhaul, new holding company Hanwha Galleria hit the daily trading limit on expectations tied to a group governance overhaul and a planned new company. According to the Korea Exchange, Hanwha Galleria was trading at 3,340 won as of 9:53 a.m. on April 24 on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index, up 770 won, or 29.96%, from the previous session, reaching the price limit. A day earlier, the Korea Exchange confirmed a positive preliminary review for the relisting of shares in Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings (tentative name), a company Hanwha plans to create through a split-off. Hanwha plans to establish and relist Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings through a spin-off to manage subsidiaries including Hanwha Vision and Hanwha Galleria and to pursue new investments. The planned establishment date is Aug. 1, with listing scheduled for Aug. 25. Separately, the newly created Tech · Life entity will be led by Kim Dong-seon, vice chairman of Hanwha Galleria. Hanwha said it approved the creation of Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings at a board meeting in January to oversee tech affiliates including Hanwha Vision, Hanwha Momentum, Hanwha Semitec and Hanwha Robotics, as well as life affiliates including Hanwha Galleria, Hanwha Hotel & Resort and Ourhome.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:18:06

Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch to Hold Children’s Day ‘Sky Picnic’ on May 5 Gangwon’s Daegwallyeong Sky Ranch, located on the high plateau around Daegwallyeong, will run hands-on programs for families to mark Children’s Day. The ranch said it will hold its “Children’s Day Sky Picnic” on May 5. The event period runs from May 1 to May 10, and children 12 and under will be admitted free during that time. Sky Ranch is a grassland ranch built at an elevation of about 1,000 meters or higher. It is known as a tourist ranch with relatively flexible visitor routes among ranches in the Daegwallyeong area. Its wide pastures and gently rolling hills have continued to draw families looking for outdoor activities. On the day of the event, the ranch will offer children’s programs, including free face painting on site and a ranchwide treasure hunt. An accompanying social media event will also be held to encourage visitor participation. Regular attractions will continue as well. A tractor-pulled wagon ride to the top of the ranch will be offered as a paid on-site program, and visitors can feed sheep in an indoor area. The ranch cafe will sell light snacks, including ice cream made with dairy products. The Daegwallyeong area typically has lower temperatures than cities at the same time of year and is known for strong winds, and the ranch is advising visitors to dress warmly even in spring. “We prepared these programs to provide an environment where children can run and play in nature,” the ranch said, adding that it plans to operate the event so families can enjoy both rest and activities. Detailed schedules and visitor information are available on the ranch’s official website and social media channels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:15:48

CNBC poll: 58% disapprove of Trump as Iran war drags on and economic worries rise President Donald Trump’s job approval has slipped further, with 58% of Americans saying they disapprove, according to a CNBC survey. The poll points to mounting public fatigue over the prolonged Iran war, higher oil prices and rising cost-of-living pressures. Weakness is also emerging on the economy, long viewed as one of Trump’s strengths. In CNBC’s All-America Economic Survey released Thursday, 40% said they approve of Trump’s performance and 58% said they disapprove, for a net rating of minus 18 percentage points. CNBC said the result put Trump near the low end of his standing in its polling. Views of Trump’s economic policy were worse. In the same survey, 39% approved and 60% disapproved. The poll cited rising gasoline prices since the Iran war and added inflation pressure tied to tariff policy as factors behind growing dissatisfaction with economic management. Other polling showed a similar pattern. In an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey, Trump’s overall job approval fell to 33%, while approval of his economic policy was 30%. On handling the cost of living, 23% approved and 76% disapproved. The Iran war also weighed on public opinion. In an Economist/YouGov poll, 58% of Americans said they oppose the war, and 55% rated Trump’s response to Iran negatively. Seventy percent said the United States should reach an agreement to end the war as soon as possible. Signs of slippage appeared within the Republican Party as well. In the AP-NORC survey, approval among Republican identifiers fell from 82% early in Trump’s second term to about two-thirds. Among Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement, 44% said they support Trump. The trend adds pressure on Republicans heading into the midterm elections. Trump has maintained strong backing among his core supporters on immigration and security, but rising economic frustration and war fatigue are increasing the risk of losses among moderates.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:06:39

SK Signs Two MOUs With Vietnam to Support AI Ecosystem and Infrastructure SK is moving to cooperate with Vietnam on building an AI industry ecosystem and core AI infrastructure. SK said April 24 that it signed two memorandums of understanding a day earlier in Hanoi at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum — one with the government of Nghe An province and another with Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC) — to support the creation of an AI ecosystem. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea’s minister of trade, industry and energy, and Ngo Van Tuan, Vietnam’s finance minister. SK participants included Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Choo Hyung-wook, CEO of SK Innovation; and Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom. Vietnamese attendees included Nguyen Khac Than, party secretary of Nghe An province; Vo Trong Hai, chairman of the Nghe An People’s Committee; and Vu Quoc Huy, director of the NIC. SK said the cooperation is intended to support Vietnam’s national AI strategy, with SK positioned as a key partner. The company said it expects the effort to lay groundwork for its first overseas expansion of a “Korean-style AI full-stack” model, linking AI data center construction and stable power supply to AI model development and testing and the spread of industry-specific AI services. SK Innovation and SK Telecom signed an MOU with the Nghe An provincial government to cooperate on building an AI data center and related infrastructure. SK said the plan is centered on linking the project to SK Innovation’s Quynh Lap LNG power project, including power supply and the development of dedicated generation sources. SK Telecom said it will review development, construction and operation of an AI data center based on that foundation and seek to secure global demand. The Quynh Lap LNG project is a large-scale energy infrastructure development that includes a 1,500-megawatt combined-cycle gas power plant, an LNG terminal and a dedicated port, with completion targeted for 2030. The companies also signed a separate MOU with the NIC to cooperate broadly on building an AI ecosystem, including AI data center construction, energy infrastructure development and establishing a policy foundation. SK Telecom will handle technology cooperation and attracting investment, while SK Innovation will provide energy solutions. SK described the effort as an overseas expansion of its “AI full-stack provider” strategy, integrating a value chain spanning semiconductors, data centers, power and energy, and AI services. Ahead of the forum, Chey said at a business meeting that “AI will play a key role in Vietnam’s sustained growth,” adding that SK has capabilities across the AI ecosystem — from energy and semiconductors to AI models and application services — and “will make a tangible contribution to the development of Vietnam’s AI industry.” An SK official said the group has maintained cooperation with Vietnam since the 1990s, starting with oil development under the late Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, and expanding into areas including energy, information and communications, investment and social contributions. The official said SK will use the AI cooperation to further strengthen ties as a key partner in Vietnam’s national AI strategy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:05:48

Korea Fair Trade Commission: 116 Multilevel Marketing Firms Registered in Q1; 2 New, 1 Closed In the first quarter of this year, two multilevel marketing companies newly registered and one shut down, according to the Fair Trade Commission.  The commission said it released key information changes for multilevel marketing operators for the first quarter of 2026. It publishes quarterly updates to help prevent consumer harm linked to multilevel sales. As of the end of March, 116 multilevel marketing firms were registered. The commission reported 10 changes in total: two new registrations, one closure and seven changes of company name or address. Ibeotboda Korea signed a mutual-aid contract with the Direct Selling Mutual Aid Association, and SD Rang signed one with the Korea Special Sales Mutual Aid Association, then completed new registrations with their local provincial or metropolitan governments. SD Platform closed its business. As of the end of the quarter, two companies — Aora Partners and Goldtree Global — had changed their name or address at least five times over the past three years. Aora Partners changed its name three times and its address twice during that period. Goldtree Global changed its name twice and its address three times.  The commission urged consumers and prospective sales representatives to check key information such as whether a company is properly registered and whether it has suspended operations or closed, to reduce the risk of losses during transactions. It warned that firms that frequently change their name or main business address may pose unexpected risks, including difficulty obtaining refunds. It also said multilevel marketing operators cannot conduct normal business if their consumer compensation insurance — such as mutual-aid contracts or debt payment guarantees — has been terminated, and called for extra caution. In the first quarter, Goldtree Global terminated its mutual-aid contract with the Korea Special Sales Mutual Aid Association, but had not yet suspended operations or closed, the commission said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:04:59

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon says flexible work can jump-start shift in how Koreans work Kim Young-hoon, South Korea’s minister of employment and labor, said April 24 that as technology, demographic and climate changes accelerate at the same time, changing how people live and work is “not a choice but a necessity,” adding that flexible work “can be the starting point.” Kim made the remarks at a corporate roundtable on expanding flexible work, hosted by the Labor Ministry and the Metropolitan Transport Commission under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. He said the government is supporting the entire process of adopting and operating flexible work — including incentives, system support, consulting and manuals — to reduce companies’ burdens. With oil prices rising amid the Middle East crisis, companies have faced higher costs, prompting moves to expand flexible arrangements such as staggered commuting hours and working from home, and to join energy-saving campaigns. Small and midsize firms, however, have struggled to introduce and use flexible work because of staffing constraints, system-building costs and security concerns. The government said it will provide tailored support based on company conditions. Firms that adopt flexible work can receive incentives to ease initial costs, as well as subsidies for installation fees or usage charges for systems used to manage commuting and strengthen information and security. Companies with limited experience operating flexible work can also receive manuals and linked consulting, covering everything from program design to day-to-day operation. The government has also introduced the “10 a.m. start for parents” program, which supports small and midsize employers that allow workers with young children to cut their workday by one hour without a pay reduction. It has removed the requirement that workers must have been employed for six months and eased paperwork burdens by changing the submission of rules such as employment and HR regulations from mandatory to recommended. At the meeting, Kim and Kim Yong-seok, chair of the Metropolitan Transport Commission, joined representatives from six companies recognized as 2025 South Korea work-life balance best workplaces, which have high rates of flexible work use. Officials also explained government support programs for flexible work. Kim said he hopes the roundtable will help reflect workplace feedback, improve policies to better match reality and broaden voluntary participation by the private sector. He said the government will strengthen practical, tangible support so companies can join changes in work practices through greater use of flexible work. Kim Yong-seok said the commission is implementing the “Everyone’s Card” policy, which sets time windows for commuting and provides additional incentives. He added that an interagency task force is being formed to prepare measures to ease public transit congestion during commuting hours, including steps to promote flexible work.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:04:08

HD Hyundai Site Solutions Wins S-Mark Safety Certification for 17 Electric Forklifts HD Hyundai Site Solutions said it has strengthened safety standards for its electric forklifts. The company said April 24 it recently received the S-Mark safety certification from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency for 17 small electric forklift models rated at 3.5 tons or less, and plans to expand the number of certified models. The S-Mark is an official certification issued by the agency, a government-designated occupational safety body, after a comprehensive review of product safety and the manufacturer’s quality management capabilities. To qualify, companies must pass technical document reviews based on ISO and agency standards, on-site audits and product testing, requiring safety and reliability to be verified from design through production. Customers who buy certified models are eligible for government subsidies and policy financing support, and may receive purchase recommendations for domestic public institutions, the company said. With electric forklifts now accounting for about 60% of South Korea’s forklift market, demand for eco-friendly, low-noise equipment is rising, particularly at logistics centers and in urban work settings, driving electrification. HD Hyundai Site Solutions sells about 1,500 electric forklifts a year in South Korea and said it aims to raise market share by emphasizing safety and quality following the certification. “This safety certification recognizes both product safety and our quality management system,” a company official said. “We will continue to expand certified models to provide safer, more reliable products.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:03:16

Hyosung Heavy Industries signs Vietnam power grid MOU, plans $50 million motor plant Hyosung Heavy Industries is moving to expand its business in Vietnam by pursuing both power grid cooperation and a new production base. The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam Electricity on April 23 at the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum at the JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi. The MOU covers power asset management, grid stabilization and strengthening technical capabilities. Vietnam’s power demand is rising quickly amid economic growth, industrialization and the spread of data centers and advanced industries. Ensuring grid stability has also emerged as a key task as renewable energy expands. Under its eighth Power Development Plan, or PDP8, the Vietnamese government plans to raise power generation capacity to 221 gigawatts by 2030 and invest about $136 billion. Hyosung Heavy Industries said cooperation will focus on three areas: a pilot application of its AI-based power asset management solution, ARMOUR+; expanded adoption of STATCOM systems, or static synchronous compensators; and support for education and training to strengthen the design and manufacturing capabilities of EVN subsidiary Dong Anh Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Co., or EEMC. Also on April 23, Hyosung Heavy Industries signed an MOU with an investment promotion center under Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance to build a high-voltage motor plant. Under the agreement, the company plans to invest about $50 million to build a production base on the site of its Vina Electric plant in Dong Nai province, targeting annual revenue of $100 million. It aims to begin mass production in February 2027 and install facilities to produce 25,000-kilowatt-class high-voltage motors. High-voltage motors operate at more than 1,000 volts and are used in large industrial facilities such as power plants and industrial complexes. Demand has been expanding for uses including data center cooling systems and equipment linked to renewable energy. Market research firm Omdia forecasts the global high-voltage motor market will grow more than 5% annually to about $6.5 billion by 2028. Hyosung Heavy Industries said that after establishing a low-voltage motor production base in 2015, the new high-voltage motor plant will broaden its motor business portfolio. It plans to become the first foreign company to carry out the entire high-voltage motor production process in Vietnam. Hyosung has invested about $4 billion in Vietnam since entering the country in 2008, building six production bases and employing more than 10,000 local workers. The company said sales by its local units account for about 1% of Vietnam’s total exports, contributing to the country’s economic growth and the expansion of global supply chains. Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon said, “This agreement is meaningful in that it expands our business foundation in Vietnam into the heavy industries sector,” adding, “We will grow together with Vietnam as a global partner.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:01:10

Samsung Heavy Industries Signs U.S. MOUs to Enter Global Data Infrastructure Market Samsung Heavy Industries said it has laid the groundwork to enter the global data infrastructure market with a floating data center, or FDC. The company said it attended Data Center World (DCW 2026), held April 20-23 (local time) in Washington, and secured a foothold for global market entry for its in-house developed FDC. An FDC is a model that builds data centers at sea as demand surges with the spread of artificial intelligence. It is drawing attention as an alternative that can address land acquisition, power supply and cooling efficiency constraints. At the event, Samsung Heavy said it obtained approval in principle for a 50-megawatt FDC concept design from U.S. classification society ABS and U.K.-based Lloyd’s Register. The certified design is based on a standardized shipyard construction process that integrates design, fabrication and equipment installation, which the company said can shorten delivery times compared with land-based data centers. It can also be fitted with an in-house power generation system, reducing reliance on onshore electricity, it said. Samsung Heavy said it also expanded cooperation with global companies during the event. It is pursuing collaboration with electrification and automation firm ABB to develop an FDC power system, and signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. data center developer Musterian to develop an FDC in the United States. The company said it plans to use the certifications as a starting point to push commercialization by linking power-system development with U.S. permitting and partnerships for local operations. Choi Won-young, chairman of Samsung Heavy’s workers’ council, attended the event, highlighting labor-management participation. “The council will actively take part in the growth of new businesses such as the FDC,” Choi said. Ahn, the technology development chief, called the FDC “a new business model that expands shipbuilding technology into the digital infrastructure industry.” He said it would “set a new standard in the global data market” when combined with eco-friendly energy.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 10:00:19