Seoul Studio Apartment Rent Averages 710,000 Won as Monthly Leases Rise, Jeonse Dips In March, Seoul’s studio rental market showed mixed movement, with monthly rents rising while jeonse deposits edged down. Real estate information platform Dabang said it released its “March Dabang Yeojido” report on the rental and jeonse levels for studio units in Seoul’s multi-family housing — row houses and villas with exclusive floor space of 33 square meters (355 square feet) or less — based on March data. Using a 10 million won deposit as a benchmark, the average monthly rent for a Seoul studio was 710,000 won, up 40,000 won (5.2%) from the previous month, Dabang said. The average jeonse deposit was 213.86 million won, down 830,000 won (0.4%), suggesting the earlier rise has slowed. “Dabang Yeojido” compares each district’s average monthly rent and jeonse deposit with the Seoul average (set at 100%), using transaction prices reported to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Readings above 100% indicate prices higher than the citywide average. By district, monthly rents were strongest in the Gangnam area and major central neighborhoods. Gangnam-gu was the highest at 141% of the Seoul average, followed by Seocho-gu (122%), Seongdong-gu (122%), Yongsan-gu (118%) and Jungnang-gu (116%). Including Gwangjin-gu and Dongdaemun-gu (108%) and Gangseo-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu (101%), nine districts were above the city average. For jeonse deposits, Seocho-gu ranked highest at 125%, followed by Jung-gu (120%), Gangnam-gu (119%), Gwangjin-gu (113%), Dongjak-gu (112%) and Yongsan-gu (110%). Including Yeongdeungpo-gu (106%), Mapo-gu (104%) and Dongdaemun-gu (101%), nine districts were above average. Dabang said its March figures cover studio transactions in Seoul and calculate monthly rents using a 10 million won deposit after applying a rent-to-jeonse conversion rate, while jeonse figures are based on all jeonse transactions. Monthly rent data were compiled from deals with deposits under 100 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:52:35

Hyundai E&C Proposes 'Apgujeong Hyundai Galleria' Name for Apgujeong 5 Redevelopment Hyundai Engineering & Construction, which is bidding for the redevelopment of Apgujeong District 5 in Seoul’s Gangnam district, said on the 23rd it has proposed the complex name “Apgujeong Hyundai Galleria.” The company said the name combines “Apgujeong Hyundai,” long seen as a symbol of top-tier housing in South Korea, with “Galleria,” the department store brand associated with luxury lifestyle. Hyundai E&C said it will work with Hyundai Motor Group to apply advanced robotics across the complex, including demand-responsive transport, or DRT. The company said residents would be able to summon an unmanned DRT shuttle from their homes, creating a mobility network that links Apgujeong “like a single city.” Other proposals include nanomobility for personal movement support; porter robots and robo-stations for contactless deliveries; parking robots and EV charging robots for a smart parking system; and unmanned firefighting robots. On the residential side, Hyundai E&C said it designed “Zero Wall” wide panoramic views extending up to 240 degrees, beyond 100% Han River views for all units, and applied a 3-meter coffered ceiling height to enhance openness. Planned amenities include “Club Apgujeong,” a large community facility of 12 pyeong per household, and “The Circle 420,” which the company described as the country’s first circular community space to be built at the center of the complex. Hyundai E&C also said it plans to work with Hanwha so residents can access services through a dedicated membership, including use of VIP lounges at Galleria’s luxury store, shopping benefits and participation in exclusive programs. Apgujeong District 5, which will redevelop Apgujeong Hanyang 1 and 2 apartment complexes, is being 추진되고 있다 under Seoul’s fast-track integrated planning system. Once completed, it is set to include eight buildings ranging from five basement levels to 68 stories above ground, with 1,397 housing units. It is the only Apgujeong redevelopment project being bid competitively, with Hyundai E&C and DL E&C participating.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:52:07

Malaysia Food Culture Fair Set for June 17-30 at ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe The agriculture section of the Embassy of Malaysia in Japan said April 22 it will hold a special fair, “Taste of Malaysia,” with Malaysia’s government tourism office at the ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe from June 17 to 30 to showcase Malaysian cuisine. The event will also include a tasting for industry participants featuring Malaysian seafood, aiming to raise awareness in the Japanese market and expand business. The fair will offer a buffet of traditional dishes, including seafood imported directly from Malaysia, nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk), chicken satay and beef rendang. During the event, tastings will be held for HoReCa operators — hotels, restaurants and catering services — and food-industry buyers to present Malaysian seafood in greater detail. Japanese dishes will also be served alongside Malaysian cuisine to suggest a wider range of uses. Organizers said they plan to create opportunities for direct exchanges with Japan’s food industry to support future deals and business cooperation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:51:16

Amara Raja to Double Telecom Lithium Storage Deployments in India to 2 GWh by 2026 Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd., a major Indian maker of industrial and automotive batteries, said on April 21 it plans to double cumulative deployments of lithium energy storage systems in the telecommunications sector to 2 gigawatt-hours by the end of 2026. The company said cumulative installations have already exceeded 1 gigawatt-hour, with systems deployed at 50,000 telecom sites nationwide as India’s energy transition accelerates. In a statement, the company said energy storage is becoming “core infrastructure” for India’s shift in energy use. Amara Raja said demand for high-performance storage products is rising domestically as fifth-generation, or 5G, mobile networks and data centers expand, and it is aiming to reach the 2 gigawatt-hour target by late 2026. It identified data centers and broader industrial uses as its next growth areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:46:01

Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back touts military reading program tied to national campaign The Ministry of National Defense said on the 23rd it will launch a barracks reading initiative called the “One Gun, One Book (a gun in one hand, a book in the other)” project, linked to the nationwide “2026 Reading Korea Campaign.” The phrase combines “gun,” symbolizing the military’s core mission, with “book,” representing knowledge, culture and preparation for the future. The ministry said the goal is to help about 205,000 young people who enlist each year use their service not only to fulfill national defense duties but also to grow through reading. Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back said service members will be supported so they can “explore their dreams and career paths through intense and steady reading” and turn their time in uniform into “a period of intellectual growth to plan for the future,” rather than a pause in life. Starting in the second half of this year, the ministry will encourage new recruits to bring one book when they enter basic training — either a personal “life book” or a “tomorrow book” they want to read — to help spark motivation. It also plans to offer reading coaching by professional instructors and provide rewards, including one day of leave, for writing book reports to create a sense of achievement. The ministry has also been running a tailored e-book support program since February, providing 128,000 won for book purchases over a service member’s full term of service. Ahn also plans to lead reading lectures for commanders and add reading-coaching instruction to command and management courses for midlevel and senior officers, the ministry said, aiming to have commanders drive a reading culture in units. “Because even what is not in books can come through people in a deeply felt way, reading is the best way to awaken a commander’s spirit and gain major insight,” Ahn said. He added that classics “wake up a sleeping brain,” while bestsellers can leave a deep impression, and said the two should be read in balance for their meaning to be fully absorbed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:45:15

Director Maggie Kang Signs Exclusive Deal With The Present Company, Expands Korea Work Maggie Kang has signed an exclusive contract with The Present Company. The Present Company said on 23 that it plans to develop a range of projects with Kang based in South Korea and that it expects strong synergy with a director known for creativity and a global sensibility. The company added that Kang is a symbolic figure who has demonstrated the global potential of Korean content and will continue that work as a creator representing South Korea. Kang, a Korean Canadian director born in South Korea and raised in Canada, began her career as a story artist at global studios. She later drew worldwide attention directing Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” The title has surpassed 500 million cumulative streams, delivering one of Netflix’s top-level performances, and also earned international recognition, including two wins at the 98th Academy Awards and the feature animation prize at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. Kang has also been noted for stylish visuals and fine detail, expanding her influence into fashion, including appearing on magazine covers and establishing herself as an artist watched by high-end brands. “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which blends K-pop with a Korean-inspired universe, has been credited with helping set a new trend in the global content market. Kang received the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of her contribution to expanding Korean content. The Present Company is a management agency representing actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Shin Se-kyung, Kim Seol-hyun and Park So-dam. Ahn previously connected with Kang by participating in “K-Pop Demon Hunters” as a voice actor. Kang plans to broaden her work with The Present Company with South Korea as her base while continuing overseas activities in partnership with global agency UTA.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:42:16

Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung inspects crackdown on illegal stream facilities in Seoul Insu Stream in Seoul’s Gangbuk district has long been packed during peak outing season, with platforms crowded by visitors and sunshades strung overhead, leaving the waterway constricted and the valley effectively turned into a commercial space. On the morning of the 23rd, Yoon Ho-jung, South Korea’s minister of the interior and safety, visited the Insu Stream area in Ui-dong. The scene had changed, but the cleanup was not finished. Yoon looked toward sections still being dismantled: where platforms and tents had been removed, marks remained from fixtures wedged between rocks, and some exposed concrete was still visible. Officials said most illegal facilities such as tents and platforms had been taken out, but remaining structures and incomplete streambed restoration varied by section. No workers or heavy equipment were seen at the time, underscoring that work completed and work still pending existed side by side. As Yoon walked downstream, he listened to a briefing from Kim Yong-gyun, head of the ministry’s Natural Disaster Management Office. “Major illegal temporary facilities are being removed, and we are now removing remaining structures while restoring the streambed,” Kim said. “Is it cleaned up to here?” Yoon asked. After being told progress differed by section and additional removal was planned, Yoon nodded. “If traces remain, (illegal facilities) will come back,” he said. The work is part of the ministry’s policy to eradicate illegal activity along rivers and valley streams. Targets include not only illegal facilities such as tents and platforms, but also illegal buildings and structures in development-restricted zones, aiming to break repeated patterns of occupation. According to Gangbuk-gu, 15 restaurants and three lodging businesses operate near Insu Stream. A recent full inspection found 10 cases of illegal activity. Illegal occupation facilities, centered on platforms and tents, totaled 305 cases; eight sites had repeated the same conduct in the past. The district said it has completed corrective work at one site and is pursuing administrative measures at seven. The remaining two will undergo surveying to determine whether violations occurred. Farther downstream, the changes were clearer. Areas once crowded with platforms were more open, though some concrete debris remained. “There’s still some left here,” Yoon said, and officials replied that removal of remaining structures would continue. Along the stream, a deck walkway came into view. Some sections were already installed, with additional construction planned. Yoon stopped to look it over. “This is how the space needs to be organized,” he said. Officials described the deck as more than a path: it is intended to clearly designate the cleared area for public use and to block illegal temporary structures from returning. During the walk, officials also outlined follow-up management steps, including plans to install CCTV and conduct drone inspections. Yoon stressed that enforcement alone was not enough. “It can’t end with a crackdown,” he said. After looking over the stream, rocks and remaining signs of work at the site where merchants and business facilities had been removed, Yoon said the area must stay as it is. “This condition has to be maintained. People must be made to understand that the losses from demolition and fines are greater than the profits gained through illegal activity,” he said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:36:23

Saikyo Bank Opens First Overseas Unit in Indonesia to Boost Hiring Support Saikyo Bank said April 21 that it has established a local subsidiary in Jakarta, Indonesia, called Saikyo Consulting Indonesia. It is the bank’s first overseas entity and will support client companies’ recruitment of Indonesian talent and their expansion into the country. The subsidiary was set up April 17 with capital of 2.749 billion rupiah (about 25 million yen) and is wholly owned by the Saikyo Bank group. Through the local unit, the bank plans to strengthen support for hiring in Indonesia, including highly skilled workers. It will also expand consulting aimed at developing key personnel and helping clients move overseas. A bank official told NNA the group plans to partner with three Indonesian universities by the end of September to bolster support for recruiting highly skilled talent. The bank began consulting services in April 2024 to help companies recruit Indonesian workers and enter the market, and has served more than 30 firms so far. In Yamaguchi Prefecture, labor shortages have worsened due to a declining birthrate, an aging population and young people moving to the Tokyo area, prompting the bank to deepen ties with Indonesia, which has a large population and is expected to keep growing as a market.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:32:48

Daewoo E&C Opens 2026 First-Half Hiring for Entry-Level Employees Daewoo Engineering & Construction has opened public recruitment for entry-level employees for the first half of 2026, the company said on the 23rd, citing efforts to strengthen organizational competitiveness and lay the groundwork for future growth. Applications will be accepted from the 23rd through May 6 on the company’s recruitment website. Openings are in architecture, civil engineering, plant and nuclear power, and safety. The company plans to hire more than about 70 people. The hiring is tied to an organizational overhaul aligned with the Czech nuclear power project and the company’s push to expand overseas nuclear markets, including Vietnam and the United States. It also aims to secure staff for major infrastructure projects such as the new Gadeokdo airport and the GTX-B private investment project. Applicants must have graduated from a four-year university or higher, or be expected to graduate in August 2026. The process includes a written test in May, followed by first- and second-round interviews in June. Final hires are expected to start work in July 2026. “As our business portfolio diversifies and our global footprint expands, securing talent is becoming more important,” a Daewoo E&C official said. “We will continue to develop people who can raise competitiveness across all business areas, including housing as well as civil engineering and plant projects.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:31:56

Joo Ho-young Says He Won’t Run in Daegu Mayor Race After PPP Cutoff Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut from the People Power Party’s primary for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, said Wednesday he will not run in the race. Speaking at a news conference at the National Assembly, Joo said, “I have decided not to run in this June 3 local election.” He also voiced disappointment over a court decision the previous day rejecting his appeal of an injunction request to suspend the cutoff’s effect. Joo said the court “cowardly stepped back behind the words that this is an internal party matter and that party autonomy should be respected,” adding it “stopped short at a chance to draw a clear line against the abuses of nominations.” Joo sharply criticized the party’s decision as well. “This cutoff will remain a wrong example for a long time,” he said. He accused the leadership of removing a candidate with strong chances of winning and filling the field with “uncompetitive candidates” favored by party leaders, then telling citizens to accept the outcome. He said major conservative election defeats stemmed from “botched nominations” and ultimately led to the impeachments of presidents from the party. Despite his efforts to break what he called a cycle of conservative failure, he said, he did not succeed in changing what he described as the People Power Party’s flawed nomination structure. In closing, he took aim at party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, quoting a saying that those with “no character but high position, little wisdom but big dreams” rarely avoid disaster. “Please know when to step forward and when to step back,” Joo said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:31:23