Samsung Electronics Non-Semiconductor Union Stages Surprise Protest Samsung Electronics' non-semiconductor division union staged a surprise protest outside the Central Labor Relations Commission on May 18, opposing the wage negotiations that are heavily focused on the semiconductor (DS) sector. They also made a novel demand for the distribution of performance bonuses to partner companies.According to industry sources, the Donghaeng Union of Samsung Electronics and the Suwon branch of the National Samsung Electronics Union held a separate demonstration in front of the commission during the wage negotiation post-adjustment meeting. They distributed materials outlining the 'six key demands of DX division workers' and called for the inclusion of additional agenda items for DX division members.The demands include: securing a system for performance bonuses amounting to 15% of operating profit, ensuring common resources for the entire company, and enhancing transparency in the criteria for executive bonuses.Notably, the demand for distributing performance bonuses to partner companies drew attention. The unions stated, "We must secure 15% of operating profit for performance bonuses, with some allocated as common resources for the entire company and some for performance bonuses for partner companies to realize shared value." This marks the first time Samsung Electronics' union has officially mentioned the need for bonus distribution to partner firms during the ongoing bonus conflict.Internally, there are interpretations that this movement is a response to recent criticisms of the inter-company union's total strike phase being labeled as 'selfishness of regular unions.'The Donghaeng Union and the Suwon branch are currently protesting that the wage negotiation structure is primarily focused on the DS sector. They argued, "The inter-company union leading the representative negotiations is solely fixated on the DS sector's performance bonus discussions, continuously excluding key issues for the DX division. The performance bonus resources should reflect the overall value of Samsung Electronics without sector discrimination."However, there is a prevailing view that the likelihood of these demands being adopted as actual post-adjustment agenda items is low. Nonetheless, the public expression of discontent among DX division members is intensifying the internal 'union conflict' at Samsung Electronics.Previously, the Donghaeng Union, primarily composed of DX members, notified the inter-company union and the National Samsung Electronics Union on May 4 of their withdrawal from the joint negotiation team, which had been formed for wage negotiations last November. This marks a visible fracture between the unions after about six months of collaboration. The Donghaeng Union, with over 2,300 members, reportedly has about 70% of its members working in the DX division, which includes TV, home appliances, and mobile sectors.In their official statement at that time, the union criticized, "Despite our proposals and requests for the rights of all members, both unions have not responded. There have been ongoing attacks and derogatory remarks against our union, including malicious labeling as a 'yellow union.'"* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:14:01

Democratic Party at 45.8% and People Power Party at 33.5%: Gap Narrows A recent poll indicates that the support gap between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party has narrowed. The Democratic Party's support dropped by 2.9 percentage points, while the People Power Party saw an increase of 2.6 percentage points. This shift suggests that some supporters of the Democratic Party may have shifted to the People Power Party. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy Newspaper from May 14 to 15, involving 1,003 eligible voters aged 18 and older (with a response rate of 3.7%), the Democratic Party received 45.8% support, while the People Power Party garnered 33.5%. The gap between the two parties decreased from 17.8 percentage points last week to 12.3 percentage points, a reduction of 5.5 percentage points. Regionally, the Democratic Party experienced the largest decline in support in Gwangju and Jeolla, falling 14.3 percentage points to 57.2%. In Seoul, support dropped by 5.2 percentage points to 39.8%, and in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong, it fell by 5.0 percentage points to 48.2%. Conversely, in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, support rose by 6.9 percentage points to 37.3%. The People Power Party recorded a 7.4 percentage point increase in Gwangju and Jeolla, surpassing the 20% mark with 20.7%. In Seoul, support rose by 5.1 percentage points to 37.9%, and in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong, it increased by 3.9 percentage points to 35.3%. However, in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, support decreased by 1.2 percentage points to 48.5%. By age group, the Democratic Party had its highest support among those in their 50s at 59.9%. This was followed by 51.3% among those in their 60s, 45.3% among those in their 40s, 42.1% among those aged 70 and older, 37.9% among those in their 30s, and 21.0% among those aged 18 to 29. Notably, support among the 18 to 29 age group fell by 10.4 percentage points, marking the largest decline. The People Power Party showed strength among those aged 70 and older and those aged 18 to 29, with support at 45.8% and 44.6%, respectively. Support among those in their 30s was 35.2%, 30.7% among those in their 60s, 25.9% among those in their 40s, and 22.9% among those in their 50s. Compared to the previous week, support among those in their 30s rose by 9.8 percentage points, and by 7.3 percentage points among those in their 40s. In terms of ideological orientation, the Democratic Party received 79.2% support from the progressive group, 47.0% from the moderate group, and 18.8% from the conservative group. The People Power Party garnered 63.1% support from conservatives, 28.9% from moderates, and 8.0% from progressives. Realmeter attributed the decline in support for the Democratic Party to comments regarding national dividends that sparked ideological controversy, leading to a loss of support among conservatives and moderates. Additionally, issues surrounding candidate nominations in the Gwangju and Jeolla regions and internal party divisions have exacerbated the loss of support. Conversely, the People Power Party's rise in support is attributed to the resolution of conflicts over local election nominations and the launch of its central campaign committee, which has strengthened its appeal among conservative voters. This party support survey was conducted using a 100% automated response method. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more details, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Committee's website.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:11:59

Korea's Proposed Nuclear Decommissioning Standards May Set Global Benchmark Amid rising global demand for nuclear decommissioning, South Korea's proposed standards for the process are gaining traction as potential international benchmarks. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on May 18 that South Korea's 'nuclear decommissioning' standard, the first of its kind, has received approval as a new work item standard (NP) from nine member countries, including the United States, China, and Japan, at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in June 2023. This approval follows over three years of discussions within the Technical Committee 85 (Nuclear). The standard encompasses general requirements applicable throughout the entire nuclear decommissioning process, from defining key terms to planning, execution, and management. South Korea aims to finalize the international standard (IS) by December 2027, having begun to gather input from various countries. The global nuclear decommissioning market is on the rise, with industry experts predicting that over 400 to 600 reactors worldwide will enter the decommissioning phase by 2050. The market size is estimated to reach approximately 500 trillion won. However, only a few countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and France, have commercial nuclear decommissioning experience, indicating a high barrier to entry due to the complexities involved in handling radioactive waste, contamination removal, radiation safety management, and site restoration. Should South Korea's proposed decommissioning procedures and technologies be recognized as global standards, it could enhance the influence of the Korean model in the international nuclear decommissioning market. The National Standards Agency plans to sequentially develop nine international standards addressing detailed technologies related to radioactive contamination removal and disposal, waste management, and site restoration. Notably, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will participate in this standardization effort to ensure alignment with international nuclear safety standards. This collaboration is expected to position South Korea's leadership in establishing international standards that could serve as practical benchmarks for the global nuclear decommissioning industry. Kim Dae-ja, head of the National Standards Agency, stated, "The establishment of this standard marks a significant advancement for our country in leading international standards in the nuclear decommissioning field. We will also take the lead in establishing de facto standards through organizations like ISO and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) to support the export competitiveness of K-nuclear."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:09:42

Yeo Han-goo: Accelerating Ongoing Trade Negotiations for Swift Results Yeo Han-goo, head of the Trade Negotiation Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated on May 18 that in light of the ongoing uncertainties in the global trade environment and the expanding protectionist measures by major countries, it is essential to accelerate ongoing trade agreement negotiations to achieve prompt results for South Korean companies' stable market access. Yeo made these remarks during the 56th Trade Promotion Committee meeting held at the Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry, attended by relevant government departments. He emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the government and industry to proactively respond to these challenges. The meeting addressed several key topics, including the current trends in World Trade Organization (WTO) discussions and future responses, the status of European Union (EU) steel measures and response plans, updates on recent trade agreement negotiations, and plans for consultations related to Section 301 of the Trade Act with the United States. Participants analyzed the domestic impacts following the failure to reach an agreement on the extension of the e-commerce moratorium and the TRIPS moratorium during the recent 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC-14) and General Council meetings. The e-commerce moratorium maintains a duty-free practice for electronic transmissions, while the TRIPS moratorium postpones disputes regarding non-violation situations under intellectual property agreements. Previously, Yeo had discussed the moratorium extension at the WTO MC-14 held in Cameroon from March 26 to 30. However, due to opposition from some member countries, the agreement was not finalized. The Ministry expressed regret over the failure to extend the moratorium during the WTO General Council meeting held in Geneva on June 6-7. The government plans to collaborate with like-minded countries to push for the moratorium extension and actively participate in discussions on WTO reforms. Additionally, the meeting reviewed recent developments regarding the EU's steel measures and discussed cooperation plans. It also assessed the progress of major trade agreements, including the Korea-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Korea-Mongolia CEPA, aiming to achieve results within the year. Furthermore, updates were shared regarding the ongoing Section 301 investigation by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Yeo stated, "We will actively take on a leadership role that matches our country's status, which has grown through free trade, in the discussions on restoring the WTO and multilateral systems. We will do our utmost to secure a stable trade environment for our companies and maximize national interests by utilizing various channels, including the WTO, trade agreements, and bilateral consultations."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:07:56

KOSPI Reclaims 7500 Mark Amid Heavy Buying by Individual Investors The KOSPI index has reclaimed the 7500 mark, bolstered by significant buying from individual investors despite a sell-off by foreign investors. In contrast, the KOSDAQ index is experiencing a decline of over 2%, primarily driven by weakness in biotech and robotics stocks. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:50 a.m. on May 18, the KOSPI rose by 18.83 points (0.25%) to reach 7512.01. Earlier in the session, it had dipped below 7200 but rebounded thanks to strong buying from individual investors, who recorded a net purchase of 1.6191 trillion won. Meanwhile, foreign investors sold off 1.7513 trillion won, while institutional investors made a net purchase of 85.2 billion won. Among the top stocks by market capitalization on the KOSPI, the performance was mixed. Semiconductor and IT-related stocks like Samsung Electronics (up 4.25%), Samsung Electronics Preferred (up 2.29%), SK Hynix (up 1.76%), and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (up 0.79%) showed strength. Conversely, stocks such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (down 4.38%), Hyundai Motor (down 4.14%), LG Energy Solution (down 2.52%), Samsung Biologics (down 2.04%), Doosan Enerbility (down 1.99%), and SK Square (down 1.37%) faced declines. The KOSDAQ index, at the same time, recorded a drop of 23.05 points (-2.04%), settling at 1106.77. In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors made a net purchase of 39.2 billion won, but individual and institutional investors sold off 10.2 billion won and 48 billion won, respectively, contributing to the index's downward trend. Most of the top stocks by market capitalization on the KOSDAQ are also in decline. Stocks such as Rainbow Robotics (down 6.79%), ABL Bio (down 6.87%), Samchundang Pharm (down 5.93%), Alteogen (down 3.93%), Kolon TissueGene (down 3.23%), and HLB (down 3.08%) are experiencing losses. However, JUSUNG Engineering saw a significant surge of 29.96%, while EcoPro BM (up 1.39%) and Rino Technology (up 1.39%) showed slight gains. 2026-05-18 13:05:38

LS Electric Secures $70 Million Power Equipment Contract for Major U.S. Data Center LS Electric announced on May 18 that it has signed a supply contract worth approximately $70 million (about 105 billion won) for power distribution equipment to be used in a large data center operated by a major tech company in the United States.With this contract, LS Electric will provide essential high-end power equipment, including vacuum circuit breakers (VCB), to the core power network of the data center. The company has garnered strong trust from global tech giants, which is seen as a significant achievement.In the highly competitive U.S. power distribution market, LS Electric has established itself as a major player, recognized for its exceptional technology, quality, and commitment to timely delivery.Recently, the U.S. market has seen a surge in investments in large-scale data centers and power infrastructure, dispelling concerns about an 'AI bubble' and supporting the expansion of practical artificial intelligence (AI) services.Riding this market trend, LS Electric expects to secure additional large contracts based on its overwhelming technological capabilities.The company recently signed a $220 million (about 319 billion won) supply contract for power distribution solutions with Bloom Energy. This agreement will allow LS Electric to participate in the construction of power infrastructure for a major hyperscale data center being developed in New Mexico.Last month, LS Electric also entered into a $114.97 million (about 170.3 billion won) sales and supply contract with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide switchgear and distribution transformers for a hyperscale data center being built by AWS.LS Electric plans to actively target the booming North American power infrastructure market by enhancing its localized power solutions and expanding its market share through aggressive sales efforts.An LS Electric official stated, "This contract reflects our strong trust as a major player in the North American market, combining both technological prowess and brand power. Based on our recent large contract successes, we aim to solidify our position as a global leader in the rapidly growing North American power infrastructure market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:04:23

Kim Jong Un Orders Strengthening of Frontline Troops Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, has directed the strengthening of frontline troops stationed along the southern border. On May 18, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim convened a meeting of division and brigade commanders at the Party's Central Committee headquarters the previous day to discuss a series of "important military issues." During the meeting, Kim emphasized the need to reinforce the first-line units guarding the "southern border" and transform the border into an impregnable fortress, in line with the Party's territorial defense policy. He also announced plans to reorganize military structures as a "critical decision" to ensure a more thorough deterrence against war. Additionally, he outlined strategies to enhance the military capabilities of key units, including the first-line troops. Kim stated, "We will establish organizational measures to renew our military in terms of military structure and technology," highlighting the responsibilities and roles of commanders in this effort. Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, noted that the directive to make the border an impregnable fortress likely reflects pressure on field commanders to strengthen physical barriers and isolation from South Korea, including the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons and new artillery forces. Kim further stressed the need to redefine operational concepts across all domains to match the rapid modernization of military equipment and to expedite plans for practical training. He instructed commanders that training for combat readiness is the military's primary duty, urging them to adjust training systems in line with the evolving nature of modern warfare and the development of the military. Kim asserted, "We are building a powerful military," and stated that the tasks outlined in the upcoming five-year plan will significantly enhance the military's strategic readiness and deterrence capabilities compared to the present. Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted that this is the first report of a meeting of division and brigade commanders since Kim took power, suggesting it conveys the leader's commitment and plans for implementing modern training and weaponry over the next five years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-18 13:02:25

NOWZ wins ASEA Hot Trend award for second straight year SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - K-pop boy band NOWZ won the Hot Trend award for the second consecutive year at the 2026 Asia Star Entertainer Awards (ASEN) held Saturday in Japan, the group's agency Cube Entertainment said Monday. The five-member act — Hyunbin, Yoon, Yeonwoo, Jinhyuk and Siyun — received the award during the ceremony at Belluna Dome in Saitama. Formerly known as NOWADAYS, NOWZ debuted in April 2024 as Cube Entertainment's first new boy group in eight years. The group changed its name to NOWZ last year and has since been expanding its activities in Japan and other Asian markets. Accepting the award, NOWZ thanked its fans, known as DayN, and agency staff, saying the group would continue to connect with audiences through future activities. NOWZ opened the ceremony with a medley of songs by senior Cube Entertainment artists — BEAST's "Fiction," BTOB's "I'll Be Your Man," i-dle's "TOMBOY" and Pentagon's "Shine" before performing "EVERGLOW," the title track from its first mini album "IGNITION" released last year, and "AMMO," a lead track from its first Japanese EP "NOWZ" released in March. NOWZ has recently expanded its activities in Japan through appearances on local platforms and broadcasters, including ABEMA and TV Tokyo. The group also released the digital single "Our Beginning," produced by group's leader Hyunbin. 2026-05-18 12:57:11

aespa to release second full-length album 'LEMONADE' on May 29 SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - K-pop girl band aespa will release its second full-length album "LEMONADE" on May 29, SM Entertainment said Monday. The 11-track album, which includes the title track "LEMONADE," the prerelease single "WDA (Whole Different Animal) (Feat. G-DRAGON)" and a featured version of "LEMONADE," will be released at 1 p.m. (0400 GMT) through major streaming platforms and as a physical copy. aespa — consisting of Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning — debuted in 2020 with "Black Mamba" and is known for its AI avatar and metaverse-themed concept, as well as hits including "Next Level," "Savage," "Spicy” and "Drama." LEMONADE is an electronic dance track built around a heavy synth bass sound. Its lyrics draw on the phrase “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” using the metaphor to express turning hardship into opportunity. The group previewed the album through music video and concept photo teasers for “WDA,” emphasizing a darker visual direction and hip-hop-based performance style. SM Entertainment said the title track will show a contrasting side of aespa and mark a new chapter in the group’s fictional universe. 2026-05-18 12:56:56

DAY6 to hold three KSPO Dome concerts for 10th anniversary tour finale SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - K-pop band DAY6 will hold three concerts at KSPO Dome in July as the finale of its 10th anniversary tour, JYP Entertainment said Monday. The four-member group — Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon — will stage "DAY6 10th Anniversary Tour FINALE in SEOUL" from July 3 to 5 at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa District. The concerts will close out the group's 10th anniversary tour, which launched at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province in August 2025 and spanned 27 shows across 16 cities in South Korea and abroad. The domestic leg of the tour, which ran from February through May, included stops in Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Busan. DAY6 debuted under JYP Entertainment in 2015 and has built a strong following with self-written pop-rock songs built around band performance and emotionally direct lyrics. The group has steadily expanded its concert footprint in South Korea, selling out venues including Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Inspire Arena and Gocheok Sky Dome — which the group became the first K-pop band to headline — before drawing 80,000 fans across two sold-out shows at Goyang Stadium last August as part of the current tour. The upcoming finale concerts will mark DAY6's third appearance at KSPO Dome in a little over a year. The band previously performed at the venue in May 2025 for the finale of its third world tour and returned in December for its special concert "The Present." The group is scheduled to continue the tour in Kobe, Japan, on June 20 and 21 before returning to Seoul for the finale. Further details on ticket sales will be announced through the group's official social media channels at a later date. 2026-05-18 12:56:25