Polled Shares Surge 300% on First Day of KOSDAQ Listing Shares of Polled, a company specializing in baby products and hygiene items, experienced a remarkable 300% increase on their first day of trading on the KOSDAQ. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 10:04 a.m. on May 14, Polled's stock was trading at 20,000 won, up 15,000 won from the initial public offering price of 5,000 won. Polled originated as an internal venture of Hyundai Motor Company and was established as a separate entity in 2019. The company has rapidly grown, focusing on premium baby electronics and living products, including its AIRLUV ventilation and heating sheets, as well as brands like Pixel, Franklin, Yufang, and Baby Brezza. Notably, AIRLUV has gained significant recognition both domestically and internationally, surpassing cumulative sales of 1 million units and establishing itself as a leading export brand in the K-baby product sector. Additionally, Polled's key product lines, including Pixel, Yufang, and Baby Brezza, have seen a steady increase in overseas sales due to growing global demand. Polled recorded a high subscription rate of 3,169.86 to 1 during the public offering for individual investors held from May 4 to 6, attracting approximately 5.2 trillion won in subscription deposits. Institutional investors also showed strong interest, with 2,372 institutions participating and a competition ratio of about 1,486.66 to 1. The offering price was set at 5,000 won, raising a total of 13 billion won, with NH Investment & Securities acting as the listing underwriter. For the previous year, Polled reported consolidated revenues of 79.933 billion won and an operating profit of 10.425 billion won. The company plans to utilize the funds raised from the IPO for research and development (R&D) operations and strategic investments to strengthen its long-term growth foundation, including the establishment of logistics centers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:38:15

Jung Won-oh Registers as Candidate for Seoul Mayor, Promises Administrative Efficiency Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party candidate for the Seoul mayoral election, completed his candidate registration on May 14. He announced that he registered through a representative at the Seoul Election Commission in Jongno District that morning. After the registration, Jung posted on Facebook, stating, "While I wrote 'Jung Won-oh' on the documents, I believe I wrote it on behalf of the 9.3 million citizens of Seoul." He emphasized the need for a change in the mayor of Seoul to align with the Lee Jae-myung administration. Jung said, "To ensure that the capable Lee Jae-myung administration can work effectively with local governments, we must replace the local government's capabilities." Drawing from his achievements as the head of Seongdong District, he expressed his commitment to transforming Seoul. Jung stated, "I will carry forward the achievements of Seongdong, which created a sense of administrative efficiency for citizens, into changes for Seoul. I will judge the incompetence of Oh Se-hoon’s decade-long administration, which ended up being a mere flash in the pan, and alleviate the citizens' fatigue."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:37:06

Samyang Foods Shares Surge Following Record Q1 Earnings Samyang Foods is experiencing strong gains in early trading after reporting record first-quarter earnings that exceeded market expectations. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:47 a.m. on May 14, Samyang Foods shares rose by 104,000 won (8.03%) to 1,399,000 won. At one point shortly after the market opened, the stock surged by as much as 13.75% to reach 1,473,000 won. The surge is attributed to the company’s impressive first-quarter performance, which was announced after the market closed the previous day. Samyang Foods reported consolidated sales of 714.4 billion won and an operating profit of 177.1 billion won for the first quarter of this year. These figures represent increases of 35% and 32%, respectively, compared to the same period last year, marking the highest quarterly results in the company’s history. Analysts are also taking note of the strong performance and growth in international markets, leading to upward revisions of target prices. Hyundai Motor Securities maintained a “buy” rating for Samyang Foods, stating, "With global demand remaining robust, we expect growth from the recovery of U.S. inventories in the second quarter, the expansion of marketing efforts, visible recovery in exports to China, and accelerating growth in Europe." They raised their target price from 1.8 million won to 1.9 million won. Daol Investment & Securities echoed this sentiment, noting, "We have confirmed strong demand, and expectations for increased export volumes have grown," and adjusted their target price upward from 1.7 million won to 1.9 million won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:34:54

Ruling Party Criticizes Opposition's Allegations Against Seoul Mayor Candidate The Democratic Party has criticized the People Power Party for raising allegations of assault against Jeong Won-o, the party's candidate for Seoul mayor, calling the claims excessive smear tactics. Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, spoke to reporters at the National Assembly on May 14, stating, "The People Power Party is making absurd claims regarding an incident from 1995." Kang further noted, "Articles from that time indicate that the dispute arose from differing views on the May 18 Democratic Uprising," emphasizing that there is solid evidence supporting this. He accused the People Power Party of spreading false information and causing confusion among the public through reckless smear campaigns. Regarding the assault allegations made by Kim Jae-seop, a member of the People Power Party, Kang stated that the Democratic Party has filed a complaint and urged, "We must accurately determine whether these claims are true or false before making statements." He added that the party intends to respond strongly to any false information or fake news at the central party level. Meanwhile, Kim held a press conference the previous day, claiming that Jeong's past assault and obstruction of official duties stemmed from an incident where he was denied a night out with a female employee, labeling Jeong as an 'assault suspect.' In response, Jeong's camp released court documents and media reports from that time, arguing that Kim's claims are merely one-sided assertions. However, the controversy continues as Jeong did not directly address the allegations during a press conference held on the same day at the National Assembly.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:34:02

N. Korea, Viet Nam agree to deepen exchanges, strategic communication at foreign ministers' talks SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - North Korea and Vietnam have agreed to deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation across various fields during talks between their foreign ministers in Pyongyang, the North's state media reported Thursday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the country's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui held talks Wednesday at the Mansudae Assembly Hall with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung, who visited Pyongyang as a special envoy of Tô Lâm, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the country's president. During the meeting, Choe recalled the summit held in Pyongyang in October last year and reaffirmed Pyongyang's commitment to "developing the traditional -Vietnam friendship and cooperative relations in line with the aspirations and wishes of the peoples of the two countries," KCNA said. Trung responded that Vietnam has consistently attached importance to strengthening friendly and cooperative ties with North Korea and has paid "deep attention" to advancing bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to further expand exchanges and cooperation in multiple sectors and strengthen strategic communication and mutual support between their foreign policy institutions, the report said. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues. Kim Song-nam, director of the international department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, also met with Trung the same day to discuss ways to strengthen party-to-party ties. Kim said the Workers' Party would further enhance exchanges and cooperation with the Communist Party of Vietnam, while Trung reaffirmed Hanoi's "steadfast position" to elevate the firmly established Vietnam-North Korea friendship. The two sides discussed strengthening political ties between the two ruling parties and reached a consensus on issues of mutual concern, KCNA said. North Korea's foreign ministry hosted a reception banquet for the Vietnamese delegation later in the evening. The visit by the Vietnamese envoy comes as bilateral relations have gained momentum since Lâm visited Pyongyang in October last year and held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, marking the first visit to the North by a Vietnamese top leader in 18 years. The trip also comes after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung paid a state visit to Vietnam from April 21-24, raising attention over the possibility that Viet Nam could play a mediating role between the two Koreas. Lâm visited South Korea in August last year as the first state guest of the Lee administration, while Lee became the first foreign leader to make a state visit to Viet Nam following his inauguration in June last year. 2026-05-14 11:32:51

Han Byeong-do Appeals for Support for Democratic Party Candidates in Local Elections Han Byeong-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, called on May 14 for support of the party's candidates in the upcoming June 3 local elections, stating that they are the best choice to revitalize local areas and normalize South Korea alongside the Lee Jae-myung administration. He also criticized Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, for his continuous negative remarks about government policies. During a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, Han emphasized the need to create effective local governments through the elections, asserting, "All Democratic candidates are capable of performing well. Strong local governments are essential for the well-being of communities and citizens." He further remarked, "Local power backed by Yoon Suk-yeol has been synonymous with incompetence and irresponsibility for the past four years," reiterating that the Democratic Party's capable candidates are the optimal choice for revitalizing local areas and normalizing South Korea. Han also directed his criticism at Jang, who has recently expressed negative views on government policies, including support funds for high oil prices, via Facebook. He stated, "It is hard to believe he is the leader of a political party." "It seems that Jang is feeling rushed these days. He has been making reckless remarks that are hard to believe for someone in his position," Han said, pointing out Jang's claim that the support funds for high oil prices are merely for electoral purposes. "Can he not see the citizens struggling with high prices and the prolonged conflict in the Middle East that has led to soaring oil prices?" Han criticized Jang for belittling Democratic candidates as 'pick of the Gaetdal' and accused him of engaging in irresponsible obstructionism, slander, and smear campaigns against Lee Jae-myung. He concluded, "The Democratic Party will earn the people's choice solely based on our capabilities and vision. I hope the People Power Party can regain its composure."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:29:44

Democratic Party Urges Ulsan Mayoral Candidate Unification by May 15 The Democratic Party announced on May 14 that it is preferable to finalize the unification of candidates for the Ulsan mayoral election by the registration deadline of May 15. Kang Jun-hyun, the party's chief spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly that having the names of withdrawn candidates on the ballot could confuse voters. He added that discussions about unification are ongoing, with regular communication occurring at the provincial party level, including meetings with the Progressive Party. He expressed optimism that a conclusion could be reached today or tomorrow. Currently, the Ulsan mayoral race includes Kim Sang-wook from the Democratic Party, Kim Jong-hoon from the Progressive Party, and Hwang Myung-pil from the Justice Party, who are all working towards a consensus on unification. Negotiations at the party level are also progressing positively. However, Kang was cautious regarding unification efforts for the Pyeongtaek by-election, emphasizing that the willingness of the candidates is the most crucial factor. In the Pyeongtaek by-election, tensions have been rising between Kim Yong-nam from the Democratic Party and Jo Guk, the leader of the Justice Party. With a multi-candidate scenario emerging, including the announcement of candidacy by Kim Jae-yeon, the chair of the Progressive Party, there are concerns that failure to unify could disadvantage progressive candidates. Additionally, when asked about the recent rise of the People Power Party candidates in the Yeongnam region, Kang noted that the distortion of public opinion polls in the area may have contributed, mentioning that some polls have given a 20% weight to landline surveys.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:28:38

Jang Dong-hyuk Criticizes National Dividend Proposal as Gangster Mentality Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, criticized the national dividend proposal mentioned by Kim Yong-beom, head of the Presidential Policy Office, stating, "The idea of taking money as if it were theirs while constantly obstructing is a typical gangster mentality." During a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Jang remarked, "Kim's national dividend is the true intention of Lee Jae-myung," adding, "Whether it’s excess profits or excess tax revenue, it’s not money earned by Lee Jae-myung." He continued, "The reality of a strike at Samsung Electronics, which could lead to losses in the tens of trillions of won, is approaching. Yet, Lee Jae-myung is only interested in collecting money," asserting that "Lee and the Democratic Party have no right to take advantage of this situation. While Samsung and SK Hynix are thriving now, just three to four years ago, they recorded massive losses due to a global semiconductor downturn." Jang further stated, "When our party pushed for the K-Chips Law to save the semiconductor industry, the Democratic Party vehemently opposed it, claiming it was a favor to conglomerates. If our party hadn't worked tirelessly to pass the K-Chips Law, we wouldn't be able to ride the current semiconductor supercycle." He also pointed out, "It’s not just semiconductors. The Democratic Party has always opposed future investments like nuclear power. If the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out had succeeded, would we be experiencing the current semiconductor boom? They are still opposing the 52-hour workweek exception for semiconductor R&D." Jang criticized, "The money Lee Jae-myung is distributing to gain support and buy votes will ultimately become debt that future generations will have to repay," noting that "Lee's rapid increase in debt has pushed national liabilities over 1,300 trillion won. It’s not an exaggeration to call it a debt supercycle." He concluded, "If excess tax revenue arises, we must pay off debt first. We should not deceive the public with the absurd argument that fiscal austerity is populism. Instead of wasting time on the national dividend, I hope they focus on preventing the Samsung Electronics strike."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:26:48

'Michael' Tops Box Office on Opening Day with 100,000 Viewers On its opening day, the film 'Michael' secured the top spot at the box office.According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing system, 'Michael,' which premiered the previous day, attracted 99,903 viewers, making it the number one film. The cumulative audience count stands at 118,493.'Michael' depicts the journey of Michael Jackson, who astonished the world with his innate musical talent and rose to become the King of Pop. The film, featuring legendary music and performances, drew audiences from its first day of release.In second place at the box office is 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' which was viewed by 29,970 people during the same period, bringing its total audience to 1,299,742.The Korean film 'Salmon' maintained its position in third place with 16,444 viewers, accumulating a total of 3,067,181. Even in its sixth week of release, it continues to perform well at the box office.To celebrate surpassing 3 million viewers, 'Salmon' is hosting a special promotion in collaboration with Lotte Cinema, offering tickets for 300 won. Audiences can download promotional coupons from the Lotte Cinema website and app to purchase tickets for the Culture Day screening on the 13th at this discounted rate. Coupons are available on a first-come, first-served basis.'Salmon' is a horror film that unfolds after a filming crew encounters something dark and deep in a reservoir while attempting to reshoot after capturing an unidentified figure on a road view.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:24:23

Daehan Electric Wire Acquires 10,000-Ton Cable Laying Vessel to Enhance Undersea Cable Operations Daehan Electric Wire has strengthened its competitiveness in the undersea cable sector by acquiring a 10,000-ton dedicated cable laying vessel (CLV). As investments in offshore wind and international power grids expand, securing vessels has become crucial for winning contracts. The company aims to accelerate its entry into the global undersea cable market with a fleet of large CLVs. On May 14, Daehan Electric Wire announced that it has signed a purchase agreement for the Skandi Connector, a 10,000-ton CLV, with its current owner, DOF. The vessel is expected to be delivered to South Korea in August. The Skandi Connector can carry up to 7,000 tons of undersea cable at once, making it a significant addition to Daehan Electric Wire's fleet, which already includes the Palos, the only offshore wind CLV in South Korea. This marks the second offshore wind CLV introduced in the country. Equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DP2), the vessel can maintain precise positioning even in changing weather conditions. It also features specialized installation equipment, including a large carousel and tensioner, enabling it to undertake both long-distance and short-distance HVDC undersea cable installations. In the global undersea cable market, securing cable laying vessels has emerged as a critical bottleneck, as their availability can determine the success of contracts. Large vessels have long construction times and limited operational availability, making timely acquisition essential for meeting project schedules. Daehan Electric Wire's decision to acquire an existing high-spec CLV instead of building a new one is seen as a proactive measure to address this construction bottleneck. With this vessel acquisition, Daehan Electric Wire has further advanced its vertical integration system, allowing it to manage the entire process from design and production to transport and installation. The company plans to enhance its turnkey competitiveness and project responsiveness in collaboration with its specialized subsidiary, Daehan Oceanworks. Daehan Electric Wire stated, "With the additional CLV, we now have a construction system capable of simultaneously executing offshore wind projects and long-distance grid connections. We will reliably carry out various undersea cable projects both domestically and internationally, continuously strengthening our competitiveness in the global market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-14 11:22:47