LG H&H Returns to Operating Profit in Q1 as North America Sales Jump 35% LG Household & Health Care said it returned to an operating profit in the first quarter, reversing a loss in the previous quarter, as profitability improved after a restructuring of its domestic distribution channels. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, the company reported first-quarter operating profit of 107.8 billion won ($107.8 billion won), down 24.3% from a year earlier. Revenue fell 7.1% to 1.5766 trillion won. Compared with the fourth quarter of last year, however, revenue rose 7%, and the operating margin swung to a profit, improving to 6.8% from minus 4.9%. Overseas sales edged up 0.9% as a 35% jump in North America offset declines in China and Japan of 14.4% and 13.0%, respectively. The beauty division posted revenue of 771.1 billion won and operating profit of 38.6 billion won, down 12.3% and 43.2% from a year earlier. The company said higher marketing spending for mid- to long-term growth and efforts to improve offline store efficiency weighed on profit. It said key brands including Dr. Groot, U Smile, Dominas and VDL performed well in global markets. The premium scalp care brand Dr. Groot established a presence on U.S. beauty retailer Sephora’s online platform in March and is set to enter Sephora’s offline stores across North America in August. The luxury cosmetics brand The Whoo won the industry-first IR52 Jang Young-sil Award for research on NAD, which it described as a key anti-aging factor. The Home Care & Daily Beauty division reported revenue of 397.9 billion won and operating profit of 25.4 billion won, down 0.9% and 7.4% from a year earlier. The company said sales were strong in growth channels such as health-and-beauty stores and online, but weaker demand in offline markets slightly reduced revenue and profit. The refreshment beverage division posted revenue of 407.6 billion won, down 2.2%, and operating profit of 43.8 billion won, down 6.8%. LG H&H said it plans to use this year’s FIFA World Cup to help lift sentiment, including an event displaying an authentic Coca-Cola trophy and the launch of special Powerade packaging. “Since last year, the intensive restructuring of domestic distribution channels, centered on duty-free, is gradually translating into results,” a company official said. “Based on differentiated product competitiveness built on R&D, we will accelerate brand innovation and continue strategic growth focused on global and digital markets.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 22:39:22

Blue House Monitors Samsung Electronics Strike Risk; Taiwan Growth, Iran Warning, LG Energy Deal, Nobel Field Blue House watches Samsung Electronics closely as strike deadline nears As a union-planned general strike at Samsung Electronics draws closer, the presidential office is closely tracking developments. Yonhap News reported on April 30 that the Blue House policy office recently prepared a report analyzing the potential impact on the South Korean economy if a strike materializes. Samsung Electronics has helped drive economic growth and a strong stock market during a semiconductor boom cycle, and officials are reviewing how a walkout could ripple across multiple sectors. A Blue House official called it a routine reporting process on social issues, saying the office regularly prepares reports on major public matters. Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung said at a meeting of senior aides that if some organized workers make excessive or unfair demands to protect only themselves and draw public criticism, it would harm not only that union but other workers as well. Senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said the remarks were not about any specific company. Taiwan posts 13.69% first-quarter growth, highest since 1987 Taiwan’s economy logged growth in the 13% range in the first quarter, boosted by surging demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors. Yonhap reported on April 30 that Taiwan’s statistics agency, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, said first-quarter gross domestic product rose 13.69% from a year earlier. It topped the previous quarter and marked the highest level since 1987, far exceeding market expectations in the 11% range. Semiconductors were the main driver as demand for AI, high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure lifted exports and investment. First-quarter exports jumped 51% from a year earlier. Results at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest foundry, also weighed heavily on the broader economy. TSMC posted a record performance, with net profit up 58% over the same period. Iran’s top leader calls U.S. attack a defeat, formalizes Hormuz control plan Iran’s top leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, described U.S. military involvement as a “defeat” and declared plans to build a new order around the Strait of Hormuz. Yonhap reported on April 30 that Khamenei, in a message marking “Persian Gulf Day,” said the U.S. attack ended in a “shameful failure” and that it was time to fully remove outside influence from the region. He said Iran would establish a new management system for the strait to block its use by hostile forces. Iran views the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic chokepoint tied directly to its security. Khamenei criticized the U.S. military presence, saying U.S. bases are vulnerable and do not guarantee regional stability. The remarks were seen as a hard-line message following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in February. The strait is a key route for about 20% of global oil shipments, and analysts say rising tensions could affect international oil prices and maritime logistics. LG Energy Solution set to supply BMW batteries worth more than 10 trillion won LG Energy Solution posted a first-quarter loss despite expectations for large orders, but is seeking a rebound by expanding its electric-vehicle battery and energy storage system businesses. Yonhap reported on April 30 that LG Energy Solution is expected to supply BMW with cylindrical EV batteries worth more than 10 trillion won. The batteries are expected to be used in next-generation EVs, and the contract period is projected to run as long as 10 years. On a conference call, the company said it secured more than 100 gigawatt-hours in new orders for its 46-series cylindrical batteries and that its total order backlog exceeds 440 GWh. In the first quarter on a consolidated basis, LG Energy Solution posted an operating loss of 207.8 billion won, swinging to a loss from a year earlier. Revenue fell 2.5% to 6.555 trillion won. The company said it aims to lift the share of ESS sales to the mid-30% range by year’s end to improve profitability. Nobel Peace Prize field set at 287 nominees; South Korean citizens, Trump mentioned The Nobel Peace Prize field this year totals 287 nominees, reflecting a broad range as global conflicts expand. Yonhap and foreign media reported on April 30 that the Norwegian Nobel Committee designated 287 nominees for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize: 208 individuals and 79 organizations. The list is kept confidential for 50 years, but some nominations become known through outside disclosures. South Korean civil society may be among the nominees, after it emerged that figures in South Korea’s political science community recommended “citizens as a whole,” citing a nonviolent overcoming of a martial law crisis. U.S. President Donald Trump was also mentioned as a possible nominee. The committee said the peace prize remains important even as international cooperation weakens. The winner will be announced on Oct. 9.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 21:53:44

ECB, Bank of England Hold Rates as Middle East War Clouds Inflation Outlook The European Central Bank and the Bank of England kept their benchmark interest rates unchanged, as the Middle East war added uncertainty to energy prices and inflation while concerns about slowing growth also mounted. According to Yonhap on April 30, the ECB held its deposit rate at 2.00%, its main refinancing rate at 2.15% and its marginal lending facility rate at 2.40% after a policy meeting that day (local time). The ECB said recent information broadly matched its previous assessment of the inflation outlook, but that “upside risks to inflation and downside risks to economic growth have increased.” Eurozone consumer inflation in April rose to 3.0% from 2.6% a month earlier. In contrast, eurozone economic growth in the first quarter was just 0.1% from the previous quarter, heightening concerns about stagflation. The ECB said the war’s impact on inflation and economic activity would depend on the size and duration of the energy price shock, warning that a longer conflict and sustained high energy prices could weigh more heavily on both prices and growth. Reuters reported that some in the market expect the ECB could raise the deposit rate three times over the next 12 months, to 2.75%. Britain’s central bank also held rates steady the same day, keeping its benchmark rate at 3.75%. Eight of the Bank of England’s nine Monetary Policy Committee members backed no change, while one favored a 0.25 percentage-point increase to 4.00%. Britain’s consumer inflation rate stands at 3.3%, well above the central bank’s 2% target. The Bank of England said the Middle East conflict has made the outlook for global energy prices “highly uncertain,” and it is ready to take whatever steps are needed to meet its inflation goal. The bank outlined three scenarios depending on the severity of the energy price shock. In the worst case, inflation could rise to 6.2% in early next year, which could require strong monetary tightening. Gov. Andrew Bailey called the decision to hold rates “reasonable” given the unpredictability of economic conditions and the situation in the Middle East, and said the bank would watch developments closely.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 21:52:31

Nobel Peace Prize Field Set at 287 Nominees; South Korean Citizens and Trump Mentioned The field for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has been tallied at 287 nominees, reflecting a broad mix as global conflicts spread. According to Yonhap News Agency and foreign media reports on the 30th, the Norwegian Nobel Committee registered 287 nominees for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize — 208 individuals and 79 organizations. The total reflects an increase in new nominees from a year earlier. The committee does not release the list, keeping nominations confidential for 50 years, though some names become known when nominators disclose their recommendations. In South Korea, there is speculation that the country’s civil society could be among the nominees after it became known that figures in the political science community recommended “all citizens,” citing what they described as a nonviolent overcoming of an emergency martial law situation. President Donald Trump is also being mentioned as a possible nominee after leaders in some countries, including Israel and Pakistan, said they intended to nominate him. The Nobel Committee has stressed that the peace prize remains important even as international cooperation weakens. Some foreign media have also suggested that, with the war in Gaza and the situation in Ukraine dragging on, this year’s award could be more likely to go to a humanitarian aid group or to an individual who played a mediating role. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced Oct. 9, and the award ceremony will be held Dec. 10 in Oslo, Norway.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 21:09:18

Hanwha Solutions Rights Offering Delayed Again After Regulator Seeks More Disclosures Hanwha Solutions’ plan for a paid-in capital increase has been delayed again after South Korea’s financial regulator demanded further revisions, saying more investor-protection disclosures are needed even after the company reduced the deal size. According to Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, the Financial Supervisory Service again asked Hanwha Solutions to submit an amended securities registration statement for its rights offering. It was the second such request, following an earlier one on April 9. The filing has not been accepted and its effectiveness has been suspended, leaving the subscription schedule and other issuance procedures uncertain. The watchdog said key information was missing or unclear, raising concerns it could hinder investors from making a reasonable judgment. If the company fails to address the issues within a set period, the filing will be deemed withdrawn. Hanwha Solutions had initially sought a rights offering of about 2.4 trillion won, but after controversy cut the plan by 600 billion won to about 1.8 trillion won and resubmitted it. The revised filing still did not clear the regulator. The issue has moved beyond a procedural dispute to broader questions of market confidence in the purpose and structure of the fundraising. Analysts have pointed to shareholder backlash fueled by the size of the offering aimed at debt repayment and what they described as insufficient prior communication. A securities firm official said regulators have become more conservative as scrutiny of rights offerings tightens, adding that large deals are increasingly reviewed through the lens of governance and shareholder value. Hanwha Solutions said it “takes the FSS request seriously” and will “faithfully prepare” an amended filing.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 20:48:16

Korea Mine Agency Sells Mexico Boleo Stake for $2 After Trillions of Won Invested Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corp. said it has effectively ended an overseas resource development project after investing more than 3 trillion won, selling its Mexico mining interests for a total of $2. The exit amounts to a withdrawal without recovering its investment after years of accumulated losses. The agency said Thursday it sold all of its equity stake and bonds in the Boleo copper mine in Mexico on Nov. 27 last year for $1 each, or $2 in total. While structured as a sale, the transaction was closer to a transfer of liabilities, with the buyer taking on the remaining debt, it said. The Boleo mine, a large project involving key minerals such as copper and cobalt, initially drew high expectations. But weak geological conditions, local political and social risks, and high production costs led to annual losses of hundreds of billions of won, the agency said. In 2022, it decided that confirming losses through a sale was more reasonable than making additional investments. The deal was completed after three failed auctions. The sale reduced debt by about 849 billion won and slightly improved capital, the agency said, but the investment is viewed as an almost total loss in terms of recovery. Critics say the case highlights structural limits, noting that only a limited number of the agency’s overseas resource development projects have generated profits. Only some projects are known to have increased in asset value among the overall investments. Some in the industry said the outcome points to the need to reassess public-led overseas resource development strategies. A resource development industry official called it “a typical case where risk assessment at the exploration stage and withdrawal standards were insufficient.” The government is reviewing an expanded role for the agency to secure critical minerals such as rare earths, but concerns persist that similar problems could recur without stronger expertise and independence.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 20:42:15

MBC’s “True Story Expedition” Probes Parking Dispute at Car Wash, With 4.8 Million Won in Fees MBC’s investigative program ‘True Story Expedition’ is tracking a dispute over a commercial building’s parking lot. In an episode titled ‘Parking War, Don’t Cross the Line,’ airing on the 30th, the show examines a conflict between a car wash operator and a building representative over parking rules at a shopping complex. Kim Dong-su runs a car wash on the building’s first floor. He said he signed a lease and opened after reviewing about 100 potential locations, but soon faced unexpected friction after launching the business. The conflict began immediately after the car wash opened in April 2023, Kim said. He alleged that a man identified as Jung, described as the building owner and using a pseudonym, asked him to run personal errands starting on the first day of business. Kim said the demands escalated and interfered with work, and when he refused to continue, Jung began enforcing what Kim called “the building owner’s own parking rules.” Kim said the lease allowed him to use two parking spaces in front of the car wash. But he alleged Jung insisted that vehicles must not even slightly cross any other parking lines, and that Jung caused disturbances by demanding parking fees if a customer’s car encroached on another line, even briefly. Kim also described disputes over using the parking-lot drive lane. He said Jung demanded that even when moving a vehicle briefly, drivers should not turn around inside the lot but instead exit the building and re-enter. Kim said the rules inconvenienced customers and made it difficult to operate. Kim said the dispute has intensified recently. He alleged Jung installed a parking gate earlier this month, leaving him in a situation where he must pay parking fees even when using the spaces included in his contract. Kim said he is currently paying customers’ parking charges himself. Kim said the cost is substantial. He said he paid about 4.8 million won in parking fees to Jung over 15 days, more than his monthly rent, adding to his financial strain. During reporting, the production team said it confirmed an unexpected detail: the Jung involved in the dispute is not the building’s actual owner. The program asks who the real owner is and whether that person knows what is happening at the property. The full account of the parking dispute will be aired on ‘True Story Expedition’ at 9 p.m. on the 30th.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 20:37:17

Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls U.S. Attack a ‘Defeat,’ Vows New Control System for Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called U.S. military involvement a “defeat” and declared plans to build a new order around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. The remarks come as tensions in the Middle East rise again and competition intensifies over control of major transport corridors. According to Yonhap on the 30th, Khamenei said in a message marking “Persian Gulf Day” that “the U.S. attack ended in a humiliating failure” and that it was time to “completely remove foreign influence” from the region. He singled out the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran would “build a new management system” to block its use by “hostile forces.” Iran views the strait as a strategic point directly tied to its security. Khamenei said the Persian Gulf is tied to the identity of Iran and the Muslim world, and he sharply criticized the U.S. military presence. He also claimed U.S. bases are vulnerable and do not guarantee regional stability. On future operations of the strait, he signaled an intent to tighten legal and military control. He said Iran would mobilize scientific and technological resources and military capabilities to defend its territory and maritime sovereignty, while building an order that shares economic benefits with countries in the region. The statement was seen as his first hard-line message since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in February. After becoming supreme leader following his father’s death, Khamenei had largely avoided public remarks, but issued this message directly. Foreign media have focused less on feasibility than on potential impact. The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as a vital passageway, with about 20% of global oil shipments passing through it. Analysts warn that any rise in tensions could quickly affect international oil prices and maritime logistics. Experts also say that if Iran moves to strengthen control over the strait, it could trigger responses from the United States and Gulf countries, raising the risk of broader military tensions.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 20:36:18

People Power Party By-Election Nominations Draw 25 Applicants Across Nine Districts Competition for the People Power Party’s nominations in upcoming by-elections is intensifying, with applications heavily concentrated in a handful of districts. Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday that the party’s nomination committee received 25 applications across nine districts by the close of registration that day. The largest field was in South Chungcheong’s Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang, with seven applicants. Gyeonggi’s Hanam Gap drew six, emerging as a key battleground in the Seoul metropolitan area. Ulsan Nam Gap had four applicants. Other districts drew little interest. Jeju’s Seogwipo and Gwangju’s Gwangsan Eul each had a single applicant, and Incheon’s Gyeyang Eul saw no additional candidates enter the race. Several prominent figures also applied. In Gongju-Buyeo-Cheongyang, Chung Jin-suk, a former National Assembly deputy speaker, filed for the nomination. In Busan Buk Gap, Park Min-sik, a former minister, applied. In Daegu’s Dalseong County, Lee Jin-sook, a former Korea Communications Commission chair, also entered the contest. Within the party, some have called for strategic nominations to strengthen competitiveness in the capital region. Hanam Gap has been at the center of speculation about recruiting Yoo Seung-min, a former lawmaker, though it remains unclear whether the party is seriously considering it. Some party members have warned that crowded fields could fuel internal disputes over nominations, while others say single-candidate districts may signal weakened local organization. The committee is set to begin interviews May 1, hold primaries May 3-4 and confirm final nominees May 5.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 20:15:17

Taiwan’s Q1 GDP Growth Hits 13.69%, Highest Since 1987 on AI Chip Boom Taiwan’s economy posted 13% growth in the first quarter, fueled by a surge in demand for artificial intelligence semiconductors, marking its strongest pace in decades. According to Yonhap on Wednesday, Taiwan’s statistics agency, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, said first-quarter gross domestic product rose 13.69% from a year earlier. The figure topped the previous quarter and was the highest since 1987, far above market expectations in the 11% range. Semiconductors were the main driver. As demand jumped for AI, high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure, related exports and investment expanded at the same time. Exports in the first quarter rose 51% from a year earlier, leading the overall gain. Results at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest contract chipmaker, also weighed heavily on the broader economy. TSMC posted a record performance in the period, with net profit up 58%. Taiwan also logged growth in the 8% range last year, extending its strong run. Further gains this year will depend on whether AI demand holds, and some institutions have raised their full-year growth forecasts to around 9%. Over the same period, growth in South Korea and China was lower, at the 3% level and around 5%, respectively. 2026-04-30 20:03:16