South Korea’s presidential office monitors Samsung Electronics as union strike nears As a Samsung Electronics union’s planned general strike draws closer, Cheong Wa Dae is closely tracking developments. Yonhap reported on Wednesday that the presidential office’s policy team recently prepared a report analyzing the potential impact on the South Korean economy if a strike at Samsung Electronics materializes. The report was prepared amid concerns that a walkout could ripple across multiple areas, given Samsung Electronics’ role in driving economic growth and a strong stock market after regaining competitiveness during the semiconductor “supercycle,” or boom period, the report said. A Cheong Wa Dae official described it as “a routine reporting process related to social issues,” adding that the presidential office typically prepares reports on major social matters. The report also reportedly said Samsung Electronics’ recent performance was influenced by a range of factors, including government support policies and the domestic industrial ecosystem. Earlier Wednesday, President Lee Jae-myung said at a meeting with senior aides that if “some organized workers” make excessive or unfair demands “just to save themselves” and draw public criticism, it would harm not only that union but other workers as well. Some interpreted the remarks as referring to the Samsung Electronics union’s planned strike. However, senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said it was not a discussion about any specific company, calling it a general statement that coexistence and cooperation among workers, employers and the public are important.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 19:51:18

LG Energy Solution Seen Supplying BMW With More Than 10 Trillion Won in EV Batteries LG Energy Solution posted a first-quarter loss despite expectations for large orders, but analysts say it is laying groundwork for a rebound by expanding its electric-vehicle battery and energy storage system businesses. Yonhap reported on Wednesday that LG Energy Solution is expected to supply BMW with more than 10 trillion won worth of cylindrical batteries for electric vehicles. The batteries are expected to be used in BMW’s next-generation EVs, and the contract term is projected to run as long as 10 years. The industry is also watching the deal as a potential first entry for LG Energy Solution into BMW’s supply chain for battery-electric vehicles. On a conference call, the company said it had won more than 100 gigawatt-hours in new orders for its 46-series cylindrical batteries and that its total order backlog exceeds 440 gigawatt-hours, signaling a broader shift toward a cylindrical-battery-centered portfolio. Near-term performance, however, remained weak. On a consolidated basis, LG Energy Solution reported an operating loss of 207.8 billion won for the first quarter, swinging to a loss from a year earlier. Revenue fell 2.5% to 6.555 trillion won, and net loss totaled 944.0 billion won. The company cited reduced U.S. battery subsidies and softer EV demand. It also pointed to upfront costs tied to expanding ESS production in North America, including ramp-up expenses as it scales facilities in Tennessee and Ohio. LG Energy Solution said it aims to drive a turnaround led by ESS. The share of ESS in revenue has risen from under 10% to the mid-20% range, and the company plans to lift it to the mid-30% range by year’s end, citing growing demand from AI data centers and power infrastructure. The company said it will work to stabilize its North American production base early while pursuing new orders in both EV batteries and ESS to improve profitability.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 19:27:17

Special Prosecutor, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Clash Over Records Request Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special prosecutor team and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have clashed head-on over the submission of records. Yonhap reported Thursday that the special prosecutor team said the acting prosecutor general refused its request for records and labeled the move an “obstruction of investigation,” asking the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary procedures. The team said it sent two official requests in March and April seeking inspection-related materials, but the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office ultimately declined to provide them. The special prosecutor team said the refusal violates the comprehensive special prosecutor law and warned, “If noncooperation continues, we will take legal action.” The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office immediately rejected the claim. It said the inspection materials are classified as internal confidential documents and cannot be handed over voluntarily, requiring a search-and-seizure warrant. “The special prosecutor’s request could run counter to existing law and the warrant principle,” it said, adding that it “informed them to submit the materials through a warrant, in line with relevant rules.” It also said the special prosecutor law’s provision on submitting materials is intended as a basis for transferring cases, not a clause that compels the submission of all records, underscoring a difference in legal interpretation. With the two sides remaining at odds over how to interpret the law, the dispute is increasingly likely to disrupt the pace of the investigation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 19:18:16

Labor Day Holiday Starts With Sunshine and Warmth; Ozone, Dry Winds a Concern Labor Day on May 1, the start of a long holiday stretch, is expected to be mostly sunny and mild. Skies are forecast to clear gradually from western areas in the morning, making conditions generally suitable for outdoor activities. According to Yonhap on April 30, temperatures are expected to be near seasonal norms, with morning lows of 8-12 C (46-54 F) and daytime highs of 18-26 C (64-79 F). Seoul is expected to reach 26 C, with Daejeon at 23 C and Daegu at 24 C. Inland areas are expected to see large day-to-night swings of around 15 C, calling for caution with health management. Ozone levels also warrant attention. The National Institute of Environmental Research forecast “bad” ozone levels in most regions, including Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Honam, Yeongnam and Jeju. Air quality could worsen from late afternoon as ozone flows in from outside the country. Dry conditions and strong winds are expected to persist. Dry weather advisories are in effect for Seoul, Chungcheong and inland North Gyeongsang Province. Strong gusts of about 55 kph (34 mph) are forecast across inland areas, the East Sea coast and Jeju, raising the risk of fires. The strong winds are expected to continue through May 2. Holiday weather is expected to shift. May 2 is forecast to be similar to May 1, but rain is likely nationwide on May 3 under the influence of a low-pressure system. At sea, fog is expected over the central West Sea on May 1-2, sharply reducing visibility in some waters. From May 2, sea levels are also expected to rise, and low-lying coastal areas should prepare. 2026-04-30 19:06:17

Seoul mayoral rivals Jeong Won-oh and Oh Se-hoon roll out Labor Day pledges On April 30, a day before Labor Day, Seoul mayoral candidates Jeong Won-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party released labor pledges as they sought support from workers. Jeong said, “If Seoul runs on labor, the city government must also take responsibility for the time of working citizens,” as he unveiled proposals centered on expanding flexible work arrangements and supporting paid sick leave for freelancers. Under the banner of “Seoul, a special city that respects labor, rebuilt with the voices of working citizens,” Jeong said his plan aims to improve work-life balance and strengthen the right to rest when sick. He pledged to expand flexible work options — including work-from-home, remote work and staggered hours — as part of a “30-minute commute city” initiative, and to introduce paid sick leave for vulnerable workers such as freelancers and the self-employed. Jeong said May 1 would be “the first day to greet the holiday under the name ‘Labor Day’ for the first time in 63 years,” explaining why he chose to announce the pledges then. He also said he visited the Sinjeong rail depot and the Yangcheon public bus garage early that morning to meet subway and bus workers, and later laid flowers at a Jeon Tae-il statue near Cheonggyecheon. “I will carry the labor sites I met at dawn today and Jeon Tae-il’s dream into Seoul’s policies,” he said. Oh visited the Gasan Digital Complex (G-Valley) in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, where he had lunch with young office workers and heard their concerns, while releasing his labor pledges in writing. “Your ordinary day, lived diligently, is Seoul’s future,” Oh told workers, adding, “I will work to build workplaces where the value of labor is respected and fairness and coexistence are firmly established.” Oh’s proposals focused on strengthening the safety net for vulnerable workers and addressing on-the-job problems. He pledged “hospital living-cost support” to ease financial strain during hospitalization, expanded tailored health checkups for workers in health blind spots, and a safety support system for small workplaces. He also pledged to expand late-night “owl bus” routes to help about 200,000 late-night workers in their 20s and 30s, and to provide once-a-year support for psychological counseling services and the cost of special health screenings for night work. He said the city would newly introduce a “late-night in-home caregiving service” for families facing care gaps because a guardian works nights. “Seoul must be a strong fence so the vulnerable can stand back up without despair,” Oh said. “I will 반드시 resolve the reality of not being able to rest when sick and the problem of not being able to focus at work because of caregiving worries, and make this a city where labor is respected.” The two candidates also continued sparring over real estate policy. In a statement, Jeong’s camp said Oh’s side blames a housing supply cliff on former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, but argued the real cause was that residents lifted redevelopment district designations made indiscriminately during Oh’s time as mayor. Jeong’s camp added, “Seoul citizens gave Oh four chances, but all that came back was a loud, empty cart.” Oh’s camp again raised controversy over remarks by President Lee Jae-myung about abolishing the long-term holding special deduction. Asked about the deduction while presenting his second pledge, Oh said, “Even the Democratic Party says it has never discussed it at the party level, but Jeong is taking the same position as the president.” He added, “I have serious doubts whether, as a Seoul mayoral candidate, he can ease anxiety about an issue many Seoul citizens are concerned about,” escalating his criticism.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:54:22

Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 Numbers Awaited as Winner Story Draws Attention "A long time ago, an ancestor appeared in my dream and gave me lottery numbers, but I thought, 'No way,' so I didn't buy them — and I actually missed the first prize." As interest builds in the Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 winning numbers on April 30, a winner's account from Draw 293 has drawn attention. The person won with one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets, according to a post on Donghaeng Lottery's winners' bulletin board. The winner said they buy Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets whenever the thought occurs. While working, they happened to see a lottery retailer and bought tickets as usual. They said they had been struggling with a recent problem and suddenly remembered they had not checked their tickets, so they checked the numbers right away. "It turned out I won both first and second prizes at the same time, and I couldn't believe it, so I checked again and again," the winner wrote. They recalled a past experience in which an ancestor appeared in a dream and gave Lotto numbers, but they did not buy them and later missed the first prize. "After that, nothing seemed to go well, and I wondered if my ancestor was angry that I let the chance pass," the winner said. "With this win, it feels like I've been given another opportunity, and I'm grateful." The winner said the ticket was purchased at a lottery shop in Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Asked what they usually buy, the winner said they purchase Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets in small amounts. They said they plan to use the winnings to repay loans and buy a home. The Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 winning numbers will be available after 7:05 p.m. today (30).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:51:17

Korea parliamentary probe ends; Democrats introduce special counsel bill, PPP pushes back A National Assembly special committee investigating allegations of politically driven, fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration effectively wrapped up its work on April 30, 42 days after it began, as the Democratic Party-led panel adopted its final report. The committee also voted to file complaints against 31 people on allegations including perjury. After the committee ended, the Democratic Party said it would “realize judicial justice” and introduced a special counsel bill. The People Power Party countered that “judicial justice has been damaged” and separately filed complaints against four hearing witnesses. With the ruling party planning to process the special counsel bill next month, clashes between the parties are expected ahead of the June 3 local elections. At a full meeting, the committee approved a report summarizing more than 40 days of work, including three agency briefings, two on-site inspections and four hearings. The committee ended its activities eight days earlier than the date stated in its plan (May 8). The panel approved an agenda item to file complaints against 31 people — including prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, and former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae and former Vice Chairman Bang Yong-cheol — on allegations such as perjury, refusing to take an oath or testify, and failing to appear. Complaints sought by the People Power Party against National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok and acting head of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Jeong Yong-hwan were rejected. With the parties unable to narrow differences over the report and the complaint list, the People Power Party declared the meeting disrupted. It also filed perjury complaints on its own against four people it said it could report directly: KH Group Vice Chairman Cho Kyung-sik, former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, attorney Nam Wook, and one National Intelligence Service employee. People Power Party members of the committee criticized the ruling party at a news conference. Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong, the party’s floor spokesperson on the panel, said, “They say through this investigation that our judicial system is very solid and safe — so what is the purpose of shaking it?” Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun said the Democratic Party “failed to prove the reality of prosecutorial coercion and fabricated indictments,” adding, “Please do not turn the National Assembly into a ‘bulletproof factory’ that wipes away crimes.” The Democratic Party, citing the committee’s findings, introduced a “fabricated indictment” special counsel bill on April 30, saying it would set the justice system right. Under the bill, the special counsel would be granted authority to take follow-up steps as needed, including seeking dismissal of indictments. The special counsel could appoint up to six assistant special counsels and receive up to 30 seconded prosecutors. The initial term would be 90 days, extendable three times by 30 days each. Cheon Jun-ho, acting floor leader, said, “We intend to process the special counsel bill as quickly as possible, and within next month if we can.” People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok wrote on Facebook that he “strongly condemns” what he called an “Lee Jae-myung self-pardon special counsel,” alleging it would be used to eliminate trials involving “a special counsel appointed by President Lee Jae-myung.” He also criticized it as “cowardly politics” that, he said, would use the Democratic Party and a special counsel to erase the president’s own trial. In May, the Democratic Party is set to install new floor leadership, and negotiations are scheduled over the National Assembly’s second-half committee assignments. Lawmakers expect the parties to clash sharply during the special counsel bill’s handling. Some analysts also say passing the bill next month could prove difficult in practice, given concerns it could affect the June 3 local elections and by-elections for National Assembly seats.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:48:21

LPGA’s Yoon Ina Apologizes for Remarks Blaming Caddie in Past Wrong-Ball Incident Yoon Ina has apologized after drawing criticism for comments she made in a local-media interview during the LPGA Tour major Chevron Championship about a past wrong-ball incident. In a statement released Thursday through her management company, Sema Sports Marketing, Yoon said she was not careful enough in how she described the situation in an interview ahead of the final round. “Because I was explaining it in an urgent situation right after the match, I was not careful in my wording during the process,” she said. “I take this seriously and am deeply reflecting.” “Above all, I apologize to everyone who may have been hurt by those remarks,” Yoon said. “I clearly recognize that in any situation, the responsibility lies with the player. I had no intention of shifting that responsibility to anyone else.” The controversy began after an interview with a local outlet following the third round of the Chevron Championship last week. In the interview, conducted through an interpreter, Yoon described the wrong-ball situation by saying her tee shot went into the rough and other players helped look for the ball. She said she did not realize it was not her ball until she was about to hit her next shot. She added that it was her first time in such a situation and she panicked. “My caddie told me to hit it, but I shouldn’t have listened,” she said. She also said she should have reported it immediately but was “too nervous and scared,” and believed it would be OK because she thought she would miss the cut and people around her said it would not become a big issue. The remarks drew scrutiny because they conflicted with what she had previously stated while playing on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Her apology at the time said she realized the ball had been switched only after reaching the green. After the interview became an issue, Yoon apologized again, saying the episode made her realize her words and actions can have a major impact. She said she would approach every moment with greater care and maturity and work to earn the trust of officials and fans. Yoon received a three-year suspension after she recognized a wrong-ball play during the first round of the 2022 Korea Women’s Open but reported it a month later. The penalty was later reduced to 1 1/2 years. She returned to the KLPGA Tour in 2024, won the season’s top award, and moved to the U.S. the following year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:30:17

Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to Back Up to 30 Biotech Startups at Songdo C-Lab Outside Samsung Biologics said Wednesday it plans to select and support biotech companies to join “C-Lab Outside” in Songdo in partnership with Eli Lilly. The company unveiled an operating roadmap for C-Lab Outside, which is scheduled to be established next year, at the “Bio Korea 2026” event. Lee Sang-myeong, executive director in charge of CDO development at Samsung Biologics, said Songdo International City is expected to grow into the world’s largest bio cluster by 2030 and called it an ideal location for open innovation with infrastructure spanning the value chain. Under the collaboration, the companies plan to jointly select and support up to 30 biotechs capable of developing next-generation therapies. C-Lab Outside is set to be completed in July next year at Samsung Biologics’ second bio campus in Songdo, Incheon. The five-story facility will have a total floor area of about 12,000 square meters. Recruitment will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, before the center is completed, and will target early-stage startups at Series B or below. Companies that already have partnerships with global conglomerates will be excluded. Tenancy will be two years, extendable to a maximum of four years. Selection and incubation will be carried out jointly with Lilly’s innovation program, Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL). Samsung Biologics said it is also expanding support for South Korea’s biotech ecosystem through biotech investment, seminars and efforts to localize raw and subsidiary materials. A company official said it plans to broaden support, including creating an industry development fund worth 25 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:27:16

South Korea, Pakistan Move to Speed Up CEPA Talks, Trade Minister Says South Korea will step up negotiations with Pakistan on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Yeo Han-koo, South Korea’s minister for trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, held a video meeting on the 30th with Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan to discuss ways to advance the Korea-Pakistan CEPA talks and expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is the world’s fifth-most populous country and a key potential market in Southwest Asia with abundant natural resources. It is also a strategic hub linking the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Still, bilateral trade remained limited, totaling $1.574 billion last year. The two countries have laid the groundwork for negotiations since declaring the launch of CEPA talks and agreeing to terms of reference in January last year. They plan to accelerate negotiations starting with the first official round, which is scheduled to be held in the future, to expand trade and investment. Yeo said, “For our companies to operate their businesses stably and expand investment, it is important to ensure predictable administration of institutions and create a friendly investment environment,” and asked for the Pakistani government’s attention and support. He added that, following India and Bangladesh, CEPA talks with Pakistan would further strengthen South Korea’s trade network in Southwest Asia, and said the two sides would build a mutually beneficial foundation for cooperation through a CEPA with Pakistan, a hub connecting the Middle East, Central Asia and Southwest Asia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:24:27