Credit Union Launches 4% Annual Savings Plan Targeting Three-Year Goals The Credit Union Central Association has introduced a new savings plan with a three-year maturity. The plan offers a fixed annual interest rate of 4%, providing stability in funding even amid fluctuating interest rates.On May 7, the association announced the launch of the 'Non-Dividend Credit Union 4U Savings Plan.' Members pay a one-time premium upon enrollment and receive a fixed annual interest rate of 4% if they maintain the plan until maturity. This savings plan is similar to savings insurance products offered by insurance companies.A 55-year-old man who pays a one-time premium of 50 million won can expect to receive 54,718,000 won before taxes at maturity, with an estimated return rate of 109.4%.The plan also includes a death benefit. If the contract holder passes away, the death benefit will be the sum of 3% of the one-time premium and the accumulated amount at the time of death. Additionally, participants can make partial withdrawals up to 50% of the surrender value up to 12 times a year.Participants can convert their benefits into an annuity through the 'Non-Dividend Annuity Conversion Special Clause II.' Enrollment is open to individuals aged 15 to 80, with a minimum premium of 1 million won. However, early termination may result in a surrender value lower than the paid premium.On the same day, Chairman Ko Young-cheol and CEO Son Sung-eun became the first customers to enroll at Hanuri Credit Union. Chairman Ko stated, “In a volatile financial market, this product aims to help customers secure their goal funds and plan for retirement. We will continue to introduce products that enhance the financial benefits for our members and customers.” 2026-05-07 09:00:20

Hyundai Motor Securities: Celltrion’s New Biosimilars to Drive Sales Growth Hyundai Motor Securities on Thursday maintained its “buy” rating on Celltrion and kept its target price at 270,000 won, saying rapid growth in the company’s new biosimilar lineup is expected to lead sales gains. Kim Hyeon-seok, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities, said most of the new products were launched in the second half of last year, and he expects growth to accelerate further in the second half of this year. He added that factors expected in the second half — including Omliclo’s U.S. launch and an expansion of Stekima’s indication for ulcerative colitis — should support sales growth. Kim said that from the second quarter, Celltrion should see a larger revenue contribution from the new products and no longer face one-time costs tied to losses from a production halt caused by maintenance at its U.S. Branchburg plant in the first quarter, raising expectations for further improvement in operating margins. He also said a favorable environment, including streamlined biosimilar clinical requirements, is translating into tangible benefits. Kim said regulators approved a sharp reduction in the number of patients required for Phase 3 trials of Cosentyx and Keytruda biosimilars, and he expects such benefits to continue. Kim said shorter development timelines and lower costs should help convert the pipeline into revenue more quickly and improve operating margins. He added that the company is pursuing aggressive capacity expansion to boost sales volumes of new biosimilars and to scale up its contract manufacturing (CMO) business.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:57:16

SK Securities Raises SK Hynix Target Price to 3 Million Won on AI Memory Revaluation SK Securities said May 7 that a structural revaluation of memory semiconductors is gaining momentum in the artificial intelligence era, raising its target price for SK Hynix to 3 million won from 2 million won, a 50% increase. It maintained its “buy” rating. Analyst Han Dong-hee said the revaluation “is still only at an early stage,” citing what he described as top-tier profit and profitability among global AI-related stocks, improving structural earnings stability and a broader base of buyers for Korean memory makers. He said the stock’s undervaluation “is only beginning to stand out.” SK Securities noted that despite a recent surge in the share price, SK Hynix’s 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio remains around five times. With a strong memory cycle, higher HBM prices and expanding long-term supply contracts, it said further earnings upgrades and a valuation re-rating could occur at the same time. The firm pointed to AI adoption as reshaping the demand structure for memory. It said memory, once tied closely to cyclical replacement demand for smartphones and PCs, is now a key component that affects AI inference performance and cost efficiency. It added that discussions of long-term supply contracts spanning three to five years are spreading in the high-value memory market centered on HBM, and said the shift should reduce earnings volatility and improve stability. SK Securities also raised its forecasts, putting SK Hynix’s 2026 operating profit at 262 trillion won, up 4% from its prior estimate, and projecting 2027 operating profit of 376 trillion won, up 15%. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:55:05

Insurers’ Overseas Units Near $200 Million in Net Profit, Up 24% on Year Korean insurers’ overseas units posted a sharp rise in net profit last year, helped by Hanwha Life Insurance’s acquisitions of an Indonesian bank and a U.S. securities firm. According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s preliminary 2025 results released Wednesday, insurers’ overseas units earned $197 million in net profit, up 23.8% from $159.1 million a year earlier. Life insurers’ net profit rose 70.8% to $109.3 million, driven by newly consolidated overseas units. Excluding two newly added units and one sold unit, net profit from existing overseas units fell by $13.5 million from the previous year. Non-life insurers posted $87.7 million in net profit, down 7.8% ($7.4 million), as natural disasters in Southeast Asia, including an earthquake in Myanmar and flooding in Thailand, weighed on results. By business line, insurance operations recorded $128.6 million in profit, down $22.1 million from a year earlier. Financial investment and banking operations posted $34.2 million and $29.3 million, respectively, reflecting Hanwha Life’s purchase of a stake in U.S. securities firm Velocity and its acquisition of Indonesia’s Nobu Bank. The Velocity deal marked the first entry by a South Korean insurer into the U.S. securities market. By region, profit in Asia rose $6.4 million to $121.6 million, while the United States increased $32 million to $66.4 million. Europe slipped $500,000 to $9 million. Total assets stood at $16.24 billion at the end of last year, up 121.2% ($8.9 billion) from $7.34 billion a year earlier. The FSS said net profit and assets jumped largely due to new overseas expansion into banking and financial investment, but added that growth slowed when excluding newly consolidated units and that non-life insurers’ results weakened due to natural disasters. Citing heightened uncertainty from global market volatility, including Middle East tensions, and rising risks of major disasters linked to climate change, the regulator said it will closely monitor overseas units’ management and financial soundness and instruct insurers to strengthen risk management.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:54:14

South Korea’s industry minister presses Canada submarine bid, calls it partnership turning point South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan, visiting Canada, has stepped up efforts to support defense exports, including a bid tied to Canada’s submarine program. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said May 7 that Kim met with Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly in Ottawa on May 5 (local time) and shared updates on industrial cooperation related to the submarine bid, including a memorandum of understanding between companies from the two countries. Kim and Joly also discussed expanding cooperation in other sectors such as hydrogen and coordinating in multilateral frameworks. Kim asked for Canadian government support for South Korean companies investing in Canada, the ministry said. The next day, Kim met with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and agreed to deepen cooperation on critical minerals, citing the need to diversify supply chains. Kim also met with Sen. Hassan Youssef, described as a former chair of the Senate defense committee, to discuss strategic cooperation between South Korea and Canada related to the submarine project. In talks with Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, Kim exchanged views on defense industry cooperation and thanked the group for declaring its support for South Korea in connection with the submarine program. After finishing his Canada schedule, Kim is to travel to Washington, D.C., for preliminary talks on strategic investment with key U.S. officials, including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He also plans outreach to the U.S. Congress on investment and trade issues, the ministry said. “Winning Canada’s submarine project would go beyond a simple defense procurement and become an important turning point in building a long-term partnership between our two countries,” Kim said. “We will marshal public and private capabilities and respond with full force.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:52:09

BTS to Meet Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Ahead of Mexico City Concerts BTS is set to meet Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum ahead of the group’s Mexico City concerts.  On May 6 (local time), Sheinbaum said at her regular morning news conference, known as the “Mañanera,” that BTS will visit the presidential offices. She said the balcony will be opened so the group can greet citizens gathered in the plaza. Sheinbaum praised the group’s music, saying it “always delivers a message of friendship and peace, and love.” Sheinbaum had earlier welcomed confirmation of BTS’ Mexico City shows in January, calling it a “historic moment.” Government-level attention has continued. In February, Sheinbaum drew notice after disclosing a reply she said she received from President Lee Jae-myung regarding a request for additional BTS performances. Lee expressed thanks for Mexicans’ affection for Korean culture and said he hoped cultural ties between the two countries would continue. Demand has been reflected in ticket sales. The three shows scheduled for May 7 and May 9-10 at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City sold out shortly after tickets went on sale. The Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimated the concerts will generate about $107.5 million (about 155.7 billion won) in economic ripple effects. Spotify data ranks Mexico City as the city that listens to BTS the most worldwide. The local reception has coincided with the group’s performance on global charts. On the latest Billboard charts released May 5 (dated May 9), “SWIM,” the title track from the group’s fifth full-length album “ARIRANG,” ranked No. 2 on both Global (Excl. U.S.) and the Global 200. BTS has remained in the top three on those charts for six straight weeks. The album’s broader showing has also held steady. All 13 vocal tracks — excluding the bell sound of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok — have stayed on both global charts for six weeks. “ARIRANG” ranked No. 5 on the Billboard 200, while “SWIM” was No. 32 on the Hot 100. “Pied Piper,” performed recently at the group’s Tampa show, re-entered the World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 9, underscoring the spillover effect of live performances. BTS is scheduled to begin its Mexico City run on May 7. The sold-out shows and the planned meeting with Sheinbaum have focused attention on the group’s cultural reach.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:51:15

Hana Securities Raises KCC Target Price on Expected Silicone Price Upcycle Hana Securities said on the 7th that KCC is likely to benefit as the silicone market enters a full upcycle, extending a trend of rising selling prices. Reflecting gains in the value of KCC’s stake in Samsung C&T and the impact of treasury-share cancellations, the brokerage raised its target price to 730,000 won from 600,000 won and maintained its “buy” rating. In a report, Hana Securities analyst Yoon Jae-seong said a price-to-book ratio target of 0.77 — a level seen at the 2021-22 peak — is “fully justifiable” given the upcycle in silicone, higher value of existing assets, and shareholder-friendly policies on treasury shares and dividends. Yoon said the silicone market is expected to bottom in 2025 and move into an upcycle through 2027, citing limited capacity additions last year and this year, China’s push for restructuring, and the planned mid-2026 closure of Dow’s Barry, U.K., siloxane (DMC) plant. He estimated KCC’s operating profit for the second quarter at 104.7 billion won, up from the previous quarter. Silicone earnings could improve quarter-on-quarter, he said, but building materials and paints are likely to see profit decline as higher costs are reflected. Yoon forecast silicone operating profit of 23.0 billion won, saying selling-price increases of about 10% to 20% led by competitors such as Dow and Shin-Etsu are continuing and KCC could raise prices by a similar amount. He added that larger increases for higher-priced PA/FS product lines — including coatings, healthcare and electrical and electronic uses — would be a positive factor.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:45:14

At 63, Ni Xia Lian Stuns at World Table Tennis Championships for Luxembourg In elite sports, age is often treated as a barrier — and, eventually, a biological limit. In table tennis, where split-second reactions and explosive power can decide matches, a player in her 60s competing on the international stage is rare. One point needs to be clear: Ni Xia Lian is not a typical late-blooming amateur. She came through China’s national team in the 1980s, when it was widely regarded as the world’s strongest, and spent decades in top-level training environments. Reducing her story to a simple message of “anyone can do it with willpower” misses what her career represents. Still, her latest result cannot be explained by pedigree alone. In a sport where even top players often retire in their early 30s, Ni, 63, stepped onto the world championship stage and pushed higher-ranked opponents to the limit. That played out at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Table Tennis Championships at Arena Wembley in London. Leading Luxembourg’s women’s team, Ni — ranked No. 497 — drew global attention with form and touch that belied both her age and ranking. London upset at Wembley Luxembourg faced Brazil in the round of 32. Brazil’s lineup included women’s ace Bruna Takahashi, ranked No. 23, and her sister Julia Takahashi, ranked No. 111. By individual rankings, Luxembourg was clearly the underdog: its top-ranked player, Sarah De Nutte, was No. 110, while Ni was No. 497. Against that backdrop, Luxembourg’s 3-2 comeback win qualified as an upset — with Ni at its center. After Luxembourg dropped the opening match, Ni played the second against Julia Takahashi. The 63-year-old did not back down against the younger, higher-ranked opponent. They went the distance, and Ni won 3-2 (9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8) to level the tie. With Luxembourg later needing one more win, Ni was sent out again in the fourth match, this time against Bruna Takahashi. Ni lost 2-3 (5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12) after forcing a deciding set. She took the third and fourth games to make it 2-2 and pushed the fifth to deuce. Luxembourg then clinched the tie in the fifth match. De Nutte swept Julia Takahashi 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-4) to send Luxembourg into the round of 16. Table tennis outlet Table Tennis Africa highlighted what it called “an amazing match by 63-year-old Ni Xia Lian,” reporting that Luxembourg earned a major win over Brazil in London. From China in the 1980s to Luxembourg in the 2020s Ni’s career traces decades of modern table tennis. She competed for China’s national team in the 1980s, then began a new chapter representing Luxembourg from the 1990s. She first appeared for Luxembourg at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has competed at the Olympics six times. Over years of equipment advances and multiple rule changes — and as many of her contemporaries moved into coaching or commentary — she has remained an active player. Tokyo match that resonated in South Korea For many South Korean fans, Ni’s name became especially familiar at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In the women’s singles second round, she faced Shin Yu-bin, then 17, in a match with a 41-year age gap. Ni’s disruptive, veteran style pushed Shin in a 3-4 contest. Afterward, Ni wrote on social media: “I hope the 17-year-old young player becomes stronger.” Ni’s story is not a simple slogan that age does not matter. Her career rests on elite training, physical ability and decades of experience. But her continued presence — despite a world ranking of No. 497 — underscores that her motivation is not found only in results or numbers. Her recent matches in London, including full-distance battles against the world’s No. 23 and No. 111, again showed how far that commitment can carry a player — and how unusual it is to sustain it for so long. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:39:15

Bitcoin Holds Above $81,000 as Hopes for U.S.-Iran Deal Lift Risk Appetite Bitcoin edged higher and held above $81,000, supported by improved risk appetite tied to expectations of progress in end-of-war talks between the United States and Iran. Bitcoin was trading at $81,308 as of 8 a.m. on the 7th, up 0.24% from a day earlier, according to CoinMarketCap. After reclaiming the $81,000 level on May 5 for the first time in four months, it has remained around that range. Major altcoins were mostly higher. Solana rose 2.82% to $89.06, and XRP gained 0.42% to $1.42. Ethereum fell 0.88% to $2,346. Market participants pointed to expectations that U.S.-Iran end-of-war negotiations could advance. A U.S. online outlet earlier reported the two sides were close to signing a memorandum of understanding with 14 items. The report said the MOU would include a temporary suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Uncertainty around the talks, however, continued to leave room for volatility. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament, voiced displeasure on May 6 local time, calling the report a “fake Axios operation.” In South Korea, bitcoin was trading at about 119.56 million won on Bithumb at the same time, down 0.22% from a day earlier. The so-called “kimchi premium,” in which domestic prices trade above overseas levels, stood at 1.617%.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:33:15

Samsung Says Galaxy Watch Can Predict Vasovagal Syncope, a First Samsung Electronics said May 7 that a joint clinical study with Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital showed Galaxy Watch biometric-signal analysis can predict vasovagal syncope (VVS) early with high accuracy. The findings were published in the latest issue of a digital health journal issued by the European Society of Cardiology, Samsung said. The company called it the world’s first study to show the potential to predict fainting using a smartwatch. Vasovagal syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, often triggered by excessive tension or stress. It can lead to secondary injuries such as fractures or brain hemorrhage from unexpected falls, the company said. A research team led by Cho Jun-hwan of the hospital’s cardiology department conducted a head-up tilt test on 132 patients suspected of having vasovagal syncope while they wore a Galaxy Watch6. Using the watch’s photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, the team collected real-time heart rate variability (HRV) data and analyzed it with an artificial intelligence algorithm. Samsung said the analysis predicted signs of vasovagal syncope about five minutes before an episode with 84.6% accuracy. “This study shows the possibility of shifting health care from after-the-fact management to prevention through wearable technology,” said Choi Jong-min, an executive director on Samsung’s MX business digital health team. He said Samsung will work to provide preventive health care solutions on the Galaxy Watch based on the results. Samsung said it is strengthening Galaxy Watch health care features, offering advanced health insights spanning sleep, exercise, antioxidants and cardiovascular health. The company said the Galaxy Watch8, released last year, added an antioxidant index feature that measures carotenoid levels in the body in five seconds to assess fruit and vegetable intake and support healthier eating habits. It also analyzes sleep patterns to suggest an optimal bedtime and measures “vascular stress” during sleep, Samsung said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 08:30:17