Jipyeong Wins Constitutional Ruling Against Mandatory Patent Attorney Association Membership Law firm Jipyeong said on April 30 it helped secure a Constitutional Court ruling of constitutional nonconformity against a provision of the Patent Attorney Act that requires mandatory membership in the Korea Patent Attorneys Association. The petitioners were registered as patent attorneys based on their attorney licenses but did not join the association. In November 2018, the association disciplined them for violating the membership requirement. The petitioners then filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the disciplinary action and also filed a constitutional complaint challenging Article 11 of the Patent Attorney Act, which mandates membership for registered patent attorneys. Jipyeong, retained by the Korean Bar Association, submitted multiple opinions arguing the mandatory membership system was unconstitutional and sought to persuade the court. The constitutional complaint was filed in January 2020, and after more than six years of dispute with the association, the court issued the constitutional nonconformity decision, the firm said. The Constitutional Court found that the current association engages in activities representing the interests of patent attorneys who are not lawyers, and that forcing lawyer-patent attorneys to join infringes their freedom of association and freedom of occupation. The court also accepted the argument that a less restrictive alternative exists: allowing lawyer-patent attorneys to form a separate patent attorney group and requiring membership there. Jipyeong said it has previously won a series of constitutional rulings in high-impact cases, including challenges involving multiple provisions of the Public Official Election Act, the Court Organization Act, and Civil Act provisions on statutes of limitations and lease terms. Park Seong-cheol, an attorney who heads Jipyeong’s Constitutional Petition Center and led the case, said, “Although there were two prior rulings upholding the same provision, it was effective that we did not give up and persuaded the Constitutional Court with reasoning that went beyond the limits of the earlier decisions.” He said the team aimed to present specific grounds showing the provision excessively restricts lawyer-patent attorneys’ freedom of association and freedom of occupation. Park said changes in legislation could bring major shifts in how lawyers conduct patent attorney work, calling the decision one that will help companies and the public receive diverse and sufficient legal services. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:57:16

Seoul Apartment Jeonse Deposits Rise 7.6% in Q1; Gangdong Up Nearly 20% Seoul apartment jeonse deposits rose 7.6% in the first quarter (January-March) from a year earlier, with increases in 24 of the city’s 25 districts, excluding Jongno, according to a report released by real estate information platform Dabang. Dabang said its Q1 2026 “Dabang Yeojido” data put the average jeonse deposit for an 84-square-meter apartment in Seoul at 710.68 million won, up from 660.64 million won in the first quarter of last year. The average sale price for an 84-square-meter apartment in Seoul was 1.19476 billion won, down 293.71 million won, or 19.7%, from the first quarter of 2025. Seocho District had the highest average jeonse deposit at 1.09906 billion won, 388.38 million won above the Seoul average, or 155% of it. Other districts above the citywide average included Gangnam (142%), Songpa (126%), Jongno (120%), Seongdong (114%) and Mapo (112%), with 10 districts in total exceeding the average. Seocho also posted the highest average sale price, at 2.86190 billion won, 1.66714 billion won above the Seoul average, or 240% of it. A total of 12 districts were above the citywide average, including Gangnam (233%), Songpa (181%), Yongsan (180%), Seongdong (151%) and Gwangjin (148%). Gwangjin recorded the biggest year-on-year increase in sale prices, with the average rising 256.91 million won, or 17.0%. Gangdong saw the largest increase in jeonse deposits, up 114.16 million won, or 19.8%. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:51:16

Actor Choi Jae-won Reflects on Finale of 'My Baby’s Romance 2' With Daughter Choi Yu-bin Actor Choi Jae-won shared his thoughts as tvN STORY and tcast’s E Channel wrapped up the variety series ‘My Baby’s Romance 2.’ The jointly produced program follows parents as they watch their children date, offering a relationship-observation format seen through a parent’s eyes. Choi appeared with his daughter, Choi Yu-bin, drawing viewer attention with candid, relatable reactions as a father. On the show, he openly showed emotions ranging from surprise to pride while watching his daughter’s dates. His spontaneous responses and quick wit added to the program’s appeal, while his careful, parent’s perspective resonated with audiences. Choi said, “Watching my daughter on the broadcast, I felt proud, and it was a precious time that made me realize she has grown up this much.” He added, “I sincerely thank everyone who related to my honest reactions and sent warm support.” He continued, “As I watched my daughter date, I got immersed without even realizing it, and I even surprised myself with my reactions.” He added, “Through this program, I think I received an unforgettable, precious memory with Yu-bin. Thank you again to the production team who worked with us and to the viewers who watched.” Choi also mentioned future plans. He said Yu-bin will continue communicating through videos of her daily life on a YouTube channel she has been preparing, and that he will also greet audiences through a range of activities. He added, “Please continue to show warm support for our father-daughter pair.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:48:24

Bitcoin Slips to Mid-$75,000s as Rate-Cut Hopes Fade and Mideast Risks Weigh Virtual asset prices, led by bitcoin, weakened broadly after a short-term rise, as investors turned cautious amid fading expectations for interest-rate cuts and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. According to CoinMarketCap, bitcoin was trading at $75,912 as of 8 a.m. on the 30th, down 0.39% from the previous day. Ethereum fell 1.24% to $2,257. Binance Coin (BNB), Solana and XRP also slipped 0.82%, 0.71% and 0.65% to $617, $83 and $1.36, respectively. Market watchers cited profit-taking as prices cooled from an overbought condition following the recent surge. Macro factors also weighed on sentiment. With geopolitical risks such as tensions in the Middle East persisting, expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts have weakened, dampening appetite for risk assets. Analysts also said momentum has eased on the demand side, with U.S. buying interest softening and short-term selling pressure increasing. In South Korea, bitcoin was trading at about 113.71 million won ($75,929) on the won-based exchange Bithumb as of 8 a.m., down 0.34% from the previous day. The so-called “kimchi premium” stood at 0.573%, indicating domestic prices were higher than overseas levels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:39:15

South Korea’s March Output, Spending and Investment Rise Together for First Time in Six Months In March, production, consumer spending and facility investment all rose, marking a “triple increase.” It was the first time the three indicators climbed together since September last year. According to the National Data Agency’s “March 2026 Industrial Activity Trends” released on the 30th, all-industry output rose 0.3% from the previous month, led by gains in services (up 1.4%) and mining and manufacturing (up 0.3%). All-industry output increased 1.2% in December, fell 0.8% in January, rebounded 2.1% in February, and extended the rise in March. Mining and manufacturing output rose 0.3% as increases in autos (up 7.8%) and other transport equipment (up 12.3%) offset a drop in semiconductors (down 8.1%). The agency said the semiconductor decline reflected base effects after a 28.2% surge the previous month, while overall conditions remained favorable. Services output climbed 1.4%, driven by finance and insurance (up 4.6%) and transportation and warehousing (up 3.9%). Still, the impact of the Middle East war was visible in some industries. Petroleum refining output fell 6.3% from the previous month, and chemicals slipped 0.3%. The agency cited a combination of war-related uncertainty in crude supply and seasonal factors such as scheduled maintenance. Consumption continued to recover. Retail sales rose 1.8% from the previous month, led by higher sales of durable goods such as communications devices and computers, supported by new smartphone launches and stronger back-to-school PC demand. Facility investment increased 1.5% from the previous month on expanded investment in transport equipment, including aircraft purchases. Construction investment remained weak. Construction completed fell 7.3% from the previous month as civil engineering (down 13.7%) and building construction (down 4.5%) both declined. Business-cycle indicators improved. The coincident composite index (cyclical component) rose 0.5 point from the previous month, and the leading composite index (cyclical component) gained 0.7 point. A National Data Agency official said March data appeared to reflect the Middle East war only in a limited way, adding that the impact could become more pronounced after April in related industries and would require further monitoring. For the first quarter, all-industry output rose 1.7% from the previous quarter, supported by gains in mining and manufacturing (up 2.7%) and services (up 1.2%). Consumption and investment also improved: retail sales rose 2.4%, and facility investment jumped 12.6%. Construction completed increased 1.2%, returning to growth. The government said the figures showed a broadly based recovery across production, consumption and investment, consistent with the first-quarter gross domestic product growth rate of 1.7% announced last week. It said the recovery that has continued since the second half of last year was again confirmed in the industrial activity data. The government added that despite the external shock of the Middle East war, measures to support the domestic recovery and invigorate capital markets, along with a price cap system, helped limit the impact. It said it would step up efforts to sustain the recovery by minimizing the war’s economic spillover effects. It also said it would swiftly execute supplementary budget programs, including support payments for damage from high oil prices, and push initiatives such as an “eco-friendly green consumption and tourism boost” and a “youth New Deal implementation plan,” while preparing additional measures, including an economic growth strategy for the second half of the year. 2026-04-30 08:37:46

NH Investment Raises EcoPro BM Target on Expected Hungary Plant Expansion NH Investment & Securities said April 30 it expects EcoPro BM to expand its second plant in Hungary in the second half of the year, raising its target price 14% to 280,000 won and maintaining its “buy” rating. In a report, NH analyst Joo Min-woo said customer strategies are being revised to reflect Europe’s IAA rules and the TCA (EU-U.K. trade agreement), which he said is increasing the likelihood of winning orders from new customers, including CATL. Joo said EcoPro BM is a key cathode-material supplier to Samsung SDI and is expected to benefit as Samsung SDI expands European electric-vehicle sales for models including the Ioniq 3, EV2, Audi, Benz and BMW. He added that EcoPro BM is also expected to benefit directly from a recovery in sales of cylindrical batteries used in BBU and power tools. Joo said EcoPro BM’s first-quarter revenue fell 4% from a year earlier to 605.4 billion won, while operating profit was 20.9 billion won, beating the market consensus. He attributed the results to the start of mass production of nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum (NCMA) cathode materials for Samsung SDI’s new European volume models, including the EV2 and Ioniq 3, and improved non-EV sales as demand for Samsung SDI’s power tools and BBU strengthened. He said sales to SK On totaled about 4,000 tons, rising from the previous quarter as volumes for the Europe-bound Volkswagen ID.4 gradually recovered. Joo said the factors behind the strong first quarter are expected to persist, with both selling prices and volumes continuing to grow.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:31:11

Wall Street Ends Mixed as Oil Jumps and Fed Split Widens; Dow Falls, Nasdaq Flat U.S. stocks finished mixed on Tuesday, pressured by a sharp rise in oil prices and higher Treasury yields, while the Federal Reserve held interest rates but revealed unusually deep internal divisions. The Dow fell, and the Nasdaq ended little changed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 280.12 points, or 0.57%, at 48,861.81. The S&P 500 slipped 2.82 points, or 0.04%, to 7,135.98. The Nasdaq composite added 9.44 points, or 0.04%, to 24,673.24. The Russell 2000, which tracks smaller companies, fell 0.6%. Oil surged as U.S. pressure on Iran and tensions in the Middle East persisted. Brent crude rose as high as $111.84 a barrel intraday and settled at $110.44, up 5.8%. The jump revived inflation worries and pushed yields higher, dampening sentiment. The 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.41%, and the 2-year yield climbed to 3.92%. The Fed added to investor caution by holding its benchmark rate at 3.5% to 3.75% on an 8-4 vote, its widest split since 1992. Three officials opposed leaving room in the statement for possible rate cuts, while one argued for a 0.25 percentage point cut. Markets read the outcome as a signal that expectations for rate cuts this year may be pushed back. By sector, energy stocks led on the oil rally, while utilities and materials fell. Starbucks rose 8.5% and Visa gained 8.3% after strong results. NXP Semiconductors jumped 25.5% on a robust earnings outlook. Robinhood slid 13.2% after disappointing results. After the close, big tech traded in different directions. Alphabet rose more than 3% in after-hours trading, while Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Amazon were lower. Investors are watching oil, interest rates and major tech earnings as key drivers for near-term market moves. 2026-04-30 08:23:51

Welcome, KB Savings Banks Probed Over Auto Parts Loan Fraud; Losses Estimated at 100 Billion Won Welcome Savings Bank and KB Savings Bank have been hit by alleged loan fraud involving auto parts sales receivables used as collateral, prompting a financial regulator probe, officials said. According to financial authorities and the finance industry on the 30th, Welcome Savings Bank detected irregularities in the lending process in November last year, voluntarily reported the case to the Financial Supervisory Service and halted the product entirely. KB Savings Bank also disclosed in January that it had incurred losses of about 4.5 billion won. The product in question was a “win-win” financing program designed to provide working capital to repair shops and parts suppliers. It treated repair estimates issued through the Insurance Development Institute’s vehicle repair claim or loss-adjustment system (AOS) as sales receivables and extended loans on that basis. Once repairs were completed, the banks recovered the loans from insurance payouts. Authorities said fraudsters exploited the structure by obtaining false repair estimates through AOS to secure loans. To evade lending limits applied to a single borrower, they also set up multiple special-purpose companies. The finance industry estimates cumulative lending tied to the scheme at 300 billion won, with about 200 billion won recovered. The final damage is estimated at around 100 billion won. Welcome Savings Bank said the FSS investigation was already completed last year and that the actual losses would be less than 90 billion won. The FSS is currently conducting an inspection of KB Savings Bank. It also carried out an industrywide review of auto parts receivables-based lending at savings banks and found no additional cases of fraudulent loans, officials said. Police are continuing to investigate the parts supplier and others suspected of fraud.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:22:36

LG Innotek CEO Moon Hyuk-soo, Applied Intuition CEO discuss expanding physical AI ties LG Innotek said April 30 that CEO Moon Hyuk-soo met April 29 with Applied Intuition co-founder and CEO Qasar Younis at the company’s Magok headquarters in Seoul to discuss cooperation in physical AI. The meeting followed the companies’ strategic partnership in autonomous driving announced in March. The two are working to advance autonomous-driving solutions by combining LG Innotek’s sensing modules with Applied Intuition’s software. Attendees included Moon and LG Innotek Chief Technology Officer Min Joon, along with Younis and Will Lin, head of Applied Intuition’s automotive business. Executives reviewed progress in their autonomous-driving collaboration, including joint responses to key customers and promotion plans. They also discussed expanding cooperation in physical AI areas such as robots and drones. Citing LG Innotek’s sensing capabilities and Applied Intuition’s experience building physical AI software across industries including defense, construction and agriculture, the companies said they plan to broaden collaboration in areas such as mobility and robotics. “Applied Intuition is a leader in physical AI trusted by global companies,” Moon said. “Through this cooperation, LG Innotek will leap forward to become a global top-tier player in sensing that leads the physical AI era.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:21:19

South Korea Opens K-Tourism Roadshow in Fukuoka to Target Japan’s Golden Week South Korea’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry is stepping up efforts to attract Japanese visitors during Japan’s Golden Week holiday period (April 29 to May 6). The ministry said it will hold a “K-tourism roadshow” on Wednesday in Fukuoka to spur local interest in travel to South Korea. It is the third on-site promotion this month, following events in Osaka on April 9 and in Tokyo from April 10 to 12. ◆ “Shall we go today? Korea!” — Hwang Min-hyun to headline The Fukuoka roadshow is aimed at positioning South Korea as a nearby country that is easy to visit. Organizers set the theme as “Shall we go today? Korea!” Singer and actor Hwang Min-hyun, who organizers said has a strong fan base in Japan, is scheduled to appear for a special performance and a “Korea tourism story show.” The ministry said he has 6.75 million Instagram followers. Ahead of the main program, the four-member Busan-based band “Girin” will open the event. Promotional booths will be set up around the venue under the theme of “a preview of a Korea trip in Fukuoka.” Local governments including Busan and Jeju will take part, along with airlines such as Air Busan and Jin Air. Local food and cosmetics companies, including Sato Foods and Tito, will also join to offer Japanese consumers hands-on experiences tied to K-culture. ◆ Vice minister dispatched to deepen ties with travel industry To maximize demand during Golden Week, Kim Daehyeon, second vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, visited the Fukuoka event site. The ministry said Kim will meet with officials from major local travel agencies, including H.I.S., to discuss cooperation on developing tailored travel products. He also plans to outline the government’s K-tourism strategy and efforts to expand arrivals in an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun. “Japan is one of the key markets for inbound tourism to Korea,” Kim said. “I hope more Japanese people will visit Korea during this long holiday.” He added that the ministry will prepare thoroughly so both first-time visitors and repeat travelers can experience a wider range of regional tourism products.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 08:19:45