Campaign season kicks off ahead of June local elections SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Ahead of South Korea’s ninth nationwide local elections on June 3, the country’s election authority rolled out a public voting campaign installation in central Seoul on Wednesday, turning a busy downtown plaza into a civic awareness site. The sculpture, installed by the National Election Commission in front of the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, features the commission’s mascot character “Cham Cham” alongside the slogan: “We create the region we want to live in through voting.” South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC) installed a public voting campaign sculpture in central Seoul on Wednesday ahead of the country’s 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. The promotional installation, unveiled at the plaza in front of the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, features the NEC’s mascot character “Cham Cham” alongside the slogan, “We create the region we want to live in through voting.” The campaign comes as South Korea prepares for local elections that will select mayors, governors, local council members and education superintendents across the country. Election authorities are also promoting early voting schedules and procedures through outdoor displays and public messaging campaigns concentrated in high-traffic urban areas. Under South Korean election law, voting on June 3 will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at designated polling stations nationwide. Citizens aged 18 or older as of election day — including those born on or before June 4, 2008 — are eligible to vote. Early voting is scheduled for May 29-30. 2026-05-13 17:54:07

CJ Cultural Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Focuses on Sustainable Creative Ecosystem The CJ Cultural Foundation held a discussion on the sustainability of the popular culture and arts ecosystem in celebration of its 20th anniversary.On May 12, the foundation hosted a 'Leaders Talk' event at CGV Cheongdam Cine City in Seoul, focusing on the sustainability of the popular culture and arts industry and the role of supporting creators.Kim Jin-gak, a professor of cultural arts management at Sungshin Women's University, addressed the challenges and directions necessary for ensuring sustainability in the popular culture and arts sector. The discussion was moderated by cultural critic Lim Hee-yoon and featured panelists including Jo Gang-joo, a senior researcher at the Korea Arts Council, filmmaker Min Kyu-dong, and Kim Kwang-hyun, chair of the Korean Popular Music Awards.Participants agreed that supporting emerging creators is fundamental to broadening the cultural and artistic ecosystem. They also highlighted the CJ Cultural Foundation's ongoing efforts to discover and nurture creators across various fields, including music, performance, and film.The event included an awards ceremony recognizing contributions over the past two decades. The foundation presented a special award to Kim Dong-ho, former executive director of the Busan International Film Festival, for establishing the festival as a hub for Asian cinema and laying the groundwork for the globalization of Korean film. Appreciation plaques were also awarded to musician Jung Won-young, S&Co. artistic director Seol Do-yoon, and filmmaker Min Kyu-dong for their contributions to discovering new creators.A representative from the CJ Cultural Foundation stated, "We will continue to work with the cultural and arts community to create a healthy creative ecosystem that allows creators' potential to flourish across various genres and stages."Additionally, the CJ Cultural Foundation continues to support emerging directors abroad. Recently, a short film by Vietnamese director Nguyen Tien An, funded through the 'Korea-Vietnam Youth Dream Short Film Production Support Project' in collaboration with CGV Vietnam, has been selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Nguyen's film, 'The Dream is a Snail,' is among the ten invited short films for the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The award results will be announced at the closing ceremony on May 23.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:54:00

Dongkuk Pharmaceutical's Centellian24 Expands Distribution in Thailand · Dongkuk Pharmaceutical announced on May 13 that its dermocosmetic brand, Centellian24, is strengthening its local distribution network by entering major online and offline channels in Thailand. Centellian24 is expanding its presence through key health and beauty chains such as Watsons, the beauty retailer Beautrium, Central Department Store, and the beauty platform Konvi, as well as various online malls to enhance consumer engagement. With this expansion, Centellian24 will showcase a range of skincare products, including the 'Madeca Line' based on Centella Asiatica extract (TECA), the 'Madeca Acniance Line', the 'Melacapture Line' for pigmentation care, and the 'PDRN Line'. The brand's flagship product, 'Madeca Cream', has become a steady seller and symbolizes the brand's identity. Analysts suggest that the strategy of integrating the skin-soothing and regenerative image established through Dongkuk Pharmaceutical's wound treatment product, 'Madecassol', has enhanced consumer recognition. A representative from Centellian24 stated, "Entering major distribution channels in Thailand has significantly broadened our engagement with local consumers. We aim to strengthen our brand presence based on the expansion of our global distribution network and product competitiveness."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:50:33

Adult Consumers Drive 75% Surge in CU Toy Sales for Children's Day Convenience store CU has reported a significant boost in sales due to character collaboration products aimed at Children’s Day, appealing to adult consumers, or "grown-up kids." Character merchandise has evolved from simple toys to essential items for collectors and fandoms. CU announced that from May 1 to May 11, toy sales surged by 75.1% compared to the same period last year. The character collaboration products launched for the family month have sparked interest not only among children but also among the 2030 age group, becoming a key sales category. The adult consumer segment has been the driving force behind the success of character products. An analysis of customer demographics from May 1 to May 11 revealed that buyers in their 20s accounted for 33.1% of purchases, followed by those in their 30s at 28.3%, teenagers at 23.5%, those in their 40s at 12.4%, and individuals over 50 at 2.7%. This indicates that the 2030 age group represents over 60% of total buyers. As a result, CU's sales from character intellectual property (IP) collaboration products have shown a steep upward trend. The sales growth rate was 320.0% in 2023, 82.2% in 2024, and 105.7% this year, maintaining a strong growth trajectory. The number of related product items has also expanded significantly, from about 280 in 2023 to over 370 last year, establishing itself as a major differentiating product line for the convenience store. This year’s limited edition products for Children’s Day have been flying off the shelves. The "Pokemon Card Pack 4 Types," containing five random Pokemon cards, sold 250,000 units within just three days of its launch on May 2. With a limited stock of approximately 265,000 packs, 96% of the available inventory has already been sold. Additionally, a planned product from the animation "Pat and Mat" saw sales of 10,000 sets, with the "Keycap Keyring" becoming a popular item, selling over 5,000 units. The character craze is also evident in CU's own commerce application, "Pocket CU," where nearly half of the top 10 search terms are related to characters, including Pokemon bread, Pokemon cards, Pat and Mat, and Pinglu Greek blueberry. Notably, the "Yozum Pinglu Greek Blueberry Yogurt," released in mid-March, has recorded sales of 200,000 units, driven by its cute character design and random figures appealing to younger collectors. The character trend is spreading across the convenience store industry. Seven-Eleven reported a 180% increase in sales of Sanrio collaboration products during this Children’s Day season, while GS25 saw a 171.1% rise in sales of travel-themed character products compared to the previous month. Analysts suggest that convenience stores are emerging as a key channel for purchasing Children’s Day gifts, surpassing toy and stationery stores. Lim Hyung-geun, head of the product division at BGF Retail, stated, "Recently, character IP has become a core content that attracts customers to stores, moving beyond simple marketing elements. In the future, CU will continue to offer products that provide customers with differentiated experiences and collectible value at convenience stores."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:48:36

Civic Group Reports 12% Decline in Bus Passengers Despite Increased Funding This year marks the 20th anniversary of the quasi-public bus system in South Korea. Despite a more than twofold increase in national bus funding over the past five years, passenger numbers have dropped by over 12%, failing to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice and the Public Transport Network released an analysis on May 13, examining bus operations data from 2019 to 2024 across the country, including the status of quasi-public bus operations in seven major cities and 151 local governments. According to the analysis, national bus funding rose from 1.98 trillion won in 2019 to 4.1 trillion won in 2024, an increase of 107.1%. However, during the same period, the number of passengers fell from 4.22 billion to 3.69 billion, a decrease of 12.6%. All seven cities implementing the quasi-public system—Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Busan, and Ulsan—failed to recover their passenger numbers compared to 2019, even as funding increased. Specifically, Seoul saw a 7.7% decline in passengers, while funding rose by 37.2%. In Busan, passenger numbers dropped by 27.1%, yet funding doubled. Ulsan experienced a 21.6% decrease in passengers, with funding increasing by 135.8%. The 151 local governments also saw an increase in funding, but both transport revenue and passenger numbers declined. Additionally, while the number of bus stops increased, the actual distance buses traveled decreased, indicating a deterioration in service supply. Among the 151 local governments, 99 had continuous data available, showing a total operating distance that fell from 735.71 million kilometers in 2019 to 707.12 million kilometers in 2024, a 4.8% reduction. In contrast, the number of bus stops increased from 75,323 to 82,532, a rise of 9.6%. These regions were found to have inadequate levels of information disclosure and data provision. Only 66 local governments had comprehensive data available for seven key indicators—funding, transport revenue, passenger numbers, total operating distance, number of stops, number of routes, and number of operating vehicles—between 2019 and 2024. Twenty-four local governments lacked continuous data for all seven indicators, making analysis virtually impossible. The Citizens' Coalition stated, "While national bus funding has significantly increased, passenger numbers have not recovered. Some local governments are experiencing declines in transport revenue and reduced operating distances. The current bus operating system is becoming entrenched in a structure that prioritizes compensating private companies for losses over restoring citizens' mobility rights." Based on the analysis results, the coalition and the Public Transport Network called for seven measures: full disclosure of funding, standard transport costs, settlement amounts by company, and itemized expenditure; reestablishment of evaluation criteria focusing on total operating distance, frequency of service, operational counts, connectivity, and accessibility for vulnerable populations; establishment of an audit and verification system for maintenance and safety costs; creation of a citizen participation governance model for bus policy; experimentation with public operation models including public routes, contracted operations, non-profit operations, demand-responsive transport, and community-centered route systems; expansion of information disclosure regarding operating distances, daily service counts, frequency, monthly costs, and complaint status; and institutionalization of inter-local government cooperation systems. A representative from the Citizens' Coalition urged, "Candidates in local elections should adopt the seven proposed pledges to enhance bus publicness and present them as key transportation commitments. The government and the National Assembly must also immediately initiate institutional reforms to address the opacity of the quasi-public system and the privatization of route rights."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:45:30

Korea Publishing Association President Kim Tae-hun: 'We Will Create a Fair Distribution System for AI Readers' "I believe a new type of 'AI reader' is emerging. It's a market where AI reads books and answers our questions," said Kim Tae-hun, the newly appointed president of the Korea Publishing Culture Association (KPCA), during a press conference held in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on May 13. He emphasized the need for the publishing industry to respond quickly and rationally to the AI era, stating, "We will contribute to the development of Korea's AI industry." Kim highlighted the importance of fair compensation, saying, "We will establish a direction for what the publishing industry should do in the AI era and how to do it. Books are a crucial foundation for AI training data." He added, "We will create a system that ensures normal copyright protection and fair compensation during the distribution of books as training data, establishing a utilization framework based on the rights of authors and publishers." The KPCA plans to gather opinions from the publishing industry through meetings and establish a distribution method for AI training data, along with building infrastructure such as a database service. Last year, the KPCA supplied data worth approximately 3.6 billion won to the Korea Data Agency. They have requested government cooperation, including budget support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to expand the related industry. Kim noted, "The government and public institutions are creating book data to build sovereign AI," adding that the value of books as high-quality training data is increasing. He predicted that the demand for related data will continue to grow across various fields, including educational AI, robotic AI, and medical AI. For university textbooks, the KPCA is considering establishing an AI-based distribution platform that would implement a subscription service model similar to Netflix or Melon. This platform is expected to include features such as content summarization, chatbots, and exam question generation. Kim stated, "We need a platform that allows students to discuss and learn, which will not only help prevent illegal copying but also contribute to achieving lower textbook prices." Regarding the Seoul International Book Fair, starting next year, the KPCA plans to expand participation by utilizing the entire A and B halls of COEX. They will also present plans for improving the governance and public interest of the fair by the end of the year. The goal is to establish the fair as a leading international book fair in Asia by promoting copyright transactions and expanding discussions on technological changes in the publishing industry. Kim also expressed his intention to improve the previously strained relationship with the government, noting that the KPCA had faced conflicts during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, resulting in a complete cut of government funding. He explained, "The government is currently in the process of establishing next year's budget by the end of this month, and we are discussing budget issues with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism." He added, "The KPCA has received no budget from the government this year," and emphasized that, from an efficiency standpoint, projects related to the publishing industry should be conducted by publishing organizations to yield at least three times the effect compared to the budget. Kim stressed the need to approach publishing from an industrial perspective, stating, "I think we have neglected the industrial perspective in the past. We aim to view the publishing industry from a balanced perspective, allowing it to develop and grow, ultimately blossoming into a cultural flower." * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:42:50

Gyeongbokgung Palace opens historic royal library to public through fall SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Seoul's historic Gyeongbokgung Palace has opened its doors to a hidden gem, Jibokjae, a former royal library that was once off-limits to the public. Starting Wednesday, visitors can explore the storied space as part of a special program running through the end of October. Used by King Gojong as his study and office, Jibokjae also served as a reception space for foreign envoys during the Joseon Dynasty. Since 2016, Jibokjae has opened seasonally as a small library, where visitors can browse historical records and books in a peaceful setting. Its distinctive architecture also sets it apart from the other palace buildings. Visitors can also take a stroll around its adjoining pavilions. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding Mondays and Tuesdays as well as certain public holidays. It will also be closed during the hot summer months from June to August. 2026-05-13 17:34:14

Seoul mulls US-led Hormuz mission amid questions over Namu findings  SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea is facing growing questions over its investigation into the recent attack on an HMM vessel Namu, as the case becomes increasingly intertwined with Washington’s call for Seoul to play a larger role in securing the Strait of Hormuz. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on Wednesday said that Seoul is reviewing participation in the U.S.-led maritime security initiative aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. “The United States has proposed the Maritime Freedom Initiative and a plan called ‘Project Freedom,’” Wi told a press conference with the Korea News Editors' Association. “Like other forms of international cooperation, we are reviewing the maritime freedom initiative as well.” Wi added that President Lee Jae Myung had already expressed willingness to make “practical contributions” during a recent virtual conference led by Britain and France and said Seoul is actively participating in multinational military and diplomatic cooperation efforts related to the Middle East conflict. The comments came as Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, currently visiting Washington, disclosed that he had informed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Seoul is considering phased contributions to restoring safe passage through the strategic waterway. “Basically, I said we would participate as a responsible member of the international community and review ways to contribute in stages,” Ahn told reporters at the South Korean Embassy in Washington. Ahn said possible forms of support could include diplomatic backing, personnel dispatch, intelligence sharing and the provision of military assets, while stressing that any decision would be made after considering international law and domestic legal procedures. Hegseth, during the opening remarks of his meeting with Ahn earlier this week, emphasized the importance of alliances and said Washington expects its partners to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the United States amid the escalating confrontation with Iran. At the center of the debate is the Namu, a South Korean vessel that caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4. The South Korean government initially stopped short of attributing the incident to an external attack. Early assessments found no clear signs of external impact, while HMM officials said there were no visible cracks or fractures because no seawater had leaked into the ship. The vessel’s labor union also disputed U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that the ship had been independently transiting the Strait at the time, saying it had actually been anchored alongside other vessels. However, after a joint government investigation team inspected the vessel in Dubai, Seoul announced on May 10 that the fire had been caused by an external impact. The Foreign Ministry said the ship had been struck twice near the stern about one minute apart, and CCTV footage showed two unidentified flying objects approaching the vessel. Officials said they still could not determine the origin, size or type of the objects. The shift in Seoul’s assessment has raised questions among maritime and military experts. Some analysts point out that if the external damage was clear enough for government investigators to confirm through visual inspection, it remains unclear why the crew, HMM or foreign maritime security firms failed to identify such evidence immediately after the incident. British maritime security company Vanguard had earlier raised the possibility of an underwater drone or drifting mine while noting that no external penetration holes had been confirmed at the time. Experts also said the size and shape of the damaged area suggest the vessel was more likely hit by a drone or a small anti-ship missile than by a conventional cruise missile designed to sink a warship. The damaged section, reportedly measuring about 5 meters by 7 meters, appeared relatively limited compared with the destruction expected from a larger missile strike. The suspected entry hole, estimated at around 50 centimeters, has led some observers to point to the possibility of a Shahed-series suicide drone, although Seoul has so far avoided publicly identifying either the weapon or the attacker. “We do not yet have grounds to definitively conclude that it was a drone,” Wi said Wednesday, adding that missiles and other possibilities remain open pending further investigation. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun also stressed caution. “It is difficult to specify that at this point,” Cho said Wednesday. “Even within Iran, there could be several possible actors. Militias could also be involved.” Iran has denied involvement. The Iranian Embassy in Seoul said shortly after the incident that Iranian forces were not responsible, and Tehran is understood to have maintained that position even after Seoul disclosed photographs showing external impact marks on the vessel. Several experts said the unresolved questions surrounding the Namu incident could complicate Seoul’s deliberations over how far it should go in supporting U.S.-led maritime security efforts. Treating the incident as an external attack on a South Korean civilian vessel could provide Seoul with a stronger rationale for participating in operations aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz, allowing the government to frame involvement as protecting Korean ships, citizens and energy supply routes rather than simply responding to U.S. pressure. At the same time, analysts warn that any premature attribution could heighten tensions with Iran or expose South Korea to additional security risks in a waterway where Korean commercial vessels continue to operate. 2026-05-13 17:30:06

KOSPI hits fresh high, fully recovering from previous losses as most Asian markets rally SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Asian stock markets largely shrugged off the overnight slump in Wall Street triggered by higher-than-expected U.S. consumer inflation. However, Taiwan's benchmark index, which is heavily reliant on the semiconductor industry, was the sole decliner among major Asian markets amid weaker U.S. market sentiment. The South Korean won ended at 1,494.5 per dollar, sharply down 15.5 won from the previous session. The global dollar strength was reignited as the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April rose 3.7 percent on year, surpassing market expectations and dampening hopes for an early interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Government bond yields retreated across both short- and long-term maturities - signaling a rise in bond prices - reversing the previous day's sharp ascent. Investor sentiment was bolstered as Cheong Wa Dae directly addressed policy uncertainties surrounding the "AI dividend," easing relevant concerns. The three-year treasury bond yield fell 4.2 bps to 3.520 percent, while the 10-year yield dropped 3.8 bps to 3.615 percent. The benchmark KOSPI surged 2.63 percent on Wednesday to close at 7,844.01, fully recovering from the previous day's 2 percent loss and setting a new record high. Retail and institutional investors led the rally, net buying 1.89 trillion won (US$1.26 billion) and 1.69 trillion won, respectively. In contrast, foreign investors extended their selling streak, offloading 3.73 trillion won. The index had initially opened lower following a more than 2 percent drop the previous day, after Kim Yong-beom, the senior presidential secretary for policy, abruptly raised the idea of a dividend from brokerage profits. However, the mood shifted as government officials distanced themselves from Kim's remarks. Expectations also grew for semiconductor stocks ahead of the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Market heavyweights SK hynix and Samsung Electronics saw divergent fortunes. SK hynix soared 7.7 percent to close at 1,976,000 won ($1,322.25). Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics edged up 1.8 percent to 284,000 won, as its gains were capped by an ongoing general strike despite hopes for the U.S.-China summit. Hyundai Motor, which held its ground during Tuesday's sell-off, jumped 9.9 percent to end at 710,000 won. The gain reflected delayed positive sentiment following the release of a demonstration video for the "Atlas" humanoid robot by its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics. Conversely, secondary battery stocks struggled or saw limited gains as the higher-than-expected U.S. CPI pushed back rate cut expectations. LG Energy Solution fell 2.93 percent to 430,000 won, while Samsung SDI edged up 0.8 percent to 634,000 won. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.2 percent, weighed down by a 4 percent drop in secondary battery leader EcoPro BM, which closed at 197,100 won. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.84 percent to close at 63,272.11. Market leader Toyota Motor led the rise, jumping 3.4 percent to 2,940 yen ($18.85). Honda Motor, which recently scaled back operations and exited some overseas markets like South Korea due to poor performance, also rose 1.3 percent to 1,272 yen. Having said that, semiconductor equipment makers struggled as the U.S. accelerated the "MATCH Act," which broadly bans exports of semiconductor equipment to China. Advantest fell 1.45 percent to 28,290 yen, and Tokyo Electron dropped 1.57 percent to 51,340 yen. The TAIEX was the only major regional index to fall, declining 1.25 percent to 41,374.50. The index was hit hard by news that Apple decided to outsource some chip orders to Intel. TSMC fell 1.6 percent to 2,220 Taiwan dollars ($68.41), and MediaTek slumped 5.54 percent to 3,495 Taiwan dollars. Mainland Chinese shares rallied on expectations for the U.S.-China summit. The Shanghai Composite rose 0.67 percent to 4,242.57, while the Shenzhen Composite climbed 1.67 percent to 16,089.75. 2026-05-13 17:29:27

South Korea Advances Development Finance Initiative with New Advisory Committee The South Korean government has established an advisory committee to promote its development finance initiative. Heo Chang, the Deputy Minister of Finance, chaired the first meeting of the Development Finance Advisory Committee on May 13 at the Government Seoul Complex. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Koo Yun-cheol announced at a recent meeting on external economic affairs that the government aims to advance Korean-style development finance to support the country's entry into new markets in the Global South. He stated, "We will introduce a new development finance model that mobilizes private finance to support the development of emerging economies through various financial instruments." The government has recognized the growing need for development finance. Major advanced countries are also shifting from budget-centered official development assistance (ODA) to development finance that utilizes private resources. Development finance is characterized by long financial support periods, a high risk tolerance, and a broad scope of assistance, which is expected to enhance South Korea's competitiveness in securing large-scale infrastructure projects in developing countries. Participants suggested that as global development cooperation trends evolve, the South Korean government should also activate its development finance capabilities. Kim Yong-bin, head of the Development Marketing Research Institute, shared examples of development finance institutions from major advanced countries, discussing their areas of support, key strategies, and methods of assistance. Deputy Minister Heo emphasized the need to establish a framework for Korean-style development finance that aligns with the country's conditions, stating, "We will continue to engage with private experts." The Ministry of Finance plans to hold a task force meeting to establish a comprehensive development finance framework based on the discussions from this meeting.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-13 17:18:50