PPP Lawmaker Jin Jong-oh Says He Won’t Avoid Discipline Over Backing Han Dong-hoon People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh said Tuesday he has no intention of avoiding possible party discipline after he backed Han Dong-hoon in the Busan Buk-gap parliamentary by-election, prompting the party leadership to order a fact-finding probe. “I'm not trying to dodge this because I'm afraid of discipline,” Jin said on KBS radio’s “Jeongyeok Sisa.” He said he believes the choice is “the right one for the country,” adding that conservatives should begin building “a grand unity” and a new conservative history. Jin said he first learned through media reports that PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok had ordered a review of the facts after Jang’s trip to the United States, and that the party later contacted his office. “Since the U.S. trip itself has become so controversial, I wonder if they looked for a scapegoat and attacked me,” he said. He argued the party should be moving to put Han “on the right path,” and said it was regrettable to “cut off the sprout” at an early stage. He added that the party needs to reflect and improve. Saying he shares Han’s views, Jin addressed reports that he moved his residence to Busan to support Han. Jin said he has been traveling between Seoul and Busan, but time and costs were high, so he made a provisional contract for a small one-room apartment. Jin also criticized Jang for extending his U.S. trip while party candidates were “sweating blood” to win nominations and support. While meetings may be kept private as a diplomatic practice, Jin said, “who he met” is something that can be disclosed. On whether a party audit is needed over Jang’s trip, Jin said, “If we have to do a party audit, of course we should.” But he urged Jang’s leadership not to be swayed by forces “shaking our party,” and called on the leadership to speak transparently and fairly. Earlier, Jang on Sunday instructed PPP Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong at a closed-door 최고위원회의 to check whether a party audit was needed regarding Jin, who had secured a place to stay in Busan to support Han and argued the PPP should not field its own candidate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:31:19

Jung Cheong-rae says special inspector could have checked Yoon, Kim influence-peddling Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 22nd that President Lee Jae-myung’s request to move forward with a special inspector was “as expected from Lee,” and signaled the party would cooperate quickly in the National Assembly. Speaking at a party supreme council meeting held aboard a ferry off Yokjido in Tongyeong, Jung said the post had “remained only as a system” for 10 years since special inspector Lee Seok-soo resigned under the Park Geun-hye government in 2016. Jung described the special inspector as a key watchdog meant to check presidential power by conducting ongoing oversight of the president’s spouse, relatives within the fourth degree of kinship and senior Blue House officials for matters such as influence-peddling in appointments and the receipt of money or valuables. He added that there was no special inspector throughout the three years of what he called the “Yoon Suk Yeol prosecution dictatorship” and said that if an inspector had been “watching with eyes wide open” next to the Yongsan presidential office, “Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee would not have been able to recklessly engage in state-affairs meddling.” Lee requested on the 19th that the National Assembly begin procedures to appoint a special inspector. The ruling and opposition parties held a “2+2 meeting” on the 20th, with floor leaders and senior deputy floor leaders, and agreed to discuss the appointment process.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:30:30

Lee set to hold talks with Vietnamese leader in Hanoi SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to sit down for talks with Vietnamese President Tô Lâm in Hanoi on Wednesday. Lee's meeting with Lâm, who also serves as General Secretary of the Communist Party, comes about eight months after the Vietnamese leader visited Seoul in August last year. Their meeting also comes after South Korea agreed with its third-largest trading partner to further enhance bilateral relations in 2022, when the two countries marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. During the summit, the two leaders are expected to discuss cooperation across various sectors from nuclear power and infrastructure to artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy. Senior officials from both sides will then join an expanded meeting, followed by a joint press statement and a state banquet to round out the day. Among key topics in their talks will be concrete steps to deepen bilateral cooperation, with both countries having already set a goal of increasing trade from the current $94.6 billion to $150 billion by 2030. With the prolonged conflict in the Middle East continuing to rattle global markets, the two sides are also expected to pursue a mutually beneficial partnership in supply chains for energy and critical minerals. 2026-04-22 10:28:21

Seowon Tokeon Upgraded to BBB- Credit Rating on Smart Construction, Safety Push Seowon Tokeon has received a BBB- corporate credit rating from NICE Information Service. The rating sits at the lower end of investment-grade and is typically assigned to companies viewed as having a certain level of financial stability and debt-repayment capacity. Founded in 1991, Seowon Tokeon is a specialty contractor focused on reinforced-concrete work and structural frames for apartment housing. Despite the project-by-project nature of construction orders, the company has built long-term, site-based experience that evaluators said supports stable schedule control and quality assurance. Its relatively steady performance in meeting deadlines and managing safety, key measures in South Korea’s construction industry, also appeared to factor into the assessment. Across the sector, digital transformation has emerged as a priority as companies respond to an aging workforce and persistent safety risks. Seowon Tokeon is pursuing a smart-construction system under its “Vision 2030” plan and formed a Future Strategy task force in January 2026 to verify technology applications at job sites. Industry observers say more mid-sized and smaller builders, with less capacity for large-scale technology investment than major firms, are opting for phased rollouts centered on field deployment. The company has set AI-based safety management and data-driven site operations as key goals, aligning with the Transport Ministry’s push to expand smart construction. The government has been promoting wider use of smart safety equipment and data-based management systems to reduce job-site accidents, and adoption of such technologies is widely seen as likely to become a factor in future competitiveness assessments. Seowon Tokeon is also working with Sungkyunkwan University to develop AI-based safety technology. It is testing systems such as worker-route risk detection and video-based safety monitoring. At the Gwacheon G-town site, a research AI CCTV system has been installed to collect work-environment data, which is being used to refine safety standards and training materials. Use of AI video analytics at construction sites has been increasing, including systems that automatically detect whether workers are wearing protective gear or entering restricted areas. Some large builders have moved beyond pilot programs to broader deployment, and Seowon Tokeon is moving to adopt similar tools. The company’s rating also marks an upgrade. Seowon Tokeon said it rose one notch from the previous year to BBB-. In general, credit upgrades are interpreted as reflecting a combination of improved profitability, a stronger order backlog and a more stable financial structure. Because construction is closely tied to the real estate cycle, evaluators also weigh whether a company has a business base that can withstand shifts in external conditions. The company said preparations for smart construction, along with its construction capabilities, were reflected in the evaluation. It said it plans to continue operations in a way that secures both safety and efficiency, focusing on technologies proven at job sites. Credit-rating industry officials note that while the BBB range is considered investment-grade, it is also viewed as more vulnerable to performance swings during economic downturns. They said maintaining profitability and managing financial stability will be key to any further upgrades. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:27:29

Iran’s Leadership Faces Test as U.S. Talks Expose Internal Divisions Iran’s leadership is facing a new test as differences emerge over negotiations with the United States to end the war, according to an analysis. The AP reported Monday that Iran has kept its system running without a power vacuum since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the coming talks with Washington could expose internal fractures. Khamenei long managed competing power blocs and kept tight, centralized control. Now, with civilian politicians and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ military leadership among multiple centers of power, it is unclear who ultimately drives decisions. After Khamenei’s death, his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was named as a successor, but his role remains uncertain. He has not appeared publicly since reports said he was wounded in an airstrike. In this environment, the Supreme National Security Council is widely seen as the current hub of power. It includes senior civilian and military figures, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has taken a leading public role in steering talks with the United States. The council brings together reform-minded President Masoud Pezeshkian alongside hard-line conservatives and military officials, mixing competing interests. Analysts say the layered structure has helped the system endure. Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said, “The leadership was able to survive thanks to overlapping centers of power,” adding that “factionalism is embedded in the DNA of this (Iranian) system.” AP said the same structure could become a source of conflict as negotiations advance. Iranian leaders believe they hold an advantage after blocking the Strait of Hormuz, but U.S. maritime interdiction and economic sanctions are fueling economic damage and anxiety at home. Iran also saw protests late last year calling for the government’s overthrow. In that context, any agreement with the West, including sanctions relief, is expected to be a key factor in maintaining internal control. Vaez said the government may find it more realistic to make concessions to the West for survival than to make concessions to its own people. Recent confusion over the Strait of Hormuz has been cited as a case that exposed internal disagreement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced a plan to reopen the waterway, but military authorities later reversed that position, raising questions about policy coordination. Qalibaf has dismissed claims of divisions and said the leadership is maintaining a single line in its negotiating strategy. Still, analysts say the risk of internal splits remains as talks move forward. AP reported that Qalibaf is emerging as a figure who could broker interests among factions. A former IRGC general and former national police chief, he is seen as able to bridge competing camps. He showed a pragmatic streak as Tehran’s mayor and has support not only among conservatives but also among reformist and centrist groups, making him a key player in managing internal differences during negotiations. He has also maintained close ties to the Khamenei family and has strong links to the newly ascendant IRGC leadership. Those connections could help him secure domestic backing across conservative, military, reformist and centrist circles as Iran seeks an agreement with the United States, AP said. 2026-04-22 10:24:28

KOSPI hits record high on hopes before Iran announces to skip ceasefire talk SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market opened sharply higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark KOSPI hitting a fresh record, before quickly surrendering gains as geopolitical uncertainty weighed on sentiment. The KOSPI rose to a record 6,401.97 at the open, extending early momentum, but failed to sustain the upward trajectory and slipped to around 6,366.5 in early trading. After climbing at the market open at 9:00 a.m., the index began to pull back around 9:02 a.m., reflecting a swift shift in investor positioning. The market briefly rebounded at around 9:09 a.m., only to turn lower again by 9:13 a.m., highlighting heightened trading session's volatility. The pullback came as investors grew cautious over geopolitical developments, after reports that Iran’s negotiation team had declined to participate in a second round of ceasefire talks with the United States via mediator Pakistan. Market direction was also shaped by diverging investor flows. Retail investors were heavy buyers of 424.4 billion won ($287.4 million), while foreign investors sold 176.1 billion won and institutions offloaded 241.3 billion won, indicating that early gains lacked support from key institutional participants. Large-cap stocks moved broadly lower in line with the market’s retreat. Shares of SK hynix fell 1.4 percent to 1,207,000 won, while Hyundai Motor declined 1.3 percent to 539,000 won. SK Square dropped 2.5 percent to 700,000 won, and Doosan Enerbility slipped 1 percent to 114,600 won. Biopharmaceutical heavyweight Samsung Biologics edged down 0.5 percent to 1,580,000 won, while Kia declined 0.9 percent to 158,600 won. 2026-04-22 10:24:11

Special Counsel Seizes Yoon Hee-geun Work PC in Probe of Alleged Unification Church Gambling Cover-Up A special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young has widened its probe into allegations that police covered up suspected overseas gambling by senior figures of the Unification Church, moving its focus up to the top ranks of the police. According to legal officials on April 22, the team secured a work computer previously used by Yoon Hee-geun during searches a day earlier of the National Police Agency, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency and the Chuncheon Police Station. Yoon was the agency’s deputy commissioner general in June 2022, when police obtained the gambling tip. The special counsel is investigating why police did not open a formal investigation despite receiving information that Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja and other senior officials gambled about 60 billion won from 2008 to 2011 at casinos in Las Vegas. Investigators have also found indications the information was leaked outside the police. The team is looking into whether the case was effectively blunted after the information was passed to political circles. Reports said the probe is also examining alleged involvement by People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong. Kwon has been indicted on charges of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from the Unification Church. He was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial, and an appeal is under way. In a separate case, a court partly recognized that Kwon received investigation-related information tied to the Unification Church. Investigators are analyzing data from Yoon’s seized computer to determine whether he was involved in any effort to block the investigation. Although the search warrant reportedly did not specify a suspect, the inquiry is expanding toward senior police leadership. The investigative scope also includes possible links to Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Geonjin Beopsa." After a text message surfaced in which Jeon referred to Yoon’s personnel matter as something "worked on in advance," the special counsel is treating it as a possible clue to motives for personnel or investigative interference. The case was previously handled by a special counsel team known as the Kim Keon-hee special counsel (the Min Joong-ki team) before being transferred to the comprehensive special counsel. That earlier team indicted suspects on charges including instructing destruction of evidence, alleging the Unification Church received investigative information in advance and ordered deletion of accounting records. A court dismissed the indictment, saying it was not within the special counsel law’s scope. After reviewing materials obtained from police, the comprehensive special counsel team plans to summon related figures for questioning in sequence. What began as a gambling allegation is now spreading to police and political circles, and potentially to the top of the police hierarchy. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:18:45

Samsung SDS touts AI coding agents to speed digital transformation in finance Samsung SDS on April 22 outlined a strategy to accelerate digital transformation in the financial sector by applying generative artificial intelligence across IT work, from coding automation to modernizing legacy systems. The company held an “Industry Day” seminar for financial clients, presenting its approach and case studies using generative AI and AI agents. Industry Day is a series that invites customers from key sectors — including finance, the public sector, manufacturing and retail, and defense — to share core solutions and real-world deployments. Samsung SDS said the session was organized as financial firms move faster to adopt AI, and it offered an execution plan aimed at advancing both business automation and IT system upgrades. The company said it has recently won projects including Woori Bank’s “AI agent banking” initiative and a mid- to long-term IT infrastructure optimization program. About 150 IT managers and decision-makers from banks, insurers and securities firms attended the event. In a keynote address, Lee Ji-hwan, head of the financial consulting team and a managing director, presented AI capabilities applicable to finance and described innovation cases, proposing a digital transformation strategy tailored to financial environments. Presentations also covered the next-generation insurance system NFC (NexFinance Core) 2.0, development automation using AI code agents, AI-based modernization of financial code, data platform buildout plans, and a collaboration model using the company’s Global Development Center, or GDC. Samsung SDS highlighted a code modernization case in which it used AI agents to convert a domestic securities firm’s C-language system to Java, positioning the approach as a way to address legacy upgrades that have been delayed by high costs and shortages of specialized staff. The company said its AI agent platform, FabriX, automates such code conversion to support system modernization. It also emphasized its GDC collaboration model, which it said operates about 5,000 personnel across China, Vietnam and India, as a way to ease IT staffing constraints and speed digital transformation. Samsung SDS said it plans to expand the series by industry — including manufacturing and distribution and services — following a public-sector seminar held in March, and to continue sharing AI-driven innovation strategies. “This seminar is a place to share AI innovation directions and execution cases that can be applied across the financial industry,” said Hwang Su-yeong, executive vice president in charge of financial services at Samsung SDS. “We will continue to support the financial industry’s digital transformation based on our technology and experience.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:16:39

USFK commander says THAAD remains on Korean Peninsula, urges caution on wartime control transfer U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, known as THAAD, remains on the Korean Peninsula, seeking to ease concerns that deterrence against North Korea has weakened after reports that some THAAD assets were moved to the Middle East. According to Reuters, Brunson told a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 21 local time that "we have not moved any THAAD systems" and that THAAD "is still on the peninsula." He said the military is preparing for a forward movement of munitions and noted that it has previously forward-deployed the radar. Brunson said some equipment has not yet returned, but the THAAD system itself has not been relocated. Brunson also said the process of repositioning equipment at Osan Air Base to prepare for munitions movement contributed to confusion. He indicated the controversy grew after details of certain assets and munitions operations became public, not because a battery was withdrawn. On the transfer of wartime operational control, Brunson reaffirmed a conditions-based approach, saying the decision should be guided by the combined defense posture, operational capability and the security environment rather than political judgment or a set timetable. On the future posture of U.S. forces in South Korea, he said capability matters more than troop numbers, emphasizing what forces can actually be deployed and operated over the size of the force alone.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:15:54

Hyundai E&C Unveils 'ONE City' Plan for Apgujeong District 3 Redevelopment Hyundai Engineering & Construction, selected as the preferred bidder for the Apgujeong District 3 redevelopment project, on 22 unveiled its blueprint dubbed “ONE City.” Apgujeong District 3 is a reconstruction project covering Hyundai Apartments Phases 1-7 and 10, 13 and 14, as well as Daelim Villat. The plan calls for rebuilding 3,934 households into a complex of up to 65 stories with 5,175 households. Under its “OWN THE ONE” vision, Hyundai E&C presented an urban housing model built around five core values: landmark design, community, robotics, landscaping and residential services. Global architecture firms RAMSA and Morphosis are participating in the design. Hyundai E&C said all units would feature terraces and three-sided open windows to secure views of the Han River and the city, along with a 3-meter coffered ceiling to enhance a sense of openness. The community plan centers on “Club Apgujeong,” designed to connect the complex. Walking, exercise, relaxation and cultural functions are arranged to link indoor and outdoor spaces. A circular layout called “The Circle One” combines indoor landscaping, community facilities and mobility options. For future technology, the company plans to introduce an unmanned shuttle based on demand-responsive transport, along with smart parking, contactless delivery robots and safety management systems. Landscaping is designed as a multi-level green structure linked to the Han River, expanding urban green space through courtyards and private gardens. Global landscape designers GPB and Greenwise are taking part, Hyundai E&C said. Residential design includes a customizable “Canvas Unit,” as well as a hotel-style drop-off zone, separated circulation routes and health care services, the company said. An Hyundai E&C official said the plan “presents a new housing model that combines design, technology and residential services based on the value of Apgujeong Hyundai,” adding the company would “continue to strengthen its competitiveness for the project.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:13:27