Actor Jang Dong-joo Announces Retirement 배우 장동주가 은퇴한다고 밝혔다. On May 15, actor Jang Dong-joo announced his retirement via social media, stating, "I have received so much love and support while living as an actor for a long time." He continued, "Every moment I laughed and cried in front of the camera has been the brightest time of my life," expressing gratitude to the directors, staff, and fellow actors who believed in him and supported him throughout his career. "Above all, I have been able to walk this path happily thanks to the fans who have always been by my side," he said. "With today, I will lay down my life as an actor." In closing, he remarked, "Although I am leaving the stage, I will never forget the love you have sent me. I apologize to everyone who has supported me," and added, "Thank you sincerely for loving me, Jang Dong-joo, until now." Jang had previously caused concern last October when he posted a message saying, "I’m sorry" along with a black screen on his social media, after which he went silent for a day before his whereabouts were confirmed. In January, he revealed that he had been a victim of phone hacking and extortion. He described receiving calls from an unknown number and stated, "A man who knew my exact movements. I can still hear that voice clearly," adding that the number turned out to be from a burner phone. He disclosed that his phone had been completely hacked, with personal photos, chat logs, and contact lists compromised. During this ordeal, he admitted to accumulating debts amounting to billions of won, expressing remorse to those who were hurt or affected by his situation. He pledged, "If you believe in me and wait, I will work hard to repay every single won. Please help me." Jang Dong-joo made his debut in 2017 with the KBS drama 'School 2017' and has appeared in works such as 'Criminal Minds,' 'Mr. Temporary,' 'Honest Candidate,' and 'Trigger.'* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:21:00

Trump Highlights Trade Agreement with Xi During China Visit President Donald Trump concluded his visit to China by emphasizing the outcomes of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He highlighted a trade agreement and the expansion of U.S. agricultural product purchases, while also stressing China's alignment with the U.S. on issues related to the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz. On May 15, Trump told reporters in Beijing after a private meeting with Xi, "The visit was unbelievable," adding, "We reached a fantastic trade agreement for both countries." He noted that they addressed several issues that others had failed to resolve. Trump stated that topics discussed during the meeting included trade, technology, Taiwan, and the Iran conflict. In the realm of trade, the expansion of Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural products was a key achievement. Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, expressed optimism that an agreement would lead to China purchasing "tens of billions of dollars" worth of U.S. agricultural products annually over the next three years. Reuters reported that this could include not only soybeans but also corn and sorghum, in addition to existing commitments. Energy discussions were also part of the agenda. According to AP, Trump explained that China could increase its imports of U.S. crude oil. This move is seen as an effort to diversify China's energy import structure away from reliance on the Middle East and expand U.S. energy exports. Regarding the Iran issue, Trump emphasized China's cooperation, stating, "President Xi expressed his willingness to help end the Iran conflict." He also noted that Xi indicated China would not supply military equipment to Iran. Trump remarked, "We feel very similarly in that we do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons and we want the Strait of Hormuz to remain open." Greer also mentioned in an interview with Bloomberg that China desires to keep the Strait of Hormuz open without tolls or military control. He explained that China views the easing of tensions in the Middle East pragmatically and has shown a willingness to limit military support to Iran. However, it is difficult to view this meeting as a resolution to the underlying U.S.-China conflicts. Xi raised the Taiwan issue as a core matter in U.S.-China relations, sending a warning to the United States. AP noted that while both sides projected a friendly atmosphere, complex issues regarding Iran, Taiwan, and technology controls remain unresolved.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:16:20

Former Intelligence Chief Moon Sang-ho Faces Five-Year Sentence for Leaking Agent List The Insurrection Special Prosecutor's team, led by Cho Eun-seok, has requested a five-year prison sentence for former Intelligence Command Chief Moon Sang-ho for allegedly leaking the names of intelligence agents during the martial law declared on December 3. During a sentencing hearing on May 15 at the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-kyung, the prosecution argued for the sentence based on charges of military secret leakage and violations of the Personal Information Protection Act. The prosecution also sought five-year sentences for Kim Bong-kyu, a former head of the Central Newspaper Division (Colonel), and Jeong Seong-wook, a former head of the 100th Brigade's Second Business Division (Colonel), on similar charges. The prosecution stated, "The defendants colluded with civilian Noh Sang-won, a former Intelligence Command Chief, who had no authority to access military information, to participate in the unconstitutional and illegal enforcement of martial law, leading to the leak of military secrets, specifically the list of intelligence agents. The exposure of this list poses a significant risk, as it could make agents direct targets for terrorist groups." They further emphasized, "The defendants were aware that the personal information of agents constituted military secrets and that leaking this information could lead to catastrophic consequences. They neglected their duties and used their subordinates as tools for power rather than protecting them, thereby undermining the foundations of democracy and the rule of law." The prosecution noted that the leaked list was utilized in the formation of the Second Investigation Team, which was created to investigate allegations of election fraud, immediately following the declaration of martial law. They stressed the need for severe accountability. The prosecution explained that the requested sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the defendants' lack of remorse. Moon Sang-ho and others are accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to leak personal information, including the names of approximately 40 intelligence agents, to Noh Sang-won in order to establish an unofficial organization, the Second Investigation Team, to investigate election fraud allegations. Previously, the prosecution had also sought a five-year sentence for former Minister Kim on the same charges. Noh Sang-won, who allegedly received the list of intelligence agents from Kim, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:14:04

Samsung Executives Call for Unconditional Dialogue with Union Amid Strike Threat Samsung Electronics executives, including Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun and President Roh Tae-moon, have reiterated their call for 'unconditional dialogue' with the union as the labor group hints at a total strike. In an official statement titled 'We Apologize to the Public' released on May 15, the executives acknowledged the significant burden and concern their labor issues have caused for the public and the government. They stated, "As our achievements grow, the expectations society has for Samsung become stricter and larger, and we have failed to adequately address this." The executives expressed a deep sense of responsibility for the current situation, saying, "We feel a heavy responsibility for how things have come to this point. We sincerely apologize." They urged the union to return to the negotiating table, stating, "We consider the union as part of our family and a community of shared destiny, and we will approach dialogue with an open attitude without conditions. We again request the union to engage in discussions promptly, keeping in mind the concerns of the public and the national economy." The executives emphasized their commitment to resolving internal issues amicably and focusing on enhancing the company's competitiveness. They remarked, "We are in an era of infinite competition where the global business environment is changing rapidly, and we cannot afford to waste time on internal problems. We, the executives, will collaborate to address the current economic situation and the long-term future of South Korea." They concluded with a promise to be a steadfast pillar for the national economy through sound management, continuous technological innovation, and bold future investments. The statement included signatures from all executives, including Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun, President Roh Tae-moon, and other senior leaders such as Kim Soo-mok, Kim Yong-kwan, Kim Woo-jun, Kim Won-kyung, Nam Seok-woo, Mauro Porcini, Park Seung-hee, Park Yong-in, Park Hong-geun, Baek Soo-hyun, Song Jae-hyuk, Yong Seok-woo, Yoon Jang-hyun, Lee Won-jin, Choi Won-jun, and Han Jin-man.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:10:41

Korea and India in One Frame: Bridging a translation gap SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) -The meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on April 20 was amicable, but slow. The words of both leaders traveled through English first then into Hindi because the Korean entourage lacked a translator who spoke Hindi. Technically, communication occurred. But something was lost in that detour, and everyone in the room knew it. Back at home, Lee complained out loud. At a cabinet meeting on April 28, he rebuked Foreign Minister Cho Hyun directly: find a way, he said, to make sure this never happens again. Train someone. Grow one. It is absurd, he argued, to navigate a country of 1.4 billion people through double translation. The rebuke was warranted. But the problem it exposed runs deeper than a staffing gap in the foreign ministry. Korea and India are not strangers by any reasonable measure. They share a continent. They share the memory of colonial humiliation and the hard-won pride of recovery. They share booming trade figures, growing diplomatic ties, and — increasingly — the attention of the same geopolitical moment. And yet, for decades, India has occupied a curious blind spot in the Korean imagination: present in the abstract, absent in the particular. A civilization of 1.47 billion people, reduced in popular consciousness to a handful of images. The interpreter was missing because, for a long time, the genuine curiosity was too. Language is a measure of intent. The languages a nation chooses to learn are a record of where it has decided to look. By that measure, India has long sat outside Korea's field of vision. Not out of hostility — out of something perhaps more consequential: indifference dressed as familiarity. This is what made the response to this year's Korea-India Essay and AI Video and cohosted by the Indian Cultural Centre and the Embassy of India in Seoul and Aju Press (AJP). Over 550 people answered to our call. They were students, writers, and ordinary citizens who had decided, for reasons of their own, to look. What they saw was worth recording. Sonali Ray, whose essay One Frame, Two Worlds took the top prize, wrote about kimchi and Indian achar — not as the same food, but as the same idea. Two cultures that understood, long before modern science confirmed it, that fermentation is philosophy: the patient transformation of humble ingredients into something alive and complex. She wrote about Korean pojangmacha and Indian dhabas operating on identical democratic principles — honest food, generous portions, a cook with opinions no critic could shake. She wrote about the way a Korean grandmother's doenjang jjigae and an Indian mother's dal speak the same grammar of love: slow-cooked, unpretentious, irreplaceable. These are not the observations of someone looking at a foreign country. They are the observations of someone recognizing a reflection. Kim Ji-young, who took the gold prize, arrived at India from a different direction — through language itself. In Hindi, she discovered, a single word carries two opposite meanings: kal means both yesterday and tomorrow. For a student of Hindi, it is an early lesson in grammar. For Kim, it became something else: a lens through which to examine a culture that refuses the false comfort of finality. She encountered this refusal everywhere — in the Indian professor who answered questions with a tilt of the head meaning perhaps, in the philosopher Sri Aurobindo's words that man is a transitional being, never complete, always becoming. She returned to Korea with a quieter mind and a more honest question: why are we so desperate to conclude? It is a question worth sitting with. Korea is a society that has, at remarkable speed, built extraordinary things. That speed has costs. Among them is a certain intolerance for ambiguity — a cultural impatience that manifests in everything from the pressure to declare one's MBTI type within minutes of meeting a stranger, to the fear that a classroom moment of genuine connection might constitute a legal liability. Kim's essay does not argue for India over Korea. It argues for what each might offer the other: that a civilization comfortable with kal — yesterday and tomorrow in a single breath — might have something to teach one that has forgotten how to wait. This is what cultural exchange looks like when it works. Not the exchange of tourist impressions, not the soft diplomacy of trade delegations, but the slow, unglamorous work of one person genuinely trying to understand how another civilization has organized its experience of being human. The awards ceremony takes place tomorrow, May 16th, at Yeouido Hangang Park, alongside India Day festivities that will fill the riverbank with color, music, and the specific warmth of two cultures meeting in the open air. It is, by any measure, a small event. It will not produce a Hindi interpreter overnight. It will not, by itself, close the distance that an empty chair at a translation table exposed. But 550 people looked toward India this year and found, in that looking, something that surprised them. A word that contains its own opposite. A pickle that is not the same pickle but the same wisdom. A civilization that has been there all along, patient as fermentation, waiting to be seen whole. The summit will happen again. Next time, perhaps, the words will travel direct. 2026-05-15 14:09:47

Nobel Laureate Peter Howitt Calls for Redesign of Education, Finance, and Welfare in AI Era Peter Howitt, a professor at Brown University and the 2022 Nobel laureate in economics, stated that the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally transform not only industries but also education, social safety nets, and financial systems. He emphasized that South Korea must undertake a comprehensive redesign of its economic system in response to these changes. The Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Economic and Social Research Council held a conference on May 15 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, titled "Economic Paradigm Shift for Reversing Growth Trends." Howitt delivered a keynote address on innovative growth strategies for the South Korean economy in the AI era. Howitt diagnosed that the South Korean economy faces complex challenges, including the rise of AI, the spread of protectionism, demographic changes, and the need to shift from follower growth to leading growth. He defined AI as a "General Purpose Technology" akin to electricity, electric vehicles, and personal computers, indicating that it is a technology that can transform the economic structure itself rather than being confined to specific industries. "General Purpose Technologies tend to go through initial disruption and long adjustment periods before their productivity-enhancing effects spread across industries," Howitt said. He stressed that all countries need to actively embrace these technologies to reap future benefits. He emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive institutional redesign that encompasses the education system, social safety nets, and the stability of financial systems to respond to the spread of AI. He also highlighted the importance of collaborative industrial policies among government, businesses, and academia. Howitt underscored the need to maintain an open economic system despite the rise of protectionism. He stated, "International trade enhances competitive pressure and provides access to global markets and learning opportunities, which fosters innovation. We must seek new trade alliances while also strengthening domestic foundations in anticipation of declining demand from existing trading partners." Regarding the issue of population decline, he cautioned against excessive pessimism. He noted, "Population decline is not necessarily a constraint on growth, as some may fear," but he advocated for selective immigration policies aimed at attracting talented individuals with innovative capabilities. Howitt proposed establishing a "leading growth system" as a key objective for South Korea's economic strategy. He stated, "For the South Korean economy to transition to leading growth, a more innovative corporate ecosystem is essential," emphasizing the need for enhanced support for small and medium-sized enterprises, expanded antitrust policies, and the establishment of a technology-friendly financial system. Concerns about the structural slowdown in the South Korean economy were prominently raised during the conference. KDI President Kim Se-jik remarked, "It is time for a new growth strategy focused on 'real growth' rather than short-term economic responses," in light of the economy experiencing a decline in growth rates by one percentage point every five years over the past three decades. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol, in his congratulatory remarks, stated, "To address external uncertainties such as the Middle East conflict and the structural issue of declining potential growth rates, we need to move away from a follower economy and embrace innovation based on 'creative destruction.'"* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:05:29

Government to Announce Employment Stability Plan Amid Industrial Transition The South Korean government plans to unveil a basic employment stability plan during the first half of the year in response to growing concerns about job disruptions caused by industrial changes, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and carbon neutrality. This initiative aims to proactively address the potential for large-scale job shifts resulting from these transitions. On May 15, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held a meeting at the Seoul Business Center to gather input from labor representatives, business leaders, and youth organizations. Since November of last year, the government has been working with expert forums to develop policies aimed at preventing job shocks and creating new employment opportunities stemming from industrial transitions. The urgency arises from the rapid spread of AI, digitalization in manufacturing, and the restructuring of green industries, which could destabilize existing sectors and labor markets. There is a growing awareness that while some jobs may quickly disappear during the transition, new roles may not be created in time to replace them. A notable example is the decline in jobs for workers at traditional power plants due to the shift toward renewable energy. Similarly, workers in the internal combustion engine vehicle sector face increasing pressure as the industry shifts to electric vehicles. As job restructuring pressures mount, concepts like 'just transition' are gaining traction in the United States and the European Union. These regions are strengthening policies to mitigate labor shocks resulting from industrial changes, and there are calls for South Korea to adopt a more systematic transition strategy. To this end, the government has been accumulating foundational data on the status of industrial transitions and their employment impacts through a first phase of forums held from November last year to March this year. The second phase, conducted in April and May, focused on five specialized areas: job outlook, employment safety nets, business support, vocational training, and social dialogue. During the recent meeting, reports prepared by the expert forum and review materials from the labor ministry were discussed. The government plans to announce the basic employment stability plan next month, following public discussions and feedback from an expert committee on employment stability during industrial transitions. Lim Young-mi, head of the Employment Policy Office, stated, "There is a gap between the speed of industrial transition and the readiness of the labor market. If we do not train the necessary talent in line with facility and equipment investments, successful transitions will be difficult." She added, "We will establish a robust support system in collaboration with relevant ministries to ensure that talented individuals can work in a timely manner throughout the entire cycle of industrial transition." She emphasized the need to strengthen measures to ensure that workers' jobs and livelihoods remain stable during the transition period while also seizing new opportunities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 14:03:00

KOSPI Drops Over 4% After Briefly Surpassing 8000 Mark, Trading Curbs Activated The KOSPI index, which fluctuated around the 8000 mark throughout the week, briefly surpassed this threshold for the first time during trading but then plummeted by over 4% due to a surge in profit-taking sales. The index fell to the 7600 range, prompting the activation of a trading curb. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 1:30 PM, the KOSPI was trading at 7611.51, down 369.90 points (4.63%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 7951.75, down 29.66 points (0.37%) from the previous day but managed to rise above 8000 early in the session. However, a rapid increase in profit-taking sales, primarily from foreign investors, led to a swift decline. At approximately 1:28:49 PM, a trading curb was activated due to significant fluctuations in the KOSPI 200 futures index, halting program sell orders for five minutes. At the time of activation, the KOSPI 200 futures index was recorded at 1182.00, down 63.50 points (5.09%) from the previous day's close. This marks the first activation of a trading curb in the KOSPI market since April 2. Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, noted, "After surpassing 8000 points early in the session, the market turned downward as foreign selling increased. Following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that he would 'no longer tolerate' Iran, U.S. futures fell, leading to an expansion of declines in the Korean market." In the securities market, individual investors made a net purchase of 4.3927 trillion won to help defend the index. In contrast, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 4.1735 trillion won and 321.3 billion won, respectively, focusing on profit-taking. Most of the top market capitalization stocks declined, with the exception of Samsung Electro-Mechanics (0.20%). Samsung Electronics (-6.25%), SK Hynix (-5.74%), SK Square (-5.83%), Hyundai Motor (-1.40%), LG Energy Solution (-3.62%), Doosan Enerbility (-4.87%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-4.17%), and Samsung Biologics (-0.62%) all showed weakness. The KOSDAQ index also turned downward. At the same time, the KOSDAQ was recorded at 1145.25, down 45.84 points (3.85%) from the previous trading day. The index opened higher at 1197.23 but quickly reversed as investor sentiment deteriorated. In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors were net buyers of 85.1 billion won, while individuals and institutions sold a net 25.8 billion won and 10.4 billion won, respectively. Top KOSDAQ stocks also experienced declines, including Alteogen (-3.64%), EcoPro BM (-6.22%), EcoPro (-6.61%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.50%), Kolon TissueGene (-2.19%), Samchundang Pharm (-3.58%), Rino Technology (-8.76%), Rigakem Bio (-1.38%), HLB (-1.50%), and ABL Bio (-4.46%).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 13:51:57

Kim Jong Un Takes Commemorative Photo with Participants of the 9th Workers' Federation Congress Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, took a commemorative photo with participants of the 9th Congress of the Korean General Federation of Trade Unions on May 14.According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on May 15, Kim urged the entire working class and union members to lead the changes of the era under the banner of the three revolutions and to drive the country toward the achievement of the new five-year goals.He emphasized that the significant transitional period ahead requires the unwavering leadership and extraordinary efforts of the working class, which is the main force of creation and construction. He stated, "It is the fundamental task facing the working class and union members at this stage of socialist construction to further elevate the spirit of self-reliance and self-sustenance across all areas of ideology, technology, and culture."Kim also congratulated the newly elected chairman and vice-chairmen of the 9th Central Committee of the Federation and acknowledged the contributions of union members.To commemorate the 9th Congress, the Federation held a performance titled "Forward with the Great Party!" featuring the Central Workers' Art Propaganda Troupe and grassroots propaganda workers at the Central Workers' Hall. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Yong Sop, deputy director of the Party Central Committee, Ri Won Jong, chairman of the Federation's Central Committee, and other officials attended the performance, although it did not specify the date and location of the event. The 9th Congress of the Federation was held in Pyongyang from May 11 to 12.The Federation is considered one of North Korea's "four major labor organizations," alongside the Socialist Women's Union, the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, and the Agricultural Workers' Union.These organizations serve to disseminate and implement the policies and lines determined by the Party, with mandatory membership for youth, women, workers, and farmers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 13:49:06

President Lee Emphasizes Innovation Growth in Meeting with Nobel Laureate Peter Howitt President Lee Jae-myung met with Peter Howitt, a professor at Brown University and last year's Nobel Prize winner in Economics, on May 15 at the Blue House. During the meeting, Lee credited Howitt's guidance through his former student, Chief Economic Advisor Ha Joon-kyung, for helping South Korea achieve the highest global growth rate in the first quarter of this year."Your mentorship has greatly benefited our national policies," Lee said, acknowledging Howitt's influence on Ha, who was advised by Howitt during his doctoral studies at Brown University in 2003.Lee noted that Ha is directly overseeing South Korea's economic growth strategy, emphasizing that the country is focusing on innovation-driven growth, as taught by Howitt.He also requested Howitt's insights on South Korea's economic growth strategy, adding, "I apologize for the delay, but congratulations on your Nobel Prize win."Howitt expressed gratitude for the meeting, mentioning that he had heard it was Teacher's Day in South Korea. He expressed joy in seeing Ha implement the teachings he provided.He remarked, "The large corporations that have driven South Korea's economic growth for decades are not resting on their laurels but are continuing to innovate at a high level. I found that South Korea's R&D spending is the second highest in the world relative to GDP."Howitt praised President Lee's support for startups and small businesses, calling them the key drivers of economic growth and highlighting the incentives and financial support being provided under Lee's leadership. He noted the importance of ensuring that the benefits of growth are distributed inclusively and that rational policies are established.He also commended the government's efforts to maintain a sound fiscal policy while minimizing deficits and effectively managing inflation targets.Howitt concluded by emphasizing that despite the current unstable and uncertain global environment, South Korea has achieved impressive results, stating, "While many countries face various headwinds, few have navigated these challenges as successfully as South Korea."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 13:46:26