South Korea’s ruling party says timing of special counsel bill needs review amid internal debate Cho Seung-rae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, said the party needs further discussion on when to move a bill to appoint a special counsel to investigate alleged “fabricated indictments,” taking a cautious line ahead of the June 3 local elections. His remarks on May 4 marked the party’s first official position after President Lee Jae-myung said he would leave the timing and procedure to the party. At a news briefing at the National Assembly, Cho said the party had introduced the special counsel bill based on findings confirmed through a National Assembly special committee’s fact-finding probe into the alleged fabricated indictments. Earlier that morning, Cho had told MBC Radio’s “Kim Jong-bae’s Focus” that passage before the local elections was possible. He later said he also stressed on the program that the party should weigh the bill itself and its potential impact on the election. Separately, the presidential office’s senior secretary for political affairs, Hong Ik-pyo, delivered Lee’s position, saying “a national consensus has formed” on the special counsel issue. Hong said Lee called it a must to uncover the truth and restore judicial justice through a special counsel, but asked the ruling Democratic Party to decide the specific timing and procedures after gathering public opinion and deliberating. The Democratic Party last month wrapped up the special committee’s activities on April 30 and immediately introduced the “fabricated indictment special counsel bill.” The bill would allow a special counsel to investigate the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case and the Daejang-dong and Wirye new town development corruption cases. The bill also includes a provision for the special counsel to handle the maintenance of prosecutions in cases transferred to it, prompting controversy over whether it effectively grants the special counsel authority to drop indictments. 2026-05-04 15:06:26

Seven in 10 older elementary students in Korea use AI SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Seven out of 10 South Korean elementary school students in upper grades use generative artificial intelligence tools, surveyed showed Monday, with nearly 15 percent frequenting them to underscore how deeply AI has entered childhood education and daily life in one of the world’s most digitally connected societies. According to a nationwide survey released Monday by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, 72.1 percent of fourth- to sixth-grade elementary students said they had used generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Among them, 57.4 percent said they used them occasionally, while 14.7 percent reported frequent use. The online survey was conducted from April 9 to 22 among 2,804 upper elementary students nationwide ahead of Children’s Day. Half of respondents said they spend more than two hours a day on smartphones, tablets or other smart devices after school. Smartphones are banned in classrooms in Korea. Among them, 21.1 percent reported using devices for two to three hours daily, while 15.9 percent said they spent three to four hours. Another 12.2 percent said they use smart devices for more than four hours after school. Longer screen time became markedly more common in higher grades. Among sixth graders, 36.8 percent said they used smart devices for more than three hours a day after school — more than double the 16.9 percent reported among fourth graders. Heavy use was also more pronounced among older students. Some 16.5 percent of sixth graders said they spent more than four hours a day on devices, compared with 6.7 percent of fourth graders. Only 4.7 percent of respondents said they do not use smart devices after school. Another 20.5 percent said they use them for less than one hour daily, while 25.6 percent reported one to two hours of use. The survey suggested after-school supervision also plays a role in device dependency. Among children left alone after school, 16.5 percent reported using smart devices for more than four hours daily, compared with 9.7 percent among children who stayed with parents or other adults. The teachers’ union said the findings point to widening gaps in after-school care and warned that a lack of supervision may be accelerating excessive reliance on digital devices. About 40 percent of respondents also acknowledged difficulty controlling their smartphone use. When asked whether they struggled to stop using devices, 7.1 percent said “often,” while 33.9 percent answered “sometimes.” Overall, 42.5 percent reported experiencing problems related to device use. The most common issue was excessive screen time, cited by 21.1 percent, followed by difficulty concentrating on studies at 16.8 percent and conflicts with family members over device use at 12.8 percent. The findings echo broader international concerns over children’s growing dependence on AI and digital technology. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said in its “Digital Education Outlook 2026” report that generative AI is spreading rapidly across education systems worldwide and is becoming increasingly accessible to students, while warning that overreliance on such tools could weaken learning and reduce engagement in cognitive processes. The survey also suggested that smartphones may be filling a broader emotional and social void for children facing intense academic pressure and limited free time. When asked what schools, families and society should prioritize to support children’s development, respondents most frequently cited ensuring sufficient time for rest and play, at 42.4 percent. That was followed closely by reducing academic burden at 42.0 percent. A safe environment free from school violence was cited by 34.8 percent. The teachers’ union said the results reflect structural changes in children’s daily lives amid the rapid expansion of digital technology and called for urgent policy responses. It proposed establishing national guidelines for AI use in education, creating clearer rules for smart-device use between schools and families, strengthening data privacy protections for minors, guaranteeing time for rest and play after school, and easing academic pressure through tighter regulation of private tutoring. 2026-05-04 15:03:52

Agency apologizes for G-Dragon racial slur attire SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - K-pop star G-Dragon's agency has issued an official apology Monday after the Big Bang member performed in a stage outfit containing a Dutch racial slur. The incident in Macau has renewed concerns regarding the South Korean entertainment industry's frequent lack of cultural and linguistic verification in fashion. Styling choices in K-pop often derive from a focus on visual aesthetics that ignores the social or historical weight of foreign fashion graphics. This recurring phenomenon highlights a gap between the global reach of South Korean artists and the localized expertise of their management teams. Controversy erupted following the "Macau K-SPARK" event on Saturday, where the 37-year-old appeared wearing a t-shirt featuring the phrase "RONNY, EEN GEILE NEGER JONGEN." The Dutch text includes sexual terminology and "neger," a derogatory term for Black people. Global fans launched immediate criticism on social media platforms after images of the performance circulated. Critics argued that such a high-profile artist, who serves as a global fashion icon, should be subject to more rigorous styling reviews. "We sincerely apologize for the fact that the artist's performance costume included phrases that were inappropriate in a social and cultural context," Galaxy Corporation said in a statement released May 4. The agency acknowledged the importance of "meticulous cultural sensitivity and responsible review" in the aftermath of the backlash. It pledged to overhaul internal verification procedures for all styling and artist activities to prevent future oversights. Similar incidents have taken place previously, as South Korean labels frequently prioritize the visual appeal of Western-style graphics without confirming their meanings. This fashion-related ignorance remains a significant risk for artists acting as international cultural representatives. Galaxy Corporation stated it will implement more cautious standards to ensure the diverse cultural backgrounds and values of global fans are respected. The firm expressed regret for the "disappointment and concern" caused to the international audience. 2026-05-04 14:59:58

Anthropic in talks with Blackstone, Goldman on $1.5B venture to expand enterprise AI Anthropic is pursuing plans to form a new company with major Wall Street investors including Blackstone and Goldman Sachs in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, or about 2.1 trillion won. The venture would help companies backed by private equity firms adopt artificial intelligence tools. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 4, citing sources, that Anthropic is in late-stage talks to set up the company with Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Goldman Sachs and General Atlantic. An announcement could come as soon as May 5, the sources said. Anthropic, Blackstone and Hellman & Friedman are expected to be core investors, each contributing about $300 million, or roughly 420 billion won, the report said. Goldman Sachs is also expected to join as a founding investor with about $150 million, or about 210 billion won. Total investment commitments are projected at about $1.5 billion. The company is expected to advise businesses on where and how to use AI and support implementation in day-to-day operations, including at private equity-owned firms. OpenAI has also been reported to be discussing a similar partnership model with the private equity industry. Both companies are accelerating efforts to win enterprise customers seeking to cut costs and improve efficiency. The Journal said Anthropic is viewed as a leader in the enterprise AI market, though OpenAI is moving quickly into the space. Anthropic has also been mentioned as a possible stock market listing as soon as this year, and its revenue has reportedly been rising rapidly as its coding tool, Claude Code, gains popularity.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 14:54:15

Coupang Play Gains Share With HBO Releases as Rivalry for No. 2 OTT Spot Intensifies In April, the user gap between South Korea’s streaming services Tving and Coupang Play widened again. Mobile Index data released on the 4th showed Tving posted 7,708,645 monthly active users, while Coupang Play had 9,101,593. The difference was about 1.39 million users. Tving’s MAU fell 3.95% from the previous month, while Coupang Play rose 0.61%. Among major platforms, Netflix logged 14,799,836 MAU, down 7.02% from the prior month. Wavve rose 1.27% to 3,897,570. Disney+ had seen its February MAU jump by nearly 1 million due to a compensation program for customers affected by a KT hacking incident, but in April it fell 8.31% to 3,462,195. Coupang Play attributed its MAU increase to exclusive content, including new HBO titles and recently talked-about films. The film “The Man Who Lives With the King” was released exclusively on Coupang Play on April 29 through an individual purchase model. HBO original series “Euphoria Season 3” was also added. Tving, in its third year streaming KBO games, saw users decline in April. While the pro baseball season opening was expected to boost traffic, the platform showed limited gains in new users. Still, activity among existing users increased. A Tving official said, “MAU declined, but average daily active users rose by double digits from the previous month,” adding that repeat visits tied to the KBO League and Tving originals such as “Yumi’s Cells Season 3” and “Heart Signal 5” appeared to have helped increase viewing time. 2026-05-04 14:51:19

Comedian Yang Sang-guk Apologizes After Backlash Over His Behavior on YouTube Show Comedian Yang Sang-guk apologized after his remarks and attitude on the YouTube variety show 'Pinggyego' drew criticism. On May 3, a social media user wrote on Yang’s SNS that the comment section for 'Pinggyego' was “in an uproar” over how he addressed Yoo Jae-suk and over his views on dating as a “Gyeongsang-do man,” adding, “I want to keep watching you. I think you should go into humble mode.” Yang replied, “Yes. I’ll be more careful going forward.” The controversy followed an episode of 'Pinggyego' posted May 2 on the YouTube channel 'DdeunDdeun,' in which Yang appeared with Han Sang-jin and Nam Chang-hee. During the show, Nam said he is newly married and sees his wife off every day. Yang responded, “That’s dangerous. Seoul men are good at that. When they date, they take them home every time, but I’ve never taken a girlfriend home.” Yoo advised that even if not every day, it would be good to take a girlfriend home sometimes, saying it reflects wanting to spend more time together because you love the person. Yang pushed back, saying, “I usually listen to senior Yoo Jae-suk, but I don’t think so on this. I’m someone who dreams of marriage. I’m not at the age for kids’ dating.” Even after Yoo tried several times to persuade him, Yang said, “Mr. Yoo Jae-suk, if you say it one more time, I’ll scold you.” Watching the exchange, Han reacted, “It won’t be easy to make him a regular.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 14:46:54

Coles CEO says grocery price hikes may be unavoidable as fuel costs surge 호주 대형 슈퍼마켓 업체 콜스그룹이 연료비와 운송비 상승 여파로 일부 식료품 가격이 오를 수 있다고 밝혔다. 이란 전쟁 여파로 납품업체들의 인상 요구가 커지면서 장바구니 부담도 더 커질 수 있다는 전망이 나온다. 4일 블룸버그에 따르면 리아 웨커트 콜스 최고경영자(CEO)는 호주 멜버른에서 열린 호주주주협회 행사에서 “가격 인상이 불가피하다”고 말했다. 콜스와 납품업체들이 급등한 연료비와 물류비 부담을 함께 안고 있어 일부 품목은 가격 조정을 피하기 어렵다는 설명이다. 콜스는 앞서 지난주에도 이란 전쟁이 연료비와 운송비를 끌어올리면서 납품업체들의 가격 인상 요구가 늘고 있다고 밝혔다. 가격 인상이 현실화하면 이미 생활비 부담에 시달리는 호주 소비자들의 가계 부담은 더 커질 수 있다. 매장에서도 소비 변화가 나타나고 있다. 웨커트 CEO는 “소비자들이 스테이크 대신 다진 소고기나 닭고기처럼 더 저렴한 고기를 고르고 있다”고 말했다. 또 “기름값 부담을 줄이기 위해 장보러 가는 횟수도 줄이고 있다”고 설명했다. 호주 소비심리도 흔들리고 있다. 웨스트팩-멜버른연구소 소비자심리지수는 4월 91.6에서 80.1로 12.5% 떨어졌다. 웨스트팩은 이를 2020년 이후 가장 큰 월간 하락폭으로 평가했다. 시장에서는 호주중앙은행(RBA)이 5일 통화정책회의에서 기준금리를 연 4.35%로 인상할 가능성을 주시하고 있다. RBA는 2026년 5월 통화정책회의 일정을 4~5일로 공지했고, 결정문은 5일 오후 발표할 예정이다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 14:46:05

Unification Ministry Pledges Cooperation as North Korean Women’s Club Visits South for AFC Semifinal The Unification Ministry said it will communicate and cooperate while respecting the framework of an international tournament as North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club plans to visit South Korea to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL). A ministry official told reporters on the 4th at the Government Complex Seoul that the government will provide necessary support because a North Korean team is coming. The visit will mark the first time in eight years that North Korean athletes have come to South Korea to play. The official said the event should be viewed both as an international match and a club competition, stressing that it does not appear to be something the government is directly involved in. “From the government’s standpoint, it is important that this event gets off to a good start,” the official said, adding that Seoul will respect the structure so the tournament can be run through the AFC as an international competition and set a positive precedent. The comments were seen as signaling that the government will keep its role limited because the tournament is organized by the AFC, an international body, rather than the result of direct exchanges between the two Koreas. Cheong Wa Dae also said in an afternoon notice that it welcomes Naegohyang’s participation in the AWCL semifinal and that the government will work with the AFC and Suwon FC so the team can play its match smoothly. The Korea Football Association said Naegohyang’s trip has been confirmed for the AWCL semifinal against Suwon FC Women. 2026-05-04 14:45:15

2.47 million apply for first round of South Korea high-oil-price relief; 1.4013 trillion won paid The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Monday that 2,466,596 people had applied for the first round of the government’s “high-oil-price relief payment” as of midnight Saturday, or 76.4% of those eligible. The total amount paid was 1.4013 trillion won. By payment method, 1,076,418 applicants chose credit or debit cards, 814,481 chose prepaid cards, 508,490 chose mobile or card-based local gift certificates, and 67,207 chose paper local gift certificates, the ministry said. By region, Gyeonggi Province had the most applicants with 466,625, followed by Seoul with 414,014, Busan with 225,261, Incheon with 171,182, South Gyeongsang Province with 164,727, Daegu with 147,287 and North Gyeongsang Province with 142,425. Application rates were highest in South Jeolla Province at 80.9%, followed by Busan and Gwangju at 80.1% each, Seoul at 79.0%, Ulsan at 79.0%, Incheon at 77.8% and Daegu at 77.6%. By region, payments totaled 251.4 billion won in Gyeonggi Province, 223.7 billion won in Seoul, 133.4 billion won in Busan, 96.9 billion won in South Gyeongsang Province, 87.1 billion won in Daegu and 83.6 billion won in North Gyeongsang Province. The relief program is designed to cover 70% of the population, providing 100,000 to 600,000 won per person. The first round targets basic livelihood recipients, near-poverty households and single-parent families. First-round applications are being accepted online and in person from 9 a.m. April 27 through 6 p.m. May 8. Applicants can choose to receive the payment via credit or debit card, prepaid card or local gift certificate. A weekday application system based on the last digit of a person’s birth year applied during the first week but has since been lifted. Eligible people who miss the first-round window can apply during the second-round period from May 18 to July 3. The funds must be used by Aug. 31 this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 14:39:16

PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Slams DP Leader Over 'Oppa' Remark to Child Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, on May 4 criticized Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae over a campaign incident in which Jeong urged a first-grade elementary school child to call Ha Jeong-woo, the Democratic Party’s candidate in the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary by-election, “oppa.” In a Facebook post, Song called it “the DNA of the ‘Democratic Molestation Party,’” and said it was “clear child sexual abuse” and “a violation of children’s rights.” He added, “Tomorrow is Children’s Day,” and urged Jeong and Ha to reflect on their understanding of children’s rights ahead of the holiday. The controversy began after cameras captured Jeong during a visit the previous day to Gupo Market in Busan, where he appealed for support for Ha and pressed a first-grade girl to say, “Jeong-woo oppa.” The People Power Party has continued to attack the Democratic Party over the incident, calling it “sexual harassment of a child” and “child abuse.” Jeong apologized on May 4, saying he was sorry to the child and the parents after the situation at Gupo Market put them at the center of the controversy, but the dispute was not expected to subside quickly. Song also lashed out at the Democratic Party, citing a list of names — Park Won-soon, Oh Geo-don, Ahn Hee-jung, Jeong Bong-ju, Min Byung-doo, Park Wan-ju and Jang Kyung-tae — and saying the party’s “long-standing sexual violence DNA” had carried over to Jeong, whom he called an “oppa-forcing offender.” He added, “Did you even teach a lesson to Ha, who just joined the party?” Song repeated that forcing a child to say “oppa” was “clear child sexual abuse” and a violation of children’s rights, and said Ha should stop meeting voters in Busan with that mindset and “pack up and leave Busan.” He also suggested they seek consulting to change their views. 2026-05-04 14:36:17