Weather Forecast: Clear Skies and Early Summer Heat Across the Country On Friday, May 15, clear skies and clean air are expected nationwide, with daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in some areas. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on May 14, morning lows are forecasted to range from 10 to 17 degrees Celsius, while daytime highs will be between 22 and 32 degrees Celsius. The early summer weather is expected to remain above the seasonal averages (morning lows of 10 to 14 degrees and daytime highs of 20 to 25 degrees). Morning low temperatures across the country are expected to be: △Seoul 17 degrees △Incheon 16 degrees △Chuncheon 13 degrees △Gangneung 13 degrees △Daejeon 14 degrees △Daegu 13 degrees △Jeonju 15 degrees △Gwangju 15 degrees △Busan 15 degrees △Jeju 16 degrees. In Seoul, the daytime high is predicted to reach 31 degrees. Other expected daytime highs include: △Incheon 28 degrees △Chuncheon 30 degrees △Gangneung 25 degrees △Daejeon 30 degrees △Daegu 29 degrees △Jeonju 30 degrees △Gwangju 29 degrees △Busan 23 degrees △Jeju 24 degrees. Air quality is expected to be at good to moderate levels nationwide. Fog is anticipated over the West and East Seas, particularly in some island regions where visibility may drop below 200 meters, accompanied by light rain. Caution is advised for maritime safety due to these conditions. Waves in the seas are expected to be around 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the East and South Seas, and about 0.5 meters in the West Sea. In the offshore areas (approximately 200 kilometers from the coastline), wave heights are forecasted to be 0.5 to 1.5 meters in the East Sea, 0.5 to 1.0 meters in the West Sea, and 0.5 to 2.0 meters in the South Sea.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:44:07

GC Green Cross Partners with Merck to Expand Biopharmaceutical Production and Supply Cooperation GC Green Cross, known for its blood product 'Aliglo,' announced on May 14 that it has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global science and technology company Merck Life Science to enhance cooperation in biopharmaceutical development and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production processes. The signing ceremony took place at Merck's headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by Kim Young-im, head of Merck Life Science Process Solutions Business, and Shin Woong, head of operations at GC Green Cross. Under this agreement, GC Green Cross aims to strengthen its supply chain for raw materials necessary for biopharmaceutical production and establish a cooperative system to enhance manufacturing efficiency and supply stability. This strategy targets both the profitable blood products and vaccines market as well as the global rare disease sector. Merck will provide a comprehensive cooperation system covering everything from raw material procurement to process technology support. The company plans to manage supply chain risks proactively by ensuring a stable supply of products that meet strict quality standards. The two companies plan to operate regular process consultation meetings to strengthen technical cooperation for manufacturing efficiency. This will facilitate the sharing of the latest process technology information, enhance quality competitiveness, and continuously seek opportunities for joint research and development (R&D). Shin Woong stated, "This collaboration will strengthen the foundation for producing and supplying essential medicines and treatments for major rare diseases. We will minimize manufacturing risks and enhance quality competitiveness through process optimization and technical cooperation."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:43:06

Local Bookstores Struggle to Stock Popular Titles in Miryang "When author Han Kang won the Nobel Prize, our bookstore didn’t receive a single book for two weeks. Only now are we starting to see some titles come in. Customers were disappointed, saying, 'I came to support the local bookstore, but how can there be no books when they’re all available online?' It was embarrassing." Shin Chang-seob, the owner of Cheonghak Bookstore, which has been operating in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, for two generations, made these remarks during a meeting aimed at revitalizing local bookstores on May 14. Shin explained, "When popular authors or politicians publish books, most of the distribution is handled in Seoul, so we often don’t receive them. After experiencing this several times, I’ve even thought it might be better if blockbuster titles didn’t come out at all. It’s disheartening." During the meeting, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young listened to the concerns of representatives from five local bookstores in Miryang: Cheonghak Bookstore Sammun Branch, Cheonghak Bookstore Milgo Branch, Dongah Bookstore, Miribeol Bookstore, and Donghaeng Seorim. After hearing Shin’s frustrations, Minister Choi stated, "Books have a public nature. People want to see books everywhere. I will look into whether specific distributors are monopolizing the supply and will work on ensuring a balanced distribution." Choi noted, "As our country’s reading rate has rapidly declined, the number of local bookstores serving as community hubs is also decreasing. The President has been very interested in this issue since his time as a local government leader and continues to press for improvements." He added, "I will strive to create conditions necessary for the survival of local bookstores through various institutional improvements, including school library supplies." Representatives from local bookstores expressed a sense of hopelessness, with Lee Chan-hee, owner of Miribeol Bookstore, stating, "Forget about supplies; there are hardly any customers in the store. Since the pandemic shifted retail patterns online, customers have not returned. That’s the biggest problem." He requested, "I hope solutions can be researched and provided." There were also calls for improvements in school supply processes. Shin Kwan-seob, owner of Dongah Bookstore, pointed out, "Schools buy many books, even if they are not libraries, but a significant portion of those purchases go to online retailers." He criticized the complex purchasing process for local bookstores compared to online options and called for action against local bookstores that lack physical stores but still intercept school orders. Demands for reform of the fixed book price system were also raised. Shin Chang-seob remarked, "The current fixed book price system effectively caps discounts at 15%. The so-called big three—Kyobo, Aladin, and Yes24—maintain this 15% discount, forcing all bookstores to comply. After maintaining this for over 20 years, we had to reduce it to 10% last year due to financial strain. With a 15% discount, we are left with only 2-3% after accounting for logistics and salaries." In response to concerns about school supplies, Minister Choi said, "I will discuss this with the Ministry of Education," and regarding the fixed book price system, he stated, "I will look into how we can improve it." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture plans to gather opinions on policy support to revitalize local bookstores and incorporate them into next year’s budget. The ministry aims to ensure the sustainability of local bookstores, allowing residents and tourists to visit, read, communicate, and enjoy diverse experiences through books.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:41:19

Trump and Xi Agree on Maintaining Hormuz Strait Access and Iran Nuclear Deal Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Xi Jinping, the President of China, agreed on the importance of maintaining access to the Strait of Hormuz and the principle that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons, the White House announced on May 14. According to reports from Bloomberg and NBC, a White House official stated that Trump had a "good meeting" with Xi during their summit. The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East. The White House official noted that both Trump and Xi concurred on the necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Additionally, the U.S. side reported that Xi made it clear that China opposes the militarization of the Strait of Hormuz. On the issue of Iran's nuclear program, both sides agreed that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. The leaders also discussed economic matters, including plans for China to increase its purchases of U.S. agricultural products. Xi expressed interest in buying additional U.S. crude oil. Furthermore, the two leaders acknowledged the need to prevent the influx of fentanyl precursors into the United States, according to the official. The summit lasted over two hours, starting at 10:15 a.m. and concluding at 12:30 p.m. This duration was notably longer than the approximately 100 minutes of the previous U.S.-China summit held in Busan last October.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:39:03

SK Square Reports Record Q1 Operating Profit of 8.28 Trillion Won SK Square achieved its highest quarterly performance to date, driven by profits from its stake in SK Hynix and improved profitability across its portfolio companies. On May 14, SK Square reported consolidated revenues of 3 trillion won, operating profit of 8.28 trillion won, and net profit of 8.37 trillion won for the first quarter of 2026. Compared to the same period last year, operating profit surged by 400%, while net profit increased by 419%. The company attributed its performance improvement to the expanded equity method gains from SK Hynix and the profitability-focused management strategies of its portfolio companies. Key corporate valuation indicators also showed improvement. SK Square recently ranked third in market capitalization on the KOSPI, with a market cap of approximately 157 trillion won as of the close on May 13. This represents a nearly 15-fold increase from about 10.6 trillion won in early January last year and a three-fold increase from around 51.8 trillion won in early January this year. The company's core value-up indicator, the net asset value (NAV) discount rate, continued to improve. As of May 13, SK Square's NAV discount rate was 46.6%, down from 65.7% at the end of 2024 and 51.5% at the end of 2025. A lower NAV discount rate indicates that the market values the company more highly compared to the value of its assets. The price-to-book ratio (PBR) was approximately 4.3 times as of May 13. The return on equity (ROE) stood at 55.1% as of the end of March, exceeding the company's stated cost of equity (COE) target of 15-20%. To enhance corporate value, SK Square is expanding its shareholder return policy. The company plans to implement a total of 310 billion won in shareholder returns from this year through early next year. Last year, it repurchased 200 billion won worth of its own shares and is considering a larger return policy this year. Since 2023, the company has been conducting annual share buybacks and retirements. The company is also continuing to restructure its investment portfolio. In January, SK Square sold its digital advertising firm, InCross, to SK Networks. Additionally, it has invested in seven AI and semiconductor companies in the U.S. and Japan through its overseas investment firm, TGC Square. Looking ahead, the company plans to focus on new investments and portfolio rebalancing centered around AI bottleneck resolution technologies and the semiconductor value chain. Kim Jeong-kyu, CEO of SK Square, stated, "We will enhance communication with shareholders and focus on increasing corporate value. We will continue to pursue innovations based on AI and new investments in the AI and semiconductor sectors." Meanwhile, SK Telecom (SKT) held an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on October 12, 2021, where it approved the spin-off into the surviving entity SKT and the investment firm SK Square. Both companies officially launched on November 1 of the same year. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:37:16

Meritz Fire & Marine Reports Q1 Net Profit of 466.1 Billion Won, Up 0.8% Year-on-Year Meritz Fire & Marine announced on May 14 that it recorded a net profit of 466.1 billion won for the first quarter of this year, marking a 0.8% increase from 462.5 billion won in the same period last year. During the same period, the company reported revenues of 3.3079 trillion won and operating profit of 630.7 billion won, reflecting increases of 9.8% and 1.4%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Investment income rose to 296.2 billion won, a 13% increase from 262.1 billion won a year earlier, driving the overall performance. The asset management investment return rate stood at 5.4%, demonstrating effective capital management. In contrast, insurance profits fell to 334.6 billion won, down 7% from 359.8 billion won in the same quarter last year. Although the insurance contract margin (CSM) amortization increased by 5.7% to 304.1 billion won, losses in other areas, including a deficit of 38.9 billion won, impacted the results. The automobile insurance segment reported a loss of 6.4 billion won, with the loss ratio at 82.7%, a slight increase from the same period last year. The provisional solvency ratio (K-ICS) was 240%, up 1.1 percentage points from 238.9% a year ago, indicating a stable trend. A representative from Meritz Fire & Marine stated, "Despite challenging domestic and international conditions, we continue to grow through our differentiated strategy of maximizing total value."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:35:42

Canon Korea Launches Video-Focused Camera 'EOS R6 V' Canon Korea is accelerating its efforts to target the video creator market. As the one-person video creator market expands, the company is launching a full-frame mirrorless camera and a dedicated power zoom lens tailored for video content.On May 14, Canon Korea held a press conference at Studio 159 in COEX, Seoul, to unveil the video-focused full-frame mirrorless camera 'EOS R6 V' and the power zoom lens 'RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ.' Attendees included Park Jung-woo, CEO of Canon Korea, and Tokuura Ko, Vice President of Canon Imaging Group.The new products reflect the rapid shift in the camera market from photography to video. With the rise of short-form content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels, there is an increasing demand for high-quality video production among everyday consumers.During his visit to Korea, Tokuura Ko noted, "Twelve years ago, when I visited Korea, the presence of mirrorless cameras was limited. Now, with the evolution of smartphone cameras, everyone can enjoy photography and videography. This new product maximizes mobility and usability for video shooting, allowing anyone to capture professional-grade footage."The EOS R6 V is the first model in the EOS R V series to feature a full-frame sensor. Unlike previous mirrorless cameras focused on photography, this model is specifically designed for video production.The camera's design caters to video creators, featuring a box-shaped flat body that minimizes interference when attaching accessories. It supports vertical shooting with a tripod hole and a vertical user interface (UI) to enhance convenience for short-form content creation. Additionally, it includes a front recording button, 12 customizable buttons, and tally lamps to improve usability in real-world video production environments.Notably, the EOS R6 V has improved heat control, addressing a common challenge in video shooting. It is equipped with an internal cooling fan, allowing for continuous recording of up to 120 minutes at 4K 120P and 7K open gate resolutions. This enhancement considers the growing demand for long-duration filming and live streaming among video creators.Performance has also been significantly upgraded. The camera features a 32.5-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC X engine, enabling internal recording of up to 7K 60P RAW video and supporting 7K oversampling for 4K video capture. It can shoot 4K 120P and 2K 180P without any crop loss.Canon emphasizes the 'Open Gate' feature as a key competitive advantage of this product. This function utilizes the entire 3:2 aspect ratio of the sensor, allowing for flexible cropping and reframing to suit various screen ratios. This capability enables creators to produce content for multiple platforms from a single recording.The autofocus (AF) system has also been enhanced for video shooting. The EOS R6 V features Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, which automatically recognizes people, animals, cars, airplanes, and trains, and includes a 'Review AF' function that prioritizes close-up subjects during product reviews. It also supports focus acceleration control for smooth focus transitions during video shooting.The RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ, launched alongside the camera, is Canon's first power zoom lens for full-frame RF cameras. Weighing approximately 420 grams, it features a lightweight design and inner zoom structure to minimize changes in weight distribution during gimbal and handheld shooting.Notably, it allows for smooth zooming without additional equipment. The zoom speed can be finely adjusted in 15 steps, enabling solo creators to achieve cinematic effects. When paired with the EOS R6 V, it supports electronic zoom control via the body zoom lever.In his welcoming remarks, CEO Park Jung-woo stated, "Canon Korea is strengthening its integrated imaging ecosystem that encompasses photography and video, hardware and software, in response to the changing creative environment. This new product is designed to meet the rapidly evolving video content market, expanding the creative possibilities for creators."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:34:11

Korea's Rural Development Administration Shares Dairy and Rice Cultivation Techniques in Uzbekistan Lee Seung-don, head of South Korea's Rural Development Administration (RDA), visited Uzbekistan to promote K-dairy technology and rice cultivation techniques. According to the RDA, Lee's visit began on May 13, during which he attended field demonstrations, met with government officials, and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). On the first day of his visit, Lee observed a field demonstration at Sultan Farm in the Syrdarya region. During this event, a letter of intent for the export and import of Korean dairy cattle embryos was signed between a Korean embryo export company and Sultan Farm. The pregnancy success rate for implanted Korean dairy embryos is 50%, which is 20 percentage points higher than the 30% rate for foreign embryos, earning positive feedback locally. Lee also met with Shadman Ergashevich Namazov, head of the Agricultural Knowledge Innovation Agency, and Abdullo Marufovich Mansurov, director of the Rice Research Institute, where he attended the KOPIA rice mechanization demonstration. The mechanized rice planting method using Korean agricultural machinery reportedly reduces labor by 70% while increasing productivity by up to 52%. The RDA plans to expand the area for high-quality seed production to 200 hectares next year. On May 14, Lee held high-level talks with Abdujurov Jamshidjon, Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and signed an MOU to enhance the capacity of experts in artificial insemination technology. The agreement includes the exchange of livestock genetic resources, joint research on breeding and management techniques, the exchange of agricultural specialists and technical training, and the simplification of animal medicine registration. Lee stated, "This achievement goes beyond mere technology transfer; it represents a virtuous cycle that integrates into the policies of the partner country and leads to export cooperation. I will do my best to expand the overseas presence of agricultural technology and Korean agricultural equipment."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:31:38

Adore and Daniel's $431 Million Lawsuit Faces Delays in First Hearing In the first hearing of a $431 million damages lawsuit filed by Adore against former NewJeans member Daniel and former Adore CEO Min Hee-jin, both sides clashed over delays in the proceedings. The court rejected Adore's request to change the hearing date and proceeded as scheduled. The Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 31, presided over by Judge Nam In-soo, held the initial hearing on May 14. Neither Daniel nor Min attended, with only their legal representatives present in court. Adore recently appointed a new legal representative, Lee Han Law Firm, after the previous firm, Kim & Jang, resigned. Following this change, Adore submitted a request to reschedule the hearing on May 8, which the court denied. During the hearing, a dispute arose regarding whether Adore had submitted its plan for proving damages. The court had previously required Adore to submit evidence by April 30, but the submission was not made by the deadline. Adore's representative apologized for the failure to submit the plan but insisted there was no intention to delay the case. They argued that the plaintiff also seeks a prompt resolution and that the proceedings should not restrict the plaintiff's ability to prove their case. In contrast, Daniel's side argued, "After four months of litigation, they changed their legal representation and are trying to restart the case, which seems to waste Daniel's prime time as an idol on legal disputes." They claimed that Adore is targeting only Daniel among NewJeans members with this substantial lawsuit, suggesting an ulterior motive to intimidate other members into compliance. Min's side also criticized the delay in submitting the proof plan while changing representatives, calling it a malicious act that harms the defendants' lives, and requested sanctions from the court. In response, Adore's representatives stated, "We have never interfered with Daniel's activities or had disagreements regarding them," arguing that it is contradictory to claim interference while filing a lawsuit based on contract termination. Daniel's side requested that the trials be separated for each defendant, noting that the legal responsibilities regarding Daniel involve contract violations, while those concerning Daniel's family and Min relate to joint illegal acts, indicating different legal structures. The court stated it would decide on the separation of trials at a later date and reiterated its request for Adore to submit the proof plan and witness requests by June 2. The next hearing is scheduled for June 11 at 2 PM. One of the key issues in this lawsuit is the concept of "tampering." The court noted that tampering is a term closely related to industry practices and indicated the need to examine whether it can be immediately classified as illegal. Both sides were asked to submit lower court precedents and international cases from similar industries for review. Adore filed the lawsuit in December after notifying Daniel of the termination of his exclusive contract, seeking damages, including penalties, totaling $431 million. Previously, on April 30, the court ruled in favor of Adore in a case confirming the validity of the exclusive contract.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:29:13

SK Hynix CEO Kwon No-jung Tops Semiconductor Non-Owner Stockholders Kwon No-jung, CEO of SK Hynix, has become the top non-owner stockholder in South Korea's semiconductor industry. This marks the first time that a SK Hynix executive has surpassed Samsung Electronics executives, who have traditionally dominated the semiconductor stock wealth rankings. The recent surge in SK Hynix's stock price, driven by enhanced competitiveness in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), has significantly increased the value of executives' stock holdings.According to a report released on May 14 by the corporate analysis firm Korea CXO Research Institute, Kwon's stock valuation stood at 28.28051 billion won as of May 13.This amount exceeds the 27.9 billion won valuation of Noh Tae-moon, CEO of Samsung Electronics, by approximately 3 billion won.This is the first instance of an SK Hynix executive leading the stock valuation rankings among non-owner executives in the semiconductor sector.Kwon holds 14,312 shares of SK Hynix, based on the closing price of 1,976,000 won on May 13. His stock valuation has increased from about 2.9 billion won last October to over 25.3 billion won in just six months, reflecting a staggering growth rate of 861%.During the same period, SK Hynix's stock price rose from 510,000 won to 1,976,000 won, marking an increase of approximately 287%. Samsung Electronics also saw its stock price rise from 98,800 won to 284,000 won, but the increase was relatively modest.The report highlighted a notable increase in asset values among semiconductor executives. A total of 1,207 executives at Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix hold stocks, with 258 non-owner executives having stock valuations exceeding 1 billion won, accounting for 21.4% of the total. This represents more than an eightfold increase from just 31 executives last October. Compared to the previous month's report, which identified 173 executives, an additional 85 have joined the '1 billion club' in just over a month.By company, 170 Samsung Electronics executives and 88 SK Hynix executives hold stock assets valued at over 1 billion won. While Samsung has a higher absolute number, SK Hynix has demonstrated a faster rate of asset growth.Notably, the asset growth of Choi Seon-yong, another SK Hynix executive, has been remarkable. His stock valuation has surged from about 800 million won last October to 13.5 billion won this month, reflecting an increase of 1,524%. His shareholding has grown from 1,629 shares to 6,834 shares, compounded by the rise in stock price.In contrast, Noh Tae-moon's stock value has increased from approximately 5 billion won last October to the current 27.9 billion won, an increase of over 22.9 billion won, with a growth rate of 459%. However, SK Hynix executives have shown a faster rate of asset growth.Oh Il-seon, head of Korea CXO Research Institute, stated, "Ten years ago, there were no executives at SK Hynix with stock values exceeding 1 billion won. This change in rankings symbolizes how rapidly SK Hynix is growing in the stock market."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-15 02:25:31