Special Prosecutor, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Clash Over Records Request Kwon Chang-young’s second comprehensive special prosecutor team and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have clashed head-on over the submission of records. Yonhap reported Thursday that the special prosecutor team said the acting prosecutor general refused its request for records and labeled the move an “obstruction of investigation,” asking the Justice Ministry to begin disciplinary procedures. The team said it sent two official requests in March and April seeking inspection-related materials, but the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office ultimately declined to provide them. The special prosecutor team said the refusal violates the comprehensive special prosecutor law and warned, “If noncooperation continues, we will take legal action.” The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office immediately rejected the claim. It said the inspection materials are classified as internal confidential documents and cannot be handed over voluntarily, requiring a search-and-seizure warrant. “The special prosecutor’s request could run counter to existing law and the warrant principle,” it said, adding that it “informed them to submit the materials through a warrant, in line with relevant rules.” It also said the special prosecutor law’s provision on submitting materials is intended as a basis for transferring cases, not a clause that compels the submission of all records, underscoring a difference in legal interpretation. With the two sides remaining at odds over how to interpret the law, the dispute is increasingly likely to disrupt the pace of the investigation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 19:18:16

Labor Day Holiday Starts With Sunshine and Warmth; Ozone, Dry Winds a Concern Labor Day on May 1, the start of a long holiday stretch, is expected to be mostly sunny and mild. Skies are forecast to clear gradually from western areas in the morning, making conditions generally suitable for outdoor activities. According to Yonhap on April 30, temperatures are expected to be near seasonal norms, with morning lows of 8-12 C (46-54 F) and daytime highs of 18-26 C (64-79 F). Seoul is expected to reach 26 C, with Daejeon at 23 C and Daegu at 24 C. Inland areas are expected to see large day-to-night swings of around 15 C, calling for caution with health management. Ozone levels also warrant attention. The National Institute of Environmental Research forecast “bad” ozone levels in most regions, including Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Honam, Yeongnam and Jeju. Air quality could worsen from late afternoon as ozone flows in from outside the country. Dry conditions and strong winds are expected to persist. Dry weather advisories are in effect for Seoul, Chungcheong and inland North Gyeongsang Province. Strong gusts of about 55 kph (34 mph) are forecast across inland areas, the East Sea coast and Jeju, raising the risk of fires. The strong winds are expected to continue through May 2. Holiday weather is expected to shift. May 2 is forecast to be similar to May 1, but rain is likely nationwide on May 3 under the influence of a low-pressure system. At sea, fog is expected over the central West Sea on May 1-2, sharply reducing visibility in some waters. From May 2, sea levels are also expected to rise, and low-lying coastal areas should prepare. 2026-04-30 19:06:17

Seoul mayoral rivals Jeong Won-oh and Oh Se-hoon roll out Labor Day pledges On April 30, a day before Labor Day, Seoul mayoral candidates Jeong Won-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party released labor pledges as they sought support from workers. Jeong said, “If Seoul runs on labor, the city government must also take responsibility for the time of working citizens,” as he unveiled proposals centered on expanding flexible work arrangements and supporting paid sick leave for freelancers. Under the banner of “Seoul, a special city that respects labor, rebuilt with the voices of working citizens,” Jeong said his plan aims to improve work-life balance and strengthen the right to rest when sick. He pledged to expand flexible work options — including work-from-home, remote work and staggered hours — as part of a “30-minute commute city” initiative, and to introduce paid sick leave for vulnerable workers such as freelancers and the self-employed. Jeong said May 1 would be “the first day to greet the holiday under the name ‘Labor Day’ for the first time in 63 years,” explaining why he chose to announce the pledges then. He also said he visited the Sinjeong rail depot and the Yangcheon public bus garage early that morning to meet subway and bus workers, and later laid flowers at a Jeon Tae-il statue near Cheonggyecheon. “I will carry the labor sites I met at dawn today and Jeon Tae-il’s dream into Seoul’s policies,” he said. Oh visited the Gasan Digital Complex (G-Valley) in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, where he had lunch with young office workers and heard their concerns, while releasing his labor pledges in writing. “Your ordinary day, lived diligently, is Seoul’s future,” Oh told workers, adding, “I will work to build workplaces where the value of labor is respected and fairness and coexistence are firmly established.” Oh’s proposals focused on strengthening the safety net for vulnerable workers and addressing on-the-job problems. He pledged “hospital living-cost support” to ease financial strain during hospitalization, expanded tailored health checkups for workers in health blind spots, and a safety support system for small workplaces. He also pledged to expand late-night “owl bus” routes to help about 200,000 late-night workers in their 20s and 30s, and to provide once-a-year support for psychological counseling services and the cost of special health screenings for night work. He said the city would newly introduce a “late-night in-home caregiving service” for families facing care gaps because a guardian works nights. “Seoul must be a strong fence so the vulnerable can stand back up without despair,” Oh said. “I will 반드시 resolve the reality of not being able to rest when sick and the problem of not being able to focus at work because of caregiving worries, and make this a city where labor is respected.” The two candidates also continued sparring over real estate policy. In a statement, Jeong’s camp said Oh’s side blames a housing supply cliff on former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, but argued the real cause was that residents lifted redevelopment district designations made indiscriminately during Oh’s time as mayor. Jeong’s camp added, “Seoul citizens gave Oh four chances, but all that came back was a loud, empty cart.” Oh’s camp again raised controversy over remarks by President Lee Jae-myung about abolishing the long-term holding special deduction. Asked about the deduction while presenting his second pledge, Oh said, “Even the Democratic Party says it has never discussed it at the party level, but Jeong is taking the same position as the president.” He added, “I have serious doubts whether, as a Seoul mayoral candidate, he can ease anxiety about an issue many Seoul citizens are concerned about,” escalating his criticism.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:54:22

Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 Numbers Awaited as Winner Story Draws Attention "A long time ago, an ancestor appeared in my dream and gave me lottery numbers, but I thought, 'No way,' so I didn't buy them — and I actually missed the first prize." As interest builds in the Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 winning numbers on April 30, a winner's account from Draw 293 has drawn attention. The person won with one first-prize ticket and four second-prize tickets, according to a post on Donghaeng Lottery's winners' bulletin board. The winner said they buy Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets whenever the thought occurs. While working, they happened to see a lottery retailer and bought tickets as usual. They said they had been struggling with a recent problem and suddenly remembered they had not checked their tickets, so they checked the numbers right away. "It turned out I won both first and second prizes at the same time, and I couldn't believe it, so I checked again and again," the winner wrote. They recalled a past experience in which an ancestor appeared in a dream and gave Lotto numbers, but they did not buy them and later missed the first prize. "After that, nothing seemed to go well, and I wondered if my ancestor was angry that I let the chance pass," the winner said. "With this win, it feels like I've been given another opportunity, and I'm grateful." The winner said the ticket was purchased at a lottery shop in Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. Asked what they usually buy, the winner said they purchase Lotto and Pension Lottery tickets in small amounts. They said they plan to use the winnings to repay loans and buy a home. The Pension Lottery 720+ Draw 313 winning numbers will be available after 7:05 p.m. today (30).* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:51:17

Korea parliamentary probe ends; Democrats introduce special counsel bill, PPP pushes back A National Assembly special committee investigating allegations of politically driven, fabricated indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration effectively wrapped up its work on April 30, 42 days after it began, as the Democratic Party-led panel adopted its final report. The committee also voted to file complaints against 31 people on allegations including perjury. After the committee ended, the Democratic Party said it would “realize judicial justice” and introduced a special counsel bill. The People Power Party countered that “judicial justice has been damaged” and separately filed complaints against four hearing witnesses. With the ruling party planning to process the special counsel bill next month, clashes between the parties are expected ahead of the June 3 local elections. At a full meeting, the committee approved a report summarizing more than 40 days of work, including three agency briefings, two on-site inspections and four hearings. The committee ended its activities eight days earlier than the date stated in its plan (May 8). The panel approved an agenda item to file complaints against 31 people — including prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, and former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae and former Vice Chairman Bang Yong-cheol — on allegations such as perjury, refusing to take an oath or testify, and failing to appear. Complaints sought by the People Power Party against National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok and acting head of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Jeong Yong-hwan were rejected. With the parties unable to narrow differences over the report and the complaint list, the People Power Party declared the meeting disrupted. It also filed perjury complaints on its own against four people it said it could report directly: KH Group Vice Chairman Cho Kyung-sik, former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young, attorney Nam Wook, and one National Intelligence Service employee. People Power Party members of the committee criticized the ruling party at a news conference. Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong, the party’s floor spokesperson on the panel, said, “They say through this investigation that our judicial system is very solid and safe — so what is the purpose of shaking it?” Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun said the Democratic Party “failed to prove the reality of prosecutorial coercion and fabricated indictments,” adding, “Please do not turn the National Assembly into a ‘bulletproof factory’ that wipes away crimes.” The Democratic Party, citing the committee’s findings, introduced a “fabricated indictment” special counsel bill on April 30, saying it would set the justice system right. Under the bill, the special counsel would be granted authority to take follow-up steps as needed, including seeking dismissal of indictments. The special counsel could appoint up to six assistant special counsels and receive up to 30 seconded prosecutors. The initial term would be 90 days, extendable three times by 30 days each. Cheon Jun-ho, acting floor leader, said, “We intend to process the special counsel bill as quickly as possible, and within next month if we can.” People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok wrote on Facebook that he “strongly condemns” what he called an “Lee Jae-myung self-pardon special counsel,” alleging it would be used to eliminate trials involving “a special counsel appointed by President Lee Jae-myung.” He also criticized it as “cowardly politics” that, he said, would use the Democratic Party and a special counsel to erase the president’s own trial. In May, the Democratic Party is set to install new floor leadership, and negotiations are scheduled over the National Assembly’s second-half committee assignments. Lawmakers expect the parties to clash sharply during the special counsel bill’s handling. Some analysts also say passing the bill next month could prove difficult in practice, given concerns it could affect the June 3 local elections and by-elections for National Assembly seats.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:48:21

LPGA’s Yoon Ina Apologizes for Remarks Blaming Caddie in Past Wrong-Ball Incident Yoon Ina has apologized after drawing criticism for comments she made in a local-media interview during the LPGA Tour major Chevron Championship about a past wrong-ball incident. In a statement released Thursday through her management company, Sema Sports Marketing, Yoon said she was not careful enough in how she described the situation in an interview ahead of the final round. “Because I was explaining it in an urgent situation right after the match, I was not careful in my wording during the process,” she said. “I take this seriously and am deeply reflecting.” “Above all, I apologize to everyone who may have been hurt by those remarks,” Yoon said. “I clearly recognize that in any situation, the responsibility lies with the player. I had no intention of shifting that responsibility to anyone else.” The controversy began after an interview with a local outlet following the third round of the Chevron Championship last week. In the interview, conducted through an interpreter, Yoon described the wrong-ball situation by saying her tee shot went into the rough and other players helped look for the ball. She said she did not realize it was not her ball until she was about to hit her next shot. She added that it was her first time in such a situation and she panicked. “My caddie told me to hit it, but I shouldn’t have listened,” she said. She also said she should have reported it immediately but was “too nervous and scared,” and believed it would be OK because she thought she would miss the cut and people around her said it would not become a big issue. The remarks drew scrutiny because they conflicted with what she had previously stated while playing on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. Her apology at the time said she realized the ball had been switched only after reaching the green. After the interview became an issue, Yoon apologized again, saying the episode made her realize her words and actions can have a major impact. She said she would approach every moment with greater care and maturity and work to earn the trust of officials and fans. Yoon received a three-year suspension after she recognized a wrong-ball play during the first round of the 2022 Korea Women’s Open but reported it a month later. The penalty was later reduced to 1 1/2 years. She returned to the KLPGA Tour in 2024, won the season’s top award, and moved to the U.S. the following year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:30:17

Samsung Biologics, Eli Lilly to Back Up to 30 Biotech Startups at Songdo C-Lab Outside Samsung Biologics said Wednesday it plans to select and support biotech companies to join “C-Lab Outside” in Songdo in partnership with Eli Lilly. The company unveiled an operating roadmap for C-Lab Outside, which is scheduled to be established next year, at the “Bio Korea 2026” event. Lee Sang-myeong, executive director in charge of CDO development at Samsung Biologics, said Songdo International City is expected to grow into the world’s largest bio cluster by 2030 and called it an ideal location for open innovation with infrastructure spanning the value chain. Under the collaboration, the companies plan to jointly select and support up to 30 biotechs capable of developing next-generation therapies. C-Lab Outside is set to be completed in July next year at Samsung Biologics’ second bio campus in Songdo, Incheon. The five-story facility will have a total floor area of about 12,000 square meters. Recruitment will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, before the center is completed, and will target early-stage startups at Series B or below. Companies that already have partnerships with global conglomerates will be excluded. Tenancy will be two years, extendable to a maximum of four years. Selection and incubation will be carried out jointly with Lilly’s innovation program, Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL). Samsung Biologics said it is also expanding support for South Korea’s biotech ecosystem through biotech investment, seminars and efforts to localize raw and subsidiary materials. A company official said it plans to broaden support, including creating an industry development fund worth 25 billion won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:27:16

South Korea, Pakistan Move to Speed Up CEPA Talks, Trade Minister Says South Korea will step up negotiations with Pakistan on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Yeo Han-koo, South Korea’s minister for trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, held a video meeting on the 30th with Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan to discuss ways to advance the Korea-Pakistan CEPA talks and expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is the world’s fifth-most populous country and a key potential market in Southwest Asia with abundant natural resources. It is also a strategic hub linking the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Still, bilateral trade remained limited, totaling $1.574 billion last year. The two countries have laid the groundwork for negotiations since declaring the launch of CEPA talks and agreeing to terms of reference in January last year. They plan to accelerate negotiations starting with the first official round, which is scheduled to be held in the future, to expand trade and investment. Yeo said, “For our companies to operate their businesses stably and expand investment, it is important to ensure predictable administration of institutions and create a friendly investment environment,” and asked for the Pakistani government’s attention and support. He added that, following India and Bangladesh, CEPA talks with Pakistan would further strengthen South Korea’s trade network in Southwest Asia, and said the two sides would build a mutually beneficial foundation for cooperation through a CEPA with Pakistan, a hub connecting the Middle East, Central Asia and Southwest Asia.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:24:27

Woman in Her 40s Killed by Forklift While Biking Across Crosswalk in Seoul A woman in her 40s died after a collision with a forklift while riding a bicycle across a crosswalk, according to a media report. The report said the crash happened on the 24th near Sinmokdong Station in Seoul’s Yangcheon District, when a forklift driven by a man in his 60s, identified only as A, struck the woman as she crossed. Police responded to a witness report and arrested A at the scene on suspicion of violating South Korea’s traffic accident handling law. He was not believed to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest, the report said. Seoul’s Yangcheon Police Station is investigating the circumstances of the crash, including whether the driver ran a signal. The victim’s family said the driver has not offered a proper apology. In a phone interview with Aju Economy on the 30th, the family cited a witness who said the forklift continued for about 7 meters after hitting the bicycle. The family said it reviewed nearby closed-circuit television footage and confirmed the witness account. The family also claimed the forklift entered a child protection zone without slowing and appeared to be moving quickly, adding that the driver seemed unaware he had hit the cyclist. They said that after realizing what happened, the driver got out and shouted profanity at the woman, including, “Why did you jump out, you XX,” and did not attend her funeral.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:15:45

Lee Jae-myung to Host First Blue House Labor Day Ceremony With Both Major Unions President Lee Jae-myung will invite leaders of the country’s two largest labor federations and workers to Cheong Wa Dae’s state guesthouse on May 1, Labor Day, to hold a commemorative ceremony. Cheong Wa Dae said April 30 that Lee will host about 120 guests, including key figures from labor, management and government and workers from a range of occupations and generations, to mark Labor Day, which it said was restored 63 years ago. Both the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions plan to attend, Cheong Wa Dae said. It will be the first time Cheong Wa Dae has hosted a Labor Day ceremony, and the first time the two federations have held a joint Labor Day event. Cheong Wa Dae said the event was made possible as organized labor responded to the Lee administration’s governing stance of “respect for labor.” It said Lee, who it described as a former “boy factory worker,” plans to reflect on the meaning of the restored Labor Day, share in the value of labor and thank workers for their dedication. Lee is expected to use his commemorative address to outline the government’s labor policy direction, including goals he has emphasized since taking office such as “eradicating industrial accidents” and “redistributing the fruits of growth.” With a Samsung Electronics union recently warning of a large-scale strike, attention is also focused on whether Lee will address the issue. Labor Day has been observed since 1923, but in 1963 its name was changed to “Workers’ Day.” The government restored the name Labor Day last year and designated it a legal public holiday this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:12:24