Finance Ministry to Hold Generative AI Hackathon to Speed Work Innovation The government will hold an internal hackathon to drive administrative innovation using generative artificial intelligence. The Ministry of Finance and Economy said April 29 it will run a “Generative AI Service Discovery Hackathon” from June 10-12 at the Narakioum Taean Training Center. The event is aimed at identifying ministry-specific AI services to be built into the “AI-ONE platform” now under development. Organizers said the focus is on producing prototype results that can be applied to real work, rather than simple idea proposals. Services selected as top projects will be piloted and then reflected in the platform. The ministry said it plans to use AI not as a basic support tool but as a core instrument for policy development and administrative reform. It also plans to introduce “agentic AI” to support key tasks such as taxation, state contracts, state-owned property and economic trend analysis. The ministry said it aims to push AI transformation within the ministry while expanding AI use across the public sector to improve policy quality and public services. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol called the hackathon “the opening signal of AI transformation that fundamentally changes how our ministry works,” adding that he hopes staff will actively use AI to deliver innovative policy results the public can feel. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:14:12

Japan-Linked Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz After Iran Approval, Reports Say Reports said a Japan-linked oil tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz after receiving approval from Iran. Reuters reported Monday, citing shipping data, that the Panama-flagged very large crude carrier Idemitsu Maru, managed by a unit of Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan, passed through the strait carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude. Reuters said it was the first passage by a Japan-linked crude carrier since U.S.-Iran clashes began on Feb. 28. The vessel was seen moving east near Iran’s Larak Island, the report said. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Idemitsu Maru crossed with explicit Iranian permission, citing Iran’s state-run Press TV and data from ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic. Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun, citing a senior Japanese government official, reported the ship did not pay a separate transit fee. The official called the passage “the result of negotiations by the Japanese government.” The transit, however, does not signal a full return to normal traffic. Reuters said only seven ships passed through the strait over the past day, far below the prewar level of 125 to 140 a day. Markets have viewed the move as a sign of limited, selective passages rather than a full reopening. Tensions in the oil market also persisted. Reuters reported international crude prices rose nearly 3% on concerns about supply disruptions through Hormuz, underscoring that broader shipping flows have yet to return to normal levels.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:13:28

Korean Bar Association to Discuss Expanding Jury Trials, Including to Civil Cases The Korean Bar Association will hold a symposium to discuss ways to improve and expand the jury trial system, including whether to extend it beyond criminal cases to civil litigation to bolster public trust in the courts. The association said April 29 it will co-host the “Symposium on Improving and Expanding Jury Trials” with Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-geun at 2 p.m. April 30 at the small auditorium of the National Assembly Library. Organizers said the event reflects concerns that a court system centered on career judges can diverge from the public’s common perspective. They cited a rise in dismissals without full review, allegations of preferential treatment for former officials, and insufficient checks on judges as factors undermining confidence in the judiciary. The symposium will review the performance and limits of jury trials now used in criminal cases and discuss how to improve the system at the prosecution and trial stages. It will also examine the need for, and specific ways to, expand the system to other areas such as civil trials. Attorney Kim Yu-jeong, a member of the association’s medical human rights subcommittee, will deliver the first presentation on the current status of jury trials in criminal prosecutions and trials and possible improvements. She is expected to point to structural limits including low application rates, broad court discretion to exclude cases, and the advisory nature of jury verdicts. Attorney Moon Jae-sik, also of the subcommittee, will present on the need for and approaches to introducing jury trials in civil cases and other proceedings. He plans to propose changes aimed at reflecting public views in collective disputes, punitive damages cases and lawsuits requiring specialized expertise. A panel discussion will include attorneys Shin Hyun-ho and Park Ho-gyun, Hanyang University professor Song Ki-min, Incheon Family Court Judge Kim Jae-ho, and Jeong Myeong-won, chief prosecutor of the Gyeongju branch of the Daegu District Prosecutors Office. The bar association said it expects the symposium to help build a framework for better incorporating public common sense into court procedures and to strengthen the judiciary’s democratic legitimacy and trust. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:12:26

KOTRA Tops Korea’s Shared Growth Ratings for Fifth Straight Year The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, or KOTRA, said it earned the top grade for the fifth consecutive year in the government’s 2025 public-agency shared-growth evaluation, citing its cooperation with small businesses and regional economic players. KOTRA said the results, announced on the 27th, gave it an “excellent” rating every year since 2021. It said it posted its highest score to date and ranked No. 1 among entrusted-execution quasi-government agencies. The evaluation, aligned with the government’s “growth for all” policy direction, assessed public agencies’ cooperation with small and midsize enterprises and their contributions to regional economies. KOTRA said it received strong marks across areas including market development, technology and ESG support, and building cooperation networks between large companies and smaller firms. It highlighted expanded use of a shared-payment system and a delivery-price linkage system, wider adoption of performance-sharing programs, and export-channel support for companies in areas facing population decline. KOTRA said the evaluation recognized these efforts as a structural cooperation model that helps small businesses, regional firms and social-economy enterprises grow together. KOTRA said it also won the shared-growth category at the “2026 National Industry Awards” and received a “SME Policy Innovation Award” this month. KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung said the five straight top ratings and related awards reflect the agency’s work with social-economy enterprises and regional companies. He said KOTRA will continue to support balanced regional development and build a sustainable economic ecosystem as a global export-support platform.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:10:21

Samsung C&T Unveils 270-Degree Han River View Design for Apgujeong District 4 Rebuild Samsung C&T Corp.’s construction unit, which has entered the bidding for the Apgujeong District 4 reconstruction project, on Tuesday unveiled a design proposal developed with internationally known architects. The plan includes collaboration with high-tech architecture figure Norman Foster and landscape architect Peter Walker, the company said. According to Samsung C&T, the proposal uses Foster + Partners’ view-analysis solution, CYCLOPS, to optimize building placement on the site. To improve views even from lower floors, the company said it would introduce high pilotis up to 15 meters (49 feet) tall to reduce visual obstruction of the Han River. Inside units, Samsung C&T said it would remove living-room columns and install frameless “round-corner IMAX windows,” aiming to deliver an average 20.5 meters (67 feet) of 270-degree panoramic Han River views per household. Terraces that were planned for only seven units under an earlier design would be expanded to all member households, it said. The company also presented an “inside-out facade,” in which unit terraces become a defining exterior feature. Samsung C&T said it would use a cantilever structure with projections of up to 4.5 meters (15 feet), creating layered setbacks, and vary terrace designs in three-floor increments so the complex appears like a single large sculpture. Samsung C&T said it would install a signature dual structure with 25-meter (82-foot) spans and a height of 16.5 meters (54 feet), and build a community hub around it offering 105 programs, including fitness facilities and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The community space would total 18.5 square meters (199 square feet) per household, which the company said would be the largest among reconstruction complexes in South Korea. Separately, it said it would provide all member households with a dedicated storage space called a “Bespoke Studio Room,” sized at 10.9 square meters (117 square feet) per household. “This proposal goes beyond a flashy exterior and focuses on improving the quality of life for the members who will live here,” said Lim Cheol-jin, head of Samsung C&T’s housing sales division. He said the company would aim for the fastest move-in timeline in Apgujeong, citing its No. 1 ranking in construction capability for 12 consecutive years and what he called its ability to execute projects without work stoppages.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:09:31

Jung Cheong-rae says Democrats will push special prosecutor after probe panel ends Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, said a National Assembly fact-finding panel is exposing what he called prosecutors’ fabricated indictments tied to the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, and vowed to seek a special prosecutor as soon as the panel’s work ends. Speaking at a party leadership meeting at the Assembly on Tuesday, Jung said hearings by the special committee had “opened wide the door to the truth” that the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case was manipulated. He said the panel has issued three reports and held four hearings that revealed patterns of what he described as fabricated prosecutions. Jung said evidence including recordings, Excel files and alleged manipulation of statements has emerged, and that the committee confirmed “clear” signs of direction or involvement at the administration level across the cases it reviewed. He said he was “shaking with anger” at what he called state violence aimed at a single person and actions that trampled democracy, the rule of law and the constitutional order. Saying the committee’s work has brought the public closer to the truth, Jung said the full scope of the allegations must be uncovered and those responsible punished. He said the party would, as promised, move quickly to launch a special prosecutor immediately after the committee wraps up to “reveal all the truth” and bring those responsible before the courts. Jung also criticized the outcome of an appeals court ruling involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, who on April 28 was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 50 million won. He said the long-running Deutsche Motors case had resulted in a guilty verdict, but called the decision “far removed” from public sentiment. He said allegations that Kim improperly intervened in the People Power Party’s nomination process were not recognized as any offense. He also said he could not accept the appeals court’s decision to consider sentencing factors such as a first offense, age and health. Jung noted that a second-instance verdict was scheduled Tuesday in Yoon’s case on charges of obstructing the execution of official duties. Calling it the first ruling since a special court division focused on insurrection cases was formed, he said he hoped for a decision that would restore the rule of law. He added that he would seek to fully uncover what he called the truth about “insurrection, foreign collusion and state-affairs meddling” by Yoon and Kim and ensure accountability in court.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:08:41

Dong-A Pharmaceutical Promotes Orthomol’s Targeted Nutrition for Seasonal Transitions As spring brings wider day-to-night temperature swings, more people report weakened immunity and accumulated fatigue. With outdoor activity increasing, attention is also growing on “precision targeted nutrition” tailored to an individual’s physical condition. German premium vitamin brand Orthomol is positioning its products around molecular orthomolecular medicine, emphasizing not just replacing missing nutrients but supplying them at concentrations designed to match what the body needs. According to Dong-A Pharmaceutical on the 29th, Orthomol Immun contains B vitamins at levels of up to 1,533% to support nutrients needed for energy metabolism during periods of heavy physical exertion. The company said it considered that while excess water-soluble B vitamins are excreted, higher activity periods may require maintaining a certain blood concentration. The formula is not built as a blanket high-dose mix of all nutrients, the company said. Instead, it is designed around levels considered appropriate for each nutrient’s function, combining vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc to address both energy metabolism and immune function. Fatigue after spring outdoor activity can be linked not only to muscle strain but also to reduced immune function from rapid energy use. As participation rises in outdoor sports such as golf, marathons and tennis, interest is also increasing in stamina management and recovery, the company said. A Dong-A Pharmaceutical official said nutrient amounts are calculated based on recommended intake levels, but “in reality, additional needs can arise when immunity drops or the body’s balance changes.” The official added that precise nutrition management tailored to physical condition is important beyond simple supplementation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:07:55

U.S. Treasury chief touts Iran sanctions, says tens of billions in revenue blocked U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted what he called the results of sanctions targeting Iran’s finance, energy and logistics networks, reaffirming a policy of “maximum pressure.” With U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks stalled, Bessent has repeatedly pointed to economic sanctions in a public push. In a post Monday on X, Bessent said the Treasury Department, through an operation he called “Economic Fury,” targeted Iran’s international shadow financial infrastructure, access routes to cryptocurrency, the so-called “shadow fleet,” weapons procurement networks, funding channels for regional proxy forces, and independent Chinese “teapot” refineries that support Iran’s oil trade. He said the measures blocked “tens of billions of dollars” in revenue that could be used to finance terrorism. Bessent added that under the president’s “maximum pressure” policy, prices in Tehran have doubled and the currency has sharply weakened. Bessent also said Iran’s main crude export terminal, Kharg Island, is expected to near its storage limits, forcing the Iranian government to cut oil production. He said that could mean additional revenue losses of about $170 million a day and could cause permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure. He said Treasury will continue the maximum-pressure campaign and warned that individuals, ships and institutions that help illegal flows of money to Tehran risk U.S. sanctions. A day earlier, Bessent warned that individuals or companies doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines could also face sanctions. “Transactions with sanctioned Iranian airlines carry the risk of U.S. sanctions,” he wrote, urging governments to take steps to ensure their companies do not provide services — including jet fuel, catering, landing fees or maintenance. He said Treasury will maintain maximum pressure and would act against third parties that help or carry out Iran-related transactions, adding that individuals, ships and institutions supporting illegal funding flows to Tehran could be sanctioned. With ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran at an impasse, the United States appears to be increasing economic pressure on Iran in an effort to gain leverage in any future negotiations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:07:06

Samsung Display, LG Display win SID Display of the Year awards Samsung Display and LG Display said Tuesday they have each won the Society for Information Display’s “Display of the Year” award. SID is a leading global display industry conference that draws about 7,000 experts, researchers and professors. “Display of the Year” is the top honor among SID’s annual Display Industry Awards. Samsung Display was recognized for its tri-fold smartphone display, first unveiled last year, which the company said demonstrated both high performance and improved portability. SID announced the award Monday (local time), praising the tri-fold’s “immersive 10-inch large screen,” saying it opened new possibilities for productivity, creativity and entertainment. SID also said advanced materials helped maintain thickness while strengthening durability in the dual-folding structure. Samsung Display said the tri-fold module is 0.44 millimeters thick, the thinnest among its foldable panels, while offering strong durability. In internal folding tests, the company said the panel showed no screen issues after 500,000 folds at room temperature. The company also cited work to address “sliding,” a persistent issue in foldable panels that is known to worsen by up to 1.6 times in a tri-fold structure. Samsung Display said it developed a next-generation adhesive and applied an optimized stress-distribution design to improve durability. Lee Ho-jung, vice president and head of product planning for the small and medium display business, said the award again recognized Samsung Display’s technology leadership in the foldable market. He said the company was the first in the world to commercialize a multi in-folding display that folds inward twice, reaffirming the potential to expand the foldable market through new form factors. LG Display’s gaming OLED panel was also honored, with SID citing it as a shift in the gaming display paradigm, the company said. LG Display said its 27-inch 540/720Hz (DFR) OLED gaming monitor applies its proprietary “DFR” technology, allowing users to choose modes as needed. The high-refresh-rate mode is aimed at genres that require rapid screen changes, such as first-person shooters and racing games. LG Display said it delivers QHD resolution and a 540Hz refresh rate at the same time, providing a viewing experience optimized for graphics-intensive games. The panel also received VESA’s top-tier “ClearMR 21000” certification, LG Display said. Choi Young-seok, LG Display’s chief technology officer, said the company will continue to research and develop innovative OLED technology for gaming displays, building on its differentiated technical capabilities. The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at Display Week 2026, the world’s largest display-focused exhibition, which opens May 3 in Los Angeles.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:04:09

South Korea FTC to Revise Consumer-Centered Management Designation Rules South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission will revise terminology and procedures in its Consumer-Centered Management (CCM) business designation system, including renaming the certification review body as a designation review body and replacing “certificate” with “designation confirmation.” The FTC said April 29 it will accept public comments through June 8 on a proposed revision to the enforcement decree of the Framework Act on Consumers. The proposal follows amendments to the law promulgated in March. Under the plan, related terms will be aligned with the revised law: “certification review institution” will become “designation review institution,” “certificate” will be replaced by “designation confirmation,” and “certification work” will be changed to “designation review work.” The FTC will also elevate to the enforcement decree an existing notice requiring businesses to pay review fees directly to the Korea Consumer Agency. The designation review institution would be required to submit to the FTC each year a plan for how the fees will be used and a report on actual spending. The proposal also changes how members of the Consumer Policy Committee’s expert panel are selected. The current enforcement decree provides that government members must be senior officials or equivalent, and that private-sector members are appointed by the prime minister. The FTC said the process has been criticized as too rigid, making it difficult to run the panel quickly and flexibly. Under the revision, the requirement for nominating government members would be removed, and private-sector members would be appointed by the FTC chair rather than the prime minister. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:03:19