VietJet Moves to Expand Long-Haul Service, Eyes Europe as It Seeks Multinational Group Status Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet is stepping up plans to enter European routes and says it aims to grow into a “multinational aviation group,” moving beyond its short-haul budget roots. Vietnamese media including Cheongnyeon Sinmun reported on April 28 (local time) that South Koreans were the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first quarter, totaling 1,326,425. VietJet, well known to Korean travelers for low fares, has now outlined a shift in strategy: paying shareholders stock dividends instead of cash and raising large sums externally to open long-haul routes to Europe and the Americas. At its annual shareholders meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on April 24, VietJet approved a 30% stock dividend, corporate bond issuance and a plan to issue new shares worth up to $300 million (about 440 billion won). The package signaled a preference to reinvest rather than distribute cash, and shareholders backed the move. The company pointed to strong results last year. Revenue rose about 13% and pretax profit climbed 41%. VietJet carried 28.2 million passengers, added 22 aircraft and expanded its fleet to 101 planes. It logged more than 150,000 flights for the year, averaging more than 400 a day. VietJet said the funds will go to additional wide-body aircraft, new international routes, expanded maintenance facilities and workforce training. It has already drawn attention at the Paris Air Show by ordering 100 Airbus A321neo jets and 20 long-haul A330neo wide-body aircraft. Its Thailand unit plans to expand routes to 53 next year, and its Kazakhstan unit, long in the red, has turned profitable. VietJet said transaction volume on its in-house payment service, Galaxy Pay, has topped 15 trillion dong (about 840 billion won), and membership has surpassed 2 million. Europe is the centerpiece of the expansion plan. Vice President Jay Lingeswara said at an aviation conference this month that “the market we are watching most is Europe,” and that VietJet will launch one-stop service linking Vietnam to Europe via Kazakhstan. “We have always entered markets others avoid first and grown them — that is our formula,” he said. Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, VietJet’s founder and widely known as Vietnam’s first female billionaire, told the shareholders meeting that VietJet is “not simply a company that carries passengers,” but one that connects “the economy, dreams and the future.” Independent director Philipp Roessler, described in the report as a former German vice chancellor, said VietJet has been preparing for European expansion for a long time. The airline also flagged risks. It said intensified conflict in the Middle East in March pushed jet fuel prices to around $200 a barrel, a major concern for airlines. VietJet said it slightly lowered its targets for this year and will spend only where necessary. For Korean travelers, VietJet Thailand said last year it would gradually expand medium-haul routes toward South Korea, Japan, China and India. That could add options beyond direct flights to Vietnamese resort destinations such as Da Nang and Phu Quoc, including connections via Bangkok. The report noted, however, that frequent delays remain a challenge for VietJet as it expands.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:58:15

Han Dong-hoon Criticizes Ha Jung-woo’s Possible Busan By-Election Run as ‘Proxy Fight’ Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, criticized Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI future planning, over Ha’s suggestion that he may run in the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary by-election to be held alongside the June 3 local elections. Speaking on BBS Radio’s “Geum Tae-seop’s Morning Journal” on Monday, Han said Ha appeared to be entering the race not by his own decision but to “fight a proxy battle” for President Lee Jae-myung. Han said Ha had stated that he would need President Lee’s permission to run and would not do so without it. Han also accused Ha of neglecting AI policy while weighing a bid for the by-election. “AI is extremely important and we’re in a golden time,” Han said, adding that Ha spent about a month wavering over whether to run and that “AI was pushed to the back burner.” Han added, “He hasn’t done anything for 10 months.” Han said he would use the election to reflect public sentiment, arguing that the People Power Party’s leadership has damaged the party and failed to effectively check the Lee administration. On criticism from Park Min-sik, a former minister of patriots and veterans affairs who has also signaled interest in running in Busan Buk-gu Gap, Han said Park has not been nominated and that he saw no need to respond. Han added that he understood why Park’s remarks were becoming harsher ahead of the election, describing Park as someone who “hurt” the district and left. Asked about the possibility of unifying conservative candidates in what is expected to be a three-way race, Han said such a move was only a dependent variable compared with the broader push to rebuild conservatism and local hopes for development. He said there was no reason for him to propose unification first and that there was no need to cite political calculations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:55:48

Hyundai Engineering & Construction Ranks No. 1 Globally in S&P Global ESG Construction Review Hyundai Engineering & Construction said April 28 it ranked No. 1 worldwide in the construction sector in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment, part of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index (DJ BIC), announced the previous day. DJ BIC is a revamped version of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. S&P Global selects the top 10% for sustainability among the world’s 2,500 largest companies by market capitalization. The company said it is the only South Korean builder to be included for 16 consecutive years across all index categories—World, Asia Pacific and Korea. It also said it was named to the “Yearbook 2026” Top 10%, S&P Global’s list of leading companies in the assessment. Hyundai Engineering & Construction attributed the result to steps including a management framework for other indirect emissions (Scope 3), building a companywide ESG IT system, strengthening internal sustainability controls, and disclosing information that includes ESG data from subsidiaries. The company said its ESG performance has also been recognized by major rating organizations at home and abroad. It said it has maintained an integrated A rating for eight straight years from the Korea ESG Standards Institute (KCGS), and earned A ratings from MSCI’s ESG assessment and the Carbon Disclosure Project, receiving strong marks across environmental, social and governance areas. Hyundai Engineering & Construction said it plans to further build trust with global investors and stakeholders by accelerating its shift to renewable energy, developing eco-friendly technologies and strengthening ESG management across its supply chain. A company official said the ranking reflects companywide efforts on climate-change response, safety management and transparent governance, adding that the company will work toward carbon neutrality and creating social value as a global construction leader. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:55:08

PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Opposes 'Hasty' Election-Driven Constitutional Revision Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said April 28 that a constitutional amendment should not be rushed ahead of an election, as the National Assembly prepared to vote on a revision bill jointly introduced by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and six floor parties.   Speaking at a party meeting at the National Assembly, Song said pushing a revision through in a hurry for electoral purposes would set a precedent and fuel “constitutional revision populism” every election season. “Our party is not opposing the substance of constitutional revision,” Song said. “We oppose a hasty, election-driven revision,” as he presented what he called the People Power Party’s five principles for a proper amendment. He argued against a piecemeal approach, saying, “Step-by-step revision is ultimately a patchwork revision,” and warned that repeatedly making small changes would leave the Constitution like “a patchwork garment.” Song said the Constitution’s preamble, which defines its history and spirit, requires careful and rigorous debate rather than a simple yes-or-no decision. He said some have argued the preamble should reflect the constitutional significance of liberal democracy during the Korean War, calling it an issue that should be addressed together. He also said broader public discussion is needed on whether to group the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests and the May 18 Democratization Movement with the April 19 democratic ideal in the current preamble, or treat them as separate principles. Song said revision should not be led by those in power, but should be “the people’s revision,” with the National Assembly, academia and civil society participating. He said all parties should work together under the Assembly’s leadership to gather public opinion and revise the Constitution accordingly. He added that revision should not be pushed through by pro-government parties to isolate the opposition, but should proceed through bipartisan agreement based on political balance. Song said the People Power Party again proposes that after the election, in the second half of the 22nd National Assembly, the parties form a special parliamentary committee on constitutional revision to discuss a comprehensive package, from the preamble to changes in the power structure. Song also expressed regret over Woo’s remarks on the People Power Party’s official stance opposing the revision, after Woo said lawmakers should be able to vote in the plenary session according to their conscience and convictions. Song said a party line is decided by the collective will of all its lawmakers and called Woo’s comments inappropriate, saying they distorted the situation as if party lawmakers were being forced to abandon their conscience. He demanded an apology. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:54:19

KAIST honors Professor Myung Hyun with Research Grand Prize for spatial AI robotics SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology held its annual Research Day on Tuesday at its main campus in Daejeon to recognize faculty achievements and share new technical data. The event, which began in 2016, serves as the university's primary forum for highlighting academic breakthroughs and fostering a collaborative research environment, the prominent research institute said April 28. Professor Myung Hyun from the School of Electrical Engineering received the Research Grand Prize, the university's highest research honor. Myung was selected for his work on spatial artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robot navigation. Since joining KAIST in 2008, Myung has applied his navigation research to wheeled robots, drones, and walking platforms. His technology has won multiple international competitions and is currently being commercialized through a startup venture. "By focusing on spatial AI and autonomous movement for 17 years, I have been able to contribute to the domestic independence of mobile robot technology," Myung said. He noted that he was grateful for the chance to train the next generation of researchers. To support a more focused research environment, the university expanded its award pool this year. The number of Research Award recipients increased from two to four, and the Special Research Award was expanded to include two winners. Several other faculty members were recognized for their academic contributions. Professor Han Jae-hung, Professor Cho Byung-kwan, Professor Joseph Schiering, and Professor Lee Hyun-joo received the Research Award, while Professor Kim Sun-chang and Professor Jo Woo-young were selected for the Special Research Award. The university also presented the Innovation Award to Professor Kim Jae-kyung and the Convergence Research Award to the team of Professor Cho Him-chan and Professor Lee Jeong-yong. Other honors included the International Joint Research Award for Professor Song Ji-joon and the QAIST Creative Challenge Research Award for Professor Kim Bong-jin. The event showcased 10 representative research achievements from 2025 and 14 future technologies identified for their socioeconomic potential. These projects are aligned with national strategic technology goals in South Korea. President Lee Kwang-hyung said Research Day is an opportunity to share innovative ideas and celebrate the work of faculty. Lee stated the institution plans to continue its efforts to lead global science and technology through its research. 2026-04-28 09:51:53

Two tankers carrying 4 million barrels of Iranian oil reach Asia after transiting Hormuz; six turn back Despite a U.S. maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, about 4 million barrels of Iranian crude oil transited the waterway in a single day on April 24, according to data cited by Reuters. Reuters, citing TankerTrackers.com satellite-based data, reported April 27 that two tankers bound for Asia carrying roughly 4 million barrels of Iranian crude exited the strait on April 24. By contrast, six other tankers carrying a combined 10.5 million barrels were blocked in recent days and turned back, the data showed. Four additional Iranian tankers returned empty from Asia and were last spotted near Pakistan’s coast. Iran moved to control the Strait of Hormuz immediately after the war began on Feb. 28, and the United States began a maritime blockade against Iran on April 13. Iran briefly reopened the strait April 17-18 before resuming controls, and traffic has fallen sharply from the prewar daily average of 125 to 140 transits. U.S. Central Command said April 25 that since the blockade began it has redirected 37 vessels to alternate routes. Reuters reported the U.S. military appears to have ordered some ships to turn back in the Gulf of Oman while allowing others to pass. As of April 27, at least seven ships transited the strait over the previous day, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler and satellite analytics company SynMax, but none were tankers. Most were bulk carriers; some departed Iraqi ports and one sailed from an Iranian port. Reuters said that because the U.S. military is rerouting Iran-linked ships as far as near the Strait of Malacca, it remains unclear whether the cargoes will reach buyers or be intercepted and sent back to Iran. Reuters also reported that an Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. liquefied natural gas carrier appears to have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz. If confirmed, it would be the first known case since the war began of an LNG-laden vessel passing through the strait. There had previously been a case of an Omani carrier transiting without LNG on board. According to ICIS LNG Edge and MarineTraffic, the vessel was first detected in Gulf waters on March 30, then went dark for weeks before reappearing recently in waters west of India. In Gulf waters, some ships have also switched off location signals or transmitted false information to avoid tracking.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:51:19

Pentagon says North Korean ICBMs can strike U.S., cites need for stronger homeland defense A senior Pentagon official assessed that North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missiles have the capability to strike the United States, again citing the North’s nuclear and missile programs as a rationale for strengthening U.S. homeland defenses. According to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mark Berkowitz, the assistant secretary of defense for space policy, appeared Monday at a Strategic Forces subcommittee hearing on the missile defense budget. In written testimony, he listed North Korea alongside China, Russia and Iran as missile threats to the U.S. homeland and allies. “North Korea poses a direct and growing threat to the U.S. homeland, forward-deployed U.S. forces, and allies with its increasing nuclear, missile, and air capabilities,” Berkowitz said. He added that North Korea’s “theater-range” missiles can reach U.S. territory and the territory of South Korea and Japan, and that North Korean ICBMs “can strike the United States.” Berkowitz made the remarks while arguing for the need for the Trump administration’s next-generation homeland defense concept known as the “Golden Dome.” The plan envisions a layered defense system aimed not only at ballistic missiles but also hypersonic weapons, advanced cruise missiles and next-generation aerial threats. He said current U.S. homeland missile defenses are limited and becoming less effective against evolving threats. “Today’s U.S. homeland missile defense is limited, and its effectiveness against increasingly advanced threats is declining,” he wrote, adding that it provides only minimal defense against hypersonic weapons, advanced cruise missiles and large-scale ballistic missile attacks. He described the Golden Dome as a concept to build a comprehensive, layered defense covering the entire United States. The hearing was held as part of the review of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization request and the Future Years Defense Program. Other witnesses included U.S. Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, who leads the Golden Dome effort, and Missile Defense Agency Director Heath Collins. Berkowitz also said the United States would continue strengthening missile defenses in the Indo-Pacific. He said the U.S. maintains a forward-deployed, layered integrated air and missile defense network centered on Aegis destroyers, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, and Patriot batteries, and would keep pushing development of an integrated air and missile defense system for Guam. 2026-04-28 09:48:20

Hanwha Life Launches External Advisory Panel to Strengthen Consumer Protection Hanwha Life said on 28 it has launched the Customer Trust+PLUS Advisory Committee, an outside-expert panel aimed at strengthening financial consumer protection. The committee will advise on issues that could infringe on consumer rights and on insurance dispute matters, bringing an independent perspective to cases the company might otherwise judge internally. Hanwha Life said it will use third-party, objective views to bolster fairness. The company said the panel is designed to go beyond case-by-case advice by reinforcing prevention-focused management in its consumer protection framework. It plans to identify potential causes of disputes consumers face in advance and link findings to institutional improvements to make protections more effective. Hanwha Life appointed five experts in insurance, consumer issues and law. Yoo Ju-sun, president of the Korea Management and Law Association, will serve as chair. Members include Ok Kyung-young, a professor of consumer economics at Sookmyung Women’s University; Jung Hye-ryeon, an associate professor in the Department of Law at the Korean National Police University; Bae Jin-cheol, an adviser at law firm KL Partners; and Han Chang-hoon, a partner attorney at law firm Yulchon. The committee will meet regularly once a quarter and select agenda items based on complaint and dispute data. Hanwha Life said it will initially focus on major complaint types, then move step by step toward reviewing structural causes and improving systems. “Based on objective and professional perspectives, we will closely identify improvement tasks that emerge in insurance practice and do our best to ensure they lead to service improvements customers can feel,” Yoo said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:39:20

South Korean Rapper Jerry.K Dies After Battle With Brain Tumor Rapper Jerry.K, whose real name was Kim Jin-il, has died after battling glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, for about two years. He died on the 27th, prompting an outpouring of tributes online. On social media, users posted messages such as “Rest in peace,” “I hope you’re happy there,” “My condolences,” and “I was happy to have shared this time with you.” In May, Kim told followers on his social media account that he had been “suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor,” had undergone surgery and was recovering. “I still don’t know what all this is,” he wrote. “I hope it gets better, even little by little. Please think of me from time to time.” Born in 1984, Kim studied journalism and communication at Seoul National University. He debuted in 2001 as part of the rap duo Loquence with his high school classmate, rapper MakeSense. He later became a founding member of the hip-hop crew Soul Company and continued releasing music as a solo artist. His 2008 first full-length album, “Mawang,” used blunt language to address human nature and social issues, earning him nicknames in the hip-hop scene such as “the sharp-tongued one” and “Mawang.” In 2011, he founded the independent label Days Alive and remained active, gaining recognition for a critical perspective that examined different facets of South Korean society. A memorial altar has been set up at the funeral hall of Sinchon Severance Hospital. The funeral is scheduled for the 29th.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:36:26

Won Opens Slightly Weaker as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Stall The won opened slightly weaker against the U.S. dollar as ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran remained stalled. As of 9:28 a.m. in Seoul on April 28, the won was trading at 1,473.5 per dollar. It opened at 1,474.1, up 1.6 won from the previous session. U.S. President Donald Trump is reviewing a new Iranian proposal, putting the deadlocked talks into a new phase. The Wall Street Journal reported on April 27 (local time) that Trump and his national security team were skeptical of Iran’s offer, which included keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and postponing discussions on its nuclear program. The dollar, which had been pressured early in the previous session on expectations of progress in U.S.-Iran war talks, rebounded in New York trading as risk appetite cooled. Oil prices also rose as uncertainty over the negotiations resurfaced. On April 27, June WTI crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled up 2.08% at $96.37 a barrel. July Brent crude on the London futures market ended up 2.58% at $101.69 a barrel. Min Kyung-won, an economist at Woori Bank, said steady dollar buying has continued in the local market, including demand for dividend repatriation and payments by importers. “The exchange rate is expected to face stronger upward pressure in the mid-1,470s today,” Min said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 09:33:53