Korail Ranks No. 1 Among State-Owned Firms in 2025 Public Awareness Survey Korea Railroad Corp., known as Korail, said Sunday it ranked first in the state-owned enterprise (SOC) category in the Ministry of Finance and Economy’s “2025 Public Institutions Public Awareness Survey.” Korail scored 72.2 points overall, 6.9 points higher than the average for state-owned enterprises, which was 65.3. It also topped the SOC group average of 67 by 5.2 points. The survey measures public perceptions of public institutions, including public value, social responsibility and service quality, based on responses from the general public and local residents. It is used to gauge satisfaction with an institution’s overall operations. Korail received 94.1 points in local-resident awareness, reflecting strong marks for communication and cooperation with communities. The company said the result was driven by positive views of its contribution to local economies, delivery of everyday services and expanded collaboration with local partners. Korail President Kim Tae-seung said the company will continue to innovate so the public can feel improvements in rail service, and will more fully carry out its mission as a public railway operator supporting balanced national development and shared growth with regions. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:57:14

Jung Cheong-rae says Yoon Suk Yeol should have faced death penalty request in North drone case Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said prosecutors should have sought the death penalty for Yoon Suk Yeol, who was asked to be sentenced to 30 years in prison in a first trial over a North Korean drone infiltration case. Speaking at an on-site Supreme Council meeting in Anseong on the 27th, Jung said that if North Korea had used the incident as a pretext to start even a limited clash, “countless people would have lost their lives.” Earlier, the special prosecutor for the insurrection case said on the 24th it was seeking a 30-year prison term for Yoon, who is accused of ordering an operation to send drones into Pyongyang. Jung also noted that it was the eighth anniversary of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, saying South and North Korea found a path to pursue peace together eight years ago, but that it “collapsed under Yoon Suk Yeol’s dictatorship.” He added, “We cannot stop the path to peace. War must not break out on the Korean Peninsula.” “Peace is the economy, and it makes our people richer,” Jung said, adding that under the Lee Jae-myung government there are signs the “Korean Peninsula risk” is easing and shifting toward a “Korean Peninsula premium.” Jung also urged Choo Mi-ae, the party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor, Park Chan-dae, its candidate for Incheon mayor, and Woo Sang-ho, its candidate for Gangwon governor, who were selected as candidates in border regions, to “do their best” to manage the situation. He added that relief payments for damage from high oil prices caused by the Middle East war began that day, saying the Democratic Party would work with the government to ensure the program is carried out without gaps.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:54:17

South Korea’s People Power Party urges government action over Samsung Electronics union strike threat South Korea’s People Power Party on Sunday called for what it described as a responsible government response to a threatened general strike by a Samsung Electronics labor union. The party also urged the government to roll back what it called pro-union policies and to pursue a new revision of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, an amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said at a meeting of the party’s top leadership that “Samsung’s union is holding the South Korean economy hostage.” He said the issue had moved beyond labor-management relations to become “a national economy and livelihoods issue,” and criticized President Lee Jae-myung for offering what he called a meaningless call to “resolve it wisely through dialogue.” Jang warned that with local elections approaching, if the government pressures Samsung and sides with the union, it would be “trading the country’s future for votes.” He said the government and the president should step in to persuade the union and mediate the conflict. Floor leader Song Eon-seok cited the union’s demand for performance pay equal to 15% of operating profit and its notice of a general strike from May 21 to June 7. Industry observers have projected Samsung Electronics’ annual operating profit this year at about 45 trillion won, based on forecasts. Song said demanding 600 million won per worker for all employees, not only top performers, “is difficult to see as meeting global standards.” He added that with semiconductors accounting for 55% of economic growth, he viewed the threatened action as repeatedly “holding the national economy hostage” and damaging shareholder interests and the country’s future. Song blamed what he called one-sided, pro-union government policy for the repeated disputes and stressed the need to revise the Yellow Envelope Act again. He said the law should more clearly define employers through contractual and direct supervisory relationships and limit bargaining topics to wages and working conditions. He also called for more effective rules on liability for losses from illegal labor actions. Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook said workers’ contributions to South Korea’s industrialization should not be underestimated, but warned that alternative legislation is needed before confusion linked to the Yellow Envelope Act grows further.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:52:29

Concern Worldwide Korea Gets First Domestic Legacy Giving Pledge From Donor in His 70s International humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide said it has received its first legacy giving pledge in South Korea. Concern Worldwide said it held a pledge ceremony on the 23rd at its Seoul office. At the donor’s request, his name and identifying details were not disclosed. The pledger is a man in his 70s who has made monthly donations to Concern Worldwide since 2021. He began by giving 50,000 won a month, gradually increased the amount, and now donates 350,000 won each month. The donor said he lived through the Korean War as a child and later made a living working on deep-sea fishing vessels. Based on those experiences, he has said he wanted to help people suffering from hunger and poverty. Legacy giving is a form of donation in which a person pledges during their lifetime to use part or all of their assets for the public good after death. It can include cash as well as real estate, stocks and insurance, and can be arranged through notarized wills or trust arrangements that serve as will substitutes. The donor said he decided to make the pledge because he understands hunger firsthand. “Because I know how painful hunger is, I wanted to donate the money I saved over my lifetime to help people in difficult circumstances,” he said. “I hope the assets I leave behind can have a positive impact on the world.” He also described how he first connected with the organization. “By chance, I saw Concern Worldwide’s advertisement at a bus terminal, and it brought back memories of the hungry days in the past, so I started donating,” he said. “I was grateful to learn there was a way to help.” Lee Jun-mo, Concern Worldwide’s representative, said legacy giving is a way to ensure a donor’s intentions reach those who need help most. He called the pledge “a meaningful promise” reflecting the donor’s convictions, and said the organization would do its best to use the donation where it is most needed. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization working to address hunger and extreme poverty. It runs programs in vulnerable regions worldwide, including health and nutrition, livelihoods, education and humanitarian assistance. The organization said it also provides procedures and guidance through major and legacy giving programs so donors’ intentions can support projects in the world’s poorest areas.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:51:49

Samsung Medical Center Launches Smart Patient Rooms to Boost Safety and Efficiency Samsung Medical Center said on the 27th it has introduced “smart patient rooms” as part of a patient-centered overhaul aimed at improving safety, convenience and staff efficiency. The hospital said the rollout is part of a mid- to long-term strategy to move beyond isolated technology upgrades and transition to an advanced, intelligent hospital model. The hospital has worked since 2020 to improve inpatient-room environments. Based on patient satisfaction surveys, it formed a “Future Hospital TF” to define the smart-room concept and develop an operating system for it. Lee Sang-cheol, head of the Heart and Brain Vascular Hospital and a professor of cardiology, said the smart rooms focus on linking patient safety and the overall treatment experience “into a single flow,” rather than simply adding new devices. The rooms use a facial-recognition entry system to strengthen security and ease of access. Patients can use an in-room tablet to control lighting and temperature, check key information in real time — including test results, appointment schedules and meal changes — and communicate with medical staff through chat, voice calls and video calls. Monitoring has also been expanded. Wearable devices allow real-time checks of vital signs such as blood pressure, electrocardiograms and oxygen saturation, enabling faster responses to warning signs. Radar-based sensors installed in patient rooms and bathrooms are designed to detect risky situations early. For staff, the hospital said efficiency improves when an artificial intelligence avatar generates education videos after clinicians enter disease-education content, reducing the need for repeated explanations. Patients can receive tailored education in their rooms. Samsung Medical Center said it will review operating results and consider expanding the system across the hospital and applying additional AI technologies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:51:05

Lotte Home Shopping Opens AIGLE Flagship Store at Seoul’s Lotte World Mall Lotte Home Shopping is stepping up its push into offline retail by opening a series of permanent stores for French outdoor brand AIGLE in key shopping districts in Seoul. The company said Monday it opened an AIGLE permanent store on April 24 at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil. The store is the first in South Korea to apply AIGLE’s “Rubber Forest” concept, inspired by the brand’s signature rubber material and designed to reflect its nature-friendly philosophy. It is also debuting AIGLE’s 2026 spring-summer “Solar Pack” line, aimed at summer demand with enhanced UV-protection features. The lineup includes functional windbreakers, T-shirts and pants, as well as more than 20 types of the brand’s signature rain boots. To mark the opening, customers who spend 500,000 won or more will receive a limited-edition bag made in collaboration with global accessories brand Topologie, the company said. Lotte Home Shopping has been developing a new business focused on securing distribution rights for promising overseas fashion brands and selling them in South Korea as part of its effort to build future growth engines. After signing a distribution-rights agreement with AIGLE in 2024, it ran pop-up stores in major fashion hubs including Apgujeong and Hannam-dong to build brand awareness. It opened an official online mall in March last year to expand its digital presence. Starting this year, it plans to open large permanent stores in prime districts to complete an omnichannel network spanning online and offline sales. The company said it plans to open another store next month near Dosan Park in Seoul’s Gangnam district. “We plan to continue expanding AIGLE permanent stores in key commercial districts such as Jamsil Lotte World Mall and Dosan Park,” said Lee Sang-yong, head of Lotte Home Shopping’s Growth Business Division. “We will further strengthen our position as a distribution platform that successfully establishes global fashion brands.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:50:15

CJ CheilJedang Expands Partnership With Vietnam Retailer Bach Hoa Xanh to Grow K-Food Sales CJ CheilJedang is expanding cooperation with Vietnam’s largest retail network as it steps up its push in the local food market, aiming to accelerate the spread of K-food through closer manufacturing and distribution collaboration. The company said April 27 it will broaden its partnership with Bach Hoa Xanh, Vietnam’s No. 1 retailer. Bach Hoa Xanh is a supermarket chain under MWG, Vietnam’s largest retail group, and operates about 2,760 stores nationwide. CJ CheilJedang has sold key products through the chain, including Bibigo dumplings and rolls, kimchi and seaweed. Sales through the channel have grown an average of 20% annually over the past four years, the company said. The expanded partnership is intended to drive joint growth and help modernize Vietnam’s food culture by combining CJ CheilJedang’s product development and cold-chain capabilities with Bach Hoa Xanh’s distribution infrastructure to strengthen competitiveness in processed foods. The companies plan to widen the K-food lineup and co-develop products tailored to local consumer trends. They also plan to upgrade food safety and quality management systems and invest in refrigerated and frozen logistics. Marketing will include a dedicated CJ section within the retailer’s app and hands-on promotional events, in addition to in-store efforts. CJ CheilJedang and Bach Hoa Xanh signed a memorandum of understanding in Hanoi on April 23 on expanding K-food and leading the processed foods market. The signing was held in connection with the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum. Jo Jaebeom, head of CJ CheilJedang’s Food Asia-Pacific headquarters, and Nguyen Duc Tai, MWG chairman, attended. Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan and Vietnam’s Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan were also present, the company said. CJ CheilJedang entered Vietnam in 2015 with a milling business and has expanded through localization, mergers and acquisitions, and building production bases. The company said last year’s sales were about seven times the 2016 level. It added that it holds the No. 1 market share in dumplings and kimchi in Vietnam after entering those categories early. CJ CheilJedang said the partnership will help it expand distribution beyond its southern base around Ho Chi Minh City to northern Vietnam and smaller cities. It also plans to broaden its portfolio beyond frozen and chilled items to include shelf-stable products such as noodles and snacks, as well as chilled processed meat products. A CJ CheilJedang official said the partnership with Bach Hoa Xanh will be an important step for Bibigo to become a “national brand” in Vietnam. The official said the company will continue expanding K-food by offering products and services tailored to local consumers’ lifestyles.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:49:25

China’s 2026 Imports Seen Rising 5% on AI Investment, Biggest Gain in Five Years China’s imports are expected to rise sharply this year, supported by expanding investment in artificial intelligence, according to a forecast cited by Bloomberg News. Bloomberg reported on April 26 (local time) that a survey this month of 17 economists put China’s 2026 import growth at 5%. That is more than double the March estimate and would be the strongest increase in five years, marking a break from four years of stagnation and declines. The forecast for export growth was also revised up, to 4.9% from 3.6%. Even so, the goods trade surplus is expected to come in only slightly above about $1.2 trillion, little changed from 2025, suggesting the expansion of the surplus seen over the past two years may slow. Serena Zhou, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, said “the Chinese government recognizes that a massive trade surplus is not sustainable.” While she expects imports to rise 7.5% this year, she added that “overseas demand remains the key growth driver” and that “the recovery in domestic demand is not yet clear.” China’s trade has held up better than expected despite an energy supply shock triggered by the Iran war. In the first quarter of 2026, imports rose 23% from a year earlier and exports increased 15%, both posting double-digit gains. At the same time, the imbalance in the economy is deepening as industrial output and investment expand while consumption remains weak. The International Monetary Fund has said this structure is contributing to wider global imbalances. A surge in imports in March was driven by stronger demand for semiconductors and advanced manufacturing equipment linked to AI investment. Pantheon Macroeconomics said the value of semiconductor imports jumped 54% from a year earlier, accounting for about one-third of the overall increase. Import volumes, however, rose 14%, indicating higher prices also played a role. An expected global increase in AI investment — projected at about $2.5 trillion this year — has become a key driver of Asian trade. China has emerged as the largest supplier of AI-related products, but it still relies heavily on imports for core technologies such as advanced semiconductors. Standard Chartered said China’s AI-related imports mainly come from Taiwan and South Korea, and that exports from both economies to China have risen sharply. Other factors supporting import growth include a stronger yuan and higher commodity prices. The yuan has gained about 7% against the dollar over the past year, boosting purchasing power, while rising copper and aluminum prices have lifted the value of related imports. Global oil prices have not yet had a major impact on China’s imports, with March crude oil imports only slightly lower. Still, reduced shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could become a headwind for energy imports. Pantheon Macroeconomics forecast April import values for oil and gas will fall 14% and 18%, respectively. On the export side, analysts said some spillover benefits from the war are also supporting demand. With interest rising in electric vehicles and solar panels, Chinese companies are expanding their presence in overseas markets. Erica Tay, an economist at Maybank Securities, said China’s economy showed greater resilience to the supply shock from the Iran war than other Asian economies, adding that stronger demand for electric vehicles and solar power products is benefiting Chinese firms.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:48:19

Freewillin Launches Uganda Education Support Project With Schoolflat Math Workbooks AI-based education solutions company Freewillin has launched a global education support project by providing math textbooks to primary schools in northern Uganda. Freewillin, led by CEO Kwon Gi-seong, said it delivered 497 Schoolflat math textbooks it produced to two schools in the Gulu area: Awach Central Primary School and Omoti Hill Primary School. The project will serve 477 fourth- and fifth-grade students. The materials include Schoolflat student workbooks and teachers’ guides. Freewillin said it developed separate student and teacher materials for grades 4 and 5, reflecting grade-level learning needs and local classroom conditions. The company said the effort is designed as a cooperative support model tailored to local realities, rather than a one-time donation. While Freewillin handled content development at its headquarters, printing and binding were done in Uganda. The company said the approach supports schools while also creating a production structure in partnership with local print shops. Uganda has expanded access to primary education under its universal primary education policy, but challenges remain in education quality, including shortages of textbooks and learning materials and limited systems to support teachers, the company said. Freewillin said its local assessment found teachers hand-making class materials because textbooks and worksheets were scarce, leaving students with too few opportunities to practice problem-solving. Given those conditions, Freewillin said it chose an offline approach centered on paper materials and teacher guides, rather than directly transferring its digital solution. The goal, it said, is to make learning resources usable even where electricity and internet access are not stable. The project is being run with HOIE (Hope is Education), an NGO specializing in education development cooperation. HOIE has supported teacher capacity-building and improvements in primary education quality in public primary schools in northern Uganda since 2015 by operating school learning communities. HOIE plans to visit the pilot schools every two to three weeks for class observations, teacher coaching and advice on how to use the materials. Freewillin said it will use that feedback to review teaching and learning methods that can work in local classrooms and to further refine the textbooks. Local education officials, including the superintendent and supervisors from the Gulu area education office, attended the textbook handover ceremony. Freewillin said it prepared the project starting in the second half of 2025 and funded it with its own resources, without outside support. “Starting with Uganda, we plan to expand educational opportunities to more regions,” Kwon said. “As the company grows, we will continue to increase investment in education support.” Schoolflat is Freewillin’s school-tailored AI math courseware service. In South Korea, it has been used to reduce teachers’ lesson-preparation burden and support math learning matched to each student’s level. The Uganda project is the company’s first global education support case, rebuilding its existing AI content and math learning know-how to fit local infrastructure.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:40:38

Ju Haknyeon Seen at The Boyz Concert After Leaving Group Amid Private-Life Controversy Ju Haknyeon, who left the group The Boyz after controversy over a meeting with an adult video actress, has been spotted at a The Boyz concert venue. On the 26th, Ju posted photos on his social media account without comment. The images appeared to be taken from the audience and showed the stage from The Boyz concert “Interjection,” held over three days from the 24th to the 26th at KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Songpa district. Posts on social media and online communities also described sightings of Ju attending the concert with his face covered by a hat and other items. Ju was removed from the team after it became known that he had been drinking with adult video actress Asuka Kirara in May last year. At the time, Japan’s weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun published photos showing him hugging and otherwise engaging in physical contact with Asuka Kirara. The outlet sought confirmation from The Boyz’s agency, One Hundred, which said it was checking the facts. After discussions with the group’s members, the agency finalized Ju’s departure from the team and the termination of his exclusive contract. Ju, however, has flatly denied allegations raised by some that he solicited prostitution involving Asuka Kirara. 2026-04-27 10:33:15