PM Kim Min-seok calls for whole-of-government approach to AI education Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said artificial intelligence education should be treated as a whole-of-government task, not the sole responsibility of the Education Ministry. Yonhap News Agency reported that Kim chaired a meeting of relevant ministers on AI education on Thursday afternoon at the Government Complex Seoul. “AI has a major impact across all areas, including how government operates and education, as well as our society,” he said. Kim said AI education cannot remain confined to one ministry. “In the process of developing, applying and using AI, matters related to education are difficult to define as only the Education Ministry’s task and role,” he said. He called on all related ministries to comprehensively review issues tied to AI learning and education and then begin an overall plan. He also urged steps to expand opportunities for people to experience AI and to improve AI-use skills nationwide. Kim asked officials to also examine ways to strengthen AI development capabilities and to build related infrastructure effectively. The meeting discussed strengthening AI capabilities for elementary, middle and high school students, training AI talent through higher education, and expanding lifelong learning to boost AI skills for everyone. Attendees included Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin, Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Science and ICT Vice Minister Ryu Je-myeong, Unification Vice Minister Kim Nam-joong, and Lim Moon-young, standing vice chair of the National AI Strategy Committee.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 20:04:49

Samsung Electronics union reports rally outside Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s home on first strike day Samsung Electronics’ labor union has reported plans to hold a rally outside the home of Chairman Lee Jae-yong on the first day of a planned general strike, escalating a dispute over the company’s performance-bonus system beyond the workplace. The Samsung Electronics National Union said Thursday it filed a report with the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul for a gathering at 1 p.m. on May 21 in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, outside Lee’s residence. The reported turnout is about 50 people. The union has announced an 18-day strike from May 21 through June 7. The event is expected to be conducted more as a news conference to publicize the strike plan than as a large-scale demonstration, according to the union. The union is demanding the removal of the cap on performance bonuses and payment of bonuses equal to 15% of operating profit. The Samsung Electronics Labor Union Joint Struggle Headquarters held a rally Wednesday outside the company’s Pyeongtaek campus in Gyeonggi province, urging management to accept its demands. The union has been negotiating with management since December over changes to the bonus system and other issues but has not reached an agreement. It has argued that the criteria for calculating bonuses are unclear and that one-time compensation will not resolve the problem. 2026-04-24 19:57:17

Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae makes private hospital visit to fasting lawmaker Ahn Ho-young Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, paid a private hospital visit to Rep. Ahn Ho-young, who was hospitalized after his health worsened during a hunger strike, Yonhap News Agency reported. According to Yonhap, Jeong visited Ahn at Green Hospital in Seoul's Jungnang district at about 4:50 p.m. on Thursday. Jeong and Rep. Kim Young-hwan met with Ahn for about 15 minutes, the report said. Ahn began the hunger strike after losing the Democratic Party's primary for North Jeolla Province governor to Lee Won-taek on April 11. Ahn has demanded a renewed party inspection into allegations involving a third party paying meal expenses linked to Lee. On the 12th day of the fast, April 22, Ahn was taken to the hospital as his condition deteriorated. During the visit, Jeong told Ahn, "You fasted for 12 days, so you should be hospitalized for 12 days to receive treatment. I hope you recover soon," according to the report. Jeong also reportedly suggested having a meal together after Ahn is discharged. Yonhap said there was no mention of a renewed inspection into Lee or of local elections. Jeong had faced criticism within the party for not visiting Ahn's hunger strike site set up at the National Assembly. Supreme Council member Lee Eon-ju said April 22 that she felt "deeply ashamed" that the party leader had not come even once to "hold his hand." Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu also said he did not agree with a party leader "turning away" while a party lawmaker had been on a hunger strike for more than 10 days. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 19:48:22

Macron Says He Won’t Stay in Politics After Leaving Office, Rejects 2032 Return Talk French President Emmanuel Macron said he plans to step away from politics after leaving office next year. According to TF1 and other French media on April 24, Macron was asked about his political future a day earlier while meeting students at the French-Cypriot School in Nicosia, Cyprus. “I don’t have a career plan,” he said, adding, “I wasn’t in politics before I became president, and I won’t be afterward.” Macron cannot run in the 2027 presidential election. France’s constitution sets the presidential term at five years and bars the same person from serving more than two consecutive terms. Macron was first elected in 2017 and won reelection in 2022. In French political circles, speculation has persisted that Macron would try to maintain influence after leaving office, including by shaping the centrist camp and succession plans. Some observers have also suggested he could keep open the option of returning for the 2032 election. Le Monde reported in July last year that Macron had made remarks that appeared to hint at a possible 2032 comeback. His latest comments appeared to distance him from that idea. Macron also spoke about priorities for the remainder of his term. “After nine years, the hardest thing is to protect what you did well and keep moving forward, while also revisiting what you didn’t do well or didn’t explain well,” he said. “If you don’t take it up again and carry it through to the end, you’ll regret it too much.” Before entering politics, Macron worked at Rothschild as an investment banker. Under President Francois Hollande, he served as deputy secretary-general at the Elysee Palace and as economy minister, and in 2016 he launched the centrist political movement En Marche. The political environment late in Macron’s term remains difficult. Since the 2024 snap parliamentary election, France has lacked a clear majority in the National Assembly. The far-right National Rally (RN) and the left are expanding their bases ahead of the next presidential race, while competition over succession has intensified within Macron’s camp. Some local political figures see Macron’s remarks as a signal he may retire from politics. Others note that former presidents have often retained influence without holding office, leaving Macron’s actions after 2027 an open question. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 19:33:18

Court to Livestream Kim Keon Hee Appeal Verdict on April 28 Kim Keon Hee’s appeal verdict will be broadcast live on April 28 after the court approved real-time public access, citing the public interest and strong social attention. The Seoul High Court said April 24 that its Criminal Division 15-2 (Judges Shin Jong-oh, Sung Eon-ju and Won Ik-seon) will livestream the sentencing hearing at 3 p.m. on April 28 in Kim’s case. The broadcast is expected to show Kim seated in the defendant’s chair and the courtroom interior in real time. Kim was indicted over allegations tied to Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation, the free provision of opinion polls, and receiving money and valuables linked to the Unification Church. In the first trial, the court found her not guilty on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation and opinion-poll allegations. It convicted her on part of the Unification Church-related allegations and sentenced her to 1 year and 8 months in prison. On appeal, the special counsel sought 11 years in prison, a 2 billion won fine and forfeiture of 832.3 million won over the Deutsche Motors and Unification Church-related charges. For the alleged violation of the Political Funds Act, the special counsel requested four years in prison and forfeiture of 137.2 million won. A central question in the appeal is whether the first court’s not-guilty and partial-guilty findings will stand, along with any change in sentence. Separately, the Seoul High Court said it will also livestream the appeal verdict in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s case over allegations of obstructing an arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. That verdict is scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 29.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 19:18:20

Poland’s Tusk Questions Whether U.S. Would Honor NATO Defense Pledge if Russia Attacks Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has publicly questioned the United States’ commitment to NATO’s collective defense pledge, saying Europe’s security hinges on whether Washington would act if Russia attacked a member state. Reuters reported on 24일(현지시간), citing a Financial Times interview, that Tusk said, “Europe’s biggest and most important question is whether, if Russia attacks a NATO member, the United States is ready to act as a loyal ally, as the treaty states.” His remarks reflect concerns that U.S. policy toward Europe and pressure on allies under President Donald Trump have shaken confidence in Washington’s security guarantees. Tusk described the risk of a Russian attack as a near-term threat. “The key question for the entire eastern front and for my neighboring countries is whether NATO is ready — politically and also militarily and logistically — to respond to a situation like a Russian attack,” he said. Calling it “a really serious issue,” he added that he was speaking in “months, not years.” He said other NATO members should treat collective defense obligations as seriously as Poland does, and that allies need confidence they attach the same weight to those duties. Poland is a key NATO country on the alliance’s eastern flank, bordering Russia and Belarus. Tusk also urged a stronger role for the European Union. He said the EU must become a “real ally” in protecting the continent and called for clearer implementation of Article 42(7) of the EU treaty, the mutual defense clause requiring member states to assist a country that comes under armed attack. He said defense pledges must be backed by real capabilities. “To be a real alliance, not just one on paper, you need real tools and strength, including the ability to move defense assets and troops across countries,” Tusk said. He called it “a very practical issue today,” adding that his “obsession and mission” is to reunite Europe through “a joint effort for common defense and protection of the eastern border.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 19:09:18

Prosecutors Reject Police Request for Arrest Warrant for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk Prosecutors have rejected police requests for an arrest warrant for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, who is accused of misleading investors during the company's listing process and reaping large illicit gains. Prosecutors said they did not see sufficient grounds at this stage to justify detention. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office's Financial and Securities Crime Joint Investigation Division said Thursday it returned the warrant request to police and asked for additional investigation. Bang is suspected of fraudulent unfair trading under the Capital Markets Act. Prosecutors said there was "insufficient explanation" for why an arrest was necessary at this point. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crimes Investigation Division had sought the warrant on April 21, after about 16 months of investigation since launching an internal probe in December 2024. Police suspect that in 2019, ahead of HYBE's IPO, then known as Big Hit Entertainment, Bang told existing investors that there were no plans to go public or that the IPO would be delayed, inducing them to sell their stakes. Police believe the shares were steered to a special-purpose company set up by a private equity fund involving former HYBE executives. After HYBE listed on the Kospi in October 2020, the private equity fund sold the shares. Investigators say Bang received a portion of the profits under a prearranged shareholder agreement. Police estimate the alleged illicit gains at about 190 billion won, and as much as 260 billion won. Under the Capital Markets Act, using false information or improper schemes to gain from trading financial investment products is prohibited. If the illicit gain exceeds 5 billion won, the penalty can be life imprisonment or at least five years in prison. Police said they searched the Korea Exchange and HYBE headquarters, questioned Bang five times, imposed a travel ban and sought asset preservation measures for some shares. They also cited concerns about possible evidence destruction, including circumstances such as a phone replacement, according to reports. With prosecutors returning the warrant request, the case moves into a supplementary phase. Police are expected to decide whether to seek the warrant again after further legal review and additional evidence collection. Bang's side has denied all allegations, saying the IPO was not finalized at the time and that the share sales were made at investors' request. It also says the profit-sharing arrangement was proposed by the investor side. The case has drawn attention as an alleged capital markets crime tied to the listing of a major entertainment company. Investigators are expected to focus on whether fraudulent unfair trading can be established and on the scope of any illicit gains. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 18:42:24

SME Ministry Holds Startup Forum at Sungkyunkwan University; K-Beauty Vietnam Push and More SME Ministry holds startup forum at Sungkyunkwan University, shares support plans The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said April 24 it held a roundtable at Sungkyunkwan University’s Natural Sciences Campus with student startup clubs, students interested in entrepreneurship and alumni founders. Participants shared startup ideas and discussed difficulties in preparing to launch businesses, along with areas they said need improvement. The ministry also heard views on campus startup-support programs, ways to link them with the “Startup for Everyone” initiative, and policy support needed in the early stages. First Vice Minister Noh Yong-seok said he hopes young people will use “Startup for Everyone” to become more comfortable with entrepreneurship and to develop their ideas. “The government will be a reliable helper so that young people’s creative ideas can lead to real startups,” he said. KOSME backs K-beauty expansion into Vietnam with 1-on-1 buyer meetings The ministry and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency said they held a business matchmaking event April 24 (local time) at the Lotte Hotel Hanoi to support K-beauty companies entering Vietnam. The event paired Korean K-beauty small and midsize companies with local buyers for one-on-one export talks on site, and was designed to support market entry based on advance research into distribution channels. Fifteen K-beauty SMEs with strong potential for local expansion took part. Vietnamese beauty buyers visited booths to review products and technology and hold in-depth discussions. Park Jang-hyeok, KOSME’s director for global growth, said the program goes beyond consultations by linking companies to distribution placement and follow-up support. He said KOSME will continue expanding on-the-ground assistance for entry into promising overseas markets. Public Home Shopping wins culture minister’s top plain-language award for 2nd year Public Home Shopping said April 24 it received a Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry minister’s commendation for a second straight year after being named the top institution in the “2025 Easy and Correct Public Language” evaluation at the “2026 Joint Training Session for Korean-Language Officers and Language-Culture Centers.” In a news release, the company said it ranked first among 331 public institutions for avoiding difficult words, Chinese characters and foreign scripts. Public Home Shopping said it was selected as one of 24 outstanding institutions in the 2023 evaluation, then was named a top public-language institution in 2024 and 2025. A company official said it has worked to use proper Korean in the distribution industry, where loanwords are common, and pledged continued efforts to communicate with consumers in easy, comfortable language. KD Navien installs dehumidifying ventilation air purifiers in Seoul smart shelters KD Navien said April 24 it installed its dehumidifying ventilation air purifier — with dehumidification, ventilation and air-cleaning functions — at 20 “smart shelter” bus stops in Seoul’s Jung-gu district, including stops near Samsung Main Building and the Sogong-dong community service center. Smart shelters are public waiting areas designed to help people wait for public transportation during heat waves, cold snaps and fine-dust conditions. They offer smart services such as heating and cooling, air purification and Wi-Fi. KD Navien said its unit uses a “dual dehumidification solution” to maintain a relative humidity of 40% to 60% and, unlike air conditioners or dehumidifiers, manages humidity efficiently without changing temperature. The company said it is also seen as helping reduce heating and cooling energy use. A company official said a humid summer heat is expected this year, and the device’s impact in green smart shelters is likely to be greater. 2026-04-24 18:10:43

Hyundai Motor Group to Build AI, Software R&D Hub in Wirye With 8 Trillion Won Investment Hyundai Motor Group is moving to create a new research hub after acquiring a site tied to a mixed-use development project near Bokjeong Station in Seoul’s Songpa district. The group is expected to relocate existing research staff from its Namyang Research Center to the new hub once it is built. Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Steel and Hyundai Rotem said in regulatory filings on Thursday that they will acquire equity securities in a new corporation tentatively named HMG Future Complex, which will operate a real estate leasing business. The filings said the affiliates will make new capital contributions to secure a combined research and office base for the group’s future businesses. The total contribution will be 7.3281 trillion won. By company, Hyundai Motor will invest 2.8886 trillion won for 2,888,550 shares; Kia 2.3635 trillion won for 2,363,450 shares; Hyundai Mobis 1.0988 trillion won for 1,098,800 shares; Hyundai Steel 516.4 billion won for 516,400 shares; and Hyundai Rotem 460.8 billion won for 460,800 shares. Hyundai Motor Group said total investment will reach 8 trillion won when additional affiliate stakes to be invested later are included. The facility will be used as a research hub focused on artificial intelligence and software. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of this year, with completion planned for the end of 2030. The group said it decided on the project after weighing rising demand for office space due to business expansion and organizational upgrades, aging and overcrowded existing research facilities, instability in leased offices for affiliates, and inefficiencies from having operations spread across multiple sites. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 18:09:18

New Seoul Arts Center President Jang Han-na Vows to Broaden Access Jang Han-na, the newly appointed president of the Seoul Arts Center, said on the 24th that she would “faithfully and diligently” carry out her duties so the center becomes “a hub for culture and the arts that is open and closer to more people, embracing this era.” Jang made the remarks after receiving her letter of appointment from Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young. Her term is three years. She added, “It is an honor to be able to contribute to the future of the Seoul Arts Center with the experience I have built as a musician on stages around the world, and I feel a heavy responsibility.” Opened in 1988, the Seoul Arts Center operates performance and exhibition venues including a concert hall, an opera house, the Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum and the Hangaram Art Museum. It is considered one of South Korea’s key cultural spaces, expanding public access to the arts and supporting foundational performing arts such as classical music, opera, ballet and dance. Choi said public and arts-sector interest in Jang’s appointment is high, and urged her to use her experience and leadership to present a vision for a “new leap forward” as the center approaches its 40th anniversary in 2028 and to energize overall management. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 18:06:15