Audit Board Official Charged Over Only Part of Alleged 1.58 Billion Won Bribery Case Amid Jurisdiction Dispute A jurisdiction dispute between the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and prosecutors has led to a case in which only part of an alleged 1.58 billion won bribery scheme involving a senior Board of Audit and Inspection official is being punished. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s Criminal Division 5, led by Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jae-sin, said Tuesday it indicted a man identified only as Kim on charges including bribery and embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. He was indicted without detention. Prosecutors said Kim effectively ran an electrical construction company set up under a borrowed name and is suspected of receiving about 1.58 billion won from construction firms subject to audits, disguised as subcontract payments and other fees. Prosecutors brought to trial only the portion they said was clearly supported by evidence: about 290 million won in alleged bribes from 2018 to 2021. They said Kim received illicit payments three times from private companies in return for providing audit-related favors or introducing a public official who served as a bid evaluation committee member for a government-funded project. Three employees of private construction firms accused of paying bribes to Kim were also indicted. Prosecutors declined to indict Kim over the remaining 1.29 billion won, saying evidence was insufficient. The Board of Audit and Inspection asked the CIO in October 2021 to investigate the case. After two years of investigation, the CIO sought an arrest warrant for Kim in November 2023 on suspicion of bribery and other charges, but a court rejected it, citing insufficient substantiation of the allegations. After the warrant was denied, the CIO questioned only some alleged bribe givers, then sent the case to prosecutors while requesting indictment. Prosecutors, citing the court’s reasoning, said supplemental investigation was needed and sent the case back to the CIO. The CIO refused to accept it, saying the transfer had no legal basis, and the case returned to prosecutors. Prosecutors then sought search-and-seizure and communications warrants to pursue additional evidence, but the court rejected the requests, citing a lack of legal grounds to grant prosecutors authority to conduct further investigation in a CIO case. Prosecutors ultimately indicted only the portion they said was sufficiently proven and closed the rest with a nonindictment decision. A Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office official said institutional limits prevented prosecutors from requesting supplemental investigation by the CIO or conducting it themselves, making it difficult to quickly determine the full scope of the alleged wrongdoing. The official said it was the kind of outcome that can occur when the right to demand supplemental investigation is not supported by the system and prosecutors’ own supplemental investigative authority is not recognized.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:20:09

WFP Warns Middle East Tensions Could Deepen Myanmar Food Crisis The U.N. World Food Programme warned on the 20th that rising tensions in the Middle East could further worsen Myanmar’s food crisis. WFP said limits on supplies of imported fertilizer and higher prices are hurting agriculture and disrupting rice planting for the rainy season. It warned of falling farm output and growing pressure on rural livelihoods. About one-quarter of the population — 12.4 million people — is already facing severe food insecurity, it said. Independent outlet The Irrawaddy reported on the 20th that Myanmar’s agriculture sector relies heavily on imported fertilizer, with imports in fiscal 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026) topping 1.1 million tons. About half is supplied by China, but China’s restrictions on fertilizer exports in late March have intensified shortages inside Myanmar. Market prices for urea fertilizer have surged to 90,000 to 150,000 kyat per bag (about 50 kilograms), undermining rice farmers’ profitability. A farmer in the lower Irrawaddy River delta said, “Even if I sell 10 bags of rice, I can’t cover the cost of even one bag of fertilizer,” adding that soaring costs are making it difficult to keep farming. Production costs have risen to more than about 1 million kyat per acre, while rice market prices are said to be below about 1.5 million kyat per 100 bags, leaving many farmers struggling with losses. Harvests are also declining. One farmer said output from a paddy field of about 1.2 hectares fell to 130 bags (about 3 tons) from the usual 300 bags (about 7 tons) as fertilizer and irrigation costs climbed and damage from harmful animals added to losses.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:19:19

Hanse Yes24 Group blood drive collects donor cards to aid children with cancer Hanse Yes24 Group has launched a relay blood donation campaign involving employees across its affiliates to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Kim Gi-hong, a pioneer of South Korea’s blood donation movement. Industry officials said the “Life Sharing, Love Blood Donation Campaign” began April 16 at the group’s headquarters in Seoul’s Yeouido. Employees from key affiliates, including Hanse Yes24 Holdings, Hanse Corporation, Color & Touch, Yes24, and Dong-A Publishing, volunteered to donate. Staff at Hanse Mobility in Daegu are scheduled to continue the campaign on May 20 and May 27. This year’s campaign is also aimed at providing direct support for children with cancer. Blood donor cards donated by employees will be delivered to the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The group said it will also set aside 10,000 won per card through a “special matching grant” to provide additional support for patients’ treatment costs. The companywide relay was planned to honor the legacy of Dr. Kim, the late father of group founder and chairman Kim Dong-nyeong. Dr. Kim, a physician credited with laying the groundwork for laboratory medicine in South Korea, became head of the Korea Blood Donation Association in 1971. He introduced systems such as blood donation deposits and patient reimbursement, and worked to end the then-widespread practice of paid blood selling. Hanse Yes24 Group has held an annual companywide blood donation campaign since 2022. It also received a Blood Services Merit Award from the Korean Red Cross this year in recognition of its efforts. “Dr. Kim’s dedication to saving lives through blood research is now being carried forward as hope for children with cancer,” Hanse Yes24 Holdings Vice Chairman Kim Seok-hwan said. “We will continue to uphold his spirit of sharing life by helping stabilize the blood supply and strengthen the culture of blood donation.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:18:27

Hyundai Livart Launches Three New Furniture Lines for Total Interior Solutions Hyundai Livart said Tuesday it has launched three new products targeting the first-half moving and wedding season. The company said the releases share a theme of “user-centered space optimization,” focusing on efficient storage, improved comfort and multiuse designs that blur boundaries in the home. Hyundai Livart said it aims to offer a “total interior solution” spanning spaces from kitchens and living rooms to bedrooms and home offices. The “Edit” built-in wardrobe uses a made-to-order system adjustable in 5-millimeter increments to maximize storage efficiency, the company said. Its modular design lets users reconfigure the interior to fit their lifestyle. It comes in white and greige, and uses a stone-like texture intended to make the unit part of the room’s overall look. Customers can also choose an “endless door” option that extends the door line to the end of the wall to make the space appear larger, Hyundai Livart said. The “Swanie” is a hotel-style bed designed to bring a hotel-room feel to the home, the company said. It features a stable structure and restrained design, with aluminum details used in the frame. Indirect lighting runs continuously across the headboard and the tops of both side panels to create a more comfortable sleeping environment. It is available in ivory and deep brown, Hyundai Livart said. The “WeMove” is a multipurpose smart table with an electric lift system intended for use across living rooms, kitchens and home offices, the company said. The tabletop height can be adjusted from 610 millimeters to 1,020 millimeters for activities including meals, children’s play, studying and working from home. Hyundai Livart said it uses dual motors from “Jechang,” which it described as the world’s top linear motor manufacturer, to reduce vibration and noise and improve stability. The table also uses a ceramic top designed to resist stains and scratches, and a minimalist design meant to fit in various rooms. A Hyundai Livart official said the new products prioritize core function and user convenience over decorative elements. “We will continue to introduce practical products that naturally fit into daily life while improving quality of life,” the official said. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:17:37

SK Group to Turn Off Lights at Major Offices for Earth Day SK Group said it will join an Earth Day lights-out event to underscore the seriousness of the climate crisis and the need to cut carbon emissions. The group said lights at major headquarters buildings of SK Inc. and affiliates including SK Innovation, SK Telecom, SK ecoplant, SK Gas, SK Square, SK Networks and SK Chemicals will be turned off for 10 minutes starting at 8 p.m. on April 22. SK said it is encouraging participation through internal bulletin boards and social media so employees can take part in saving energy in daily life. Separately, SK said it has also been voluntarily switching off nighttime lighting for SK logos attached to the exteriors of key buildings since April 8, including SK Seorin Building, T Tower, Susong Square, Jongno Tower, Samil Building, SK U Tower and Pangyo ECO Hub, as part of broader efforts to conserve energy amid a growing national energy crunch.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:16:51

Uttar Pradesh’s 594-km Ganga Expressway to Open April 29 India’s Ganga Expressway, linking Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh with Prayagraj in the east, is expected to open on April 29. The expressway spans 594 kilometers (369 miles) and runs through Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli and Pratapgarh before connecting Meerut and Prayagraj. Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend the opening ceremony in Hardoi. Officials expect the new route to enable faster and safer travel. Improved connectivity is also expected to cut logistics costs, strengthen supply chains for fresh goods such as agricultural products, boost tourism and attract more investment, supporting growth in both rural and urban areas. Uttar Pradesh has been pushing ahead with expressway development.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:11:46

Anthropic Probes Possible Unauthorized Access to Claude Mythos Preview Model Anthropic has opened an investigation after signs of unauthorized access were found involving a preview version of its new artificial intelligence model, "Claude Mythos," which is widely described as having powerful autonomous hacking capabilities. Bloomberg News and other outlets reported that Anthropic is checking whether the access occurred through a third-party partner environment. The company said it is investigating reports that "unauthorized access to the Claude Mythos preview occurred through one of our third-party vendor environments." Anthropic said it has not found indications so far that the access spread beyond the partner environment into its own systems. The incident has raised questions about whether Anthropic can keep its core technology under control. The Financial Times said it "raises questions about whether the AI lab, valued at $380 billion (about 562 trillion won), can protect its technology from falling into the hands of malicious actors." The FT said the risk of unauthorized access is likely to add to anxiety around Mythos, noting the model has already sent shock waves through the market and prompted high-level discussions among financial institutions and global regulators. Anthropic unveiled Mythos on April 7, describing it as having the ability, under user instructions, to identify and exploit vulnerabilities across major operating systems and web browsers. The Mythos preview is being provided on a limited basis to companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Cisco and CrowdStrike. U.S. intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency, are also reported to be participating privately.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:11:03

South Korea to Ease Stock Trading, Settlement Rules to Attract Foreign Investors The government is accelerating efforts to upgrade stock trading and settlement infrastructure to draw more foreign portfolio investment. The Finance and Economy Ministry said it held the third advisory committee meeting on expanding foreign securities investment at the Korea International Finance Center on Tuesday, where participants discussed institutional reforms in stock trading and settlement. Moon Ji-seong, the ministry’s director general for international economic management, said global investors’ interest in South Korea’s financial markets has grown as the government has advanced foreign-exchange and capital-market systems. He said the government has been actively communicating its policy direction through recent investor roadshows, including a New York presentation by the deputy prime minister for the economy and a briefing for Japanese investors on government bonds. Moon said that after South Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index in April, foreign inflows into the government bond market have continued, making it important for the stock market to meet global standards as well. At the meeting, the government outlined progress on stock and settlement measures in its broader foreign-exchange and capital-market roadmap aimed at inclusion in MSCI’s developed markets index. The steps include allowing overseas funds to open accounts through global custodian banks to improve trading convenience for foreign investors. The ministry also highlighted a change allowing real-name verification for account opening using only a confirmation document for a Legal Entity Identifier issued by the Korea Securities Depository. Since the service began on April 1, it has logged about 160 cases in roughly two weeks, the ministry said. Moon said the government will closely review suggestions raised by advisers and prepare follow-up measures to address investor difficulties. He added that it will strengthen efforts to ensure the purpose and progress of the reforms are delivered to the market accurately and in a timely manner.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:10:17

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signs deal to supply power equipment for US data center SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a mega contract to supply power-generation equipment to U.S. energy solutions company Aperion Energy Group, the shipbuilder said on Wednesday. Under the contract, worth 627.1 billion Korean won (US$424 million), which is the largest of its kind the shipbuilder has ever signed, the equipment with a total capacity of 684 megawatts based on its HiMSEN engines will be installed at the Texas-based company's data center, where a stable supply of large-scale electricity is required. The latest contract marks HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' entry into the U.S. market, where the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI)-related services and cloud computing has fueled surging demand for reliable, large-scale data centers. "We believe the contract will be a great stepping stone for us in establishing our presence in the North American market," said Han Ju-seok, an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries executive. "We will further expand our business portfolio beyond data centers." According to a recent forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA), U.S. electricity demand is expected to keep rising through 2030, with about half of the increase attributed to the rapid expansion of data centers. 2026-04-22 15:06:55

LS Electric Shares Rise More Than 5% After Record First-Quarter Results LS Electric shares climbed in intraday trading after the company reported its best-ever first-quarter results. As of 2:46 p.m. on the 22nd, LS Electric was trading at 194,000 won, up 5.04% from the previous session, according to the Korea Exchange. The gain was attributed to improved investor sentiment after the company posted record first-quarter performance, supported by growing demand for power infrastructure for global data centers. LS Electric said the previous day that preliminary consolidated operating profit for the first quarter totaled 126.6 billion won, up 45% from a year earlier. Revenue rose 33.4% to 1.3766 trillion won, and net profit jumped 77.6% to 119.6 billion won. Brokerages also raised target prices to reflect the stronger results. Lee Sang-hyeon, an analyst at BNK Investment & Securities, wrote in a report on the 22nd that the company showed “clear growth” and largely met the operating-profit consensus. He said the strong first quarter was not a one-off and forecast orders and sales would continue to trend higher through the second, third and fourth quarters. Lee said new orders from big tech companies for data center projects are expected to rise at least 50% from 1 trillion won last year to more than 1.5 trillion won this year, and raised his target price to 230,000 won from 194,000 won. Lee Dong-heon, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp., said the stock’s “expensive valuation” could be tolerated if additional earnings growth follows from mid- to long-term orders, adding that the key issue is how much the company can expand its market position. He set a target price of 210,000 won, up from 129,000 won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 15:04:18