Stories from Seoul · South Korea

Samsung Electronics HBM revenue is projected to more than triple in 2026 compared to 2025 levels. Total production capacity for the high-bandwidth memory is currently exhausted.

Google for Korea 2026 event held at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul featured a meeting between Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Lee Sedol. The two discussed the future of artificial intelligence ten years after the AlphaGo match.

App Store registrations increased by 84 percent over the last year, reaching 235,800 cases. The growth includes a lifestyle paid app developed by a former surgeon in Seoul who self-taught coding via YouTube.

An app called Youtublus, created in just 15 days using 'vibe coding' techniques, reached number one in the lifestyle category on the Apple App Store. The developers included individuals with no prior coding knowledge, such as a former doctor and a consultation manager.

A woman has been transferred to prosecutors after allegedly using sleeping pills in drinks to rob men. Police in Seoul arrested a woman, identified as Person A, for allegedly drugging victims to steal money.

A South Korean human rights organization released a report regarding executions carried out under the Kim Jong Un regime. Kim Tae-jung stated that Japan's actions threaten stability in Northeast Asia. The group also noted that the Yasukuni Shrine continues to enshrine Class-A war criminals. Representative Han Kyung-ki added that the denial of Japan's history of aggression is a sign of rising militarism. The protesters called for peace instead of strengthened military cooperation to curb Japan's rearmament ambitions. They stated that the enshrining of World War II Japanese war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine threatens stability in Northeast Asia. They argued that peace can only be maintained by discouraging Japanese rearmament rather than strengthening military cooperation. On April 29, a Japanese peace group held a photo exhibition in Kanagawa to expose Imperial Japanese Army war crimes.

The preparatory team for the Major Crimes Investigation Agency established its office at the Seoul Government Complex Annex today. Vice Minister Kim Min-jae serves as the head of the team, with Deputy Prosecutor Lee Jin-yong serving as the deputy head.

South Korean labor laws currently prevent workers on short-term contracts of less than one year from receiving severance pay.

The Korea Consumer Agency reported 94 suspected cases of poisonous plant ingestion over the last five years. The plants are often confused with edible varieties such as Deodeok due to similar appearances.

South Korea has begun a two-stage application process to distribute financial aid to citizens. For contracts lasting 11 months, workers may receive an amount equivalent to one month's salary. The system includes specific rates such as 8.5% for certain periods and a maximum payment of 2.49 million won for those with contracts under 12 months. The reporter noted the distinction between this and standard retirement pension calculations. This measure is part of a plan to improve treatment for non-regular workers in the public sector, with plans to expand to the private sector later. The allowance is distinct from standard severance pay due to different calculation methods and regulations. The South Korean government will begin including school bullying records in university entrance exam penalty standards starting in 2026.