Stories from Seoul · South Korea

Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year prison sentence for South Korean official Yoon following unauthorized drone flights over Pyongyang. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding the drone incidents. The appellate trial for former President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding charges of leading an insurrection began on April 26, 2026. This follows a first-instance ruling in February that sentenced him to life imprisonment. The proceedings are scheduled to continue throughout the week. The trial addresses his alleged role as the leader of the December 3rd insurrection. The Seoul High Court's insurrection-specialized division has scheduled over 10 hearings through July. The trials focus on former President Yoon's alleged planning of an emergency martial law in October 2023. The court will use the Noh Sang-won notebook as a primary piece of evidence.

Samsung is reportedly working on a third generation of smart glasses that may feature an integrated display. Evidence of the new model was discovered within the source code of the upcoming One UI 9 firmware. This development suggests a continued push into wearable augmented reality hardware. Samsung is expected to launch its new Galaxy Glasses before the end of the year. The device features a design similar to the Ray-Ban Meta 2 glasses. This first-generation model will not include an integrated screen, which is expected to arrive in 2027. An announcement may occur as early as next month at a Google event. The device is expected to include a Sony 12-megapixel camera and bone conduction speakers. A release could occur as early as May, according to reports.

Samsung has reported record profits driven by the surging artificial intelligence market. This figure represents approximately eight times the profit recorded in the same quarter of the previous year. Samsung's chip production profits increased 48 times in the first quarter to reach $36 billion. This figure represents more than 90% of the company's total profit, according to Bloomberg. The growth was driven by high profitability in artificial intelligence developments. Samsung reported revenue rose 69% year-on-year to nearly 134 trillion won. Samsung expects earnings to improve further in the second quarter due to expanding investment in AI infrastructure. The company indicated that AI infrastructure expansion will drive chip prices higher. Samsung Electronics reported a 35 percent decline in profits for its mobile and network divisions due to rising chip prices.

New data indicates generative AI usage has jumped to 44.5%, though paid subscription rates remain low at 7.9%. This trend highlights a massive gap between free adoption and monetization in the AI sector.

The Samsung labor union has threatened to commence an 18-day general strike starting on the 21st of next month if no agreement is reached during upcoming rallies. The dispute involves significant labor demands. This potential strike could disrupt major manufacturing operations.

Truck drivers have initiated an indefinite general strike that has been ongoing since April 7. The movement has successfully blockaded four major logistics centers across the nation, disrupting supply chains. The strike aims to address labor demands and remains unresolved as of late April. South Korea will allow children aged 7 and older to issue specific prepaid cards starting May 4. The eligibility age was previously set at 12 years old. The cards allow elementary school students to make purchases using funds from their accounts. Proponents suggest the initiative will help instill proper economic habits in young children. These individuals are now eligible for state support, including medical care and job assistance services.

A former Samsung researcher has been sentenced to seven years in prison for leaking critical DRAM semiconductor technology to a Chinese competitor. The sentencing follows investigations into the theft of proprietary manufacturing processes. This breach highlights ongoing concerns regarding intellectual property security in the global semiconductor industry. The sentence is a two-year increase from the five-year term handed down in the first trial. He faces charges related to obstructing an investigation by the High-ranking Public Officials Corruption Investigation Office. The sentence includes an additional two years compared to the initial five-year sentence from the first trial.

Gold prices have reached new record levels, significantly impacting consumer purchasing power for jewelry. The KOSPI index closed at 6690.9, rising 49.88 points from the previous session. The KOSDAQ index also rose by 4.68 points to finish at 1220.26. The KRW/USD exchange rate increased by 5.4 won. The KOSPI index closed at 6,690, marking its third consecutive day of record closing highs. The index rose 0.8% despite an initial 0.3% drop to 6,619 at the market open. Net buying from both individual and institutional investors drove the upward trend. This follows recent volatility influenced by declines in the New York stock market. This represents a 1.5% increase over the three-day period. Analysts suggest market momentum remains strong despite discussions regarding high price-to-earnings ratios.

The South Korean government has announced a massive $54 billion industrial aid package aimed at bolstering key sectors, specifically including the steel industry. This significant investment is intended to support companies like Yieh Corp Steel and stabilize the domestic manufacturing landscape. The move comes as part of broader economic efforts to strengthen industrial resilience. AutoLink focus systems are gaining attention and will receive government subsidies for applications starting in 2026. Gangwon Province in South Korea is offering monthly financial support of up to 500,000 won for children from birth to age 17. Families residing in Gangwon for over a year are eligible for this policy, which aims to provide over 100 million won in total financial aid. The initiative is promoted as a way to ease parental concerns and support children's futures.

Kia has announced a $10,000 price reduction for its EV4 model. This strategic move is a direct response to the launch of the new Volkswagen ID.3 Neo. The price cut aims to maintain competitiveness in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. The Kia K9 luxury sedan is seeing substantial discounts of up to 7 million won in April. Combined with inventory incentives, the effective purchase price is dropping to the 50 million won range, making it more affordable than the Genesis G80.