Stories from South Korea

President Lee Jae-myung reported a 45 percent decrease in voice phishing damages from January to March compared to the previous year. The president designated voice phishing as one of seven major abnormal crimes and ordered the rapid execution of measures to eradicate it. A Gallup Korea poll conducted from April 28 to 30 among 1,002 adults aged 18 and older showed President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating at 64 percent, a decrease from the previous week. Two trade unions in South Korea are planning separate large-scale rallies to promote workers' rights. A total of 45,000 people are expected to attend both events. The Democratic Confederation of Trade Unions will hold a 2026 May Day rally at Sejong-daero intersection to honor a recently deceased cargo worker and resolve to hold a general strike in July.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly has passed an ordinance to support technology for responding to deepfakes, marking the first of its kind in South Korea. The Gyeonggi Provincial Council has created an ordinance to support anti-deepfake technology. This ordinance aims to combat crimes created by technology with stronger technology. The goal is a safe and clean digital world.

Tax revenue at the Daesan Industrial Complex has dropped to one-tenth of previous levels. The average factory operation rate fell to 74% last year, the lowest among South Korea's three largest petrochemical complexes. Chungnam Province has initiated emergency support of 500,000 won per person for 5,000 workers and freight transporters in the area. Local representatives are calling for the complex to be redesignated as a national industrial complex to secure government-led structural improvements. Residents of Daesan-eup in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, are demanding the Daesan Industrial Complex be reclassified as a national industrial complex. The community is facing long-term economic stagnation and a decline in workers due to the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.

A tungsten mine in South Korea has been reopened following approximately 30 years of inactivity. The facility's reopening in March could potentially accelerate new mining projects. This development follows mining projects in the United States and Canada, as well as a mine relaunch in the United Kingdom. The move comes amid shifting global positions regarding financing and mineral access.

South Korean police extradited a suspect identified as Choi from Thailand to Incheon International Airport at approximately 9:40 AM. Choi is accused of supplying drugs to Daguhakryo, a major drug kingpin in the Philippines.

An Ansan branch prosecutor is conducting a pre-arrest interrogation of a woman in her 30s accused of child abuse resulting in death. The woman allegedly struck her 8-month-old son multiple times with a TV remote at their home in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, on May 11. The infant died on May 14 following the assault. Medical staff in Bucheon reportedly advised that the child required hospitalization for skull fractures and severe head injuries, but the parents returned home instead. A mother in her 30s faces a detention hearing at the Suwon District Court Ansan Branch regarding the death of her 8-month-old son.

A new orchestra has been formed in Chungbuk through a public recruitment process targeting local residents. The group includes approximately 60 members spanning various age groups, including youth, seniors, and those who have recently moved to the area. The orchestra is a government-supported initiative aimed at providing cultural benefits to relatively underserved regions. Members have begun formal rehearsals with the goal of performing a year-end concert.

Fu Cong stated that the international security situation is deteriorating. He said the need to prevent war and chaos on the Korean Peninsula amid protracted regional conflicts.

Two people died and several others were injured in an apartment fire in Ghi Han, South Korea, on April 30. Authorities identified a man approximately 60 years old living on the 14th floor as the person in the apartment where the fire allegedly started. Police recovered a suspected suicide note at the scene and are investigating the cause of the fire. The incident is being treated as a potential suicide following the discovery of the note. A 28-year-old woman and a man one year younger died during a rescue operation at an apartment in Ghi Han.

A South Korean company reported 164 trillion won in revenue, according to a public disclosure. Energy prices, specifically fuel, drove the inflation with a 20.9 percent surge compared to February. Consumers are reportedly hesitating to shop due to these rising costs. The March index was reported by the South Korean Ministry of Commerce. The index reflects the prices of goods and services consumed by households. The Federal Reserve uses these inflation targets to judge economic stability. South Korea's inflation rate continues to exceed target levels, according to YTN Radio. This trend has led to projections that the central bank may delay interest rate cuts. There are currently no expectations for interest rate hikes in the coming months. Analysts suggest that interest rate changes may not be expected until early 2027.