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South Korea and France have bolstered their strategic partnership by signing 14 agreements covering defense, nuclear energy, and critical minerals. Meanwhile, economic anxiety is mounting as the won weakens past 1,500 against the dollar and the KOSPI index slides 4.5% due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. In a stark contrast, semiconductor exports hit an all-time high, jumping 151% compared to last year.
During a summit, Korea and France inked 14 agreements covering nuclear energy, AI, and raw materials, while also boosting defense ties. President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with 여야 (ruling and opposition party) leaders on April 7 to tackle the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict. Amid ongoing energy security concerns, the government is also tightening public sector energy-saving measures.
The government has approved a 26.2 trillion won supplementary budget, providing up to 600,000 won to the bottom 70% of earners. Meanwhile, March exports soared by 48.3% to a record $86.1 billion. In other news, North Korea is prioritizing educational investment following its recent Supreme People's Assembly session.
North Korea is stirring up tensions after testing a 2,500kN solid-fuel rocket engine, which is more powerful than any currently deployed ICBM. Back home, political races are heating up with the Seoul mayoral candidate TV debates, and Samsung Electronics just announced a massive 14.58 trillion won share cancellation.
Tensions in the Middle East are escalating as Israel hits Iranian nuclear facilities despite ongoing U.S. negotiations. Back home, Seoul's cherry blossoms have bloomed earlier than last year, and markets are bracing for a major speech from Fed Chair Jerome Powell tonight.
Tensions are reaching a boiling point between Israel and Iran, with reports that the U.S. Department of Defense is prepping for ground operations in Iran. Meanwhile, North Korea has conducted a ground test for a high-thrust solid-fuel missile engine using carbon fiber, and Google’s new AI memory compression tech, "TurboQuant," is sending shockwaves through the semiconductor market.
President Lee Jae-myung is pushing to fast-track the transfer of wartime operational control, signaling a major shift in ROK-U.S. military dynamics. Meanwhile, South Korea and Ukraine are teaming up to handle North Korean POWs according to international law. In tech and markets, Google’s new "TurboQuant" AI compression tool is causing a stir in the semiconductor sector.
President Lee Jae-myung is pushing to fast-track the transfer of wartime operational control to boost national defense. Meanwhile, with the U.S.-Iran conflict hitting the one-month mark, all eyes are on a potential weekend ceasefire announcement from President Trump. We're also seeing a surge in misinformation, including fake footage of tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
The government is set to introduce a supplementary budget on the 31st to help with rising fuel costs and provide extra support for vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, gas prices might hit 2,000 won per liter soon as global oil prices climb. Internationally, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike across 14 Russian regions, with Russia claiming to have shot down 125 of them.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has doubled down on his nuclear policy, formally labeling South Korea as the regime's "primary enemy." Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung celebrated a milestone in defense with the rollout of the KF-21, and the business world is buzzing over the sale of Kakao Games.
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