US missionary's letters describing 19th-century Korea unveiled: Scrolls of travel letters by American missionary Rosetta Sherwood Hall (Yanghwajin Archives) By Kang Gahui Firsthand accounts of 19th-century Korea written by an American missionary 136 years ago have been unveiled. To mark National Health Day, the National Archives of Korea (NAK) on April 7 put on public display for the first time the restored scrolls of travel letters by Rosetta Sherwood Hall housed at the Yanghwajin Archives. This travelogue meticulously recounts her life from the time sh; 2026.04.08

Effectuation of free trade accord with UAE moved up to May 1: President Lee Jae Myung (left), during his state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Nov. 18, 2025, attends a summit with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. (Cheong Wa Dae) By Yoo Yeon Gyeong The bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take effect ahead of schedule on May 1. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources in Seoul on April 3 said Minister for Trad; 2026.04.08

Schedule for raising share of green power moved up from 2030: Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sungwhan on April 6 announces his ministry's plan for energy transition at a news conference held at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News) By Yoon Sojung Amid the energy crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will move up its goal of supplying 100 gigawatts of renewable energy before the original 2030 deadline and raise the share of green power generati; 2026.04.08

Labor Day officially approved as public holiday after 63 years: Labor Day's official designation as a public holiday this year means a day off for everyone the first time in 63 years. (Yonhap News) By Margareth Theresia May 1's official designation as a public holiday from this year means a day off for the public for the first time in 63 years. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Personnel Management on April 6 said the Cabinet approved a bill on the partial amendment to the Act of Public Holidays stipulating Labor Day as a public hol; 2026.04.08

Investor sentiment remains strong in Q1 with FDI of USD 7.14B: The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on April 3 said foreign direct investment in the first quarter reached USD 7.41 billion, up 0.1% from the same period last year and the second-highest figure on record. (Yonhap News) By Margareth Theresia Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter reached USD 7.14 billion, reflecting solid confidence in the domestic investment environment. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on April 3 said pledged FDI reached USD 6.41 billion; 2026.04.08

Expanded exchanges with France to boost creative, high-tech ties: President Lee Jae Myung (third from right) on April 3 speaks to French President Emmanuel Macron at their extended summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae) By Charles Audouin The state visit to Korea by French President Emmanuel Macron has fueled a rush to boost bilateral cooperation in a wider range of sectors. Both sides have agreed on amendments to three agreements, signed 11 memorandums of understanding (MOU) and letters of intent for cooperation, and adopted a joint statement on; 2026.04.08

Seoul mate: capital repeats as Asia's top leisure destination: Seoul has been named Best Leisure Destination in Asia for the second consecutive year by the Leisure Lifestyle Awards of the U.S. business and luxury tourism magazine Global Traveler. Shown is a rainy day at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Lee Jeongwoo) By Aisylu Akhmetzianova Seoul has been named Best Leisure Destination in Asia by a U.S. business and luxury travel magazine for the second straight year. The Seoul Metropolitan Government on April 2 said the capital won the; 2026.04.06

Rural basic income seeks to prevent depopulation of provinces: A sign above the entrance to a supermarket in Yeoncheon-gun County, Gyeonggi-do Province, reads, "The full rural basic income of KRW 150,000 can be used at this supermarket." (Aisylu Akhmetzianova) By Aisylu Akhmetzianova "The full rural basic income of KRW 150,000 can be used at this supermarket." This sentence displayed on March 17 above the entrance to a supermarket in Yeoncheon-gun County, Gyeonggi-do Province, grabbed the attention of shoppers carrying baskets. This pilot subsidy progra; 2026.04.06

Cube satellite to gauge space radiation for Artemis II mission: NASA's Space Launch System rocket for the manned lunar mission Artemis II, carrying Korea's K-RadCube, on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. is launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. By Charles Audouin Photos = NASA K-RadCube, a domestically developed cube satellite to measure space radiation, on April 1 at 6:35 p.m. was launched aboard the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis II lunar mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said that a; 2026.04.06

Over 40 countries including Korea discuss reopening Hormuz: Foreign ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries including Korea on April 2 participate in a U.K.-led videoconference to press for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. (Yonhap News) By Xu Aiying Foreign ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries including Korea on April 2 discussed how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a U.K.-led videoconference. Participants urged Iran to stop its attempts to blockade Hormuz and agreed on global cooperation and efforts for s; 2026.04.06

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