With the May holiday period approaching, mobility platforms in South Korea are expanding into festivals and tourism to monetise accumulated movement data and user bases. Companies are linking data to local government event operations, shuttle services and foreign tourist group travel. TMAP Mobility is applying an AI festival-movement solution to a horticulture expo, while Kakao T Shuttle is adding event routes. Socar is running discounts in depopulating areas, and Whistle is expanding parking enforcement alerts.

South Korea\'s Interior and Safety Ministry said first-round payments of relief funds for damage from high oil prices will begin on April 27. Eligible recipients include basic livelihood beneficiaries, near-poverty groups and single-parent families. Payments are 550,000 won or 450,000 won per person, with an additional 50,000 won for non-capital residents or people in depopulation areas. Applications run from April 27 to May 8 online and offline, with a weekday system in the first week to reduce congestion.