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.

A rebranding wave highlighting artificial intelligence is spreading across South Korea\'s IT and telecom industries. Companies are adding AI to corporate names or attaching it to service brands to redefine their identities. Industry groups are also changing their names. The trend is expanding into products and services and is being framed as a survival strategy as value chains shift after generative AI. Critics warn that firms lacking real technical capabilities may lose market trust.