Korea Daily News (October 8, 2024)

Kim Keon-hee Dior Bag Controversy: A controversy arose as First Lady Kim Keon-hee appeared with a Dior bag during a parliamentary audit, intensifying the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties. Some Democratic Party lawmakers strongly questioned her, but the session ended in disorder without further questioning.
Han Dong-hoon Statement: Jang Dong-hyuk, a senior official of the People Power Party, dismissed speculations that Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon’s recent meetings were politically motivated, saying it seemed like a coincidence.
Welfare Grant Discussion: Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Myung-sun proposed a welfare grant of 250,000 KRW per person. A recent survey showed that 6 out of 10 people supported the proposal, pushing the discussion forward.

Rising Average Age of Specialists: Due to the aging population, the average age of medical specialists in South Korea has risen by 3.6 years over the past decade, especially in fields like obstetrics, where more than half are now over 50. This has led to concerns about a shortage of younger doctors.
Generative AI Crime: A 20-year-old man was arrested for using generative AI to create fake images of celebrities and connect them to illegal gambling sites. The advancement of AI technology is increasingly being abused for criminal purposes, raising concerns about its societal impact.
Nationwide Strike of Resident Doctors: In protest against the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions, 91% of resident doctors are refusing to work. This has resulted in a spike in ICU death rates, causing severe disruption in hospitals.

Germany’s Economic Recession: Germany’s Ministry of Finance revised the country’s growth rate forecast for this year down to -0.2%. Despite the prolonged recession, the finance minister emphasized that economic reforms will help Germany recover.
Samsung Electronics Stock Drop: Samsung’s stock price fell to 50,000 KRW due to disappointing third-quarter earnings. Despite an increase in sales, operating profit decreased, prompting the management to apologize and promise to restore the company’s technological competitiveness.
Korean Small Business Debt: Small business owners in Korea are facing growing debt burdens, with 71% holding multiple loans, leading to a rise in delinquency rates. The financial authorities have announced plans to strengthen protection policies for small business owners.

SK Bioscience Investment: SK Bioscience invested $3 million in U.S.-based Fina Biosolutions to introduce conjugate vaccine technology. This investment aims to secure next-generation vaccine technologies and strengthen global competitiveness.
AI-Based Game Development Program: XPLA has partnered with Aisher, a decentralized GPU infrastructure platform, to create a $10 million joint fund supporting AI-powered game development. This collaboration will utilize AI technology for high-performance game creation.

Israel-Iran Tensions: Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran have caused oil prices to rise by 3.7%, reducing the likelihood of the U.S. Federal Reserve lowering interest rates. The potential impact of this conflict on the U.S. economy is being closely watched.
U.S. Election and IRA Policy: Both Trump and Harris are expected to continue the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) policy, leading to potential benefits for the non-ferrous metals industry. There is also concern over China’s possible weaponization of rare earth elements.
Increasing Life Expectancy for Women: A study revealed that among women born in 2019, the probability of living past 100 years is 5.1% in nine countries, including Korea, Japan, and the U.S. For men, however, the probability is only 1.8%.

League of Legends World Championship: The 2024 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds) will kick off on October 12, with this year’s tournament taking place in South Korea, drawing excitement from global fans.
Overwatch 2 New Hero Update: Overwatch 2 will introduce a new hero in December. Information about the hero’s abilities and a new map has been pre-released, along with balance adjustments.
PUBG Mobile Season 3 Ends: The PUBG Mobile Pro Series (PMPS) 2024 Season 3 concluded with DRX’s victory. Teams competed fiercely for a total prize pool of 50 million KRW.
Pokémon GO Community Day: Pokémon GO is hosting its October Community Day, featuring special Pokémon and exclusive items, offering global players exciting rewards.

Free Flu Vaccinations in Ulju County: Ulju County in Ulsan is offering free flu vaccinations to all residents aged 14 to 64, making it the first region in South Korea to extend flu vaccine coverage to all age groups.
Healthcare System Crisis: The ongoing strike by resident doctors opposing the expansion of medical school admissions is severely impacting the healthcare system, with a sharp increase in ICU mortality rates.

Hwang Jae-gyun and Jiyeon Divorce Announcement: Professional baseball player Hwang Jae-gyun and T-ara member Jiyeon have announced their divorce. At her first public appearance since the announcement, Jiyeon was seen in tears, receiving support from fans.
Hong Soo-ah Wins Tennis Tournament: Actress Hong Soo-ah won a national tennis tournament, becoming the first celebrity to achieve this feat twice, solidifying her status as a skilled tennis player.

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