Politics
- Recording of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s Call Released: The Democratic Party has released a recording of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s call, raising suspicions of his involvement in candidate nominations.
- Prosecution’s Sentence Recommendation for Former Lawmaker Park Wan-joo: Prosecutors have requested a five-year prison sentence for former lawmaker Park Wan-joo, who was charged with sexually harassing his aide.
- National Assembly Begins Budget Review: The National Assembly has begun reviewing the 677 trillion won 2024 budget, sparking negotiations between the government and the political parties.
- Lee Jae-myung Prepares for Prosecutor’s Investigation: Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is preparing for court hearings, rallying internal support amidst legal challenges.
- Political Party Support Shifts: Recent polls show a slight decline in support for the People Power Party, while the Democratic Party sees a rise.
- South Korea Reconsiders North Korea Policy: The South Korean government is reconsidering its economic sanctions on North Korea while seeking cooperative measures with the U.S.
- South Korea-Japan Summit Scheduled: A South Korea-Japan summit is scheduled for November, with historical issues and economic cooperation expected to be key discussion points.
Economy/Finance
- Pension Transfer Without Early Termination: A new system allowing pension transfers between financial institutions without early termination fees has been implemented.
- KOSPI Declines: Foreign and institutional investors’ selling led the KOSPI index to fall by 1%, closing at 2560 points.
- Interest Rate Cut Discussion: Financial institutions are discussing a potential interest rate cut, with the possibility of mortgage rates being halved.
- National Pension Sells Korea Zinc Shares: The National Pension Fund has sold part of its shares in Korea Zinc, reducing its stake to 7.48%.
- Taeyoung Construction’s Stock Surges: Following the resumption of trading, Taeyoung Construction’s stock surged by over 16%.
- U.S. GDP Growth at 2.8%: The U.S. recorded a 2.8% GDP growth in Q3, reflecting steady economic expansion.
- Meta’s Stock Declines: Meta’s stock fell by about 3% in after-hours trading, driven by concerns over infrastructure investment burdens.
Industry
- POSCO E&C Holds Nuclear Technology Forum: POSCO E&C held a nuclear technology forum at its Incheon Songdo office.
- SNT Motiv Achieves Strong Q3 Earnings: Despite a reduction in scale, SNT Motiv maintained strong operating profit margins.
- Semiconductor Industry Thrives: Samsung’s sales of high-value-added products have driven growth in South Korea’s semiconductor industry.
- Youngpoong-Korea Zinc Leadership Dispute: Youngpoong Precision is moving its headquarters, escalating its management dispute with Korea Zinc.
- LG Expands Autonomous Vehicle Technology: LG is advancing its autonomous vehicle technology and pursuing strategic partnerships for global market entry.
Technology/IT
- Rightflux Secures Autonomous Driving Software Investment: The autonomous driving software startup Rightflux has secured 26 billion KRW in Series B funding.
- Creta and IOGround Partner for AI Avatar System: Creta has partnered with IOGround to develop the AI-learning avatar system ‘Kuabata.’
- Samsung AI Semiconductor Development: Samsung is preparing to supply high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI semiconductors, attracting industry attention.
- Supermicro Faces Accounting Scandal: Supermicro, a U.S. company, has been hit with accounting fraud allegations, causing its stock to plummet by 32%.
- Meta’s Slowing User Growth: Meta’s Q3 report revealed slower-than-expected user growth.
- Netflix Strengthens Game Services: Netflix is bolstering its game services through new partnerships with game development studios.
- Apple Announces New AI Technology: Apple has unveiled next-generation AI technologies, aiming to enhance integration between its software and hardware.
International
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Backs Kamala Harris: Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
- Lufthansa Celebrates 40 Years in Korea: Lufthansa German Airlines is celebrating its 40th anniversary of service in Korea with special promotions.
- Elon Musk Buys Multiple Homes in Texas: Elon Musk has purchased multiple homes in Austin, Texas, to accommodate his 11 children.
- UK Strengthens Carbon Neutral Goals: The UK government has reinforced its carbon reduction targets, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Japan Addresses Fukushima Water Concerns: Japan has announced additional safety measures regarding the release of radioactive water from Fukushima, addressing international concerns.
Real Estate/Construction
- Conditional Jeonse Loan Resumption: KB Kookmin Bank is reviewing plans to resume conditional Jeonse loans in November, which had been suspended in September.
- New Apartment Supply in Seoul: A new apartment complex is set to be supplied in Seoul, with enhanced transportation and education infrastructure.
- Regional Real Estate Market Stabilizing: The regional real estate market is showing signs of stabilization, attracting increased attention from investors.
- Discussion on Easing Reconstruction Regulations: The government is discussing easing regulations on reconstruction projects as part of its strategy to expand housing supply.
Health/Medical
- Increase in Economic Activity Among the Elderly: Economic participation rates among the elderly have reached an all-time high as policies are being revised to enhance retirement income security.
- COVID-19 Vaccine Updates: Pharmaceutical companies are updating COVID-19 vaccines to prepare for new virus variants.
- Government Expands Retirement Income Policy: The South Korean government is abolishing retirement income reduction policies to provide better support for the elderly.
- Expansion of Health Checkup Programs: The government is expanding national health checkup programs, aiming to improve preventive healthcare through personalized screenings.
- AI in Medical Diagnostics: The application of AI in medical diagnostics is becoming more widespread, contributing to more accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.
Culture
- Seoulland Fall and Christmas Events: Seoulland in Gyeonggi-do is hosting a combined fall foliage and Christmas-themed event.
- K-pop Star Rosé Makes Billboard Entry: BLACKPINK’s Rosé has reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her collaboration with Bruno Mars.
- Korean Modern Dance Pioneer Ahn Ae-soon: Choreographer Ahn Ae-soon is leading Korean modern dance by reinterpreting traditional Korean dance movements in a modern context.
- Barcelona’s Traditional Festival ‘La Castanyada’: The city of Barcelona has announced the schedule for the traditional Catalonian festival ‘La Castanyada.’
- Macau’s ‘House of Dancing Water’ Show: Macau’s spectacular water-based performance show, ‘House of Dancing Water,’ is being highlighted as a major tourist attraction.
- G-Dragon Opens Up About Past: K-pop star G-Dragon has revealed his emotional struggles related to past drug allegations, drawing attention from fans.
- Han Ga-in’s Image Transformation: Actress Han Ga-in has shocked fans with a drastic image transformation on her YouTube channel, becoming a topic of conversation.
Games
- Anticipation for Little Nightmares 3: Fans have been concerned after Tarsier Studios left the project, but the producer reassured that the DNA of the series would be maintained.
- Nexon Unveils Games for G-STAR 2024: Nexon has revealed details about five new titles it will showcase at G-STAR 2024, focusing on expanding its franchises.
- PS5 Pro Performance Upgrade: Sony’s upcoming PS5 Pro is set for release with major performance upgrades, spotlighted alongside the game ‘Monster Hunter Wilds.’
- Samguk Blade Adds New Character ‘Ju Cheol’: The game ‘Samguk Blade’ has introduced a new character, ‘Ju Cheol,’ known for her support abilities and unique gameplay.
- Pokemon Card Game ‘Pocket’ Launch: The Pokemon Company has launched its latest digital card game, ‘Pokemon Card Game Pocket,’ with competitive card collecting in full swing.
- LCK MSI Team Selection: The League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) will collaborate with local governments to hold the 2025 MSI team selection event.
- NCSoft Launches New RPG: NCSoft’s new mobile RPG, ‘Journey of Monarch,’ has surpassed 4 million pre-registrations.