Korea Daily News (November 1, 2024)

Society

  • Taxi Fare Increase Discussion: Ulsan City is conducting a study to raise the taxi base fare from 4,000 KRW to 4,800 KRW per 2 km at the request of the taxi industry.
  • Tragic Accident of Elementary Student: Funeral held for a child who passed away in a reverse-gear vehicle accident at an apartment complex in Gwangju.
  • Strengthening of Drunk Driving Crackdown: Police have intensified night patrols to prevent drunk driving accidents and warned of stricter penalties upon detection.
  • Seoul Redevelopment Plans: Integrated review passed for apartment construction projects in Sillim-dong and Donam-dong, Seoul.
  • Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Debate: South Korea has taken its first steps toward CBDC implementation, while in the U.S., opinions on its adoption remain divided.

 

Economy

  • CS Wind Stock Surge: Strong performance with the stock closing higher than the previous day’s price.
  • Woori Bank’s Free Insurance Benefit: Mortgage borrowers aged 55 and older can receive free insurance coverage of up to 100 million KRW.
  • Hana Bank Interest Rate Cut: Decrease in savings interest rates by up to 0.25%, with a widening gap expected between loan and deposit rates.
  • TGI Fridays in the U.S.: Facing bankruptcy due to declining sales.
  • Korea Sale FESTA: Major discounts of up to 4 to 5 million KRW offered by GM Korea Chevrolet and KG Mobility during the Korea Sale FESTA, a national shopping event.
  • Whiskey Consumption Rise: With tax benefits and favorable exchange rates, rare whiskey imports have surged in popularity among young adults.
  • POSCO International Award: Recognized as a “Family-Friendly Employer” with benefits like prenatal checkup leave and infertility support.

 

IT/Technology

  • OpenAI Custom Chip Development: Plans to produce an AI-specialized chip by 2026 in partnership with Broadcom and TSMC.
  • NHN Commerce Shopping Mall App Service: Launch of “MyApp,” a service to create mobile shopping apps for small businesses.
  • Chinese Robot Vacuum Market Share: Chinese brands are increasing their presence in Korea with significant discounts during November’s shopping season.
  • OpenAI-Broadcom-TSMC Partnership: Collaboration aims to develop chips for enhanced AI performance, potentially reducing reliance on Nvidia.
  • Naver Travel Review Feature: Allows users to post photo and video reviews of hotels with keywords indicating the purpose of their visit and travel companions.

 

Gaming

  • PUBG Global Series by Krafton: Hosted in Bangkok with a total prize of $300,000.
  • Monster Riot Webtoon ‘Executioner’ Game Adaptation: Announced plans to develop a game based on the popular webtoon IP.
  • Devsisters’ ‘Cookie Run: Oven Smash’: Publishing agreement signed with Vietnam-based VNG Games.
  • ‘Monster Hunter’ Collaboration: Gravity’s ‘Puzzle & Dragons’ collaborates with ‘Monster Hunter’ to introduce new dungeons and rewards.
  • AGF 2024: Yostar to showcase popular games like ‘Arknights’ at Asia’s largest subculture festival at KINTEX, Ilsan.
  • NCSoft’s ‘Lineage 2’ Update: Major updates including new classes and servers.
  • HanbitSoft’s ‘Granado Espada’ New Server: Support benefits offered to attract new and returning players.

 

Sports

  • Nexon Champions Cup Soccer Tournament: Nationwide amateur soccer tournament for high school classes to host finals soon.
  • Kia Tigers Victory Celebration: Kia Motors offers discounts to commemorate the Tigers’ championship win.
  • Kim Bo-sung’s Boxing Loss: The actor lost a rematch against a Japanese boxer but stated he will not give up.
  • KBO Fall League Finals: Ulsan hosts the championship game, with a related quiz on Shinhan SOL Quiz.
  • 2024 Nexon Champions Cup Finals: Nationwide high school class soccer tournament to promote youth soccer in collaboration with the Korea Football Association and Nexon.

 

International

  • North Korean Forces in Ukraine Conflict: Reports suggest most North Korean soldiers deployed near the Ukrainian border were killed in combat.
  • Korea-U.S. Time Difference Adjustment: Ending of daylight savings time in the U.S. increases the time difference by an additional hour.
  • Raccoon Sausage Sales in Germany: In Germany, raccoons, a non-native species threatening ecosystems, are processed and sold as sausage to curb environmental harm.

 

Culture

  • ‘Chef Edward Lee’ Returns on JTBC: Known for his appearance in ‘Black and White Chef,’ Chef Edward Lee returns on ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.’
  • Jazz Concert ‘Jazz Christmas!’: Jazz pianist Ron Branton’s concert is scheduled for the holiday season.
  • Josun Hotel Online Mall Launch: ‘Josun Taste & Style,’ an online mall featuring premium products, opens for business.
  • Seoul’s ‘Taste of Seoul’ Culinary Week: Reflecting the popularity of Netflix’s ‘Black and White Chef,’ culinary week will be held in Seoul from November 8 to 14.
  • National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Asian Women Artist Exhibition: A showcase of 130 works by artists such as Yayoi, Park Young-sook, Jung Gang-ja, and Lee Bul, exploring the female body.
  • Netflix Cooking Competition ‘Black and White Chef’: Interest remains high post-broadcast, with increased Michelin-star restaurant visits.

 

Health

  • Almonds’ Exercise Benefits: Recent studies show regular almond consumption helps reduce post-exercise pain and maintain muscle strength.
  • Diabetes and Hypertension Risk Reduction: High sugar-content foods like Tanghulu are under scrutiny for their potential health risks.
  • Youth Diabetes Prevention Study: Research suggests excess sugar intake is linked to a 35% decrease in diabetes risk and 20% reduction in hypertension in youth.
  • ADHD Medication Side Effects Warning: Korean Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warns of increased prescriptions for ADHD medication in teens, cautioning against possible side effects.

 

Finance

  • KakaoStyle Winter Promotion: Style commerce platform Zigzag offers up to 90% off on winter outerwear.
  • Woori Bank Suspends Non-Face-to-Face Loans: Financial institutions temporarily halt non-face-to-face personal loans to curb household debt.
  • Shinhan’s 50+ Walking Service: Cashback rewards for customers aged 50 and older who walk more than 8,899 steps.