Politics
- Superintendents Jo Hee-yeon and Lim Tae-hee sign ‘Korean version of Beutelsbach Consensus’: The superintendents representing progressive and conservative viewpoints have collaborated to expand debate classes in elementary schools to address ideological conflicts in Korean society.
- Former President Trump suggests judicial retaliation: Former U.S. President Donald Trump continues to suggest the possibility of judicial retaliation if he is re-elected after being found guilty in a case involving hush money payments related to a sex scandal.
- President Yoon Suk-yeol to make a state visit to Central Asia: President Yoon Suk-yeol is scheduled to make state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. This will be his first overseas trip since December last year.
- Democratic Party submits committee member list for the 22nd National Assembly: The Democratic Party plans to convene a plenary session to elect committee chairs if negotiations over the weekend fail.
Society
- Funeral attendee saved by nurse’s emergency actions: An attendee at a funeral who experienced a sudden medical emergency was saved by a nurse’s prompt emergency response.
- Chun Woo-won, grandson of former President Chun Doo-hwan, engages in drug and addiction prevention activities: Chun Woo-won, who received a suspended sentence for drug use, is now involved in activities at a university’s drug and addiction prevention center.
- Electronics service center employee caught viewing customer’s phone photos: An employee at an electronics service center was found to have viewed a customer’s photo album on their phone for over an hour while repairing it.
- 50-year-old man sentenced to prison for sexual assault: A 50-year-old man was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a female police officer at a friend’s restaurant opening celebration.
- Whooping cough cases surge: The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency emphasized the importance of vaccination as the number of whooping cough cases has increased 105 times compared to last year.
- Trainee dies during military training: A trainee died during disciplinary training at the 12th Infantry Division, but the company commander has not been charged and is currently on leave.
Economy
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 6 launch: Samsung’s next-generation foldable series, set to launch next month, will include real-time translation services for external apps like KakaoTalk.
- New apartment prices surge: The prices of new apartments in the metropolitan area and Gangnam are skyrocketing, attracting the attention of prospective buyers.
- Bank of Korea strengthens support for non-bank sectors: The Bank of Korea is enhancing support for loans to non-bank institutions and preemptively addressing concerns about a potential digital bank run amid prolonged high-interest rates.
- Potential oil and gas reserves off the coast of Pohang: U.S. company Actegeo emphasizes scientific evidence indicating the potential for large oil and gas reserves off the coast of Pohang.
- Hanmi Semiconductor increases equipment supply to SK Hynix: Hanmi Semiconductor has received additional orders for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) equipment from SK Hynix, setting a new record for order value.
- Hyundai Rotem expands in the U.S. rail market: Hyundai Rotem’s U.S. subsidiary has secured an additional contract to supply double-decker railcars to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
- SK Innovation appoints Choi Jae-won as vice chairman: SK Innovation has appointed Choi Jae-won, currently vice chairman of SK On, as the new vice chairman of SK Innovation.
International
- Russia hints at supplying long-range weapons to Western countries: Russia has suggested it might supply long-range weapons to attack Western countries but has not disclosed which countries would receive them.
- Former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani starts food delivery job: After being charged with embezzlement, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter has started working in food delivery to make ends meet.
- Netflix ‘Baby Reindeer’ character files defamation lawsuit: The real-life model for the stalker character in the Netflix series ‘Baby Reindeer’ has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking substantial damages.
- U.S. job market remains strong: The U.S. job market has seen greater-than-expected growth, potentially delaying the Federal Reserve’s timeline for lowering interest rates.
Culture
- ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ becomes the highest-grossing Japanese animation in Korea: The Japanese animation ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ has become the highest-grossing Japanese film in Korea.
- ‘Amazon Dystopia’ by Alec MacGillis: A new book by Alec MacGillis details the rise of Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, from an online bookstore to a global retail giant.
- Comedy play ‘The University of Laughter’: This play depicts the struggle between a playwright and a censor in militaristic Japan, satirizing state repression and the human will for freedom.
- Cheondoism leader Yoon Seok-san’s inauguration: The new leader of Cheondoism, Yoon Seok-san, pledges a revival of the religion on the 200th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Choe Je-u.
- Solo exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery: An exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery features innovative conceptual artworks using salt calendars and prints.
- Marguerite Humeau’s first solo exhibition in Asia: Marguerite Humeau’s exhibition at White Cube Seoul showcases sculptures, photographs, and drawings made of metal.
- Folk rock singer Han Dae-soo mourns the loss of his wife: Folk rock singer Han Dae-soo mourns the passing of his wife, Oksana Alferova, who died on the 31st of last month.