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From dollar shop to tourist magnet: Daiso overtakes Lotte Mart, other retailers in sales
May 4, 2026
5m 11s
New JTBC drama 'We Are All Trying Here' reminds audience 'you're not alone'
May 4, 2026
Unknown duration
Do those in power still fear the sovereign people?
May 4, 2026
Unknown duration
Crack down on illegal lenders without weakening finance
May 4, 2026
Unknown duration
DAY 6's Wonpil gets 'Unpiltered, goes sky high in solo concert
May 4, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/4/26 | ![]() From dollar shop to tourist magnet: Daiso overtakes Lotte Mart, other retailers in sales✨ | retailtourism+5 | — | DaisoLotte Mart+1 | KoreaMyeongdong+1 | DaisoLotte Mart+5 | — | 5m 11s | |
| 5/4/26 | ![]() New JTBC drama 'We Are All Trying Here' reminds audience 'you're not alone' | This article is by Choi Hye-ri and read by an artificial voice. There were once eight people in their 20s who loved films and dreamed of making them. Back in their club room, they would critique others' work and read screenplays together. After 20 years, the members of this group had all found their place in the film industry as directors and producers — all except one, Hwang Dong-man, the aspiring director, who had written 14 screenplays over two decades but had yet to make a single film. Dong-man never misses the group's gatherings and makes sure to stand out at each one. He repeats the same stories over and over, talks nonstop while devouring food and strains to draw attention. This is the premise of JTBC's latest drama "We Are All Trying Here," which has been on air since April 18. The series is the latest work by writer Park Hae-young, known for "Another Miss Oh" (2016), "My Mister" (2018) and "My Liberation Notes" (2022), and is directed by Cha Young-hun, who previously helmed "When the Camellia Blooms" (2019) and "Welcome to Samdal-ri" (2023). The show features actors Koo Kyo-hwan, who plays the aspiring director, Dong-man, Go Young-jung as Byeon Eun-a and Oh Jung-se as Park Gyeong-se. While its ratings have hovered around 2 percent, according to Nielsen Korea as of April 29, the drama has drawn buzz by topping Netflix's Top 10 series chart in Korea. After four of the 12 episodes had aired on April 26, the director sat down with the JoongAng Ilbo at its building in Sangam-dong, western Seoul. "I got a call from writer Park Hae-young in February last year," director Cha said. "She asked if I wanted to work on her next project. I remember thinking, 'Me? Really?'" The scripts for the first two episodes were titled "We Are All Trying Here." Curious about the unusual name, the director began reading — only to find himself repeatedly struck by the dialogue. "'Why do I have to live how you want me to?' 'You're someone with a thousand open doors.' Lines like these felt like they left a mark on my heart," he said. "They're not things you'd normally hear in everyday life, but they resonate when spoken by a character in a drama, which is the power that Park Hae-young's works have." The way Dong-man was portrayed in the script felt unfamiliar to the director. "He's not the kind of male lead you usually see in Korean dramas," he said. "He's pathetic, but you can't quite hate him. He's the kind of person who can't even offer a word of praise for someone else's work. I felt that if we tried to soften or glorify him even a little, we'd lose what makes the story compelling." Casting the actor for the role took about four days. After receiving the second episode script, the idea of Koo was immediately brought up in a casting meeting. The writer suggested Koo first and the director agreed right away. Koo decided to join the project within two days of receiving the script. Eun-a, a film company planning producer who both admires Dong-man's boldness and finds comfort in it, was also quickly cast. The role went to Go, who had built a strong presence in earlier works such as "Law School" (2021) and "Resident Playbook" (2025). In the series, Dong-man loudly criticizes the film his friend, Gyeong-se, made and its actors while attending an after-party for the film premiere in front of everyone. However, since he has not yet established a significant career, people ask who he is. Unable to answer that he is a director or simply unemployed, Dong-man leaves in embarrassment, bangs his head against a bus window and runs downhill toward home, shouting the line, "If I can't prove myself by succeeding, I'll prove it by wrecking myself," twice before collapsing. This scene stood out to director Cha. "It shows the kind of desperate struggle Dong-man is going through just to survive," the director said. "I really wanted to do that scene justice because it's where Dong-man's 'patheticness' is laid bare." The drama does not treat Dong-man with const... | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | ![]() Do those in power still fear the sovereign people? | The author is a professor of political science and international relations at Seoul National University. With local elections just a month away, political parties and candidates are moving quickly. Elections held during a president's term often serve as midterm evaluations of the administration and the ruling party, typically placing them at a disadvantage. This election can also be seen as a retrospective judgment on the first year of President Lee Jae Myung's government. Yet that dynamic appears muted, as the opposition has not fully regained public trust nor organizational coherence. Even so, a defeat in the midterm elections would still be politically burdensome for the president and the ruling party. This likely explains efforts to leverage policy measures such as a supplementary budget framed as a "wartime" response and fuel subsidies, alongside an active schedule of regional events intended to appeal directly to voters. Against this backdrop, the Democratic Party (DP) has introduced a bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate what it calls "fabricated indictments." The bill targets all cases in which President Lee has been indicted and would grant the special prosecutor the authority to cancel indictments. Although the party has offered several justifications, the move has drawn criticism for attempting to use legislative power to block judicial proceedings that are already underway. The DP has argued that weakening the prosecution is necessary to prevent abuses of power and politically motivated investigations. However, critics point out the contradiction in empowering a "special" prosecutor — recommended by the party and appointed by the president — to cancel indictments related to the sitting president, raising questions about neutrality. Many individuals may feel wronged in their own legal cases, but the accepted course is to seek redress through the courts and prove innocence through due process. This principle has underpinned the rule of law. The DP, however, appears to be seeking to influence judicial procedures in the president's cases by using its parliamentary majority to cancel indictments altogether. Such a move raises concerns about violating the principle of separation of powers and the constitutional guarantee that all citizens, including the president, are equal before the law. Why has the party chosen this course, particularly with elections approaching? One possibility is that it believes the electoral outcome is already decided. Opinion polls offer some basis for such confidence. Support for the DP has consistently been more than double that of the People Power Party (PPP), reflecting a persistent imbalance in party competition. President Lee's approval ratings have remained stably in the mid-60 percent range. According to a recent survey by Gallup Korea, positive evaluations of President Lee exceed negative ones by at least 20 percentage points across all regions, including both traditional strongholds and opposition areas. The DP also leads the PPP in every region. Even in Daegu and North Gyeongsang, typically conservative areas, the DP recorded 34 percent support compared to 33 percent for the opposition. This sense of confidence may explain what critics describe as the party's complacency. Previous controversial legislative measures affecting the judiciary passed without significant public backlash, reinforcing the belief that a special prosecutor bill aimed at canceling indictments would not provoke serious resistance. There may also be a calculation that voters are preoccupied with issues such as the war involving Iran and stock market volatility, leaving limited room for complex legal debates to influence electoral outcomes. A more fundamental reason may lie in the perceived weakness of the opposition. Despite more than a year since a major political setback, the PPP has struggled to recover. A credible opposition might use the election as an opportunity to reflect on past mistak... | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | ![]() Crack down on illegal lenders without weakening finance | Recent remarks by President Lee Jae Myung have renewed debate over how far the government should go in protecting borrowers from illegal private lending. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said borrowers need not repay illegal loans exceeding the legal ceiling. He was reinforcing a message after Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon shared on social media a revised enforcement decree to the Loan Business Act aimed at strengthening protections against illegal lending. Kim Yong-beom, chief of policy at the presidential office, also posted for three straight days, asking why Korean finance is "so cruel" and describing credit ratings as "invisible badges of class." The remarks reflect the administration's determination to root out illegal lenders and ease financial polarization. But good intentions can raise concerns if they risk shaking basic principles of finance. Credit is a core tool for pricing risk and allocating resources. If credit ratings are framed as class labels and credit discipline is weakened, institutions will face confusion over risk management. Warning signs are already visible in delinquency rates and nonperforming loans across the financial sector. Protecting vulnerable borrowers is necessary, but it must not undermine financial system stability. Korea already has multiple safeguards for vulnerable borrowers. The legal maximum interest rate, once above 60 percent a year, has been lowered to 20 percent since 2021. The government is also carrying out selective and conditional debt adjustment programs. Through the disposal of bad loans overdue for more than seven years and principal reductions, more than 1 million people are being helped to make a fresh start. A debt adjustment program worth up to 20 trillion won ($13.6 billion) is also underway for small business owners. These measures are part of inclusive finance for vulnerable groups. Policy loans such as Sunshine Loans also provide more than 10 trillion won annually to borrowers with medium and low credit ratings. Predatory illegal lending, such as the 4,149 percent annual interest case cited by Lee Eog-weon, should be punished firmly with the full force of state authority. Relief procedures for victims should also be made faster and more proactive. But the process must not create moral hazards or unfairly disadvantage borrowers who repay faithfully. Interest is the price of credit. If responsible borrowers are not respected, trust in the financial system will weaken. It is the government's role to build a tighter system so vulnerable people are not pushed toward illegal lenders. Inclusive finance is possible only on a sound financial foundation. This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | ![]() DAY 6's Wonpil gets 'Unpiltered, goes sky high in solo concert | This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice. But it wasn't just the staging that carried the night. At his final solo concert "Unpiltered" on Sunday at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Songpa District, southern Seoul, he made the stage entirely his own, moving seamlessly between steady vocals, strong stage presence and moments of choreography. Although usually positioned behind the piano as part of rock band DAY6 and more accustomed to sharing the spotlight with his bandmates, he proved himself a compelling solo artist on Sunday night. Marking his first solo concert in four years and two months since "Pilmography" in March 2022, his concert had been highly anticipated by fans, with all three shows, starting Friday, selling out during pre-reservation. He followed with six more songs from the album — just him and a mic. No elaborate staging, no dancers, no distractions. And he didn't need anything else. With his steady, charming vocals and expressive delivery, he moved seamlessly across a wide range of emotions, from melancholic and reflective to romantic and hopeful. Wonpil made it clear from the very start that this concert would strip away expectations and show new sides of himself, a promise he kept until the very end. "This concert is about showing myself just as I am," he told the crowd after performing "Already Grown Up," the second song of the setlist. "You'll probably see many new sides of me. Of course, there are parts of me 'My Day' already knows, but that's not all of who I am. I'm not always just smiling or cute. Tonight, I want to show you different sides of myself." My Day is the official name of the DAY6 fandom. Still, Wonpil didn't leave behind the charm fans know him for. Midway through the show, the artist leaned more into his idol roots, having once trained for a boy band. Joined by dancers, the stage came alive with choreography. Tracks like "So This is Love" (2021) featured cute, playful choreography that boosted the bright energy of songs. Just before stepping off for a costume change after "Hold My Love," he left with a rose between his lips, effectively "killing" the crowd with his charm. While fans were still recovering, the next segment moved into one of the night's highlights, returning Wonpil to his signature piano where he brought the crowd back to life. Taking the stage alone felt natural for Wonpil, who has been deeply involved in songwriting for every DAY6 album since the band's debut in 2015, steadily establishing himself as a singer-songwriter. He officially launched his solo career in 2022 with his first full-length solo album, "Pilmography." The mood then shifted with brighter tracks such as "A Writer in a Love Story" (2022), "Goodbye" (2022) and "Wish." During the finale stage of "Highs and Lows," fireworks cascaded toward the stage as Wonpil showcased a powerful side of himself. Singing the lyric "Please save me," he revealed a more intense presence — though it was perhaps the audience who needed saving from his overwhelming charm. The energy carried into the encores, where he returned for "Up All Night" (2022), telling fans, "I'll make sure you have no regrets tonight." Dressed in a sky-blue shirt and black pants, he danced, waved and engaged with the crowd to the fullest until the very end. DAY6 is set to bring "The Decade," its 10th Anniversary Tour, to Macau on Saturday. | — | ||||||
| 5/4/26 | ![]() Samsung makes abrupt shift, names Lee Won-jin head of Visual Display business | This article is by Kim Kyung-mi and read by an artificial voice. Samsung Electronics abruptly replaced the head of its TV business, tapping marketing veteran Lee Won-jin to lead its Visual Display business in a move that points to pressure to revive one of the core operations in its Device eXperience division on Monday. The reshuffle came about six months after Samsung's last regular executive appointments and followed weak profitability in its TV and home appliance businesses. The Visual Display business is responsible for the firm's TV, monitor and audio products. Born in 1976, Lee earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in the United States and joined LG Electronics in 1991. Lee later held posts including consultant at Accenture Korea, president of Adobe Systems Korea and CEO and president of Google Korea before being recruited by Samsung Electronics in 2014 as head of the Service Business Team under the Visual Display business. At the end of 2023, Lee stepped away from frontline business duties after serving as president and head of the Service Biz Team under Samsung Electronics' Mobile eXperience (MX) business, but drew attention by returning to the front lines of management a year later. The appointment came about six months after Samsung Electronics carried out its regular presidential-level executive reshuffle in November last year, and was driven by weak performance in the Digital eXperience Division. Samsung Electronics' Digital eXpereince Division posted 1.9 trillion won ($1.29 billion) in operating profit last year, down to about one-tenth of the 17.3 trillion won recorded four years earlier in 2021. Yong Seok-woo, who had served as the head of the Visual Display division since late 2023, will move to an advisory role to the head of the DX Division. The slump in the Digital Appliances business and the TV business under the Visual Display division, both of which fell into the red in the fourth quarter of last year, proved decisive. Combined, the Digital Appliances and Visual Display divisions posted an annual operating loss of 200 billion won last year. Samsung described Lee as a specialist in content, services and marketing and said he is expected to lead a business turnaround and identify new growth areas. "We hope [Lee] can further strengthen the competitiveness of its TV business by leading a business turnaround from a fresh perspective and discovering new future growth drivers based on his extensive record of business success and understanding of the market," Samsung Electronics said. This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() 'Cluster dynamics' now drive outbound investment for Korean firms, says Cushman & Wakefield | This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice. [INTERVIEW] Despite semiconductor heavyweights accounting for more than 40 percent of Kospi market value, it is Korean automakers and battery makers that have led the charge in outbound investment, rapidly establishing supply chain footholds across the United States, according to a senior executive at the Korean branch of a major commercial real estate services firm. "Hyundai Motor Group's U.S. and European expansion is the most viable example, but the battery ecosystem around it — SK On, Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution — has moved with extraordinary speed," said Sydney Chun, head of the Global Korea Desk at Cushman & Wakefield Korea, in a recent interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the Korean branch's office in central Seoul. "Semiconductors, on the other hand, are investing heavily but are only at the starting stage. The capital expenditure and planning horizons are longer, and the technology requirements are more complex. Samsung's Taylor investment in Texas is a landmark, but a broader semiconductor supply chain — materials, equipment and packaging — is only beginning to follow." Chun's team supports Korean conglomerates through the entire arc of global expansion from site selection, incentive negotiations and marketing representation to transaction brokerages for overseas offices. Most recently, the team secured a three-year master services agreement with Hyundai Motor in October 2025 under which C & W Korea is managing the restructuring of the automaker's entire global commercial real estate portfolio. The team is also close to finalizing the Washington office setup for a Korean shipbuilder — a move that follows Korea's $150 billion shipbuilding investment pledge to the United States. The Washington trend is broader than a single deal. "There's been a sharp increase in Korean companies wanting to set up offices there," Chun said. "Doing business in the U.S. now requires maintaining good relationships with the administration and making sure the standing of Korean businesses is visible — what our brands are, what kind of businesses we're running. That visibility is directly tied to securing tax incentives." On the question of what is actually driving outbound investment, Chun was direct. The critical trigger is tariffs, not incentive programs. A double-digit tariff on exports makes staying put economically unsustainable, turning localization from a strategic preference into a necessity. Nor is this a uniquely Korean story — European automakers, Japanese chipmakers and Taiwanese foundries are all navigating the same pressure to diversify their supply chains. "Supply chains globally have become more fragile — whether from pandemics, geopolitical friction, logistics disruptions or trade policy whiplash. Every multinational, not just Korean ones, is wrestling with the same localization questions." What distinguishes the current investment cycle from previous ones is the cluster dynamic. "When Hyundai builds in Georgia, it's not an isolated assembly plant — it's an anchor that pulls dozens of Korean tier-one and tier-two suppliers with it," Chun said. "Battery makers, steel processors, logistics operators — they all follow because the finished product must be locally produced to be cost-competitive under the current trade regime. That's a fundamentally different investment model from anything we saw in previous cycles." Cushman & Wakefield Korea also serves as the Korean-side marketing agent for iMarket Korea's Gradiant Technology Park, a 212-acre industrial complex in Taylor, Texas, built specifically to house semiconductor-related companies within Samsung Electronics' broader supply chain ecosystem. The team handles outreach to midsize Korean suppliers as prospective tenants, and Chun points to the Taylor cluster as a textbook example of how a single anchor investment organically generates a manufacturing hub around it. When evaluating potential sit... | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() Margaret Thatcher takes office as British prime minister | The author is a writer and senior fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Research. Britain is a constitutional monarchy. Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party won 339 seats in the May 3, 1979, general election, defeating Prime Minister James Callaghan's Labour Party, which secured 268 seats. The victory returned the Conservatives to power. The day after the election, Thatcher's first official engagement was an audience with the monarch. Under British convention, the sovereign formally invites the leader of the majority party to form a government, and that invitation is accepted as a matter of honor. After completing this constitutional process, Thatcher entered Downing Street for the first time as prime minister on May 4, 1979. There was no grand inauguration ceremony, nor a lengthy inaugural address. Instead, a brief exchange with reporters on her way to work, lasting barely a minute, came to be remembered as her first speech. In those remarks, Thatcher invoked the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, urging unity where there is discord, truth where there is error, faith where there is doubt and hope where there is despair. She emphasized national unity and a shared sense of duty. "I would like to say to all the people of Britain, no matter how you voted, that now the election is over, we must work together to serve this country, which we are proud to belong to," she said. There were clear reasons for such an appeal. Britain was facing stagflation, marked by low growth and high inflation, as well as what was widely described as the "British disease." Militant trade unions were staging strikes that disrupted industries, while deep social divisions persisted. Just weeks before the election, on March 30 that year, Conservative lawmaker Airey Neave was killed in a car-bomb attack carried out by the Irish National Liberation Army, underscoring the severity of political violence and polarization. Quoting Neave, Thatcher concluded her brief remarks with a simple line: "Now we have work to do." Thatcher's embrace of free market policies and conservative principles remains a subject of enduring debate. Yet she is widely remembered as a decisive leader who mobilized public resolve and pursued structural reforms during a period of crisis. Her early message of unity and responsibility continues to resonate for countries confronting economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and demographic challenges today. The experience suggests that political leadership, grounded in clarity and collective purpose, can help societies navigate profound disruptions while maintaining democratic legitimacy and social cohesion in times of deep uncertainty. This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() A virtuous cycle of giving for children in need | The author is the chair of the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Korea was officially recognized as an advanced economy in July 2021 when the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development unanimously reclassified it into the "developed country group." Yet even in such a country, around 1,600 children under the age of 18 are newly diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. Despite the nation's fertility rate falling below 1.0 in 2018 and reaching 0.8 last year, the number of young patients has not declined. The government has recently lowered the threshold for financial assistance for pediatric cancer treatment as a special measure. Eligibility has been expanded to households earning up to 120 percent of median income, and the maximum support has been raised to 30 million won ($20,370). While this is a timely step, significant blind spots remain. As the country marks the 104th Children's Day this year, it is worth revisiting the familiar phrase that children are the future of the nation. Ensuring that children grow up healthy is a fundamental responsibility of society. For those suffering from serious illness, the need for compassion and support is even greater. Established in 2001, the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation exists to support children who confront pediatric cancer and rare diseases before they have even had the chance to fully step into society. The foundation has focused most of its donations on covering medical expenses and providing educational and emotional support, helping young patients build a path toward reintegration into society. Although conditions have improved over time, Korea's culture of giving remains underdeveloped. In the United States, charitable giving is often regarded as a virtue rooted in Puritan traditions. In Korea, however, Confucian values have long emphasized family ties and inheritance. As a result, many people still prioritize wealth within their own families and lineage. Government tax policy has also faced criticism for failing to encourage donations. In 2014, the system shifted from income deductions to tax credits, reducing incentives for high-value donors. This change led to a noticeable decline in large-scale donations. The contrast with countries such as the United States and Britain, where legal frameworks and generous incentives actively promote giving, is striking. In that sense, Korea's current system represents a step backward. There are, however, signs of hope. Small donations among younger generations have been increasing rapidly. New practices have emerged, such as marking birthdays or wedding anniversaries with charitable contributions. Many regular donors faithfully transfer a portion of their monthly income, reflecting a deep sense of commitment. One couple, for example, has spent the past five years celebrating the end of the year by donating a share of their earnings and reaffirming their goals for the coming year. They say they hope for a world where people grow up accustomed to receiving love and, as adults, to sharing it. More former patients are also taking part in supporting others. A young woman who once battled pediatric cancer now helps organize emotional support events hosted by the foundation, guiding fellow survivors who have successfully reintegrated into society. Another case involves a student who was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in middle school and, after enduring difficult treatment, is now enrolled at KAIST. His mother, who cared for him throughout his illness, now donates regularly to support other families. A former osteosarcoma patient who graduated from Seoul Institute of the Arts now works as a vocal trainer running a music studio. Inspired by singers who visited him during his treatment, he now holds annual charity performances at the end of each year. These efforts offer reassurance to other families and help create a virtuous cycle of giving. They also reflect a broader shift driven by young people in Korea. ... | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() Cash windfalls risk undermining Korea’s semiconductor edge | Lee Ha-kyung The author is a senior columnist at the JoongAng Ilbo. U.S. chipmaker Intel led the semiconductor industry from the 1970s, dominating the personal computer era. Its technological prowess was once described as if it had "captured extraterrestrials to extract chip secrets." Yet the company's decline began when executives with backgrounds in marketing and finance rose to the top. Their focus on short-term performance, cost cutting and shareholder returns came at the expense of investment and research and development. As a result, Intel missed the shift from PC chips to mobile processors. In 2016, then-CEO Brian Krzanich laid off 12,000 workers, about 10 percent of the workforce. Many of those dismissed were research and engineering talent who later joined rivals such as AMD. Critics even accused him of acting like "a spy for AMD." His successor, Bob Swan, reportedly declined an offer in 2017 and 2018 to acquire a 30 percent stake in OpenAI, citing a lack of immediate profitability. Japan's semiconductor industry once dominated the global market in the 1980s, with a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) share approaching 80 percent. However, the 1985 Plaza Accord led to a sharp appreciation of the yen, eroding price competitiveness. The U.S.-Japan semiconductor agreement further constrained the industry. Meanwhile, the United States provided technology and licensing support to latecomers such as Samsung Electronics, while TSMC also benefited. Japan's decline was compounded by overconfidence. In the 1989 book "The Japan That Can Say No," co-authored by Shintaro Ishihara and Akio Morita, the authors argued that the United States could not produce advanced weapons without Japanese semiconductors and called for a shift from a secondary to a hegemonic power. Washington came to view Japan's semiconductor sector as a security threat and responded accordingly. Japanese companies also missed critical investment timing. Despite their strength in memory chips, they failed to adapt as the market shifted to PCs, mobile devices, servers and artificial intelligence. Elpida Memory, formed by merging the DRAM businesses of NEC, Hitachi and Mitsubishi, collapsed in 2012 despite government support. A 2021 report by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry projected that Japan's global semiconductor market share could approach zero by 2030. Tokyo has since poured 3.3 trillion yen, about $27 billion, into the sector in a bid to recover competitiveness. Against this backdrop, labor tensions in Korea's semiconductor sector are raising alarm. The labor union at Samsung Electronics is demanding bonuses equivalent to 15 percent of annual operating profit, which is expected to exceed 300 trillion won this year. That would amount to 45 trillion won, modeled after SK hynix, where bonuses reach 10 percent of operating profit, or about 600 million won per employee. A three-week strike beginning on May 21 has been announced, with potential losses estimated at 30 trillion won. Semiconductors account for 23 percent of Korea's total exports and are embedded in major export products such as automobiles, smartphones and home appliances. Up to 80 percent of export items could be affected by disruptions in chip production. The impact on exports and the country's external credibility could be severe. Semiconductor companies must continue investing heavily even during downturns to remain competitive. Expanding a single production line can cost as much as 50 trillion won, requiring firms to take on significant risks. Companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have become global leaders by enduring such challenges. Complacency, however, can lead to rapid decline, as seen in Intel and Japan. Kim Jung-kwan, minister of trade, industry and resources, has also warned of this risk, emphasizing the need to balance current profits with future competitiveness. Global chipmakers typically prioritize allocating profits to R&D and capital investment. Sa... | — | ||||||
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| 5/3/26 | ![]() Hormuz shock calls for a reset of Korea’s energy strategy | More than two months into the Iran war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed oil prices sharply higher and plunged the global economy into turmoil. Korea, heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude, has been hit particularly hard. The OECD quickly cut Korea's growth forecast from 2.1 percent to 1.7 percent, marking one of the steepest downgrades among major economies. JPMorgan also identified Korea as one of the countries most vulnerable to oil price volatility. The disruption extends beyond crude oil. Imports of naphtha, often described as the "rice of industry," have been blocked, forcing petrochemical plants to halt or scale back production. Shortages have even spread to everyday items such as garbage bags and medical syringes. The International Energy Agency has warned that energy supply conditions are unlikely to return to prewar levels even after the conflict ends. Korea's energy security now faces a new level of uncertainty. If a return to the previous system is no longer possible, a fundamental redesign of energy strategy is required. The core principle of energy security is diversification. The more concentrated supply becomes in specific regions or routes, the greater the risk. Korea has made some progress. The share of Middle Eastern crude, which exceeded 90 percent in the mid-2000s, has declined to about 69 percent and more recently to around 56 percent as imports from the Americas and Africa increased. Yet this remains insufficient. A "post-Hormuz" strategy is essential. Overland pipelines are emerging as alternatives. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has proposed a pipeline linking Turkey and Iraq, while a long-distance route connecting Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman has also been discussed. Korea should consider participating in such projects from the early stages to secure stable supply. Expanding joint stockpiling programs, in which oil from producing countries is stored in domestic facilities, could also provide priority purchase rights in times of crisis. Overseas resource development is another area requiring national focus. Securing resources abroad can effectively substitute for domestic reserves. Yet Korea's self-sufficiency rate in oil and gas stood at only 10.8 percent in 2024, down from 15.5 percent in 2015. Japan's rate, by contrast, reached 42.1 percent and aims to exceed 60 percent by 2040. The gap reflects differences in policy consistency and expertise. Japan has steadily supported its resource development institutions regardless of political changes. The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security employs a large number of specialists, including geologists, engineers and investment professionals, many of whom build decades of experience in their fields. In Korea, resource development policies have fluctuated with political cycles, at times being promoted and at other times abandoned. This inconsistency has weakened institutional capacity. The next test for energy security reform lies in the 12th Master Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, now under discussion. According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, electricity consumption in 2040 could increase by up to 70 terawatt-hours compared with the previous plan, equivalent to 1.4 times Seoul's annual consumption or the output of three to seven new nuclear reactors. The surge is driven by expanding artificial intelligence data centers and semiconductor clusters. The key question is how to meet this demand. The government's current approach remains heavily focused on renewable energy. Its recent energy transition plan aims to raise the share of renewables to over 20 percent by 2030. However, it does not address the need for additional nuclear power. Expanding renewable energy is necessary, but practical limitations remain. Korea's solar power deployment is already among the highest in the world, leaving limited room for further expansion. The intermittency of renewables also poses challenges for stabl... | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() Children's Day comes early | Children try out toys at a shop in Jongno District, central Seoul, on May 3, ahead of Children's Day on May 5. [YONHAP] | — | ||||||
| 5/3/26 | ![]() HD Hyundai Electric readies environmentally friendly high-voltage circuit breaker for export | This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. HD Hyundai Electric said Sunday it has successfully completed final qualification testing of an environmentally friendly high-voltage circuit breaker slated for export to Sweden. The sulfur hexafluoride-free breaker, the first of its kind developed domestically, eliminates the use of sulfur hexafluoride, or SF₆, a fluorinated greenhouse gas long favored in high-voltage equipment for its superior insulation and interruption performance. Despite these advantages, sulfur hexafluoride has come under intensifying regulatory scrutiny due to its global warming potential, measured by how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere. For SF₆, that figure is roughly 23,500 times that of carbon dioxide. The European Union, which revised its regulations in 2024, is tightening restrictions on fluorinated gases in stages. Beginning in 2032, the use of sulfur hexafluoride in high-voltage circuit breakers above 145 kilovolt (kV) will be fully banned, a shift expected to accelerate demand for SF₆-free alternatives in power equipment markets. HD Hyundai Electric has already completed development of sulfur hexafluoride-free models at 72.5 kV, 145 kV and 170 kV, and aims to finalize its full product lineup by 2028. The company is also targeting completion of a 420 kV model, a lineup with the strongest demand potential in Europe, within the first half of this year. | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Looking behind the scenes of BTS's latest album with BigHit Music's Nicole Kim | This article is by Choi Min-ji and read by an artificial voice. BTS has set a string of major records following its comeback after a three-year and nine-month hiatus on March 20 — topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, staying No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for three consecutive weeks, earning a Triple Platinum certification from the Japan Gold Disc Awards for more than 750,000 album shipments, and, of course, selling out what is now the largest world tour ever by a Korean artist. With each new news of the megaband, onlookers all wondered the same thing: How did the album come about? One HYBE executive with stories to tell is Nicole Kim, the vice president at BTS's label BigHit Music, who oversaw the overall production of BTS' fifth full-length album "Arirang." Kim began a career in album production and planning at Starship Entertainment, home to K-pop idols like IVE and Monsta X, in 2012 and later worked at Sony Music Publishing and HYBE. In 2023, Kim joined Columbia Records as the first Korean executive at a major U.S. record label. She returned to HYBE's BigHit Music in July last year and was named in the 2025 Billboard Women in Music list. Kim also appeared in the Netflix documentary "BTS: The Return," released in March, gaining recognition among fans. Kim sat down for an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo for a scoop behind the scenes at HYBE's headquarters in Yongsan District, central Seoul. The following are excerpts from the interview, edited for length and clarity. Q. Why did you return from the United States? A. I returned at the suggestion of HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and the band's members. At BigHit Music, I oversee a wide range of projects, from BTS' music to brand management. Since the members have clear ideas about their music and albums, I try to offer a different perspective. What was the most challenging part of preparing the album "Arirang"? The members felt a lot of pressure returning to face fans after such a long time. What about the rumors that they were thinking of breaking up? The members would find them quite absurd if they heard them. That's how close they are. BTS went to Los Angeles for a two-month songwriting session last summer, which was also featured in its Netflix documentary "BTS: The Return." How big a scale was it? The members participated for about two months, from July to August last year. More than 100 people were involved, including producers. Each producer stayed for as little as two days to as long as one to two weeks to work on the project. Diplo had been selected earlier in the year, before the members were discharged from their mandatory military service, as the lead producer overseeing the local process. Under the direction of the Artists & Repertoire (A&R) team and Chairman Bang, we also held two "pre-song sessions" in Los Angeles in April and May. Do you usually hold songwriting sessions on such a large scale? We had worked on albums in the United States before, but we had never stayed together for an extended period to write songs. Since this was a comeback after a long time, we planned a longer, larger session. It all started with Chairman Bang's idea as the album's executive producer. Not assigning a single producer and instead working with a variety of people allows us to approach the music from multiple directions. Producers came from across the United States, Britain and other regions, for which we were very grateful. How did the process work? Members and producers gathered in the studio every day. They split into three to four rooms and exchanged ideas. The members were mainly involved in melody parts, but they also contributed to shaping the concepts of the songs. For example, for "Hooligan," a B-side track on the new album, a producer known for experimental sounds created the signature knife sound, while Jungkook came up with the word used in the title. How did you recruit so many producers? The A&R team handled most of it, but for well-known produc... | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Buldak Ramen has faith in becoming the 'bible of spice' amid global success | This article is by Yoo Ji-yoen and read by an artificial voice. Buldak Ramen instant noodles, or ramyeon, were once dismissed as too spicy to eat. Now, Samyang Foods has turned it into one of Korea's most successful global food brands. The brand's rise has been extraordinary in both scale and structure. Cumulative sales reached 8 billion units as of the first half last year, with about 80 percent sold overseas, and the producer of the ramyeon, Samyang Foods, has built a business around a single spicy noodle brand that now resembles the global model of food giants with export-heavy revenue. The company posted record sales last year and is expected to top 3 trillion won ($2.03 billion) this year, raising a broader question: How did one Korean noodle become a global category leader? "We must become the bible for spiciness," Kim Jung-soo, vice chair of Samyang Roundsquare, said at the opening ceremony for the company's second plant in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, in June last year. Samyang Roundsquare is the parent company of Samyang Foods. "As Buldak Carbonara currently enjoys the most love for its gentler heat, we will keep exploring and segmenting spicy flavors and broadening the range to show what a true bible of spice can be." The origin story behind Buldak instant noodles is now well known. Kim was inspired after seeing a long queue outside a spicy chicken restaurant in Myeongdong, central Seoul, during a visit with her daughter in 2010. After repeated trial and error involving 1,200 chickens and 2 tons of sauce, Samyang launched Buldak Ramen in 2012 to early reviews calling it too spicy for people to eat. Buldak measures about 4,404 Scoville heat units (SHU), placing it in a similar range to a hot jalapeño (2,500 to 8,000 SHU), typical Tabasco sauce, or Korea's popular Cheongyang chili peppers, which usually fall between 4,000 and 10,000 SHU. At first, the tongue-numbing heat led some people to dismiss it as a novelty. But the tide soon turned. Buldak became a regular feature in YouTube eating challenges starting in 2014. Its extreme heat triggered people's competitive instincts, and the dramatic reactions after eating it became entertaining content. Later, the rise of short-form video on YouTube and TikTok gave another lift to Buldak when the instant noodle began selling overseas. Because those platforms are global by nature, the brand benefited from natural viral exposure even without heavy advertising spending. With the rise in popularity of K-pop, Buldak naturally became one of the most well-known spicy Korean foods around the world. With more and more people being exposed to K-pop artists, celebrities and YouTubers consuming Buldak, its spiciness came to be seen not just as a flavor but as a challenge, an experience and a source of fun. Samyang reinforced that idea through what it calls a culture-based marketing. With Samyang Roundsquare's vice chairman calling to "make the Buldak brand a culture icon," the company has been pushing the #buldakchallenge — a viral social media trend where people film themselves attempting to the instant noodles without drinking water or other liquids — and opened Buldak timed eating contests and dance challenges. The ramyeon company also set up an experiential booth at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival last year, trying to position Buldak sauce as an experience as intense and enjoyable as the music itself for younger consumers. More recently, Samyang has tied Buldak to content aimed at global millennials and Generation Z. The company collaborated with an American media platform to release a dating show called "Heat Match," where contestants bond while trying the instant noodle's spicy flavor. Music video for "Hotter Than My EX," a song released by K-pop boy band BoyNextDoor in collaboration with Samyang Foods, has already surpassed 100 million views in just two months on Tuesday. "Buldak is a brand that earned global recognition with different challenges, so we value the e... | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Seoul's largest-ever international garden show blends nature, tradition and K-culture | This article is by Cho Jung-woo and read by an artificial voice. From K-culture to characters like Pokémon, Seoul is set to feature a sea of green starting this May, blending trends with nature at the Seoul International Garden Show. The event, the largest of its kind to date, kicks off Friday, signaling the city's latest push to evolve into a lush garden city where nature and urban life coexist. The exhibition, which was rebranded as an international show in 2024 as part of a major urban greening initiative by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, features 167 gardens spanning 90,000 square meters (22 acres) across Seoul Forest and its neighboring areas, as well as the Han River. Running through Oct. 27, this year's event will span the longest duration in the show's history. As this Korea JoongAng Daily reporter toured the grounds on Thursday, a day ahead of the official opening, the showgrounds at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, revealed a harmonious blend of K-culture and horticultural art. "We've attempted to reflect contemporary urban trends within these gardens, especially since Seongsu-dong has become a global symbol of K-culture," said Kim Young-min, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Seoul and director of the show's organizing committee. From K-culture to Pokémon In a nod to the country's status as a cultural hub, the show features a specialized garden for K-pop fans that incorporates iconic lightsticks into the green arrangements. The show also includes dedicated fan-donated forests, such as those honoring K-pop group aespa's Winter and BTS's J-hope. For those seeking a more traditional aesthetic, Korean heritage gardens inspired by hanok (traditional Korean house) architecture provide a serene look into the nation's past. The gardens span a wide variety of themes, ranging from high-concept designs by world-renowned architects to whimsical pop-ups featuring Pokémon and Lego. At the Pokémon Secret Forest, fans can find numerous statues of Pikachu tucked away from the main entrance along Eevee's Secret Trail and Phantom's Hideout. While last year's show leaned heavily on the purple hues of Ditto, this year's display is dominated by Pikachu yellow, aligning with "Morning Yellow," Seoul's color of the year. To accommodate global visitors, the show offers information in nine languages via on-site QR codes. Detailed text and audio guides are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish, while text-only support is provided in Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian. English-language docent tours are also available twice daily via preregistration on Naver Booking. Corporate collaborations also take center stage, with K-culture brands including beauty company Clio and fashion platform Musinsa presenting their own gardens. Nongshim has also joined the lineup with "Spicy Happiness in Noodles," a garden created to mark the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun. From Supertrees to environmental reflection The Summit Silo, a circular garden by Daewoo E&C, features a striking white rootlike structure at its center. The project involved a collaboration between Seoul-based Bonsigudo and Grant Associates — the firm famous for designing Singapore's iconic Supertrees. "Seoul Forest used to be a horse racing track, and this spot marks where the center of the arch once stood," said Lee Hyeong-seok, head of Bonsigudo. The silo-shaped structure is designed to offer visitors a sense of natural silence as they move toward the center. The show also addresses environmental issues. At a garden hosted by cosmetics brand Clio, a pavilion features a 150-year-old charred tree recovered from forest fires in Andong, North Gyeongsang, to raise awareness about natural disasters. "Forest fires occur every year," the designer noted, adding that it was vital to deliver a message of preservation and recovery. In another space nearby, a forest warning sign stands over a patch of earth where oak saplings sprout f... | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() Samsung Electronics posts historic $38.6B Q1 profit, fueled by AI chip shortage | This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice. [NEWS ANALYSIS] Samsung Electronics reported an operating profit of 57.23 trillion won ($38.6 billion) for the first quarter of this year, the highest in the company's history, as a global shortage in memory chips has sent customers racing to secure supplies for their AI data center build-outs. Samsung Electronics' first-quarter operating profit represents a 755.46 percent increase from the same period last year and beat the market consensus of 40.2 trillion won, compiled by FnGuide. Notably, the figure already surpasses the company's entire annual operating profit of 43.6 trillion won in 2025. Its revenue rose 69.26 percent on year to 133.87 trillion won, surpassing analysts' estimates of 119 trillion won, and its net profit climbed 474.31 percent to 47.23 trillion won, above the 35.83 trillion won forecast. Semiconductors were overwhelmingly responsible for the strong performance, contributing nearly 94 percent to the total operating profit — a roughly 48-fold increase from the first quarter of 2025 — driven by surging demand for high bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI infrastructure. The report highlights a broader change in the semiconductor industry. Major technology companies have been signing multiyear supply agreements with Samsung and SK hynix — a marked departure from the short-term, trust-based arrangements that historically characterized the sector. "Unlike prior supply arrangements based on mutual trust, these long-term supply contracts carry a [...] higher degree of binding commitment," said Kim Jae-june, the executive vice president of memory business at Samsung. "In an environment where investment and capacity management risks have risen sharply across every dimension — including capital outlay, contract duration and technological complexity — these agreements are expected to enhance business stability and visibility for both customers and companies." The company confirmed that contracts with select customers have already been finalized, with additional discussions ongoing. Regarding capital expenditure for the quarter, Samsung allocated 91 percent of its 11.2 trillion won to semiconductors, focusing on expanding wafer production capacity. Construction of additional manufacturing space at the P4 and P5 facilities within its Pyeongtaek campus in Gyeonggi is being accelerated to secure incremental memory output. HBM outlook and foundry progress Samsung projects its HBM revenue to more than triple this year compared to last year. Its latest-generation HBM4 is entirely sold out and is expected to account for over half of its total HBM revenue beginning in the third quarter. First samples of the next-generation HBM4E are also scheduled for shipment in the second quarter. On the foundry side, Samsung's second-generation 2-nanometer process is on track for mass production in the second half of the year, with the company targeting double-digit improvements in both revenue and earnings from the node. "The company is actively engaged in advanced collaboration discussions with multiple major AI and high-performance computing customers and expects to announce tangible outcomes with select customers in the near term," said Kang Suk-chae, the executive vice president of Samsung Foundry. Samsung's first factory at its Texas campus remains on schedule to begin operations this year and enter mass production in 2027. A second factory at the same site is in the preliminary planning stage. Samsung reported no supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, despite Korea's dependence on the region for key chip processing materials, including helium and bromine. According to the company, it has secured alternative logistics routes and diversified its supplier base, though it warned that rising oil prices could add to production costs through higher shipping rates. Meanwhile, Samsung's union has announced that it will go on a general strike from... | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | ![]() The devil wears Prada — and rides in a Mercedes Maybach | This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Two decades after the original, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" premiered in Korea on Wednesday, featuring Mercedes-Benz's flagship one-of-a-kind customized Maybach S-Class. The bespoke Maybach S-Class appears alongside the film's central character, Runway magazine editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, portrayed by Meryl Streep. Mercedes-Benz Korea said the car features a distinctive high-heeled pitchfork emblem, an enlarged illuminated grille and a meticulously tailored interior crafted under its Manufaktur program, the brand's in-house customization division. Beyond the Maybach S-Class, a broad spectrum of the Mercedes-Benz lineup is woven throughout the film, including the S-Class, the GLE, the all-electric G-Class, the V-Class and the Sprinter. The 2006 film also featured the S-Class from Mercedes, establishing an early connection between the brand. "In this sequel, we continue that relationship with the Maybach S-Class at its center, an emblematic collaboration that revisits the shared values and heritage cultivated by two icons," Mercedes-Benz Korea said. Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out a series of campaigns built around scenes from the film, including video content, premium key visuals for print and digital platforms, behind-the-scenes footage, social media campaigns and market-specific events, which will be released in phases through June. Mercedes-Benz Korea provided Meryl Streep with a Maybach S-Class during her promotional visit to Korea on April 8 and 9. | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | ![]() Here’s what future Hyundai cars' screens will look like — and yes, the buttons survive | This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Hyundai Motor has finally unveiled its new Pleos operating system — and in a move many drivers will welcome, physical buttons aren't going anywhere. The new infotainment platform will debut on the Europe-bound Ioniq 3, which is slated to launch in the second half of the year. U.S. customers will likely see the system in the upcoming launch of other Hyundai models, including the Avante, the Tucson and the Genesis GV90. Built on Android Automotive OS, Pleos centers on a large display featuring a fixed car information panel on the left and a toolbar on the bottom, reminiscent of the displays in Teslas and Rivians. But unlike its screen-only rivals, Hyundai has kept a row of physical buttons beneath the display that allow drivers to adjust climate settings and seat heating or ventilation quickly while driving — and most importantly, safely. While the design leans futuristic, many consumers find the all-touchscreen approach cumbersome, fueling a growing backlash against abandoning physical controls altogether. The system also introduces three-finger gestures, letting drivers rearrange apps or close them instantly, even while on the move. "Your first impression will likely be that it looks like Tesla," said Kim Chang-seob of Hyundai's User Experience team at a media event on Wednesday. "We saw that as the industry benchmark and built on it to maximize safety and flexibility." The central display is split into two main zones: the information panel on the left that functions like a traditional instrument cluster, showing speed, warnings and efficiency data at all times. It also renders nearby vehicles, objects, and pedestrians in 3-D to enhance situational awareness while driving or parking. On the right, the remaining two-thirds of the panel handles navigation, media and other vehicle settings. Drivers can run two apps side by side or expand one to fill the screen. Hyundai has also added a slim display directly in front of the driver, which can be customized with widget-style features. "A driver's natural field of view without turning the head is about 15 to 30 degrees," Kim said. "We designed the slim display and head-up display around that." Navigation now features a modular interface, enabling it to run alongside other apps without sacrificing usability. Gleo AI, a voice assistant co-developed with Hyundai's mobility software arm, 42dot, can interpret context from prior conversations, understanding vague phrases like "there" or "near here" and even respond to incomplete sentences or regional dialects. "If the driver makes multiple orders at a time, such as 'Turn off the air conditioner, set ambient lighting to forest mode and play the radio,' the AI understands it perfectly and handles multiple commands in sequence," said Lee Jong-ho, an engineer who developed the Gleo AI. It can also identify where a command is coming from; If a rear passenger says, "Turn on the heated seat," the system detects the speaker's position and activates the correct seat automatically. Hyundai is also launching its own in-car app marketplace, allowing direct access to services such as YouTube, Spotify, and local streaming apps. Korean customers will be able to see it with the upcoming facelift of the Grandeur, its first new look in over three years. | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | ![]() Pilates for pups? Pets treated to human-level care as they become core family members. | This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice. Balancing on a rubber-domed BOSU ball, Mary, a Pekingese, stands as if it were just another patch of solid ground. There is a slight wobble when she steps onto a donut-shaped balance ball, but she regains control at the Cadillac machine, placing her paws on its swinging straps to stretch the front of her pink-skinned thighs. She even squats with her paws placed on a reformer, before dropping into a set of the tiniest push-ups — all while her wide eyes and squished nose are fixated on a Pilates instructor's hand, where a treat is dangling just out of reach. She is rolling and balancing from one piece of equipment to the next to strengthen her weak joints. For the next 20 minutes, the two-year-old Pekingese moves across balance tools commonly used for canine exercise to human Pilates machines like the CoreAlign system. The routine is shorter than a human workout, but no less physically engaging. "If a certain part of the body is weak, that area becomes painful, and without enough muscle, joints can easily be damaged," said Pilates instructor Jeon Hyun-min, who runs the dog Pilates program at his Pilates studio in Gangnam District. "It's the same for dogs, especially small breeds, which are often born with weaker skeletal structures. Building muscle is essential." "They want to try Pilates as an additional option, and once they see improvements, they tend to keep coming," Jeon said. "The goal of pilates is similar to rehabilitation for building healthy muscles, but the intensity, difficulty and movements differ." Jeon's interest in dog Pilates began in a similar way, when his furry companion was diagnosed with stage-two patellar dislocation. "Rather than surgery, I thought exercise might be a better option," he said. "So I started studying it on my own." Each session runs about 30 minutes, assuming the dogs can stay focused that long. It was originally set at 50 minutes, but quickly trimmed to match their shorter attention spans. Beyond the studio, some pet owners are also trying simple exercises at home, often using gym balls, a trend visible on social media. The price for Jeon's Pilates session is around 80,000 won ($54), similar to that of human Pilates. Prof. Lee Shin-ho of the Department of Companion Animal Health at Tongmyong University said Pilates can be "highly effective" in building muscle and supporting overall physical management, as well as in managing orthopedic conditions. "Patellar dislocation is largely a genetic condition, so Pilates is more effective when used as part of postsurgical rehabilitation," Lee said. "In contrast, conditions like hip dysplasia can be better managed and even prevented from worsening through targeted rehabilitation exercises." With the number of pet owners in Korea exceeding 15 million — nearly one in three households has a pet — wellness services for dogs are becoming increasingly specialized and premium. This trend also aligns with the rapid rise of "pet humanization," the idea of treating pets as family members. "People who come [to Pilates class] truly love their dogs," Jeon said. "They treat them like their own children. In the past, not many people saw pets that way, [...] but now many do and so do I." According to a recent survey by data consulting firm PMI, 23.3 percent of 2,733 survey respondents described pets as "beings that require responsible care," while 22.6 percent said they were "precious like family," and 16.8 percent viewed them as "friends or companions." Here, dogs receive tailored massage care combined with aromatherapy using pet-safe oils. Therapist Lee Da-som first examines each dog's body, then works to loosen tense muscles, gently massaging weaker areas. After the session, dogs are treated with near-infrared therapy or time in an oxygen chamber. Many dogs visit for musculoskeletal conditions, rehabilitation, senior care or simply when pet owners sense discomfort in their pup despite no clea... | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | ![]() Samsung vs. Apple: Foldable fight begins with wide-format debuts | This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice. [NEWS ANALYSIS] Samsung Electronics is set to release a wide foldable phone this July, positioning it between Huawei's recent launch and Apple's anticipated September debut of a similar form factor. The question is whether Samsung can maintain its grip on the market for a version of smartphones it first pioneered. The upcoming launch comes as Samsung is projected to lose a sizable share of the foldable market to Apple, despite overall growth in shipments. "Apple's entry will be a key inflection point, with the company projected to capture a 28 percent share in 2026, approaching Samsung's leading position," stated Counterpoint Research. The market tracker's forecast for this year still positions Samsung at the top of the global foldable smartphone market with a 31 percent share, though that represents a 9 percentage point decline from 2025. Apple is expected to emerge as the second-largest player with 28 percent, driven by its anticipated foldable debut this September. What has now been confirmed is that Galaxy Unpacked in July will feature three devices: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Flip 8, and one additional model widely expected to be the new wide foldable. Leaks emerged around the same time Huawei released the Pura X Max in April, its own take on the wider foldable format. If the specs shared by tipster Ice Universe are accurate, the new device would be Samsung's thinnest foldable to date, and more lightweight than the experimental Galaxy Z TriFold, which folds twice. The two Samsung devices serve fundamentally different purposes. The TriFold is a pocketable tablet pushing the boundaries of hardware design, while the Fold 8 Wide, seemingly closer in size to a passport when closed, is shaping up to be a more practical everyday smartphone — one that just happens to open into something much more spacious. Display difference A display comparison between Samsung and Huawei's foldable lineups has been drawing significant attention online. The specs are particularly consequential for foldables, where the screen itself defines the user experience — the central question being whether the device feels natural both when folded and unfolded, a judgment that comes down largely to display proportions. The Fold 8 Wide is rumored to feature an inner screen between 7.6 and 8 inches — smaller than the TriFold's 10-inch display, but still firmly in tablet territory. Against Huawei's Pura X Max, Samsung holds a clear edge in thinness: 4.3 millimeters (0.17 inches) unfolded and 9.8 millimeters folded, compared to Huawei's 5.2 millimeters and 11.2 millimeters, respectively. The Samsung device is also slightly narrower when closed at 82.2 millimeters, which should make one-handed use slightly more comfortable compared to Huawei's 85 millimeters. Huawei wins on raw canvas size when opened, at 166.5 millimeters wide versus Samsung's 161.4 millimeters. The two also differ in display ratio: Huawei leans wider with a 4.24:3 inner and 4.4:3 outer ratio, while Samsung goes with a 4.3:3 inner and 4.7:3 outer — a configuration that may feel more balanced across apps and productivity tasks. The wider outer ratio in particular means typing feels less cramped and apps appear closer to their standard proportions, preserving a normal phone feel when folded. Huawei's inner display skews slightly more rectangular, while Samsung's is squarer and more tablet-like when open. The pitch, in short, is a phone that behaves like a phone when closed and a real tablet when opened, a more accessible proposition than the TriFold's dual-fold ambitions, and one aimed squarely at a broader audience. If the leaks hold true, it would also mark the first commercial implementation of Samsung's creaseless display technology, first unveiled at CES 2026. What consumers want Pricing could prove to be either a key selling point or a significant barrier. An expensive price tag appears unavoidable, however, given its ... | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | ![]() When war meets the stock market | Kim Sung-jae The author is a business administration professor at Furman University and author of "The Story of Tariffs" (2025). On Nov. 4, 1979, at the height of the Iranian Revolution, student protesters stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Fifty-two Americans were taken hostage. Ten days later, Jimmy Carter ordered the freezing of roughly $12 billion in Iranian assets. Washington attempted negotiations to secure the hostages' release, but Iran's revolutionary government refused to yield. In April 1980, the United States severed diplomatic relations and imposed further sanctions, including a ban on Iranian oil imports. With hostages on one side and frozen assets on the other, the standoff dragged on. Mediation efforts by Algeria failed to persuade Ruhollah Khomeini, who remained committed to revolutionary legitimacy. The deadlock broke only with the outbreak of another war. On Sept. 22, 1980, Iraqi forces led by Saddam Hussein invaded Iran. Seeking regional dominance, Iraq targeted a weakened Iran grappling with internal turmoil and strained U.S. ties. In need of war funding, Tehran returned to negotiations. The hostages were released in January 1981, after 444 days in captivity. As geopolitical tensions escalated, global oil prices surged from about $12 per barrel to $40, triggering the second oil shock. Despite the resulting energy crisis, U.S. equity markets remained resilient. By the end of 1980, the S&P 500 had risen 26 percent from the previous year. Energy companies, buoyed by rising oil prices, became dominant market drivers, with the sector accounting for as much as 28 percent of the index. A similar concentration is visible today. Five hyperscale firms leading investment in AI infrastructure account for roughly 30 percent of major stock indexes. Market concentration is even more pronounced than in 1980. At that time, seven of the top 10 companies by market capitalization were energy firms. Today, eight of the top 10 are AI-related technology companies. The rally of 1980, however, proved short-lived. As oil-driven inflation climbed to 14 percent, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to 21 percent. The economy fell into recession and corporate earnings weakened. By the first half of 1982, stock indexes had dropped 21 percent. Recent gains in U.S. markets have been supported by strong corporate earnings. Yet rising energy costs and broader inflationary pressures could eventually weigh on a narrow group of leading firms. If their performance falters, the broader market may decline sharply. History suggests that war can both fuel and end a market rally. In 1980, conflict helped drive gains, but its economic aftereffects ultimately reversed them. Today's rally began before large-scale conflict. Whether its trajectory will differ remains uncertain. This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. | — | ||||||
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