All articles tagged with #korea
Asia stocks fell on Friday as tech shares retreated after Nvidia’s results, but South Korea’s KOSPI is set for a strong February with Hyundai lifting on AI‑data centre plans, while Japan’s Nikkei eased and the TOPIX rose on softer Tokyo inflation data; Australia looks for a solid February as China and Hong Kong show mixed performances.
Asian equity markets rose after Wall Street’s gains, with investors awaiting megacap tech earnings and the Fed decision, while South Korea’s KOSPI jumped over 2% as tariff jitters cooled; Japanese, Chinese, and Australian indices also advanced as investors eyed Samsung, SK Hynix, and upcoming results from Microsoft, Meta, and Apple.
A Korean best-selling memoir by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo chronicles buying a shared Seoul apartment and living as platonic partners, detailing shared finances, chores, and four cats, and arguing that housing policy and social norms must adapt to rising single-person households by normalizing non-marital, non-romantic family forms—including civil unions—while presenting their partnership as a pragmatic, empowering alternative to traditional marriage.
Korea and China agreed to expand cultural cooperation, improve bilateral ties through annual summits, and address regional issues like the West Sea structure and maritime boundaries, aiming to restore and strengthen their strategic partnership.
Shares of Korean fried chicken companies surged after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was seen enjoying fried chicken and beer in Seoul with prominent Korean business leaders, highlighting how viral moments and cultural events can influence short-term stock market movements in South Korea.
South Korea has legalized tattooing by nonmedical professionals after a 33-year ban, establishing a licensing system and safety regulations, with the law taking effect in two years.
The article argues that the arrest of Mother Han in South Korea lacks legal basis and is part of a broader political and religious purge targeting religious leaders and supporters of the former president, rather than a genuine anti-corruption effort, raising concerns about religious liberty and democracy in Korea.
Kim Jong Kook is finally getting married in a private ceremony in Seoul, marking a significant milestone in his 30th anniversary year, with plans for celebrations including an album and concert.
A large Korean study found that breast cancer survivors do not have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and may even have a slightly lower risk shortly after treatment, though this protective effect diminishes over time. The findings are reassuring for survivors, indicating that breast cancer treatments do not directly increase Alzheimer's risk, but do not address genetic predispositions.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of a surfboard or frisbee-shaped object passing the Moon, sparking social media speculation. However, the object was identified as Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri lunar orbiter, which has been in lunar orbit since December 2022. The images were taken with precise timing as the two spacecraft traveled at high relative velocities, resulting in smeared images. NASA's operations team reoriented and stretched the images to provide a clearer view of the Korean spacecraft.
The Los Angeles Dodgers received a rock star welcome in Korea, with fans eagerly awaiting their arrival at Incheon International Airport. The team, including new signings Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, faced a media frenzy and enthusiastic fanbase as they prepare for their season-long traveling tour. The attention and scrutiny are attributed to the Dodgers' significant winter acquisitions, with players like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts acknowledging the heightened excitement. Ohtani, in particular, attracted attention for his Instagram post featuring his new wife, adding to the buzz surrounding the team. The Dodgers are gearing up for their first tour stop at the Gocheok Skydome in Seoul, with high expectations as they prepare for Ohtani's debut in the regular season game against the San Diego Padres.
Samsung is releasing a second firmware update for the Galaxy S24 series in Korea, featuring the February 2024 security patch and potentially new features or changes. The update, with firmware version S928NKSU1AXBA, is relatively light at 418MB and is expected to roll out in Europe soon. While the specific changes in this update remain unclear, previous firmware releases addressed camera and display issues, allowing users to adjust their displays to look vivid again.
The Korean Football Association has fired manager Jurgen Klinsmann following a disappointing Asian Cup semifinal loss and a physical altercation between players, including Tottenham's Son Heung-Min. Klinsmann's leadership and team performance fell short of expectations, leading to his termination. Despite a 13-match unbeaten streak, Klinsmann's tactics were criticized, and the team's offensive efficacy was lacking. Son, the Korean captain, has shouldered responsibility for the team's perceived failures and has not publicly commented on Klinsmann's tenure. The KFA is now seeking a new head coach ahead of World Cup 2026 qualifying.
Sony has cancelled the Korean release of Rise of the Ronin following director Fumuhiko Yasuda's controversial comments in a behind-the-scenes trailer, which were seen as insensitive given the historical tensions between Japan and Korea. The comments were widely disseminated in an official trailer uploaded on PlayStation's YouTube account, leading to the game being pulled from the Korean PlayStation Store and the trailer removed from the PlayStation Korea YouTube account. Yasuda's comments about an influential 19th-century scholar's ties to a right-wing movement advocating for an invasion of Korea sparked the controversy.
The upcoming PS5 exclusive game Stellar Blade, developed by Korean studio Shift Up and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has reportedly received an adults-only age rating in Korea due to nudity and violence, particularly involving the protagonist Eve. The game, heavily inspired by Nier Automata and Bayonetta, is set for release on April 26 and is expected to receive similar ratings in the West.