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The author is a business administration professor at Furman University and author of "The Story of Tariffs" (2025). On Jan. 9, 1991, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker met Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Geneva, five months after Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The seven-hour meeting ended without progress. Washington demanded Iraq's unconditional withdrawal, while Baghdad insisted that Israeli forces first leave Palestinian and Syrian territories. Aziz refused to accept a letter from President George H. W. Bush setting Jan. 15 as the deadline. In November 1990, the United Nations Security Council authorized the use of "all necessary means" if Iraq failed to withdraw, marking the first such approval since the Korean War. Despite mounting pressure, Hussein did not yield. Iraq appeared to underestimate the United States, assuming fears of casualties shaped by the Vietnam War would force an early ceasefire. Instead, the United States assembled a coalition of 42 countries. From Jan. 17, coalition forces launched overwhelming airstrikes that crippled Iraq's defenses and communications. A week later, the ground offensive proved equally decisive. The United States declared victory just 100 hours after ground operations began. The Gulf War ended in a swift U.S. victory but left economic scars. After Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, global oil prices surged about 40 percent. Inflation rose from around 4 percent to the 6 percent range. The Federal Reserve slowed its rate cuts despite concerns over slowing growth. As the Fed hesitated, the economy slipped into recession under high rates and rising oil prices. Financial instability worsened as savings and loan institutions collapsed. Today, ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran face difficulties. Oil prices are rising again, reflecting uncertainty, while inflationary pressure is increasing. The Fed has taken a cautious stance, making rate cuts unlikely. This delay is also straining private credit, a key funding source for mid-sized firms. If it weakens, investment could fall and unemployment rise, adding pressure on growth. The consequences of war extend beyond geopolitics. 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.

The author is the dean of the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design at Hongik University, The phrase "elementary school palate" is sometimes used to describe adults who still prefer the foods they enjoyed as children, often with a subtly dismissive tone. I still enjoy tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cake) and ramyeon, but with age I have come to distinguish between flavors built on simple seasoning and those developed through time and technique. My first experience with Pyongyang naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) came in my late twenties. At the time, I could not understand why anyone would eat such a mild dish. Compared with the bold and spicy Hamhung-style noodles, it seemed bland. Yet over time, I found myself willingly waiting in long lines in the summer heat outside restaurants such as Eulmildae. Architecture is not so different from food. Just as seasoning can create an immediate and accessible taste, striking forms and dramatic exteriors in architecture can quickly attract attention. For those unfamiliar with deeper spatial experiences, such designs are often easier to appreciate. Yet visually powerful architecture also has a role in contemporary cities. The issue lies in how it is received. More important than its form is how it functions within the urban context. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by Zaha Hadid, illustrates this point. At its opening, many admired its overwhelming form and unfamiliar spatial qualities, and it was quickly hailed as a new symbol of Seoul. It has since become one of the city's representative buildings. Even so, it remains unclear whether it has been fully integrated into the fabric of the city. I respect Hadid's architectural philosophy. Her work is not the product of superficial design but the result of long experimentation and accumulated knowledge. Still, it is worth asking whether the enthusiasm surrounding the Dongdaemun Design Plaza stemmed from a genuine understanding of her work within Seoul's context, or from a rapid reaction to her status as the first female recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and her distinctive formal language. Seoul is increasingly filled with attention-grabbing imagery. Large-scale redevelopment projects continue to introduce more elaborate forms, often competing to stand out. Discussions about apartment design along the Han River frequently involve the names of globally renowned architects. While the emergence of new landmarks is welcome, a city's character cannot be defined by surface impressions alone. Cities are often thought to be remembered through iconic buildings, but lived experience suggests otherwise. When people think of Paris, the Eiffel Tower may come to mind first, yet the memory of the city is more deeply rooted in narrow streets, small squares and everyday spaces such as cafes. Italian architect Aldo Rossi described the city as a structure shaped by accumulated memory and time. Streets, squares and residential blocks endure beyond changing eras and form the essence of urban identity. Perhaps Seoul is still in the process of developing its own flavor. Rapid growth has produced a layered landscape where tradition and modernity coexist without full coordination. In this process, the city sometimes resembles an improvised dish. As food relies on seasoning when time is lacking, urban development can fall back on the quick creation of landmarks rather than the gradual accumulation of character. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza may serve as a compelling photographic subject, but it is less easily absorbed into the everyday rhythm of the city. While singular buildings can shape moments, it is the countless ordinary structures between them that ultimately define the character of a place. Walking through ordinary neighborhoods, one occasionally encounters scenes that quietly invite attention. They are not striking, but they hold the gaze. In such moments, the city's identity reveals itself through the rhythm of accumulated time...

The author is an editorial writer and senior reporter on science at the JoongAng Ilbo. The space age is coming to Jeju, long known primarily as a tourist destination. It is a striking reversal. In 1999, plans by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to build a launch site in Daejeong, on the island's southwest coast, collapsed amid local opposition. Residents warned of disruptions to tourism and the need for evacuations within a two- to three-kilometer (1.24- to 1.86-mile) radius during launches. Jeju's leadership and residents turned the project away. Over the decades that followed, Korea's space program advanced elsewhere. Launches of the Naro rocket and the Nuri rocket took place from Goheung in South Jeolla Province. At the same time, the global space industry entered the "New Space" era, led increasingly by private companies. Startups began developing satellites and launch vehicles, some even reaching public markets. In that period, space-related infrastructure gradually appeared in Jeju, including satellite control facilities and observatories. But the island's transformation accelerated only in the past three years. The Agency for Defense Development launched a solid-fuel rocket from a maritime platform off Seogwipo. Large companies established satellite production facilities, and startups built major ground stations. A visit to the island shows how rapidly the industry is taking shape. In Hallim, southwest of Jeju International Airport, a sign reading "Asian Space Park" marks a private ground station operated by space startup CONTEC. The site, which opened in April, hosts two proprietary satellite antennas along with 10 operated by global partners from countries including the United States and Norway. Further south, the Hanwha Jeju Space Center stands on the former site of Tamna University at an elevation of about 500 meters. Completed in December of last year, the facility includes satellite development and assembly lines, testing centers and control rooms. From the site, the coastline of Seogwipo and nearby naval installations are visible, including maritime platforms used in rocket launches. According to Hanwha representatives, the center is the country's largest private satellite manufacturing hub and can produce up to 100 satellites annually. The company is currently developing high-resolution satellites capable of capturing images with a resolution of 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) from very low Earth orbit. Satellites built here are expected to be launched beginning later this month using solid-fuel rockets off the southern coast. Jeju now hosts a growing network of space-related institutions. In Gujwa on the island's eastern side, a national satellite operations center integrates the control of low Earth orbit satellites operated by multiple government agencies. Opened in 2022, the facility is equipped with large parabolic antennas and control systems for receiving and processing satellite data. Authorities expect the number of national satellites to rise from just four in 2023 to around 70 by 2030. Nearby are additional facilities, including a radio astronomy observatory operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, which observes cosmic signals such as those from black holes and galactic centers, and a tracking station in Pyoseon-myeon that monitors rocket flight data in real time. Jeju's push into the space sector is relatively recent. In February 2023, the provincial government unveiled a strategy to foster a full space industry ecosystem, encompassing satellite manufacturing, launches, operations and data applications, with links to tourism. The following year, a former university site was designated as a special development zone, with Hanwha as the first major tenant. A ground system for the Korea Positioning System is also planned to open by 2027. Efforts to build a talent pipeline are underway. A local technical high school recently rebranded itself as an aerospace-focused institutio...

A sharp rise in import prices following the Iran war is raising concerns that Korea is entering a prolonged period of elevated inflation. According to the Bank of Korea, import prices in March rose 16.1 percent from the previous month, the highest increase since January 1998, during the Asian financial crisis. The surge reflects a simultaneous jump in global oil prices and the dollar-won exchange rate. Crude oil prices alone climbed 88.5 percent from February, marking the steepest on-month rise since January 1974 during the first oil shock. Prices of intermediate goods such as naphtha also rose sharply. The increase in import prices is expected to feed into producer and consumer prices after a short lag, suggesting that the inflationary impact is only beginning. The International Monetary Fund has already revised its inflation outlook for Korea this year to 2.5 percent, up from 1.8 percent projected in November of last year. Shin Hyun-song, nominee for governor of the Bank of Korea, warned during a parliamentary hearing that inflationary pressures could persist if tensions in the Middle East are not resolved quickly. At the same time, he assessed that the likelihood of stagflation in Korea remains relatively low. Still, the risk cannot be dismissed. Rising prices are likely to erode household purchasing power, potentially dampening consumption and slowing economic growth. Inflation driven by supply shocks also limits the effectiveness of conventional policy responses. Raising interest rates is unlikely to address the root cause, while a supplementary budget recently approved by the National Assembly, totaling 26 trillion won ($17.6 billion), could add to price pressures by increasing liquidity. In the short term, stabilizing the supply of energy and raw materials is critical. Efforts such as securing crude oil imports from countries in the Middle East are expected to help ease supply constraints, but further measures may be needed to mitigate volatility. A swift resolution to the inflationary shock appears unlikely. Damage to oil and gas infrastructure from the conflict will take time to repair, suggesting that high prices could persist. As a result, the burden on households is expected to grow. Under these conditions, policy responses require careful balance. While targeted support for vulnerable groups is necessary, broad stimulus measures aimed at boosting consumption risk exacerbating inflation. Authorities should instead prepare for a sustained period of price pressure and focus on maintaining fiscal discipline. The challenge ahead is not a short-term spike but a longer-term adjustment to a higher price environment. 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.

This article is by Lee Jae-lim and read by an artificial voice. [NEWS ANALYSIS] An unprecedented memory boom has lifted Samsung Electronics to record operating profit in a preliminary first quarter report — surpassing the entirety of last year — with some analysts saying its earnings could rival or even overtake Nvidia's in the coming years. The bullish forecast points to an ongoing power shift in the chip industry, where high-end memory supply has become a decisive factor in the global race to build AI data centers amid shortages. KB Securities estimates the Suwon, Gyeonggi-based chipmaker will post an operating profit of 488 trillion won ($331 billion) in 2027, surpassing Nvidia's estimated 485 trillion won. "The trend of increasing memory content required for AI inference is expected to persist in the coming years," said Kim Dong-won, the head of research at KB Securities. "Accordingly, Samsung is expected to generate operating profit of 327 trillion won in 2026 and 488 trillion won in 2027, making it the global No. 1 by operating profit." The report suggests Samsung could narrow the gap with Nvidia in operating profit by 30 trillion won this year , although the Korean firm's market cap is just 18 percent of Nvidia's $4.8 trillion. Kim's projection is far above the market consensus for Samsung Electronics' 2027 profit at 360.7 trillion won, but it is not even the highest estimate. IBK Securities' estimate was the highest at 515.7 trillion won, while Meritz Securities and Hanwha Securities are close with forecasts in the 463 trillion won range. The rosy forecast is driven by Samsung's first quarter earnings surprise, when its preliminary results — operating profit of 57.2 trillion won and revenue of 133 trillion won — outperformed market expectations that were already at record highs earlier in the month. Since then, consensus forecasts have been revised upward for each quarter this year, lifting the annual operating profit estimate to 297.6 trillion won. The chipmaker's first quarter operating profit estimate is on par with U.S. Big Tech from the latest quarter including Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft. Several indicators point to memory supply constraints continuing into next year. Samsung and SK hynix are reportedly in discussions with major tech firms such as Google and Microsoft about long-term supply agreements lasting up to five years — an unprecedented shift, as the typical contract term is capped at one year. In January, both Samsung and SK hynix signed low-power double data rate supply deals for Apple's iPhones, but sources cited in multiple reports said chip prices were raised by more than 80 percent from the preceding quarter. Conventional dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash prices have also surged as supply tightened, with demand rising for high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips needed to build out AI infrastructure that Big Tech is expanding aggressively. The favorable macro backdrop for AI investment is expected to hold. As competition in AI intensifies, Big Tech firms are bringing forward their 2027 server purchasing budgets into this year's capital spending, according to a report by LS Securities. The report cautions, however, that if there is no budget top-up, the pull-forward effect could limit next year's growth. Another key point of debate is how long memory price increases will last, since higher prices have been boosting earnings. "To sustain elevated conventional DRAM prices for longer, chipmakers may need to maintain an HBM-first investment strategy despite relatively lower margins and expand NAND capacity to gain more share in that segment, where margins appear higher than HBM," said Jung Woo-sung, an analyst at LS Securities.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Spot, the four-legged robot dog, developed by Hyundai Motor-backed Boston Dynamics, is taking a dog for a walk. Boston Dynamics on Wednesday released a video of Spot, which it said has been trained with the help of Google's Gemini AI. In the video, the robot uses its onboard cameras and AI system to read and interpret a handwritten to-do list on a board, and proceeds to carry out tasks itself, such as tidying scattered shoes by the entrance, picking up empty cans and disposing of them, placing clothes into a laundry basket, and even checking a mousetrap beneath furniture. For the "walk the dog" task, Spot heads outside, takes hold of a leash, and proceeds to walk a dog. The video closes with a playful moment in the snow, where Spot attempts to initiate a game of fetch, only to be met with an unresponsive dog, ending in a quiet standoff. In a separate video, Spot is shown performing enhanced supervisory and inspection roles in a real industrial setting such as demonstrating its ability to interpret on-site data and deliver actionable insights. The robot detects pooled water on the floor and issues an alert, while also responding to commands to locate a gauge and check temperature. Boston Dynamics in January announced a partnership with Google to apply Gemini AI into its robot lineups, which also include Atlas, the humanoid robot, at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The robotics firm will also partner with Google DeepMind for further research on AI models for complex robotic control to accelerate the safe and efficient deployment of humanoid robots with tangible real-world applications. Hyundai Motor plans to build a robotics factory in the United States, which will have the capacity to produce around 30,000 units. Atlas, which was first deployed at Hyundai's Georgia plant for a field trial last year, is slated for full deployment in 2028.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Hyundai Motor CEO José Muñoz stressed that the Atlas humanoid robot won't be used as a tool for work force reduction, reaffirming his commitment to robotics. "We do not view robots as a means of work force reduction; robots are meant to make workers' lives more comfortable," Muñoz said at Semafor World Economy 2026 in Washington on Tuesday, a gathering hosted by the U.S.-based global digital news platform Semafor and often likened to an American version of the World Economic Forum in Davos. "Increasing productivity, reducing costs and improving quality is precisely what we aim to achieve through 'physical AI,'" he added. "By deploying Boston Dynamics' Atlas on production lines, we will be able to see humanoids that assist with work that is difficult for humans to perform." His remarks come after Hyundai Motor's labor union opposed the deployment of Atlas robots on factory floors, citing job security concerns and vowing that not a single unit would be introduced without union consent. Hyundai unveiled Atlas, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, at CES 2026 in January and announced its plans to deploy it in production by 2028. Muñoz also pointed to Hyundai's "ability to immediately provide what customers want" as a key driver of its success. "We have pursued a strategy of parallel deployment of internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs," he said. "Based on this strategy, we made the decision to conduct hybrid production at HMGMA [Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America], which broke ground last year. Hyundai Motor is set to begin hybrid production at its Georgia plant in September, with the first model to be the Sportage, Kia's best-selling vehicle in the United States, as reported exclusively by the Korea JoongAng Daily in March. Muñoz also spoke about his vision for autonomous driving as Hyundai recently joined forces with Nvidia for advanced self-driving technologies. "In the future, you will be able to see Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicles throughout the United States," he said. "Hyundai Motor Group will also deploy proprietary technologies on a large scale through Motional, and in the future, more autonomous driving technology will be equipped in consumer vehicles as well." Currently, Ioniq 5 robotaxis, developed in partnership with Google Waymo, are operating in San Francisco, while Motional is running Ioniq 5-based robotaxi services in Las Vegas.

This article is by Seo Ji-eun and read by an artificial voice. As U.S. President Donald Trump questions the future of its alliances and threatens to pull American troops from Europe, 30 of NATO's 32 member states sent their ambassadors to Korea this week — an unprecedented show of solidarity toward a nonmember country. The three-day visit to Seoul, which ran from Monday through Wednesday, involved the largest such delegation ever assembled for an Indo-Pacific partner country, with Spain and Hungary the only two exceptions. Unlike formal NATO institutional visits organized by the alliance's Brussels secretariat, this trip was arranged by France in its role as host nation — meaning each ambassador came voluntarily. David Konecký, the Czech Republic's ambassador to NATO, said that the size of the delegation to Korea is "exceptional," adding that the mission is "not only to discuss but also to learn" from their strategic partner as he sat with the Korea JoongAng Daily in an exclusive interview at the Czech Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. Konecký said that ambassadors visited Korean defense companies, such as HD Hyundai, to learn how they "relate to the state," "scale up the production if there is a need" and "ensure that the supply chain is secure even in times of tension." The urgency of the NATO ambassadors' visit stems from a historic crisis in European security: the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "If we had come five years ago, this dimension would not be that important," Konecký said. "But right now, I think it's one of the central things." The timing of the visit is difficult to separate from the turbulence inside NATO itself. Trump has publicly called for a "reexamination" of the alliance, questioned why the United States should carry the burden of European defense, and — according to reports — is weighing the withdrawal of American troops from several European countries. Last week, he ripped into NATO allies again after European members signaled they viewed the U.S. military operation against Iran as "not our war." "We take Trump seriously, but we don't take him literally," Konecký said, borrowing a phrase that has become something of an informal doctrine among alliance members. "We focus more on the substance of what he said than on the way he said it. And in substance, on many issues, he is right. "European allies and Canada did not invest enough in their defense capabilities," he said. "Right now, our main focus is how to develop the defense capabilities of non-U.S. — European and Canadian — allies as fast as we can." The alliance spent years failing to meet its own 2 percent GDP spending benchmark — a target all members finally hit only last year. At The Hague summit in 2025, the bar was raised again: 5 percent of GDP by 2035, split between 3.5 percent for hard military capability and 1.5 percent for broader resilience measures such as cyber defense and critical infrastructure. For European nations currently facing a "pressing short-term need" to refill empty warehouses, Korean defense firms have become a go-to solution. Several NATO allies — Poland most visibly — have already signed major contracts with Korean manufacturers to restock their arsenals. But there is also a growing political push to ensure that Europe builds its own long-term defense capacity on home soil. However, the ambassadors are seeking a blueprint for long-term sustainability and resilience. "We want to have the defense industry production on our soil," Konecký explained. "In a time of crisis, you don't want to have supply chains that are very long because they could be somehow hampered. So for us, this is a kind of concept which should be self-sustaining." Korea's role in that longer-term vision extends well beyond hardware. "Technology transfers, cooperation on research and development in different areas — it's really very vast," he said, pointing to dual-use technologies, which serve both military and civilian purposes, as a growing area of inte...

This article is by Shin Ha-nee and read by an artificial voice. As BTS opened its "Arirang" world tour at Goyang Main Stadium over the weekend, Korean authorities swept through the area outside the venue, cracking down on illegal K-pop merchandise. While the operation mainly targeted street vendors and organized sellers of bootleg goods, it also affected some fans who sell or hand out their own unofficial goods and freebies — an activity that has long existed in a legal gray zone, often quietly tolerated by entertainment agencies. "This is the first time anything like this has happened to me during a cafe event; I'm really taken aback," wrote a BTS fan on X on April 9, the first day of the Goyang concert. The fan said that paper cup sleeves they had designed for a themed cafe event, which was included in a package of free items offered to other fans, were confiscated because they used an official group photo of BTS. In a later post, the fan said officials removed not only the sleeves featuring the official image but also posters and other small items with the name "BTS," while other goods featuring fan-taken photographs or original fan designs were mostly given leeway. Elsewhere around the concert, some fans who had planned to hand out or sell self-made merchandise near the stadium posted notices online saying they would postpone distribution or mail the items instead, hoping to avoid enforcement by authorities. The onsite monitoring was part of a broader campaign by Korea's Ministry of Intellectual Property (MOIP), which has been intensifying its crackdown on illegal K-pop goods in cooperation with HYBE, BTS's agency. The ministry said roughly 4,000 items were seized near the concert site during the enforcement period, including photobooks and calendars selling for up to 20,000 won ($13.50). Additionally, the ministry also conducted an intensive enforcement operation in February and March, ahead of the concerts, in Seoul and Busan's tourist areas, seizing about 20,000 items that used IP from nine K-pop acts managed by HYBE. "Protecting intellectual property such as trademark and publicity rights is key for the K-pop industry, which has been built through much investment and effort, to keep advancing forward," said Kim Yong-hoon, head of the Intellectual Property Protection & International Cooperation Bureau at MOIP. However, one X post about the news of MOIP's March crackdown wrote, "Don't you think it's getting too much?" The post gained over 30,000 likes. Treading a fine line On paper, the legal boundaries are clear: Selling unlicensed goods that use an artist's name, image or other protected intellectual property could be illegal, whether sold by professional vendors or by fans. But K-pop fandom has rarely operated according to clear legal lines. Unofficial fan-made goods have long been deeply woven into the K-pop idol culture, such as birthday cafe events, slogan banners, cup sleeves and photocards, which are sometimes shared only in small quantities or distributed for free, but also can turn into quite a lucrative business within bigger fandoms. That culture has for years lived in coexistence with the entertainment agencies, which have often looked the other way in the highly participatory ecosystem of K-pop. Amateur photographers who run fan sites, known as "home masters," for instance, sometimes monetize photos of K-pop artists to create their own goods, in potential violation of publicity rights. Yet such practices have been largely tolerated and even indirectly accommodated by companies, mostly due to their promotional effects and boosts in visibility. "In reality, it has been difficult to draw a hard line against all fan activity," said a source from a major K-pop agency, who requested anonymity. "Companies know there would be backlash if they were seen as policing fans too aggressively." Scale matters Meanwhile, Korea's IP authorities have been expanding enforcement against counterfeit goods since 2019 to pr...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Hyundai Glovis has opened a logistics center and an integrated warehouse in California and Georgia, sharpening its ability to navigate supply chain risks across North America. The logistics center in Los Angeles, spanning roughly 12,000 square meters (129,000 square feet), sits about 25 minutes by car from both the Port of Long Beach and the airport, an urban location optimized for seamless sea-air intermodal operations. Glovis plans to integrate transloading, airfreight, and warehousing and distribution services at the hub, while strengthening its own inland transport capabilities. "The Los Angeles center is poised to serve as a key hub for integrated logistics across the western United States," the company said, adding that it will "enhance responsiveness to urgent shipments and enable more flexible cost management amid market volatility." Hyundai Glovis has also set up a large-scale integrated warehouse in Savannah, Georgia, covering about 69,000 square meters, aimed at handling rising volumes tied to Hyundai Motor Group's Metaplant America, a massive EV plant, as well as demand from third-party clients in the region. Savannah has emerged as a logistics nexus in the U.S. Southeastern areas thanks to its port and rapidly expanding manufacturing plants nearby. With supply chains linking raw material imports to finished goods exports, demand for logistics services continues to grow in the state. Its close integration of port and inland transport networks also positions it as a strategic springboard for broader expansion across North America, Glovis said.

This article is by Jin Eun-soo and read by an artificial voice. The biannual Moonlight Tour at Changdeok Palace, the only palace in Seoul listed as Unesco's World Heritage Site, kicks off its run Thursday. It is the longest-running nighttime program among Seoul's palaces, having started as a trial in 2010, and now draws an average competition rate of 130 to one. "Normally, you would need a certified pass to enter the palace as well as move around within it during the Joseon period [1392-1910], but tonight, it's okay because you are here on an invitation from King Jeongjo and Crown Prince Hyomyeong," said commentator Kim Ji-hwan as he began the rehearsal tour on Tuesday night. First stop is Injeongjeon, the palace's main hall, where the country's official state affairs were held, such as the investiture of the crown prince or greeting of foreign envoys. Then the tour leads to Huijeongdang, once used as a residence but later turned into office buildings. The rear garden, usually closed to visitors during the day, is opened exclusively for the Moonlight Tour. At the top of a steep path, visitors are greeted by a plaintive daegeum (bamboo flute) performance at a pavilion. The view of Changdeok Palace from atop the hill, with N Seoul Tower glowing in the distance, feels almost surreal. Buyongji Pond and Kyujanggak, the royal library, are among those built during the reign of King Jeongjo and were one of his favorite spots. Unlike other kings who barred state officials from entering the area, King Jeongjo was known to invite a wide range of guests there to enjoy the scenery with him. Perched solemnly on a hill and surrounded by blooming azaleas, the site is reflected in Buyongji Pond, creating a picturesque scene. Last but not least, the 100-minute tour concludes with traditional performances at Yeongyeongdang, a modest banquet hall in the garden that Crown Prince Hyomyeong built to host feasts for his parents. From traditional chamber music to dance and playful, game-style performances, participants are treated to a small concert accompanied by a cup of tea and a box of traditional snacks. The English sessions have sold out, while the Chinese and Japanese sessions remain available for booking on the Creatrip platform.

This article is by Lee Young-keun, Kim Su-min and read by an artificial voice. Korea's semiconductor industry is experiencing a historic high, and top-tier graduates want to get in on the action. With major chipmakers posting extraordinary profits and dangling the prospect of massive performance bonuses, graduates are increasingly prioritizing immediate employment over further academic pursuits. Preparatory books for corporate entrance exams for semiconductor companies have become bestsellers, and anonymous chat rooms filled with employee hopefuls sharing information are buzzing, all for the prospect of locking down a coveted position at a chipmaking company. A recruitment preparation book for SK-related corporations published by private education group Eduwill ranked No. 1 on online bookstore Yes24's best-seller list in the second week of April, according to the publisher. Sales of preparation books for the Global Samsung Aptitude Test, the entrance exam of Samsung-affiliated corporations, also jumped about 40 percent in the first quarter this year compared to the same period last year. "The number of job seekers aspiring to work in semiconductor-related fields grew notably as the chip companies offer generous compensation in accordance with their performance," a representative from Eduwill said. On Monday, when an online SK Competency Test exam took place, 3,000 participants in an anonymous chat room shared their reflections on the test, asking about the difficulty and potential cutoff score. "Underclassmen from my university, who had rarely been in touch, reached out and asked about recruitment strategies," a semiconductor engineer said. For some, the recent supercycle has changed the trajectory of their careers. Park, a 26-year-old college student majoring in electrical and electronic engineering, originally planned to continue his education by pursuing a master's degree. Now, Park dreams of retiring after working in the semiconductor industry for a short period. "I think if I get a job in the industry now, I could achieve 'FIRE' after just five years," said Park, who recently applied for entry-level positions at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, referring to the acronym for "Financial Independence, Retire Early," a life philosophy that encourages saving and investing significant amounts of one's salary to gain financial independence and opt out of the work force before the age of 40. "As nobody knows when the supercycle in the semiconductor industry will end, I thought it would be wiser to land a job as soon as possible and accumulate some savings," Park said. In hagwon (private education), students now include SK hynix among their most sought-after career paths, alongside more traditionally popular options like medical school, dental school, Korean medicine, pharmacy and veterinary school. Such fervor in the semiconductor industry appears to be linked to record-high earnings and consequent employee compensation. Samsung Electronics reported a historic preliminary operating profit of 57.2 trillion won ($38 billion) for the first quarter this year. SK hynix, set to announce its earnings on April 23, is also expected to post an operating profit of around 40 trillion won, according to securities firms such as KB Securities, Kiwoom and Heungguk Securities. Sydney-based global investment bank Macquarie recently projected that SK hynix's annual operating profit could reach 447 trillion won next year. If realized, an allocation of 10 percent for bonuses among 34,500 employees would result in a payout of 1.29 billion won each, a payout now possible since the company abolished its upper limit for incentives last year. While acknowledging the possibility of growth in earnings, a representative from SK hynix said that the operating profit estimation from Macquarie is off-base. "Considering the difficulty of rapid expansion in production capacity in the short term, a 400 trillion won projection appears somewhat exaggerated," th...

The author is a professor at Hallym University. The popular sibling duo AKMU has returned with a new release. This comeback drew particular attention because of Lee Su-hyun, the younger sister. For several years, she had lived in seclusion in a darkened room due to symptoms of depression. She has now returned in visibly improved health. She said her recovery owed much to her brother Lee Chan-hyuk. They lived together, exercised, and followed a managed daily routine. In a song he wrote for her during that time, the lyrics read, "open the door, haetbit [sunlight] bless you." People often advise those with depression to get sunlight and exercise. Sunlight activates the serotonin system, and serotonin helps regulate impulses and stabilize mood, playing a key role in easing depressive symptoms. It is also converted into melatonin in the evening, aiding sleep. Many antidepressants likewise work through the serotonin system. Sunlight itself can function as a form of treatment. Yet such advice is often ineffective for those in the depths of depression. When symptoms are severe, a person may not even feel able to approach a window and open the curtains. Lee avoided meeting even her family, as concern from others felt burdensome when she could not act on it. Her brother approached her carefully. He did not say, "You cannot live like this; look at the sun." Instead, his first suggestion was simple: "Let's live together." Then he added, "Since we are living together, shall we try exercising together?" Some have described AKMU's return as a case of a brother pulling his sister back by the collar. That is partly true, but the process was far gentler. He offered his own life and moved toward her little by little, very slowly, taking her hand and walking with her toward the window. When she finally felt ready to open the curtains herself, he was there beside her, and the sunlight, prepared to bless them, quietly filled the room. This episode underscores the limits of simple prescriptions for mental health. Recovery often requires time, patience, and the steady presence of someone willing to share daily life. Rather than urging immediate change, the approach shown here emphasizes companionship and gradual movement toward light. It is only when the person regains a sense of agency that advice such as seeking sunlight can truly take hold and begin to work. 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.

The author is an editorial writer at the JoongAng Ilbo. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed. A narrow waterway blocked by the clash between the United States and Iran has, within weeks, disrupted the global economy. About 20 percent of the world's oil and a significant share of liquefied natural gas pass through this route. As that flow stalled, global oil prices surged and logistics slowed. More striking, however, was Iran's declaration that it would impose tolls on passage through what had long been considered open seas. The move carries symbolic weight. Since the end of the Cold War, efficiency has been the guiding principle of the global economy. Under a free trade order with lowered barriers, companies built supply chains that produced goods at the lowest cost and transported them along the fastest routes. The blockade of Hormuz exposed how vulnerable that system is to geopolitical disruption. In its place, what is emerging resembles a network of "economic fortresses," where movement requires payment at each segment and inspection at each checkpoint. The first of these new barriers is the privatization of strategic chokepoints. Iran's toll proposal may be only the beginning. Russia is seeking to assert control over Arctic shipping routes. Egypt and Panama have long used canal fees as leverage. Beyond physical routes, infrastructure once treated as global public goods, including undersea cables and satellite orbits, is increasingly subject to control and cost. A second barrier takes the form of what may be described as moral and environmental checkpoints. Policies such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and supply chain due diligence laws addressing child labor, forced labor and environmental damage are no longer distant prospects. While framed as efforts to protect the environment and human rights, they also function as technical filters that exclude products failing to meet certain standards. Entry into global markets now requires not only technological competitiveness but also the financial and administrative capacity to meet what can be seen as an ethical entry fee. The third element is the weaponization of supply chains through control of resources and technology. China's export restrictions on critical minerals provide a clear example. Rare earth elements, essential for electric vehicle batteries and smartphones, have become tools to influence other countries' industries. Indonesia has similarly leveraged its nickel supply to pressure foreign firms to build local facilities and transfer technology. The United States has adopted guardrail provisions to limit the flow of advanced semiconductor technology, requiring allies to align with its policies. These developments suggest a shift from open trade to more coercive forms of negotiation. Geopolitical analyst Peter Zeihan argued in "The End of the World Is Just the Beginning" (2022) that the era of security underwritten by the United States would end, leaving only those countries able to secure their own trade routes and supply chains. Japan has been among the first to act on this warning. After experiencing supply disruptions linked to tensions over the Senkaku Islands, Japan established a centralized approach to economic security. It created a ministerial position in 2021 and enacted the Economic Security Promotion Act the following year. Japan has designated key materials, including semiconductors and batteries, as strategic assets under state oversight. It has offered subsidies totaling about 1.2 trillion yen ($7.5 billion) to attract TSMC to Kumamoto and is investing heavily in the foundry venture Rapidus to develop advanced chipmaking capabilities. The aim is to reduce dependence on external actors and avoid exposure to rising costs imposed by others. Tokyo has also introduced a system allowing certain patents tied to national security to remain undisclosed, with penalties for violations. It is supporting reshoring efforts to bring overseas productio...

The author is the president of Taejae University. A recent demand by Samsung Electronics' labor union for 40 trillion won ($27.0 billion) in performance bonuses has drawn attention. The surge in semiconductor demand driven by the rise of AI has sharply increased the company's operating profits: Samsung Electronics reported more than 57 trillion won in operating profit in the first quarter, and its semiconductor division is projected to generate about 270 trillion won this year. If 15 percent of operating profit were distributed as bonuses, as the union proposes, the total would exceed 40 trillion won. That figure surpasses last year's research and development spending of 37.7 trillion won and is nearly four times its dividend payout of 11.1 trillion won. SK hynix reached a labor-management agreement last year to distribute 10 percent of operating profit as bonuses and removed the cap on distribution. If operating profit reaches about 25.1 trillion won this year, the average bonus per employee would approach 700 million won. Macquarie has forecast next year's operating profit at 44.7 trillion won, which could raise average bonuses to roughly 1.3 billion won. The government has also benefited from the boom, collecting 3.6 trillion won in corporate tax from SK hynix in 2024 and 7.4 trillion won in 2025. However, when the semiconductor market declined in 2023, SK hynix recorded an operating loss of 7.73 trillion won, and Samsung Electronics' device solutions division posted a loss of 14.9 trillion won. Despite these losses, there were no cases of unions voluntarily cutting salaries or of the government refunding part of the corporate taxes it had collected. An organization that shares profits first but ignores losses cannot sustain itself as a community. The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and requires continuous investment in research and facilities even during downturns. Japan, once a leader in the industry in the 1980s, ultimately lost its position due to passive responses. In "The Stories of Germany's Century-Old Companies" (2019), Masaru Yoshimori, an emeritus professor at Yokohama National University, examines firms such as BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Bosch, Bertelsmann, Merck, Fugger, Krupp and Zeiss. Many began as family businesses and have maintained their founding values while fulfilling broader social roles. Among them, Bertelsmann's pension and profit-sharing systems are particularly notable. Bertelsmann started as a small publishing house and grew into a global media group spanning television, radio, printing and digital services. It owns: Random House, Penguin Books, Doubleday, Bantam Books; magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker; music labels including Sony BMG and RCA; Europe's RTL television network; the internet company AOL; and film-related assets tied to Time Warner. To support employees, the company established a welfare system that includes a corporate pension introduced in 1955. Employees with 30 years of service receive 42 percent of their final pretax salary each month after retirement, and benefits extend to surviving family members. The profit-sharing system introduced in 1970, known as the Bertelsmann model, distributes pretax profits to employees, but the funds cannot be withdrawn for 25 years. The accumulated pool is then lent back to the company at an interest rate of about 2 percent. This structure effectively creates an internal bank, fostering long-term cooperation between employees and the company. It reduces corporate tax burdens and provides stable financing for long-term investment. Employees who need liquidity before maturity can sell their profit-sharing rights to colleagues through an internal exchange. At one point, returns from this system reached about 20 percent of monthly salaries. The Krupp Group also implemented an early pension system. Employees with 40 years of service receive 75 percent of their average salary after retirement, while those with more ...

With fewer than 50 days remaining before the June 3 local elections, candidates from both ruling and opposition parties are rolling out a wave of cash assistance pledges. While these proposals are framed as responses to high energy prices, they risk becoming little more than vote-buying if they lack proper feasibility reviews and clear funding plans. The trend reflects a deeper dependence on cash-based populism in Korean politics. Heo Tae-jeong, the Democratic Party's candidate for Daejeon mayor, has pledged to provide 200,000 won (about $135) per resident as relief from high oil prices. This would be separate from central government payments ranging from 100,000 to 600,000 won per person for lower-income households. Implementing the plan would require an additional 290 billion won in local funding. Even Jang Chul-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker who competed against Heo in the primary, criticized the proposal as lacking sufficient budgetary support. Similar promises are emerging elsewhere. Kim Young-rok, a candidate in the Jeonnam-Gwangju mayoral race, has proposed a 300 billion won relief package. Opposition candidates have followed suit. South Gyeongsang Governor Park Wan-soo of the People Power Party, who is seeking reelection, has pledged to provide 100,000 won to every resident regardless of income. The estimated cost is 328.8 billion won, with applications set to begin on April 30. Many candidates for municipal and district leadership positions are also offering unconditional cash benefits. This competition has spread nationwide, highlighting a pattern of fiscal promises driven more by electoral considerations than long-term planning. Korea's system of local autonomy, now in its 31st year, was intended to strengthen grassroots democracy. Yet local governments continue to face serious financial constraints. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of last year, 14 out of 17 provincial and metropolitan governments, excluding Seoul, Gyeonggi and Sejong, had fiscal independence rates below 50 percent. Regions such as North Jeolla, South Jeolla, North Gyeongsang and Gangwon reported levels in the 20 percent range. More than 100 local governments nationwide are unable to cover even public sector salaries with their own tax revenues. In this context, expanding cash handouts without sustainable funding risks worsening fiscal instability. Budgets allocated for essential services, including support for vulnerable populations, could be diverted to short-term electoral initiatives. Local government finances are not discretionary funds for political campaigns but public resources that require careful stewardship. Calls are growing for candidates to reconsider such pledges and prioritize fiscal responsibility. Without clear funding strategies, these proposals could undermine both local governance and public trust. 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.

This article is by Seo Ji-eun and read by an artificial voice. [INTERVIEW] When Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk came into office, questions lingered whether the preceding administration had rushed into opaque, debt-laden arms contracts with Korea. Polish Ambassador to Korea Bartosz Wisniewski put those concerns firmly to rest and let Poland's military speak for itself. "The ultimate judgment on this [depends on] our military," Wisniewski told the Korea JoongAng Daily in an exclusive interview at the Embassy of Poland in Seoul on Tuesday. "And our military says we are happy with this equipment. We know how to use it, it's reliable [and] it arrived on time — that's very important, and that's what matters." In 2022, Korea and Poland signed a $44.2 billion framework agreement, which includes the export of Korea's K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers to Poland. Wisniewski's remarks came one day after the two nations agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during the first visit by a Polish prime minister to Seoul in 27 years. The urgency of the partnership is etched into a single date: the first phone call between President Lee Jae Myung and Tusk on Sept. 11, 2025, one day after a swarm of Russian drones violated Polish airspace. "It showed that we are living in a war zone — not a shooting war, but we cannot be naive about what Russia is intending to do," Wisniewski recalled. "Russia is testing us." Against that backdrop, South Korea's track record speaks for itself. Defense industry cooperation between Seoul and Warsaw predates the current crisis — the first such partnership dates back to 2014 — but 2022 proved the true value behind the two countries' relationship, when North Korean troops were deployed to the Ukraine war, directly helping Russia wage war on Poland's doorstep. "Korea was there to provide [help] when we needed it," Wisniewski said. Today, Poland operates South Korean tanks, howitzers and rocket launchers, and it will soon possess Korean fighter jets as well. That logistical reliability has transformed Korea into what Tusk now calls "Poland's most important ally after the United States." According to a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in March, Korea held a 3 percent share of the global arms market between 2021 and 2025, ranking ninth worldwide. Poland accounted for 58 percent of South Korea's total arms exports during that period. "People are asking, 'Why are we spending so much on defense?'" Wisniewski said. "Well, I would reverse this question: Can we afford not to? I don't think we can." The partnership is now moving well past procurement. What Wisniewski calls "stage 2" encompasses technology transfers, joint production and co-development for third-country markets and extends into AI, microchips and space exploration. He framed it as genuinely reciprocal. "It's not going to be a one-sided road; it's going to be two-directional," he emphasized. "Our defense industry also has something to offer in terms of unmanned systems and [...] radar technology." The goal, he added, is a "new quality" of partnership: jointly developed systems that are neither strictly Korean nor strictly Polish but something new that could serve as a model for others. Closer to home, supply chains remain a vulnerability. With 8,000 kilometers (4,971 miles) separating the two nations, South Korea and Poland are pivoting toward "Polonization" of production. "We cannot afford to have almost 400 K2 tanks standing without proper maintenance," the Polish prime minister said. "We are facing a very aggressive opponent. It has to be battle-ready." The summit also produced economic deliverables. Lee committed to accelerating the import of Polish beef — a process that has been stalled for more than two decades. "We are not going to export beef to the extent that it is going to be any kind of...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Korea is moving to expand its strategic oil storage capacity as prolonged disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz are prompting a surge of inquiries from oil-exporting nations seeking to use Korea's storage facilities. "We are reviewing a plan to expand our current storage capacity of about 140 million barrels by an additional 20 million," Yang Ki-wook, director-general for industry, trade and resource security at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, said Tuesday at a press briefing at the Sejong government complex. "We are already in talks with the United Arab Emirates [UAE], and other Middle Eastern countries have also shown interest." For producers in the region, recurring geopolitical tensions have underscored the Strait of Hormuz's vulnerability, prompting a shift toward storage hubs in Northeast Asia as a hedge against supply disruptions. "Middle Eastern countries would be hit even harder than Korea if the strait were blocked," Yang said, noting the heavy reliance of countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait on crude exports. "From their perspective, storing oil outside the strait and selling it later helps mitigate risk." Under the joint stockpiling program, foreign companies store crude in Korea's facilities in leases, which also grants Seoul preferential purchasing rights in times of supply stress. Korea National Oil Corporation has nine oil storage facilities nationwide, managing reserves equivalent to 116.5 days of consumption. Yang also said such a program has helped it secure alternative supplies more swiftly in the past few months amid the war. "Joint stockpiling was not a formal condition, but there were requests from partner countries," Yang said. "In the case of the UAE, it appears to have facilitated securing replacement volumes." "Stockpiling is not merely about buying oil when prices are low, but a strategic asset directly tied to securing alternative supplies in times of crisis," Yand added. "We will strengthen its practical role in stabilizing supply by aligning it more closely with domestic industry demand." Korea has secured roughly 118 million barrels of alternative crude from 17 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the United States, for April and May, equivalent to about 82 percent of typical import levels before the war. The government is also operating a swap program that lends strategic reserves to refiners. Korea's big four refiners — SK Energy, GS Caltex, HD Hyundai Oilbank and S-Oil — have applied to swap a combined 32 million barrels, with 17 million barrels allocated for April. "Six contracts totaling 8.38 million barrels are already being delivered to refineries, and an additional 8 million barrels are expected to be contracted within this month," Yang added.

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice. Renault Korea has vowed to roll out at least one new model every year through 2029, with its first pure EV slated for 2028, in a bid to sustain a nascent rebound in domestic sales. The Korean arm of the French auto group saw its recovery begin in late 2024 with the launch of the Grand Koleos. The rebound then continued with the recent launch of the Filante, as the automaker seeks to regain footing in a market dominated by Hyundai Motor and Kia. "In 2027, we will officially launch our first fully software-defined vehicle with [Level] 2++ autonomous technology," said Renault Korea CEO Nicolas Paris during a press conference on Tuesday in central Seoul. "I want people to see people proud to view Renault as the first alternative to Hyundai and Kia on the market." The software-defined vehicle will pair advanced autonomy with AI-driven voice interaction, enabling realtime, context-aware assistance ranging from explaining nearby landmarks to guiding drivers to parking spots. Renault Korea also aims to shorten its development cycle to under two years to expand its lineup more quickly for Korean customers. The plan aligns with Renault Group's recently announced "Future Ready" strategy to roll out 36 new models by 2030, with a goal of all of the company's sales coming from EVs and hybrids. "Korea will play a key role in the D and E segments," Paris said, emphasizing the Busan plant's "ability to design, develop and industrialize flagship models for the group." The company's first EV, due in 2028, will be built in Busan, with exports targeted at Latin America, the Middle East and Oceania. After years of weak sales, Renault Korea rebounded in late 2024 with the Grand Koleos SUV, which sold 40,877 units in 2025, accounting for 78.2 percent of the company's total domestic sales. The Filante, launched in March, has sold 4,920 units in its first month.

This article is by Choi Min-ji and read by an artificial voice. One question has always been on Koreans' minds as the country hails the success of BTS, Blackpink and "Golden" (2025): If one K-pop song takes over the global market, does it actually help the K-content industry as a whole? It turns out, the answer is yes. According to the latest industry data, Korean indie music and broadcasting content are gaining global traction as interest in K-pop has spilled over — and concrete numbers prove it. Songs categorized under the K-indie genre on Spotify were streamed 161 million times between January and November last year, a 68 percent jump compared to the same period in 2024, according to statistics from Spotify Wrapped 2025, which was provided to the JoongAng Ilbo on Sunday. The proportional rise in the K-indie genre was found to be steeper than that of the K-pop category, which had a 16 percent jump from 52 billion streams to 60.4 billion. Excluding Korea, the K-indie genre was the most listened to in the United States with 14.84 million streams, Taiwan with 6.43 million streams and Indonesia with 4.97 million streams. Canada followed at 2.81 million streams, with the Philippines close behind at 2.79 million streams. Korean project band The Black Skirts became the most-streamed artist in the K-indie category with their stream counts tallied at 21.98 million from January to November last year. Redoor and Adoy, indie bands whose songs failed to make it onto Korea's domestic streaming charts, secured fourth and seventh place in the category, respectively. By songs, Car, the Garden's "Closely Far Away" (2021) was the most streamed song with 6.12 million streams. Redoor's "Forever Has Always Been" (2021) followed with 4.36 million streams. The second runner-up song was The Black Skirts's "1:05" (2017). "Interest in K-pop has expanded into indie music through algorithms that reflect listeners' streaming patterns and preferred genres," a representative for Spotify said. Music shows featuring K-pop artists are also gaining global popularity alongside K-pop itself. The total views of content on the global K-pop content platform Mnet Plus reached over a million from January last year to March this year. The service offers streaming services of exclusive K-pop content and interactive activities with K-pop artists. The service is available in 250 regions worldwide. During this period, the most watched programs on Mnet Plus were the audition program "Boys II Planet" (2025), the "2025 MAMA Awards" (2025) and the weekly music show "M Countdown" (2004-). In particular, programs such as "Boys II Planet" and "M Countdown" were found to be watched the most in Japan, not Korea. "Currently, global users account for about 80 percent of Mnet Plus users, and we expect their share to increase further this year," an Mnet Plus spokesperson said. "Korea is perceived to be a hub of music in Asia, and participants across the globe are throwing their hats into audition programs held in Korea. This phenomenon creates synergy with [fans'] desires to directly partake in selecting talents," the spokesperson added. "Users in China, Japan and Indonesia actively participate in voting and fan-interactive activities, while users in the Americas tend to explore and consume a wide range of content and be less focused on specific artists." Foreign films and dramas based on or reinterpreting K-pop are also consistently being released. An Indian film, titled "Made in Korea," which was released on Netflix last month, recorded 6.7 million views between March 16 and 22. It topped the viewers' chart in the non-English movie category. The film's leading character, Shenba, an Indian woman from a small village in Tamil Nadu, has her room filled with K-pop posters and merchandise. In the movie, she heads to the buildings of K-pop agencies and music video filming locations in Seoul upon her arrival in Korea's capital city. "It is not an exaggeration to say that neighborhoo...