Good Morning: The weather seems cloudy today and it might snow! You had better keep an umbrella!

Markets

Markets: Because of Korean political problems The benchmark KOSPI dropped 1% to close at 2,405 points on Friday, extending losses from the previous session, dragged down by sharp losses from nearly all sectors.

National

A tragic plane crash happened in Muan

A Boeing plane carrying 181 passengers tragically crashed, leaving only one male and one female survivor. The exact cause of the devastating accident remains unknown, though bad weather and a possible bird strike are being considered as potential factors.

Over 1,500 emergency personnel have been mobilized to assist with recovery efforts..

Business

Alibaba and Shinsagae are going to set up joint venture

Shinsagae and Alibaba Express will set up joint ventures, which will make a more comfortable shopping experience and many more online shopping experiences. They will try to influence both Gmarket and the e-commerce market.

The 50-50 joint venture will include Gmarket and AliExpress Korea as its two subsidiaries. This will allow Gmarket sellers to access a significantly larger customer base through Alibaba's extensive global e-commerce networks.

Travel Guide Korea

26 Free Things To Do in Seoul!

You’re visiting Seoul and not finding what to do! And you’re considering MONEY! But Korea is fun and you don’t even need to spend money. Here are the 26 best free things you can do in Seoul!

K-pop

Blackpink Beceoms the Korean Cultural Powerhouse

At 14, Evan Barringer stumbled upon Full House, a South Korean romcom about two strangers forced to share a home. Watching from his Memphis living room, he assumed it was an Asian remake of the American sitcom. By the third episode, he realized the two shared only a name—but he was hooked.

That accidental choice changed his life. Now, 12 years later, Evan teaches English in South Korea and says he loves it: “I’ve tried all the foods I saw in K-dramas and attended concerts of K-pop artists whose lyrics helped me learn Korean.”

When Evan discovered Full House in 2012, Korean entertainment was still a niche interest globally. At the time, Psy’s Gangnam Style was Korea’s most prominent cultural export. Today, the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has swept the world, with an estimated 220 million fans of Korean entertainment—four times South Korea’s population. Netflix’s Squid Game, the platform's most-watched show, has returned for a highly anticipated second season.

Experts attribute the Korean Wave’s global success to the convergence of streaming platforms and Hollywood-style production values. Korean entertainment—spanning pop music, heartfelt dramas, and universally resonant stories—was ready to meet global demand. BTS and Blackpink are now household names, and K-dramas captivate audiences from Dubai to Singapore. Overseas sales of Korean content, including video games, now generate billions.

Last month, South Korea’s cultural influence reached new heights when poet and novelist Han Kang, 53, won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Online, memes celebrated South Korea’s “Culture Victory,” referencing the video game Civilization, while others highlighted how the nation fulfilled founding father Kim Koo’s dream of becoming a cultural powerhouse.

This global moment, it seems, was decades in the making.

Job Post

Andong City Mammoth Bakery Baking Staff (F-2-R visa conversion possible)

Working conditions: Full-time

Work area: Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk- do

Salary: Monthly salary 2,870,000 won

Apply: [Here]

Recruiting English teacher (Gyeonggi-do)

Working conditions: Contract, part-time job

Work area: Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province

Salary: 3Hourly wage 30,000 won

Apply: [Here]