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 👀 Today’s Email about:

• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared emergency martial law, alleging that the opposition is engaged in 'anti-state activities.'

• South Korea's inflation increased by 1.5% in November.

• Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has denied any involvement in NewJeans' reported conflict with their agency.

NEWS 📰

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared emergency martial law, alleging that the opposition is engaged in 'anti-state activities.'  

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of "anti-state activities plotting rebellion" and causing governmental paralysis.

In a televised address, Yoon stated that the measure aimed to eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional order of freedom. The declaration followed the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pushing through a downsized budget bill in the parliamentary budget committee and filing impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor.

Yoon justified the decision as necessary to "rebuild and safeguard" the nation amid significant challenges, acknowledging it might cause "some inconvenience" to citizens. He assured the public of the government's commitment to swiftly "normalize" the situation and uphold its international responsibilities.

He criticized the DPK for filing 22 impeachment motions since his May 2022 inauguration, including 10 since the 22nd National Assembly began in June. Yoon labeled the actions unprecedented in the nation’s history, claiming they severely disrupted the executive branch.

Regarding the budget bill, Yoon argued that the cuts compromised essential government functions, such as drug crime prevention and public safety, pushing the country toward a crisis. He accused the DPK of using impeachment motions and budget bills to protect their leader, Lee Jae-myung, from prosecution amid ongoing trials.

Yoon described the National Assembly as a "haven for criminals," alleging that legislative actions paralyzed judicial and administrative systems while undermining the democratic framework through what he termed "legislative dictatorship."

The South Korean Constitution allows the president to declare martial law during war, armed conflict, or national emergencies when public safety or order is at risk. Such declarations can impose restrictions on freedoms like press, assembly, and judicial functions but can be terminated by a National Assembly majority vote. With 170 seats in the 300-member parliament, the DPK has the numbers to revoke the measure.

Following Yoon's announcement, the DPK urgently convened lawmakers at the National Assembly, which was reportedly under restricted access. Meanwhile, the White House stated that the U.S. is in contact with the South Korean government and is closely monitoring the situation.

South Korea's inflation increased by 1.5% in November.

Korea's consumer prices increased at less than the central bank's 2 percent target for the third consecutive month in November, data showed Tuesday.

Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, rose 1.5 percent from a year earlier last month, following a 1.3 percent on-year increase in October, according to the data from Statistics Korea. September saw a 1.6 percent on-year increase.

Korea's consumer inflation has stayed below 3 percent since April and fell below the inflation target rate of 2 percent for the first time in September.

Prices of the overall agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products went up 1 percent on-year last month, the agency said.

Vegetables, in particular, saw a significant rise of 10.4 percent compared with the previous year, partly due to unfavorable weather conditions and reduced shipments of key items, such as radishes and cabbages, essential ingredients for kimchi. Meanwhile, fruit prices dropped 8.6 percent on-year due to stable supply levels.

In contrast, petroleum product prices declined 5.3 percent from a year earlier in November, driven by easing global oil prices.

"The drop is due to the decline in international oil prices compared with the same month last year," said Baek Ji-seon, an agency official.

Dubai crude, Korea's benchmark, came to $72.6 per barrel on average last month, reflecting a 13.1 percent decrease from the same month last year, according to separate data.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, added 1.9 percent, compared with a 1.8 percent on-year increase in October, the data showed.

Prices of daily necessities — 144 items closely related to people's everyday lives, such as food, clothing and housing — climbed 1.6 percent last month, the data showed.

"If no significant shocks occur, inflation is expected to remain within the 2 percent range," First Vice Finance Minister Kim Beom-seok said during a meeting with economic officials.

He pledged continued government efforts to stabilize prices and support households burdened by the impact of prolonged high inflation.

ENTERTAINMENT 🌄

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has denied any involvement in NewJeans' reported conflict with their agency.

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin has denied accusations of orchestrating K-pop girl group NewJeans' termination of their exclusive contract with the HYBE sublabel. In a statement on Monday, her representatives announced she had filed defamation complaints against two former and current HYBE executives, Park Ji-won and Park Tae-hee, as well as two Dispatch reporters, identified as Kim and Park.

The complaints accuse the HYBE executives of using illegally obtained private conversations and adding false claims to sway public opinion against Min. The reporters are alleged to have published misleading articles knowing their claims were unfounded and malicious.

The allegations stem from a Dispatch article implicating Min as the "hidden hand" behind incidents involving NewJeans, such as the group's live broadcast in September requesting Min's return, member Hanni's parliamentary appearance, and the group's press conference announcing their contract termination. The report also suggested Min discussed premature contract negotiations with investors in September while still connected to Ador.

Min's representatives dismissed the claims as "completely untrue" and criticized Dispatch for publishing articles based on speculation and unverified information. Meanwhile, NewJeans announced their contract termination with Ador during a late-night press conference last week.

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Korean life 😃

Living in Korea: Avoiding Challenges & Tips for Students

Hello, I’m Gazi, and I’ve been living in Korea since 2023, almost two years now. As a student, I’ve encountered many challenges here, especially in Seoul. I’d like to share my experiences so you can avoid making the same mistakes and have a smoother time living in Korea. The challenges I faced are ones you don’t need to go through, and I’ll also provide some tips to make your life here more flexible.

Today, I want to talk about the first penalty I received from immigration. After arriving in Korea at Daejin University, I wasn’t sure what to do or where to stay. Luckily, university professors are very approachable and helpful. Most Korean professors share this trait.

Since we weren’t allowed to live in the university dorms, I decided to stay at a hotel called Gosian. I stayed there for about a month, and it was a great experience. My friends and I lived there together, and we had a good time. However, Gosian was very expensive, and I couldn’t afford to stay there for long. So, I moved to a new place in Seoul, and the three of us shared two rooms. Things were going well until, unexpectedly, we found out that we needed to update our address with the immigration center within 15 days. If we didn’t do this, we would face a penalty.

We were shocked because by the time we learned about it, 20 days had already passed!

As a result, we were fined around $150 USD. 😔

So, if you're a student renting a house, make sure to update your address as soon as possible to avoid penalties like we did.

How to Update Your Address
Each district in Korea has an office where you can go to update your address. It’s free if you do it within the 15-day window. You can also ask people who are experienced or have lived in Korea for advice. And of course, professors are always available if you need assistance!

BEST JOB POSTS TODAY 💼

See You Tomorrow,

Unravel Korea!