Author: Seoul Reporter

TOKYO — Japan’s financial system shrank 0.4 p.c within the three months to September, official information confirmed Monday, as U.S. tariffs hit and new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s authorities prepares a serious stimulus package deal.The quarter-on-quarter studying for gross home product beat market expectations of minus 0.6 p.c however was the primary contraction for the reason that first three months of 2024.The preliminary, seasonally adjusted determine follows development of 0.6 p.c — revised upwards from an earlier studying of plus 0.5 p.c — for the April to June quarter.The info from the cupboard workplace additionally confirmed {that a} drag on…

A courtroom on Monday dismissed former Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong’s petition towards his arrest, retaining him in custody over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial legislation.The Seoul Central District Courtroom issued the ruling after holding a listening to yesterday on whether or not Cho’s arrest was authorized and will stay in place.The previous spy chief had filed the petition following his arrest Wednesday on prices of NIS legislation violations, dereliction of obligation, perjury, destruction of proof, creation of false official paperwork and false testimony at parliament, all in reference to the…

The upcoming Disney Plus authentic collection “The Remarried Empress” has drawn criticism after promotional stills revealed actor Ju Ji-hoon sporting a medal resembling a Nazi-era ornament, prompting the manufacturing firm to difficulty a public apology.Disney Plus unveiled first-look photographs of the collection through the “Disney Plus Unique Preview 2025” occasion on Nov. 13. Quickly after, on-line communities identified that the medal worn by Ju within the photographs carefully resembled the Third-Class Gold Service Medal awarded by the Nazi Get together, elevating issues over historic insensitivity.Netizens shared side-by-side comparisons of the on-screen prop and the Nazi medal, questioning how such an…

President Donald Trump was obscure when pressed by reporters. Aboard Air Pressure One, Trump stated he had “form of made up my thoughts” after a sequence of conferences final week with prime advisers, who had briefed the president on potential plans of motion in opposition to the regime of President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. Military Secretary Dan Driscoll stated the military “can be able to act on regardless of the president and the Sec. Conflict wanted,” on Sunday on “Face the Nation.” The White Home’s marketing campaign of navy strain appears to be intensifying, but there’s little readability on its…

A 40-year-old beginner triathlete died in Tongyeong on Saturday whereas participating in a pre-race swim take a look at forward of the 2025 Tongyeong World Triathlon Cup, prompting organizers to cancel the occasion.In keeping with the Korea Triathlon Federation, the participant confirmed indicators of misery throughout a swim security evaluation at round 2:35 p.m. within the waters off Triathlon Plaza in Donam-dong, Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. He was rescued by security personnel and transferred to a hospital however was later pronounced useless.He was taking part in a pre-race swim analysis forward of Sunday’s beginner competitors. Tongyeong Coast Guard is investigating…

Comic and TV persona Kim Soo-yong is recovering in intensive care after shedding consciousness throughout a YouTube shoot final week.His company, Media Lab Siso, stated Sunday, “Kim Soo-yong collapsed throughout a YouTube content material shoot on Thursday and was taken to the emergency room. He has regained consciousness and is at present resting whereas present process assessments and therapy. We’ll do our greatest to help his full restoration.”Kim, 53, collapsed immediately on the afternoon of Nov. 13 whereas filming in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Emergency medical personnel carried out CPR earlier than transporting him to Hanyang College Guri Hospital. He was…

President Lee Jae Myung was set to depart Monday for the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Johannesburg, a part of his four-nation swing to the Center East and Africa, as South Korea seeks to diversify its diplomatic ties within the International South.The primary leg of his journey is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Lee will arrive in Abu Dhabi later within the day for a three-day state go to, throughout which he’ll maintain summit talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to debate cooperation within the protection trade, synthetic intelligence and different strategic sectors.Lee will then journey…

Korean retail buyers have ramped up U.S. inventory purchases this month, shrugging off mounting issues over a possible synthetic intelligence (AI)-driven market bubble, knowledge confirmed Sunday.In keeping with the Korea Securities Depository, retail buyers logged $3.63 billion in web purchases of abroad equities from Nov. 1 by way of Friday. Practically your entire quantity of abroad inventory purchases went into U.S. equities.This month’s web shopping for is way outpacing final month’s, with the amount already greater than double that of the identical interval in October. The shopping for spree follows October’s record-breaking $6.8 billion in web purchases — 2.5 occasions…

VATICAN CITY — A gaggle of 48 transgender girls attended a significant Vatican occasion on Sunday with Pope Leo XIV, persevering with a practice that started beneath his predecessor of inviting members of the LGBTQ+ group to the church’s annual “lunch for the poor.”

WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian’s Nationwide Museum of Asian Artwork (NMAA) reopened Saturday, unveiling a headline exhibition of millennia-spanning Korean antiquities and artworks as soon as stored within the personal vaults of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. The present’s debut, delayed by per week, comes on the heels of the longest authorities shutdown in U.S. historical past, which had quickly shuttered establishments reliant on federal funding.“Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared” marks the primary time these works have crossed the ocean since Lee’s household donated his large 23,000-piece assortment to Korea’s state-run museums in 2021 to assist settle the inheritance tax…