The make up of the ROK military will look a little different by 2030:
The number of soldiers coming from a multicultural background will account for 5 percent of the nation’s entire conscripts by 2030 after a notable increase since the 2009 amendment to the Military Service Act, which mandates military service for all Korean nationals, according to the report released by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, Monday.
The report suggested that a growing number of conscripts from multicultural households could become a crucial resource in sustaining the military, helping address potential conscript shortages stemming from the country’s low birthrate. It raised the need for the military to establish and implement management and support policies tailored to multicultural soldiers.
Korea Times
You can read more at the link.
Korea is one of the places in the world where EV’s actually make sense due to the shorter distances between cities:
Electric cars accounted for 9.3 percent of newly purchased cars in South Korea last year, data showed Monday, hovering above that of other major counterparts, including the United States and Japan.
The electric vehicles (EVs) took up 162,507 of 1.74 million cars sold in South Korea in 2023, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The ratio marked a significant rise from just 1.9 percent tallied in 2019.
Korea Herald
You can read more at the link.
My kids have done their part to contributing to Shin Ramyun’s popularity because they love eating it. I on the otherhand would rather eat Chapagetti:
Shin Ramyun was the bestselling instant noodles in South Korea last year and Saeukkang was the top selling snack, data showed Sunday.
Retail sales of Shin Ramyun of Nongshim, available in both packaged and cup noodle forms, amounted to 383.6 billion won (US$287.8 million) last year, topping the list of instant noodles, according to the data compiled by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.
Nongshim’s Chapagetti came in next with 213.1 billion won in sales, followed by Jin Ramen with 209.2 billion won and Buldak Ramen, known as hot chicken flavor ramen, with 147.2 billion won.
Yonhap
You can read more at the link.
This is a huge amount of stolen money for a country as poor as North Korea to acquire:
U.N. experts say they are investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023 valued at approximately $3 billion, with the money reportedly being used to help fund its development of weapons of mass destruction. And the high volume of cyberattacks by North Korean hacking groups who report to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s primary foreign intelligence organization, is reportedly continuing, the panel of experts said in the executive summary of a new report to the U.N. Security Council obtained Friday by The Associated Press.
The report covering the period from July 2023 to January 2024 and reflecting contributions from unidentified U.N. member nations and other sources, was sent to the 15-member council as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has raised tensions in the region. He is threatening to annihilate South Korea if provoked and escalating weapons demonstrations. In response, the United States, South Korea and Japan have strengthened their combined military exercises.
Stars and Stripes
You can read more at the link.
These outfits remind of the ones the so called fitness influencers wear to the gym and then complain they are being objectified by men looking at them. Here is a reality check for people who dress like this, men are not objectifying you, you are objectifying yourself because you know these provocative outfits will lead to more clicks and attention not so called female empowerment:
Huh Yun-jin of K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM with no-pants look / Captured from Instagram
The K-pop industry is known for its pioneering and bold fashion statements, but the recent emergence of the “no-pants” look — where individuals wear micro shorts or pair briefs with tights — has ignited a contentious debate.
One of the singers at the forefront of this hot yet controversial trend is Huh Yun-jin, a member of girl band LE SSERAFIM. The 22-year-old generated buzz after sporting only gray briefs and black tights under a pink puffer jacket in a teaser for the group’s upcoming EP, “Easy,” unveiled on YouTube, Jan. 26.
K-pop act (G)I-DLE also grabbed headlines for making a similar wardrobe choice, with all four members putting on bodysuits with no pants in the music video for its latest release, “Super Lady,” which came out on Jan. 29. SISTAR19, a sub-unit of the now-defunct girl group SISTAR, and Lisa of BLACKPINK also displayed pants-free fashion, which has been in vogue around the globe since last year.
In the U.S., a legion of high-profile stars including Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner are known as the pioneers of this trend.
The pantless look, however, is not without its controversies, especially in the K-pop universe where a large portion of fans are teenagers.
Concerns have been raised about the potential for young fans to blindly imitate these styles, with some critics arguing that this trend represents the commercialization of sexuality masquerading as fashion innovation.
Korea Times
You can read more at the link.
Please leave anything you want to discuss in the comments section.
With the high cost of living being a digital nomad in South Korea may not be as appealing as in other more affordable countries. Additionally this visa is not open to freelancers which most digital nomads normally are:
About a month has passed since the highly-anticipated workcation visa for digital nomads was launched, but the visa is off to a slow start.
Just seven people applied for the visa as of Jan. 31, according to the Ministry of Justice.The workcation visa, or the F-1-D, was introduced in a trial run on Jan. 1 for foreigners to work remotely in Korea over a longer period. Applicants must be employed at a company abroad, working remotely for their company. Applying for a job within Korea is strictly prohibited.
Joong Ang Ilbo
The visa allows a one-year stay, which can be extended for another year for a total two-year stay. Without a visa, many foreigners can only stay in Korea for up to 90 days.
One obstacle is that the visa isn’t currently open to freelancers, who make up a large portion of the digital nomad population.
You can read more at the link.
