"Cleaning Dog Waste, Unclogging Toilets? Are We a Joke?"... Industrial Safety Group Outraged at 'Manager Kim Story'

Certain scenes from the JTBC drama 'The Story of Manager Kim Who Owns a House in Seoul and Works at a Large Corporation' have been criticized for distorting the role of industrial safety managers and undermining the dignity of the profession. On November 15, the Korea Association for Major Accident Prevention issued an official statement on its website, stating, "While the drama borrows from real-life social controversies, it trivializes the meaning and value of safety," and added, "This is not merely a dramatic device, but a message that leads to social regression." The association demanded an explanation and an expression of regret from the broadcaster. The controversial scene depicts the protagonist, Kim Naksu (played by Ryu Seung-ryong), who had been rising through the ranks as an executive at a large corporation, being suddenly reassigned as the head of the on-site safety management team after failing to resolve an issue related to internet speed. The association criticized this

IT

11.15 10:41

Mixed US Reactions to South Korea-US Fact Sheet: "New Chapter" vs. "Transformation of Relations"

On November 15, the day after South Korea and the United States jointly announced their "Joint Fact Sheet" on tariffs and security negotiations, reactions in the United States have been mixed. While some have offered positive assessments, suggesting that a new chapter in the South Korea-US alliance has begun, others have expressed negative views, pointing out a lack of detail and long-term perspective. Christopher Landau, US Deputy Secretary of State, delivered a keynote speech at the "Van Fleet Policy Forum" co-hosted by the Atlantic Council and the Korea Society in Washington, D.C. on November 14 (local time). He stated, "The two countries have announced a historic Joint Fact Sheet in connection with President Donald Trump's state visit to South Korea at the end of October," adding, "This has opened a new chapter in the South Korea-US alliance." Deputy Secretary Landau went on to say, "I hope everyone will read this fact sheet carefully, as it presents the joint priorities for the f

IT

11.15 10:12

"Sorry We Didn't Recognize You"... Buffett's Berkshire Makes a Bold $4.3 Billion Bet on This Company

Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett (95), known as the "Oracle of Omaha," has made significant purchases of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Berkshire, which has long been cautious about investing in technology stocks, added Alphabet to its asset portfolio at a scale worth several trillion won, drawing intense attention from Wall Street. According to Berkshire's quarterly report (13F) submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the 14th (local time), the company held Alphabet shares worth $4.33 billion (approximately 6.3 trillion won) as of the end of September. Chairman Buffett has consistently adhered to the principles of value investing and has maintained a cautious stance toward major technology firms, with the exception of Apple. As a result, this purchase of Alphabet shares is being interpreted as a shift in internal investment strategy, and renewed attention is being paid to comments made by Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, Buffett's long-time par

Science

11.15 09:32

Starbucks Opens the "Winter War"... Why Are Seasonal Menus Launching Early?

Domestic coffee franchises are launching their limited winter menus about a month earlier than usual this year. Since last month, they have been rolling out "winter beverages" and "holiday editions," officially kicking off the winter sales season. The early launches are not solely due to the early arrival of cold weather. Analysts say that, given the fierce competition in the domestic coffee market, brands are now racing to capture consumer sentiment and secure the initiative for the season. According to industry sources on November 15, Starbucks was the first to open the winter season this year. Its winter promotion was themed around a collaboration with "Where's Wally?" (also known as "Where's Waldo?"). In addition, Starbucks launched a "Winter e-Frequency" event in partnership with the Italian fashion brand MSGM. By offering practical gifts such as blankets and humidifiers, Starbucks is targeting both the "winter mood" and everyday convenience. SPC Pascucci kicked off its Christmas

Distribution

11.15 08:44

"I Don't Even Want to Pick Up My Spoon"... Appetite Loss Arrived Like Morning Sickness [Maunjaero Report] ②

Editor's NoteThe path to treating obesity, once a major challenge in the medical field, is opening up thanks to the advent of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) class medications, which influence satiety and appetite suppression. Recently launched in Korea, Maunjaero is a dual agonist of GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1, demonstrating higher weight loss efficacy and evolving as a treatment for complex metabolic diseases such as diabetes and MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) compared to previous medications. However, caution is needed against the social trend of abusing these drugs for mere cosmetic purposes or mistaking them as a 'miracle weight loss injection.' This series is planned as a total of six installments (over 12 weeks), documenting the experiences of a journalist diagnosed with severe obesity, including the treatment process, effects, side effects, and lifestyle changes, with the aim of promoting proper use of obesity medicatio

Bio Health

11.15 08:00

No Wonder There Are So Many Foreigners on the Streets... Hotel Revenues Surge as Inbound Tourists Flock to Korea

Major hotels in South Korea have successfully maintained profitability in the third quarter of this year, driven by increased occupancy rates amid a surge in tourists. The high season, which includes summer vacations and holidays that attract strong domestic demand, coincided with a steady rise in inbound foreign tourists, who are on track to reach record numbers. According to industry sources on November 15, Hotel Lotte reported a consolidated operating profit of 117 billion won in the third quarter of this year, marking a 384.2% increase compared to the same period last year. However, sales during the same period decreased by 4.9% to 1.2218 trillion won. Within this, the hotel division's sales rose by 3.7% year-on-year to 386.8 billion won, and operating profit jumped by 74.1% to 67.1 billion won. The company explained that hotel performance improved as the influx of foreign tourists continued. In the third quarter, the number of foreign guests increased by 8.9% year-on-year, while h

Distribution

11.15 07:00

To Prevent EV Thermal Runaway with 'Blankets'... "200 Billion Won in Fiscal Support Needed"

As concerns grow over the fire risks associated with electric vehicles, there are increasing calls for countermeasures. According to recent estimates, equipping battery charging stations with fire blankets to prevent large-scale incidents such as thermal runaway could require a budget of up to 214.8 billion won. According to Issue No. 125 of NABO Focus, published by the National Assembly Budget Office on November 15, the additional fiscal expenditure required to mandate the installation of fire blankets at charging facilities is projected to range from a minimum of 38.2 billion won to a maximum of 214.8 billion won over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. The Budget Office assumed that fire blankets would be provided at electric vehicle charging stations managed by the central and local governments, and that in the case of apartment complexes, 60% of the purchase cost of fire blankets would be subsidized according to the number of households. The unit price of a fire blanket was e

Automobile

11.15 07:00

"AI Bubble, Pull Out Your Money Now"... Wall Street Prophet's Warning After Two Years [Tech Talk]

"Sometimes, we see bubbles. In such times, not participating in the market might be the way to win." This was a post by Michael Burry, founder of the U.S. hedge fund Scion Asset Management, on his X account on October 30 (local time). It was his first statement on social media in over two years. Burry, who amassed great wealth through short selling, is renowned for predicting the 2008 U.S. financial crisis. Now, he has resumed his activity by warning of an 'artificial intelligence (AI) bubble.' This has put both Wall Street and the big tech companies on high alert. Michael Burry Targets Leading AI Firms Palantir and Nvidia Burry has put his AI short-selling into action. On the 13th (local time), he announced via X that he had entered into put options contracts for 5 million shares of Palantir expiring in January 2027, and 1 million shares of Nvidia expiring in December of the same year. A put option is the right to sell shares at a predetermined price. Burry's exercise price for Palant

Science

11.15 06:30

Will Apple CEO Tim Cook Step Down Next Year? Succession Plans Accelerate Amid Departure Speculation