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KDI: "Economy Shows Some Improvement Thanks to Consumption... Construction Slump Continues"

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KDI: "Economy Shows Some Improvement Thanks to Consumption... Construction Slump Continues"

Despite a contraction in construction investment and a slowdown in export growth, a recent analysis by a national research institute indicates that the economy has shown some improvement, mainly driven by consumption. On November 9, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) stated in its 'Economic Trends for November 2025' report, "Recently, our economy has shown some improvement centered on consumption, despite the contraction in construction investment and the slowdown in export growth." This is the first time KDI has used the term "economic improvement" in one year and five months since June of last year. KDI explained that while the overall economic situation is not yet strong, the degree of easing in the economic downturn that has continued since August has made some further progress. KDI analyzed that total industrial production in September expanded (-0.4%→6.7%), mainly due to growth in the service sector. In the case of service sector production?which includes wholesale and retail

Chungnam Province Shines with Carbon Neutrality Leadership at COP30

Chungnam Province Shines with Carbon Neutrality Leadership at COP30

Chungnam Province has strengthened its international climate leadership by showcasing South Korea's "local government-led carbon neutrality policy" on the global stage. On behalf of Governor Kim Taeheum, Kim Youngmyung, Director of the Environment and Forestry Bureau, attended the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the Under2 Coalition Asia-Pacific Chair. There, he introduced the Chungnam-style carbon neutrality model, including strategies for a just transition and methane reduction. The province announced on the 9th that "Director Kim Youngmyung attended the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 1 to 8 as the Under2 Coalition Asia-Pacific representative, promoting Chungnam's carbon neutrality policy to the world." This forum, held ahead of COP30, brought together representatives from local governments in 61 countries and 106 international climate organizations across 12 sectors to discuss responses to the climate crisis and practical m

Pepero Used to Cost 200 Won... Why More People Are Hesitating to Celebrate This Year [Jumoney Talk]

Pepero Used to Cost 200 Won... Why More People Are Hesitating to Celebrate This Year [Jumoney Talk]

Editor's NoteWe are now in an era where a single serving of pork belly costs 20,000 won and a bowl of Jajangmyeon is 7,500 won. The Consumer Price Index for 2024 stands at 114.18 (2020=100), and in 2025, the lingering effects of high inflation continue to increase the burden on consumers’ grocery baskets. Through the “Jumoney Talk” (Week+Money+Talk) series, we aim to share stories about consumption that are closely tied to our wallets, alongside the ever-changing prices. As Pepero Day on November 11 approaches, more people are debating whether to buy Pepero, which has seen its price rise to 2,000 won this year. In the past, it was common to exchange Pepero casually at school or work, but the mood has changed as prices have increased and the perception of Pepero Day as a corporate marketing tactic has grown.The Era of 2,000-Won Basic Pepero The price of Pepero has steadily increased since its launch. Lotte Confectionery (now Lotte Wellfood) first introduced the original chocolate Pepero

"Spending 3 Million Won Is Worth It"... Millennials and Gen Z Openly Overspending [World is Z Gold]

"Spending 3 Million Won Is Worth It"... Millennials and Gen Z Openly Overspending [World is Z Gold]

Editor's NoteGeneration Z (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is gaining attention as a generation that leads culture and trends in a rapidly changing era, setting new standards across society. In [World is Z Gold], we shed light on the lives and values of Generation Z around the world, exploring how they are transforming society. 'Fandom consumption,' where sports fans generously spend for their favorite teams, is spreading. In the United States, Millennials spent an average of about 3 million won per person annually, with 'a sense of belonging' cited as the main reason for their spending. This trend is also continuing in South Korea, particularly around professional baseball, with fandom consumption emerging as a new growth engine for the sports industry."Average annual spending of 3 million won for cheering"... Millennials & Gen Z lead fandom consumption Ally Bank, an American online bank, recently published a report titled "The Cost of Fandom" based on a survey of

Shinsegae Gangnam Branch Surpasses 3 Trillion Won in Sales for Third Consecutive Year... "Aiming for 4 Trillion Won Next Year"

Shinsegae Gangnam Branch Surpasses 3 Trillion Won in Sales for Third Consecutive Year... "Aiming for 4 Trillion Won Next Year"

On November 7, Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch became the first among domestic department stores to surpass a cumulative annual sales (transaction amount) of 3 trillion won this year. This marks the third consecutive year since 2023 that the branch has exceeded 3 trillion won in sales, achieving this milestone two months earlier than in 2023 (December 24) and about three weeks earlier than last year (November 28), setting a new record for the fastest achievement. The company attributed this success to continuous investment and spatial innovation, which have strengthened its core competitiveness. The Largest and Most Diverse Luxury Lineup, Exclusive and First-Ever Stores in Korea Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch achieved this result by offering the largest luxury lineup among single-location department stores in Korea. This year, luxury sales accounted for 40% of the branch's total sales. The branch houses approximately 100 stores featuring the three major luxury bran

Global Food Price Index Continues to Fall in October... Dairy Down 3.4%, Sugar Down 5.3%

Global Food Price Index Continues to Fall in October... Dairy Down 3.4%, Sugar Down 5.3%

Global food prices continued to decline in October, with all major categories except for vegetable oils recording a downward trend. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global Food Price Index stood at 126.4 points in October 2025, down 1.6% from the previous month's 128.5 points, marking a second consecutive month of decline. By category, prices for cereals, meat, dairy products, and sugar all fell, while vegetable oil prices rose. The Cereal Price Index dropped by 1.3% to 103.6 points from 104.9 points in the previous month. Prices for all major grains?including wheat, barley, corn, and sorghum?declined. This was influenced by stable production in the Southern Hemisphere and progress in winter wheat sowing in the Northern Hemisphere. However, concerns over reduced corn harvests in the European Union and the United States, as well as the trade agreement between the United States and China, partially offset the decline. Rice prices also fell by

Seventy, Including Insurance Planners, Referred for Participating in Multi-Level Financial Fraud

Seventy, Including Insurance Planners, Referred for Participating in Multi-Level Financial Fraud

Seventy individuals, including insurance planners, have been referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in a Ponzi scheme (multi-level financial fraud) orchestrated by a private lending company. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station announced on the 7th that on October 31, it had referred 58 people, including insurance planners, to the prosecution without detention on charges of unauthorized fund-raising, and an additional 12 people on charges of both unauthorized fund-raising and fraud. Some of the insurance planners referred to the prosecution were found to be affiliated with a financial services company that is a subsidiary of a major life insurance firm. While more than 100 suspects were initially under investigation, the remaining individuals were not referred due to insufficient evidence. They are accused of enticing customers to invest in short-term bond investment products and loan operation products of PS Financial, a private lending company, by promising high returns

"Abolishing Early Morning Delivery Would Cause 54 Trillion Won in Annual Losses... Small Businesses Also Hit"

"Abolishing Early Morning Delivery Would Cause 54 Trillion Won in Annual Losses... Small Businesses Also Hit"

It has been predicted that if early morning delivery and seven-day-a-week delivery services are suspended, the e-commerce and parcel delivery industries could face annual losses of approximately 54 trillion won. On November 7, the Korean Society of Logistics, a domestic logistics industry association, released a report titled "A Study on the Ripple Effects of Early Morning Delivery and Seven-Day Delivery." The report claimed, "If early morning delivery and seven-day-a-week delivery are halted, resulting in a roughly 40% decrease in parcel delivery orders, annual losses would reach 54.3 trillion won." Specifically, e-commerce companies such as Coupang are expected to suffer a revenue loss of 33.2 trillion won, while small business owners are projected to see their sales decrease by 18.3 trillion won. The parcel delivery industry is also expected to incur losses of around 2.8 trillion won. The association's report also analyzed the ripple effects of domestic early morning and seven-day-

China’s October Exports Fall Year-on-Year Amid US-China Trade Conflict

China’s October Exports Fall Year-on-Year Amid US-China Trade Conflict

Amid uncertainties stemming from the US-China trade conflict, China’s export performance last month recorded a year-on-year decline. On November 7 (local time), China’s General Administration of Customs announced that exports in October, measured in US dollars, fell by 1.1% compared to the same month last year. This figure is significantly lower than both China’s September export growth rate (8.3%) and the market forecast (3.0%). While China has recently emphasized market opening, imports in October increased by 1.0% year-on-year, but this also fell short of the September import growth rate (7.4%). As a result, the trade surplus in October stood at 90.07 billion dollars, down from last month’s surplus of 90.45 billion dollars. Since the beginning of this year, the US and China have been imposing triple-digit tariffs on each other. Although they have maintained a "truce" since a high-level trade negotiation in May, the US has continued to block China’s access to advanced semiconductors,

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