Going to Meet My "Daughter Living on the Moon"

Yonghee Cho is a Korean game artist based in Osaka, Japan. Last month, he released his directorial debut at Capcom, a major Japanese game company. The title is the sci-fi action game "Pragmata." This is the first time a Korean has served as the overall director for a major title at the heart of the global gaming industry, which generated significant buzz even before its release. "Pragmata" sold 1 million copies within just two days of launch, thanks to its outstanding story and gameplay. On the leading PC game platform Steam, it received an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating. While it has become what gamers call a "god-tier game" with guaranteed fun, what's interesting is that among gamers, this title has earned the nickname "Daughter-Fool Game." The game is set on the moon. The protagonist, Hue Williams, is dispatched to a lunar base established for mineral mining but becomes stranded due to a massive earthquake. He happens to meet Diana, a girl android. Diana possesses powerful hacking

2026.05.06 10:10

The Person Who Became the Path Where the Road Ends

Seomyung Sook, who created the Jeju Olle Trail, used to live by the motto "If it's more than three steps, take a ride" during her days as a journalist. She would even take a taxi for the short 200-meter distance from the subway station to her office. It was likely because, as deadlines loomed like the Grim Reaper, she couldn't bear to waste time walking. As a pioneering member of the first generation of female political journalists, she became the first woman to serve as both the political editor and editor-in-chief at a weekly current affairs magazine. She reached the top of her field as a reporter, but her body broke down and her heart became as brittle as a dry twig. She was hit by burnout so severe it felt fatal. In September 2006, she let go of everything and set out on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Walking was difficult, but she walked to survive. On the trail of more than 800 kilometers, she realized something important: people truly encounter themselves when walking. After

2026.04.29 10:46

Invisible Investment, the Future of Culture

"Companies should be dream keepers for young people." This statement by Lee Jay-hyun, Chairman of CJ Group has been more than just a slogan. The past 20 years of the CJ Cultural Foundation represent the realization of that belief in action. On May 26, the CJ Cultural Foundation will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Since its establishment in 2006, the foundation has consistently maintained its focus: rather than supporting already well-known artists, it has dedicated itself to discovering and nurturing young creators who have yet to take the stage, particularly those in the non-mainstream areas of popular culture. This journey has prioritized potential over flashy achievements. This area is not easily addressed even by the public sector, and other corporate cultural foundations have also been reluctant to step into this blind spot. Results are not immediately visible, and the prospects for commercial success are uncertain. Nevertheless, over t

2026.04.22 08:42

Even Throwing Away Trash Is Difficult These Days

On the 12th (local time), the two-day ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, ended without any significant results. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a 'reverse maritime blockade,' while Iran warned of a strong response, heightening tensions. As the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a key shipping route through which about one-fifth of the world's maritime oil trade passes—continues, the global energy supply chain has reached a virtual standstill. The resulting impact is increasingly felt in our daily lives. One of the most tangible effects has been with pay-as-you-throw garbage bags. Although the government announced there are no supply issues, the reality on the ground tells a different story. This recently became evident when I went to purchase pay-as-you-throw garbage bags after moving. At the first convenience store I visited, sales were limited to one bag per person. With the quantity insufficient, I ended up

2026.04.15 11:30

Robot Spies Become a Reality

2:00 a.m., inside the offices of major government agencies in Washington, D.C. In a corner, a humanoid robot—currently recharging—quietly opens its eyes. Rising without a sound, the robot stops in front of a desk, extends a connector from its body, and plugs into a computer. In the blink of an eye, thousands of confidential government files are siphoned away to an unknown destination. Once its mission is complete, the robot reconnects its charging cable and closes its eyes. By morning, it will be serving coffee to employees as if nothing happened. Although this scene may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, the U.S. Congress does not regard it as mere fantasy. On March 26 (local time), Republican Senator Tom Cotton and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer jointly introduced the "American Security Robotics Act." In recent years, it has been rare for both parties in the U.S. Congress to pursue an initiative together, so this bipartisan action underscores the se

2026.04.01 10:00

BTS Concert: A Test of Cultural Maturity

The BTS comeback concert scheduled for the 21st at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul is more than just a concert—it is a massive cultural event. With the release of their fifth studio album "Arirang (ARIRANG)," the performance is expected to draw up to 260,000 people. Fans from around the world will gather at the venue, and hundreds of millions more are expected to watch online. Major hotels in Seoul are already fully booked, and the retail industry is preparing a variety of events in anticipation of the so-called "BTS effect." This will become a symbolic scene showcasing the stature of Korean pop culture. At the same time, however, the event raises another question for our society: Does our cultural citizenship match the global reputation such world-class events bring? The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police are preparing unprecedented safety measures for this concert. A total of 31 buildings near Gwanghwamun have been designated for intensive management, and authorities are consid

2026.03.18 08:05

Where Do You Spend 1,000 Won These Days?

"Here is a 1,000-won bill and a pack of 150 wet wipes. Which would you choose? Or what if you were offered a bundle of 12 scrubbers or a container of 400 cotton swabs—what would you pick?" This is a confident remark from Park Jungbu, founder and chairman of Asung Daiso, the most successful fixed-price lifestyle goods store in the retail industry today. In his autobiography, "Manage a Thousand Won," Chairman Park states that if a passerby on the street chooses a Daiso product without hesitation, the product plan is considered a success. However, if the passerby selects the 1,000-won bill, he concludes that the product lacks cost-effectiveness and returns to the drawing board to develop a new item. According to industry sources, Asung Daiso, which is set to announce its April results, is expected to record mid-4 trillion won in sales last year, with an operating margin surpassing 10%. Entering double-digit operating margin territory stands out when compared to the performance of major re

2026.03.11 10:00

Can Love Be Decided by an Algorithm

These days, at Stanford University dormitories in the United States, hundreds of students simultaneously check their smartphones every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. That is when the dating application "Date Drop" introduces each user to a single potential soulmate. The app was created by four current students, including student body president Madhav Prakash and computer science master's student Henry Weng. Among them, Weng, who played a key role in the app's development, specializes in "matching theory." The "matching theory," which won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2012, uses algorithms that prioritize "preference" over "price" to help solve problems such as "kidney transplant matching" and "school assignments." Now, this advanced economic theory is making its mark on the search for romantic partners as well. Within just half a year of its launch, 5,000 out of 7,500 Stanford undergraduates had signed up for Date Drop. The trend is now spreading to other elite U.S. universities such as Har

2026.02.25 10:30

Why Have the Olympics Everyone Watched Disappeared?

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have opened, but a significant number of people say they were unaware that the Olympics were even taking place. This scene is difficult to attribute simply to a lack of publicity. Rather, it shows that the foundation of “universal viewing rights,” long taken for granted in the Korean broadcasting ecosystem, is now being undermined. This Winter Olympics is being exclusively broadcast by JTBC. JTBC has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights for four Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter, through 2032, as well as the North and Central America World Cup and the 2030 World Cup. The estimated cost is between at least 500 billion won and up to 700 billion won. The three major terrestrial broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) attempted to negotiate resale agreements but could not narrow the terms, and ultimately were excluded from the Olympic broadcast. This is the first time the three terrestrial broadcasters have been left out of Olympic coverage. As a resul

2026.02.11 07:14

From Streets Of Mourning To Squares Of Rage

He was singing, struggling to hold back his anger. The extremely simple guitar chord progression and harmonica performance made the message of the music even clearer. Instead of dazzling lights, the scene of him singing in a dimly lit studio is intercut with black-and-white footage of clashes between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and citizens in Minneapolis, as well as scenes commemorating victims of the protests. On January 24, 2026, Bruce Springsteen wrote a song as if being chased by something, and finished recording it the next day. Although the atmosphere is calm, Springsteen’s presence amid the urgent imagery seems to symbolize isolated justice. On January 30, the conservative Fox 9 News featured the scene at the "Defend Minnesota!" concert, hosted by Tom Morello at the First Avenue venue in Minneapolis. Springsteen, performing on stage, unveiled "Streets of Minneapolis" live for the first time. This moment, highlighted by the media that supported Trump, recalls anoth

2026.02.04 07:24