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South Korea's Trade Deficit Hits All-Time High Amid Export Slump

South Korea's Trade Deficit Hits All-Time High Amid Export Slump

South Korea has recently posted its worst trade deficit in history, with a 13.9 billion-dollar deficit in February 2023. The country's worsening trade balance is concerning for its economy, which heavily relies on exports. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the global economy hard, causing supply chain disruptions

Silicon Valley Bank's Investment in Long-Dated Bonds Causes Collapse

Silicon Valley Bank's Investment in Long-Dated Bonds Causes Collapse

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the preferred bank for the tech sector, collapsed suddenly after a series of unfortunate investment decisions. The California-headquartered organization grew to become the 16th largest bank in the US, catering to the financial needs of technology companies worldwide before its collapse. SVB’s services were in

Singapore edges out Hong Kong in regional financial competition

Singapore edges out Hong Kong in regional financial competition

Hong Kong has been facing a major challenge in recent times, as it tries to regain its position as Asia's premier financial center after years of pandemic controls. However, a Financial Times analysis of real estate prices, air traffic, and other indicators shows that Singapore has taken the

The Unintended Consequences of US Protectionism and Diplomatic Missteps

The Unintended Consequences of US Protectionism and Diplomatic Missteps

The recently passed US Chips and Science Act, which allocates $52 billion toward domestic semiconductor manufacturing, has raised concerns for South Korean tech firms, including Samsung and SK Hynix. The legislation contains several provisions that could potentially harm the Korean tech industry, including "toxin clauses" that require the

Japan's Real Wages Plummet to Nine-Year Low Amid Inflation Surge

Japan's Real Wages Plummet to Nine-Year Low Amid Inflation Surge

Japan's real wages have fallen by the most in almost nine years in January 2022, according to official data, as the country faces a four-decade high inflation rate that has undermined policymakers' efforts to revive the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend is

The Urgent Need for Quality Jobs in Busan: Challenges and Solutions

The Urgent Need for Quality Jobs in Busan: Challenges and Solutions

The Korean labor market has been a hot topic of discussion recently, with its severe polarization into large firms versus small and medium-sized companies. As previously discussed, regular employees of large companies account for only 12% of the workers in Korea, leaving small and mid-sized companies struggling with chronic labor

The Perils of Algorithmic Journalism: How Clickbait and Fake News are Undermining Korean Journalism

The Perils of Algorithmic Journalism: How Clickbait and Fake News are Undermining Korean Journalism

Why Korean Journalism Needs to Revisit Its Priorities and Address the Threats Posed by the Use of Algorithms Korean journalism is facing unprecedented challenges today, as the industry confronts the dual pressures of declining revenues and the rise of algorithmic tools that have transformed the way news is produced and