KoreaLifeStory

  According to reports from Bloomberg and other outlets, the U.S. government has agreed to acquire a stake in Lithium Americas Corp. , with Energy Secretary Chris Wright commenting on the matter. The potential deal is connected to the financing and renegotiation of conditions for the Thacker Pass mine project . In the course of revising terms for an earlier loan provided by the U.S. government, options were reportedly discussed for Washington to either require or permit an equity stake. Reports suggest the stake under discussion would be less than 10% . Following the news, Lithium Americas shares surged—some outlets noted an increase of nearly 90%. However, the language in media coverage has varied. While Reuters reported that the U.S. government has “agreed to take a stake,” it cited unnamed sources. Politico referred to a “tentative agreement” under the Trump administration for DOE to take equity in Lithium Americas. Other outlets, such as the Financial Times and Axios, used ...

  1. What Happened On September 24, 2025, a shooting broke out at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Dallas, Texas. At least one detainee was killed and two others critically injured . The gunman was found dead at the scene after taking his own life. Investigators discovered shell casings marked with “ANTI-ICE” , suggesting that this was not a random act of violence but a politically or ideologically motivated attack targeting U.S. immigration enforcement. 2. Why This Incident Matters This shooting highlights multiple fault lines in American society: Security Weaknesses Detention facilities are supposed to represent law, order, and state authority. The fact that gunfire from outside the facility directly harmed detainees exposes serious security gaps . Political and Ideological Divisions The “ANTI-ICE” message suggests that this was an attack aimed at America’s immigration policies , not just individuals. Immigra...

 “Are the things I do really my choices, or is someone else pulling the strings?” Sometimes, life feels that way. We wake up and run through the same routines, trying to meet expectations, moving as if we’re not in charge of our own story. It’s like being a puppet on invisible strings. This post is for those moments—when you want to pause, take a breath, and find your way back to yourself. 1. Name Your Feelings The thought “I feel like a puppet” is often a mix of emotions—anxiety, frustration, helplessness. Write them down: What exactly am I feeling right now? When did it start? In what situations does it feel stronger? Once you name emotions, they become something you can observe, not something that controls you. 2. Spot the “Auto Mode” That puppet-like feeling usually comes from routines, expectations, or thought patterns running on autopilot. Ask yourself: Which of my daily actions are truly my choices? Whose expectations am I living for? Whose voic...

  Summary at a Glance Recently, the KOSPI has hit record highs, driven by a semiconductor-led rally and foreign buying. Source: Korea Biz Wire Real economic data shows a sharp recovery in semiconductor exports, supporting market expectations. Source: Korea.net The Bank of Korea has signaled expectations of easing (potential rate cuts) and is strengthening forward guidance, creating liquidity-friendly conditions for the stock market. Source: Reuters However, risks remain from company-specific performance disparities (e.g., Samsung semiconductor earnings slowdown), U.S. tariffs, global geopolitical tensions, and interest rate volatility. Source: Bloomberg.com 1) Key Drivers Behind the Current Rise (Data-Based) A. Semiconductor and IT Demand Recovery Korean semiconductor exports rebounded in 2025, with notable growth in early to mid-August. Real demand, particularly from data centers and AI applications, has boosted sector valuations. Source: Korea.net Howe...

  1. Losing Half Your Money in a Single Day Stocks and crypto can act like a financial black hole . Mr. B bought a cryptocurrency recommended on social media and lost 50% in just three hours . He thought, “It’s just a temporary dip,” but panicked and sold. Result? Not only did he fail to recover his principal, but his confidence and risk tolerance were shattered. One day, three hours, one impulsive decision – and a lifetime of regret. 2. The Psychological Traps of Impulsiveness Being impulsive isn’t just a personality trait – it’s a financial hazard . FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) : Buying because others are making money Panic Selling : Selling in fear, missing the rebound Emotional Trading : Following news, social media, or friends’ tips without analysis Studies show impulsive investors suffer about 30% greater losses than long-term investors . This isn’t just money lost – it leaves a psychological scar that can haunt future investments. 3. The Sweet...

  Have you ever pictured this scene? A giant cruise ship is slowly tilting, sinking into the dark sea. Yet, on the deck, people keep dancing to the music. Some laugh, some take photos, but none can escape the inevitable. That’s exactly how many now describe France . On the surface, it’s still the glamorous nation of culture, art, and fashion. But inside, cracks are spreading—across politics, the economy, and society itself. No wonder global headlines recently used the chilling phrase: “France is dancing its last dance on the deck of a sinking ship.” 🇫🇷 France: A Crumbling Mask of Grandeur France has long been a symbol of European pride, democracy, and culture. But scroll through today’s news, and the picture looks very different. Instead of strength, what you see is instability, unrest, and decline. Political unrest : Declining trust in government, constant protests, and the alarming rise of both far-right and far-left forces. Economic stagnation : High inflation, yout...

  "I'm Not Old Yet!" - A 65-Year-Old Korean Father's Rebellion Last week, I accompanied my 65-year-old father to the local government office to apply for Korea's basic pension for seniors . When the clerk handed him forms labeled " elderly welfare services ," my father's reaction was explosive. "I'm still young! Why am I suddenly considered elderly ? I hike mountains every day and play golf!" He wasn't wrong. My father wakes up at 5 AM for mountain hiking, practices golf in the afternoon, and plays ping-pong with friends in the evening. His physical condition rivals that of people in their 30s and 40s. This scene perfectly captures South Korea's aging dilemma in 2025: Is 65 really "old" anymore? The Shocking Truth: 65 in 1960 vs 65 in 2025 Life Expectancy Jumped 30 Years When South Korea's elderly age criteria of 65 was established decades ago, the world was completely different. 1960s Life Expectancy : ...

 Artificial intelligence is no longer just about algorithms. The real challenge is how efficiently massive models can be run , and this is where AI semiconductors step in. In Korea, two startups have emerged as frontrunners in this race: FuriosaAI and Rebellions . Both operate in the same industry, yet their strategies and market positioning show significant differences. FuriosaAI – The Global Unicorn Challenging NVIDIA Founded : 2017 Key Products : Warboy, RNGD (Renegade) Major Partners : LG AI Research (EXAONE), OpenAI, Naver Funding : $250M+ (turned down Meta’s $800M acquisition offer) FuriosaAI has already risen to become a unicorn in the AI chip market . Its next-generation accelerator RNGD has been adopted by LG AI Research for its large-scale model EXAONE , demonstrating 2.25× better power efficiency than GPUs . In collaboration with OpenAI, FuriosaAI showcased a live demo running GPT-OSS 120B on just two RNGD cards , proving competitive performance for large...

 Artificial intelligence is no longer just about algorithms and software. The real challenge today lies in running large-scale models efficiently —faster, cheaper, and with less energy. This is where AI hardware, especially inference accelerators , plays a critical role. Among the most promising global players is FuriosaAI , a South Korean startup that is making headlines with groundbreaking chips and bold strategic moves. Recent Highlights & Strategic Moves Partnership with LG AI Research and EXAONE Adoption FuriosaAI’s next-generation AI accelerator RNGD (Renegade) has been adopted by LG AI Research’s EXAONE platform . Benchmarks show that RNGD delivers 2.25× better inference performance-per-watt compared to GPUs , a major efficiency advantage for running large language models (LLMs) in data centers. $125M Series C Bridge Round – Entering Unicorn Stage The company recently closed a $125 million Series C bridge round , pushing its valuation into “unicorn” status. This ...

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world, and at the heart of this transformation lies semiconductors—the brain of AI systems . Until now, this market has been dominated almost entirely by NVIDIA. However, a Korean startup called Rebellion is stepping onto the global stage with bold ambitions, aiming to challenge this dominance and capture worldwide attention. What Is Rebellion? Founded in 2020, Rebellion is a Korean startup specializing in AI semiconductors. Founder : CEO Sung-Hyun Park (KAIST graduate with global semiconductor experience) Mission : To design high-performance, energy-efficient AI chips Backed by : Major investors such as SoftBank Ventures, KT, and SK Telecom Despite its short history, Rebellion is rapidly growing and is seen as a beacon of hope for Korea’s semiconductor industry. Why Is Rebellion in the Spotlight? Exploding Demand for AI Chips Large-scale AI models like ChatGPT require massive computing power. Many companies are sear...

  Introduction: The Numbers Don't Lie Walk through Seoul's upscale neighborhoods like Gangnam or Itaewon, and you'll witness a quiet revolution taking place. Chinese nationals are systematically acquiring Korean real estate at an unprecedented pace, reshaping the country's property landscape in ways that have caught both economists and policymakers' attention. The statistics are staggering: Chinese nationals account for 73% of foreign home purchases in Seoul, followed by US citizens at 14%. More broadly, Chinese nationals owned 47,327 homes out of 87,223 foreign-owned properties nationwide, representing 54.3% of all foreign residential ownership. But why are Chinese investors flocking to Korean property markets ? Is this purely an investment opportunity, or are there deeper economic, political, and social factors driving this trend? This comprehensive analysis explores the multifaceted reasons behind Chinese real estate investment in Korea , examining everythi...