Stories from Seoul · South Korea

South Korea is experiencing a significant influx of yellow dust, prompting advisories for residents. This atmospheric phenomenon, originating from desert regions, carries fine particulate matter that can pose health risks. Authorities are advising citizens to take precautions, such as staying indoors and wearing masks, to mitigate exposure. President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to meet Demis Hassabis, co-founder of DeepMind, today. The persuasion efforts by the party leader are believed to have influenced the decision. Chun Hoon-soo, the spokesperson, is expected to run in the constituency of Chungnam Asan, which is also the district of Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik. Senior Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong stated the administration respects the difficult decision. The president included a message wishing the officials well in their future roles serving the nation and people.

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon arrived in South Korea on April 21 to meet with executives from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The visit aims to solidify cooperation on 2nm foundry processes and address memory supply issues driven by AI expansion. This move is critical for stabilizing the semiconductor supply chain for next-generation computing. A surge in semiconductor demand driven by AI investment is expected to offset headwinds from Middle East conflicts.