◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 현 사회현상에 대해 학생들 시선에서 ‘왜’라는 질문을 갖고 직접 취재해 작성한 기획기사입니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단의 기획기사는 영문과 국문, 두 형태로 게재합니다. As K-pop culture continues to gain global popularity, there are more teenagers who want to become K-pop idols. At the same time, the preference for slim bodies had spread through social media, and the interest in weight loss medication had increased. Especially Wegovy and Mounjaro are now becoming familiar to teenagers due to social media.Anti-obesity medication is not medication for improving one’s appearance. It’s made for people that have lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and have problems during daily life. Therefore, the patient's personal health condition and degree of obesity should be considered when the medication is used. Adolescents, in particular, require a more cautious approach because they are still growing. What do teenagers think about weight loss medication? The result of a survey by 11 teenagers said that 63.7% of respondents were familiar, or heard about weight loss medication. When asked about the main reasons for using obesity medications, the most common response was “to lose weight,” at 54.5%, followed by “for appearance or cosmetic reasons,” at 27.3%. However, only 18.2% responded that it’s for treating obesity medically.As anti-obesity medications gained rapid popularity among teenagers, cases of medications spreading through informal courses rather than in medical institutions increased. The highest path that the teenagers heard about anti-obesity was “Friends or Family”(81.8%), followed by “Social Media like Instagram or Tiktok”(36.4%). These results show that teenagers learn about anti-obesity medication mostly through advertisements rather than medical institutions. Then, how do teenagers view obesity medications? Most of the teenagers that participated in the survey had positive views of the effectiveness of the medication. 54.6% of them selected positive answers in a question asking “Do you think obesity medications are an effective medical treatment for people who need them?”. Additionally, when “Is there excessive interest in obesity medications” was asked, 54.6% of respondents answered “agree” or “strongly agree.”Through this survey, it’s difficult to say that K-pop culture contributes to the misuse of obesity medication among teenagers. However, since most responses of the survey turned out as “wanting to be slimmer” and “be confident in appearance” for the anii-obesity medication, this shows that society idealizes the slim figures like k-pop idols and celebrities alongside the perception of obesity medications as a means of losing weight.To prevent teenagers from misusing anti-obesity medication requires effort from medical institutes and also from the government. Societal changes are also needed to help teenagers view themselves with a focus on their health, rather than thinking of a particular body type as ideal. Also, awareness should spread that anti-obesity medication is not a ‘diet pill,’ but a treatment that should be used only by people who really need it and according to appropriate guidelines.

◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 현 사회현상에 대해 학생들 시선에서 ‘왜’라는 질문을 갖고 직접 취재해 작성한 기획기사입니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단의 기획기사는 영문과 국문, 두 형태로 게재합니다. K팝 문화가 글로벌한 인기를 끌면서 아이돌을 꿈꾸는 청소년들이 늘어나고 있다. 이와 동시에, SNS에서는 마른 체형을 선호하는 문화가 청소년들 사이에 유행처럼 번지면서 체중 감량을 도와주는 비만 치료제에 대한 관심도 높아지고 있는 추세다. 특히 위고비와 마운자로 같은 비만약이 온라인 SNS를 통해 확산되면서 많은 청소년들에게 익숙한 이름이 되어가고 있다.비만 치료제는 단순히 체중을 감량하고 외적인 모습을 개선하기 위한 약물이 아니다. 비만으로 인해 당뇨, 고혈압 등의 성인병에 노출되고 일상생활에 불편을 겪는 등 특별한 치료가 필요한 사람들을 위해 개발된 것이다. 따라서 사용 시 개인의 건강 상태와 비만 정도를 세밀하게 고려해야 한다. 특히 성장기인 청소년은 더욱 신중하게 접근해야 한다. 비만치료제에 대한 실제 청소년의 의견은 어떨까. 청소년 11명을 대상으로 실시한 설문조사 결과, 63.7%가 “위고비나 마운자로에 대해 인지하고 있거나 들어본 적이 있다”고 응답했다. 비만 치료제를 사용하는 주된 이유에 대해서는 "체중을 줄이기 위해서"라는 응답이 54.5%로 가장 많았고, "외모·미용을 위해서"라는 응답이 27.3%로 뒤를 따랐다. 반면, "의학적으로 비만을 치료하기 위해서"라고 답한 비율은 18.2%에 그쳤다.이렇듯 청소년들 사이에 비만약이 순식간에 파고든 가운데 비만치료제가 의료기관이 아닌 일상적인 경로로 유통되는 사례가 늘고 있어 이에 대해 함께 알아보았다. 청소년들이 비만치료제에 대해 처음 알게된 가장 큰 경로는 81.8%로 “친구나 가족을 통해서”가 가장 높았고 Instagram이나 Tiktok같은 “SNS와 광고”가 36.4%로 뒤따랐다. 이는 청소년들이 의료기관이 아닌 광고, 입소문을 통해 비만치료제를 접하게 된다는 증거이다.그렇다면 이렇게 알게 된 비만치료제에 대해 청소년들은 어떤 시각을 갖고 있을까? 설문조사에 참가한 청소년 대부분은 비만치료제의 효과에 대한 인식이 비교적 긍정적이었다. ‘비만치료제가 필요한 사람들에게 효과적인 의학적 치료 방법이라고 생각하는가’라는 질문에서 54.6%가 긍정적인 답변을 선택했다. 또, ‘비만치료제의 대한 관심이 지나치게 크다’라는 질문에서도 54.6%가 ‘그렇다’ 또는 ‘매우 그렇다’라고 답하였다. 이 설문조사를 통해 K팝 문화가 청소년의 비만 치료제 오남용에 영향을 미치고 있다고 단정짓기는 어렵다. 그러나 비만약에 대해 관심을 갖는 이유가 “날씬하고 싶어서” “예뻐지고 싶어서”라는 대답이 대부분인 것으로 보아 마른 체형의 아이돌 스타나 연예인을 이상적인 몸으로 여기는 사회적 분위기와 비만 치료제를 체중 감량의 수단으로 바라보는 인식이 함께 드러난 점은 주목할 만하다.청소년의 비만치료제 오남용을 막기 위해서는 의료기관 뿐만 아니라 정부의 관리와 노력이 필요하다. 청소년들이 특정 체형을 이상적이라고 받아들이기 보다는 자신의 건강을 중심으로 자신의 몸을 바라볼수 있는 노력과 변화도 필요하다. 비만치료제는 ‘다이어트약’이 아니며 꼭 필요로 하는 사람만 적절한 사용방법에 따라서 사용해야하는 ‘치료제’라는 인식이 확산되어 한다.

Meta has been fined $25 billion (approx. 33.2 trillion won) in the United States for deceiving users regarding privacy protections. This marks a staggering fivefold increase compared to previous penalties.Judge Francis Mathew of the Santa Fe District Court in New Mexico ordered Meta on the 21st (local time) to pay $25 billion to the state government, ruling that the company violated state consumer protection laws by deceiving users over its privacy and content moderation policies. This penalty is five times the $5 billion fine the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) slapped on Facebook in 2019 for the same matter.Judge Mathew ruled, "Facebook promised users that they could control their own data, but this was a lie."The court recognized approximately 43.9 million violations by Meta. Applying a $5,000 fine per violation would have equaled about $220 billion, but the court applied a significant reduction to finalize the ultimate fine amount.New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said at a press conference after the ruling, "This is among the largest verdicts against a corporation in state history in the U.S.," adding, "This ruling is a signal and a clear message to Silicon Valley."This trial stems from an incident during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where a political consulting firm unauthorizedly collected the personal data of 87 million Facebook users and utilized it for targeted political advertisements.In August, 48 U.S. state governments reached an $18 billion settlement with Meta, agreeing to release the company from future legal liabilities. However, New Mexico, along with Florida, rejected the settlement and continued its independent legal battle.Meta argued that the fine should be no more than $3.4 billion and expressed its intention to appeal the ruling.Meanwhile, Meta has also previously paid a massive settlement in a facial recognition privacy lawsuit with the state of Texas. The lawsuit alleged that Meta collected and utilized biometric data without user consent through features like 'Tag Suggestions.' Meta ultimately resolved the case by paying a $1.4 billion (approx. 1.8 trillion won) settlement. Following the dispute, Meta eventually announced the shutdown of its facial recognition system in 2021.Meta has often chosen to swiftly clear its legal risks by paying massive settlements regarding privacy protections. Recently, however, lawsuits have also been emerging in Europe and the United States over how Meta utilizes users' public posts and data to train its AI (artificial intelligence) models.▶원문 기사: 메타 '이용자 기만'에 무려 33조 벌금형, 5배나 뛰었다 (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 22) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

As the cold wind starts to blow, many people pay close attention to their parents’ respiratory health. Many of them stop at the point where they ask their parents that they had their flu vaccination.However, the flu vaccination alone cannot prevent all severe winter respiratory infections.Kim Leehyung, the director of internal medicine clinic(Pulmonologist), said “Elderly people face a higher risk of respiratory infection developing into severe illnesses such as pneumonia.” and “It’s recommended to plan not only influenza, but also pneumococcus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV), and Herpes zoster vaccination considering the person’s age and underlying diseases.”Firstly, since influenza vaccination takes approximately 2 weeks to form protective immunity, vaccination should be completed before the virus spreads widely. However, getting vaccination too early could cause the immunity to disappear towards the end of the season. Therefore, the vaccination time should be wisely chosen. Furthermore, annual vaccination is required because of viral mutations and declining immunity.Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes symptoms similar to those of influenza, is often hard to recognize because it usually causes cold-like symptoms. Despite its mild symptoms, RSV could lead to severe infections, like pneumonia, for elderly people, people with heart or lung disease, or people that has low immune rate.The number required of shingles vaccination varies by the vaccine type. The recombinant vaccine is usually given in two doses, 2-6 months apart, and it has shown over 90% prevention among adults aged 50 and older without any problem with their immune system in clinic trials.Doctor Kim said, “People should check which type of shingles vaccination they got, and how many doses are necessary.”Another misconception that people have is that “Why did I get pneumonia even though I got the vaccination?”What people say as ‘pneumonia vaccination’, the pneumococcus vaccination, is not the panacea that prevents all pneumonia in the universe. Pneumonia occurs because of a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The pneumococcus vaccination is a vaccine that only prevents the viruses that have high fatality rate, which are complications such as infection, bacteremia, meningitis caused by pneumococcus.Doctor Kim said “Pneumococcus vaccination is vaccine for preventing infection caused by pneumococus virus, not a medication for preventing all pneumonia viruses in the universe”, adding “It is important to review not only past vaccination status, but also the type of vaccine received, including conjugate vaccines, and to determine whether it’s time for additional vaccinations.”▶원문 기사: 독감 맞았으니 안심?… 챙겨야 할 ‘백신’ 또 있다 (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 16) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

A study has found that workers with depressive symptoms are more likely to miss work or experience ‘presenteeism’, a significant decline in productivity while at work, than those without such symptoms. The health factors affecting work loss also differed clearly by age group.A joint research team led by Professor Young-Ho Yun of the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Juyoun Jung of the Division of Tourism and Wellness at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies announced on October 27 the results of a multivariable comparative analysis involving 1,000 Korean workers aged 20 to 49 in January 2024 (489 under 35 and 511 aged 35 or older). The team examined how depression and physical, mental, social, and spiritual health indicators were associated with absenteeism and reduced work efficiency. The paper was published in the latest issue of the ‘Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM)’, an international journal in the field of occupational and environmental medicine.In both age groups, depressive symptoms (a PHQ-9 score of 10 or higher) were the strongest factor linked to a higher risk of absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall work loss.The researchers analyzed the ‘adjusted odds ratio (a measure comparing the odds of an event occurring rather than not occurring across groups)’, which shows the relative effect of a factor after controlling for conditions such as sex, education, and income. Among workers under 35, those with depressive symptoms had 5.42 times the odds of absenteeism, 2.13 times the odds of presenteeism, and 2.43 times the odds of overall work loss. Among workers aged 35 or older with depressive symptoms, the corresponding odds were 2.89 times for absenteeism, 4.78 times for presenteeism, and 4.84 times for overall work loss, suggesting different patterns of work loss across the age groups.The health factors associated with less work loss also differed between age groups. Among workers under 35, good physical and social health was associated with about half the odds of overall work loss, with an odds ratio of 0.50. Among those aged 35 or older, good mental health was associated with an odds ratio of 0.32 (approximately one-third) for presenteeism and overall work loss, while good spiritual health, including finding meaning in life, was associated with lower odds of absenteeism, with an odds ratio of 0.41. Depressive symptoms were also more common among workers under 35 (33.1%) than among those aged 35 or older (27.0%). The proportion of work time lost to health problems was twice as high among workers under 35 (6.8%) as among those aged 35 or older (3.3%).Since depressive symptoms were linked to work loss in both groups, the researchers recommended depression screening, early intervention, and efforts to reduce mental health stigma at work for all ages, along with age-specific programs. As more Korean companies recognize that employees’ mental health is closely linked to organizational productivity, a growing number of workplaces are introducing EAPs (employee assistance programs) and mental health care systems.Professor Jung said, “Because the health factors that contribute to or prevent work loss differ by age group, it is urgent to move beyond uniform support and establish age-specific wellness programs.”Professor Yun, director of the Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, said, “Depression is the factor most clearly associated with reduced workplace productivity,” adding, “We need to change how we view health, seeing it not merely as an individual issue or an employee benefit, but as an area where investing in employees’ health can improve productivity and competitiveness.”▶원문 기사: “우울할 때, 30대 미만은 결근… 30대 이상은 출근 후 멍하니” (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 27) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 현 사회현상에 대해 학생들 시선에서 ‘왜’라는 질문을 갖고 직접 취재해 작성한 기획기사입니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단의 기획기사는 영문과 국문, 두 형태로 게재합니다. In recent years, numerous countries worldwide, including Australia and the United Kingdom, have proposed legislation to restrict or prohibit teenagers from using social media. These policies seek to safeguard teenagers from detrimental content and excessive usage. However, many teenagers have negative reactions to these restrictions. Adults want to limit social media use, while teenagers want to benefit from it. But does social media have exclusively detrimental effects on teenagers?One of the most significant advantages of social media is interpersonal communication. Teenagers can utilize social media platforms to maintain relationships with friends and exchange their interests and experiences. They can also engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, transcending differences in school, region, race, or religion, and broaden their perspectives. By meeting like-minded individuals, teenagers can gain exposure to a broader range of perspectives and explore future possibilities through these experiences.Leaning on social media can also be a valuable educational resource for teenagers. Even though some students use social media inappropriately, many others benefit from exchanging academic materials and accessing educational videos. In particular, they can rapidly acquire new knowledge about various subjects, incorporating social studies, science, and culture.On balance, these examples demonstrate teenagers believe that social media has lots of beneficial aspects as well as potential drawbacks. To confirm this directly, I conducted a preliminary survey of a sample of the 18 students regarding their social media usage. According to the survey findings, 13 out of 18 respondents (72%) reported they had learned new knowledge through social media, while 12 students (67%) reported that it helped them communicate with friends. In addition, 10 students (56%) said they had searched for or shared study-related materials on social media.On the other hand, 8 students (44%) said they felt they spent too much time using social media. This finding shows that, alongside its positive functions, developing healthy social media habits is also important.Experts emphasize that instead of banning social media outright, it is important to educate teenagers on how to use it responsibly. According to a study released by the Secondary Education Research Institute at Kyungpook National Educational institution titled A Study on Differences in Social Media Benefits According to Adolescents’ Participation in Media Education, teenagers who received media education were more likely to recognize the benefits of social media. The study also reported that educational support is needed to help teenagers use social media appropriately.Social media certainly has risks. However, rather than imposing a blanket ban on all teenagers, teaching them how to use it safely and developing their digital citizenship may be more effective solutions. Instead of banning social media without considering its benefits, we need to take a balanced approach that protects teenagers while also recognizing the positive possibilities of social media.

◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 현 사회현상에 대해 학생들 시선에서 ‘왜’라는 질문을 갖고 직접 취재해 작성한 기획기사입니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단의 기획기사는 영문과 국문, 두 형태로 게재합니다. 최근 호주, 영국 등 세계 여러 나라에서 청소년의 SNS 사용을 제한하거나 금지하는 법안이 추진되고 있다. 이러한 정책은 유해 콘텐츠와 과도한 사용으로부터 청소년을 보호하기 위한 목적으로 시행되고 있다. 그러나 이러한 규제를 접하는 청소년들의 반응은 대부분 부정적이다. SNS을 막으려는 어른들과 SNS를 즐기려는 청소년들. 과연 SNS는청소년에게 부정적인 영향만 미치는 것일까? SNS의 가장 큰 장점 중 하나는 소통이다. 청소년들은 SNS를 통해 친구들과 연락하고 관심사를 공유할 수 있다. 또한 학교나 지역, 인종과 종교 등의 경계를 넘어 다양한 사람들과 교류하며 새로운 시각을 접할 수 있다. 자신과 같은 관심사를 가진 친구들을 만나며 더 넓은 세상을 경험할 수 있고, 그런 경험을 통해 자신의 미래계획을 확장시켜 나갈 수 있다. 또한 SNS는 청소년들 사이에서 효과적인 학습 도구로도 활용되고 있다. 비록, 일부 학생들이 SNS를 악용하는 사례도 있지만, 여전히 많은 학생들이 공부 자료를 공유하거나 교육 영상을 시청하며 학습에 도움을 받는다. 특히 사회, 과학, 문화 등 다양한 과목의 새로운 정보를 빠르게 습득할 수 있다.이렇듯 청소년들이 생각하는 SNS는 부정적인 면보다 긍정적인 면이 많다. 이를 직접 확인하기 위해 학생 18명을 대상으로 SNS 사용에 대한 간단한 설문조사를 실시했다. 조사 결과, 응답자 18명 중 13명(72%)은 "SNS를 통해 새로운 정보를 얻은 경험이 있다"고 답했으며, 12명(67%)은 "친구들과의 소통에 도움이 된다"고 응답했다. 또한 10명(56%)은 "공부와 관련된 자료를 찾거나 공유한 적이 있다"고 답했다. 반면 8명(44%)은 "SNS 사용 시간이 너무 길다고 느낀다"고 응답해 SNS의 긍정적인 기능과 함께 올바른 사용 습관의 필요성도 확인할 수 있었다.전문가들은 SNS 자체를 무조건 금지하기보다 올바르게 활용할 수 있도록 돕는 교육이 중요하다고 강조한다. 실제로 경북대학교사범대학중등교육연구소가 발표한 <청소년의 미디어교육 참여여부에 따른 SNS혜택차이에 관한 연구>논문에 따르면 미디어 교육을 받은 청소년들이 SNS의 혜택을 더 크게 인식하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 청소년들이 SNS를 올바르게 사용하도록 돕는 교육적 지원이 필요하다는 연구 결과도 보고되었다.SNS에는 분명 위험 요소도 존재한다. 하지만 모든 청소년에게 일괄적으로 사용을 금지하는 것보다 안전한 이용 방법을 가르치고, 디지털 시민 의식을 키우는 것이 더 효과적인 해결책일 수 있다. SNS를 무작정 금지하는 것보다, 청소년 보호와 함께 SNS의 긍정적인 가능성도 균형 있게 바라볼 필요가 있다.

South Korea is moving toward its goal of reaching $1 trillion in annual exports (approximately 1,335 trillion won). In early October, the country recorded its highest export value ever for the same period. Thanks to strong semiconductor exports, total exports doubled compared with the same period last year.According to the Korea Customs Service on October 12, South Korea's exports reached $26.1 billion from October 1 to 10, based on preliminary customs data. This was a 102.0% increase from the same period last year and the highest amount ever recorded for the same period. There were 5.5 working days during this period, two more than the 3.5 working days recorded a year earlier. After adjusting for the number of working days, average daily exports increased by 28.5% to $4.75 billion. This was also the highest figure ever recorded for the same period.By product category, semiconductor exports increased by 170.9% to $12.2 billion. This was the highest amount ever recorded for the same period. Semiconductors made up 46.7% of total exports, an increase of 11.9 percentage points from a year earlier.Exports of other major products also increased. Petroleum products rose by 45.6%, passenger cars by 82.7%, steel products by 49.4%, and wireless communication devices by 62.6%. However, ship exports decreased by 13.4%.Exports to major markets also increased. Exports to China rose by 167.3%, the United States by 159.9%, Vietnam by 89.7%, Taiwan by 2.6%, and the European Union (EU) by 127.3%. China, the United States, and Vietnam together accounted for 52.3% of South Korea's total exports.When exports from October 1 to 10 were added to the total for January through September, South Korea's exports reached $840.6 billion. This means the country is getting closer to its goal of reaching $1 trillion in annual exports. So far, only three countries have recorded annual exports of $1 trillion: the United States, China, and Germany. South Korea has already passed its total exports of $709.3 billion for the whole of last year.The main reason for South Korea's export growth is the strong performance of its semiconductor industry. In September, semiconductor exports reached $60.3 billion, passing $60 billion in a single month for the first time.Kang Gam-chan, Director General of Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "Reaching $1 trillion in exports is now very likely, and attention is increasingly focused on when the target will be reached. If exports continue to reach $100 billion per month for about two more months, we expect to reach the goal in late November or early December."Meanwhile, South Korea's imports also increased from October 1 to 10, reaching $22.3 billion. This was a 65.5% increase from the same period last year. By product category, imports of crude oil increased by 56.2%, semiconductor imports by 66.7%, and natural gas imports by 125.5%. However, imports of petroleum products decreased by 10.9%. Total energy imports, including crude oil, natural gas, and coal, increased by 64.8%. This appears to be due to higher crude oil import prices amid tensions in the Middle East.Since exports were higher than imports, South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $3.8 billion.▶원문 기사: K반도체 앞세운 한국, '꿈의 1조달러 수출' 향해 순항 (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 12) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia and head of the world's largest memory-buying company, has dismissed concerns about a potential memory oversupply in 2029. He also emphasized that when it comes to memory, more is better. This is positive news for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the world's leading memory manufacturers.In an interview with CNBC on October 22 (local time) at Nvidia's GTC developer conference in Berlin, Germany, Huang was asked about the possibility of a memory oversupply. He responded, “I don't think so. The great thing about memory is that more is better,” predicting continued growth in memory demand.His remarks are seen as a rebuttal to predictions that a memory oversupply in 2029 could bring the current semiconductor boom to an end. Traditionally, the semiconductor industry has experienced recurring cycles of expansion and contraction. However, some analysts argue that the surge in demand driven by the AI infrastructure boom is disrupting this traditional cycle.Huang also emphasized the importance of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which has become a key component of AI chips. “We will be using it for years to come. We also plan to continue using large quantities of low-power memory, such as LPDDR,” he said.As the CEO of the world's largest memory buyer publicly forecasts rising demand, market concerns over a potential oversupply are expected to ease considerably. This could also alleviate some concerns about the future growth prospects of Korean memory manufacturers, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.Samsung Electronics reportedly set a new quarterly operating profit record of 100 trillion won this year, while its operating profit for next year is forecast to reach an astronomical 555 trillion won. SK Hynix has also continued to break its own earnings records.However, Huang also expressed interest in Chinese memory products. When asked whether Nvidia would be willing to use products from China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), he replied, “Of course, we are open-minded.”He praised China's remarkable capabilities in fundamental infrastructure technologies. He also argued that US restrictions on China had ultimately accelerated the development of China's domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, adding that American technology companies remain strong and are prepared to compete with anyone.Nevertheless, the US government remains cautious about American companies importing semiconductors from China, making the possibility of adoption uncertain. Some politicians are strongly calling for a ban on Chinese semiconductor imports. Apple has also expressed interest in using Chinese memory products, but its plans have been hindered by government opposition.Meanwhile, SK Hynix announced that it would abruptly suspend plans to list its second-tier subsidiary Solidigm in the United States. The company's shares fell by more than 2% early in the trading session, briefly dropping below 1.2 million won. However, the decline subsequently narrowed, and the share price recovered to 1.2 million won, even turning positive at one point during the session.▶원문 기사: 메모리 '최대 큰손'의 호언장담, '반도체 공급과잉 일축' (이코노미스트, 2026. 10. 23) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) has maintained its base interest rate at 3.0% to take a pause after two consecutive rate hikes. The decision has been made to examine the impact of previous cases and check on domestic and global uncertainties after the two cases in July and August. At its monetary policy meeting on October 22nd, all members of the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Board have voted to keep the benchmark rate at 3.0%. The decision was unanimous. It could be inferred that the central bank decided to manage the tightening of the rate hike cycle, while also evaluating the effect of two previous cases. The BOK has cut the interest rates four times in the past, in October and November of 2024 and February and May of 2025. After the four cases, they held meetings and concurred on keeping it the same consecutively for eight times, in May 2026. It resumed on raising the benchmark rates in July after three and a half years of keeping them constant, due to a semiconductor-led economic recovery and inflation concerns rising from conflicts in the Middle East. Extra rate hikes continued in August.The BOK noted that exports and investments promoted the strong expansion of the domestic economy in its monetary policy statement, while inflation stayed elevated around 3% along with continued financial stability risks. Nevertheless, increased uncertainty about the Middle East conflicts and monetary and fiscal policies in economies caused the need to maintain rates while accounting for and evaluating external risks and impacts of previous hikes.The underlying reasons for the central bank to slow down the tightening of the rate hike cycle include inflationary trends and economic growth. High demand for semiconductors has further promoted exports and investment, while improving income conditions are expected to gradually strengthen the recovery in consumption. As a result, the BOK predicts economic growth in both 2026 and 2027 to significantly go beyond previous expectations in its August forecasts of 3.3% and 2.9%, respectively.In September, consumer price inflation reached 2.9%, while core inflation reached 2.8%, both remaining similar on the the upper end of 2%. Short-term inflation expectations among consumers also remained at approximately the same level.The BOK predicts inflation to stay higher than its target for some period of time due to the pass-through of cost pressures and rise in demand pressure. Consumer and core inflation for 2026 are estimated to correspond with August forecasts of 2.7% and 2.5%, while inflation in 2027 is projected to outdo previous expectations. There are existing uncertainties and variables including oil prices, exchange rates, the pace of domestic demand recovery and wage growth.The Monetary Policy Board will monitor economic growth while maintaining a policy stance to make sure that inflation stabilizes at least around the target level over the mid-term, while continuing to pay attention to financial stability. The board expects strong growth persistence of the Korean economy, supported by exports, investment and recovery in consumption, yet inflation is expected to exceed the target inflationary level for some time. It also cautioned financial imbalances in the Seoul housing market and household debt. Additional rate hikes will depend on inflation, economic conditions and financial stability risks.▶원문 기사: “인상 효과 점검” 한은, 기준금리 연 3.0%로 ‘만장일치 동결’ (이코노미스트, 2026. 10.22) ◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with 이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.