October 27: Surprising GDP growth of 1.0% in the third quarter, KOSPI opens with a 3.4% surge, iPhone Duo screen damage controversy, Antropic applies for Nasdaq IPO of up to 2,654 trillion won

In the third quarter of this year, Korea's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.0% compared to the previous quarter, significantly exceeding the Bank of Korea's forecast, thanks to strong semiconductor exports and increases in facility investment and government consumption, and gross domestic income (GDI), which shows real purchasing power, increased by the largest amount in about 49 years, adding strength to the forecast of annual economic growth exceeding 3.3% (E-Newspaper, Kyunghyang Shinmun). In addition, the New York stock market's rebound following the application of American artificial intelligence (AI) company Antropic to be listed on Nasdaq added to the KOSPI on the 27th, opening at 5,658.65, up 3.46% from the previous trading day, immediately recovering the 5,600 level, while Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix showed a sharp rise of 5-7% in the early trading period (Chosun Ilbo, Yonhap News). KB Securities predicted that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be able to return a total of 120 trillion won worth of additional shareholder returns, which will serve as an opportunity to resolve historical undervaluation (Yonhap News), and Celltrion announced that its third quarter consolidated operating profit recorded 525.3 billion won, a 74.3% increase compared to the same period last year (Yonhap News).

On the other hand, signs of polarization and austerity continued in household economic and real estate markets. In the Bank of Korea's October consumer trend survey, the Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) fell again in a month, recording 105.4, down 1.2 points from the previous month due to the domestic stock market adjustment and the aftermath of the war in the Middle East (Dong-A Ilbo). It was calculated that an average of 43% was withdrawn from office workers' salary accounts one day after receiving their salary, with only 3% remaining a month later, and office workers who were flocking to the defined contribution (DC) type retirement pension recently Returns plummeted during the down market (Chosun Ilbo). In real estate in Seoul, the average sale price of apartments in the Gangbuk area exceeded KRW 1.2 billion for the first time, and a survival buying phenomenon occurred in which actual demand was concentrated in apartments priced under KRW 1.5 billion, medium-sized officetels (8.9% increase in transactions), and villas (SBS, Dong-A Ilbo).

In the online community, a Theku post sharing a report that the government had put the brakes on the practice of installing high-end community facilities such as apartment swimming pools, which drives up sales prices, attracted attention with about 41,000 views. In addition, on Theku, an article conveying the local reaction in Indonesia lamenting the gap between Korea's prices and purchasing power was posted about 56,000 times, and on Clien, an article about SK Hynix's leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) listed on the U.S. stock market was liquidated three months after listing amid the recent plunge, recorded 5,775 times.

The National Election Commission's special prosecution team (Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han) will deploy a large number of police officers ahead of the random verification of ballot papers that will be held tomorrow (28th) at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it will support a total of 3,000 people, including 48 riot squads and 300 detectives and investigative personnel, to maintain order at the scene and transport and secure ballots (Dong-A Ilbo, Yonhap News, Chosun Ilbo). In the legal and political circles, the Supreme Court is holding an interrogation today (27th) to decide whether to issue an additional arrest warrant for First Lady Kim Kun-hee, whose arrest is set to expire on the 31st (Yonhap News), and Rep. Jeong Sik-sik of the People's Power Party demanded that, as the first special inspector of the Blue House, the truth of the golf suspicions should be revealed (Dong-A Ilbo). On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Korea will hold a general meeting of lawmakers today to discuss plans to pursue a state investigation and impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, which reignited after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's appeal court acquittal (Yonhap News, SBS).

Vigilance has also increased in the security and cyber security fields. Amadeus, a global IT company that operates the reservation and ticketing system for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, suffered a hacking attack and information such as reservation numbers of some customers was leaked, spreading user anxiety surrounding the scope of additional personal information leaks (Dong-A Ilbo). In the border area, the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly continued to criticize an incident in which a civilian woman in her 30s broke through the front-line Civilian Control Line (Civilian Control Line) and approached the general outpost (GOP) barbed wire fence, damaging the light netting (SBS). A related post on Ruliweb recorded about 18,000 times, and the North Korean army was also captured advancing its main self-propelled artillery near the south and turning the gun barrel (SBS).

In terms of public livelihood and distribution issues, it was calculated that 590 gyms nationwide have closed this year due to the imminent launch of the obesity drug Ephe (epeglenatide), following Wigobi and Maunjaro, along with the expansion of apartment community facilities and the running craze (Dong-A Ilbo). On Instiz, an article about the Phase 3 clinical trial results of Maunzaro's next-generation substance was posted about 38,000 times, and on Ruliweb, an article about the latest on marathon competition to prepare for fatal accidents while running was posted about 25,000 times.

In the first game of the professional baseball KBO playoffs, the KIA Tigers defeated the Samsung Lions 5-1, overcoming starter James Nail's headshot ejection through an all-out bullpen effort (Chosun Ilbo). Samsung outfielder Park Seung-gyu showed fighting spirit to play the game to the end despite the impact of a headshot hit (Yonhap News), and KIA left-hander Lee Ui-ri, who pitched in relief, blocked Samsung's left-handed batting line with a fastball with a top speed of 157 km/h, earning his first win in fall baseball (Chosun Ilbo). On TheQu, two posts about Kia Nail's headshot exit scene attracted the attention of baseball fans, receiving approximately 42,000 and 41,000 views, respectively.

In overseas soccer, England striker Harry Kane, well-known as Son Heung-min's best friend, won his first Ballon d'Or and rose to the ranks of the world's best players (Chosun Ilbo). Ahead of the announcement of the national soccer team roster in November, Cho Kyu-sung scored his fifth goal of the season, and Turkye Besiktas' Oh Hyun-gyu also scored 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute, leading the team to a 2-0 victory (Chosun Ilbo, Donga Ilbo). In the entertainment and cultural world, Hive has strengthened its professional workforce by establishing an integrated organization to support the distribution and marketing of its affiliated labels (Yonhap News), and Blackpink Jisoo will release the second pre-released song, ADDICTED, from her first solo album on the 30th (Dong-A Ilbo, Yonhap News). In addition, leading American film media attracted attention by naming actress Jeon Do-yeon, who appeared in director Lee Chang-dong's new film Possible Love, as the first Korean actress to be a strong candidate for the Academy Award for Best Actress (KBS, Dong-A Ilbo), and on TheQu, a post about the public reaction to the doll personally designed by TVXQ's Choi Kang Chang-min recorded about 75,000 times.