Musical "Maybe Happy Ending", A Variation of ‘Only Love’

 

Maybe Happy Ending: A Musical That Wonders What It Means to Be Human—Through the Eyes of a Robot

Are we human, or… are we robots?

The Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending, now making its Broadway debut, poses this question head-on. Or perhaps more accurately—it flips it. Rather than asking how human a robot can become, it explores what it means to be human by looking through a robot’s eyes.

Written by Will Aronson and Hue Park, this musical is set in near-future Seoul, where two humanoid robots—“HelperBots”—live out their post-utility lives. Oliver (played by Glee and The Assassination of Gianni Versace’s Darren Criss) and Claire (Helen J. Shen, in her Broadway debut) are outdated models, discarded by their former owners and relegated to a kind of robot junkyard called “HelperBot Yards.” Like obsolete iPhones, they are victims of planned obsolescence.

Their story begins when Claire’s charging cable breaks and her battery life starts to dwindle. She asks Oliver for help—and an unexpected connection begins to form. Sound familiar? Maybe that’s the point.

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More Than a Robot Romance

Today, we live alongside self-driving cars and AI assistants. Robots are becoming not only more advanced, but more humanlike. Maybe Happy Ending doesn’t entertain the age-old question of whether robots will dominate us. Instead, it asks: Can robots connect with us?

In the show, Oliver and Claire laugh at violent depictions of machines in films like The Terminator. Their real questions are far more tender:
Can a robot replace a family? Be a partner? Fall in love?

And these don’t feel like science fiction. In fact, they mirror our present—our desire to form emotional bonds with the AI that now fills our homes. Ultimately, Maybe Happy Ending isn’t just a story about robots. It’s a meditation on what it means to love, to age, to be forgotten—and to hope again.

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A Genre-Bending Musical That Feels Both Fresh and Familiar

If you cross Her, The Last Five Years, 50 First Dates, Hadestown, and Black Mirror, you might get something like Maybe Happy Ending. It’s a delicate interweaving of science fiction and romantic comedy, but it goes beyond that. The musical holds traces of Her’s soulful AI narrative, Hadestown’s mythic fatalism, and the fragmented-memory love stories of 50 First Dates or The Last Five Years. There's even a dose of Black Mirror’s tech-noir melancholy.

It folds in classic road-trip structure and sitcom-like misadventures of robots fumbling through human routines. What emerges is a self-aware, genre-conscious work that both plays with and pays homage to romantic comedy conventions, giving them a gentle sci-fi twist.

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Seeing Ourselves Through Robot Eyes

On the surface, this is a story about robots—but at its core, it’s an emotional, very human tale. Oliver is a HelperBot 3—reliable but outdated. Claire is a more advanced, but fragile and short-lived HelperBot 5. Their contrasting specs become a metaphor for generational divide, technological evolution, and the existential gap between eras.

Both have been abandoned. That choice of setting raises profound questions about labor, value, and obsolescence. Oliver longs for his former owner, James, with a near-obsessive attachment, embodying the danger of nostalgia. He’s optimistic, always imagining what could be. Claire, by contrast, is clear-eyed and pragmatic—her worldview summed up by the line, “That’s just how the world is.”

She’s acutely aware that her hardware is failing, and that there are no more replacement parts. She accepts that she may soon live permanently tethered to a wall socket. Through this, the show quietly explores aging, disability, and end-of-life care with startling intimacy—all through the metaphor of circuitry and battery life.

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“What Is Love?” — The Most Human Question Asked by a Robot

At the heart of Maybe Happy Ending is one deceptively simple but profound question: What is love?
Oliver and Claire, though robotic by design, choose to explore what love might mean for beings like them. The show doesn’t ask why we fall in love, but why we do it anyway—even knowing it will someday end.

By giving these robots interiority—anxieties, desires, disappointments, and hope—Aronson and Park make Oliver and Claire feel deeply, heartbreakingly human. In the end, this isn’t just a story about technology. It’s a story about being alive.

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Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen: A Study in Contrast

Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen deliver two strikingly different, yet equally compelling performances.

Criss, playing the older HelperBot model, leans fully into the mechanical: rigid arms, stiff posture, minimal expression. The commitment to physicality is remarkable—you only realize how robotic he’s been when he finally walks and smiles like a regular human during the curtain call.

His vocals are strong, but his robot-like affect can create a sense of emotional distance at first. His makeup, reminiscent of a silent film character (designed by Suki Tsujimoto), may come off slightly distracting depending on your taste.

Shen, on the other hand, brings a naturalism to Claire that feels almost too real. Especially in scenes where she reckons with her own mortality, her performance evokes not a robot, but a deeply vulnerable human being. She brings warmth and ache to the metallic shell—reminding us that the line between machine and human might not be so clear after all.

The Overconcentration in Gangnam: When Progress Becomes a Crisis

 It’s time for the South Korean government to hit the brakes on its relentless investment in Gangnam—Seoul’s most overdeveloped and overprotected district. From the central government to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, both have competed to pour development projects into this symbolic urban core. While other neighborhoods in the capital saw mixed results from grassroots citizen-driven initiatives, Gangnam thrived almost exclusively under the protection of public-sector planning and capital.

But despite this overwhelming level of development, Gangnam still attracts an endless queue of government-backed projects. It’s already bursting at the seams with transport infrastructure—countless subway lines, expressways, and even high-speed railways have all been funneled into this one area. And now, the sprawl is extending eastward into Jamsil.

The GTX super-speed train lines don’t just pass by Gangnam—they pierce straight through it. Even major real estate scandals couldn’t derail these projects. It’s as if the district is politically immune—scandals ignored, accountability dodged, and development prioritized regardless.

The Gangnam Cartel

What makes this more alarming is the emergence of a tightly knit “Gangnam cartel.” Politicians, bureaucrats, scholars, and high-ranking public servants increasingly choose Gangnam as their home, reinforcing a geographic and economic elite. Gangnam’s influence now stretches south, absorbing Yangjae, Bundang, Seongnam, and even Yongin into its orbit as feeder zones or “satellite towns.”

This lopsided investment is not a natural result of free-market forces but rather a byproduct of administrative favoritism and collusion between political and business circles. The result is a distorted urban hierarchy. Rather than stabilizing Seoul’s real estate market, this overconcentration has fueled runaway housing prices—even during economic downturns. Gangnam’s so-called "invincibility" is no longer a badge of strength, but a sign of imbalance. It’s not just a Gangnam bubble—it’s a ticking time bomb for all of Seoul.

Southward Expansion—But Only So Far

Despite efforts to extend Seoul’s urban spine southward, the expansion abruptly ends after Jamsil and a few neighboring satellite cities like Guri. The proposed GTX-D line to Wonju is often cited as a sign of future potential, but it, too, is designed to strengthen Gangnam’s connectivity—only exacerbating the problem.

Legal Town and the Collapse of Urban Logic

The establishment of the judiciary and prosecution complexes in Seocho has brought unintended consequences. The Prosecutors' Office was built to tower over the nearby Supreme Court—both of which now cast literal shadows over SaRang Church. It’s difficult to tell whether prayers are directed toward God or toward the towering institutions of state power.

Even local food culture has been warped. Skyrocketing prices along Teheran-ro and Gangnam-daero have pushed up the cost of everyday life. What used to be considered premium is now just "average," infecting the rest of the city’s dining scene with inflated expectations.

Gangnam Is Not Korea’s Competitive Edge

South Korea’s global competitiveness doesn't live in Gangnam. In fact, the majority of white-collar workers who flood Gangnam’s high-rise office towers each morning are not Gangnam residents—they come from its hinterlands or from Gangbuk, the northern half of Seoul. Had these companies been evenly distributed across the city, Seoul might have evolved into a true polycentric metropolis.

Instead, what we’re getting looks more and more like a dystopian urban future—one eerily reminiscent of the mechanical metropolises built by Promethean engineers. On one end, we see sleek machines rushing through their overscheduled lives; on the other, we find broken, overlooked neighborhoods carrying the burden of poverty. This is not a tale of progress—it’s the birth of a Metal Planet. A megalopolis spiraling out of control.

What is a Megalopolis?
The term “megalopolis” was first coined in 1961 by French geographer Jean Gottmann to describe the densely populated corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C.—a nine-hour stretch housing over 100 million people. But its roots trace back to ancient Greece, where Epaminondas built a giant polis in Arcadia by the same name. Urban theorist Lewis Mumford described the megalopolis as the final stage before a city turns into a necropolis—a city of the dead.

And if Seoul continues down this path, Gangnam won’t just be the jewel of the capital—it may become the stone that drags the entire city underwater.

Czech Nuclear Deal: Korea Does the Work, Westinghouse Gets the Money!

 

When Patents Collide: Westinghouse, KHNP, and the Price of Nuclear Cooperation

In October 2022, U.S. nuclear giant Westinghouse filed a lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking an injunction to stop Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and its parent company, KEPCO, from exporting the APR1400 nuclear reactor design. Westinghouse argued that the APR1400 contains intellectual property licensed from them and that any international transfer of the design must be subject to its prior approval.

In response, KHNP countersued, arguing that under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, enforcement authority lies exclusively with the U.S. Attorney General—not private companies. The Korean side asserted that Westinghouse lacked legal standing to bring the case.

In September 2023, the D.C. District Court sided with KHNP and dismissed the lawsuit. However, the arbitration panel’s final ruling is not expected until the end of 2025.

Quiet Settlement, Loud Implications

In the wake of the dismissal, Westinghouse and the Korean parties announced a global settlement. The terms remain confidential, but Westinghouse confirmed it would drop all legal proceedings and move forward in cooperation with KEPCO and KHNP.

“This agreement lays a solid foundation for joint development of new reactor projects globally,” the company said in a statement. It was a diplomatic way of saying: the legal roadblock is gone—let’s get back to business.

Yet beneath the surface, the settlement reveals stark asymmetries.

Cash for Control?

Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman expressed optimism: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement… The world is calling for more baseload power, and together we can deliver.”

KEPCO CEO Kim Dong-cheol highlighted the return to a "50-year tradition of cooperation," and KHNP President Hwang Joo-ho emphasized the potential for a “closer partnership.” But for critics, the money trail tells a different story.

According to industry sources, KHNP agreed to pay $150 million per export project as an IP fee and a total of $800 million to Westinghouse. That kind of cash—while proportionally small relative to multibillion-dollar nuclear deals—can severely shrink profit margins. Worse, KHNP is now reportedly locked into using Westinghouse fuel rods for future reactor builds.

Critics argue that Korea conceded too much, too quickly, especially to secure the Czech Republic’s nuclear tender in August 2024. The APR1000, Korea’s export model, is based on Westinghouse-originated technology—something KHNP had previously downplayed by branding it a “domestic innovation.” The payments now undermine that narrative, weakening Korea’s claim to technological independence and giving the U.S. stronger grounds to regulate future exports.

KHNP responded tersely: “We are bound by a non-disclosure agreement with Westinghouse and cannot reveal the contract’s specifics.”

Meanwhile, Westinghouse Reloads

While KHNP paid up, Westinghouse kept expanding. In 2023, the company was acquired by Canada’s nuclear fuel supplier Cameco, in partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and Brookfield Renewable Partners.

Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel was quick to celebrate: “This deal positions us to deliver world-class reactor technology, engineering, and fuel services to the global market… As more than 100 companies across 30 countries have pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, demand is undeniable.”

The timing wasn’t accidental. Just days before, the U.S. and South Korean governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen civil nuclear cooperation. The Westinghouse–KHNP deal, in that light, looks less like a resolution and more like a strategic reallocation—money flowing out of Korea, technology acquisitions flowing in.

A High-Stakes “Partnership”

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm welcomed the agreement, touting its potential to “unlock hundreds of billions of dollars in collaborative projects” and create jobs across the nuclear sector. She framed it as a triumph for nonproliferation and international standards.

But many in Korea wonder: was this a partnership, or a one-sided deal?

KHNP has since withdrawn from bidding on nuclear projects in Sweden, Slovenia, and the Netherlands. Officially, the company says it’s focusing on SMR development and the Czech project. Industry watchers aren’t so sure—they see a quiet retreat shaped by early 2024’s IP settlement, which handed Westinghouse outsized leverage in Europe.

What the Patents Say

The technological imbalance is stark. A simple patent search reveals the APR1000’s IP links back to Westinghouse. KHNP’s patents cite Westinghouse’s prior filings and rest on them. In essence, Korea holds dependent patents that cannot operate independently—functionally subordinate to the original American designs.

In short, KHNP paid to settle, paid to export, and may now be paying to stay in the game.

From an industry perspective, the Czech win might have been a Pyrrhic victory—Korea scored the project, but the lion’s share of long-term gains could still be flowing to Pittsburgh, not Seoul.

Why More Single-Sex High Schools in Seoul Are Going Co-Ed

It’s no longer surprising that women now make up the majority in many graduate programs like law schools. But a similar trend is drawing attention at the high school level in South Korea: a growing number of all-boys and all-girls schools are transitioning to co-educational institutions — and the underlying reason comes down to academic performance.

In one notable case, a co-ed high school assigned library seats based on grades, and only about one in ten of the top students were boys. This pattern isn't unusual. It’s become almost a truism that male students tend to fill the bottom ranks when it comes to internal school performance in co-ed environments. For parents of boys, this concern is real enough to make them actively avoid sending their sons to co-ed schools.

Some families even choose elementary schools based on which middle schools will feed into all-boys high schools. In certain districts, you can see a noticeable rise in the ratio of boys as students progress from lower to upper grades — a result of parents gaming the system to keep their sons in male-dominated academic settings.

So perhaps the issue isn’t with co-ed schools themselves, but rather with the academic struggles of boys.

There are several commonly cited reasons why boys underperform compared to girls, and topping the list is — unsurprisingly — gaming. While girls do play games too, there’s a clear difference in how much they get immersed and what kinds of games they play. For many boys, it’s not just a casual pastime; strategy games and achievement-based gaming become time-consuming traps that hurt their focus on academics.

Sports can also play a role. Let’s be honest: it’s more often sons, not daughters, who stay up to watch World Cup matches. In fact, during World Cup years, it's almost a given that the number of male repeat test-takers (those taking university entrance exams again) will spike. Some parents are already worried about how the 2027 World Cup might impact their sons’ college prospects.

Romantic relationships are another factor. While dating doesn’t seem to affect girls’ academic performance as much — they’re usually able to balance both and bounce back quickly after breakups — boys often find it more disruptive. For them, a breakup can derail focus and motivation for a long time.

Interestingly, among the schools transitioning to co-education, there are more all-girls schools making the change than all-boys schools. Boys (and their parents) tend to prefer all-boys schools, while girls — with a few elite exceptions like Ewha Girls' High School — often avoid all-girls schools. Here too, academic performance may be part of the reason.

In 2025, five high schools that made the switch to co-ed were previously all-girls schools. Over the past 25 years, 85 all-girls high schools have disappeared across the country, compared to 51 all-boys schools.

Government data also shows that girls now outperform boys in basic academic skills across all subjects — even in math. The long-standing belief that boys are naturally better at math seems increasingly outdated. This isn’t just a Korean phenomenon. In countries like Norway, some educators have proposed allowing boys to start elementary school a year later than girls — to account for the growing academic gender gap.

The effects of this performance divide extend well beyond high school. It can be seen in admission rates to law school, med school, and other professional graduate programs. The question now is: Will this lead to more opportunities for women, or will we start seeing hidden social advantages quietly being introduced to support men?

Either way, it’s a shift worth watching.

From Tesla to Treasuries: Why Korean Retail Investors Are Flocking to U.S. Bonds

A shift is underway in the investment behavior of Korea’s “Seohak Ants” — retail investors who specialize in foreign (mainly U.S.) markets. Amid rising interest rates and concerns over U.S. fiscal stability, many are pulling money out of U.S. stocks and diving into long-dated Treasury bonds.

5% Yields Catch Investors' Eyes

U.S. Treasury yields recently topped 5%, a level many investors see as too attractive to ignore. The spike is driven by a combination of rising fiscal anxiety in the U.S. and looming debt ceiling uncertainty.

For Korean investors, May 2025 marked a record month: over 2 trillion KRW (approx. $1.52 billion) worth of U.S. Treasuries were purchased — the highest monthly net buying ever recorded. Long-duration bond ETFs, especially leveraged ones, drew intense interest. A standout example: Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull 3x (TMF) attracted $175 million in inflows.

The yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury soared to 5.15% in May, before easing to the 4.8–4.9% range in early June. The bond market’s volatility has been partly fueled by concerns over large-scale tax cuts and widening deficits — both seen as structural risks to U.S. fiscal health.

The U.S. Debt Ceiling Looms Again

Adding to market tension is the expected standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling, with a potential X-date around mid-August. The U.S. Treasury has warned that without an increase in the borrowing limit, emergency funds may run dry and budget disbursements could be suspended — a scenario that could trigger another yield spike.

The market remains split on how to interpret this moment:

“We’re at the early stage of a classic debt death spiral,”
— Ray Dalio, Founder, Bridgewater Associates

“This is just market hysteria. It’s a short-term overreaction — and a buying opportunity for mid-duration bonds.”
— Jim Caron, CIO, Morgan Stanley IM

Opportunity or Crisis?

Those in the “crisis camp” argue that rising yields may continue due to sustained fiscal worries, even without a full-blown recession. In that case, bond prices could fall further — particularly dangerous for retail investors holding leveraged bond ETFs.

In contrast, “opportunity seekers” expect a softening U.S. economy to push the Fed toward rate cuts. Supporting this view are slight declines in 10-year Treasury yields (from 4.413% to 4.357%) and projections like Morgan Stanley’s forecast of 3.4% yields by 2026.

From NVIDIA to Notes: A Portfolio Pivot

There’s a visible pattern among Korean retail investors: a sharp reduction in holdings of high-profile U.S. stocks like Tesla and NVIDIA, replaced by increased positions in long-term Treasuries. This reflects a tactical shift to mitigate risk amid policy uncertainty and elevated interest rates.

In volatile markets like this, having a clear investment framework is more critical than ever. While no one can predict whether yields will rise or fall from here, current U.S. Treasury rates — hovering between 4.9% and 5% — are historically compelling. For those entering the market, a dollar-cost averaging approach is advisable to hedge against further yield spikes.

Don't Forget the Dollar Risk

Unlike domestic bonds, U.S. Treasuries must be purchased in U.S. dollars. That means FX volatility becomes part of the equation. With geopolitical tensions rising — notably between Israel and Iran — the once-declining dollar has become unpredictable again. While Treasury yields remain attractive, a weakening dollar could erode overall returns for Korean investors, raising concerns about potential currency losses.

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For Korea’s global retail investors, the choice between stocks and bonds has never been more stark. Is this the moment to lock in 5% and ride out the storm — or will rising yields turn into a trap for the unwary? One thing is certain: the ants are on the move. 

Korean Medical AI Breakthroughs Gain Momentum Following FDA Approval of Breast Cancer Risk Predictor

In a major step forward for AI-powered healthcare solutions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval in June 2025 to Allix5, an artificial intelligence software developed by Clarity, for predicting the five-year risk of developing breast cancer. Allix5 analyzes mammography images to deliver a quantified forecast of cancer risk, marking a milestone in preventive medicine and the growing role of AI diagnostics in healthcare.

With the FDA’s green light, experts anticipate a significant acceleration in the adoption of AI in medical markets. As healthcare systems worldwide pivot from treatment-focused models to prevention-centered strategies, tools like Allix5 are expected to play a pivotal role in early detection and risk assessment, offering both medical and economic value.

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Lunit's “Insight Risk” Joins the AI Race in Breast Cancer Prediction

Although Clarity’s Allix5 reached the market first, South Korean med-tech company Lunit is preparing to launch a similar AI solution. Lunit unveiled its “Lunit Insight Risk” platform at the 2024 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting. The software analyzes mammograms to assess the risk of developing breast cancer within one to five years.

Unlike previous statistical tools, Insight Risk uses a big data-based model that considers individual patient characteristics, including ethnicity and medical history, enabling personalized diagnostics. Moreover, with its acquisition of AI software firm Blapha, Lunit now offers a comprehensive AI solution covering the full patient care cycle—from initial screening to discharge.

"Our strength lies in combining predictive analytics with total care integration," said a Lunit representative. "This creates a framework not only for diagnosis but also for customized treatment pathways."

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VUNO Targets Sudden Cardiac Arrest With DeepCARS

Another key player, VUNO, is currently pursuing FDA approval for its AI-based sudden cardiac arrest prediction tool, VUNO Med–DeepCARS, targeting a Q3 authorization. The product received CE MDR certification in Europe and UKCA approval in May 2025. With backing from clinical partners in the EU and UK, VUNO is now negotiating insurance reimbursement policies ahead of an official market entry scheduled for the first half of 2026.

In the U.S., VUNO is buoyed by its prior designation as an FDA Breakthrough Device (BDD), increasing confidence in a smooth approval process.

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3billion Aims at Rare Diseases With AI-Powered Genetic Testing

Meanwhile, 3billion, another South Korean startup, is focused on rare disease diagnostics using AI to interpret massive volumes of genetic data. The company's proprietary platform can analyze over 100,000 genetic variants in under five minutes with a 99.4% accuracy rate, giving new hope to patients with undiagnosed conditions.

"About 90% of known rare genetic disorders still lack targeted treatments," a company spokesperson said. "Our core strength is in detecting the undetected, which opens doors to new drug discovery pipelines."

3billion is accelerating its expansion into the biopharma space, leveraging its diagnostics to contribute to the development of novel therapeutics.

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Outlook: Can Korean AI Healthcare Stay Competitive Globally?

The recent FDA approval of Allix5 signals the beginning of a new era for Korean AI in healthcare. Startups like Lunit, VUNO, and 3billion are not only bringing competitive solutions to global markets but also reshaping the conversation around AI-enabled preventive care, early diagnosis, and precision medicine.

As more Korean med-tech companies enter the international stage, the hope is that their AI-driven innovations will carve out a lasting presence in the global healthcare ecosystem.

ARMYs, Want to Support BTS? Try Buying HYBE Shares Instead of Merch

 

BTS and BLACKPINK Are Back: Full Group Comebacks Spark Stock Market Surge

K-pop fandom meets finance as HYBE, YG, JYP, and SM stocks soar amid idol returns and improving China relations

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As of June 11, BTS members RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook have officially completed their military service. With only SUGA—currently serving as a public service worker—set to return on June 21, the long-awaited full reunion of BTS is just around the corner.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK is also preparing for a full-group comeback, with new music announcements arriving nearly two years and eight months after their last studio album Born Pink. Adding fuel to the fire, geopolitical analysts anticipate a normalization of relations between South Korea and China under the new Korean administration—paving the way for stronger K-pop activities in China, where restrictions have previously limited promotions.

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HYBE Stock Surges After BTS Discharge

While fans (ARMY and BLINKs) are celebrating the musical reunions, the stock market reacted even faster. HYBE’s stock, which had seen a decline into the 260,000 KRW range by early June, rebounded sharply. The share price broke into the 300,000 KRW territory following the military discharges of RM and V.

This surge reflects investor anticipation for BTS’s full-scale comeback, especially with the upcoming "2025 BTS FESTA" already in the works to commemorate the group's 12th anniversary. Insiders suggest that the event will be the largest in BTS history, and the market is treating it as a major catalyst.

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BLACKPINK Comeback Ignites YG Entertainment’s Stock

In May, YG Entertainment began to rally after announcing BLACKPINK’s return. With a new album on the horizon, YG’s stock jumped from 70,000 KRW to over 90,000 KRW, signaling high market confidence in the group's commercial potential.

From Rosé’s global collaboration on Apartment with Bruno Mars to Jennie’s viral fashion moment during her U.S. stage appearances, BLACKPINK’s individual influence has remained strong. Now, expectations are mounting over how much more impact the group can have when reunited as a full force.

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What About JYP and SM Entertainment?

Don’t count them out. JYP Entertainment has Stray Kids, often referred to as the “next BTS,” embarking on a major North American tour. Investors are optimistic about the revenue boost such a large-scale tour could bring.

SM Entertainment, on the other hand, may benefit less from its idols and more from China relations and strategic partnerships. In May 2025, HYBE transferred its nearly 10% stake in SM to China’s Tencent, making Tencent SM’s second-largest shareholder. As tensions ease and China’s restrictions on Korean entertainment (the Hallyu ban) soften, Tencent is expected to spearhead SM’s expansion in Greater China.

This geopolitical tailwind, combined with idol comebacks, is putting all major K-pop stocks—including JYP and SM—on a steady upward trend.

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Fans, Consider This: Skip the Merch—Buy the Stock

With BTS and BLACKPINK back in action, and geopolitical winds blowing in favor of K-pop expansion in China, the economic influence of fandom culture is more tangible than ever.

So here’s a suggestion for ARMYs, BLINKs, and all K-pop fans:

Instead of buying that 17th piece of merch, why not invest in the label behind your favorite group?
The real limited edition might just be their stock certificate.

President Lee’s Dividend Policy: Beyond Promises, Toward Real Tax Reform

 

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s recent remarks in support of dividend investing have gone far beyond campaign rhetoric. During his visit to the Market Surveillance Committee at the Korea Exchange, most media and analysts focused on his strong stance against stock manipulation.

But for me, one statement stood out even more:

"We will make stocks an investment asset on par with real estate."

This wasn’t just another campaign soundbite. It felt like a clear signal that the administration is ready to create a more favorable environment for dividend investors—one that could include real tax benefits.

President Lee did strike a cautious tone, saying, “Blindly cutting dividend taxes isn't always the right answer.” Still, he concluded by stating that his government would seriously consider adjusting the current system—particularly by supporting a plan proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee So-young.

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A Targeted Approach to Dividend Tax Cuts

The proposed policy would reduce dividend income taxes only for shareholders of companies with a dividend payout ratio of 35% or higher—that is, companies that return a substantial portion of their net profits to investors.

This kind of “selective incentive” aims to encourage better dividend practices while minimizing the fiscal burden on the government.

Korea’s Dividend Culture Still Has Room to Grow

In recent years, South Korea's largest corporations—particularly those with high foreign ownership—have gradually moved toward U.S.-style dividend schedules and payout practices. But the high price of individual shares often makes these blue-chip stocks inaccessible for retail investors, also known as “ants” in Korean finance slang.

Had there been more mid-range, steady dividend-paying stocks in the domestic market, it’s quite possible that a portion of Korean capital flowing into U.S. markets might have stayed home.

The growing popularity of monthly-dividend ETFs and the long-standing appeal of names like Macquarie Infrastructure Fund also demonstrate just how hungry retail investors are for income-generating assets within Korea.

A Policy for the People, Not Just the Corporations

President Lee’s comments revealed a broader vision—not just rewarding corporations that pay dividends, but supporting ordinary investors who rely on this income for living expenses.

He stated:
“If companies are distributing dividends responsibly and the impact on public finance is manageable, it’s worth considering lowering tax rates to encourage more payouts.”

Moreover, Lee emphasized that dividends shouldn’t be paid just once a year. By promoting more frequent, interim dividends, companies can help stabilize their stock prices by discouraging investors from selling off shares prematurely just to realize returns.

This is a policy clearly designed with the real needs of dividend investors in mind.

Calling on Corporate Korea to Do Its Part

President Lee also took the opportunity to challenge the corporate culture in Korea, which has historically lagged behind global standards when it comes to shareholder returns.

“Korea pays fewer dividends than even China. In other countries, people buy blue-chip stocks, collect interim dividends, and use them for daily expenses—benefiting domestic consumption and the broader economy. But not here.”

He pointedly criticized the outdated notion that companies exist solely for their owners, calling for a cultural shift toward viewing businesses as belonging to society and their shareholders.

Time for a Cultural Reset — and Real Policy Change

It’s time for South Korea to embrace a system where dividends are not an exception, but a norm—and where investors can confidently invest in companies that are transparent, responsible, and reward shareholders fairly.

“This isn’t North Korea. Companies shouldn’t be inherited like a royal bloodline. Yet in Korea, we still speak casually about chaebol second and third generations as if it’s normal.”

President Lee’s remarks may have planted the seeds for a long-overdue transformation:

• A stronger dividend culture

• A fairer tax policy

• And a deeper understanding that companies ultimately belong to the people who fund them—the shareholders.

Let’s hope this marks the beginning of a more balanced, investor-friendly future for Korea’s capital markets.

Samsung Global Research Undergoes Strategic Shift Under New Leadership

Since Choi Yoon-ho, former CEO of Samsung SDI, took the helm of the Management Diagnosis Office at Samsung Global Research (formerly the Samsung Economic Research Institute) late last year, a significant transformation has been taking place within the organization. The institute, once focused mainly on market research and consulting, is now increasingly tied to Samsung Electronics’ business divisions, signaling a shift toward performance-driven research and operational alignment.

Closer Collaboration Between Research and Business Divisions

According to industry sources on June 11, Samsung Global Research is no longer limiting itself to providing research and consulting services. Instead, it is now directly collaborating with Samsung Electronics on core technologies like IT and artificial intelligence (AI), sharing research output and raising the level of cooperation. Employees from the institute are reportedly dispatched weekly to Samsung Electronics’ Suwon headquarters, where they engage in regular collaboration with business units and work to translate research into commercial outcomes. What was once a separate, siloed research and consulting unit is now closely interwoven with frontline operations.

Choi Yoon-ho: A Strategist at the Center of Samsung’s Transformation

This change gained momentum with the establishment of the Management Diagnosis Office within Samsung Global Research late last year. At that time, Samsung appointed Choi Yoon-ho—then CEO of Samsung SDI—as head of the newly created unit. Since then, the office has not only offered consulting services across all business divisions—analyzing management structures, workflows, and organizational issues—but also begun dispatching personnel directly to support deeper collaboration.

Choi brings an extensive background in strategic leadership within Samsung. He has held key roles such as Head of Management Support for Samsung’s European operations, positions in the Future Strategy Office, the Business Support Task Force, and served as Chief of Management Support at Samsung Electronics. As CEO of Samsung SDI, he was credited with laying the foundation for the company’s battery business growth. Notably, between 2010 and 2014, he was a member of Strategy Team 1 within the powerful Future Strategy Office, earning him a reputation as one of Samsung’s top strategic minds. He is reportedly trusted by Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Vice Chairman Jung Hyun-ho of the Business Support TF.

Restructuring Design and Diagnosing Semiconductor Weaknesses

Under Choi’s leadership, Samsung Global Research’s management diagnostics are rapidly reshaping Samsung Electronics’ internal structure. Just last month, Samsung renamed its Design Management Center to “Chief Design Officer (CDO)” and reorganized it under the Device Experience (DX) division. This came less than a month after hiring global design expert Mauro Porcini as Head of Design, quickly followed by team restructuring and talent recruitment—moves that reflect Samsung’s intention to treat design as a core driver of DX competitiveness.

Meanwhile, management evaluations are underway for Samsung’s unprofitable Foundry and System LSI divisions, both of which posted multi-trillion won losses in recent quarters. The Foundry division continues to fall further behind Taiwan’s TSMC in market share and is narrowing the gap with third-place SMIC of China. Samsung Global Research’s analysts are studying global case studies and key success factors, aiming to have both direct and indirect impact on Samsung’s semiconductor strategy going forward.

Culture Shift: From Academic to Performance-Oriented

As Samsung Global Research takes on some of the responsibilities traditionally handled by Samsung’s central control tower, the organization is also undergoing a cultural shift. Performance-based management is replacing its former academic orientation. A source familiar with Samsung noted, “Samsung Global Research and its related units are transitioning from a scholarly environment to one that demands field results. There is a growing understanding that unless a team contributes meaningfully to the business divisions, it will not survive within the organization.”

A Korean Musical Breaks Through: “Maybe Happy Ending” Wins Big at the 78th Tony Awards

Dancing scene of two-robots!

At the 78th Annual Tony Awards, the Korean original musical Maybe Happy Ending took home six major awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Direction. For many in Korea’s performing arts world, the moment marked the realization of a long-standing dream—to see a homegrown production triumph on Broadway, the spiritual home of musical theater.
But Maybe Happy Ending wasn’t an overnight success. It was the result of years of careful planning, with global reach in mind from the very beginning.

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From a Nonprofit Stage in Seoul to Broadway Glory

The show’s journey began in 2014, when it was developed by the Wooran Cultural Foundation, a private nonprofit. It had a pilot run in 2015 and its official commercial premiere in late 2016 in a small theater in Seoul’s Daehangno district. Just seven months later, an encore run followed, and two years later, a successful revival cemented its place in Korea’s musical scene.

The accolades soon poured in. In 2018, the show swept six awards at the Korean Musical Awards, including Best Music and Best Book. In 2024, it completed an astounding 100 performances with a seat occupancy rate of over 99%, receiving a near-perfect 9.9 out of 10 in audience ratings.

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Building a Bridge to Broadway

Even before its official debut in Korea, Maybe Happy Ending had eyes on New York. A showcase in Manhattan introduced the story to investors, producers, and theater professionals, laying the groundwork for future partnerships.

That showcase led to a fateful meeting with Broadway veteran Jeffrey Richards, a producer with eight Tony Awards under his belt. Through him, the production secured the involvement of celebrated director Michael Arden, who had won the 2023 Tony Award for Parade. Arden’s vision brought new depth to the piece, and soon after, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss was cast as Oliver, the broken-down helper robot at the heart of the story.

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Darren Criss: From Glee to Tony-Winning Role

Criss, who rose to fame through the hit musical TV series Glee, earned the Tony Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Oliver. In his acceptance speech, he shared:

“To be part of such an extraordinary Broadway season, and to work alongside some of the best talents in this industry, is a source of immense pride.”

Performing on Broadway differs vastly from Seoul’s intimate black box theaters. With venues often seating over 1,000 people, translating the show’s delicate emotional tone to such large spaces required adjustments. The Broadway version’s jazzy rendition of the song Then I Can Let You Go is one example of how the musical was reimagined for Western audiences—retaining the emotion, but shifting the style.

This localization strategy proved key to its resonance with English-speaking theatergoers.

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Paving the Way: The Legacy of Korean Musicals Abroad

Maybe Happy Ending wasn’t the first Korean musical to step onto the global stage. In 1997, The Last Empress made its debut at Lincoln Center. In 2011, Hero, based on the life of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, also made it abroad. Though these earlier productions didn’t achieve commercial success, they laid the foundation for what was to come.

Now, with a historic Tony win, Maybe Happy Ending has raised the profile of Korean musicals on Broadway. It’s not just a win for one production—it’s a win for an entire creative industry that’s ready to be seen.

Broadway producers will surely be watching Korea more closely from now on.

Beyond K-POP: How the "K-" Trend Is Redefining Global Power Games

 When people think of the “K-” trend, most immediately associate it with K-POP. For years, the term “Hallyu,” or the Korean Wave, has been understood mainly as a cultural phenomenon. But that’s no longer the full story. The use of “K-” has expanded beyond entertainment to areas of national industry and policy—enter terms like K-Nuclear (K원전) and K-Defense (K방산), now widely used in reference to South Korea’s strategic exports.

European countries seem to be experiencing a mixture of unease and urgency in response to this shift. At the same time, they are watching closely to see which fields South Korea’s new administration will prioritize next. For example, while Korea has already won a major nuclear contract in the Czech Republic, the new Korean government appears to be placing even greater emphasis on initiatives like RE100—a commitment to 100% renewable energy.

Despite this broader vision, K-Nuclear marked a milestone on June 4 with a 25 trillion won ($18 billion) nuclear power plant contract. However, France’s state-owned nuclear company EDF has not backed down, filing a lawsuit over what it calls an “unfair bidding process.” The European Union (EU) seems to be siding with France, questioning whether South Korea's government subsidies violate fair trade principles. EU law prohibits direct state intervention in market competition among member countries and external partners alike.

The K-Defense sector is also facing headwinds. South Korea has already begun exporting tanks, self-propelled artillery, and even fighter jets. Starting with Poland, several NATO member states such as Romania, Slovakia, and Norway have expressed strong interest in Korean weapons, particularly as they seek to reinforce defense capabilities in the wake of growing geopolitical uncertainty. This has clearly made European arms manufacturers nervous.

South Korea’s defense technology may have been initially developed from American strategic systems, but much like K-POP infused traditional Korean elements and local training methods to create something globally distinct, the K-Defense industry has evolved into its own unique brand—technologically advanced and culturally resonant.

Yet, unlike culture, defense exports are deeply political. That’s the catch. If Korea mishandles its regional diplomacy or aligns too rigidly with one side, it could jeopardize its defense export markets. NATO may currently treat Russia and China as strategic threats, but Europe’s economic reality is far more complicated: it imports gas from Russia and consumer goods from China. Geography and commerce are not so easily divided into friend-or-foe binaries.

South Korea has no reason not to leverage this duality. Many domestic political voices—particularly those who claim to represent conservative values—simplify the equation: "NATO backs the U.S., we back the U.S., so we must be anti-Russia and anti-China." But such thinking ignores the interwoven global economic structure.

Military tension serves, in many ways, as a tool to renegotiate economic interests. If Korea abandons this nuanced position and throws in entirely with one bloc, it risks economic marginalization. We've already seen what happens when political entanglements bring about economic instability. Korea must remember those hard lessons.

Magic Candies Didn’t Win an Oscar — But It Won Something Bigger

Let’s start with the ending: Magic Candies didn’t win the Oscar. At the 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the award for Best Animated Short Film went to In the Shadow of the Cypress from Iran.

But even without the win, Magic Candies made history — and for many of us, that alone is a triumph worth celebrating.

This 21-minute animated short, directed by Toei Animation legends Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio, was based on the beloved Korean picture book by Baek Hee-na. While the film received critical acclaim in Korea for its creativity and originality, it emerged from an industry landscape where creators like Baek often face unfavorable "buyout contracts" that offer little long-term benefit. In this context, Magic Candies becoming an Oscar nominee is not just impressive — it’s hopeful.

It points to the growing potential of international collaboration. Partnering with a powerhouse like Japan’s Toei Animation — known for Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece — helped bring a Korean author’s emotional, imaginative storytelling to the world stage.

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What Is Magic Candies?

© Baek Hee-na, Toei Animation

Based on Baek Hee-na’s picture book of the same name, Magic Candies tells the story of Dong-Dong, a quiet boy who struggles to connect with others. One day, instead of buying more marbles for his solitary games, he picks up a bag of colorful candies — and everything changes.

As soon as he pops one into his mouth, his old couch starts to talk. So begins a journey where Dong-Dong begins hearing the voices of people, animals, and objects around him. With every candy, he uncovers new perspectives — and eventually, his own voice.

The New York International Children’s Film Festival, where the film premiered in March 2024, described it as "heartfelt and totally strange." And it is — in the best possible way. The film offers a whimsical, touching reminder to see value in the world and people we often overlook.