창간 80주년 경향신문

“The word I couldn’t say back then, transgender”···The question raised by KIRARA’s acceptance speech

Since electronic musician KIRARA mentioned their transgender identity in an acceptance speech at the Korean Music Awards, attacks against KIRARA and hatred toward sexual minorities have been spreading on social media.On the 27th of last month, KIRARA won Best Electronic Album at the Korean Music Awards ceremony. In their acceptance speech, they said, “Nine years ago on this stage, I said I hoped ‘friends’ would not take their own lives,” and continued, “I will now say what I couldn’t say th...

2026.03.03 10:12

Park Hong-keun “Stabilize the livelihood economy on the brink, and seek sustainable proactive fiscal policy”

On the 3rd, Park Hong-keun, minister-designate for the Ministry of Planning and Budget, said, “While setting the livelihood economy back on its feet from the brink, we must seek a sustainable, proactive role for fiscal policy.”Meeting reporters as he reported for the first time to a temporary office set up at the Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul, after being nominated for the ministerial post, Park said, “I understand my nomination as a call to establish a new strategy for t...

2026.03.03 09:46

‘Iran crisis’ sees KOSPI plunge 2% intraday, at one point ceding the 6,100 mark

On the 3rd, the first trading day for the domestic market after the U.S. strike on Iran, the KOSPI index fell more than 2% during the session, surrendering the 6,200 mark.That day, the KOSPI began trading at 6,165.15, down 78.98 points (1.26%) from the previous session. During the session, it fell as much as 162.21 points (2.60%) to 6,081.92, giving up the 6,100 level as well. The KOSDAQ index also dropped more than 2% intraday, at one point sliding to the 1,160 level.As expectations that ...

2026.03.03 09:03

Won·dollar exchange rate tops 1,460 won ··· dollar strengthens on fallout from Iran crisis

On the 3rd, the first foreign-exchange trading day after the U.S. attack on Iran, the won·dollar exchange rate surged by more than 20 won, quickly topping 1,460 won per dollar.In the Seoul foreign-exchange market that day, the won·dollar rate opened at 1,462.3 won, up 22.6 won. It was the first time since the 10th of last month that the rate exceeded 1,460 won during intraday trade.With the Iran crisis amplifying risk aversion, this is a negative factor for the won, a risk currency, while ...

2026.03.03 09:03

Anthropic AI ‘Claude’ criticized by Trump experiences access errors amid a demand surge···paid subscriber count doubles

The Claude service from Anthropic, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup embroiled in a dispute with the Donald Trump administration over whether to allow defense use, experienced a temporary access error on the 2nd (local time) due to a surge in users.Bloomberg reported that the consumer application (app) service for the AI chatbot Claude from Anthropic was down that morning.Anthropic said, “There was unprecedented demand for the Claude service last week,” and stated that all issues h...

2026.03.03 08:50

Oil·natural gas surge after Iran attack…Brent up 7%↑

On the 2nd local time, the first trading day after the United States launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, international oil prices and Asian and European natural gas prices jumped.On the ICE Futures Exchange, May-delivery Brent crude futures settled at $77.74 per barrel, up 6.7% from the previous session. At one point intraday, Brent futures surged 13% to $82.37 per barrel, the highest in about a year since January last year.On the New York Mercantile Exchange, April-del...

2026.03.03 08:43

A vulture restaurant opens for the ‘precious guest’ who flew 3000km [Photo Documentary]

Vultures are migratory birds that fly south in winter. They fly 3000㎞ from the Mongolian steppe, pass through North Korean airspace, and spend the winter in various places such as Cheorwon, Paju, Goseong, and Gimhae. Designated Natural Monument No. 243-1 and an endangered species, they are the largest raptors in Korea, with a wingspan reaching 3 m. Despite their rugged appearance, if they fail to find food in time they can collapse easily. Of the roughly 2,500 that visit Korea ea...

2026.03.03 06:10

‘Golden Squid’ war unfolding in South Atlantic waters···approval of large vessels vs. pushback from local operators and environmental groups

Seeking to rein in squid prices, which have recently surged to the point they are dubbed ‘Golden Squid’, the government has granted additional permits for 7,700-ton class large distant-water trawlers (bottom trawlers) to operate on the high seas of the Southwest Atlantic, a key fishing ground for the domestic squid supply. About 500 Chinese vessels are already operating in these waters, and Korea is also aiming to build up catch records in advance to secure quotas if international regulations ...

2026.03.03 06:07

Hwang Jong-woo, noted for ‘writing skills’ and handpicked by Roh Moo-hyun···nominated as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries in the Lee Jae Myung administration

President Lee Jae Myung on the 2nd nominated Hwang Jong-woo (59), a board member of the Korea Maritime Foundation, as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.Born in 1967 in Busan, Hwang, a board member of the Korea Maritime Foundation, is regarded as an expert in maritime and port policy.Hwang entered public service through the 38th Higher Civil Service Examination after graduating from the Department of Jurisprudence at Seoul National University. He served as director of port logistics planning...

2026.03.02 15:57

‘Out-of-region investment’ single-home jeonse deposit interest also to be taxed… President Lee: “Choices like in the past will result in losses”

As President Lee Jae Myung has been signaling a strong resolve to normalize the real estate market day after day, attention is focusing on whether tax benefits will be reduced not only for multiple-home owners but also for single-home households that do not live in the property. The government is expected to review a range of options to keep apartment listings in the Seoul metropolitan area coming to market even after the heavy capital gains tax regime is implemented.On the 2nd, the real est...

2026.03.02 15:52