The Minute to Read (Weekdays) series provides a quick overview of significant events in Korea everyday, conveniently condensed into a one-minute read. Here’s a recap of what happened yesterday: Jan. 30.

With South Korea potentially heading for an early presidential election, polls show Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung (center) as the frontrunner, while the ruling People Power Party remains locked in a tight race to field a competitive candidate. /Newsis

With early election possible, DP leader Lee Jae-myung leads the race

With the possibility of an early presidential election in South Korea, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is leading in multiple polls, while the ruling People Power Party remains divided among several contenders. Surveys also show strong public interest in President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, with around 60% supporting his removal. Party support is closely contested, but more than half of respondents favor a change in government if an early election takes place.

South Korean investors rushed to buy U.S. semiconductor stocks at bargain prices after shares, including NVIDIA, plunged amid market turbulence sparked by the emergence of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. /Reuters-Yonhap News

S. Korean investors pour $276 million Into NVIDIA ETF despite DeepSeek shock

After Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s emergence triggered a sell-off in U.S. semiconductor stocks, South Korean individual investors, known as “Seohak Ants,” aggressively bought shares of NVIDIA and related ETFs at lower prices. Despite concerns that DeepSeek’s cost-efficient AI model could reduce demand for high-end semiconductor infrastructure, global investment banks maintain a positive outlook on AI-related stocks, emphasizing that U.S. firms still hold a technological edge. Analysts warn that while DeepSeek’s impact may continue to drive market volatility, long-term effects on semiconductor demand, particularly for S. Korean firms like Samsung and SK Hynix, may not fully materialize until after 2026.

A Hong Kong-bound Air Busan flight caught fire while waiting for takeoff at South Korea’s Gimhae Airport, forcing a chaotic evacuation of 176 people, with some passengers criticizing the airline’s emergency response. /News1

Fire breaks out on Air Busan flight; Delayed takeoff may have prevented disaster

An Air Busan flight bound for Hong Kong caught fire while waiting for takeoff at Gimhae Airport, with authorities noting that a 20-minute delay likely prevented a more serious disaster. Passengers criticized the emergency response, citing confusion and a lack of clear evacuation instructions as thick smoke filled the cabin. Experts emphasized the need for quicker decision-making in such situations, warning that had the fire occurred mid-flight, the outcome could have been catastrophic.

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