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: May 25.
Kim Moon-soo seeks meeting with Lee Jun-seok to unite conservative vote
Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate for the People Power Party, said on May 25 he is seeking a meeting with Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok in a last-ditch effort to unify the conservative vote before early voting begins. He also pledged to prevent presidential interference in party affairs, in what appeared to be a veiled critique of former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s past involvement in internal politics.
S. Korean prosecutors charge Coupang over algorithm rigging
Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted e-commerce giant Coupang and its affiliate CPLB without detention for allegedly manipulating search algorithms to give undue prominence to their own inventory and private-label products over third-party listings. The charges follow an 11-month investigation triggered by a Korea Fair Trade Commission referral, which also resulted in a record $119 million fine. Prosecutors say Coupang rigged rankings for over 51,000 products and misled consumers, though they dropped separate allegations over fake employee-written reviews due to lack of evidence.
Apple vs. Samsung: Viral video pits smartphone AI against each other
A viral video by YouTuber Custom Adventurist compares the AI photo-editing capabilities of Apple and Samsung, using the same image of Steve Jobs. While Apple’s AI quickly distorts faces and erases features inaccurately, Samsung’s AI takes longer but delivers more precise and realistic results—prompting online praise for Samsung and ridicule for Apple. Critics say the episode reflects Apple’s broader struggles to keep pace in the generative AI race.
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