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: Oct. 21.
Schlumberger to lead mud logging in S. Korea’s East Sea oil, gas project
Schlumberger, the world’s leading oil drilling company, has secured a contract with the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) to conduct “mud logging” for the initial exploratory drilling of gas and oil reserves in Yeongil Bay, part of the East Sea’s “Blue Whale” project. Scheduled for December, this exploratory drilling aims to analyze geological formations and assess the reserves’ potential, likened to a medical “biopsy.” Schlumberger’s involvement follows its previous assessment, which highlighted both risks and a high probability of success in the project.
N. Korea gains combat experience, S. Korea battles manpower shortages
North Korea has reportedly deployed troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, raising concerns that the isolated nation may gain valuable combat experience and modernize its military through access to Russian technology. In contrast, South Korea faces military readiness challenges, including personnel shortages and inadequate training within frontline units, exacerbated by a declining population and an exodus of junior officers and NCOs.
Instagram usage soars 42% in S. Korea, Naver and KakaoTalk see declines
Instagram usage among mobile app users in South Korea has surged by 42% over the past year, reaching 378.93 million hours in September this year, while domestic apps like KakaoTalk and Naver have experienced declines of 3.3% and 9.7%, respectively. YouTube also saw an increase, with 1.80 billion hours of usage, driven by the rising popularity of short-form videos on both platforms. This trend indicates a shift towards foreign apps as domestic app engagement wanes.
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