People attend a garlic auction in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang, on July 6.YONHAP
It's Monday! Welcome to the start of the new week. Here are the stories you need to know in Korea!
In today's news, Koreans are choosing to side with Micron in a war of words between the company and Apple over memory prices. BTS fans protest in Chile over a decision to stop the group from holding concerts in the country's capital. We look at the meaning behind the laying of funeral wreaths as a protest action in Korea.
What did Tim Cook say? The Apple CEO, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, criticized chipmakers for "passing along huge price increases." The costs are being blamed for price hikes on Apple products. CEO of Micron Sanjay Mehrotra responded, telling CNBC that "certain customers drove pricing significantly down in our industry."
How have Koreans reacted to the statements? It seems Koreans have begun siding with Micron, given the importance of chipmakers Samsung and SK hynix to the local economy. An employee at SK hynix referred to Apple's targeting of higher profit margins as being behind Cook's statement. "Apple has plenty of room to keep prices down if it is willing to sacrifice some of its margins. But they can’t stand that,” said the employee.
What about Korea's iPhone user base? Even in Asamo, Korea's largest iPhone community with 2.4 million members, the remarks by the Apple CEO have been criticized. One post even accused the company of moving to source chips from China after taking advantage of Korean chipmakers.
What is happening in Chile? Chile's National Sports Institute (IND) rejected an application for three BTS concerts to be held at the national stadium in Santiago. The government said that the decision was made solely on "technical grounds," citing concerns that a 360-degree stage could damage the stadium's grass and interfere with future football matches.
How have fans reacted? Fans took to the streets of Santiago in protest of the decision, saying that the government's explanation was insufficient. Protesters accused the government of making a politically motivated decision to divert public attention away from domestic issues.
What were protesters saying? The fans held signs reading "BTS to the National Stadium" while marching toward La Moneda Palace, Chile's presidential palace. “The concerts can’t be canceled. [The authorities are] taking away our chance to see artists whom we love and who have helped us through life,” said one protester.
How are funeral wreaths being used for protests? These wreaths, which are usually placed at funeral halls, are now being used to show dissent at game studios, entertainment agencies, courts and government offices. Known in Korean as geunjo hwahwan, they are made using white chysanthemums and are used to honor a person who has died. Their placement as part of this type of protest action, however, signifies that the target is as good as dead.
Where have they been placed recently? The controversy involving Paichai High School in Gangdong District, eastern Seoul, is one of the most recent incidents where wreaths have been laid. The flowers were placed there in response to a recent controversy where players from the school's baseball team taunted their opposition from Gwangju over the city and its history. Writing on one of the wreath's ribbons said, "In mourning for the closure of Paichai High School."
Is it crossing the line? The flowers have taken on a darker meaning due to the rise in their use, as they can be seen as wishing for the death of someone. "Isn't it too much to send funeral wreaths? Are they wishing [the students] to die?" a user wrote on Threads.
