1.South Korean author Han Kang was awarded with the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature Thursday, becoming the first Asian female to be given this prestigious award and the second South Korean Nobel laureate. In a telephone interview with the Swedish Academy, Han said all writers since her childhood had been a source of inspiration to her.

2.President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held their first meeting in Laos on Thursday and agreed to strengthen security cooperation against North Korean threats amid Pyongyang’s growing military ties with Russia.

3.The Bank of Korea on Friday lowered its key interest rate by 25 basis points to three-point-2-5 percent, after holding rates for almost two years. The decision came amid moderating inflation and signs of the property market cooling down.