Yonhap News Summary

South Korea's finance minister predicts the nation's economic growth could surpass international projections, such as those from the IMF, if left unchecked by unforeseen external disturbances. Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il revealed this optimistic outlook during a press conference in Bangkok, where he attended the IMF and World Bank Group's Annual Meetings for the first time since assuming his role.

During the visit to Thailand, President Lee Jae Myung also met with the President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga. Their discussions centered on fostering cooperation in emerging fields like artificial intelligence and energy. This encounter occurs as Banga is currently in South Korea to participate in the Global AI and Digital Summit organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the South Korean finance and science ministries.

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has experienced a resurgence, climbing back to 37.3 percent following two consecutive weeks of decline, according to a recent poll. The survey, conducted by Realmeter among 2,520 adults nationwide from October 25 to 29, recorded a 2.1 percentage point increase in favorable assessments of the president's performance compared to the prior week.

Tragically, a rollover accident in Daegu claimed the life of one South Korean soldier attached to U.S. Forces Korea and injured three others, including two U.S. service members. The mishap occurred when their military vehicle crashed into a median strip and flipped onto its side on a highway approximately 150 miles southeast of Seoul on Monday morning.