South Korea, Retiring Young, and the Great Stain Remover

What to know about South Korea

South Korea, an East Asian country about a quarter the size of California, is the 13th-largest economy in the world, emerging as a major player on the global stage in a remarkably short span of historical time. 

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, what was once a poverty-stricken, largely agrarian population ruled by a military dictatorship has become an urban, industrialized, highly educated society. Its young but durable democracy has managed to withstand episodes of political turbulence and ongoing tensions with its nuclear-armed neighbor, North Korea. 

In recent years, Korean culture has become one of the country’s chief exports, with K-pop music and media like “Squid Game” and “Parasite” attracting huge audiences in the West. At home, the country faces a demographic crisis, with declining birth rates, high youth unemployment, and the highest incidence of suicide in the developed world.

... Read our full deep dive on the genre here.

Also, check out ... 

> South Korean average height increased by roughly 7 inches in a century. (More)

> The wealthy "chaebol" families who run South Korea's economy. (More)

> The nature preserve inside Korea's demilitarized zone. (More)

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FIRE, 101

Most US workers aim to retire around age 65—but for many followers of the FIRE movement, which stands for “financial independence, retire early,” that’s not the case. FIRE followers, who range from low- to high-income workers, typically prioritize high savings rates, relatively frugal living, and aggressive investing strategies in an effort to work less and enjoy life more in the long-term (see five distinct approaches).

While many proponents argue that the movement is more of a mindset about achieving financial freedom than any specific retirement date, both ends require similar means (watch a pioneer in the movement explain the mindset). 

The movement also isn’t without its critics. Some note that saving aggressively or maximizing income isn’t feasible for many, especially those with dependents such as children or elderly parents. They argue that FIRE followers are particularly at risk in times of economic hardship, such as high inflation or a long-term dip in the stock market, and that they underestimate how much money they actually need to save.

... Read our full deep dive on FIRE here.

Also, check out ... 

> How much money you need to retire in each state. (More)

> Inside a FIRE follower's money diary. (More)

> Despite FIRE, most Americans are retiring later than they used to. (More)

What was the HGP?

The Human Genome Project was an international collaboration to map all the genetic information found in humans and several organisms of importance in biological research. From 1990 to 2003, more than 2,000 scientists from universities and research facilities worldwide sequenced more than 3 billion base pairs of a genetic tapestry built from 20 individuals from Buffalo, New York.
 

The HGP was proposed in the mid-1980s as a joint initiative by the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Energy to identify the genetic cause of illnesses and the genetic effects of radiation and energy-related chemicals (see timeline).

The composite genome was cut into fragments, which were sent to 20 sequencing centers, processed, and combined on computers to reassemble. The project would end with publishing a 92%-complete human genome sequence, which would be finalized thanks to new technologies in 2022.

... Read our full write-up on the project here.

Also, check out ... 

> About 70% of the project's reference genome sequence came from one donor. (More)

> The project spawned numerous spinoff genetics projects. (More)

> How the project overpromised on its final outcomes. (More)

Best of the Week

We added 208 learnings this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of our favorites.

Some couples use chatbots to mediate their marriages—often ending in divorce. 

Why muscles get fatigued. 

A star investment banker was fired, launching a 10-year legal fight.

Imagining if Disney films about animals were scientifically accurate.

Reflections from Ben Giles, the world's greatest stain remover.

A tracker keeping score on past and future prophecies of apocalypse.

Restaurants are dishing out more chicken amid "The Great Chickening." 

Six examples of unusually large single-celled organisms. 

In "Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift nods to Pre-Raphaelite muse Elizabeth Siddal.

How NASA plans to build a base on the moon.

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" was a satire urging cannibalism. 

Gatorade was first developed for college football players in the Florida heat.

How dreams have long been used for religious and political power.

A map showing trip durations via train from various European stations.

A history of the boombox, aka the Portable Radio Cassette Recorder. 

In partnership with ButcherBox

Treat Yourself to Quality Protein

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Please support our sponsors!

New From 1440: Our First Podcast Series

Historybook: Harry Truman makes first US presidential television address from the White House (1947); Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson born (1958); Public Broadcasting Service launches (1970); Actress Kate Winslet born (1975); Steve Jobs dies (2011).