[Photo] South Korea selected as a finalist for Economist “country of the year” along with France

Every year since 2013, the Economist news magazine has selected a “country of the year.” This year, the choice came down to France and South Korea, with the European country ultimately being selected as the winner on Dec. 19. However, the magazine was full of praise for South Korea, writing, “South Korea has had an extraordinary year, enduring threats from its missile-wielding northern neighbor with calm and grace…it has made great strides cleaning up its domestic politics despite living under constant threat of nuclear apocalypse.” In the photo, President Moon Jae-in waves following his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly on May 10. (Hankyoreh Archive)