Although Mr Kim remains optimistic that the economy will bottom out soon, the recession could be longer and deeper than many expect.

ECONOMIST: South Korea

"The idea was to create a space without using walls, " said the younger Mr. Lim, who designed the piece with Mr. Kim and Eddy Man Kim, their third partner who is planning to move to Hong Kong soon.

WSJ: Modern Homes: To Doze, To Design in Hong Kong

Seoul's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Monday he still believes the missile would be fired soon.

WSJ: North Korea Rebuffs U.S. on Talks

The other top trend that won't be disappearing anytime soon is the boyfriend blazer, seen on everyone from Rachel Bilson to Gwyneth Paltrow to Kim Kardashian.

CNN: The good and bad of 2009 celebrity style

Peter Kim Peter Kim , a former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology whom Scolnick picked as a successor, will soon take over.

FORBES: Questioning Merck's Optimism