Seoul’s department stores dazzle in festive holiday competition

Christmas has arrived early in Seoul’s department stores, where luxury retailers Shinsegae, Lotte, and Hyundai are locked in a competition to outshine one another and attract customers. With the domestic economy still struggling to recover, the festive displays went up even earlier this year, starting on Nov. 1. Shinsegae Department Store in Myeongdong arguably lit the fuse of this holiday decoration competition. Since 2021, the store has forgone outdoor advertisements for big brands durin

ConsumerNov. 21, 2024

LS, Demark’s CIP join hands for Ulsan wind power project

LS Cable & System, a leading Korean cable manufacturer, is bolstering ties with global infrastructure investors to supply its submarine cables for floating offshore wind power projects in Ulsan. According to the company on Thursday, LS signed a letter of intent with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a global investment firm specializing in the renewable energy sector. CIP’s project company, Haewoori Offshore Wind, plans to develop a large-scale floating wind park with a capacity of 1

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

CJ CheilJedang to spur overseas growth with new Hungary, US plants

South Korean food company CJ CheilJedang announced Thursday it plans to build new production facilities in Hungary and the US as part of efforts to expand its presence in global markets. The company said it has secured a site in Dunavarsany, Hungary, and has begun designing the facility. Covering 115,000 square meters with an investment of 100 billion won ($71.5 million), the plant will feature advanced automated production lines. Production is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, focus

CompaniesNov. 21, 2024

Concerns rise over unchecked prescriptions of Wegovy

Concerns are rising over Wegovy being available at pharmacies without proper prescription, as some people are grappling with side effects. Wegovy is a popular weight-loss drug known to be used by celebrities like Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian. Recently, users of the weight-loss injection have taken to social media to share their reviews of Wegovy, with many of them experiencing headaches, itching and skin rashes due to allergic reactions, as well as stomach issues. "The most unpleasant side

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Nationwide rail disruptions feared as union plans strike from Dec. 5

Concerns over possible nationwide rail disruption grew as unionized workers announced Thursday that they would go on an indefinite general strike on Dec. 5 to demand a wage increase and bigger workforce. If implemented, the strike is expected to affect the operations of high-speed KTX and other regular train services nationwide, as well as subway services in the capital area, including the operation of Subway Line Nos. 1, 3 and 4 and the Suin-Bundang line. The Korean Railway Workers' Union,

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Sejong Univ. ranks 11th globally in hospitality, tourism management

Sejong University's hospitality and tourism management program secured 11th place globally in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities by subject, released by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Graduate School of Education. Domestically, the university has maintained its top spot in hospitality and management for five consecutive years since 2020. Considered one of the world’s top three university rankings alongside QS and Times Higher Education rankings, the ARWU subject ra

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Border residents express distress over NK loudspeakers: local authorities

Disruptive noises from North Korean loudspeakers have caused residents near the inter-Korean border to suffer for months, with some complaining that their health has been compromised, according to local governments on Thursday. Data from a recent mental health assessment in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province, has shown that 28 percent of the assessed residents are experiencing significant mental health concerns. Conducted by the city’s mental health welfare center from August 8 to 14, it assess

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

LG Chem to secure massive supply of lithium from ExxonMobil

LG Chem has forged a deal with US energy giant ExxonMobil to secure up to 100,000 metric tons of lithium, a key material for cathodes used in electric vehicle batteries. According to the company, LG Chem Vice Chairman and CEO Shin Hak-cheol and ExxonMobil Senior Vice President Dan Holton signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday in Seoul. The deal price was not revealed immediately. Under the agreement, ExxonMobil will supply lithium extracted from its Arkansas brine fields to LG Chem&r

MobilityNov. 21, 2024

DC Inside bans minors from depression forum

A local online forum platform that been embroiled in series of crimes involving minors, has imposed a ban on underage users from writing in a forum about depression. DC Inside said Wednesday that underage users have been restricted from writing posts or replies on its "Depression Gallery," as part of the protection policy focused on minors recommended by the Korea Communications Commission. Investigative authorities and operators of the website will monitor the posts and replies on the

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Main opposition pushes to ease, not postpone, crypto tax

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is planning to pass a bill that raises the threshold for a planned tax on virtual asset-related gains, up to 50 million won ($35,800) per from the previously planned threshold of 2.5 million won, sources said Thursday. The original scheme for crypto tax gains would have taxed crypto-related income of over 2.5 million won per year starting January 2023, but it has been pushed back two years. The bill will raise the threshold for tax exemption, but the

PoliticsNov. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] Canada’s Genesis Fertilizers teams up with Korean builder for sustainable agriculture

In a step toward sustainable agriculture, Canadian fertilizer company Genesis Fertilizers has signed a $35 million front-end engineering design, or FEED, contract with South Korea's DL Engineering & Construction to develop a low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer plant in Saskatchewan. Genesis Fertilizers CEO Jason Mann highlighted the plant’s innovative approach, emphasizing its role in global food security. “We capture 95 percent of the CO2 emissions, making this one of the world&

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

Yoo Joon-sang inaugurated as head of Korea UN Volunteer Corps

Yoo Joon-sang officially took office as the seventh president of the Korea UN Volunteer Corps on Tuesday, highlighting his vision to foster a culture of sharing and volunteering, aligned with the UN’s peace, development and human rights principles. During his inaugural speech at a ceremony held at the Crest 72 Glass Hall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, Yoo outlined three key priorities: strengthening international cooperation, increasing participation and communication among youth and promoting

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

LG Uplus taps IT strategist as new CEO

LG Uplus, one of the nation's top three telecom carriers, announced Thursday that it has appointed Hong Bum-shik, head of corporate strategy at LG Corp., LG Group’s holding unit, as its new CEO. Hong, who earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University, served in strategist roles at SK Telecom and Bain and Company. He then joined LG Corp. in 2019 to oversee the group’s business strategy and nurture new growth drivers. He is also considered a merg

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

KG Mobility’s Tivoli hits 300,000 units sold in Korea

KG Mobility’s compact SUV Tivoli has surpassed 300,000 units sold in South Korea, with its global cumulative sales exceeding 420,000 units since its debut in 2015. The Tivoli has gained traction for its affordability, practical designs and consistent updates, making it a popular choice for first-time SUV buyers and young drivers. In its first year, the car captured 54.7 percent of the domestic compact SUV market, which grew from 28,000 units in 2014 to more than 82,000 units by 2015. As of

MobilityNov. 21, 2024

YouTuber gets life sentence for murder, 'thanks' court after verdict

A 56-year-old YouTuber who killed another YouTuber was sentenced to a lifetime in prison on Wednesday, after which he shouted "thank you" for unexplained reasons. Busan District Court found the defendant surnamed Hong guilty of retaliatory murder, rejecting his claims that he had never intended to kill the victim. The court pointed out that it was a planned crime, and that the defendant stabbed the victim 12 times to inflict critical wounds. South Korea's Criminal Act stipulates

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Vietnamese teen investigated for abandoning newborn

South Korean police said Thursday a recently born girl was found inside the bathroom of an underground shopping district, and that the mother is under investigation for abandoning the baby. The child was found inside a bag placed in the bathroom of the shopping district in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, at around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The child was in good health, and still had the umbilical cord attached. The child was taken to a nearby hospital for medical care. Police used surveillance footage to

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Hyundai Ioniq 9 debuts as electric SUV with home-like comfort

GOYANG, South Korea -- Hyundai Motor is expanding its electric vehicle lineup with the launch of the Ioniq 9, the company’s first large, all-electric sport utility vehicle. The Ioniq 9 is set to make its official global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday, following an exclusive media preview for South Korean journalists at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang a day earlier. Originally teased as the SEVEN concept back in 2021, the Ioniq 9 has evolved into a production-ready model designed

MobilityNov. 21, 2024