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 a 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' Unio

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

Distress over NK loudspeakers compromising border residents' health: province

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, 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 Aug. 8 to 14, it assessed 102

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, tax on crypto gains

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) from the previously planned 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 2022, but it has been pushed back twice to January 2025. Main opposition Rep. Jin Sung-joon said the party would carry out

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

KEC makes inroads into Europe with massive Turkey highway project

Korea Expressway Corporation is making progress on its largest overseas project to date, a highway in Turkey that could serve as a gateway for expanding its expertise into Europe and beyond. The company celebrated a key milestone last month by signing a financial agreement for the Nakkas-Basaksehir Motorway in Istanbul. The expressway, at 2.1 trillion won (about $1.5 billion), is part of Turkey’s ambitious efforts to improve regional transportation. A critical link in Turkey’s high

EconomyNov. 21, 2024

Rose, Bruno Mars to perform 'APT.' at MAMA Awards

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Rose and global pop star Bruno Mars will give the first live performance of their collaboration single "APT." at this year's MAMA Awards. The two artists will perform on the first day of the two-day awards show to be held at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan, the event's organizer, CJ ENM, said Thursday. It marks the first time that the two will deliver a live performance of the global hit. A prerelease from Rose's upcoming first full-leng

K-popNov. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korea Expressway CEO leads push to export Korean road expertise globally

Faced with a slowdown in South Korea’s domestic construction market, Korea Expressway Corp. is looking overseas to fuel its future growth. In a conversation with The Korea Herald, CEO Ham Jin-gyu outlined how the state-run organization is expanding into international markets to meet the growing demand for road infrastructure expertise, from construction to long-term operation and maintenance. “For us, overseas business is not just an option -- it’s a necessity,” Ham said.

EconomyNov. 21, 2024

Invitation to The Korea Herald's Architecture Talk: More than APT

The Korea Herald cordially invites you to join us for Architecture Talk: More than APT on Nov. 27 at Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul. This year’s Architecture Talk expands upon the five-part series titled “More than APT” published in The Korea Herald that examined apartment complexes and alternative housing forms that, by their design, promote a sense of community. A panel of leading architects and experts will further expound upon the concepts introduced in the series.

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2024

Ulsan chasing domestic double, Pohang going for 2nd straight title at top natl. football tournament

Deuces will be wild in the final of the top national football tournament at the end of November, when two regional rivals in the top-flight K League 1 will clash for supremacy. Ulsan HD FC and Pohang Steelers will square off in the one-and-done final of the Korea Cup tournament at 3 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Ulsan will go for a domestic double, having clinched the K League 1 title earlier this month with two matches left on the season. It would be their second Korea Cup. Pohang

SoccerNov. 21, 2024

Samsung Electronics introduces 2nd-generation AI model, Gauss 2

Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday unveiled the Samsung Gauss2, the second generation of its generative artificial intelligence model, at an annual tech conference. During a keynote address of the online Samsung Developer Conference Korea 2024, the company highlighted the improved performance, efficiency and various application possibilities of its latest AI model. Samsung Gauss, first introduced last year, is aimed at enhancing the work efficiency of workers by facilitating tasks, such as comp

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

Celltrion to buy back its shares for 5th time this year

South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion Inc. said Thursday it will spend around 100 billion won ($71.5 million) to buy back its shares for the fifth time this year in a bid to increase its shareholder value. The buyback of a combined 583,431 shares will begin Friday, according to the company. It will mark the fifth share buyback by Celltrion this year, following such moves in March, April, June and October. The accumulative value of the company's share buyback this year is expected to

IndustryNov. 21, 2024