Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military

A wave of major K-pop artists are gearing up to reenter the music scene after completing their mandatory military service. Monsta X’s Minhyuk was the first of the bunch, officially concluding his military service on Thursday. Of the six bandmates of Monsta X, only Shownu and Minhyuk have completed their duties thus far, with the group expected to be fully reunited next year. Ong Seongwu, a singer and actor known for his debut via season two of Mnet’s "Produce 101" as part o

K-popOct. 4, 2024

Main opposition leadership to decide on postponement of financial income tax

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Friday decided to let its leadership make the final decision on whether to postpone the adoption of the financial investment income tax, which is set to take effect on Jan. 1. The decision made during a general meeting of party lawmakers in the morning, comes as the ruling People Power Party has been calling for the Democratic Party, which currently holds the majority of seats in the 300-member Assembly, to agree on the abolition or a postponement

PoliticsOct. 4, 2024

HD Hyundai's hydrogen engine wins top award at H2 MEET

HD Hyundai Infracore's hydrogen engine HX12 has won the top award at a global hydrogen exhibition, H2 MEET 2024, the Korea Automobile Journalists Association announced Friday. Journalists from the KAJA's 58 press members visited H2 MEET at Kintex in Gyeonggi Province from Sept. 25 to 27, to assess the latest hydrogen technologies of the participants and graded them based on the public's feedback, market potential and innovativeness, in cooperation with the exhibition organizers. H

TechnologyOct. 4, 2024

Did SNL parody of first lady touch a nerve? Rumors brew over crew's departure

A recent YouTube video has sparked a conspiracy theory related to January departure of Joo Hyun-young as a crew of SNL Korea, with some alleging that she had been forced to quit over her parody of first Kim Keon Hee. The 28-year-old Joo gained popularity with her appearances in the Korean version of "Saturday Night Live" since 2021. Little known at the beginning of her "SNL" stint, she rose to stardom for her witty depiction of various characters, including the character of

Social AffairsOct. 4, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Speed of lightning

Find the answer at the bottom. “Roasting beans on a lightning bolt” is an idiom widely used in daily conversation in South Korea. It means that someone is acting with such urgency that they could, figuratively, roast beans on a lightning bolt. The phrase is often used with a rather negative nuance, such as to describe the hasty and impatient nature of a person when they are trying to complete something at an unrealistic pace. Variations with the same meaning include “l

Hashtag KoreaOct. 4, 2024

S. Korea dismisses Kim's vulgar attack on Yoon as 'intolerable'

South Korea's Defense Ministry on Friday condemned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his sister Kim Yo-jong's criticism of President Yoon Suk Yeol and the Armed Forces Day celebration in South Korea, calling it "behavior that can never be tolerated." North Korean state media earlier in the day reported Kim Jong-un denounced and dismissed Yoon's Armed Forces Day speech, which warned of the regime's end if it attempts to use nuclear weapons, launching a direct and v

North KoreaOct. 4, 2024

Auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa says he hasn’t discovered his style yet

BUSAN -- Kiyoshi Kurosawa, who gained international attention with the psychological horror thriller “Cure” (1997), said he still hasn’t discovered his style or overall theme, expressing his pure interest and motivation in filmmaking. The 69-year-old veteran filmmaker was in Busan on Thursday as the recipient of the 29th Busan International Film Festival’s Asian filmmaker of the year award. “Making films for over 40 years, people in Japan call me a veteran director.

FilmOct. 4, 2024

대원외고 출신 토익, 토플 고득점자 장인서양 제공 실용 영단어 정리(2)

지난 연재에 이어 토익고급 기출단어를 제공한다. 토익 최신 정보를 모두 소화해낸 학생의 정리여서 눈높이가 독자들과 잘 맞을 것이다. 토익 Part 5기출 고급단어 100 정리(2) practitioner: 실행자 (ex) She is a medical practitioner. (그녀는 의료 실행자이다.) candid: 솔직한 (ex) He gave a candid interview. (그는 솔직한 인터뷰를 했다.) leverage: (1) 영향력 (2) 지렛대를 사용함 (ex) He used his influence as leverage. (그는 자신의 영향력을 지렛대로 사용했다.) latch: 문걸이, 자물쇠 (ex) The door was secured with a latch. (문이 문걸이로 잠겨 있었다.) inordinate: 과도한, 지나친 (ex) She spent an inordinate amount of time on the project. (그

English EyeOct. 4, 2024

Tender offer by MBK Partners for Korea Zinc set to expire

A tender offer by private equity firm MBK Partners to gain a controlling stake in Korea Zinc Inc., the world's biggest zinc smelter, is set to expire Friday, with all eyes on how the smelter's stock would perform, some analysts said. MBK, in cooperation with Young Poong Corp., the largest shareholder of Korea Zinc, raised its original tender offer price for Korea Zinc last week to 750,000 won ($567) per share from 660,000 won. In a rare counteroffer this week, Korea Zinc Chairman Choi

EconomyOct. 4, 2024

Seoul shares open nearly flat amid geopolitical uncertainties

Seoul stocks opened nearly flat Friday, as investors sat on the sidelines amid the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.02 percent, or 0.48 point, to 2,561.21 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US shares lost ground amid the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.44 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite falling 0.04 percent. International benchmark Brent crud

MarketOct. 4, 2024

[Well-curated] Chicken on skewers, tightrope walking and moon balloon

‘Culinary Class Wars’ meets intimate yakitori Nestled in a quieter part of Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, Atari is a hidden treasure for yakitori lovers. Run by "Chicken President," a food researcher and contestant on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars,” this intimate yakitori spot has built a loyal following thanks to its exceptional course-style dining experience. While the restaurant boasts a large sign, it doesn’t display its name, adding a touch of m

CultureOct. 4, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Nighttime view of Gongsanseong A nighttime stroll around the storied Gongsanseong is perfect for those wanting a leisurely walk that is also enlightening. The fortress in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, will be lit up between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Oct. 10. Installations will also give a glimpse into the Baekje Kingdom (18 BC to 660 AD). Visit ggm-art.kr. Wild chrysanthemums Check out a wide variety of chrysanthemums in full bloom at the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, G

TravelOct. 4, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Joker: Folie a Deux” (US) Opened Oct. 1 Crime/Musical Directed by Todd Phillips Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a failed comedian, is institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as the Joker. While grappling with his dual identity, Arthur stumbles upon true love. “Love in the Big City” (South Korea) Opened Oct. 1 Drama Directed by Lee Eon-hee Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun) and Heung-soo (Noh Sang-hyun), young Seoulites who have known each other since their college

FilmOct. 4, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel presents a new gastronomic journey Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel, located in Incheon’s Songdo-dong, welcomes autumn with the “Culinary Journey of Yue.” The promotion, held at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Yue, offers various Chinese dishes made with seasonal ingredients such as abalone, natural pine mushrooms, oysters and more. The highlight of the upcoming promotion is steamed lobster covered with black bean sauce, according to the hotel.

FoodOct. 4, 2024

[팟캐스트] (624) 성매매 후기가 온라인에 버젓이?

진행자: 최정윤, Chelsea Proctor Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate 기사 요약: 동남아 여행지에서 성매매 업소를 방문한 후기와 정보 공유가 특정 연령대 남성들만 가입 가능한 카페서 18000여건이 넘게 들어나 논란 일어 [1] South Koreans leaving online reviews about visiting prostitution establishments in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Laos have proliferated, despite legal prohibition both here for Koreans and there abroad, according to observers and legal experts here Monday. *proliferate: 급증하다 확산되다 [2] The post

PodcastOct. 4, 2024

[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close

The US presidential election is now just a month away. October traditionally brings surprises, but as things stand now, the race is a nail bitter. Vice President Kamala Harris has maintained a small lead over former President Donald Trump in nationwide polls since mid-August, but the race for 270 Electoral College votes remains extremely close. Campaigns are focusing their efforts on seven battleground states where a few thousand votes here or there could determine the winner. Compared to most p

ViewpointsOct. 4, 2024

N. Korean leader's sister derides Seoul's Hyunmoo-5 missile as 'useless'

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday mocked South Korea's Hyunmoo-5 missile, first showcased in a recent military parade in Seoul, as a "uselessly huge weapon." Kim Yo-jong made the remark in a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, just two days after South Korea unveiled the missile, known to be able to carry an eight-ton warhead, in a military parade marking Armed Forces Day. In a ceremony marking the ann

North KoreaOct. 3, 2024

Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years

Jeong Myeong-suk, the cult leader who gained global notoriety for sexual offenses documented in the Netflix series “In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal,” had his prison sentence reduced to 17 years by an appellate court on Wednesday. Known to his followers as the "Jesus Morning Star," Jeong is the leader of the Christian Gospel Mission. He was initially sentenced last December to 23 years in prison for the rape and sexual assault of three female believers. Upholding Jeong&#

Social AffairsOct. 3, 2024

Samsung, Hyundai chiefs to accompany Yoon on Singapore trip

A group of business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, will accompany President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to Singapore next week, industry sources said Thursday. Yoon is set to embark on a three-nation trip on Sunday to visit the Philippines, Singapore and Laos to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and hold bilateral talks, according to his office. In Singapore, Lee is expected to attend a

PoliticsOct. 3, 2024