Yoon's office says 3 bills, including on first lady, violate Constitution

Three recently passed bills, including one targeting first lady Kim Keon Hee, violate the Constitution, the presidential office said Monday, suggesting they will be vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The bills were unilaterally passed by the main opposition Democratic Party on Thursday despite fierce objections from the ruling People Power Party. One calls for an independent probe into Kim's stock manipulation allegations, as well as her receipt of a luxury bag and her alleged interference

PoliticsSept. 23, 2024

Governor of North Korean province in US to promote Yoon’s unification vision

Ji Seong-ho, the governor of North Hamgyong Province, is on a trip to Washington to discuss President Yoon Suk Yeol’s “doctrine” on Korean reunification with US government officials, senators and think tanks. The North Korean defector and former lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party told The Korea Herald on Monday that over his trip he is scheduled to meet with Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty; Amb. Julie Turner, special envoy on North Korean human rights; and shadow Sen. Paul

PoliticsSept. 23, 2024

Vote set for bill to toughen deepfake sex crime penalties

The National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee approved a bill to strengthen punishment against deepfake sex crimes and victim support Monday, with the aim of passing it during a plenary session on Thursday. During Monday’s committee meeting, representatives of both the ruling and opposition party approved amendments to the Juvenile Protection Act and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act. According to the amendments made to the Juvenile Protection A

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

Middle East’s big AI push lures Korean tech firms

In the wake of the artificial intelligence boom, Korean tech giants are seen swiftly expanding their foothold in the Middle East, where countries are turning their eyes to AI as a hedge to diversify their oil-centric economies. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the world’s leading chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., were reviewing the notion of building new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United Arab Emirates in the comin

IndustrySept. 23, 2024

Man arrested 16 years after murdering girlfriend, hiding body in cement

A 58-year-old man has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend 16 years ago, after her remains were discovered during construction work. Geoje Police and the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency said Monday they had arrested the man on suspicion of killing his live-in girlfriend in 2008. The man is accused of fatally striking the victim, who was in her 30s at the time, with a blunt object during an argument on Oct. 10 that year, at their residence in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. The sus

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Boynextdoor announces Asia tour plan

(Credit: KOZ Entertainment)Rookie band Boynextdoor shared plans for its first international tour via agency KOZ Entertainment Monday. It will embark on tour “Knock On Vol. 1” with a two-day concert in Incheon Dec. 14-15. From Jan. 30 to April 12, it is set to visit 12 more cities across Asia: Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Jakarta as well as six cities in Japan. The Japan itinerary reflects the popularity of the band in the country where it drew a large crowd at Su

K-popSept. 23, 2024

World K-Pop Center: Where K-pop dreams take flight

On the afternoon of Sept. 10, six K-pop trainees from China gathered in a dance studio at the World K-Pop Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, for a practice session. Donning comfortable training outfits and sneakers, their faces reflected a mix of excitement, nerves and determination. The trainees are just over two months away from their long-awaited debut as a K-pop girl group in Korea, set for mid-November. However, not all six will be able to debut. They are a portion of a larger group of 17 trainees w

K-popSept. 23, 2024

Pikki Pikki dance: Korean cheerleader dance routine takes social media by storm

In the middle of a bustling ballgame, a cheerleader casually fixes her makeup, seemingly preoccupied and unbothered — until a catchy beat suddenly brings her to her feet. She seamlessly launches into a dance routine, swiveling and swinging her thumb up and down to the bouncy, squeaky rhythm. This is not your typical cheerleading performance full of energy and acrobatics. Instead, the cheerleader maintains a cool, nonchalant expression as she throws her elbow up in place. The transition fro

Hashtag KoreaSept. 23, 2024

What will Yoon, Han talk about at dinner?

President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon are scheduled to hold a dinner meeting Tuesday, as several impending issues, such as the country's deepening medical crisis, loom over their heads. Besides Yoon and Han, the dinner will be attended by 14 officials from the ruling party leadership and the presidential office. Han recently requested a separate, private one-on-one meeting between him and Yoon on the sidelines of the dinner meeting, but the presidential o

PoliticsSept. 23, 2024

Seoul shares rise for 5th day on tech gains

Seoul shares closed higher Monday to extend their winning streak to a fifth day, backed by tech gains, as investors were digesting the US Federal Reserve's big cut last week. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.33 percent, or 8.64 points, to 2,602.01. Trading volume was slim at 330.2 million shares worth 9.3 trillion won ($6.96 billion), with losers slightly surpassing winners 449 to 434. Retail investors and institutions pur

MarketSept. 23, 2024

SHINee Key turns into cyborg for 3rd EP ‘Pleasure Shop’

Key of the K-pop boy group SHINee released his third solo EP “Pleasure Shop” on Monday. The album features six house tracks led by the title track, “Pleasure Shop.” “The lead track is about a pleasure shop where people come to buy happiness. I am the person who sells happiness at the shop, but I do not have feelings because I am a cyborg,” explained Key. Despite the upbeat title, he darkened the lyrics to add depth to the narrative. “Even though people c

K-popSept. 23, 2024

S. Korea, Zimbabwe to strengthen education ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho sat down Monday with his Zimbabwean counterpart Amon Murwira, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, to enhance academic cooperation between the two nations. During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the state of education in both countries and explored avenues for deeper collaboration. Key areas discussed included expanding international student exchanges, promoting Official Development Assistance in

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

[News Focus] Ex-Moon aide slammed from both sides over remarks on leaving Koreas divided

Im Jong-seok, who was chief of staff for former President Moon Jae-in, sparked criticism across partisan lines after he argued South Korea should no longer pursue reunification with the North as a policy goal, and instead accept the status quo of two Koreas. Tae Yong-ho, on the presidential advisory council of Korean reunification, told The Korea Herald on Monday that Im was “empowering Kim Jong-un and his two-state policy” with his suggestion. “Arguing we should no longer stri

PoliticsSept. 23, 2024

Seoul begins preemptive strike on ginkgo trees before nuts become stink bombs

The refreshing autumn breeze offers a welcome respite from the sweltering summer, but it also heralds the season of smelly ginkgo fruits. To tackle the annual nuisance of rotting ginkgo nuts stinking out the streets, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched Monday a city-wide initiative in which specialized personnel will remove the nuts from trees before they have a chance to fall and rot. The operation, spanning all 25 districts of the city, targets female ginkgo trees, which account for a

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

Morgan Stanley faces scrutiny in Korea for suspected insider trading

Global investment bank Morgan Stanley has come under the scrutiny of local authorities, following the suspicious execution of a sell order on SK hynix shares made before releasing a bearish report on the chip giant’s outlook. On Sept. 15, during the Chuseok holiday, Morgan Stanley’s Asia-Pacific desk published a report titled “Winter Looms.” It suggested a skeptical projection of the company earnings, citing a weak demand for general dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM,

MarketSept. 23, 2024

[Online Predators] Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate

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. The posts often use terms like "byeonma" -- referring to a clandestine brothel disguised as a massage parlor -- and "cheolchang" -- for an establishment where five to seven minors are confined in smal

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

NK nuclear test 'possible' around US election in Nov., says Yoon aide

The scenario of North Korea conducting a nuclear test is "possible," and Pyongyang could conduct such a test for the first time in seven years either before or after the United States presidential election in November, President Yoon Suk Yeol's national security aide said Monday. Shin Won-sik, Yoon's national security adviser, told Yonhap News TV in a televised interview that North Korea could potentially conduct its seventh nuclear test given its need to advance its nuclear weapon cap

PoliticsSept. 23, 2024

Russian man found dead in disused zoo

A Russian national has been found dead at a shuttered zoo in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. The deceased, a male aged 67 years, had worked as a zookeeper at the facility until it was closed in 2023. The zookeeper was spotted at 12:45 p.m. on Sept. 11 by an individual who had gone to the zoo to purchase items from the defunct business, Gimhae Seobu Police Station told local media on Sunday. Bugyeong Zoo had been out of business since August last year after it had come under fire for holding

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

Civil servant jailed for posing as seniors, poor to gain business rights

The Supreme Court said Monday it has confirmed a two-year prison term for a former government worker for abuse of power and using the names of senior citizens and welfare recipients to win the rights to operate stores and vending machines at educational facilities. South Korea's top court confirmed the lower court ruling that found the former employee of the Daejeon Metropolitan Government guilty of obstruction of performance of official duties by fraudulent means, ordering the seizure of 4

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024

Seoul to host 'Smart Life Week' tech expo next month

An international tech exposition showcasing how technology can help people and urban living will take place at Coex in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul next month, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday. Scheduled to take place Oct. 10-12, the Seoul Smart Life Week will feature exhibitions hosted by local companies showcasing the newest technologies and products under the theme of urban living. It will also host international conferences and forums as a platform for cities around

Social AffairsSept. 23, 2024