Why does Apple have to pay Ireland $14.4 billion?

LONDON (Reuters) -- Apple lost a long-running court battle with the European Union on Tuesday, resulting in the company being forced to pay 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, as part of a wider crackdown on so-called "sweetheart deals." What happened? In 2016, the European Commission’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager accused Ireland of having granted Apple illegal tax benefits, unfairly diverting investment away from other countries. Both Apple and

TechnologySept. 10, 2024

S. Korean midfielder Son Jun-ho banned for life by China over match-fixing charges

South Korean football player Son Jun-ho was hit with a lifetime ban by the Chinese national football body Tuesday over match-fixing charges. According to Chinese media reports, Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security, announced the findings of a two-year investigation that revealed online gambling, match-fixing and bribery cases. Chinese Football Association (CFA) president Song Kai confirmed 43 people have been banned for life from football-related activities, wit

SoccerSept. 10, 2024

SpaceX launches billionaire to conduct the first private spacewalk

CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) -- A daredevil billionaire rocketed back into orbit Tuesday, aiming to perform the first private spacewalk and venture farther than anyone since NASA's Apollo moonshots. Unlike his previous chartered flight, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman shared the cost with SpaceX this time around, which included developing and testing brand new spacesuits to see how they'll hold up in the harsh vacuum. If all goes as planned, it will be the first time private citizens conduct a

TechnologySept. 10, 2024

BTS' Suga summarily indicted over DUI offense

Prosecutors have summarily indicted Suga of K-pop superband BTS on charges of driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol, officials said Tuesday. Late at night on Aug. 6, police officers found Suga trying to get up after falling off his electric scooter under the influence of alcohol near his residence in the Hannam neighborhood of the Yongsan district. His blood alcohol concentration was measured at 0.227 percent, far exceeding the 0.08 percent threshold, which is subject to the

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

2024 BICOF to kick off focused on international exchanges in comics

The Bucheon International Comics Festival, one of the largest comics events in the nation, is slated to commence its four-day run from Oct. 3 to Oct. 6, with this year's festival placing a special emphasis on fostering international exchanges in comics. The 2024 BICOF will kick off with an opening ceremony at 4 p.m., Oct, 3, at Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The ceremony will include the Bucheon Comics Awards, an event which annually honors popular Korean comics. Accordi

CultureSept. 10, 2024

Tmon, WeMakePrice enter rehabilitation amid payment crisis

Cash-strapped e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice have managed to avoid bankruptcy by commencing the corporate rehabilitation process, which will enable the two companies to restructure their debts to over 100,000 creditors under the oversight of court-appointed custodians. The Seoul Rehabilitation Court approved on Tuesday to initiate rehabilitation procedures for Tmon and WeMakePrice, which have recently been mired in controversy due to delayed payments, stemming from a liquidity crisis

IndustrySept. 10, 2024

Cho Seong-jin, Lim Yunchan to play with world-renowned orchestras this winter in Korea

Before the year's end, world-renowned orchestras will come to South Korea and collaborate with two of the country’s most sought-after pianists: Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yunchan. Cho will take the stage with the Vienna Philharmonic from Austria in October and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany in November. The Vienna Philharmonic is to visit the country for a fourth consecutive year, this time under the baton of Andris Nelsons. The orchestra will hold concerts at the Seo

CultureSept. 10, 2024

Korean teachers handling larger classes, but starting pay lags behind OECD average

South Korean teachers handle larger classes, but earn less compared with several of their counterparts in other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Education Ministry said Tuesday. According to the latest edition of a government report analyzing the OECD's annual "Education at a Glance," the number of students per teacher in South Korea stood at 15.8 in elementary schools and 13.1 in middle schools, respectively, in 2022, which was higher than

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

Syphilis cases in S. Korea surge amid stricter reporting rules

Amid reports of a spike in syphilis infections in the US, Japan, and other countries, recent data shows that South Korea is also experiencing a similar rise in its own cases after reporting requirements were tightened. According to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, obtained and provided Tuesday by the Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Seo Mi-hwa, the country recorded 1,881 syphilis cases in the first eight months of this year. This figure represents a 4.5-fold increase

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

‘Officer Black Belt’ explores world of probation officers

Netflix original film “Officer Black Belt” explores the world of probation officers -- a little covered topic in Korea -- with witty comedy and thrilling action sequences. This coming-of-age comedy action “Officer Black Belt” revolves around Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin) who has exceptional martial arts skills and goes on to assist probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun). The two pair up to keep an eye on criminals wearing ankle monitors. Director Jason Kim (“Midn

FilmSept. 10, 2024

K-content industry should focus on diverse monetization opportunities: industry expert

The Korean content industry should seek out ways to diverse monetizing opportunities, experts told a global conference on streaming industries in Asia. Speaking at the conference titled "Korea in View" held Aug. 29, Marianne Lee, chief of content acquisition and development at streaming platform Viu, said the content industry in Korea is going through a "correction period," in which the industry is now struggling to keep up with soaring production costs, which have risen four

TelevisionSept. 10, 2024

Battery factory safety measures proposed

The South Korean government announced a set of measures to prevent fires and explosions in battery production factories by proposing specific safety management standards for such factories on Tuesday. The recent set of measures comes after the fatal fire at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on June 24, which resulted in 23 deaths. Since the incident, a task force consisting of officials from the Ministry of Interior and Safety as well as other ministries and experts was for

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

Seoul-Gimpo commuter line still jam-packed, despite expanded operation

Government data showed Tuesday that the notoriously crowded commuter rails connecting Seoul and the satellite city of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, continue to be full beyond capacity, despite additional subway trains being dispatched recently to address the issue. The subway trains of Gimpo Goldline, which connects Seoul and the Gimpo, were carrying as much as 208 percent of the stated maximum capacity of passengers during rush hour, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., early this month, according to the G

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Le Sserafim cracks Billboard’s Hot 100

Le Sserafim’s newly released song “Crazy” ranked No. 76 on Billboard’s Hot 100, said agency Source Music Tuesday citing the publication. This is the second time the group made the main songs chart, after “Easy” which entered it at No. 99 in March. Le Sserafim is one of only two K-pop girl groups to make the chart this year -- along with Illit. “Crazy” is the lead single from the group's fourth EP of the same title, which debuted at No. 7 on Bi

K-popSept. 10, 2024

Seoul summit charts framework on responsible AI military use

A comprehensive framework establishing guidelines and principles for the ethical and regulated use of artificial intelligence in military operations spanning nuclear weapons systems, endorsed by 61 countries, was adopted at a high-stakes summit in Seoul. The two-day 2024 summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain or REAIM concluded Tuesday with the adoption of a "Blueprint for Action," drawing 1,952 participants from 96 countries, including 38 ministerial-level officials, accordin

Foreign AffairsSept. 10, 2024

Forager strikes gold in Suncheon: Rare ginseng roots valued at $52,000

In the mountains of Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, a 77-year-old forager stumbled upon a jackpot: a cluster of 13 ginseng plants with long, thin roots. Their value? A whopping 70 million won ($52,000). The discovery, reported Monday by a group calling itself the “national association of ginseng harvesters," has set the country’s ginseng enthusiasts abuzz. It has also left those unfamiliar with the plant's cultural significance scratching their heads, wondering what's

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2024

K-pop music awards: Who truly benefits?

K-pop idols are increasingly succumbing to illness and exhaustion as they face the relentless pressure of participating in a growing number of music awards, where the demands for performances, rehearsals and public appearances are higher than ever. As the competitive nature of the industry pushes them constantly to excel and maintain a flawless image, many artists are experiencing the physical and mental toll of this grueling schedule, raising serious concerns about their long-term health and th

K-popSept. 10, 2024

EcoPro founder returns to work, tasked with surviving EV chasm

EcoPro’s former Chairman Lee Dong-chae has returned to management after a yearlong hiatus, at a critical time when the battery materials maker and the entire EV industry are reeling from slowing demand. According to the company on Tuesday, Lee was recently named an executive adviser on the board following a presidential pardon granted last month. He had been serving prison time for insider trading since May last year. It remains to be seen when Lee could be reinstated as chairman, but expe

IndustrySept. 10, 2024

Samsung-Apple rivalry renewed as first AI iPhone debuts

Apple has launched the first generation of its artificial intelligence-focused smartphone series, the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, which are highly anticipated to go up against its rival Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S24, touted as the "world's first AI smartphone." To the disappointment of users in South Korea and countries outside the US, however, Apple is expected to introduce the full and multilingual version of its much-hyped Apple Intelligence next year. “The ne

IndustrySept. 10, 2024

[Photo news] Mercedes-Benz trains next auto experts

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Tuesday that it has launched its 17th Automotive Electric Traineeship and 8th Ausbildung Program. The AET program focuses on college students, while Ausbildung targets vocational high school students, offering hands-on experience in Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Both programs emphasize electric vehicle technology, preparing participants for the future of the automotive industry. Upon completion, trainees receive certifications recognized globally. Since their inception, the

IndustrySept. 10, 2024