China's Lu ends badminton title drought at Korea Open

China's Lu Guangzu won his first title on badminton's world tour in six years when he beat Taiwan's Lee Chia-hao in the Korea Open final on Sunday. World number 13 Lu, the tournament's number seven seed, came through a hard-fought tussle 21-16, 20-22, 21-18 to lift his first trophy since the Canada Open in 2018. World number 30 Lee was unseeded in Seoul. China's world number one Shi Yuqi was eliminated in the quarter-finals, while Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, who won h

More SportsSept. 1, 2024

Yoon not to attend opening ceremony of National Assembly session: presidential office

President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the opening ceremony of the regular session of the National Assembly early this week, a presidential official said Sunday, citing the opposition party's unilateral actions to pass critical bills. The National Assembly is set to begin its regular session on Monday and it is customary for the president to attend the opening event and deliver a speech. "It is appropriate to first normalize the National Assembly, which has been misusing special couns

PoliticsSept. 1, 2024

Korea, Mongolia explore energy cooperation at Vision Forum

South Korean and Mongolian government officials discussed opportunities for cooperation in green energy, mineral resources and trade, emphasizing a shared vision for mutual growth and strategic partnership at the 2024 Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum held Tuesday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. About 250 representatives from the government, state-run organizations and academic and political sectors attended the event co-hosted by the Ahnsei Foundation, Herald Corporation, Yonsei University and Korea Univer

EconomySept. 1, 2024

1 dead, 4 injured in apparent arson at game hall

YEONGAM, South Korea -- One person died and four others were injured Sunday in an apparent act of arson at a game hall in the southwestern county of Yeongam, police and fire authorities said. The fire was put out 20 minutes after a report was filed at 1:29 p.m. but a Chinese national was found dead, they said. One of the four employees and visitors who suffered injuries was reportedly in a critical condition. A preliminary probe showed that the Chinese national allegedly started the fire and tha

Social AffairsSept. 1, 2024

As Frieze returns to Seoul, galleries bustle with must-see shows

Ahead of Frieze Seoul kicking off on Sept. 4, Seoul is in a festive mood with numerous art exhibitions and events taking place at museums, galleries and auction houses around the city. In a two-part series, The Korea Herald offers a roundup of selected events in the city -- in southern and northern parts of the capital. The following piece is the first in the series. -- Ed. Its streets lined with flagship stores of luxury brands, Cheongdam-dong, a neighborhood in Seoul south of the Han River, is

Arts & DesignSept. 1, 2024

Forum envisions closer Korea-Mongolia partnership

From rare minerals and smart city projects to cultural collaborations, South Korea and Mongolia have ample avenues to build mutually beneficial partnerships, leaders of the two countries stressed at a recent forum in Ulaanbaatar. At the Korea-Mongolia Vision Forum, held at the Novotel in the Mongolian capital on Aug. 27, 26 speakers from politics, business, civil society and academia engaged with an audience of about 250, exploring ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote private-sector

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

[KH Explains] Will battery brand awareness influence EV shoppers in Korea amid safety concerns?

Starfield Hanam, a shopping complex located in Gyeonggi Province just east of Seoul, is home to South Korea’s first Tesla showroom, which opened its doors in 2017. Here, the allure of Tesla vehicles has always drawn a crowd, but recently, a different kind of interest has been brewing among potential buyers -- an interest not just in the cars themselves, but in the batteries that power them. Recent high-profile EV fires in Korea have sparked public concern about the reliability of the batte

MobilitySept. 1, 2024

S. Korea announces 'offensive cyber defense' strategy

The South Korean presidential office on Sunday unveiled a comprehensive cybersecurity plan with 100 actionable tasks, including measures for enhanced "offensive cyber defense" strategies to proactively counter and neutralize those with intentions of spreading fake information such as deepfakes in cyberspace. The presidential Office of National Security announced the "National Cybersecurity Basic Plan," a collaborative effort developed by 14 government ministries and organizat

Foreign AffairsSept. 1, 2024

Man chases down thief who stole woman's bag as she was attempting suicide

While a woman was attempting to take her own life by jumping into the Han River in Seoul, a man stole her bag and fled the scene on a bicycle. Amid the chaotic chase that ensued, another man on a motorcycle chased the suspect down to assist the police in catching him. The Seoul police said recently that Mapo Police Station has awarded a man surnamed Lee a certificate of appreciation for his assistance in stopping the suspect from getting away on Aug. 18, after the suspect stole the bag of a woma

Social AffairsSept. 1, 2024

Daewoo E&C chairman calls for enhanced Korea-Mongolia cooperation

Daewoo Engineering & Construction Chairman Jung Won-ju, who doubles as chairman of Herald Corp., expressed his hopes for the South Korean government to join in strengthening cooperation with Mongolia. “In Daewoo’s latest success in a bid for a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, the South Korean President and the Trade Minster were actively engaged on multiple occasions,” said Jung during a special networking event held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Aug. 26. "I w

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

Most EV chargers underground, lack overcharge prevention

Nearly 60 percent of all slow and rapid electric vehicle charging stations in South Korea are installed underground, with the majority being slow chargers lacking overcharge prevention systems -- a major fire risk. According to a report provided by the Environment Ministry to Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the People Power Party, 373,961 EV charging stations were installed nationwide as of July 2024. This marks the first time the ministry has fully assessed the total number of underground EV chargers. The s

Social AffairsSept. 1, 2024

LG Electronics sets up consortium for heat pump technology in China

LG Electronics said Sunday it has established a consortium in China to accelerate the development of the core technologies for next-generation heat pumps, adding to its research hubs in North America and Europe. Under the collaboration agreement, LG will be working with leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xian Jiaotong University, the company said. The company has been expanding its research a

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

Leaders of rival parties agree to launch 'livelihood' consultative body

People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party of Korea Chair Rep. Lee Jae-myung on Sunday agreed to launch a special consultative body for livelihood policies, review issues tied to the financial investment tax policy and urge the government to establish an emergency medical system for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. The agreements came as part of a joint statement announced by the ruling and the main opposition parties as the result of the first official talks between Han and Lee. T

PoliticsSept. 1, 2024

Ex-President Moon named suspect in bribery probe

Prosecutors have identified former President Moon Jae-in a suspect in a bribery case, alleging that his former son-in-law received preferential treatment in securing a job with an airline in return for arranging a key government appointment for the politician who founded the airline, according to legal sources on Sunday. The Criminal Division 3 of the Jeonju District Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation into Moon's potential involvement, as detailed in a search warrant e

PoliticsSept. 1, 2024

Night out at Seokjojeon

A tour of a Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace that includes coffee and desserts as well as a mini-musical exploring the life of King Gojong, the 26th Joseon king and the first emperor of the Daehan Empire, will return for a fall edition from Sept. 24 to Nov. 2. Seokjojeon, a hall at Deoksugung designed by British architect John Reginald Harding and constructed in 1910, is known as the first Western-style stone building in Korea. A guide will start tours by introducing the history of the two-story ha

Arts & DesignSept. 1, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Concerning My Daughter’: Learning how to love someone without understanding

Sang-ok (Oh Min-ae) is a mother in her 50s working as a caregiver at a nursing home. When Sang-ok’s 30-something daughter unexpectedly moves into her house with her girlfriend of seven years, Sang-ok is forced to live with them. “Maybe I let you study too much,” Sang-ok says to her daughter, a part-time instructor at a college. Sang-ok hurls a barrage of questions at her daughter: “What can you guys do together? Can you guys register as a married couple? What about having

FilmSept. 1, 2024

SK Speedmate launches as rebranded auto repair firm

SK Speedmate, an automotive maintenance company, announced Sunday its official launch after spinning off from SK Networks to become a top automotive aftermarket service provider in Korea. SK Networks decided to spin off the Speedmate division as part of its push to transition to an AI-centric company. The automotive maintenance business has been rebranded as SK Speedmate, and is now a full-owned subsidiary under the rental firm. SK owns 43.9 percent of SK Networks. “Utilizing our strong br

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

[Photo News] Smart ambassadors boost Hana

Hana Financial Group on Friday concluded the 18th round of its Smart Ambassador program, a three-month initiative promoting its ESG, or environmental, social and governance activities. In the photo, Vice President Lee Eun-hyung (second row, center) poses with the student ambassadors during the closing ceremony at the company's headquarters in Myeong-dong, Seoul. Since June, 50 college students have engaged in various projects such as creating public relations content, visiting Hana affiliat

EconomySept. 1, 2024

S-Oil powers Korean Air flight with local eco-friendly fuel

S-Oil will begin supplying domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel to Korean Air’s flights between Incheon International Airport and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport once a week, the company said Sunday, becoming the first refiner in South Korea to provide SAF for regular international passenger flights departing from a local airport. The first SAF-fueled flight took off last Friday, celebrated at a ceremony attended by key figures such as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk

IndustrySept. 1, 2024

'If the flames go out; I die': Woman kills abusive boyfriend with fire

A South Korean court said it has sentenced a woman to a 12-year jail term for killing her boyfriend after being subject to years of physical abuse. The Gunsan Branch of the Jeonju District Court found the 42-year-old defendant guilty of setting fire to a home in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on May 11, resulting in the victim's death. The investigation found that she had been physically abused by the victim repeatedly during their five-year relationship. Allegedly, on the day of the crime

Social AffairsSept. 1, 2024