Pianist Lim Yunchan wins another award with Decca album

South Korean pianist Lim Yunchan has been honored with the Jeune Talent award at the Diapason d’Or de l’Annee, according to his management company MOC Production on Monday. The prestigious prize is presented annually by the French magazine Diapason to recognize outstanding classical music recordings, This achievement follows Lim's wins at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards last month, where he received the "Young Artist of the Year" title and the top prize in the pi

CultureNov. 18, 2024

Traffic delays expected as railway workers stage slowdown

Passengers in the capital region face potential disruptions on their commute, as unionized railroad workers begin a partial "work-to-rule" protest Monday, warning of a potential indefinite strike from next month. On the same day, the main labor union of Seoul Metro, which operates subway Line Nos. 1 through 8, said it had voted in favor of staging a strike to demand better working conditions, a move that could plague transport services in the capital area. The work-to-rule protest --

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] Busan mayor envisions city as Korea’s southern hub for balanced growth

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon has called for a shift in South Korea’s development model, warning that the overconcentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area has created a national crisis. “The imbalance caused by unipolarity in the Seoul area is deepening South Korea’s critical challenges -- declining growth potential, low birth rates and widening inequality,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Busan last Friday. “We must move toward balance

IndustryNov. 18, 2024

Chinese villains? Seoul Metro apologizes for 'racist' comments

The state-run operator of Seoul's subway system on Monday issued an apology related to its recent comment on an online petition, in which it used the word "villain" to refer to Chinese people. Seoul Metro recently used what have been widely called racist remarks in the official reply to a complaint posted on the Civil Complaint/Proposal Integrated Services (Eungdapso Seoul) webpage of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. "We apologize for the inappropriate language related to

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

[From the Scene] Climate change threatens Jeju's mandarin orange business

JEJU ISLAND -- Jeju’s iconic mandarin orange industry is grappling with mounting challenges as climate change disrupts traditional cultivation practices. This year, prolonged tropical nights and rising temperatures delayed harvests and impacted fruit quality, prompting the island to adapt its agricultural practices. “Mandarins develop their yellow color when nighttime temperatures fall below 20 degrees Celsius,” said Hyun Jong-ho, manager at the Namwon Agricultural Product Ce

IndustryNov. 18, 2024

HD Hyundai to step up cooperation with SIMA Peru

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with state-operated shipyard SIMA Peru in Lima, Peru, last week to jointly develop submarines as part of the Peruvian Navy’s vessel replacement project. Through the partnership, HD Hyundai and SIMA will make joint efforts to win contracts and develop submarines tailored to Peru’s Navy. HD Hyundai also plans to strengthen its partnership with the Peruvian government and navy, supporting the local

IndustryNov. 18, 2024

Majority of single-person households turn to side jobs amid high cost of living

More than half of South Koreans living alone have side jobs amid a growing cost-of-living squeeze, a report said Sunday. Among 2,000 economically active men and women aged 25 to 29 living alone in the metropolitan area, 54.8 percent of respondents said they earn extra money through a second job, according to a report by KB Financial Group's think tank. The figure significantly grew from 42 percent in 2022. Among the respondents this year, 38.8 percent said they took on a side gig to save

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

Car owner uses fake license plate, possibly to dodge parking fees

A resident of an apartment complex in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, was caught using a fake license plate made of paper to cover the license plate of his or her second car, a local media outlet reported recently. According to the JTBC report, a BMW sedan with a license plate made of paper was spotted by another resident of the apartment complex. The person who found the paper plate reported the case to police and confirmed that the car belonged to another resident of the building. The BMW owner h

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

Housing scam counseling offered in 7 languages

Counseling services for foreign nationals in Seoul who fell victim to "jeonse" housing rental fraud will be offered in seven languages at the Seoul Foreign Resident Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Monday. Starting Monday, the counseling services will be provided in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Russian, Uzbek and Urdu, every Monday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Counselling is delivered by certified real estate agents in English and

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

[Herald Review] Jin celebrates first solo album release, brings happiness to fans

Jin mesmerized fans with his wide musical spectrum and vibrant energy at the fan showcase “Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage” on Sunday. Held Saturday and Sunday, the showcase marked the first live performance of songs from Jin's first solo album "Happy." Over two days, Jangchung Arena in Seoul was packed with approximately 3,800 fans. As Jin appeared on stage by parting the red curtains, the arena erupted into thunderous cheers. "Two days ago, my album was re

PerformanceNov. 18, 2024

Naver, Saudi’s National Housing Co. to set up JV

Korean internet giant Naver said Monday that it has agreed to establish a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned real estate development and investment company to operate and commercialize digital twin platforms in the 17th largest economy in the world. Naver and National Housing Company signed the deal on the first day of Cityscape Global 2024 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Nov. 11. The joint venture, under the umbrella of Naver Arabia, will serve as Naver’s first busines

IndustryNov. 18, 2024

Court upholds day care center worker's suspension over child's injury

Seoul Administrative Court said Monday that it recently ruled against a teacher at a local day care center, who challenged a three-year suspension of duties imposed after a 5-year-old under their supervision fell and sustained injury. The court upheld the disciplinary action by the Geumcheon-gu Office in November of 2011, who suspended the teacher for three months after the child was injured in February of 2022 at the day care center in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. The child fell from a 2-meter-tall pla

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

S. Korea reviews measures to reclaim loans to N. Korea over destruction of land routes

The unification ministry said Monday it is reviewing measures to reclaim loans granted to North Korea for building inter-Korean roads and train tracks after the North blew them up in October. The unification ministry unveiled the tentative measures as part of its policy plan for the second half of President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration, which is now at the midpoint of his five-year term. On Oct. 15, North Korea demolished parts of the roads and train tracks connected to South Korea -- the

North KoreaNov. 18, 2024

Trade minister calls for minimizing business uncertainties amid 2nd Trump administration

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo emphasized on Monday that all efforts should be focused on thoroughly preparing to minimize uncertainties for businesses as former US President Donald Trump is set to take office for his second term. Cheong made the remarks during a meeting with ministry officials, as Trump, who is set to return to the White House in January next year, has pledged to implement significant policy changes, including higher tariffs on imported goods. The ministry has held a series of me

EconomyNov. 18, 2024

Rookie cop goes into burning building to rescue 22 people

A first-year policeman is earning praise here after he went into a burning building to evacuate all 22 residents, Seoul police said Monday. Oh Hyeon-jun, a 26-year-old patrol officer of the Seoul Gangseo Police Station, was among the team of officers who arrived at the scene of a fire in Gangseo-gu, Seoul on Nov. 7. A fire broke out at a restaurant of the commercial-residential building at around 7:12 a.m., with residents of the building being yet unaware of the situation. Oh ran up to the resid

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

[Herald Interview] Expo sets global standard for urban innovation: director

Korea Herald correspondent BARCELONA, Spain — Amid the burgeoning number of events focusing on urban development and smart cities worldwide, often seen as imitations of Barcelona's pioneering efforts, the annual Smart City Expo World Congress has distinguished itself by hosting its 14th edition as a record-breaking gathering. The 2024 edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress, hosted by the city of Barcelona and Fira Barcelona, marked a success with record-breaking attendance of 25,7

Social AffairsNov. 18, 2024

Financial authorities say recent stock market plunge excessive, vow implementation of value-up funds

South Korean financial authorities said Monday the recent stock market plunge was excessive, given economic fundamentals, vowing to enhance market monitoring and swiftly implement a policy fund to strengthen valuation of local companies. The message was released during an interagency meeting among chiefs of the Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange, as well as market experts and relevant institutions, in Seoul, in response to steep losses incurred in

EconomyNov. 18, 2024

Yoon arrives in Brazil for G20 summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit, a multilateral forum representing the world's major economies. Yoon flew from Lima to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the G20 summit slated for Monday and Tuesday, which marks Yoon's third consecutive attendance at the summit. On the first day, Yoon will join the launch of the Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty and outline South Korea's contributions to combat global h

PoliticsNov. 18, 2024

Arms agency chief discusses cooperation with Peru defense minister

The chief of South Korea's arms procurement agency has met Peru's defense minister and discussed ways to expand their arms industry cooperation on the ground, sea and air, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Monday. The meeting between DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun and Peru's Defense Minister Walter Astudillo in Lima on Saturday came as President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Peru for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In a separate summit held with his Peruvian co

Diplomatic CircuitNov. 18, 2024

Lack of starting pitching depth exposed as S. Korea takes quick exit from Premier12

In taking an early exit from the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 in Taipei this month, South Korea was held back by its lack of depth among young, homegrown starting pitchers. South Korea's fate was sealed Sunday, its first offday of the tournament, when Japan and Chinese Taipei each won its game to grab spots in the Super Round as the top two teams in Group B. South Korea will not finish higher than third regardless of its result against Australia in the final Group B game

BaseballNov. 18, 2024