Ruling party proposes Oct. 1 as temporary holiday

South Korea is considering designating Oct. 1 this year as a temporary public holiday to mark the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day, as the ruling People Power Party requested that the government review the designation to recognize the dedication of those on active military duty. Workers here will be eligible to take the day off as a public holiday on Oct. 1 if the government approves the plan at a Cabinet meeting. It will be in addition to Oct. 3, which South Korea observes as a public holid

PoliticsAug. 25, 2024

[Herald Review] Ye concert in Seoul: confusion to awe to controversy

Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has built a reputation for unpredictability, and for some fans in South Korea, an abrupt cancellation was almost expected at his first standalone concert “Ye x Ty Dolla Sign Vultures Listening Experience” held in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday. The performance was to be the rapper's first in Korea since the hip-hop electronic music festival "Summer Week & T" in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, in 2010, where he participated

CultureAug. 25, 2024

Delayed payments of Tmon, WeMakePrice spike to W1.3tr

Overdue settlements for vendors on ecommerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice have surged to 1.3 trillion won ($978 million) in total, impacting over 48,000 businesses, according to data released by the government on Sunday. The final figures showed the two struggling online marketplaces owned by Singapore-based Qoo10 owe a total of 1.3 trillion won to their vendors, surpassing the government’s initial forecast of 1 trillion won. The figure also marks a jump of over 400 billion won from the

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

South Korean lawmakers brace for US election as Harris, Trump diverge on North Korea

As the US election race enters its final two months, South Korean lawmakers are bracing for the impact of a Harris or Trump administration as the two presidential candidates offer opposing approaches to North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un. Ruling People Power Party lawmakers gushed over US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris putting down the North Korean leader in her nomination acceptance speech in Chicago on Thursday, in a sharp contrast with her Republican riva

PoliticsAug. 25, 2024

Hezbollah launches missile barrage after Israel strikes

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones against Israel on Sunday in retaliation for the assassination of a senior commander in Beirut last month, the Iranian-backed movement said, as Israel's Cabinet met to prepare a response. Israeli jets hit targets in Lebanon shortly before the strikes, as the military assessed that Hezbollah was preparing to begin the barrage, the military said. Hezbollah said it had launched more than 320 Katyusha rockets toward Israel

Foreign AffairsAug. 25, 2024

What went wrong in response to Bucheon hotel fire?

Funerals for the victims of Thursday‘s Bucheon hotel fire were held on Sunday, but the controversy surrounding the tragedy has intensified while authorities have been searching to identify the circumstances that led to seven deaths and a dozen other injuries. Amid the ongoing efforts to determine the exact cause of the fire, a debate about the inflatable rescue mattress used by firefighters erupted, as two of the seven people died attempting to jump onto it. Soon after the blaze broke out,

Social AffairsAug. 25, 2024

Mirinae Lee becomes first Korean to win William Saroyan for debut novel

South Korean author Mirinae Lee has won the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for her debut novel, “8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster.” This biennial prize, jointly established in 2003 by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation in honor of the novelist, playwright and short-story writer William Saroyan, recognizes one fiction and one nonfiction book to “encourage new or emerging writers, rather than to recognize established literary figur

BooksAug. 25, 2024

Seoul seeks to end KHNP-Westinghouse dispute

South Korea is looking for a solution to end a legal dispute between local nuclear power company Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power and US firm Westinghouse Electric Company "through various channels," amid pressure mounting on Seoul over a nuclear export deal worth at least 24 trillion won ($18 billion) with the Czech Republic. "The government is discussing with the US government through various channels to support the amicable resolution of the corporate dispute," an official of

PoliticsAug. 25, 2024

R-rated changgeuk 'Madam Ong' returns for 10th anniversary

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s comical and provocative changgeuk, “Madam Ong,” a long-standing favorite, is set to return to the stage this September, celebrating its 10th anniversary. Changgeuk is a Korean form of opera that combines elements of pansori, a traditional narrative singing style. "Madam Ong," the first changgeuk to be rated for adults only, has garnered attention for its bold themes and vibrant portrayal of human vitality. This year's pro

PerformanceAug. 25, 2024

Busan entertains with seasonal fish, Dongnae mask dance

While Haeundae Beach and Sonjeong Beach -- two of South Korea’s popular summer getaways in the southern port city of Busan -- are set to close later this week, the southern port city still has plenty of exciting festivals to offer visitors from across the country. Gangseo-gu, the district in western Busan, will hold a festival themed around "jeoneo," dotted gizzard shad, at Myeongji Market, offering tourists to taste the fresh raw fish, a beloved seasonal food. The festival, whic

TravelAug. 25, 2024

Dongsuh enhances marketing strategy for instant coffee leadership

Korean food and beverage manufacturer Dongsuh Foods said Sunday it is ramping up marketing efforts to retain its unrivaled leadership in the nation’s instant coffee market. The company has topped instant coffee sales over the last three decades with its flagship Maxim Mocha brand. More recently, it has been diversifying its marketing strategy to appeal to a wide range of consumer groups and further boost sales of its best-selling products. Dongsuh has operated its flagship store, called Ma

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

Chaebol leaders to join Yoon in Czech Republic

South Korea’s top chaebol leaders are set to join President Yoon Suk Yeol on his state visit to the Czech Republic next month, according to industry sources Sunday. Yoon’s Czech visit comes after a Korean consortium, led by Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, was recently named a preferred bidder for a major nuclear plant project in the European country. The project size is estimated at around 24 trillion won ($17.3 billion). Along with the mega project, the summit is expected to cover to

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

[Test Drive] Audi's A7 PHEV, an all-around beauty

The popularity of hybrid vehicles has been gaining steam in South Korea as the country is still in an early phase of adapting electric vehicles. Audi’s A7 55 TFSI e quattro Premium, an upgraded plug-in hybrid vehicle, offers an ideal choice for drivers seeking comfortable city driving on electricity and sporty maneuvering on highways. Measuring at a length of 4,975 millimeters, a wheelbase of 2,926 mm, a width of 1,910 mm and a height of 1,425 mm, the A7 PHEV looks longer, wider and lower

MobilityAug. 25, 2024

Hyundai Steel's low-emission plate push gains momentum

Hyundai Steel, Korea’s second-largest steelmaker, is moving to target the global low-emission steel market amid increasing demand from carmakers moving toward net zero emissions. Hyundai Steel recently signed a memorandum of understanding to supply low-emission steel plates to Tawesco, a leading Czech auto parts manufacturer, and Eusider, an Italian firm specializing in automotive steel plate processing. Both companies supply major European automakers, such as Volkswagen and Stellantis, an

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

Samsung Electro-Mechanics to boost sales of high-end chip substrates

Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the electronic parts manufacturing affiliate of Samsung Electronics, said Sunday it will ramp up the sales portion of high-end flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) substrates for servers and artificial intelligence to over 50 percent by 2026. FCBGA is a semiconductor package substrate applied to high-performance semiconductors, such as central processing units and graphic processing units for servers and PCs. It can be used in various applications requiring high-performan

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

Korea's 'value-up' efforts stall on 0.7% corporate participation

Nearly three months after the government launched the "Corporate Value-up Program" in May, participation by South Korean companies remains minimal. As of Friday, just eight companies had released value enhancement disclosures, representing a mere 0.3 percent of the 2,585 firms listed on the Kospi and Kosdaq, according to Korea Exchange data. Including the 10 firms that have preannounced disclosures, just 0.7 percent have joined the program. The "value-up" initiative, rolled o

EconomyAug. 25, 2024

[Advertorial] Eximbank, LS Cable to bolster supply chain for rare-earth magnets

The state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea, or Eximbank, on Friday signed a business agreement with the nation's leading cable manufacturer, LS Cable & System, and its Asia-focused subsidiary, LS Eco Energy, to support building a stable supply chain for rare-earth permanent magnets, a key component for electric vehicles and turbines. Under the agreement, the three parties will share business information related to rare-earth permanent magnets and other electric drive system projects and

IndustryAug. 25, 2024

Renault Grand Koleos boasts extensive safety features

Renault Korea’s Grand Koleos stands out as a mid-size hybrid sport utility vehicle with extensive safety features, including numerous advanced driving assistance systems and high-strength materials. This vehicle has gained attention in the Korean market since its June debut, particularly for its robust safety features, which have become increasingly important to consumers amidst rising concerns over road safety. The Grand Koleos comes in three trims: Techno, Iconic and Esprit Alpine. Even

MobilityAug. 25, 2024

Frequent hotel fires here point to lack of sprinklers

Following Thursday’s hotel fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, which claimed seven lives and injured 12 people, concerns have been raised about the lack of fire safety measures in accommodations here. According to the National Fire Agency on Sunday, a total of 1,843 fires occurred at accommodation facilities between 2019 and 2023. These fires resulted in 32 deaths and 355 injuries. By type of lodging, motels had the most fires, with 645 incidents, accounting for 35 percent of the total.

Social AffairsAug. 25, 2024

Samsung, LG to unveil new AI-powered home appliances at IFA 2024 in Berlin

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. are planning to showcase various new artificial intelligence-powered home appliances at the IFA 2024 home electronics show in Berlin next month, industry sources said Sunday. Samsung will present a range of products, including the Bespoke AI Combo, an all-in-one washer-dryer; the Bespoke AI Family Hub, a premium refrigerator product; and the Bespoke AI Steam, a new robot vacuum cleaner product. The company will also showcas

CompaniesAug. 25, 2024