[New on the scene] ‘Mission: Cross’ director dreams of making unprecedented comedies

Director Lee Myung-hun, who made a directorial debut with the comedy action “Mission: Cross,” has a lot of love for comedy. “Comedy is definitely a difficult genre to make. When you don’t make it correctly or miscalculate the lines or scenes, the audience can easily turn away from the story. But that also makes comedy an attractive genre, because you get to see the feedback or reactions right away,” Lee told reporters during a group interview in Seoul, Aug. 12. &ldq

FilmAug. 18, 2024

‘Heartsping’ director confident that Teenieping movie appeals to all ages

“Heartsping: Teenieping of Love,” the first movie of the hit Korean animation series “Catch! Teenieping,” appeals not only to young viewers, but to those in their 50s and 60s as well, its director said. Kim Su-hoon, who doubles as the movie's director and the CEO of SAMG Entertainment and is responsible for the Teenieping worldview, said he differentiated the movie from the TV series by adding elements of a family movie. “From the beginning, I was sure that thi

FilmAug. 18, 2024

Debate flares over strict drunk driving laws named after trot singer

Several proposed laws named after popular trot singer Kim Ho-joong to raise public awareness aim to prevent drunk drivers from evading punishment by obstructing accurate alcohol level readings, sparking intense debate in Korean society. Lawmakers who proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Act, being dubbed the “Anti-Kim Ho-joong Law” following the singer’s hit-and-run accident in May, have faced intense criticism from his fans, who have demanded the bills be opposed or withdra

Social AffairsAug. 18, 2024

Per-customer spending at duty-free shops hits 5-year low

The average purchase amount per customer at duty-free shops in South Korea has in the first seven months of this year reached the lowest level in five years, largely due to shifting trends among Chinese tourists and losing their appeal to domestic customers, data showed on Sunday. According to data compiled by the Korean Duty-Free Shop Association, total sales of domestic duty-free companies reached 7.39 trillion won ($5.45 billion) in the first half of the year, up 13.6 percent from 6.5 trillio

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

Leaders of S. Korea, US, Japan vow unity on ‘greatest challenges’

The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and underscored their readiness to confront the world’s "greatest challenges" through trilateral cooperation. Seoul, Washington and Tokyo released a joint leaders' statement to "commemorate the tremendous progress" made in their trilateral cooperation over the past year, following the unprecedented standalone summit at Camp David

Foreign AffairsAug. 18, 2024

SK hynix sales more than double in China, US in H1

SK hynix witnessed its sales in China and the US more than double to contribute to an overall growth in revenue in the first half of this year, according to the company’s half-year report Sunday. The world’s second-largest memory chip maker said it logged a total of 28.8 trillion won ($21.26 billion) in sales in the January-June period this year, marking a significant recovery from the 12.3 trillion won the company achieved in the same time last year. In this year's record, 55.4

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

Rebellions, Sapeon Korea merge to challenge Nvidia

Artificial intelligence startup Rebellions and Sapeon Korea officially signed a merger, signaling the birth of the country's first AI unicorn, SK Telecom, Sapeon Korea’s parent company, said Sunday. Rebellions, a fabless chip designer valued at 900 billion won ($664 million), and Sapeon Korea, the AI chip supplier for data centers valued at 550 billion won, have joined hands to carve out a spot in the global AI chip market that is currently dominated by US-based graphic processing uni

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

Police launch investigation into Mercedes-Benz EV fire

Police have launched an investigation into a massive fire caused by a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle at an underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon on Aug. 1, while reviewing criminal charges against the management staff at the complex, officials said Sunday. According to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, they recently interviewed the first witness and the owner of the vehicle involved in the incident. The Mercedes owner reported that the vehicle had undergone routine mai

Social AffairsAug. 18, 2024

COVID-19 levels in wastewater surge amid summer wave: KDCA

South Korea is seeing a pronounced rise in the levels of COVID-19 in wastewater as the number of confirmed cases continues to swell throughout this month and is expected to peak in late August, health authorities said Sunday. The surge in wastewater virus concentrations -- one of the key gauges to track and estimate community spread -- has more than quadrupled from late April to early August. Amid the ongoing summer COVID-19 wave, the average concentration of the virus at local sewage plants s

Social AffairsAug. 18, 2024

[Contribution] Boosting trade through digital innovation, global cooperation

By Lee Seong-woo Vice president, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry "I'll keep changing it for you." This tagline from a global shopping website's free return policy ad recently stirred up controversy here. Despite receiving a warning from the government for its misleading ad, the e-commerce platform managed to climb to second place among the country's most popular shopping apps. But this surge in overseas direct purchases is not all rosy -- it in fact comes

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

SK Networks to invest $30m in SBVA’s AI-focused fund

SK Networks said Friday it will commit $30 million in a $130 million fund formed by SBVA to invest in artificial intelligence startups. It is the second-largest investment among fund participants. The SBVA-led fund -- Alpha Intelligence Fund -- plans to focus on investing in promising early-stage startups in the AI, robotics and deep tech fields. SK Networks, a general trading affiliate of SK Group, which announced its vision as an AI company this year, plans to go beyond fund investment and bus

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

Bold works, reinterpretations among this year's eclectic SIDance lineup

The 27th Seoul International Dance Festival, presented by the Seoul section of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), is set to captivate audiences from Sept. 1 to 14 across Seoul. This year’s festival will showcase 35 performances from eight countries, including Canada, Australia and Luxembourg, at various locations including Sogang University’s Mary Hall, Samil-ro Changgo Theater, Daehakro Arts Theater, Eunpyeong Arts Center and Seoul Namsan Gukakdang. In a departure from pr

PerformanceAug. 18, 2024

Kim Min-hee wins best performance at Locarno Film Festival

South Korean actor Kim Min-hee received the best performance award at the 77th Locarno International Film Festival for Hong Sang-soo’s 32nd film “By the Stream.” “By the Stream,” titled “Suyucheon” in Korean, is the story of Jeon-yim (played by Kim), a lecturer at a woman’s university who asks her uncle, a blacklisted actor-director, to direct a skit at the university. While Jeon-yim goes out every night to paint by the stream and get inspiration,

FilmAug. 18, 2024

Shinhan opens new Vietnam headquarters

South Korea’s Shinhan Financial Group has opened its new Vietnam headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Thiem financial district, bringing its subsidiaries together under one roof, the company said Sunday. On Thursday, Shinhan’s five Vietnamese subsidiaries — Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Finance, Shinhan Life, Shinhan Securities and Shinhan DS — relocated to The Mett Building, a landmark in the new urban area of Thu Thiem. The opening ceremony was attended by key executive

IndustryAug. 18, 2024

Weather agency to publish white paper on heat waves for 1st time

The state weather agency said Sunday it will publish its first-ever white paper on heat waves as South Korea experiences record-breaking temperatures this summer. The paper, set to be released by the end of this year, will cover the history and causes of heat waves, provide midterm and long-term forecasts, and examine the impact of heat waves on society, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Although the KMA has previously issued papers on monsoons and typhoons, this will be the

Social AffairsAug. 18, 2024

Media watchdog to review punitive measures against KBS for airing Japanese anthem on Liberation Day

The state media watchdog said Sunday that it will swiftly review punitive measures against public broadcaster KBS for airing an opera performance featuring Japan's national anthem that many South Korean viewers found inappropriate for Liberation Day. A series of complaints have been filed since KBS' airing of "Madama Butterfly," an opera featuring traditional Japanese attire and Japan's national anthem, on Liberation Day that commemorates the end of Japan's 1910-45

Social AffairsAug. 18, 2024

Island cafes with beach vibes for dog days of summer

INCHEON -- Seoul may be one of the world's great coffee cities with its abundance of coffee shops -- there is a coffee shop on practically every corner in any Seoul neighborhood. And these coffeehouses beckon visitors with unique themes, ranging from animal cafes to cafes for listening to vinyl. But if you are looking for a cafe with a stunning ocean view, a trip to islands off Incheon will never let you down. Aside from breathtaking views of the West Sea, coffee shops’ palm trees, pa

TravelAug. 17, 2024

[New in Town] America-themed bakery ‘What A Bread’ fulfills all your carb needs

Just as if you had walked into a local bakery somewhere in rural America, “What A Bread” (WAB), a newly opened bakery in a bustling food alley next to Yongsan Station, is where you can enjoy a creative variety of baked goods. The last few years have seen Korean bakeries grow more creative than ever, with genre-bending techniques and innovative flavor combinations. WAB, which perfectly fits into the category of bakeries that offer good pastries, has the freshest and the most filling

FoodAug. 17, 2024

[Weekender] Discover Seoul's serene retreats: From libraries to hanok

As South Korea is experiencing its hottest summer on record, finding refuge from the heat has never been more important. Fortunately, Seoul offers several serene spots where you can escape the sun's intensity and immerse yourself — all without spending a dime. Whether you’re looking to relax with a book or simply enjoy the green August scenery, these four spaces in Seoul provide the perfect combination of natural beauty and cool shade. Cheongun Literature Library: Hidden han

weekenderAug. 17, 2024

[What to stream] Murder mysteries to whisk you away

Escape the relentless heat by plunging into a weekend of expertly crafted murder mystery films that will sweep you away to chilling crime scenes and the intricate minds of master detectives. Dim the lights and get ready for a cinematic adventure where time slips away, and the only thing that matters is uncovering the truth buried beneath a web of deception. "Se7en" on Netflix Helmed by American auteur David Fincher, "Se7en" tells the tale of two detectives Somerset (played

weekenderAug. 17, 2024