[Herald Review] (G)I-dle kicks off 'iDOL' world tour

“I am the top, super lady,” the first line of (G)I-dle’s hit track “Super Lady,” echoed through the KSPO Dome in Seoul evoking earsplitting cheers from the nearly 8,000 fans that filled the venue on Saturday. Soon after, (G)I-dle appeared from a lift like warriors, dressed in black sets, to kick off their world tour “iDOL” with a two-day concert in Seoul. As they slowly descended towards the main stage, they were welcomed by a mega dance crew that togeth

K-popAug. 4, 2024

New anthology series highlights 700 years of Korean ideologies

A landmark anthology series, "Changbi Anthology of Korean Ideology," has been published, compiling the writings and philosophies of 59 influential Korean figures spanning roughly 700 years, from the Joseon era (1392-1910) to contemporary times. The Korean-language series features luminaries such as Chong To-jon, who helped overthrow the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) and establish the Joseon Dynasty; King Sejong, who invented the Korean alphabet Hangeul in 1443; King Jeongjo, noted for his

BooksAug. 4, 2024

Samsung SDI seeks top US talent

Samsung SDI has embarked on a global journey to find the most talented professionals to advance the Korean company’s level of technology and take the lead in the secondary battery industry. The battery maker held this year’s first career fair at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, inviting some 90 people working at top universities and research institutes in North America. Boston is home to Samsung SDI’s first research and development cent

CompaniesAug. 4, 2024

N. Korea open to Russian flood aid, snubs S. Korean offer

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed starkly different responses through state media to humanitarian aid offers from South Korea and Russia aimed at assisting in the recovery of its flood-stricken northwestern region bordering China. Kim lauded Moscow's gesture as "heartfelt sympathy from the closest friends," while he remained silent on Seoul's outreach and vehemently criticized the South Korean media's coverage of flood damages as a "vicious smear campaign,"

North KoreaAug. 4, 2024

S. Korea's kimchi exports achieve record high in H1

South Korea's kimchi exports have hit a record high in the first half of this year, largely driven by increasing demand for a healthier diet and the growing popularity of Korean culture and cuisine, particularly in the US and European markets. The country exported more than 23,852 tons of kimchi in the first six months of this year, marking a 4.8 percent increase from 22,842 tons in 2023. The export value also showed a 4 percent increase, reaching $83.8 million, according to the Korea Agro-

IndustryAug. 4, 2024

From cold shoulder to selfie together, two Koreas' encounter at Olympics

During the women's vault at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, South Korean artistic gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong approached North Korea's An Chang-ok to congratulate her performance. But as Yeo rose from her seat, An walked right past her to embrace her coach. An did not comment on this matter, and Yeo said she missed the timing to embrace An despite wanting to shake hands. It was among the few encounters between the two Koreas at the Summer Games in the French capital, where both sides share

More SportsAug. 4, 2024

Male parental leave takers reach one-third of total, record high

Men accounted for almost one-third of all workers taking parental leave in the first half of this year in South Korea, marking the first time they have exceeded 30 percent. According to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Sunday, fathers accounted for 32.3 percent of the 69,631 total parental leave takers from January to June this year. The total number of workers taking parental leave increased by 3.2 percent compared to the same period last year, rising to 67,465. While th

Social AffairsAug. 4, 2024

Jo Jung-suk’s gender-bending comedy ‘Pilot’ sells 1m tickets in 4 days

“Pilot,” a South Korean comedy flick about an unemployed former pilot disguising himself as a woman to get a new role, has attracted over 1 million moviegoers since the movie’s release on July 31. According to the Korean Film Council data, the movie has attracted an accumulated 1.33 million moviegoers in four days since its opening here. The movie attracted 441,537 moviegoers on Saturday alone, leading the local box office. A trusted name in comedy flicks, actor Jo Jung-suk sta

FilmAug. 4, 2024

Women expect 100m won, men 60m won from their potential spouse: survey

A survey indicated that South Korean women expect their potential spouse to have amassed at least 100 million won ($73,400) worth of assets before getting married, while the men want their bride-to-be to have around 60 million. Local matchmaking firm Gayeon asked 250 single women and 250 single men between the ages of 25 and 39 how much wealth they want their future spouses to have, to which the average reply for women was 103 million won and for men was 63.8 million won. "Contrary to the

Social AffairsAug. 4, 2024

2.7% of med students return to class amid ongoing boycott

Despite the government's offer of an olive branch to end the monthslong medical standoff, only 2.7 percent of medical students were in attendance, as others carried on protesting the drastic hike in medical school admissions, government data showed Sunday. With no signs of the government and medical community backing down from the gridlock that has persisted since February, attendance figures remain alarmingly low. Out of 19,345 students enrolled at 40 medical schools nationwide, only 495 w

Social AffairsAug. 4, 2024

S-Oil unveils new TV ad to deliver future-forward vision

S-Oil said Sunday that it has begun airing the second season of its “GooDoil Can Do It” television marketing campaign from July 31. The new ad shifts from the previous focus on product quality to highlight the theme of the “power of creative energy,” delivering a futuristic message through a catchy commercial song. The commercial is designed in a question-and-answer format that explores a new world. In the video, S-Oil’s cherished mascot, GooDoil, flies with a hawk,

IndustryAug. 4, 2024

China reclaims top spot of S. Korean products amid rising chip demand: data

China has once again become the leading destination for South Korean products in the first seven months of this year, driven by increasing demand for semiconductors, data showed Sunday. Exports to China surged 14.9 percent year-on-year to $11.4 billion in July, marking the highest monthly total in nearly two years since October 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association. As a result of this substantial increase in July, C

EconomyAug. 4, 2024

[Latest Read] Magical girls battle climate change in Park Seo-lyeon's 'A Magical Girl Retires'

At 3 a.m., a young woman stands alone on Mapo Bridge in Seoul, leaning against the railing. Cars speed past, no one noticing her. She is contemplating ending her life: The pandemic has stripped her of her job, her debts are mounting and her hope is waning. It’s been two hours of deep, dark introspection. Suddenly a taxi stops right in front of her. A woman in a glowing white dress, white shoes and a white bow steps out. She is Ah Roa, the Clairvoyant Magical Girl. With a gentle touch, Ah t

BooksAug. 4, 2024

S. Korea takes silver in women's sabre fencing team event

South Korea took silver in the women's sabre fencing team event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, after blowing a late lead against Ukraine in the final. South Korea, world No. 4, lost to third-ranked Ukraine 45-42 at Grand Palais in the French capital. Jeon Eun-hye, Jeon Ha-young, Choi Se-bin and alternate Yoon Ji-su tried to give South Korea its first gold in the women's sabre team event. South Korea won bronze at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but Yoon, 31, was the only carryover from tha

More SportsAug. 4, 2024

S. Korea wins bronze in judo mixed team event

South Korea defeated Germany for the bronze medal in judo's mixed team event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, its first medal in the event that made its Summer Games debut three years ago. This was South Korea's fifth medal in judo in the French capital, after two silver medals and two bronze medals in individual events. With the score tied at 3-3 after six matches involving three male and three female judokas each, the teams went to a sudden-death match in the men's -73-kilogra

More SportsAug. 4, 2024

Lim Si-hyeon wins gold in women's archery individual event for 3rd gold in Paris

PARIS -- Lim Si-hyeon captured the gold medal in the women's archery individual event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, beating fellow South Korean Nam Su-hyeon to become the country's first triple gold medalist in France. In the first all-South Korean final in women's archery in 20 years, Lim defeated Nam 7-3 in the set score at Invalides in Paris. Lim had earlier won gold medals in the women's team and mixed team events. She became the third athlete overall to win at lea

More SportsAug. 3, 2024

Yang Ji-in wins gold in women's pistol shooting

CHATEAUROUX, France -- Yang Ji-in captured the gold medal in the women's 25-meter pistol shooting event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday for South Korea's third shooting gold of the competition. Yang defeated Camille Jedrzejewski of France 4-1 in a shoot-off after the two finished the 10 series of shots in the final all tied at 37-37 at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre in Chateauroux, south of Paris. This was the eighth gold medal overall for South Korea at the ongoing Olympics. In t

More SportsAug. 3, 2024

World No. 1 An Se-young reaches semifinals in badminton women's singles

PARIS -- World No. 1 An Se-young advanced to the semifinals of the women's singles badminton event at the Paris Olympics on Saturday after knocking off her longtime rival from Japan. An, the 2023 world champion, defeated Akane Yamaguchi 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 21-8) in the quarterfinals at La Chapelle Arena in Paris. Yamaguchi was in control of the first game, getting An to move all over the court with some deft shotmaking. Each time An got close, Yamaguchi pulled away with a series of her own w

More SportsAug. 3, 2024

SAC Int'l Music Festival to feature conductor Dan Ettinger and aspiring musicians

The Seoul Arts Center’s summer music festival is set to return under its new name of International Music Festival next week from August 6 to 11. For the fourth edition of the festival, Dan Ettinger, Israeli orchestra conductor and opera singer, will make his South Korean debut as he leads the SAC Festival Orchestra. The SAC Festival Orchestra is mainly composed of Korean musicians who have been active on stages with prestigious orchestras overseas. Ettinger, who called himself a fatalist

CultureAug. 3, 2024

Oil factory turned into immersive art space on Ganghwa Island

Just an hour's drive from Seoul, in the scenic Gilsang-myeon area of Ganghwa Island, lies Art Factory Charmgiroom, an immersive media art museum and exhibition space. Once one of the largest sesame oil factories in South Korea, this expansive 23,000-square-meter complex has been upcycled into a cultural space. The centerpiece of Art Factory Charmgiroom is its immersive media art exhibition hall which stands at an impressive 8 meters tall and stretches 120 meters in length. The exhibitio

Social AffairsAug. 3, 2024