Samsung, LG's electric auto parts sales soar despite EV slump

The Korean automotive electric parts sector is thriving even as electric vehicle sales slow down, driving significant gains for Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics in the second quarter. Automotive electric parts encompass a range of components integral to modern vehicles, particularly electric and hybrid models. These include infotainment systems offering multimedia and connectivity features, digital cockpits replacing analog gauges with digital displays and premium car audio systems from

MobilityAug. 1, 2024

Le Sserafim's tearful documentary criticized for emotional displays

Le Sserafim’s latest YouTube documentary series, “Make It Look Easy,” which depicts the girl group's hardships over the past year, is facing criticism for playing on emotions related to the band’s recent controversies. Released on Hybe's official YouTube channel on Monday, the five-part series showcases the group’s intense preparations and emotional struggles. It captures the endless practice sessions, anxiety about public performances and the pressure to

K-popAug. 1, 2024

Samsung labor union demands chief step in

Samsung Electronics’ labor union protested in front of Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s residence in Seoul on Thursday, calling on the Samsung chief to step in over their stalled wage talks with management. The National Samsung Electronics Union, which accounts for about 24 percent of the total workforce of the tech giant, launched an indefinite strike on July 8. “We ask Chairman Lee to come forward and show his position to resolve the full-scale strike,” the union said at a press

IndustryAug. 1, 2024

Opposition parties float impeachment motion against new KCC head

Opposition parties on Thursday proposed a parliamentary impeachment motion against the new head of the state broadcasting regulator Lee Jin-sook who took office Wednesday, accusing her of making key decisions "unfairly" with only two of the five commissioners currently in office. The main opposition Democratic Party and five other minor parties floated an impeachment motion against the new regulator chief during a National Assembly plenary session held Thursday afternoon. This marks th

PoliticsAug. 1, 2024

Only 104 junior doctors returning in September

The Health Ministry on Thursday said it would have hospitals roll out additional recruitment notices later this month for striking trainees protesting the drastic hike in medical school quotas as South Korea's health care is once again left in a void. Only 104 junior doctors -- 13 interns and 91 residents -- had applied as 126 local training hospitals sought to recruit 7,645 candidates -- 2,525 interns and 5,120 residents -- from July 22 until Wednesday afternoon, according to the Health Mi

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

Why do sequels flop?

Korean series traditionally did not produce sequels, primarily due to Korea's production structure. Unlike other countries, a series' intellectual property rights are distributed among production staff in a complex manner, which makes creating sequels challenging. However, the landscape is changing. International streaming platforms, especially Netflix, have begun introducing seasonal formats for Korean series. Following this trend, local cable channels such as tvN have also started ad

FilmAug. 1, 2024

Decarbonizing transition could worsen regional inequality: study

South Korea's planned shutdown of coal-fired power plants to achieve carbon neutrality could exacerbate regional disparities, according to a new study by a national research institute on Thursday. In a report on the paradox of carbon neutrality, the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlement, a think tank in the country, claimed that South Korea's coal phaseout will increase the Gini coefficient, a measure of income inequality, from the current level and widen economic disparities b

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Min says her ‘prime time’ is not over

K-pop solo artist Min used to be swayed by how the public evaluated her. She used to react to criticism by dwelling on past glories. But not anymore. "At some point, I thought to myself, 'Why let these strangers influence the way I live my own life?'" she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. This was when Min came up with her latest song “Prime Time,” the title track of her first EP that was released on June 21. “People defined my glo

K-popAug. 1, 2024

'Poor driving' caused car crash near Seoul City Hall that killed 9: police

Police concluded Thursday that the fatal car crash that killed nine people on July 1 near Seoul City Hall was caused by the driver’s poor handling of the vehicle rather than sudden unintended acceleration as claimed by the driver. The findings were announced as the police ended a monthlong investigation into the accident, where a sedan hit pedestrians on a walkway while traveling at a speed of up to 107 kilometers per hour. “Though the suspect is consistently maintaining a stance tha

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

[KH Explains] Can Korea commercialize UAM in 2025?

Korea’s private and public sectors have been working relentlessly to commercialize urban air mobility, or UAM, in 2025 as the country looks to take the lead in the up-and-coming global UAM sector. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has laid out the K-UAM roadmap with two-part demonstration projects of "Grand Challenges," or GC1 and GC2. The ministry explained that UAM, which mainly focuses on utilizing electric vertical take-off and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft to

MobilityAug. 1, 2024

Buyout deals surface amid Qoo10 affiliates' exit rush

The local units of the cash-crunched Singapore-based Qoo10 group are scrambling to escape the sinking boat, with possible acquisition deals coming onto the table. Among the speculations was Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress' buyout of the Korean online marketplace WeMakePrice, yet AliExpress Korea denied the rumor Thursday. "We are not considering acquiring WeMakePrice, and we confirm that we have not been contacted by the company," said an official from AliExpress Korea. Ear

EconomyAug. 1, 2024

Unpaid wages hit record high, affect over 150,000 workers

The government has estimated that unpaid wages surged about 27 percent in the first half year-on-year, hurting over 150,000 workers in South Korea and disrupting their livelihoods. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Thursday, back wages in the first half of this year reached 1.04 trillion won ($762 million), with a total of 150,503 affected workers. Compared to the same period last year, the amount of unpaid wages increased by 26.8 percent, and the number of affected workers gr

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

Prosecutors search Tmon, WeMakePrice headquarters

Prosecutors searched the headquarters of Tmon and WeMakePrice in Seoul on Thursday as part of an investigation into the e-commerce platforms’ delayed payments to their vendors amid a persisting liquidity crisis surrounding both companies. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, an investigation team searched the headquarters of Tmon and WeMakePrice on Thursday, along with seven other related offices. The investigators also searched the homes of three executive me

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

Morocco, Korea remember Korean War sacrifices, tout thriving ties

Morocco and Korea recalled the sacrifices of martyrs and thriving bilateral ties, marking the accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne in 1999. This year is the 25th anniversary of Mohammed VI's appointment as the Moroccan monarch, succeeding his father, King Hassan II. In his remarks, Moroccan Ambassador to Korea Chafik Rachadi highlighted the longstanding ties between Morocco and Korea, noting that Korea's first embassy in Africa was established in Morocco. While diplomatic relati

Foreign AffairsAug. 1, 2024

K-pop summer queens set to return in August

Female K-pop artists are returning to earn the title of summer queens. Hyolyn, known for her energetic and summer-ready image since her time as a member of the girl band Sistar and as a solo artist, is making a comeback. Her new single "Wait," set to be released on Aug. 12, is an Afrobeat track featuring addictive beats and lyrics celebrating freedom. Concept photos and teaser videos show Hyolyn with tanned skin, wandering through streets and lush forests. Hyolyn showcased the performa

K-popAug. 1, 2024

Korea-Vietnam cooperation seeks cost cuts, tech gains

The business communities in South Korea and Vietnam are anticipating reductions in production costs and technology advancements, respectively, from bilateral economic cooperation between the two nations, according to a survey released Thursday. The survey, conducted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, collected responses from a total of 257 business and industry officials from Korea and Vietnam who attended the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum held in Seoul on July 1. In the survey, Korea

IndustryAug. 1, 2024

Man jailed for assaulting taxi driver over politics

A South Korean court said Thursday it has handed down a six-month prison term to a man for assaulting a taxi driver who refused to answer politics questions, including which presidential candidate he voted for. The defendant was found guilty of violating Article 5-10 of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, on the use of violence against or threatening a driver operating a motor vehicle used for transportation business. The investigation showed that the defendant had been ja

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

Arsonist gives '5-minute warning' before setting home on fire

A South Korean man who set his house on fire on Wednesday had called the firefighters before the crime, asking them to come as quickly as possible. Local police officials in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province said Thursday that they are investigating a 55-year-old man on charge of committing arson on his own home, at around 3:34 p.m. Before starting the fire, he called the Nonsan Fire Station and asked them to come to his house within five minutes, telling them what he was about to do. The autho

Social AffairsAug. 1, 2024

[What to attend] Must-see musicals before summer ends

As the busy summer season unfolds for musical theaters, an array of high-quality productions beckon audiences. While many attendees might find their pockets not particularly deep, these Korean-language shows promise to offer unparalleled experiences that are worth every penny. Here are three standout musicals that should be on everyone’s radar before summer ends. "Hero": A timeless tribute to a national hero Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the musical "Hero" stands a

CultureAug. 1, 2024

SKT's 20-year sponsorship elevates Korean fencing to Olympic glory

Achieving remarkable success at the Paris Olympics, Korean fencing is shining alongside SK Telecom's two decades of sponsorship. Since starting its sponsorship of the Korean Fencing Federation in 2003, SKT has been a steadfast supporter of Korean fencing. Over the years, the company contributed 30 billion won ($21.9 million) through the federation. "Our support has been instrumental in Korea's development into a fencing powerhouse," said an SKT official. The company has consi

IndustryAug. 1, 2024