[Herald Review] Doomed but eternal love of ‘Dracula’

Despite the COVID-19 outbreak shutting down most performing arts shows, the house was nearly full at Friday’s performance of “Dracula: The Musical,” with fans eager to see singer Kim Jun-su’s portrayal of the lonely yet romantic vampire. The musical began its run on Feb. 11 at Charlotte Theater in eastern Seoul. While the performing art scene suffers badly due to the health crisis, the hit musical show has been recording an average admission rate of 95 percent.   T

PerformanceMarch 30, 2020

Four notable Korean authors to be published in foreign languages this year

From Korean TV dramas and K-pop to the nation’s cinematic output, Korean content has taken the world by storm. This year, it may be Korean novels’ turn to engage global readers. According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, a state-run institute that promotes Korean literature abroad, at least 91 Korean books are being published in 19 countries this year. “There might be more books that will be published overseas, this is the number that we have for now,&rdquo

PeopleMarch 30, 2020

Kumho Tire wins Red Dot Design Award 2020

South Korea’s Kumho Tire said Monday that its Solus 4S HA32 has won the Red Dot Design Award 2020. According to the tire maker, Solus HA32 is specially designed for road conditions in Europe, offering stable driving performance and brake in all four seasons.  By applying high-tech materials and V-shape pattern, Solus HA32’s brake function has improved by 15 percent compared to the previous model, the company said.  Its 3D inter-locking system also makes it easier for a

MobilityMarch 30, 2020

Popular Japanese comedian dies from the coronavirus

TOKYO (AP) -- Popular Japanese comedian Ken Shimura, who drew inspiration from the American comedic icon Jerry Lewis, has died from the coronavirus, becoming Japan's first known celebrity victim of the disease. He was 70. Shimura, who attracted fans of all generations with his slapstick comedy and funny faces, had been treated at a Tokyo hospital and died on Sunday, according to his agency, Izawa Office. He was diagnosed with pneumonia after contracting the coronavirus. He was hospitalized on

World NewsMarch 30, 2020

New home permits shrink 10% in Feb.

New home permits in South Korea fell nearly 10 percent in February from a year earlier due to a drop outside the capital region, the government said Monday. Construction permits issued for new homes stood at 37,980 units last month, down 10.1 percent from the same period a year ago, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. New home permits issued in Seoul climbed 6.5 percent on-year to 5,651 in February, and those issued in the capital area edged up 0.8 percent to 26,2

EconomyMarch 30, 2020

NK fired missiles from launcher similar to one unveiled last year: JCS

A super-large multiple rocket launcher that North Korea claimed to have test-fired the previous day appears to be similar to its large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system unveiled last year, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday. The military is scrutinizing photos North Korean state media released earlier in the day of the super-large multiple rocket launcher tested Sunday as the system looks different from the North's existing weapon of the same name, a JCS official said.

North KoreaMarch 30, 2020

NK hails rocket test, US urges return to nuclear talks

The two short-range projectiles North Korea fired into the East Sea on Sunday were super-large rockets, the North’s Korean Central News Agency said Monday, calling the test a “success." Unlike previous launches, leader Kim Jong-un was reportedly not there to guide the latest test. This was the North’s fourth weapons test this year, all in March. Pyongyang tested super-large rockets March 2 and 9 and ballistic missiles March 21 in an unprecedented flurry of launches that S

North KoreaMarch 30, 2020

Korean firms face coronavirus heat in Europe

South Korean companies operating in Europe are reeling from the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the region, a survey showed Monday. The domestic situation is also dismal, with the business sentiment that gauges the nation’s export outlook hitting the lowest level in 135 months. The Korea International Trade Association surveyed 80 Korean companies doing business in Europe between Wednesday and Friday. According to the survey, 41 companies said the damage was “very ser

IndustryMarch 30, 2020

McDonald’s reaches out to support COVID-19 heroes

McDonald’s Korea said Monday it has donated 8,000 burgers and coffee cups to subway cleaning staff through Seoul Volunteer Center. The fast-food chain said it delivered 4,000 coupons each for Bic Mac burgers and Americano coffee cups to cleaning and disinfection staff of Seoul Metro Environment and Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corp., which manage Subway Line No. 1-4 and 5-8, respectively. “Cleaning and disinfection staff are the true unsung heroes as they risk their own safet

IndustryMarch 30, 2020

[Newsmaker] Germany bets on S. Korean model in virus fightback

BERLIN (AFP) -- In the race against the coronavirus, Germany is betting on widespread testing and quarantining to break the infection chain, a strategy borrowed from South Korea whose success in slowing the outbreak has become the envy of the world. Germany is already carrying out more coronavirus tests than any other European country at a rate of 300,000 to 500,000 a week, according to officials. But Chancellor Angela Merkel's government aims to ramp that up to at least 200,000 tests a day,

WorldMarch 30, 2020

BTS to join James Corden’s quarantine concert, ‘Homefest’

BTS will appear in James Corden’s “Homefest” in the latest effort of #TogetherAtHome on Tuesday. “Homefest: James Corden’s Late Late Show Special” will feature artists from all over the world performing from the safety of their homes. In addition to BTS from South Korea, artists scheduled to appear include opera singer Andrea Bocelli from Italy, Dua Lipa from London, John Legend with Billie Eilish and Finneas from LA, among others. James Corden will be hosti

K-popMarch 30, 2020

Genesis launches revamped third-generation G80

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it has launched the third-generation G80 of its luxury brand Genesis.  The latest model has been fully revamped and is 125 kilograms lighter compared to the second-generation model that was launched in 2016, by using aluminum materials.  The all-new G80 is wider by 35 millimeters and lower by 15 millimeters, to show the best proportion as a rear-wheel driving luxury sedan, the automaker said.  Genesis sedans’ signature crest front grille,

MobilityMarch 30, 2020

Card firms' 2019 net down 5.3% on increased costs

South Korean credit card firms saw their combined net profit fall 5.3 percent in 2019 from a year earlier due mainly to increased loan-loss reserves and marketing spending, data showed Monday. The combined net profit of eight card issuers, including Shinhan Card Co., Samsung Card Co. and KB Kookmin Card Co., came to 1.64 trillion won ($1.3 billion) in 2019, compared with 1.73 trillion won in 2018, according to the data released by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). The value of credit ca

MarketMarch 30, 2020

S. Korea halts overseas election process in US, 24 other nations

South Korea's election watchdog said Monday it will stop overseas election affairs for the April polls in 41 diplomatic missions of 25 nations, including the United States, over the coronavirus pandemic. South Korea will halt the polling affairs for the April 15 parliamentary elections in the US, Canada and 23 other countries until April 6, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The move followed last week's decision to suspend the election process in Italy and 16 other countrie

PoliticsMarch 30, 2020

Table tennis worlds in S. Korea postponed for 2nd time due to coronavirus

The world's top table tennis tournament set to take place in South Korea has been postponed for the second time because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Following its executive committee meeting Sunday, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) decided to shelve all international competitions and activities until June 30, 2020. With that, the World Team Table Tennis Championships, which had been slated to run from June 21-28 in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has been postp

More SportsMarch 30, 2020

Seoul subway to run reduced services starting in April

Subway services in the capital area will end an hour earlier starting in April, operators said Monday, to better contain the new coronavirus that has infected more than 900 in the wider Seoul area. Under the plan, subway lines No. 1 to 9, as well as the Ui-Sinseol line, will operate until midnight starting April 1, operators said in a press release. Subway services currently run until 1 a.m. "The reduced service is anticipated to encourage the public to return home early and also secure m

Social AffairsMarch 30, 2020

Korean stocks sharply down late Monday morning

South Korean shares remained down late Monday morning after opening sharply lower on fears of the new coronavirus outbreak further slowing economic activities throughout the globe, limiting demand at home and abroad. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 40.74 points, or 2.37 percent, to 1,676.99 as of 11:20 a.m. On Monday, South Korea reported 78 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the nation's total infections to 9,661. The United States became the new global epicente

MarketMarch 30, 2020

Concerns over new infections grip capital area

New infections reported in the wider Seoul area surpassed those in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak here, on Monday, spurring concerns over transmission in the capital area that is home to half of the South Korean population. New COVID-19 infections reported in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon totaled 31, bringing the total number of cases in the metropolitan area to 947, according to data compiled by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and P

Social AffairsMarch 30, 2020

Biz sentiment for April dips to over decade low on COVID-19: survey

Business sentiment in South Korea plunged to an 11-year low for April, due to the growing impact of the new coronavirus outbreak on the economy, a local think tank said Monday. The business survey index (BSI) of the country's top 600 companies by sales came to 59.3 for April, the lowest since January 2009, when the index was 51, the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) said in a statement. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists, while a figure above the benchmark means th

EconomyMarch 30, 2020

Retail sales up 9.1% in Feb. amid virus pandemic

Retail sales in South Korea rose 9.1 percent in February from a year earlier as more people purchased daily necessities through online platforms amid the spread of the new coronavirus here, data showed Monday. The combined sales of 26 major offline and online retailers reached 10.6 trillion won ($8.68 billion) last month, compared with 9.71 trillion won a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The sharp increase came as online stores enjoyed

ConsumerMarch 30, 2020