LG Electronics to shutter US washing machine plant over COVID-19

LG Electronics Inc., a major South Korean home appliance maker, said Friday it will temporarily shut down its washing machine plant in the United States for two weeks due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. LG said its plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, will suspend operations from Monday to April 12. The plant produces 100,000 washing machines a month and employs some 600 workers. Like other companies around the globe, LG has been dealing with production disruptions caused by the coronav

IndustryMarch 27, 2020

BTS puts off N. American leg of world tour over COVID-19

K-pop boy band BTS put off the American leg of its upcoming world tour, "Map of the Soul Tour," Friday over the global spread of COVID-19. "The 'BTS Map of the Soul Tour - North America,' originally scheduled to take place from April 25 to June 6, will be rescheduled to a later date," the band's management agency, Big Hit Entertainment, said on the Weverse mobile app. "We are closely monitoring and following the guidance of all local governments regarding public event

K-popMarch 27, 2020

[Eye Plus] Befriend fluffy alpacas in Gangwon Province

If you are looking for a picnic spot where you can bring your kids, trek through the woods and enjoy spring sunshine, check out this alpaca-themed park in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. The park, named Alpaca World, sits on an 360,000 square-meter plot where visitors can walk through and take a monorail ride around the area.  At certain spots, visitors can experience the mild-tempered animals that may try to eat parsnips out of your hands. You and your children can approach the animals

TravelMarch 27, 2020

Seoul stocks open sharply higher tracking Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street boosted by historic stimulus measures amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 62.47 points, or 3.7 percent, to 1,748.71 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks rallied for a third straight day Thursday (local time) after the Senate passed a $2 trillion relief package to tackle the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. The Dow Jones Industria

MarketMarch 27, 2020

Full text of joint statement from G-20 virtual summit

The following is a full text of a joint statement adopted at the G-20 2020 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders Summit. It was provided by Cheong Wa Dae.       The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities. The virus respects no borders. Combatting this pandemic calls for a transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale and science-based global response in the spirit of solidarity. We are strongly committed to presenting

PoliticsMarch 27, 2020

G-20 leaders vow to take every measure against virus, ensure cross-border flow of essential items

The leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies pledged Thursday to make every effort to ride out the COVID-19 crisis, saying they will ensure the cross-border flow of key response materials, including medical supplies and agricultural products.    They also agreed to continue "bold and large-scale fiscal support" to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, according to a joint statement adopted during their special video conference.   

Foreign AffairsMarch 26, 2020

Moody's reviews ratings of Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors for downgrade

Moody's Investors Service said Thursday that it has placed the ratings of Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors on review for downgrade due to the coronavirus outbreak.    The global credit rater said the two South Korean carmakers remain vulnerable to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and predicted demand for new vehicles will reduce meaningfully over the coming months, especially in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and North American markets.    "

MarketMarch 26, 2020

S. Korea halts overseas absentee ballot processes in 17 countries

South Korea's election watchdog said Thursday that it has decided to stop the absentee ballot process for next month's general elections for citizens living in Italy and 16 other countries due to the coronavirus outbreak.    The National Election Commission said the process will be suspended at 23 South Korean diplomatic missions in the 17 countries until April 6, meaning that eligible South Korean voters cannot cast their absentee ballots for the April 15 elections.    Th

PoliticsMarch 26, 2020

Italy swiftly approves evacuation flights for S. Koreans

Italian authorities swiftly approved two evacuation flights for South Koreans living in the European country, sources here said Thursday, as the government here takes further steps to protect its citizens from the novel coronavirus.    Seoul asked Italian civil aviation authorities to operate the two flights early Wednesday, with Rome giving permission before the end of the same day.    The two planes will bring back 581 people, with the first to depart Italy next Tuesday

Foreign AffairsMarch 26, 2020

Incheon airport goes into 'emergency mode' as COVID-19 causes drop in users

Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main air hub, went into "emergency mode" as the number of users nosedived amid the novel coronavirus outbreak that has spread around the world, the operator said Thursday.    The operator of the airport located in Incheon, 60 kilometers west of Seoul, said it is currently handling some 10,000 passengers per day, down from the normal 200,000 it processed before the pandemic paralyzed travel.    "An emergency situat

MobilityMarch 26, 2020

S. Korea raises concerns over Japan's plan to release contaminated water

  South Korea on Thursday renewed its concerns about Japan's plan to release contaminated water from its disabled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.    South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination said Japan should ensure that its plan does not affect the health and safety of South Koreans or the maritime ecosystem.    South Korea's latest move came two days after Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the ruined nuclear power plant, came up with a p

Foreign AffairsMarch 26, 2020

Seoul City launches English webpage on COVID-19

The Seoul City government said Thursday that it had launched an English webpage to make it easier for foreign residents in the capital to access key information on the novel coronavirus.  The webpage (http://english.seoul.go.kr) provides updates on the tally of novel coronavirus cases by district, a travel log of confirmed patients, the locations of virus testing facilities, behavioral rules and the government’s quarantine measures for foreign residents, among other information.&nbs

Social AffairsMarch 26, 2020

Candidate registration for general election begins

Candidate registration for the April 15 elections began Thursday -- at stake are 300 seats in the 21st National Assembly.  Largely overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak, the poll outcome will shape the country’s political landscape two years before the next presidential election and serve as a litmus test of public sentiment for President Moon Jae-in and his liberal Democratic Party.  Currently, the Democratic Party controls 121 seats in the unicameral parliament, which is

PoliticsMarch 26, 2020

[Bangladesh] Message by the Ambassador of Bangladesh

　 On this auspicious occasion of the 49th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh on 26 March 2020, I cordially convey our warmest greetings and warm felicitations to the friendly people and the Government of the Republic of Korea as well as to the expatriate Bangladeshis living in this country. We laud the commendable measures undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Korea to fight against COVID-19 pandemic and as part of its “Social Distancing” campaign, we have canc

World NewsMarch 26, 2020

[Bangladesh] A message from the prime minister of Bangladesh

I extend my heartiest greetings to the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on the occasion of the great Independence and National Day of Bangladesh. 　 The 26 March is the day of establishing self-identity of our nation. It‘s the day of breaking the shackles of subjugation. On this Independence Day, I recall with deep gratitude the Greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose undisputed leadership we have earned our coveted indepen

World NewsMarch 26, 2020

[Graphic News] Secondhand smoke kills 880,000 people per year worldwide

　More than 880,000 people worldwide died from exposure to secondhand smoke in 2016, compared with nearly 950,000 in 1990, an analysis published by JAMA Network Open concluded. 　This despite the fact that there were more smokers globally in 2016 - nearly 1 billion, thanks in large part to the increasing popularity of the habit in Asia and Africa - than in 1990, when roughly 850 million people smoked worldwide. 　The figures suggest that one nonsmoker died from exposure to secondhand smoke for

TechnologyMarch 26, 2020

Operator of Telegram child sex abuse ring is 16 years old: police

South Korean police said Thursday a teenage boy suspected of being behind a second online child sexual abuse ring has been sent to prosecutors. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said its cybercrime unit apprehended the 16-year-old last month for allegedly operating the Telegram group chat, of which an estimated 8,000 to 20,000 men were members. Thousands of images and videos sexually exploiting prepubescent children were distributed via the channel, police said. According to a

Social AffairsMarch 26, 2020

[Serendipity] This time, get it right on sex crimes

Reading the news on secret chat rooms on Telegram where videos of sexual exploitation were traded feels like wading through filth. So much so, I consciously stayed away from it as much as possible until Wednesday, when it was no longer possible. Leaving Jongno Police Station in Seoul on Wednesday, Cho Ju-bin stood in front of a photo line for the press. Without a mask or cap to cover his face, there stood the 24-year-old man who is alleged to have blackmailed dozens of women and minors into f

ViewpointsMarch 26, 2020

Realistic portrayal of ‘The World of the Married’ lands R-ratings

Perhaps the world of married couples, when seen up close, is too complicated and sensitive, and even raw at times, making it difficult to share with everyone. The first six episodes of JTBC’s upcoming drama “The World of the Married” have been rated R, not because they include sexual or violent scenes but because they were too real, the new series’ producer Mo Wan-il said during the press conference held on Thursday. “It’s a story about a married couple and

TelevisionMarch 26, 2020

Hyundai Motor heir gains W18b through stock buyback

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun, who recently purchased treasury shares, has seen gains from the stock market recovery as well as the strengthening of his control. The market capitalization of Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis shares totaled 100 billion won ($81 million) as of Thursday, with 49.4 billion won for the automaker and 50.7 billion won for the parts unit. From Thursday last week to Wednesday, Chung bought shares of Hyundai Motor at a price between 68,435 won

IndustryMarch 26, 2020