S. Korea, Japan to hold talks next month over trade row

South Korea said Friday that it will hold talks with Japan next month in the latest attempt to resolve the two countries' monthslong trade row. Lee Ho-hyeon, South Korea's director general for international trade policy, is set to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Yoichi Iida, in Seoul on March 10, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In December, the two neighbors held their first director-general-level talks since 2016 but failed to make progress toward loosening the

Foreign AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

BTS reflects on seven years together on ‘Map of the Soul: 7’

BTS released Friday its fourth studio album, “Map of the Soul: 7” spanning 20 tracks. The lead track “On” is an electrifying pop/hip-hop anthem that heavily features marching band drums as the group sings the soaring chorus in harmony, “Bring the pain/oh yea, rain be pourin’/sky keep fallin’/oh na na na.” The bandmates reflected on their celebrity status, singing, “Where is this place I open my eyes to? Maybe Seoul or New York or Paris.&rdq

K-popFeb. 21, 2020

Minister says COVID-19 under control despite 100 new cases

South Korea has stepped up measures to detect and contain the new coronavirus, as the number of COVID-19 patients has grown rapidly across the nation. The country reported 100 additional cases Friday, with the total standing at 204 as of 4 p.m. Daegu and the nearby North Gyeongsang Province took up the lion’s share of the new cases. Only a handful of areas, including Busan, Gangwon Province and Ulsan, remained virus-free. Since a 61-year-old woman was confirmed as the 31st patien

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

No confirmed COVID-19 cases yet in Busan, Ulsan, Gangwon

The novel coronavirus appears to have spread nationwide this week with a surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 virus infections, with Daegu being the largest cluster in the country as of Friday. Cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed across the country, except for the cities of Busan, Ulsan, Daejeon and Sejong as well as Gangwon Province, as of Friday afternoon, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Korea had 100 new cases of the novel

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

Moon calls for inspection of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in relation to COVID-19

President Moon Jae-in on Friday called for an inspection of events linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in tracking the COVID-19 outbreak. “A thorough inspection of attendees of services and the funeral is needed,” Moon said at an emergency briefing by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is at the center of the COVID-19 outbreak in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. The religious sect is considered heretical by mainstream Christian churches. T

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

No plans to delay new semester, Seoul city to support Chinese students

The government said Friday it has no plans to order a postponement of the new school semester nationwide despite a surge in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. The Ministry of Education also set up a task force with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to help foreign students coming from China for the new school year, as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. The education office in Daegu, which witnessed a sudden spike in confirmed cases this week, has delayed the reopening of

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

[Video] Chungmuro, the heart of Korean cinema, goes beyond ‘Hallyuwood’

The movie district often epitomizes the fame, power and money that comes from the show-biz industry. Known as the mecca of Korea’s big screen, Chungmuro has been home to many theaters and movie studios. It used to be the stomping grounds for hordes of local stars and filmmakers in Korea as well. Surprisingly, the area has a humble background, despite its eventual prominence. Long ago, it was an ideal place to start a career because the cost of living was relatively low compared to other

FilmFeb. 21, 2020

Foreign artists delay concerts in Korea due to spread of COVID-19

Foreign artists have postponed their concerts in Korea due to the spread of the COVID-19. As of 10 a.m. Friday, South Korea reported 52 new cases of the coronavirus. The total number of infections in the nation is now at 156. Australian artist Ruel, 18, who was to perform Thursday at MUV Hall in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, will now perform Sept. 18 at Yes24 Live Hall. According to Ruel’s concert organizer, all tickets for the February concert can be returned without any extra charges and

PerformanceFeb. 21, 2020

Red Cross requests sanctions exemption for Pyongyang to fight COVID-19

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has requested the UN exempt sanctions on Pyongyang to help prevent a coronavirus outbreak, a US radio station reported Friday.  The world’s largest humanitarian organization made the request Thursday, quoting the IFRC’s permanent observer to the UN, Richard Blewitt, Radio Free Asia reported. The UN’s decision will be announced by Wednesday at the latest, he added.  The sanction waiver was reques

North KoreaFeb. 21, 2020

Use of AI speakers, PCs, smartphones increases in Korea amid COVID-19 outbreak

The use of AI speakers, PCs and smartphones has increased here amid the COVID-19 outbreak, according to industry data. South Korean mobile carrier KT on Friday said use of its AI speaker Giga Genie increased 8.3 percent in Jan. 30-Feb. 12 compared with Jan. 2-15, before the outbreak was reported. In particular, the number of news searches surged 99 percent, KT said, adding that they were largely related to confirmed cases of the coronavirus here. Online grocery shopping via the AI speake

IndustryFeb. 21, 2020

Coronavirus presumed as factor in S. Korean man's death

The new coronavirus likely was a factor in the death of a South Korean man who posthumously tested positive for COVID-19, the health authorities said Friday. The 63-year-old man who died of pneumonia Wednesday at a hospital in the southeastern city of Cheongdo was confirmed to be infected Thursday, marking the country's first death of someone infected with the novel coronavirus. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the patient's death is presumed to be related to t

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] Hungarian envoy envisions ‘Invented in Hungary’ goods with Korean firms

More than just a production base, Hungary wants to become a hub for creative innovations for Korean companies, Ambassador to Seoul Mozes Csoma said. “We would like to move together with Korea,” Csoma told The Korea Herald at the embassy on Feb. 7. “Hungarian and Korean engineers jointly innovating and developing products -- that would be the best.” Last year, South Korea became Hungary’s No. 1 foreign investor, as more companies sought to capitalize on its comp

Diplomatic CircuitFeb. 21, 2020

[Diplomatic circuit] FKCCI opens larger office

The French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry has opened a new business center with a spacious office for business representatives and meetings, the group said Monday. The expansion comes amid a rise in the number of French companies tapping into the South Korean market. The FKCCI said it added 25 new members in 2019, for a current total of 370. “This is a milestone for us to be able from now on to welcome our members and the French-Korean community in our own premises,” said

Diplomatic CircuitFeb. 21, 2020

S. Korea set to release 1 more fully recovered coronavirus patient

South Korea will release one more fully recovered coronavirus patient later in the day, the health authorities said Friday. So far, South Korea has released 16 virus patients from hospitals. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's 19th patient, a 37-year-old South Korean man who was confirmed to be infected on Feb. 5, will be discharged from quarantine and allowed to leave the hospital. The man in the country's 19th case is one of the patient

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

BTS' 'Boy With Luv' video featuring Halsey tops 700m YouTube views

The video of "Boy With Luv," K-pop boy band BTS' Billboard-topping song featuring Halsey, has topped 700 million YouTube views, the band's management agency said Friday. The lead track of BTS' previous album, "Map of the Soul: Persona" released in April last year, achieved the feat Friday morning, becoming the second BTS music video to garner more than 700 million views on YouTube, Big Hit Entertainment said. "DNA" was the first of the band's songs to hit the mil

K-popFeb. 21, 2020

Ex-S. Korea captain Ki Sung-yueng leaves for Spain to finalize talks with top-division club

INCHEON -- Former South Korean men's football captain Ki Sung-yueng departed for Spain on Friday to finalize talks with a top-flight club there, looking to continue his pro career in Europe after negotiations with domestic teams fell through. The 31-year-old midfielder left Newcastle United on Jan. 31 by what the Premier League club called "mutual consent." His last Premier League appearance came in September 2019. Afterward, Ki sought a return to the K League 1, where he began his

SoccerFeb. 21, 2020

Pro football matches in southeastern region postponed due to coronavirus

Upcoming professional football matches in South Korea's southeastern region have been postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus. The K League announced Friday that the Feb. 29 home opener for Daegu FC in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and the March 1 home match for Pohang Steelers in Pohang, about 80 kilometers east of Daegu, have been pushed back. They will be played either later in March or in June.   The decision was reached at a meeting of league executives and

SoccerFeb. 21, 2020

Samsung’s Z Flip Thom Browne edition sells out in 2 1/2 hours

Online sales of Samsung Electronics’ Z Flip Thom Browne edition ended within just 2 1/2 hours on Friday. Samsung Electronics at Thursday midnight started sales of the limited Thom Browne edition of its new foldable phone. The company’s official website suffered crashes from the load as a rush of consumers tried to connect all at once. The number of Z Flip Thom Browne edition phones sold remained undisclosed by the company. Samsung Electronics was initially to open sales of the Z

IndustryFeb. 21, 2020

Seoul city to ban rallies in central Seoul, close Shincheonji Seoul facilities

Seoul’s city government said Friday it will ban rallies in the center of the city and close down the facilities of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Seoul as part of efforts to rein in the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “We plan to ban use of Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza and Gwanghwamun Plaza,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in a press briefing Friday, adding the municipality will notify rally organizers of the decision and consult with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020

Jongno district skittish about virus spread after reporting most infections in Seoul

Jongno Ward in central Seoul has reported the most cases of the new coronavirus in the capital, spawning concerns that the district with many senior citizens and commuters may be vulnerable to infections. As of Friday, seven cases of COVID-19 infections were reported in Jongno alone out of 18 cases confirmed in Seoul, according to the city government and health authorities. Jongno, located in the heart of Seoul, has a constant flow of commuters, visitors and travelers as it houses many compan

Social AffairsFeb. 21, 2020