Airlines to cut fuel surcharges on int'l routes in March

South Korean airlines will lower their fuel surcharges on international routes in March to reflect lower jet fuel prices, industry sources said Monday. The surcharges for one-way tickets on long-haul international routes will drop by two notches to 19,200 won next month from 49,200 won in February, according to the sources. If the average jet fuel price on the Singapore spot market rises over $1.50 per gallon, South Korean airlines are allowed to impose fuel surcharges starting one month lat

MobilityFeb. 17, 2020

[The Heirs (1)] Succession at CJ slow but remains on track

Despite public apathy and tougher shareholder censure, South Korea’s chaebol groups have been preparing for 3rd to 4th generational shift in their ownership. The Korea Herald looks into different groups, different families and different scenarios for their power handover. - Ed.  In taking over their parents’ multibillion-dollar chaebol, heirs follow a similar path. Young heirs begin their careers at key affiliates, usually at a manager level, and fast ascend to executive po

IndustryFeb. 17, 2020

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

South Korea said Monday it will release one more fully recovered coronavirus patient later in the day after the person tested negative in two successive screening tests.   According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's 28th patient, a 30-year-old Chinese woman, who was confirmed to be infected on Feb. 11, will be discharged from quarantine.   The country so far has released nine virus patients from hospitals, while reporting 30 conf

Social AffairsFeb. 17, 2020

Main opposition, 2 minor parties launch new merged party for April elections

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and two minor parties officially launched their new merged party Monday, a move to integrate conservatives ahead of the April parliamentary elections. The tentatively named Party for Future Integration set sail as the LKP approved a move to unify with the New Conservative Party and Onward for Future 4.0 last week. Its official English name has yet to be chosen. The move is aimed at mustering conservatives to challenge the liberal Moon Jae-in gover

PoliticsFeb. 17, 2020

Moody's cuts S. Korea's 2020 growth outlook to 1.9% over virus fallout

Ratings agency Moody's on Monday cut its forecast for South Korea's 2020 economic growth to 1.9 percent from 2.1 percent, citing the economic fallout of the new coronavirus. The latest forecast by Moody's is lower than the Bank of Korea's prediction of 2.3 percent expansion for this year. The spread of COVID-19 in China and around the world is expected to have a negative impact on tourism and industrial production in Asian nations, including South Korea and Japan, Moody's said. Moody's als

EconomyFeb. 17, 2020

BTS shares longest-ever tracklist for upcoming album

BTS shared a whopping 20-song tracklist on Monday for its new album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” just ahead of its release Feb. 21. The list is the longest ever for a BTS's full-length album and features 15 new tracks -- including “On,” which fronts the new album -- along with five songs previously released as part of last year’s “Map of the Soul: Persona” EP. The new songs include “Filter,” “Louder Than Bombs,” “Zero O&

K-popFeb. 17, 2020

14 online sellers of face masks involved in illegal practice: FTC

SEJONG -- The country's anti-trust regulator said Monday it has found 14 online sellers of face masks in possible violation of fair trade laws, amid surging demand for protective masks over the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some of the online sellers have been accused of unilaterally canceling orders and selling face masks at higher market prices, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said in a statement. For instance, one online vendor unilaterally canceled orders for 119,450 face masks betwee

EconomyFeb. 17, 2020

Esports league plays to empty stadium

Two weeks have passed since the 2020 League of Legends Champions Korea Spring season started without spectators as a precaution against the spread of novel coronavirus. At LoL Park in Jongno, Seoul, on Sunday, masks were distributed to players and staff entering the arena, as temperatures were measured and hands sanitized. Referees wore masks and gloves, while the 400 seats in the arena had posted notices prohibiting sitting. Coaches did not shake hands after the pick-and-ban phase as had be

CultureFeb. 17, 2020

Korean carmakers on track to normalize production this week

South Korean carmakers said Monday they are on track for normalizing production later this week after suffering parts shortages from China amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak. The country's five carmakers -- Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Korea Co., Renault Samsung Motors Corp., and SsangYong Motor Co. -- are still struggling to get parts on time, although suppliers in China partially resumed operations last week with the COVID-19 virus outbreak showing no sign of slowing. They

MobilityFeb. 17, 2020

Proposed merger among 3 minor parties hits snag

A proposal to merge three minor parties hit a snag Monday as the chief of the opposition Bareunmirae Party (BP) suspended the review of its approval, claiming that the move could deepen regionalism. The BP, the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and the New Alternative Party jointly announced a plan Friday to unite for the April 15 parliamentary elections, eyeing becoming the third-largest political bloc sharing support bases in the southwestern provinces of North and South Jeolla. But BP ch

PoliticsFeb. 17, 2020

Chronology of COVID-19 virus outbreaks and related events

The following is a chronology of COVID-19 virus outbreaks and related major events in South Korea since the first confirmed case on Jan. 20. 2020 ◇  January Jan. 20 -- South Korea reports its first confirmed case of COVID-19 virus. The patient was a 36-year old Chinese woman who arrived on Jan. 19 from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak. South Korea raised the country's infectious disease alert level by one notch from "blue" to "yellow." Jan 24 -- South Ko

NationalFeb. 17, 2020

S. Korea reports 1 more case of novel coronavirus, total now at 30

South Korea on Monday identified another case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 30, with the latest two cases' infection routes being unknown. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's latest patient is the 68-year-old wife of the 29th patient who tested positive for the virus Sunday. The 82-year-old man is not known to have been in contact with the country's other virus-confirmed patients or recently traveled

Social AffairsFeb. 17, 2020

S. Korea's monetary policy must maintain accommodative stance: regional think-tank

SEJONG -- South Korea must maintain its accommodative policy stance as it seeks to prop up a slowing economy amid muted inflationary pressure, a regional think-tank said Monday. "Given ample fiscal space, the fiscal stance should remain expansionary in the near term with more spending allocated toward restructuring the economy," the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said in a report. "At the same time, monetary policy should be accommodative in view of moderating ec

EconomyFeb. 17, 2020

Kia unveils design of new Sorento, launch scheduled in March

Kia Motors Corp. on Monday unveiled the design of the all-new Sorento SUV ahead of its domestic launch next month as it strives to boost SUV sales further. The fourth-generation SUV adopts a new design concept, Borderless Gesture, which is defined by a combination of the "strong design heritage" of its predecessors and the "refined and delicate feel" of a sedan, the company said in a statement. The new Sorento's powertrain and other details will be released later, it said

MobilityFeb. 17, 2020

China virus toll reaches 1,765: govt.

BEIJING (AFP) -- The death toll from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped past 1,700 on Monday after 100 more people died in hard-hit Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. In its daily update, the province's health commission also reported 1,933 new cases. At least 70,400 people have now been infected nationwide. Most are in Hubei, where the virus first emerged in December before spiralling into a nationwide epidemic. The number of new cases in the province had been declining si

World NewsFeb. 17, 2020

Son strikes late to edge Spurs past Villa in five-goal thriller

BIRMINGHAM (AFP) -- Son Heung-min struck deep into stoppage time as Tottenham's chances of Champions League football next season were boosted by a 3-2 win at Aston Villa on Sunday. A third consecutive Premier League victory lifts Spurs up to fifth -- which could be enough to secure Champions League qualification with Manchester City facing a two-season ban from the competition -- and within one point of fourth-placed Chelsea. Jose Mourinho's men were worthy of their victory after bouncing bac

SoccerFeb. 17, 2020

Xi's early involvement in virus outbreak raises questions

A recent speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that has been published by state media indicates for the first time that he was leading the response to a new virus outbreak from early on in the crisis. The publication of the Feb. 3 speech was an apparent attempt to demonstrate that the Communist Party leadership had acted decisively from the beginning, but also opens Xi up to criticism over why the public was not alerted sooner. In the speech, Xi said he gave instructions on fighting the v

World NewsFeb. 16, 2020

Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho returns home to hero's welcome

  South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho made a triumphant return home on Sunday after capturing four Oscar titles, including best picture for his black comedy thriller "Parasite." "Thanks to so many of you for greeting me, despite the cold weather," Bong told hundreds of reporters, photographers and fans that were waiting for the director at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. "I'm also so sorry for having bothered you many times since the Cannes

FilmFeb. 16, 2020

S. Korea to repatriate nationals from cruise ship in Japan

The South Korean government said Sunday that it is considering repatriating its nationals aboard a quarantined cruise ship moored off the coast of Japan. Since the Diamond Princess was quarantined at Yokohama Port earlier this month after confirming an infection of COVID-19, 14 Koreans -- nine passengers and five crew members -- have remained inside the ship. The Japanese government announced a plan to release passengers who test negative for the contagious virus from Wednesday. "Even

Social AffairsFeb. 16, 2020

Virus patient may face fine for breaking quarantine

A patient with the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, may face penalties for not following quarantine rules, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday. According to the KCDC, a 43-year-old Korean man had lunch with his family at his home in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 1 while still under quarantine. He told authorities he started having symptoms that morning, which prompted him to visit a state health clinic later the same day. He was confirmed to have contracted th

Social AffairsFeb. 16, 2020