[Diplomatic circuit] ‘Push for green energy pays off’

With alarm bells ringing louder than ever, warning the world of the grave impact of climate change, countries are increasingly turning to Denmark to learn from its expertise in renewable energy. In an interview with The Korea Herald, Einar Jensen, the country’s new ambassador to South Korea, discussed how the European country managed to make such remarkable strides in green energy and in overall quality of life. “When I look at Korea today, I think you have done a tremendously

Diplomatic CircuitFeb. 10, 2020

Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors plants to resume operation from Tuesday

Manufacturing plants of the country’s two largest automakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, which had been suspended due to disruption of parts supplies will resume operation from Tuesday, industry sources said Monday. The resumption follows delivery of Chinese-made wiring harnesses, a crucial auto part laid on the floor of the vehicles during initial assembly. A portion was set to arrive here Monday via flights and vessels from Qingdao and Weihai, according to a Hyundai Motor official.&n

MobilityFeb. 10, 2020

Meet songwriting duo behind Red Velvet’s ‘Zimzalabim’

  Girls’ Generation, SHINee, Loona and TVXQ -- some of these biggest names in K-pop have one thing in common. They’ve released a song from Swedish songwriting duo Caesar & Loui, or Daniel Caesar and Ludwig Lindell. Since the two began working in music professionally in 2013, they have churned out a great number of hits. Their most memorable track yet? It’s Red Velvet’s 2017 mega-hit single “Red Flavor.” The song was a chart success, topp

K-popFeb. 10, 2020

Epidemiologists ask to dial down ‘virus paranoia’

Epidemiologists and preventive medicine specialists on Monday voiced concerns against “excessive” fear of the Wuhan coronavirus, asking for the public’s cooperation with and trust in disease control authorities and health experts. “Disease control, health officials and medical providers alone cannot overcome the public health crisis,” the Korean Society of Epidemiology and the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine said in a joint statement, stressing the need for

Social AffairsFeb. 10, 2020

Samsung airs ad for Z Flip at Oscars ceremony

Samsung Electronics aired a surprise teaser commercial for its new foldable cell phone Z Flip, during the live Academy Awards 2020 on Sunday. Z Flip is the second foldable phone from Samsung Electronics, after the Galaxy Fold that launched in 2019. The Galaxy Fold horizontally folds, while the Z Flip shuts vertically. In the teaser, the clamshell type Z Flip could display an incoming call while shut closed in a square shape, allowing users to choose to accept or decline the call. The hinge

IndustryFeb. 10, 2020

3rd evacuation of Wuhan planned, Chinese relatives of Koreans to be included in flight

The South Korean government plans to airlift some 150 Korean nationals and their immediate family members from Wuhan, China, on Tuesday. The government’s coronavirus response team said Monday that plans are being finalized with Beijing and that this time Chinese nationals who are immediate family members of Koreans will be allowed to leave the Chinese city. Parents, partners and children of South Korean nationals are allowed to board the flight. China had prohibited Chinese nationals

Social AffairsFeb. 10, 2020

Korean EV battery companies carve out bigger market share in 2019

South Korea’s major electric vehicle battery makers strengthened their market control in 2019 by supplying products to foreign automakers, industry data showed Monday. Three domestic electric vehicle battery giants -- LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation -- increased their combined market share to 15.8 percent from 11.8 percent a year earlier, according to data from market tracker SNE Research. LG Chem moved up to third place with market share of 10.5 percent, knocking down Chinese

IndustryFeb. 10, 2020

[Herald Interview] Why you can’t stop listening to Red Velvet’s ‘Psycho’

Diving straight in with a grandiose operatic intro with dramatic pizzicato strings, Red Velvet’s latest hit bursts into the swooping chorus, “You got me feeling like a psycho, psycho.” For 3 1/2 minutes straight, the five singers showcase their skillful vocals as the story of a hot-and-cold relationship unfolds. Released in December as the lead single from the band’s latest album, “The ReVe Festival: Finale,” “Psycho” continues to please, after

K-popFeb. 10, 2020

[Newsmaker] 8 stars of ‘Parasite’

When “Parasite” became the first non-English-language movie to win the top honor of best ensemble cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, actor Lee Sun-kyun joked, “I am a little embarrassed. It feels like we are parasites of Hollywood now.” He was being humble. Bong Joon-ho’s satire-thriller “Parasite” on Monday won best picture, best director, best international feature film and best original screenplay at the Academy Awards, becoming the first Kor

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

Executive producer of best picture ‘Parasite’ thanks Korean audience

While filmmaker Bong Joon-ho made history with “Parasite” by winning the best picture award at the Oscars -- first non-English language film to get the honor and the first time in the event’s 92-year history that a foreign film has won four awards in a single night -- Lee Mi-kyung, vice chairwoman of CJ Group, thanked the Korean audience for their “straightforward opinions.”   Lee, also known as Miky Lee, is the executive producer of the film. “I would

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

Oscars’ best director Bong Joon-ho honors Martin Scorsese

Filmmaker Bong Joon-ho of “Parasite” won the best director at the 92nd Oscars held in Los Angeles, Monday. 　 “After winning (the best international feature), I thought I was done for the day and was ready to relax,” Bong said in his acceptance speech. “When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is ‘the most personal is the most creative,’” he said. “That quote came from our great Marti

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

S. Korea eyes further economic cooperation with India

A senior South Korean trade official left for India on Monday as part of the country's drive to forge deeper ties with emerging countries, the trade ministry said. Yeo Han-koo, deputy minister for trade negotiations, is set to meet with India's Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss ways to bolster economic ties of the two countries, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. "As India is the key partner of the country's New Southern policy, we need

EconomyFeb. 10, 2020

‘Parasite’ wins best picture at Oscars

Korean satirical-thriller “Parasite” won best picture at the Oscars on Sunday, making history in its home country and the international film scene. Director-producer Bong Joon-ho shared the honor with co-producer Kwak Sin-ae, CEO of film production company Barunson E&A. With the award, “Parasite” became the first foreign-language picture to win the most coveted prize in film. Conquering the Oscars, Bong and the “Parasite” team have reached what may

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

‘Parasite’ Bong Joon-ho named best director: Oscars

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho was given the Oscar for best director at the 92nd Academy Awards on Sunday. The director of the epic comedy-horror “Parasite” has become the first South Korean director to win the award. With “Parasite,” Bong is the second director of a non-English-language film to be honored as director at the Oscars, following Alfonso Cuaron, who won it for the Spanish-language drama “Roma” from last year. Bong Joon-ho previously mad

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

With best int’l feature, Bong Joon-ho says he is ‘ready to drink’

After clinching the Oscar for best international feature, filmmaker Bong Joon-ho of “Parasite” said he is “very ready to drink.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently changed the name of the category from “best foreign language film” because the old name was seen as outdated. 　 　 “The category has a new name now, from foreign language film to international feature film. I am so happy to be its first recipient under the new name,&rdq

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

Oscars kick off with politics and historic 'Parasite' win

HOLLYWOOD (AFP) -- The Oscars kicked off Sunday with a historic early triumph for South Korea's black comedy thriller "Parasite" -- tipped to battle war epic "1917" for the night's top prize -- as winners including Brad Pitt struck a political note. Hollywood's biggest night began with a vibrant musical medley, which addressed a swirling row over the lack of minorities and female directors on the star-studded nominee list. "We celebrate all the women who directed phe

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

‘Parasite’ named best international feature of this year: Oscars

Director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” took the best international feature Oscar at this year’s Academy Awards. The Academy, in announcing the winners of the 92nd Oscars on Sunday, pronounced the South Korean movie as this year’s best international feature film. “Parasite” beat four other successful features -- the Polish drama “Corpus Christi” directed by Jan Komasa, the documentary from North Macedonia “Honeyland,” the French dra

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

‘Parasite’ Bong joon-ho thanks wife for inspiration

South Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won of “Parasite” won the best original screenplay award at the Oscars on Sunday. “It is a lonely job to write a film script. I am not writing to represent Korea, but it is the first Oscar to South Korea,” Bong said in his acceptance speech at the ceremony. “I thank my wife, who always inspired me, and the ‘Parasite’ actors who beautifully delivered the lines on screen.”   Bong shared the honor wi

FilmFeb. 10, 2020

3 S. Koreans in China confirmed to be infected with new coronavirus: Seoul govt.

South Korea said Monday that three of its nationals in mainland China have been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus. The three members of a family staying in China's northeastern province of Shandong have tested positive for the new strain of virus, according to the Seoul government. It marks the first time for South Korean nationals staying in mainland China to be confirmed to be diagnosed with the virus infection that has taken more than 900 lives there. "The World Heal

Social AffairsFeb. 10, 2020

Hyundai, Kia beat Volkswagen in EV sales last year

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Monday their combined electric vehicle sales exceeded Volkswagen's EV sales in global markets last year. Hyundai and Kia, which together form the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales, sold a total of 126,406 electric vehicles in 2019, higher than the German carmaker's 84,199 units, according to data from global EVs data-focused provider InsideEVs. The two ranked sixth in the global EV sales rankings for 2019, following Tesla, Inc.,

IndustryFeb. 10, 2020