WHO declares international emergency over novel coronavirus

GENEVA (AFP) -- The UN health agency on Thursday declared an international emergency over the deadly novel coronavirus from China -- a rarely used designation that could lead to improved international co-ordination in tackling the disease. "Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems," World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said as he declared a "public health emergency of international concern&q

World NewsJan. 31, 2020

Biegun, Philippine foreign secretary discuss NK denuclearization

WASHINGTON -- US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun met with the top diplomat of the Philippines on Thursday and discussed the importance of achieving North Korea's denuclearization, the State Department said. Biegun and Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. held talks in Washington and reaffirmed the value of the two countries' alliance, the department said in a readout. "They also discussed the importance of that partnership to face current global health challenges, ac

North KoreaJan. 31, 2020

Seungri indicted on overseas gambling, pimping charges

Seungri, the disgraced former member of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, has been indicted for allegedly gambling overseas and procuring prostitutes for investors. The scandal-ridden celebrity was indicted Thursday, without detention, on charges of overseas gambling and breaching the foreign exchange transaction act, as well as the act on the punishment of arranging commercial sex acts, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office. Seungri is accused of arranging sex services for acquain

Social AffairsJan. 31, 2020

Korea's industrial output grows 1.4% in December

South Korea's overall industrial output gained 1.4 percent in December from a month earlier despite a slight tumble in the service sector, data showed Friday. From a year earlier, the overall industrial output grew 3.2 percent, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. The production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries rose 3.5 percent from a month earlier, while that of the service sector edged down 0.1 percent. The production, retail sales and investment

IndustryJan. 31, 2020

US ready to respond to any 'late Christmas gift' from N. Korea: Pentagon official

WASHINGTON -- The United States is ready to respond to any "late Christmas gift" from North Korea, a Pentagon official said Thursday, referring to the possibility of a North Korean provocation, such as a long-range missile test. North Korea warned last year that it could send a "Christmas gift" to the US in protest of stalled denuclearization negotiations between the countries, adding to concerns that the regime could resume its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missil

North KoreaJan. 31, 2020

First group of Wuhan evacuees arrive, placed in quarantine

The first group of Koreans evacuated from Wuhan, China, arrived in Korea on Friday. 　 The flight carrying 368 Koreans out of the Chinese city at the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak arrived at Gimpo International Airport just before 8 a.m. One person was barred from boarding the flight in Wuhan after symptoms were detected. At Gimpo, passengers were screened for symptoms associated with the coronavirus infection. Of these, 14 people were sent to the National Medical Center and fou

Social AffairsJan. 31, 2020

World’s largest halal exhibition to be held in Malaysia in April

Malaysia International Halal Showcase, the world’s largest halal trade fair, will be held in Kuala Lumpur from April 1 to 3, the event’s organizers said Thursday. According to Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry, this year’s MIHAS, themed “Expand Your Halal Horizon,” will feature over 1,200 booths of companies from countries around the world, including halal-certified and trade-ready manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and distributors. T

IndustryJan. 31, 2020

Park Seo-jun to show perfect sync with original webcomic in 'Itaewon Class'

JTBC’s new drama series based on the webcomic of the same name, “Itaewon Class” is set to air its first episode Friday night. Original webtoon artist Cho Kwang-jin also took charge of the script. “When I was writing the comic it wasn’t easy for me to delve into the details of every character because of the weekly deadlines. So it was a grateful opportunity that I could get the chance to develop even the small characters through working on the script,” Cho

TelevisionJan. 30, 2020

Watchdog imposes ‘heavy sanctions’ on Woori, KEB Hana executives for DLF misselling

South Korea’s financial watchdog on Thursday said it has decided to impose heavy sanctions on the top executives of two major banking groups -- Woori Bank and KEB Hana Bank -- for misselling derivatives-linked funds last year. The Financial Supervisory Service’s sanctions committee has decided to hand Woori Financial Group Chairman and Woori Bank CEO Sohn Tae-seung as well as Hana Financial Vice Chairman and former Hana Bank CEO Ham Young-joo “reprimands and warnings,”

MarketJan. 30, 2020

S. Korea's first evacuation plane heads to China's Wuhan

A South Korean plane departed for China's coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan on Thursday to bring home hundreds of people unable to leave due to a citywide lockdown caused by the deadly contagious virus. The chartered Korean Air flight left Seoul's Incheon International Airport shortly after 8:45 p.m. It was expected to return home early Friday with some 360 South Korean citizens. The flight is one of two originally planned under Seoul's evacuation plan to bring home some 700 South Koreans from t

Social AffairsJan. 30, 2020

Japan seeks arrest of Ghosn, Americans suspected of helping

TOKYO (AP) -- An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn, who skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan and is now in Lebanon. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, so there is little chance for his arrest. Lebanon indicated earlier this month that it will not hand over Ghosn. Tokyo prosecutors also issued arrest warrants for three Americans they said helped and planned his escape, Michael Taylor, George Zayek and Peter Taylor. Deputy

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

S. Korea to erect monument in Vladivostok to remember independence fighter

South Korea plans to establish a monument in Russia's eastern port city of Vladivostok in the first half of the year to pay tribute to an independence fighter during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, South Korean officials said Thursday. The South Korean Consulate in the Russian city said the erection of the monument to Yi Dong-hwi, who served as the first prime minister of the Korean Provisional Government, will take place near the city's Pokrovsky Cathedral on June 26 in coopera

Foreign AffairsJan. 30, 2020

China orders increased food production over virus price rises

BEIJING (AFP) -- China ordered its farmers to ramp up food production Thursday following days of rising prices, with agricultural supplies disrupted by a deadly viral outbreak. The government in Beijing has taken extraordinary steps to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, restricting transport across the country and effectively locking down more than 50 million people in Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease. But officials said some local initiatives, such as roadblocks to stop tr

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

Air Force reconsidering planned participation in int'l airshow amid virus outbreak

The South Korean Air Force is reconsidering whether to participate in an upcoming international airshow in Singapore as the new coronavirus continues to spread, officials said Thursday. The Air Force's Black Eagles had planned to head for Singapore on Friday to take part in the biennial Singapore Airshow 2020 from Feb. 11 to 16 but decided to delay their departure. "A ceremony scheduled for Thursday to mark the Black Eagles' departure was delayed in consideration of the situation regardi

DefenseJan. 30, 2020

S. Korea reports 2 more new coronavirus cases, total now at 6

South Korea on Thursday reported two more cases of the new coronavirus, with one believed to be the country's first human-to-human transmission, bringing the total number of people infected here to six. Of the two, one, a 32-year-old man, recently returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the latest outbreak, but the other was confirmed to be the country's first human transmission case of the novel virus, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Social AffairsJan. 30, 2020

[Graphic News] Hong Kong named world’s most expensive cities for luxuries

　Wealthy bargain hunters should be wary of getting married in New York, hiring lawyers in Hong Kong or buying fine wines in Rio de Janeiro. 　That’s according to research from Julius Baer Group, which broke out the world’s most expensive cities for a variety of luxury goods and services - from houses to whisky to handbags. High local tax rates make Rio de Janeiro - Brazil’s second-largest city - the world’s most expensive metropolis in five of 18 categories in the Swi

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

Hong Sang-soo to compete at Berlinale with new film starring Kim Min-hee

The Berlin International Film Festival on Wednesday revealed this year’s lineup of films in competition, including Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo’s new “The Woman Who Ran.” Hong will be competing for the Gold and Silver Bear prizes with 17 other titles from 17 countries, including Sally Potter’s “The Roads Not Taken,” Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” Philippe Garrel’s “The Salt of Tears,” Rithy Panh’s “Irrad

FilmJan. 30, 2020

Super collectors: Forces that drive the art market

“Super Collector” By Lee Young-ran HakGoJAE Publishers There are three wheels that make the art industry function: The artists, the gallery owners who manage exhibitions and introduce their art pieces, and the collectors who purchase them. Among the three, the art collectors are the ones who really determine whether art markets thrive, although they are not frequently mentioned in the art industry and usually remain behind a veil. “Super Collector” by former journa

BooksJan. 30, 2020

Wuhan virus anxiety ruins plans for Koreans

Wuhan virus fears are setting off a wave of cancellations of plans and events across the country, with many Koreans choosing to avoid crowds and gatherings. On Thursday, coastal cities Busan and Samcheok said they were scrapping plans for the annual celebration of Daeboreum, the first full moon of the year festival slated for early February. Busan City office said this year’s full moon festival, scheduled for the first weekend of February at its popular Gwangalli beach, has been cancele

Social AffairsJan. 30, 2020

iKON to release 1st album since leader B.I's departure last year

K-pop boy band iKON will return to the music scene with a new album, "i DECIDE," next week. The new album, set for official release on Feb. 6, is iKON's third EP and its first release since band leader B.I left in June last year over drug-related allegations, according to the band's management agency, YG Entertainment. B.I's departure reconfigured iKON as a six-member boy band. The new album contains tracks created by the former leader, including "Dive." YG said it ch

K-popJan. 30, 2020