Moon cites history lessons over 'fairness, freedom, equality' from

President Moon Jae-in on Friday emphasized lessons from a couple of historic events here against Japan's colonial rule in the 1900s, saying South Korea still has a ways to go to promote fairness, freedom and equality.This year, South Korea has commemorated the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement and the establishment of a provisional government in Shanghai. The two are highlights of Korea's fight against Japan's brutal colonization from 1910-45."The most important reaso

PoliticsDec. 13, 2019

[Newsmaker] Singer Kim Gun-mo sues woman who filed rape suit

Singer Kim Gun-mo, 51, on Friday countersued a woman who accused the singer of sexual assault, denying all allegations made against him. On the same day, Kim’s agency Guneum announced the cancellation of the singer’s nationwide concert tour that was to take place Dec. 24 to Feb. 29, 2020.On Monday, the woman, surnamed Kim, sued the singer, claiming he had sexually assaulted her in August 2016 at a bar in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where she worked. “Kim Gun-mo does not know the woman a

Social AffairsDec. 13, 2019

N. Korea could announce end to nuke talks later this month: think tank

North Korea could announce an end to denuclearization talks with the United States when it convenes a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party later this month, a state-run think tank said Friday.The North said last week it will convene a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the WPK later this month to address "crucial issues in line with the needs of the development of the Korean revolution and the changed situation at home and abroad."The announcement came as Pyongyang has ramped

North KoreaDec. 13, 2019

Court upholds entry ban on Vietnamese woman who borrowed passport

A 10-year entry ban imposed by immigration authorities on a Vietnamese woman who lived in South Korea on a borrowed passport is lawful, a local court said Friday.  The Seoul High Court ruled against the woman, who had challenged the decision and asked the court to invalidate the deportation order and 10-year entry ban. The woman entered the country in April 1997 as part of an industrial trainee program, but overstayed her visa and continued to live here illegally. She received a deportation

Social AffairsDec. 13, 2019

Seoul seeks to support swine fever control in NK via NGOs

The South Korean government plans to help control the African swine fever outbreak in North Korea by providing support through international nongovernmental organizations.The Unification Ministry is taking steps to donate money from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund to international NGOs seeking to control and prevent the disease in North Korea, government sources said Friday.The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council under the ministry is expected to deliberate and vote on the

North KoreaDec. 13, 2019

Seoul stocks extend gains late Friday morning

Seoul stocks extended gains late Friday morning as investor sentiment was further boosted by reports of an imminent US-China trade deal. The Korean won gained further against the US dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 29.08 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,166.43 as of 11:20 a.m.  The main index opened higher and gained further for a sixth straight session as the United States and China are reportedly getting very close to signing a trade deal, with US P

MarketDec. 13, 2019

Auto exports down for 4th month on weak demand from Asia

South Korea's automobile exports dropped 8.6 percent in November from a year earlier to extend its on-year drop to a fourth month due to weak demand from Asian countries and decreased shipments of original equipment manufacturing orders, data showed Friday. South Korean carmakers shipped 217,498 units of cars overseas last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, auto exports also moved down 1.4 percent over the period to $3.91 billi

IndustryDec. 13, 2019

S. Korea mulls over its military role in Strait of Hormuz

South Korea seems to have begun exploring concrete ways in earnest to help ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid apparent pressure from the United States.Briefing media on the results of a weekly session of the National Security Council's standing committee Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said its members reviewed how to contribute to the international community's efforts to protect South Korean people and ships "in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz" and secure maritime

Foreign AffairsDec. 13, 2019

S. Korea to officially deploy F-35A stealth fighters next week

South Korea will mark the operational deployment of F-35A stealth fighters in a ceremony to be held behind closed doors next week, the Air Force said Friday, amid heightened tensions with North Korea.South Korea has so far brought in 13 F-35As, beginning with two in late March, under a plan to deploy 40 fifth-generation jets through 2021. North Korea has strongly bristled at the introduction of the state-of-the-art fighters as a sign of hostility."We are scheduled to hold the ceremony on Tu

DefenseDec. 13, 2019

Prosecution to indict ex-Busan mayor in bribery case

Prosecutors on Friday are set to indict a former mayor of Busan, South Korea's largest port city, who is suspected of receiving bribes while he worked at the state financial regulator.An official at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office said prosecutors plan to indict Yoo Jae-soo, who recently resigned as vice mayor of economic affairs in the southeastern city.  Yoo, 55, is accused of receiving bribes worth a combined 50 million won ($43,000) from three to four financial firms durin

Social AffairsDec. 13, 2019

Daewoo Shipbuilding bags $200m offshore facility order from Chevron

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipbuilder by orders, said Friday it has received a $200 million offshore facility order from a US oil major.Daewoo Shipbuilding said it will build the hull of a semi-submersible floating production unit for Chevron Corp. and said it is expected to be delivered by 2022, the company said in a statement.  The deal marks the first in five years that the shipyard clinched a contract to build an offshore facility.The of

IndustryDec. 13, 2019

[Eye plus] Making art out of straw

A giant eagle and gorilla recently took up residence by an outdoor pool in Jungnang-gu in northeastern Seoul. They -- along with smaller animals, scarecrows and other figures arranged on the pool grounds during the offseason -- are all made of straw from this year’s rice harvest. The sculptures are the works of artist Lee Chun-su and the people of Buan County in North Jeolla Province. About 30 works are on display as part of the rural county’s efforts to showcase what it calls &

CultureDec. 13, 2019

[Weekender] Best places to get cakes, turkeys and wine

Christmas meals here do not necessarily involve a whole roasted turkey sitting right at the center of the table waiting to be carved. The festive feast could be on food of any kind from sushi to fried chicken, pizza or a bowl of rice with good old doenjang jjigae. Whatever the choice is, many folks here like to finish it with a cake, since Christmas has somehow become one of the two special days in a year to be celebrated with a cake, the other being the birthday. Here are some ideas for hassle-

FoodDec. 13, 2019

[Weekender] Party at home

December’s party scene has changed in Korea. Some say it’s because of the economy and lifestyle trends that focus on well-being. Others point to young generations’ aversion to old-fashioned, big get-togethers that inevitably involve awkward speeches, toast-making and undesired boozing. In the Dec. 27, 2013, issue of The Korea Herald, the Weekender discussed how Koreans devoted the entire month to year-end parties, which left many drinking copious amounts, despite efforts t

FoodDec. 13, 2019

US hopes N. Korea refrains from nuclear, long-range missile tests: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States hopes North Korea will refrain from nuclear and long-range missile tests, but remains ready to respond to the threat, the Pentagon said Thursday.Joint Staff Vice Director Navy Rear Adm. William Byrne Jr. made the remark in response to North Korean statements hinting at a resumption of nuclear and long-range missile tests in the coming weeks."I'm not going to share any classified information," he said during a press briefing at the Pentagon when asked if

North KoreaDec. 13, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea at Millennium Hilton SeoulMillennium Hilton Seoul’s Cilantro Deli, located in the main lobby of the hotel, presents afternoon tea with a winter theme. The tea set includes open sandwiches, scones, a gingerbread man and treats shaped like snowmen, Christmas trees and mittens. It also sells Christmas cakes. Its signature Christmas cake, the Noel Cake, consists of four long rolls: a red velvet roll, a green tea roll, a chocolate roll and a mocha roll. Fruit Spo

FoodDec. 13, 2019

Korea's export prices dip for 3rd month in Nov.

South Korea's export prices fell from a month earlier for a third consecutive month in November, partly due to the strengthening of the local currency against the US dollar, central bank data showed Friday.The export price index, in terms of Korean won, came to 97.11 in the month, down 1.8 percent from the revised 98.87 the month before, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.From the same month last year, the index dropped 6.2 percent, marking a sixth consecutive month of on-year

EconomyDec. 13, 2019

US warns N. Korea against 'ill-advised' action

WASHINGTON -- A top US diplomat warned North Korea on Thursday against taking any "ill-advised" action in light of its veiled threats to resume nuclear and long-range missile tests.David Stilwell, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remark as North Korea has threatened to take a "new way" unless the US offers concessions in their stalled denuclearization negotiations before the end of the year. Washington has urged Pyongyang to stick t

North KoreaDec. 13, 2019

US again flies surveillance aircraft over S. Korea: aviation tracker

The United States flew a naval patrol aircraft over the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Friday, amid heightened tensions due to concerns North Korea could launch a long-range rocket. The US Navy's P-3C maritime surveillance plane "conducted a mission over the Korean Peninsula earlier," Aircraft Spots said on its Twitter account without specifying the exact time of the operation. It also did not upload photos showing the flight route.Recently, the US has deployed its spy plan

DefenseDec. 13, 2019

UK exit poll suggests majority for Johnson's Conservatives

LONDON (AP) -- An exit poll in Britain's election projected Thursday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party would likely win a solid majority of seats in Parliament, a decisive outcome that should allow Johnson to fulfill his plan to take the UK out of the European Union next month.The survey, released just after polls closed, predicted the Conservatives would get 368 of the 650 House of Commons seats and the Labour Party 191. That would be the biggest Tory majority for several d

World NewsDec. 13, 2019