KT’s epidemic prevention platform launches in Kenya

Telecom KT’s disease control platform recently launched in Kenya, widening reach in the African continent.KT’s Global Epidemic Prevention Platform will be locally serviced by the nation’s biggest telecom provider Safaricom, and will be called Safari Smart, meaning “smart travel” in Swahili. KT underlined the significance of this collaboration, saying this is the first time for a Korean company to tap Kenya’s national quarantine service. Kenya is a critical hub

IndustryDec. 8, 2019

Hong Kong protesters aim for big turnout at rare sanctioned march

HONG KONG (AFP) -- Hong Kong democracy protesters are hoping for huge crowds later Sunday at a rally they have billed as a "last chance" for the city's pro-Beijing leaders in a major test for the six-month-old movement.The march comes two weeks after pro-establishment parties got a drubbing in local elections, shattering government claims that a "silent majority" opposed the protests.The semi-autonomous financial hub has been battered by increasingly violent demonstrations in

World NewsDec. 8, 2019

[Newsmaker] Leader of drug-trafficking ring gets 9-year prison term in appeals trial

The Seoul High Court on Sunday sentenced the leader of South Korea's largest drug-trafficking syndicate to nine years in prison for distributing about 730,000 doses of methamphetamine smuggled from Taiwan.The 63-year-old leader, identified by his surname, Yoon, and an accomplice, surnamed Woo, 53, were charged with distributing 22 kilograms of methamphetamine. That amount was part of a total of 112 kg of methamphetamine smuggled by a Taiwanese crime ring in July and August last year. Woo was sen

Social AffairsDec. 8, 2019

Hanwha’s investment in Overair gets all-clear signal for takeoff

Hanwha Systems announced Sunday that its $25 million investment in US-based air taxi startup Overair has got final approval from authorities.The two companies plan to jointly develop personalized aerial vehicles following the US Committee on Foreign Investment’s greenlight. Overair, previously K4 Aeronautics, is a spinoff of Karem Aircraft -- which manufactures aerial vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing. It is one of the core partners of the Uber Elevate project for commercial

IndustryDec. 8, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Killed My Wife’ shows why webcomic-based films rarely work

After watching the thoroughly boring “Killed My Wife,” I checked out the webcomic on which it is based. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. The story was intriguing, the style was tasteful and the presentation was effective in building suspense. Why, then, was director Kim Ha-la’s thriller such a flop? While Lee Si-eon does a fairly good job in his first leading role, the film fails to understand that storytelling methods of a webcomic and a movie are very different, ultimately f

FilmDec. 8, 2019

N. Korea says it has conducted 'very important test' at satellite launching site

North Korea said Sunday that it has conducted a "very important test" at its western satellite launching site, saying that the test's results will alter its "strategic position" going forward.The claim came days after news reports that the North's Sohae satellite launching station, also known as Donchang-ri site, had shown signs that could suggest the communist nation is preparing for a missile engine test.The site has been used to launch satellite-carrying long-range rockets

North KoreaDec. 8, 2019

Historical documents show Japan's role in sex slaves: Kyodo

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's army during World War II asked the government to provide one sex slave for every 70 soldiers, according to historical documents reviewed by Kyodo News service that highlight the state role in the so-called "comfort women" system. The 23 documents were gathered by Japan's Cabinet Secretariat between April 2017 and March 2019, including 13 classified dispatches from the Japanese consulates in China to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo dating back to 1938, according to K

Foreign AffairsDec. 8, 2019

S. Korea's exports likely to suffer worst drop since 2009: reports

South Korea is likely to see its worst annual exports performance this year since the global financial crisis, economic reports showed Sunday, due to the global trade slowdown and a slump in the semiconductor market. The value of South Korean goods exports is expected to plunge 10.2 percent on-year in 2019 on a customs clearance basis, according to Bank of Korea, the worst drop since 2009 when the country suffered 13.9 percent decline. Private economic think tanks released similar forecasts. LG

IndustryDec. 8, 2019

Trump warns N. Korea not to interfere with his reelection bid

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Saturday he doesn't think North Korea will engage in hostile acts and interfere with the upcoming US presidential election, an apparent warning that the communist nation shouldn't undertake provocations that could hurt his reelection chances."I'd be surprised if North Korea acted hostilely," Trump was quoted as telling reporters at the White House. "He knows I have an election coming up. I don't think he wants to interfere with that. Bu

North KoreaDec. 8, 2019

Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth

In local entertainment circles, big-time actresses used to disappear from the public eye after marriage in the past. Lately, however, a number of married actresses are returning to the small screen after lengthy hiatuses for the entertainment of their fans.Kim Tae-hee, who married the singer Rain in January 2017 and bore two daughters, will resume acting by appearing in "Hi Bye, Mama!" -- a new drama set to air on tvN in the first half of next year.The drama tells the story of a housew

TelevisionDec. 8, 2019

North Korea says US denuclearization talks 'out of negotiation table'

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- North Korea on Saturday said denuclearization talks with the United States were "out of the negotiation table," while slamming European UN Security Council members who had recently denounced its "provocative" ballistic missile launches.The statement from North Korea's ambassador to the UN Kim Song came after Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom on Wednesday condemned North Korea's "continued testing of ballistic missile

North KoreaDec. 8, 2019

'Son-aldo!': Mourinho salutes South Korean's wonder-goal

LONDON (AFP) -- Jose Mourinho hailed Son Heung-min's wonder-strike in Tottenham's 5-0 thrashing of Burnley as the best goal he has seen since an equally stunning effort from Brazilian legend Ronaldo.On the day he was presented with the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award by compatriot Park Ji-sung, Son underlined his place among the game's elite with arguably the greatest goal of his glittering career.With Spurs already rampant after early goals from Harry Kane and Lucas Moura, Son

SoccerDec. 8, 2019

Disney's 'Frozen 2' tops 10m admissions in S. Korea

Walt Disney’s sensational film “Frozen 2” surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korean theaters on Saturday.The animated flick set the record by 2:40 p.m., according to Walt Disney Company Korea, the local film distributing unit of the US giant, based on a real-time box-office tally from the Korean Film Council.It exceeded the mark on the 17th day since its release on Nov. 21 and became the 27th film to reach the milestone of 10 million ticket sales in South Korea.Its 2014 p

FilmDec. 7, 2019

Wartime documents show Japan‘s role in recruiting comfort women: Kyodo

Wartime documents showed the Japanese government was involved in forcing Korean women to serve as “comfort women” at Japan’s military brothels during World War II, Kyodo News reported Friday. The Japanese army asked that there be one comfort woman for every 70 soldiers, Kyodo reported, citing the documents collected by the Cabinet Secretariat between April 2017 and March 2019.The documents indicate that the Japanese military played an active role in recuiting women, Kanto Gakui

Foreign AffairsDec. 7, 2019

[Photo news] BTS performs at 2019 Jingle Ball

K-pop supergroup BTS  on Friday wowed the audience of the 102.7 KIIS FM‘s Jingle Ball concert in Inglewood, California, US, with its performances of "Boy With Luv", "Mic Drop," and other hit songs.  

K-popDec. 7, 2019

Moon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over N. Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump agreed Saturday that it‘s necessary to maintain dialogue momentum between Washington and Pyongyang, Cheong Wa Dae said, amid growing worries about the future of the Korea peace process.During half-hour phone talks, they also agreed that the recent situations on the Korean Peninsula are “severe” and “dialogue momentum should be maintained to achieve prompt results from denuclearization negotiations,” ac

North KoreaDec. 7, 2019

Pet-caused fires on rise in Seoul: data

The number of fires caused by pets is on the rise, data showed Saturday, raising the need for pet owners to take precautionary measures.A total of 31 reported fires in Seoul in the January-September period were accidentally caused by pets, according to the data from the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters.This marks a sharp rise from 19 cases in 2018, seven cases in 2017 and eight cases in 2016. The figures for the three years cover the January-December period. 　Except for one ca

Social AffairsDec. 7, 2019

Swine fever-infected wild boars on steady rise in S. Korea

  The number of wild boars infected with the deadly African swine fevervirus has been continuously increasing in South Korea despite a two-month hiatus from local farms, data showed Saturday.　The total number of wild boars infected with the virus here has reached 41 since the first such case was reported in October, according to local quarantine authorities.　On Saturday, the National Institute of Environmental Research confirmed two new cases in Cheorwon, a town near the border with North K

Social AffairsDec. 7, 2019

BTS' Suga releases collaboration with Halsey

Suga, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, released a song in collaboration with American singer-songwriter Halsey on Friday.The song, "SUGA's Interlude," featuring the BTS member is one of the tracks on Halsey's new album, "Manic," to be officially released on Jan. 17. The two sides pre-released the track in digital single format through major online music stores and streaming platforms on Friday ahead of the official release next month.  It is the second joint project betw

K-popDec. 6, 2019

Parliamentary speaker plans to put budget bill on review despite partisan clash

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang vowed Friday to put the pending government budget proposal for 2020 on review next week even amid a continuing partisan clash. "Speaker Moon decided that he would not to sit out (the chance to convene) a plenary National Assembly meeting on Monday and Tuesday as the end of the current regular parliamentary session is a few days ahead," parliamentary spokesperson Han Min-soo told reporters. "Moon disclosed his plan to hold the plenary me

PoliticsDec. 6, 2019