S. Korea's current account surplus reaches 12-month high in Oct.

South Korea's current account surplus grew slightly from a month earlier to reach a 12-month high in October as its service account deficit narrowed while its primary income account surplus expanded, central bank data showed Thursday.The country's current account surplus came to $7.83 billion, up from a revised surplus of $7.76 billion the previous month, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.The reading marks the highest since October 2018 when the country's current account surpl

EconomyDec. 5, 2019

Chinese FM Wang Yi calls for joint efforts for regional peace, stability

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Wednesday for South Korea to make joint efforts to play a "constructive" role for regional peace and stability, casting the two countries as "close neighbors, friends and partners."  Wang made the remarks at a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha during his first trip to Seoul since bilateral ties soured in 2016 over the installation of the US missile defense system Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on the pe

Foreign AffairsDec. 4, 2019

Samsung overwhelms LG, Apple in local smartphone market share

Samsung Electronics dominated the South Korean market for smartphones in the third quarter, widening the gap with local competitor LG Electronics, as well as that with Apple of the United States, industry data showed Wednesday.Also, Samsung took seven spots in the list of the top 10 best-selling smartphones, according to the data from market research firm Counterpoint Research. In the July-September period, Samsung's smartphones posted a combined market share of 71 percent, up 3 percentage point

TechnologyDec. 4, 2019

N. Korea raps Japan over past wrongdoing, urges sincere apology

North Korea on Wednesday blasted Japan for its crimes against Koreans during the 1910-45 colonial rule period, calling it a "shameless country" that continues to refuse to apologize for its past wrongdoings."There is such a shameless country as Japan which swims against the trend. Japan still refuses to admit, apologize for and make reparation for the monstrous crimes against the Korean people, other peoples of Asian countries and mankind," the North's Korean Central News Age

North KoreaDec. 4, 2019

S. Korea decides to push in earnest for development for indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile

South Korea decided Wednesday to push in earnest for the development of a home-grown long-range surface-to-air missile after years of research into the project, the arms procurement agency said.South Korea has been working to develop the long-range ground-based interceptor since 2014 as part of efforts to beef up its air defense capabilities in the face of persistent threats from North Korea. As a key element of the Korea Air and Missile Defense, the interceptor is designed to shoot down ballist

DefenseDec. 4, 2019

Main opposition shakes up leadership amid flagging ratings

In an apparent push for the upcoming general election, the main opposition party announced on Wednesday a replacement of a key party post.During a supreme council meeting convened Wednesday by Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, Liberty Korea Party decided Floor Leader Na Kyung-won will be leaving her post on Tuesday when her term expires.The decision comes as the party continues to lag behind the ruling Democratic Party in support ratings.In Tuesday’s Realmeter survey of 500 adults, over half of resp

PoliticsDec. 4, 2019

[Graphic News] US draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight year

　A new report found that the number of foreign students coming to US universities continued to decrease last year.　The annual report from the Institute of International Education found a 1 percent decrease in the number of newly enrolled international students in fall 2018 compared with the year before. This follows two years of decreases after more than a decade of upward movement.　Some schools have blamed US President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric for driving students away, but

World NewsDec. 4, 2019

[팟캐스트] (329) 한·프 스타트업 맞손 / 강다니엘, 활동 중단 선언 "우울증·공황장애 진단"

 진행자: 김보경, Kevin Lee Selzer1. [Diplomatic circuit] [Meet the diplomat] Paris looks to Korea’s technology, startups for cooperation: French ambassador아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] In South Korea, France is known predominantly for its rich history, sophisticated culture and luxury brands. But take a deeper look into the history between the two countries, and traces of France can b

PodcastDec. 4, 2019

Prosecutors raid Blue House in power abuse probe

The investigation into an alleged power abuse scandal involving Cheong Wa Dae intensified Wednesday as prosecutors raided the presidential office to secure records related to the controversial suspension of an internal inspection of a senior official in late 2017. The senior official, former Busan Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo, was detained Nov. 27 on bribery charges. The prosecutors were handed over documents identified in the warrant as per the usual custom. By law, law enforc

PoliticsDec. 4, 2019

K-pop star Kang Daniel suspends engagements over mental health

K-pop star Kang Daniel has temporarily halted entertainment activities, his management company said Wednesday, citing Kang’s ongoing struggle with depression and panic disorder Wednesday.Kang has canceled recordings for TV programs, including “Show! Champion,” an MBC music program that was scheduled for Wednesday. “Securing enough rest for the artist’s condition is the first priority,” management agency Konnect Entertainment said in a statement, adding th

K-popDec. 4, 2019

SK chief’s wife files divorce countersuit, claims 42.3% of his stake in firm

Roh So-young, founder of Art Center Nabi and wife of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, has filed a divorce countersuit against her husband, claiming a huge stake in the nation’s third-largest conglomerate.She submitted her case to the Seoul Family Court on Wednesday afternoon, giving her first official consent to the divorce, local news outlets reported. She has sought the division of property, claiming 42.3 percent of Chey’s stake in the group’s holding unit SK Holdings.Chey, cu

IndustryDec. 4, 2019

Exhibit takes place around discarded power plant

An exhibit is underway at an outdoor space near retired thermal power plants in Mapo-gu, Seoul, which await to be transformed into a cultural complex. The event, titled “Kraftwerk 2019: Homo Symbious,” features sculptural works that address ecological and environmental issues. Forty-four local artists are participating in the exhibition, showing works made of a wide range of materials, including wood, stone, earth, iron, copper, stainless steel, synthetic resins, fiber reinforced pla

Arts & DesignDec. 4, 2019

Park Ji-hoon returns with seductive second EP '360'

K-pop singer and actor Park Ji-hoon returned Wednesday as a musician following his recent acting project, with his second solo EP "360."The album's title track is an alluring pop number that sheds light on the heartthrob star's seductive side. Park described the song as reflective of his three major qualities -- purity at the zero-degree point, youthfulness at the 180-degree point and professionalism as an artist at the 360-degree point."I hoped to put into the new album the music

PerformanceDec. 4, 2019

[Kim Myong-sik] Trump’s gamble in USFK cost-sharing deal

Negotiations are underway on US President Donald Trump’s demand for a fivefold increase in South Korea’s payment for the cost of stationing 28,500 US troops here. The talks in Washington and Seoul may be settled before the year-end. However, the preposterous US demand has raised the average South Korean’s skepticism about the alliance -- by as much as five times. It could be the famous “art of the deal” of the American businessman-turned-president, but it simply bor

ViewpointsDec. 4, 2019

[Noah Smith] US economy defying recession odds

It’s impressive how well the US economy has held up during the past year. As early as 2018, leading indicators were suggesting a heightened risk of recession in 2019 or 2020. Then early this year the yield curve inverted, a traditional signal that recession is imminent. The inversion has since reversed, but this typically happens before growth actually goes negative. The trigger for a downturn wouldn’t be hard to identify -- a slowing China, combined with President Donald Trump&rsquo

ViewpointsDec. 4, 2019

Samsung heir to meet Sweden’s biggest biz tycoon Wallenberg

De facto Samsung Electronics leader Lee Jae-yong is expected to meet with the owner of largest Swedish business group Wallenberg later this month, according to news reports Wednesday. Lee will reportedly hold a meeting with Chairman Marcus Wallenberg, who is scheduled to come to Seoul on Dec. 18 as part of a business delegation accompanying the Swedish prime minister’s visit to the country. A business summit that promotes Korean businesses’ investments in Sweden will be held at a hot

TechnologyDec. 4, 2019

[Herald Review] Two’s company: Hopkins and Pryce enliven papal buddy film ‘The Two Popes’

This was honestly not what I expected from a film about papal succession: a delightful buddy film about an unlikely friendship that took place -- of all places -- at the Vatican. Forget about grappling with faith or messages about the Catholic Church reaching out to the world in a humble way. “The Two Popes” director Fernando Meirelles has created a perfectly riveting drama brought to life by the fascinating back-and-forth performance by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce.The story t

FilmDec. 4, 2019

Classical Chinese fellowship to foster future Korean studies researchers

Professor Kim Chi-hyoun spoke at a slightly slow pace and pronounced every Korean word clearly when she explained the meaning of Chinese words and sentences selected from “The Mencius,” a classical Confucian text. Her unusual teaching style was designed to better deliver her lecture to seven international students who are on the AKS Hanmun (classical Chinese) Fellowship program.The Academy of Korean Studies started the 16-week fellowship this year in order to help foreign students in

Social AffairsDec. 4, 2019

China seeks Seoul’s cooperation to counter ‘US unilateralism’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday that Seoul and Beijing should strengthen their cooperation to protect the international order that he said had been threatened by unilateralism, amid the neighbor’s ongoing trade war with the United States.During a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Wang apparently asked Seoul to join Beijing in the fight against unilateralism and protectionism, a reference to US President Donald Trump’s economic policy, and crit

Foreign AffairsDec. 4, 2019