Yuhan targets market for female health probiotics

With South Korea’s market for health supplements growing, demand for female health-oriented probiotics is also expected to rise. Yuhan Care, a health supplement and beauty spinoff of Yuhan Corp., held a press event Tuesday to introduce the market’s outlook and the technology behind its newly launched UREX probiotics product, Inner Flora. The man behind the development of probiotics was invited to speak on the matter.At the event, Gregor Reid, the first scientist to discover the benef

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

Newly selected national treasures of Korea to be unveiled to public

The National Museum of Korea will hold an exhibition next year featuring national treasures designated in recent years, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday. The upcoming exhibition between April and June 2020 will unveil some 100 newly designated national treasures and treasures. The items include those owned by temples, private galleries and individuals.One highlight is “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” a representative written record of the history of th

CultureNov. 19, 2019

Samsung, LG ramp up outsourcing of smartphone models

With the smartphone market mirroring the PC industry, South Korean tech firms Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are banking on outsourcing production to other global manufacturers to boost their sales overseas, according to industry sources Tuesday. The country’s two biggest phone makers are seeking to increase production by third-party original development manufacturers in countries like India and China. It may be bad news for contractors here, but may be appreciated by overseas vend

TechnologyNov. 19, 2019

Major entertainment firms tipped to log better earnings in 2020

South Korea's major entertainment agencies are expected to see improved earnings next year on growing album sales and global activities of their idol groups, analysts said Tuesday. SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, the two largest agencies by market capitalization, reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, and they are poised to deliver further improvement in their bottom lines, according to them. SM Entertainment's July-September sales rose to 173.5 billion won ($148.5 mi

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

McDonald’s holds open-kitchen event to highlight food hygiene

McDonald’s Korea said it invited customers to its stores nationwide Tuesday for an open-kitchen event to highlight its food hygiene and safety system.The firm received applications last week from 1,600 customers hoping to participate in the event. The participants could visit any of McDonald’s 310 branches nationwide to survey its management of inventory, kitchen hygiene and the cooking process. A session was held on how McDonald’s cooks its burger patties. The company exp

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

[Kim Seong-kon] From liberator to tyrant in ‘Game of Thrones’

Movies and television dramas are excellent social documents in that they faithfully reflect societal change and the alteration of consciousness throughout history. Sometimes they illuminate us with profound insights into and powerful criticisms of contemporary society. Since films and TV shows enjoy enormous popularity, their impact is huge, more widespread and more powerful than traditional literature. The celebrated HBO series “Game of Thrones” is a good example. In the eighth and

ViewpointsNov. 19, 2019

[Daniel Moss] A bigger threat than NK nukes

You know times are hard in provincial South Korea when the guy selling walkers and hearing aids can only make ends meet by day trading. Lee Ho-cheol, 52, keeps his eyes on flashing stock quotes while his shop, crammed with wheelchairs, canes and other equipment for seniors, sits empty. Lee has run the store for roughly two decades, and his plight shows just how dire things have become. Few of his neighbors make enough money sticking to their day jobs, he says, and many have turned to selling bea

ViewpointsNov. 19, 2019

Weak growth, trade tensions to weigh down on Korean economy in 2020: Moody’s

South Korea’s economy and its key businesses will continue to face challenges next year due to the weak global economic growth pace and persisting trade tensions, global credit ratings agency Moody’s said Tuesday.“Our outlook (for Korea in 2020) is negative,” Chris Park, associate managing director of corporate finance at the agency, said in a press briefing.“Many export-dependent companies here had their profitability decrease in 2019 but continued to maintain or e

EconomyNov. 19, 2019

Gangwon governor calls for resumption of Kumgangsan tours

The South Korean government should resume tours to North Korea’s Kumgangsan, Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon said at a press conference held at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Tuesday.  “Resumption of the Kumgangsan tours is the deepest wish of the Korean people, and a matter of survival for Gangwon Province and its Goseong County,” Choi said, adding, “The tours will help North Korea to open up to the outside world and usher in peace and st

Social AffairsNov. 19, 2019

CIX goes political in “Hello, Strange Place,” raises voice for teenagers

CIX is striking a political tone with the boy band’s second EP, “Hello Chapter 2: Hello, Strange Place,” set for release Tuesday.Having debuted in July, the five-piece act appears to be fairly comfortable in highlighting social issues facing teenagers in South Korea in their music, such as studying too hard, school violence and neglect on the part of adults.Speaking at a press showcase, Yonghee said, “The album talks about many of the issues affecting our generation with

K-popNov. 19, 2019

[Newsmaker] State broadcaster accused of demoting reporters over critical coverage of ex-minister

The national public broadcaster KBS is accused of unfairly punishing its reporters for running unfavorable stories on Cho Kuk, a close Moon Jae-in aide and former justice minister.A KBS labor union said in a statement Monday that nine reporters who covered criminal suspicions surrounding Cho faced unwarranted demotions last week. The reporters at the broadcaster’s radio news bureau have been reassigned to non-reporting positions and night shift jobs, according to the statement. “This

Social AffairsNov. 19, 2019

14 mayors, governors file petition to save Lee Jae-myung’s governorship

Fourteen governors and mayors across the nation, including Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, have filed a petition with the Supreme Court, asking for the acquittal of Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, who has been convicted of violating election laws.　In the petition, they asked the justices at the country’s top court to clear him of the charges so that Gyeonggi Province, with a population of 13 million, can avoid the absence of a governor and Lee can continue serving his role.　“If Gyeo

PoliticsNov. 19, 2019

Nurse accused of fracturing newborn’s skull; more than 200,000 sign petition urging punishment

Public rage is escalating after a newborn baby suffered brain and skull injuries owing to alleged violence at a hospital.As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, 203,880 South Koreans had signed an online petition requesting a proper investigation and punishment of the person responsible for the infant’s injury. The petition was filed by the baby’s father on Oct. 24 at the website of presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. The presidential office is required to respond to petitions that receive more than 20

Social AffairsNov. 19, 2019

Houthi rebels seize two Korean vessels in Yemen

Three ships carrying 16 crew members, including two South Koreans, were seized by Houthi rebels off the southern coast of Yemen, according to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. Houthi rebels told the government that they will release the boats if they are found to be Korean ships after legal procedures are carried out, a ministry official said. A tugboat and a drilling rig that belong to the Korean firm Woongjin Development Co. as well as a Saudi Arabian-flagged tugboat were seized by the rebels M

Foreign AffairsNov. 19, 2019

AmCham to host second Women’s Leadership Forum 2019

The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and Amway Korea will host the second Women’s Leadership Forum 2019 in Seoul on Wednesday to examine female leadership here and discuss ways to foster gender balance. “Policy support is needed to promote women’s economic activities and startups. We hope this forum will serve as an opportunity to reconsider ways to improve female leadership in corporates and foster next-generation female talent,” AmCham Chairman and CEO James Kim sa

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

Hyundai Motor begins sales of facelifted New Grandeur

Hyundai Motor began sales on Tuesday of its flagship full-size sedan The New Grandeur, which has undergone some drastic design changes since the sixth-generation Grandeur IG was launched in 2016. Under the slogan “Sensuous Sportiness,” Hyundai Motor has applied an integrated-type front grille with a checkered pattern called a “parametric jewel pattern.” The automaker has also used daytime running lamps, headlights that look like part of the front grille when turned o

MobilityNov. 19, 2019

KAI seeks new orders from Thai air force

Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer, is participating in a four-day exhibition in Bangkok to promote its technological competitiveness and to pursue new contracts from the Southeast Asian country, ranked 26th in military strength.At the Defense and Security 2019, KAI will introduce three major products that have already won international recognition for their advanced technological features and competitive prices. The list includes KT-1, a single engine tur

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

HHI Group appoints Kwon Oh-gap as new chairman

Hyundai Heavy Industries Group has appointed Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-gap as the group’s new chairman, according to the firm on Tuesday. The new leader, who joined Hyundai Heavy in 1978, served as director of the firm’s London and Seoul branches and president of Hyundai Heavy Industries Sports. Kwon was the first president of the group’s refinery unit Hyundai Oilbank in 2010. He was recognized for his management ability by growing the company’s operating profit of 130 b

IndustryNov. 19, 2019

Renault Samsung targets niche markets of LPG, commercial vehicles

Renault Samsung, the South Korean subsidiary of French carmaker Renault, has been targeting the niche markets of liquefied petroleum gas and commercial vehicles in recent months, to promote sales in the face of intensifying competition and a sluggish economy. QM6, a mid-sized sports utility vehicle powered by LPG, has boosted sales in the carmaker’s SUV segment by attracting customers looking for alternatives to diesel-powered SUVs here. Sales of SUVs with diesel engines have lost steam am

MobilityNov. 19, 2019