N. Koreans deported according to 'principles' and 'standards': official

GANGHWA ISLAND -- Last week's deportation from South Korea of two North Koreans accused of killing 16 fellow fishermen was carried out in accordance with appropriate "principles and standards," a high-ranking unification ministry official said. The two men in their 20s were sent back to the North through the truce village of Panmunjom last week, five days after they were captured near the eastern inter-Korean sea boarder. Three days of investigation found that they had been fleein

North KoreaNov. 14, 2019

S. Korea to conduct anti-fine dust exercise Friday

 The South Korean government will conduct an anti-fine dust exercise this week in an effort to minimize damage from the air pollution, officials said Thursday.    The exercise, slated for Friday, will involve the presidential office, a few ministries and 17 major city and provincial governments to test policy measures to cope with the fine dust air pollution which tends to be worse from December to March.     "The exercise is aimed at comprehensi

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2019

G-Star 2019 sees record attendance from 36 countries

BUSAN -- Korea’s annual game exhibition G-Star 2019 kicked off Thursday with a record number of participants at Bexco in Busan.The event had 3,208 booths representing 691 companies from 36 countries, the biggest so far for the 15-year-old industry showcase and an 8.2 percent growth from a year earlier, the organizers said. G-Star runs through Sunday, at two halls respectively holding business-to-consumer and business-to-business booths.On the sidelines of the exhibit are G-Con game co

IndustryNov. 14, 2019

Icelandic game company CEO says he prepared for Korean market for 20 years

BUSAN -- Icelandic game company CCP’s CEO Hilmar Petursson said at G-Star 2019 on Thursday that the launch of the Korean-language version of Eve Online was a 20-year dream come true. CCP, acquired in 2018 by South Korean game company Pearl Abyss, officially launched the game in Korea concurrently with the opening of the annual game exhibition here.“It’s a proud moment for all of us and especially for me, because I have been preparing for this moment for 20 years,” Peturss

IndustryNov. 14, 2019

Unification minister meets Hyundai Group chairwoman over Kumgangsan tours

South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul met with Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun on Thursday to discuss the controversy surrounding the plans to dismantle its facilities at the Kumgangsan tourist resort in North Korea. The ministry has held a series of talks with Hyundai Asan -- the inter-Korean business unit of Hyundai Group, which holds a 50-year license to operate a tour program to the scenic Kumgangsan -- since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month ordered the removal of

North KoreaNov. 14, 2019

South Korea, US top military commanders discuss GSOMIA, OPCON transfer

The top military commanders of South Korea and the United States discussed the allies’ military readiness and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula at the 44th Military Committee Meeting in Seoul on Thursday.South Korea’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-ki and his US counterpart Gen. Mark Milley were joined by some 20 officials from South Korea and 17 officials from the US, including US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Philip Davidson and US-ROK Combin

DefenseNov. 14, 2019

[EYE] A treasure house of antique books

On the bustling main street of Insa-dong -- which once symbolized Korean traditional culture, but is now crowded with souvenir shops -- visitors nonchalantly pass by a store that holds centuries-old treasures.Tongmunkwan, the oldest bookstore in South Korea, keeps its door closed most of the time.  Stepping inside, one is instantly overwhelmed by its massive collection of antique books, stacked from floor to ceiling, and the thick smell of old volumes. The oldest here is from the late Gorye

CultureNov. 14, 2019

[Graphic News] N. Korea ranks 193rd out of 195 countries in ability to cope with epidemic

　North Korea ranks 193rd out of 195 countries in terms of its ability to prevent, detect and respond to an epidemic, a recent global health security index showed.　The impoverished North scored 17.5 points in the index compiled by the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a US-based nonprofit organization, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, coming higher than only two countries -- Equatorial Guinea and Somalia.　The global average was 40.2 points.　Meanwhile, South Korea ranked 9th in the index

North KoreaNov. 14, 2019

Seoul says militaries support diplomatic efforts as Esper hints at altering joint military drills

The Defense Ministry said Thursday the military authorities of Seoul and Washington support the diplomatic efforts for the denuclearization of North Korea, while the US defense chief hinted at the possibility of adjusting the scope of joint military drills.On the plane to Seoul to attend Friday’s Security Consultative Meeting, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Wednesday he is open to adjusting the combined military exercises with South Korea if it can provide room for diplomacy with

DefenseNov. 14, 2019

Joint probe launched into weapons lab explosion in Daejeon

Authorities are investigating an explosion at a state-run weapons development facility in Daejeon that killed one and injured six others on Wednesday.The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday that it has set up an on-site probe team with the fire agency, the National Forensic Service and other investigative agencies, to identify the cause of the chemical explosion at the Agency of Defense Development.  The explosion occurred around 4 p.m. on Wednesday inside the rocket fuel lab l

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2019

S. Korea calls for peaceful solution to Hong Kong protests

South Korea's foreign ministry expressed concern Thursday over the intensifying anti-government protests in Hong Kong, calling for a peaceful resolution of the situation. "South Korea and Hong Kong have a close relationship in terms of economic and people-to-people exchanges. We are paying attention to the recent situation in Hong Kong with concern," ministry spokesman Kim In-chul told a regular briefing.  "We hope that Hong Kong's situation will be resolved peacefully at an

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2019

Directors, producer of ‘Frozen 2’ to visit Korea

The creative minds behind the highly anticipated sequel to hit Disney animation “Frozen” (2013) will visit Korea later this month. Walt Disney Co. Korea on Monday announced that directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, producer Peter Del Vecho and animation supervisor Lee Hyun-min of “Frozen 2” will visit Korea from Nov. 25-26 to meet with fans of the film.  They are expected to take part in a press conference, a showcase and other events to promote the film, though de

FilmNov. 14, 2019

Moon not meeting Warmbier's parents due to busy schedule, Cheong Wa Dae says

President Moon Jae-in has turned down a request to meet with the parents of American college student Otto Warmbier, who died soon after being released by North Korea, due to an especially busy schedule ahead of a Busan summit with Southeast Asian nations late this month, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday.Fred and Cindy Warmbier plan to attend an event hosted by Korean War Abductees' Family Union next Friday at a Seoul hotel to drum up international support for legal responses by victims of

Foreign AffairsNov. 14, 2019

S. Korea to increase budgetary support for display sector amid trade row with Japan

South Korea's industry minister said Thursday that the government will increase its budget to support the local display-making sector next year in a move to keep the country's leading position in the key industrial segment.Sung Yun-mo, minister of trade, industry and energy, said the budget hike is meant, among other things, to support the development of next-generation technologies and their performance evaluation of smaller display manufacturers. He did not provide details on the proposed budg

IndustryNov. 14, 2019

[Herald Review] Cellist-turned-conductor brings Norwegian trolls to Seoul

As Peer Gynt enters the hall of the mountain king, he is scared yet fascinated by the sight of trolls. Peer Gynt stands before the king and the trolls roar in harmony, creating echoes throughout the hall. On Wednesday night, cellist-turned-conductor Chang Han-na and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra turned the concert hall at the Seoul Arts Center into the mountain king’s hall. They presented the Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, a collection of compositions conceived by Norwegian maestro Edvard Greig

PerformanceNov. 14, 2019

Michelin reveals new starred restaurants in Seoul

Michelin Guide Seoul’s fourth edition was released Thursday at Vista Walkerhill Seoul, despite suspected meddling with the selection process. Highly acclaimed Korean fine-dining restaurants Gaon and La Yeon kept their three Michelin stars, maintaining their stars since the Seoul guide was first published four years ago.  A total of 31 restaurants received at least one star this year.There was no new addition to the three-star list. However, two new restaurants made it to the two-star

FoodNov. 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘Korea should expedite knowledge-based assets development’

Amid the tough business environment and deteriorating trade situation following worldwide conflicts, South Korea should expedite the development of knowledge-based assets and increase independence in related technologies to compete globally, according to the intellectual property office chief. “Advanced countries have been bolstering their industry dominance based on knowledge-based assets. Especially, a growing number of foreign companies have been preoccupying patents that are close

IndustryNov. 14, 2019

Korea’s top IP office to support materials sector via big data

The Korean Intellectual Property Office said Thursday it plans to help boost competitiveness of the local materials, parts and equipment sectors and reduce their reliance on foreign technologies through its system of IP big data. According to the nation’s top IP office, its plan involves four goals: cut back foreign dependency of materials, parts and equipment-related technology; innovate South Korea’s research and development system to a more IP-centered one; bolster IP competitiven

EconomyNov. 14, 2019

[News Focus] Meager birthrate expected to undermine Korea’s GDP

SEJONG -- The number of South Koreans aged 14 or under accounted for only 12.5 percent of the total population as of October 2019, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.The demographic database held by the ministry includes classification into three groups -- those aged up to 14, those aged 15-64 (called the working-age population) and those aged 65 or over (the senior population).The data showed that the percentage of the youngest generation has continued to fall over the past decade

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2019