Top prosecutor reaffirms commitment to reform

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl said Sunday that the prosecution would fully comply with the Moon Jae-in administration’s push for prosecutorial reform. This is the first official statement from the top prosecutor since the prosecution launched probe into corruption allegations surrounding Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family in August.The statement, released by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Yoon’s name, said the prosecution will “d

PoliticsSept. 29, 2019

Teaching ‘digital natives’ to pursue knowledge in a creative way

　Drawing and retaining the attention of high school students armed with smartphones in a big class is not an easy task. However, Kim Hyeon appeared relaxed and confident in delivering a special lecture on digital storytelling to students at the art center of Hana Academy Seoul (also known as Hana High School) located in Jingwan-dong, Seoul, Wednesday.　His secret was the creative mix of digital technology and humanities knowledge in a way that captures and stimulates the curiosity of students. 　K

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2019

Bauhaus designs shown in Seoul

Le Corbusier, who was one of the French responses to the Bauhaus school, used to experiment with furniture with his colleagues at his studio to come up with pieces that would fit in well with his architectural works. On view at the Kumho Museum of Art in Seoul’s ongoing exhibition is Charlotte Perriand’s 1952 kitchen module that was installed in Unite d’Habitation in Marseille, a landmark apartment building by Le Corbusier. The kitchen by Perriand provides visitors a glimpse in

Arts & DesignSept. 29, 2019

[James Gibney] Impeachment comes with a foreign policy silver lining

Even before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pulled the trigger on an investigation into President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, there were fears and complaints that impeachment proceedings would dangerously compromise US foreign policy. Beyond just stifling the president’s communications with foreign leaders, wrote former Justice Department official John Yoo, Congress “would seize the upper hand in foreign affairs, which has produced disasters.”But there’s anothe

ViewpointsSept. 29, 2019

[Leonid Bershidsky] Ukraine holds more surprises for Biden

US presidential candidate Joe Biden is about to learn an unpleasant lesson about Ukraine: Once you’ve stepped into the country’s politics, there’s no way to emerge unsullied. Recent developments suggest he’ll be fielding questions about a lot more than what President Donald Trump has already slung his way.Consider the case of Ukrainian billionaire Dmytro Firtash, which could play into one of the conservative blogosphere’s favorite obsessions: the idea that Ukraine p

ViewpointsSept. 29, 2019

Nexon to launch new mobile game V4 in Nov.

Korean game company Nexon said Saturday it will release a new mobile game titled V4 on Nov. 7, having already postponed a number of other games.Nexon had set out this year with ambitious plans to launch 10 new mobile games within the first half of 2019. However, the mobile version of The Kingdom of the Winds: Yeon, as well as SinoAlice, a Japanese game whose global distribution rights Nexon acquired, have both been postponed without being rescheduled. The Kingdom of the Winds: Yeon had a closed

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

Samsung strikes back at LG over legitimacy of QLED reference

Samsung Electronics on Sunday struck back at LG Electronics, saying its reference to quantum-dot light-emitting diodes for TV commercials had already been approved in major overseas markets.“It is regretful that the QLED reference is belatedly becoming an issue in Korea, when it had been cleared for use at major overseas markets,” said a Samsung representative.  Samsung said the QLED label for its TVs had been approved by advertisement authorities in the US, the UK and Australia

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

North Korea urges US to turn words into action

A North Korean envoy called on the United States to translate its promises into action ahead of upcoming working-level talks between the two countries to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. “The US should implement the North Korea-US joint agreement with sincerity and bold decision after great deliberation,” Ri Ki-ho, a counselor at North Korea’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, said at the 2019 Global Peace Forum on Korea, held at Columbia

North KoreaSept. 29, 2019

[Newsmaker] Typhoon Mitag to strike southern Korea this week

Typhoon Mitag is forecast to hit the southern region of the Korean Peninsula this week, according to the Korea Meteorological Agency on Sunday.The weather agency said Mitag is expected to make landfall on Jeju Island on Wednesday morning before making its way through the country’s southern and central regions. By Thursday morning, Mitag is predicted to reach waters 120 kilometers west of the Dokdo islets. Formed off the east coast of the Philippines, Mitag was reported to be traveling nort

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2019

Bringing Avengers to life: CJ vows next-level cinema with multisensory tech

When CJ launched the first 4DX theater at its movie-screen brand CGV in 2009, people were unfamiliar with the concept of watching a flick that stimulates the senses with special effects such as motion seats, wind, water, lights and scents.“Until then, many people only had a chance to experience moving or vibrating chairs with special effects at some of the attractions at theme parks,” Kim Jong-ryul, CEO of CJ 4DPlex, told reporters during a press conference to celebrate the company&r

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

New KAI chief urges focus on winning orders

The new chief executive officer of aerospace and defense company Korea Aerospace Industries has urged his employees to focus all of their capabilities on winning orders to overcome the management crisis, the firm said Sunday. “Despite the harsh environment, KAI has achieved remarkable growth through the efforts of its employees and partner companies as well as support from the government. However, the company is in a crisis due to stagnant sales and orders over the past five years,&rd

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

[News Focus] Real estate mortgages hinder economic growth

SEJONG -- Household debt in South Korea has hogged the limelight in recent decades.The nation’s collective household debt has continued to rise in the wake of active credit card issuance, mortgage loans, student loans for college tuition and loans taken by the self-employed.Apart from first-tier commercial banks, secondary lenders -- such as capital services firms, credit card issuers and savings banks -- have engaged in cutthroat competition for household lending.Registered private moneyl

EconomySept. 29, 2019

[News Focus] LG Chem-SK Innovation dispute reveals workforce vulnerability

　The months-long legal dispute between South Korea’s major battery makers centering on alleged talent poaching has shaken up other rivals, according to industry sources Sunday.　Many companies are reportedly concerned about holding on to their employees and protecting their intellectual property rights. 　After LG Chem accused SK Innovation in April of recruiting as many as 76 of its employees and stealing its trade secrets, some news reports have suggested the poaching has crossed borders.

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

SK Innovation accuses LG Chem of reneging on patent deal

SK Innovation on Sunday expressed regret over the patent infringement lawsuit recently filed against it by LG Chem with a US court, as they had agreed five years ago not to sue each other on one particular patent case.Vowing a befitting response as the legal battle rages, SK Innovation said, “We will respond strongly by taking all possible legal actions,” lashing out at LG Chem for failing to create a virtuous cycle through fair and cooperative competition.The remarks came as LG Chem

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

S. Korea’s wealthy pick real estate as top long-term investment choice

South Korea’s wealthy are picking real estate as their best long-term investment option amid the widespread bearish sentiments, a report released by a major financial group showed Sunday. The report, based on a survey conducted by a think tank under KB Financial Group, involved 400 South Korean high net worth individuals or investors with assets of more than 1 billion won ($833,000). Of the total respondents, only 10 percent said they seek to expand the scope and size of their asset portfo

MarketSept. 29, 2019

[Herald Interview] US veterans of Korean War recall fiercest, coldest battle at Jangjin Reservoir

For Milton Walker and Henry Schafer, the piercing cold and sound of war that surrounded them remains as clear as if it were yesterday. Returning to the country where they had fought after decades, the two American veterans of the Korean War recalled their experience Friday.“We were surrounded when we were attacked in midnight, and I was hit,” Schafer told The Korea Herald in a joint interview in Seoul. “I was shot four times, on my arms and in the back. The first three bul

DefenseSept. 29, 2019

S. Korea, Britain to open vice-minister level dialogue channel ahead of Brexit

South Korea and Britain will open a high-level dialogue channel this week to deal with the aftermath of Britain's departure from the European Union, Seoul's foreign ministry said Sunday.Via the channel, the two countries will discuss a variety of issues ranging from bilateral economic cooperation and finance to climate change and energy, according to the ministry.The measure is the latest in a series of preparations ahead of Britain's exit from the EU, known as Brexit, slated for the end of Octo

Foreign AffairsSept. 29, 2019

As communist China turns 70, a 'Great Fracture' emerges with US

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- Seventy years after the founding of communist China, once rosy predictions of coexistence with the United States have dissipated with expectations rising instead of a long-term, globe-spanning rivalry.The United Nations General Assembly showcased the harsh new tone between the world's two largest economies, with US President Donald Trump declaring from the rostrum that the age of tolerance for China's "abuses" was over.Representing China at the annual summit of

World NewsSept. 29, 2019

Seoul criticizes Tokyo for repeating ‘unfair’ claims on Dokdo

South Korea criticized Japan Friday for repeating unilateral disputed defense agendas in its latest defense white paper, including its claims on Dokdo islets.Seoul’s Foreign Ministry released a statement strongly denouncing Tokyo, saying that Japan should realize that its “unfair” and “absurd” claims would not help the bilateral relationship in any way.  “We strongly protest Japan’s claim of unfair sovereignty over Dokdo, that is clearly our territo

DefenseSept. 29, 2019