Hanwha Precision Machinery establishes tech center in Germany

Hanwha Precision Machinery, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, announced Tuesday it had launched an integrated tech center for Europe in Germany to accelerate its global expansion.The launch ceremony for the Hanwha Europe Technical Center took place Friday in Morfelden-Walldorf, nearby finance and commerce hub Frankfurt.Responsible for manufacturing Hanwha’s machinery, Hanwha Precision Machinery will use the new tech center as the base for big-scale projects in Europe and to attract new cli

IndustrySept. 3, 2019

Samsung Display launches YouTube channel

Samsung Display said Tuesday it has created a YouTube channel featuring videos related to display technology. For instance, a quiz show titled “Display Quiz Talkshow,” shortened to “DiTokShow” in Korean, provides educational content on display technology.  The show has previously compared organic light-emitting diode and liquid-crystal display technologies, and explained words such as pixel, resolution and screen ratio.Samsung Display said consumers are exposed to di

TechnologySept. 3, 2019

Govt. job creation budget to rise to record volume next year

The government plans to increase its job creation budget by over 20 percent to a record volume of nearly 26 trillion won ($21.4 billion) next year, with unemployment benefits accounting for a record 40 percent of the total, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday.The government will spend 25.77 trillion won in 2020 on job creation, marking a rise of 21.3 percent from this year, the ministry said, citing a government budget proposal for next year that was endorsed by the Cabinet last Th

EconomySept. 3, 2019

USFK commander to attend Seoul defense dialogue

US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams is set to attend a three-day annual multilateral security forum in Seoul that kicks off Wednesday, officials said Tuesday, dispelling concerns about South Korea-US relations. Abrams, who is also commander of the Combined Forces Command, will be the highest-ranking US official to attend the eighth edition of the Seoul Defense Dialogue. The US had earlier declined the South Korean Defense Ministry’s request for the attendance of an assistant

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

[Newsmaker] Opposition lawmaker under fire for sexist remark

An opposition lawmaker came under fire Tuesday after he asked an unmarried female Fair Trade Commission chair nominee to “contribute to the country’s development” by giving birth. At a confirmation hearing for Fair Trade Commission chair nominee Cho Sung-wook, Rep. Jung Kap-yoon of the Liberty Korea Party said Cho would be a perfect candidate for the post if she were married and had a child. “What do you think is the biggest problem in Korean society?” the five

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2019

US also positive on prompt return of military bases in S. Korea: Seoul ministry

South Korea's push for a prompt return of American military bases in the country has long been discussed between the allies and the US is also positive on the move, the defense ministry said Tuesday, guarding against any political interpretation of the issue. Last week, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae vowed to push for a prompt return of 26 US Forces Korea (USFK) bases across the country, sparking speculation that it may signal a possible rift in the alliance following Seoul's decision to

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

Seoul installs air-purifying filters on buses

The metropolitan government said Tuesday it has installed air-purifying filters on 97 percent of public buses operating in the city.The move comes amid growing concerns over fine dust air pollution, which is known to be a potential cause of respiratory diseases and cancer.Following a test-run last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the plan to around 7,200 buses. The city government said the move has been effective in improving air quality, reducing up to 68 percent of fine dust pa

Social AffairsSept. 3, 2019

S. Korea, Malaysia to hold 3rd round of FTA talks this week

South Korea will hold a third round of free trade talks with Malaysia this week with the aim of striking a trade deal before November, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday.The two countries, which have held two rounds of talks since July, will discuss details of the bilateral free trade agreement from Wednesday to Friday in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Seoul and Kuala Lumpur will focus on sharing ideas for expanding their bilateral economic ties, along with set

Foreign AffairsSept. 3, 2019

Navy holds int'l forum on maritime security cooperation

The Navy hosted an international security forum on Tuesday, with hundreds of experts and naval officers exploring ways to boost maritime cooperation in Asia and beyond.Around 300 government and military officials and experts from more than 25 countries gathered at the 14th International Seapower Symposium to discuss the theme of "Enhancing maritime security cooperation for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific." During the two sessions, the participants will assess the evolving mari

DefenseSept. 3, 2019

Hyundai Motor union OKs wage deal without strike

Hyundai Motor Co.'s union approved this year's wage and collective bargaining agreement, avoiding a strike for the eighth consecutive year, the union said Tuesday.In a vote held Monday, 56 percent of 43,871 participating Hyundai workers cast a ballot for a revised wage and collective bargaining deal, the union said in a statement.  "The union has voted to finally approve the company's revised proposals as uncertainties in business environments grow further due to an escalating US-China

MobilitySept. 3, 2019

N. Korea hosts dinner reception for China's top diplomat

North Korea has hosted a dinner reception for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday, amid speculation that his trip might be intended to discuss North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing.Wang arrived in Pyongyang on Monday on a three-day visit for talks with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho. Wang could also meet with the North's leader. "The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave a reception in honor of Wang Y

North KoreaSept. 3, 2019

Trump touts Korea trade deal as he marks Labor Day

US President Donald Trump on Monday marked Labor Day by boasting of his administration's economic successes, including the revision of a free trade deal with South Korea.Trump's proclamation for Labor Day was released by the White House on Friday but also tweeted by the president on Monday. "My Administration has been working tirelessly to renegotiate one-sided trade agreements to obtain fairer terms for American companies and workers," he wrote, citing first the new trade deal between

World NewsSept. 3, 2019

S. Korea, Myanmar to hold summit on economic ties

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will head to Myanmar on Tuesday in a bid to pave the way for closer economic cooperation between the two sides.Moon's state visit to the nation, the first by a South Korean president in seven years, is in line with his administration's campaign to reach out to Southeast Asian nations under the New Southern Policy. Moon is on a weeklong tour of the region, which already took him to Thailand, where he had talks with Prayut Chan-o-cha, mainly on strengthening

Foreign AffairsSept. 3, 2019

Consumer price growth hits record low in August

South Korea's consumer price growth hit a record low in August, remaining flat compared with a year earlier, due mainly to declines in prices of agricultural and petroleum products, government data showed Tuesday.South Korea's consumer prices remained unchanged in August from a year earlier, staying below the 1 percent threshold for the eighth consecutive month, according to the data from Statistics Korea. The reading marked the lowest since 1965, when the statistics agency started compiling dat

EconomySept. 3, 2019

S. Korean economy grows revised 1% on-quarter in Q2: BOK

South Korea's economy grew at a slower-than-expected pace in the second quarter from three months earlier on sluggish exports and government spending, the central bank said Tuesday.The country's gross domestic product expanded 1 percent in the April-June period, rebounding from a 0.4 percent on-quarter contraction the previous quarter, according to preliminary data by the Bank of Korea.The latest reading marks a slight decrease from an earlier estimate of a 1.1 percent on-quarter expansion estim

EconomySept. 3, 2019

US, Poland sign joint document on 5G technology cooperation

The US and Poland signed an agreement on Monday to cooperate on new 5G technology amid growing concerns about Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.Vice President Mike Pence and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki signed the deal in Warsaw, where Pence is filling in for President Donald Trump, who scrapped his trip at the last minute because of Hurricane Dorian.The signing comes amid a global battle between the US and Huawei, the world's biggest maker of network infrastructure equipment,

World BusinessSept. 2, 2019

Amid divorce row, actress Ku Hye-sun temporarily suspends show biz career

Actress Ku Hye-sun, engulfed in a widely publicized divorce row, announced Monday that she will temporarily suspend her show business career. "Ku Hye-sun will halt her show business activities. She plans to resume her academic career at Sungkyunkwan University," an official at Liwu Law Group, representing the actress, told Yonhap News Agency. The news came one day after Ku alluded to the departure on her Instagram account.Announcing the release of her new book, "I Am Your Pet

TelevisionSept. 2, 2019

Justice nominee apologizes, refuses to quit

Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk apologized for failing to properly oversee his daughter’s college applications and family’s investments.“I apologize to the public. I have disappointed you despite the expectations placed on me, which were more than I deserved.” Cho said in a press conference Monday at the National Assembly. “I am a wreck, but I will continue as long as I can. … I believe I have to complete what I have worked for my entire life. If I had thoug

PoliticsSept. 2, 2019

Yang Hae-gue brings world of transformations, juxtapositions to Seoul

Yang Hae-gue has turned a gallery space into a place full of ill-matched images. Colors on the walls both dazzle and confuse visitors. Sitting in the middle are sonic and mobile sculptures. Scented gym balls roll between movable versions of her signature venetian-blind sculptures. And shallow layers of artificial fog from the corners fill the floor. Berlin-based Korean artist Yang is holding a solo exhibition titled “When the Year 2000 Comes” at Kukje Gallery, Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

Arts & DesignSept. 2, 2019

Seoul ODA Conference to highlight co-prosperity

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its aid agency will co-host an annual conference to discuss effective ways of international development cooperation and measures to achieve sustainable development of the global community.The 13th Seoul ODA International Conference will take place at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul on Sept. 19 under the theme of “promoting co-prosperity to achieve the SDGs.” Participants will discuss the role of the private sector in achieving the sustainable develop

Foreign AffairsSept. 2, 2019