S. Korean, US diplomats meet in Seoul ahead of negotiations on defense cost sharing

South Korean and US diplomats held talks in Seoul on Tuesday over the allies' envisioned negotiations on the sharing of the cost for the upkeep of American troops here.Chang Won-sam from Seoul's foreign ministry and his US counterpart, Timothy Betts, had the closed-door meeting, as Seoul and Washington are bracing for a new round of talks on how much Seoul will pay for the stationing of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK). Chang and Betts were the chief negotiators of the previous negotiati

Foreign AffairsAug. 20, 2019

LG Electronics to set Signature booth in collaboration with Italian architect

LG Electronics will set a separate booth for its premium home appliance lineup LG Signature in collaboration with Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas during the 2019 IFA show next month, the company said Tuesday. Under the company’s slogan for the premium brand, “Art inspires technology. Technology completes art,” Fuksas will design the exhibition booth for Signature products on the theme of “Infinity” -- a nod to the “infinite possibilities of the Signature

TechnologyAug. 20, 2019

Galaxy Note 10 preorders surpass 1.3 million units

Preorders for Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Note 10 series have surpassed 1.3 million units in Korea, the company confirmed Tuesday.  Samsung received preorders for the latest flagship models for 11 days from Aug. 9 through Monday. The total order volume is estimated to be over 1.3 million units, double that of the predecessor Note 9, according to the tech titan. The most popular model during the preorder period was the 256-gigabyte Galaxy Note 10+ model in aura glow, the company said.&

TechnologyAug. 20, 2019

Korean Air expands SE Asian, Chinese routes to make up for reduced Japan flights

Korean Air is expanding its Southeast Asian, Chinese and Oceania routes, in response to falling demand for air travel to Japan amid the ongoing trade row between South Korea and Japan.According to Korean Air, it is reorganizing and expanding some of its international routes to make up for lower demand for flights to Japanese cities. The full-service air carrier will add seven weekly Incheon-Clark flights from Oct. 27. It will also expand the current 14 weekly flights on the Incheon-Da

IndustryAug. 20, 2019

South Korean Lee Duck-hee notches landmark ATP win

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Lee Duck-hee became the first deaf player to win an ATP main draw match on Monday, waiting out a rain delay to beat Henri Laaksonen in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The 21-year-old from South Korea was two points from victory when thunderstorms swept through the area.When he and Switzerland's Laaksonen returned some five hours later Lee quickly polished off a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory."I never expected to get through this one," said Lee, who had won the final three po

More SportsAug. 20, 2019

[Feature] Seoul takes time mulling renewal of military intel-sharing pact with Japan

Nearly six decades have passed since South Korea and Japan signed a treaty to normalize diplomatic ties in 1965, but their relationship has been fraught since then with continued bitterness over the history of Korea’s colonization. Now, as the relationship of the “frenemies” hits a new low with a budding trade war, Seoul has hinted at scrapping a military intel-sharing pact with Tokyo. But while South Koreans are unified in denouncing Japan’s increased controls on ex

DefenseAug. 20, 2019

Coca-Cola Korea launches new carbonated water

Riding on the growing popularity of carbonated drinks, Coca-Cola Korea’s sparkling water brand Seagram’s has released new zero-calorie flavored sparkling water, Seagram’s The Tansan, the company said Tuesday.The company said Seagram’s The Tansan will have two flavors -- lemon and apple mint -- designed as palate refreshers. Tansan in Korean means carbonic acid, which gives carbonated drinks their signature bubbles and refreshing “bite.” “The crisp flavor

IndustryAug. 20, 2019

[Newsmaker] Corruption allegations have Cho Kuk in a corner

Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk is in a corner over mounting corruption allegations involving his family ahead of his confirmation hearing, which hasn’t even been scheduled yet.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party filed a complaint against the former senior presidential secretary and his family on Monday over what the party called questionable investments in a private equity fund.The latest of the allegations involves Cho’s 28-year-old daughter, who received scholarships to atten

PoliticsAug. 20, 2019

‘Slow Life Slow Live’ festival adds Kodaline to lineup

The third annual “Slow Life Slow Live” festival has added Irish band Kodaline to its lineup, with a total of nine artists confirmed so far. Consisting of Steve Garrigan, Mark Prendergast, Vincent May and Jason Boland, the band was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2013 upon its 2012 debut. It has released three studio albums, most recently “Politics of Living” in 2018. The quintet joins South Korean pop vocalists Lee Juck and John Park, along with Lukas Graham, Gallant,

PerformanceAug. 20, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘47 Meters Down: Uncaged’ an absurd, silly shark movie, but kinda fun

Let’s face it: “47 Meters Down: Uncaged,” an unlikely sequel to the 2017 low-budget summer sleeper “47 Meters Down,” was never going to be a top-notch production with quality acting and thought-provoking moments. Bluntly put, it’s a silly shark movie. But not every film has to shoot for masterpiece status. Through the corny dialogue, extremely over-the-top moments, laughable plot holes and cheesy set-up, this is one dumb and absurd film that does not try to be

FilmAug. 20, 2019

N. Korea slams S. Korea for joint military drill, warns of consequences

North Korea's official newspaper blasted South Korea on Tuesday for conducting a joint military exercise with the United States on the last day of the drill, warning that Seoul will pay dearly for such "stupid" acts.  South Korea and the US were to wrap up their weekslong joint exercise later in the day. Seoul has said that it is part of its preparations to regain wartime operational control of its troops from Washington, but Pyongyang has called it a rehearsal for invasion. 

North KoreaAug. 20, 2019

Competition increases for Korean bid to host 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

The competition for a potential joint Korean bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup has increased to nine countries.FIFA announced Tuesday that Belgium has joined South Korea and eight other previous candidates in the running to host the showpiece event in women's football.Also in the running are Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.In April, South Korea submitted a sole bid for the tournament, with FIFA noting that South Korea expressed "int

SoccerAug. 20, 2019

Even away from music scene for break, BTS makes buzz

Off to its first-ever official break in its sensational seven-year career, K-pop super band BTS is away from the public eye, but the presence of its members' surprise internet feeds and release of a special photo album continues to make the world music scene abuzz with the beloved band.Dropping a YouTube video of the seven BTS members, flawlessly dressed up against the backdrop of a Korean wood-and-clay traditional house, "hanok" in Korean, last Thursday, BTS announced the arrival of t

PerformanceAug. 20, 2019

China accused of using Twitter, Facebook against Hong Kong protests

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) -- Twitter and Facebook said Monday they had uncovered a campaign by China to use the social media platforms against pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong."We are disclosing a significant state-backed information operation focused on the situation in Hong Kong, specifically the protest movement and their calls for political change," Twitter said in an online post.Facebook said a tip from Twitter led to the removal of pages, groups and accounts originating in China and

World NewsAug. 20, 2019

US extends travel ban on N. Korea for another year

The United States on Monday extended a ban on American citizens traveling to North Korea for another year.The State Department announced the extension in a notice, saying "there continues to be serious risk to United States nationals of arrest and long-term detention" in the North. The notice is due to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday.The travel ban was imposed in Sept. 2017 in the wake of the death of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was detained in the No

North KoreaAug. 20, 2019

K-pop celebs ignite discussion on going sans bra

K-pop idols have not always been in the forefront of social movements. Yet two popular stars in the industry -- Sulli and Hwasa -- have recently ignited the heated debate on going bra-free. Sulli, formerly of girl group f(x), has in recent years uploaded photographs and videos of herself without a bra on her social media accounts. Each time she uploads one, her Instagram account is bombarded with comments -- both supportive and expressing disgust.Appearing on JTBC’s “Night of Hate Co

PerformanceAug. 19, 2019

[팟캐스트] (313) 사회적 기업 동구밭 / 속초 먹거리

 진행자: 임정요, Kevin Lee Selzer1. Donggubat CEO strives for social well-being along with revenue growth기사요약: 사회적 기업 동구밭의 대표 노순호씨는 프리미엄 비누 회사를 운영하며 월 매출이 4백만원 증가할 때마다 발달장애인 정규직 직원을 한 명씩 추가채용하고 있다. 현재 32인으로 구성된 그의 회사엔 20명의 장애인 정규직 직원이 근무 중이다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] Donggubat CEO Noh Soon-ho, is a millennial business leader who is confident and ambitious about his aspirations to kill t

PodcastAug. 19, 2019

Korea clinches spot in women's volleyball Olympic qualifying tournament

South Korea secured a place in the Asian women's volleyball Olympic qualifying tournament with a victory over Hong Kong at a continental competition on Monday.South Korea defeated Hong Kong 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-22) at the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship at Jamsil Arena in Seoul for its second consecutive victory in Pool A.South Korea finished atop its group and will move on to the second round at this tournament while also advancing to January's Olympic qualifying event. The top two teams

Olympic GamesAug. 19, 2019

Seoul pledges $200K in humanitarian aid to drought-hit Namibia

South Korea will provide about $200,000 worth of humanitarian aid to Namibia, which has declared a state of emergency over drought, the government said Monday.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the African country has suffered from drought since October 2018, which has left up to 500,000 people or about 20 percent of the country's entire population short of food and water.  "The country will continue to expand its humanitarian assistance as a responsible member of the international c

Diplomatic CircuitAug. 19, 2019

Asiana jumps as local activist fund shows takeover interest

Stock prices of Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest airline, jumped 11 percent on Monday following news that a local activist fund is considering taking over the company.Asiana shares soared 26 percent to an intraday high of 6,240 won before closing at 5,500 won. The broader KOSPI gained 0.7 percent.Kumho Asiana Group, a South Korean airline-to-petrochemical conglomerate, aims to sell a 31 percent stake in Asiana Airlines held by its affiliate Kumho Industrial Co. together with it

IndustryAug. 19, 2019