Lawmaker’s son grilled in DUI case; man booked for allegedly helping him flee

Chang Yong-jun, the 19-year-old son of opposition Liberty Korea Party Rep. Chang Je-won, admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and attempting to pretend someone else was driving the vehicle, according to his lawyer on Tuesday.Chang, a rapper who performs under the name NO:EL, was booked and questioned by the police Monday for allegedly crashing his car into a moving motorcycle while driving under the influence of alcohol. The motorcyclist was reported to have sustained minor injurie

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2019

[News Focus] Young, moderate voters show signs of turning away from ruling party

The impact of the government’s appointment of Cho Kuk as justice minister is likely to be seen at next year’s general election, as the younger generation and moderate voters are showing signs of turning away from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, political analysts said Wednesday.Amid fierce resistance from opposition parties and the public’s disapproval, President Moon Jae-in appointed Cho as justice minister Monday.Cho had been portrayed as a figure on the front line of p

PoliticsSept. 10, 2019

Overseas Joseon era paintings on display at National Palace Museum

Joseon era paintings that are currently in possession of institutions outside of South Korea will be revealed to the public via a special exhibition, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday. Titled “Restoring the Legacy of Korean Paintings,” the exhibition will run from Wednesday through Oct. 13 at the National Palace Museum of Korea, showcasing a total of nine paintings and three embroidery screens dating from the early Joseon era (1392–1897) to the early 20th centur

CultureSept. 10, 2019

[Kim Seong-kon] Korea in the eyes of a lawyer/historian

Recently, I came across a book by Lee Seog-yeon, a famous Korean lawyer and civil rights activist, entitled “Sima Qian’s Korea Travelogue.” Sima Qian was a legendary Chinese historian of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220) who wrote the celebrated book “Records of the Grand Historian,” compiling Chinese history covering approximately 2,000 years. In his intriguing book, Lee, the Korean lawyer, perceives and interprets modern Korea through the eyes of Sima Qian, who e

ViewpointsSept. 10, 2019

[Robert J. Fouser] Politics in age of hysteria

On my way to Seoul in late August, I was looking forward to a break from the Trump-induced hysteria of American politics. My hopes were dashed, however, as the hysteria over Cho Kuk, President Moon Jae-in’s nominee for minister of justice, spread. News about Cho and his family captivated the nation for weeks. In the end, the president decided to approve Cho’s nomination, Monday. The hysteria over Cho says as much about Korea as the hysteria over Donald Trump in the US. In both cases,

ViewpointsSept. 10, 2019

Assembly opens hydrogen-refilling station

The first hydrogen-refilling station in the world to be built in a national legislature opened in Seoul on Tuesday, marking a step forward in the nation’s vision of creating a hydrogen economy.It is the first commercial hydrogen facility built in central Seoul, as well as the first case of the regulatory sandbox that lifted administrative hurdles to promote the use of hydrogen as traffic fuel, Hyundai Motor said in a statement.The H2 station was built by the South Korean carmaker, dubbed a

MobilitySept. 10, 2019

Samsung SDI showcases innovative battery solutions in Frankfurt

Samsung SDI said it showcased a slew of innovative battery solutions at the International Motor Show that kicked off in Frankfurt on Tuesday. The battery affiliate of Samsung exhibited its core materials for high-nickel batteries and silicon-based anodes. It also introduced a battery cell, module and pack for electric vehicles that enables a driving range of 600 to 700 kilometers on a single charge.  Samsung held the exhibition under the theme of “Charged for Auto 2.0,” which ca

TechnologySept. 10, 2019

New chief says FTC will crack down tech behemoths' dominant market position

The new head of South Korea's antitrust regulator on Tuesday said the agency will crack down on tech companies over their abuse of monopoly power and dominant market position.Joh Sung-wook, the chairwoman of the Fair Trade Commission, said in her inaugural speech that the move is meant to facilitate market innovation, but she did not elaborate. She said last month that the antitrust regulator has been looking into alleged unfair trade practices by two US tech giants -- Google Inc. and Apple Inc.

EconomySept. 10, 2019

Hyundai Motor’s Palisade receives Top Safety Pick+ award

Hyundai Motor’s sport utility vehicle Palisade has earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the US. The vehicle received the highest grade, “good,” from the IIHS in terms of crash protection in six categories, including the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap, roof hardness and seat safety. Its front collision avoidance system was rated as “advanced.” The Palisade is Hyundai Motor’s 13th vehicle to earn

MobilitySept. 10, 2019

North Korea hints at detailed security assurance plan from US

North Korea gave the United States its long-awaited response Tuesday on the revival of denuclearization talks, but warned that without any concessions there could be another stalemate. Hours after the announcement, the regime fired two unidentified projectiles toward the East Sea, inviting speculation as to its intentions. The North’s First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said Monday that the country is willing to have comprehensive discussions with the US in late September at a time an

North KoreaSept. 10, 2019

SK Siltron acquires Dupont’s wafer division

　SK Group’s semiconductor component maker, SK Siltron, has acquired a wafer division from US chemical giant Dupont as the South Korean company aims to raise its profile in the global semiconductor component market. 　According to SK Siltron on Tuesday, the company’s board of directors agreed to purchase Dupont’s silicon carbide wafer business unit for $450 million. The acquisition is expected to be finalized by year-end after the necessary government approvals are obtained. 

TechnologySept. 10, 2019

Delta increases stake in Korean Air's parent firm

Delta Air Lines, Inc. said Tuesday it has increased its stake in Hanjin KAL, the parent company of Korean Air Lines Co., in what it called a long-term investment.  In a report to the main bourse operator Korea Exchange, Delta said its stake in Hanjin KAL rose to 9.21 percent from 5.13 percent.  "The purpose of the investment is not aimed at affecting the management rights," the report said.  Last month, Delta jacked up its interest in Hanjin KAL to 5.13 percent from

IndustrySept. 10, 2019

Heavy rains forecast for central region

More than 200 millimeters of rain is expected to hit the country's central region between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, a state-run weather agency said. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, some parts of the region had already seen rain due to a stationary front, the Korea Meteorological Administration said."A precipitation zone is expected to form at night as the front is forecast to clash with dry air approaching from the west," the agency said.  As a consequence, 30-50 mm of rain per

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2019

‘Madness drug’ yaba hits record high in S. Korea

Yaba, a psychotropic narcotic referred to as the “madness drug,” has shown a steep rise in the amount trafficked to Korea, reaching its highest known figure, prosecution data showed. According to the prosecution on Tuesday, this year, 10.015 kilograms of yaba had been smuggled into South Korea by July. The number is almost a sevenfold increase from 1.267 kg in 2013, and almost double the 5.465 kg brought in the same period last year.The illegal substance, sold in tablet form, is a co

Social AffairsSept. 10, 2019

Korean brokerages see record-high H1 net profit

The combined net profit of South Korea’s major brokerages for the first half of the year inched up 5.7 percent on-year, data released by the Financial Supervisory Service showed Tuesday, marking a new record high. According to the financial watchdog, the combined net profit of 56 brokerages for the January-June period came to 2.8 trillion won ($2.35 billion), slightly up from the corresponding figure of 2.7 trillion won from the same period last year, which was also then a record high. The

MarketSept. 10, 2019

Samsung BioLogics stocks buoyed by top court decision

In the hours following the South Korean Supreme Court’s decision to reject an appeal by the Financial Service Commission on imposing disciplinary actions on Samsung BioLogics, the biopharma firm’s stocks rallied on Tuesday.The biopharma arm of Samsung Group closed 1.25 percent higher from the previous trading session at 283,500 won ($237.58). 　 The Securities & Futures Commission, a legal watchdog under the FSC, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court in May, after the lower co

MarketSept. 10, 2019

KDB-Eximbank merger needed for better policy financing: KDB chief

Lee Dong-gull, chairman of the state-run Korea Development Bank, suggested Tuesday that the government should consider merging the country’s two policy finance institutions -- KDB and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- for state budget efficiency.“It is about time that we reshuffled the government’s policy finance functions so as to keep in step with the fast-changing market trends,” Lee said in a press briefing to mark two years in office in his three-year tenure.“

MarketSept. 10, 2019

South Korea forms consultative group to back global M&As

South Korean business associations have formed a consultative group to support local companies seeking to secure original technologies related to parts, materials and equipment through acquisitions and investments, according to a business representative on Tuesday. The consultative group will work together to back Korean companies that seek to acquire foreign companies or invest in overseas facilities in order to improve competitiveness. This is in line with the government’s efforts to dou

IndustrySept. 10, 2019

Top diplomats of South Korea, Kazakhstan to hold talks in Seoul next week

The top diplomats of South Korea and Kazakhstan will hold talks in Seoul next week to discuss joint efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Kazakh counterpart, Beibut Atamkulov, will meet on Monday to explore ways to enhance cooperation in a "forward-looking" manner, Kim In-chul, the ministry's spokesman, told a regular press briefing.The two countries have been seeking to strengthen their friendly ties as

Foreign AffairsSept. 10, 2019