[New Economic Non-order: 1] In 2019, world bids farewell to liberal economic order

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles to look into the weakening of global economic frameworks in light of fading liberalism and rise of trade protectionism and nationalism. This is the first installment. -- Ed.This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Bretton Woods Agreement, which laid the foundation of the liberal economic order in the post-World War era and led to the establishment of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.But it is also likely to be remembered as the

EconomySept. 8, 2019

[Peter Singer] Why climb Everest? Don’s set goals on status

In 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, I was 7 years old. For a time, I was immersed in the stories of the epic climb. It seemed like an achievement for all of humankind, like reaching the South Pole. Would there still be any frontiers left, I wondered, by the time I grew up?A photo of the southern summit ridge of Everest has brought these memories back to me. But what a different Everest this is! The splendid isolation of th

ViewpointsSept. 8, 2019

[David Ignatius] Trump unclear on China strategy

As we move into the fall, there’s one overriding foreign-policy priority for America: Find a strategy to deal with a rising China that protects US interests but doesn’t subvert the global economy. China is the challenge of our time, and the risks of getting it wrong are enormous. Huawei, the Shenzen-based communications powerhouse, argues in a slick new YouTube video that its critics want to create a new Berlin Wall. That’s not true -- Huawei and other Chinese tech companies ha

ViewpointsSept. 8, 2019

Top US officials urge NK to resume talks

Top US officials are urging North Korea to return to talks, stressing that failing to achieve denuclearization of the regime could have wider consequences. On Friday, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun called on Pyongyang to resume talks with the US as agreed on by the two countries’ leaders.  The North, meanwhile, has been highlighting its close ties to China, and has issued several warnings to South Korea and the US. “At this moment, to achieve further pr

North KoreaSept. 8, 2019

[IFA 2019] Huawei claims world’s first commercialized 5G SoC

BERLIN -- Huawei CEO Richard Yu announced the world’s first commercialized 5G system-on-chip during his keynote speech at IFA 2019, darting ahead of competitors Samsung and Qualcomm in the race.The flagship Kirin 990 and its 5G version will power Huawei’s Mate 30 when the new phone is unveiled in Munich, Germany, on Sept. 19.“We don’t know when Samsung’s chip will be available -- our chipset is available now,” said Yu on the opening day of IFA 2019, calling th

IndustrySept. 8, 2019

[News Focus] Koreans 5 years older, on average, than a decade ago

SEJONG -- South Korea has become one of several countries undergoing rapid demographic changes that could dent the nation’s competitiveness in the mid- to long term. With fewer babies being born, senior citizens make up a growing proportion of the Korean population and the average age has climbed over the past decade.According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the average age reached 42.4 years as of August, as compared with 41.9 a year earlier.The average ages for men and women were

Social AffairsSept. 8, 2019

Dark ‘Joker’ wins top Venice Film Festival prize

VENICE (AP) -- Todd Phillips’ dark comic book film “Joker” won the Golden Lion Award at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on Saturday and cemented its place as a legitimate contender for the rest of the awards season.Jury president Lucretia Martel announced the winners of the prestigious award during a ceremony on the Lido. The Golden Lion previously put a spotlight on films that went on to be major awards season players, such as “Roma” and the film academ

FilmSept. 8, 2019

Teen Andreescu topples record-chasing Serena in US Open final

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Teenager Bianca Andreescu became Canada's first Grand Slam singles champion Saturday with a rollercoaster 6-3, 7-5 win over 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the US Open final.The 19-year-old Andreescu became the youngest Grand Slam winner since Svetlana Kuznetsova at the 2004 US Open, handing Williams a fourth consecutive defeat in the final of a major to again deny her a record-equaling 24th Slam title."It's so hard to explain in words but I'm just beyond gratefu

World NewsSept. 8, 2019

Typhoon Lingling leaves 3 dead, more than 20 injured

Typhoon Lingling, the fifth-strongest typhoon to hit South Korea, left three people dead and more than 20 injured, caused power outages, disrupted transport services and damaged farmland and properties, with recovery operations underway Sunday.　The typhoon, which made landfall near the southern island of Jeju on Friday night, rapidly swept along the country’s west coast Saturday with strong winds and heavy rain before heading toward North Korea in the afternoon, according to the weather ag

Social AffairsSept. 8, 2019

Nissan mulls withdrawal from Korea: reports

Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor is reportedly considering whether to pull out of the Korean market as sales dwindle amid the ongoing diplomatic and trade tensions between the neighboring countries.Multiple news outlets reported Sunday that Nissan’s decision-making officials have been reviewing whether to continue sales in Korea, as the Japanese carmaker has been hit hard by the nationwide boycott of Japanese goods here.Early in July, many here began a boycott of all things Japanese after th

MobilitySept. 8, 2019

Moon likely to take time to determine whether to appoint justice minister nominee

President Moon Jae-in will likely spend more time determining whether to appoint his embattled justice minister nominee, a presidential official said Sunday, suggesting the appointment could be delayed further amid mounting demands from the opposition party to withdraw the nomination.Moon was widely expected to officially name his new justice minister over the weekend.Cho Kuk, a law professor and former senior presidential adviser for civilian affairs, was nominated as justice minister last mont

PoliticsSept. 8, 2019

[Feature] Concerns raised over support policy after N. Korean refugees die of hunger

On the last day of July, the decomposing bodies of a mother in her 40s and her 6-year-old son were found in their apartment in Seoul, their deaths apparently due to starvation. The case would be shocking on its own, but the impact of the news was compounded when it was revealed that the mother was a North Korean who had fled the North for a better life in the South.As questions piled up as to how the defector and her young son died of hunger in South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, a

North KoreaSept. 8, 2019

'The Phantom of the Opera’ to visit Korea in Dec.

The world tour of the beloved musical “The Phantom of the Opera” will land in Korea this winter.The South Korean leg of the world tour will kick off at Dream Theater in Busan, with its first performance in December. It will then move to Blue Square in Seoul, before winding up at Kyeimyung Art Center in Daegu.The cast and the schedule for the performance has not been confirmed. Based on the French novel of the same title by Gaston Leroux, the musical featuring music by Andrew Llo

PerformanceSept. 8, 2019

2019 SPAF to bring 19 international productions onstage

The 2019 Seoul Performing Art Festival (SPAF) is set to kick off its 18-day run, bringing 19 international productions onstage.The festival, organized by the Korea Arts Management Service, is slated to take place Oct. 3-20 in central Seoul, spread out across Arko Arts Theater, Deahakro Arts Theater, Sejong Center and Arts Theater at Korea National University of Arts.This year’s SPAF puts 19 performing arts productions from 10 countries onstage, featuring nine plays, nine dances, and one ge

PerformanceSept. 8, 2019

‘Arthdal Chronicles’ begins final run, hopes for rebound

The final third part of the “Arthdal Chronicles” began its run on tvN last weekend.Following the end of the fantasy-romance drama “Hotel Del Luna,” “Arthdal Chronicles,” divided into three parts, has started to air its last segment. Billed to be a blockbuster fantasy drama, the series features big-name stars, such as Song Joong-ki, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Ji-won and Kim Ok-bin, as the main cast.Set in a mythical land called Arth in the early Bronze Age, more t

TelevisionSept. 8, 2019

Nexon’s new MMORPG ‘V4’ to roll out later this month

　South Korea’s biggest video games company, Nexon, is seeking to launch its new mobile role-playing game “V4” later this month. 　According to Nexon, V4 is to be released to the public on Sep. 27 with a press event for journalists and influencers. More than 100 participants will gather to watch the game’s demonstration and discuss its user interfaces, the company said Sunday.　Short for Victory Four, “V4,” is one of Nexon’s most highly anticipated massivel

TechnologySept. 8, 2019

[IFA 2019] IFA executive director says trade disputes hold back innovation

BERLIN -- Collaborative innovation loomed at the forefront of the 59th IFA 2019 in Berlin, Germany.Jens Heithecker, the IFA executive director, emphasized on the power of the approach in shaping the future, as he opened up the stage for IFA keynote speakers on Friday and Saturday. And it’s one that requires openness, which is the backbone of the annual trade fair that is a staunch supporter of freedom.“A bit over 20 years ago, listening to western media would have cost your career fo

IndustrySept. 8, 2019

[IFA 2019] LG says Samsung’s 8K TV fails internationally agreed standards

BERLIN -- LG Electronics is adamant that Samsung’s 2019 8K TV does not meet the international standards for 8K resolution and that the company is effectively deceiving consumers.LG has made similar assertions before, but this is the first time it has officially called out Samsung. “We believe Samsung’s 8K TV is not really 8K,” said Park Hyoung-sei, executive vice president at LG Electronics TV Business Operation Center. “Consumers need to know the truth and know wha

IndustrySept. 8, 2019

S. Korea's economy to expand 1.9% in 2019: KERI

South Korea's economy is expected to expand 1.9 percent in 2019 from a year earlier, a local research institute said Sunday, posting sluggish growth due to the protracted trade dispute between the United States and China.The figure marks a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from the previous outlook of 2.2 percent suggested in June, according to the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI).The organization attributed the lackluster growth to the prolonged feud between the world's top two economies

EconomySept. 8, 2019