[Graphic News] Cigarette sales down 0.6% in H1

　Sales of cigarettes in South Korea edged down 0.6 percent in the first half of 2019 from a year prior, data showed, amid an anti-smoking campaign and higher prices.　South Korean smokers purchased 1.67 billion 20-cigarette packs in the January-June period, compared to 1.68 billion packs in the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.　The figures represent a 17.8 percent drop from the first half of 2014. (Yonhap)

TechnologyAug. 6, 2019

[News Focus] NK missile launches aimed at domestic audience, testing intelligence capabilities of S. Korea, US: experts

After firing two unidentified projectiles that Seoul believes to be short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, North Korea issued a statement strongly denouncing South Korea and the United States for their joint military exercise that kicked off the day before.In a statement carried via its news outlets, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson poured scorn on the joint military exercise and other military actions taken by the allies, warning such actions would inevitably drive the N

North KoreaAug. 6, 2019

Japan’s export curbs to affect imports of carbon fiber, botulinum toxins

　With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet removing South Korea from its list of trusted export destinations last week, attention has been drawn to what materials will become subject to import restrictions.　According to the Korea Strategic Institute, which oversees management of strategic goods for the Korean government, 159 materials were selected as items of concern to be subject to the Japanese restrictions for security reasons. 　Among those materials that Japan claimed could be

EconomyAug. 6, 2019

Rihanna to host ‘Fenty Beauty’ makeup show in Seoul

Pop superstar Rihanna will be visiting Seoul in September to host the second makeup masterclass of her beauty brand Fenty, local promoters said Tuesday.The 31-year-old founder of Fenty will hold the “Fenty Artistry & Beauty Talk with Rihanna” at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, on Sept. 17. Rihanna held the first such event in Dubai last year. Makeup artist Priscilla Ono and Hector Espinal will join her to showcase the pop star’s makeup techniques and know-ho

Arts & DesignAug. 6, 2019

CarrieSoft to be listed on Kosdaq this month

CarrieSoft announced Tuesday that it plans to get listed on South Korea’s secondary bourse Kosdaq on Aug. 23.The firm first began with the YouTube channel “Carrie and Toys” in 2014 and exclusively produces kids’ contents. It is home to the iconic character “Carrie,” who reviews popular toys and goods. The character has evolved and now has own branded products.  Last year, CarrieSoft’s sales reached 10 billion won ($8.25 million) with an operating lo

MarketAug. 6, 2019

Asiana Airlines makes emergency landing to save 8-year-old passenger

An Asiana Airlines flight bound from New York to Seoul last month made an emergency landing when an 8-year-old passenger suddenly fell ill, according to the air carrier on Tuesday. The decision allowed for the fast transportation and treatment of the girl, who has since recovered.According to Asiana, the passenger, identified by her surname, Choi, was on flight OZ221 from New York to Incheon Airport for a visit to South Korea with her family. About an hour and 30 minutes into the trip, Choi sudd

IndustryAug. 6, 2019

[Kim Seong-kon] The moment we become emotional, we lose the battle

Regardless of our nationality, we all have merits and flaws. Of course, it all depends on people, but sometimes we unwittingly exhibit collective characteristics that contribute to the public image of a country. Living in America, for example, one can be impressed by Americans’ good-natured personality. Generally speaking, Americans are exceptionally nice and friendly. Look at their smiling faces, and you are compelled to smile back. You do not see any sign of malicious intention to hurt o

ViewpointsAug. 6, 2019

[Tyler Cowen] Greta, It’s OK to fly

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, recently announced that she would cross the Atlantic Ocean by boat to attend a United Nations global warming summit in New York. She does not believe in flying in airplanes, for the obvious reason that air travel is a contributor to the carbon emissions problem.I am here with a simple message: Greta, it is OK to fly. Indeed, I encourage you to fly.This isn’t just about Thunberg. I often hear it argued that Al Gore is a hypocrite for

ViewpointsAug. 6, 2019

National Theater Company of Korea cancels performance of play by pro-Japanese playwright

The National Theater Company of Korea has canceled scheduled performances of a play by pro-Japanese playwright Lim Sun-kyu, amid growing economic and political tensions between Korea and Japan. The work was scheduled to be staged Sept. 27-Oct. 13 at Baek Sung-hee & Jang Min-ho Theater in Seoul. “Binghwa” (1940) is a late Japanese colonial period play carrying pro-Japanese elements that was submitted to a drama contest organized by Japan as part of its cultural policy.Lim&rsq

PerformanceAug. 6, 2019

[News Focus] Korea stands to lose more than Japan: poll

SEJONG -- This year on Aug. 15, South Koreans will celebrate Liberation Day and mark the 74th anniversary of Korean independence amid a trade war with Japan.Then on Sept. 18 the nation will commemorate 120 years of railroad history, with some saying Japan initiated the railway construction in 1899 in an attempt to plunder Korea’s resources.Since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, Korea has strived to catch up with its neighbor in a variety of industrial sectors. While Japa

PoliticsAug. 6, 2019

Kim Hee-chul, Twice’s Momo deny dating reports

Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior and Momo of Twice have denied rumors that they are dating.  A local media outlet reported Tuesday that Kim and Momo have been in a relationship for two years after first meeting through a TV entertainment show in 2017.However, both sides quickly sent out official statements refuting the claim.Kim’s agency S.M. Entertainment said, “The two are close only as co-workers in the industry,” while Twice’s label JYP Entertainment called the rumor

PerformanceAug. 6, 2019

SsangYong Motors mulls self-rescue plans amid financial woes

SsangYong Motors, the South Korean unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, is seeking measures to revive its business amid dwindling sales and liquidity woes, according to the company Tuesday.According to a letter sent to employees, SsangYong Motor CEO Yea Byung-tae said the company would conduct an organizational reshuffle in September to normalize business. The company will also reduce 10 to 20 percent of its senior executive workforce in the annual reshuffle slated for February, as wel

MobilityAug. 6, 2019

Ministry to process all illegal waste within the year

The Ministry of Environment announced its plan Tuesday to process all waste across the country that has been illegally dumped, neglected and exported within this year, three years earlier than initially scheduled. As of the end of July the ministry had completed treatment of 45.7 percent, or 550,000 tons, of the illegal waste and plans to process the remaining 650,000 tons within the year, according to the ministry.The illegal waste around the country is composed of 859,000 tons of waste that ha

Social AffairsAug. 6, 2019

[News Analysis] Markets roiled as US-China spat dwarfs impact of Japan factor

As South Korea’s financial market continued to totter Tuesday after a “Black Monday,” experts observed that the key reason behind the current anxiety is the prolonged US-China trade conflict rather than the escalating feud with Japan.Tense about the US-China situation and its anticipated leverage in the global financial markets, authorities here vowed to take stabilizing steps in case of increased volatility, signaling a possible intervention in the local foreign exchange marke

EconomyAug. 6, 2019

Major corporate groups on high alert against Japan impact

South Korea’s major corporate groups are tightening their supervision of key businesses as they brace for repercussions from the possible expansion of Japan’s trade curbs, according to industry sources Tuesday.Samsung Electronics’ de facto leader Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company’s semiconductor packaging plant located in Onyang, South Chungcheong Province, to check out the chipmaking operations. He held a meeting with the top executives of the chipmaking, TV

TechnologyAug. 6, 2019

Japan unlikely to target Korea’s financial market: state policy chief

Kim Sang-jo, the president’s chief of staff for policy, said Tuesday the “possibility is very low” that Japan will target Korea’s financial market for economic retaliation amid thorny relations between the two countries after Japan toughened trade restrictions against Korea. Asked by Rep. You Sung-yop of the minor progressive Party for Democracy and Peace wither Japan would target the country’s financial market, Kim said, “Compared with the IMF (Asian) financi

PoliticsAug. 6, 2019

‘No Japan’ flags in Seoul streets taken down in face of public outrage

The Jung-gu district office in Seoul took down its “No Japan” flags from the streets following a firestorm of public criticism on the internet.The move came after the embattled office on Tuesday had pushed ahead with putting up the placards on streets in the crowded downtown district, ignoring the widespread condemnation and ridicule from South Koreans.In announcing a reversal of the decision, Seo Yang-ho, head of the Jung-gu office, said on social media, “We intended to fight

Social AffairsAug. 6, 2019

Kospi dips under 1,900 for first time in 3 years

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi dipped below the 1,900 mark for the first time in three years Tuesday, with risks stemming from the ongoing trade row between Seoul and Tokyo, the intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, and Pyongyang’s latest missile launches pushing the market down. The Kospi fell 1.51 percent from the previous trading to close at 1,917.5. It rebounded slightly after falling to 1,891.81 in the early trading hours. The 1,891.81 point marked the lowes

MarketAug. 6, 2019

[Newsmaker] Korean victims of WWII atomic bombings remembered in ceremony

On the 74th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, a ceremony in South Gyeongsang Province remembered the tens of thousands of Koreans who lost their lives in the foreign cities after being taken there against their will.Over 200,000 people were killed by the two atomic bombs that were dropped Aug. 6 and 9, respectively, in 1945. Most of the victims were Japanese civilians, but some of the dead and injured were Koreans who had been drafted for forced labor and other forms of exploit

Social AffairsAug. 6, 2019