President Moon requests review of college admissions system

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called for a review of the country’s college entrance system amid controversy over alleged admission irregularities involving Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk’s daughter, the presidential office said Sunday.“(President Moon) asked for a reexamination of the overall college admissions system, beyond controversy surrounding nominee Cho and his family,” said Yoon Do-han, senior Cheong Wa Dae secretary for public communication.The presid

PoliticsSept. 1, 2019

LDP's 'Triple Bill' blends different contemporary dance choreographers

Laboratory Dance Project, a South Korean contemporary dance company that marks its 20th anniversary next year, is collaborating with guest choreographers in a project that might just lead to a stylistic breakthrough. 　The dance company has invited two well-known Korean choreographers, Jung Young-doo and Kim Seol-jin, in “Triple Bill,” its latest production that will run Sept. 26-29 at LG Arts Center in Seoul.“There is no reason not to be open to collaboration,” LDP&r

PerformanceSept. 1, 2019

[Graphic News] Market for ready-to-eat meals grew in 2018

　The South Korean market for ready-to-eat products increased 14 percent in 2018 on the back of rising demand from single-member households, seniors and others who seek convenience, data showed.　Sales of ready-to-eat meals reached 3 trillion won ($2.47 billion) in 2018, up from 2.6 trillion won posted a year earlier, according to the annual report released by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as more customers sought hassle-free food items. (Yonhap)

BusinessSept. 1, 2019

[News focus] Blame game between US, N. Korea adds to nuke talks uncertainty

The US and North Korea still hope to take steps toward resuming their stalled denuclearization talks but their critical rhetoric reveals distrust and difficulties in arranging a working-level meeting. On Saturday, North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, one of Pyongyang’s top officials leading the denuclearization negotiations with the US, said that Pyongyang’s hopes for nuclear talks with Washington are fading. She pointed to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s

North KoreaSept. 1, 2019

Combined Forces Command to move to Pyeongtaek by 2021

South Korea and the US seek to relocate their Combined Forces Command headquarters by the end of 2021 from Seoul to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, ahead of the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul, according to Defense Ministry officials Sunday.The tentative timeline was set by the allies following a meeting between Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and then acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in Seoul in June when they agreed to move the CFC headq

DefenseSept. 1, 2019

[Chon Shi-yong] Kim and Trump: A dangerous bromance

When they hurled insults at each other such as “little rocket man” and “dotard,” and traded threats of nuclear annihilation, few could imagine that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump would develop such a lasting bromance in so little time. Like any other close relationship, there must have been some sort of chemistry between the 36-year old North Korean leader and the septuagenarian US president. Think not only about their age g  ap and geo

ViewpointsSept. 1, 2019

[David Ignatius] Why Macron’s Iran gamble didn’t pay off

What really happened in Biarritz last weekend, with the mysterious visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif? US officials saw it as a bit of diplomatic freelancing by French President Emmanuel Macron that sought to foster negotiations but highlighted the obstacles that are in the way.The intrigue surrounding the summit was described by knowledgeable sources who requested anonymity to describe the sensitive diplomacy. “It felt like a gamble,” said one source, a bet by Ma

ViewpointsSept. 1, 2019

[News Focus] Concerns grow over prospects for economy

SEJONG -- Nearly half of South Koreans responded that their economic situation had worsened since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017, a poll showed.According to the survey by the Opinion Research Justice, which was released on Aug. 29, only 17 percent of the 1,000 sampled respondents said their economic situation had improved under the Moon administration, compared to the previous government.In contrast, 48.8 percent of them responded that their economic situation has worsened over th

EconomySept. 1, 2019

Growth forecasts for chip sales lowered again

World Semiconductor Trade Statistics has again lowered its global sales forecasts for 2019 and 2020, indicating a longer-than-expected downturn in the chipmaking market, according to the industry on Sunday. In its latest report, WSTS predicted that the global semiconductor industry would post annual sales of $406.5 billion this year, down 13.3 percent from last year. Compared with the previous WSTS report, released in June, the estimates are also lower.  Memory sales are forecast to plunge

TechnologySept. 1, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ruling party seeks last-minute agreement on justice minister nominee hearing

Ruling Democratic Party Floor Leader Lee In-young said Sunday that the party would “wait until the last moment” for the main opposition party to agree to Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk’s confirmation hearing, initially scheduled for Sept. 2-3.“If the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee approves the hearing tomorrow (Monday) morning, a confirmation hearing can be held right away starting tomorrow (as scheduled),” Lee said during a press co

PoliticsSept. 1, 2019

Global standards set for 8K TV

Samsung Electronics along with 15 other partners have specified global standards to define the key performance attributes of 8K televisions with an aim to expand the ecosystem, the South Korean tech giant said Sunday. The 8K Association, a global nonprofit organization of TV and panel manufacturers, system-on chipmakers and content businesses, has announced the standards and performance specifications. The association has 16 member companies, including Samsung Electronics, AUO, Panasonic, Hisens

TechnologySept. 1, 2019

Equity fund related to Korea-Japan trade spat raises W40b

A local equity fund, in which South Korean President Moon Jae-in invested last week to show his confidence in domestic firms likely to benefit from Japan’s export curbs, has amassed more than 40 billion won ($33 million) as of Friday, fund operator NH-Amundi Asset Management said Sunday. The fund dubbed the “NH-Amundi Victorious Korea Equity Fund,” was launched on Aug. 14 with about 30 billion won initial capital. It invests in local companies that manufacture industrial equipm

MarketSept. 1, 2019

Copyright infringement of Korean content on YouTube rife

About 9,000 YouTube contents distributed in South Korea have been accused of copyright infringement since January this year, a lawmaker said Sunday, amid growing calls for the government’s enhanced oversight over the global video-sharing service. Citing data from the Korea Copyright Protection Agency, Rep. Noh Woong-rae of Democratic Party said there were 8,833 copyright infringement cases in YouTube as of last month. It was similar to the number of violation cases last year when 8,880 con

TechnologySept. 1, 2019

[Feature] The line that divides professional gamers from game addicts

With gaming indulgence now identified as a diagnosable disorder by the World Health Organization, one question hangs in the sky blazing in neon lights: Are professional gamers game addicts? The short answer is no. The longer answer lies below. Gaming disorder, as defined by WHO, applies to those who have difficulty controlling their behavior, whose fixation on gaming undermines other critical aspects of life such as human connections and work. “Addiction is akin to social isolation. P

IndustrySept. 1, 2019

Main opposition party takes to the streets against justice nominee Cho

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party held a mass protest for the second consecutive weekend in Seoul, condemning the Moon government and calling on Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk to resign.A day after holding a rally in the southern port city Busan, Cho’s hometown, the conservative party staged a protest Saturday afternoon near Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, amid scuffles between the main opposition and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea over a parliamentary confirmation hearing

PoliticsSept. 1, 2019

SK Plasma to transfer blood fractionation technology to Indonesia

SK Plasma signed a memorandum with Indonesia’s state-run PT Bio Farma and the Red Cross Society on transferring technology for separating out blood components as part of its effort to expand its health care business, the company said Sunday.SK Plasma is a subsidiary of SK Chemical that focuses on plasma-derivatives, such as albumin, immunoglobulin, coagulation factor, antithrombin III and others. These derivatives are essential medicines for congenital immunodeficiency diseases, hemophilia

IndustrySept. 1, 2019

[Herald Interview] Avellino Labs confident in 3-pronged strategy

US ophthalmologic gene diagnosis company Avellino Labs is preparing for its initial public offering on the Kosdaq, South Korea’s secondary bourse. It expects to be listed in the fourth quarter of this year at the earliest. Avellino Labs chief sales and marketing officer, Eric Bernabei, met with The Korea Herald for an interview in Gangnam, Seoul, on Thursday, during his four-day visit to the country for meetings with underwriters and officials at the Korea Exchange. Bernabei was joined by

IndustrySept. 1, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Tazza: One Eyed Jack’ a mediocre, but fun sequel

All that glitters is not gold, and all hit films are not masterpieces. But just because a movie isn’t that well made doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable.Director Kwon Oh-kwang’s “Tazza: One Eyed Jack,” the third in a series about swindling gamblers, is a far cry from a masterpiece, but manages to be fun and loose in its own way. It trades in most of the characters and philosophy of the original comic book that it was based on for a much simpler story and origin

FilmSept. 1, 2019

Removal of Japan from whitelist to take effect this month

South Korea is on track toward excluding Japan from its export control whitelist this month, in a tit-for-tat response to Tokyo’s earlier decision to remove Seoul from its list of preferred trading partners.According to the Industry Ministry on Sunday, the government is set to complete its public opinion-gathering process Tuesday, a necessary step before it can make a public announcement and implement the change to the nation’s export control system.On Aug. 12, the Industry Ministry

IndustrySept. 1, 2019