Incheon National University hosts second Hanseatic League of Universities Conference

The Hanseatic League of Universities -- a group of 10 universities in the US, Asia, Europe, and Africa -- held a joint conference Thursday to discuss educational reform measures and university evaluation systems.The conference, hosted by Incheon National University, was attended by some 200 personnel from 70 universities from the regions and their ambassadors to Korea.Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations who chairs the national committee on climatic environment, said in hi

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2019

Why paint flowers in 2019?

The still-life painting genre may not hold much appeal for contemporary artists, since it does not leave much room for new discoveries. Flower paintings might be seen as especially outmoded. But in an art scene dominated by conceptual art, local painter Kim Sung-yoon’s focus on flowers is as bold as it is refreshing. “Many expressed worries when I said I wanted to paint flowers, but I think flower paintings are still a good means to communicate with the viewers,” Kim said durin

Arts & DesignJuly 7, 2019

Song Hye-kyo makes first appearance after divorce announcement

Actress Song Hye-kyo made her first official public appearance on Saturday, about a week after her husband, Song Joong-ki, announced that he had filed for divorce. On July 6 the actress attended an event in Sanya, on the Chinese island of Hainan, to promote South Korean cosmetic brand Sulwhasoo.Photos of her at the event immediately went viral as Harper’s Bazaar Hong Kong shared them on its Instagram page.The pending divorce between the two was announced June 27 through Song Joong-ki&rsquo

PeopleJuly 7, 2019

[Management in Korea] Rather than copy chaebol, Korean SMEs need to create new models of success

Management in Korea is a regular column written by representatives of Egon Zehnder Seoul. It touches on various topics concerning Korean enterprises and business leaders and offers management tips. -- Ed.Chaebol played a critical role in South Korea’s recovery after the Korean War and then in enabling the nation to become an economic powerhouse. But to remain competitive in today’s environment, it is essential for Korea to also have vibrant small and midsized businesses to drive inno

EconomyJuly 7, 2019

[Going Renewable (5)] South Korea faces solar power dilemma

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles on the quest of South Korea’s government and businesses to switch to renewable energy. -- Ed.Solar energy is among the keys in the Moon Jae-in administration’s push for renewable energy in response to concerns about life-threatening air pollution and demand for cleaner and safer energy. In December 2017, the government announced “Renewable Energy 2030,” aiming to increase renewable energy’s share of generation capa

IndustryJuly 7, 2019

Korea embarks on W160b project to develop disruptive technologies

The South Korean government has embarked on a 160 billion won ($136 million) project to develop disruptive technologies, including technologies to produce electric vehicles capable of traveling more than 600 kilometers after just one minute of charging, officials said Sunday.The seven-year project, called “Alchemist,” is a follow-up to the “manufacturing renaissance” vision and strategy announced by the Industry Ministry in June. It will cover six categories of products,

IndustryJuly 7, 2019

Tensions spike ahead of prosecutor-general nominee confirmation hearing

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Sunday geared up for a full-fledged battle in the parliamentary confirmation hearing for Prosecutor-General nominee Yoon Seok-youl.The nomination of reform-minded Yoon has drawn fierce objection from the opposition bloc, which opposes the Moon Jae-in administration’s drive to reform the prosecution and adjust the authority of the police and the prosecution.With tensions running high, both the Democratic Par

PoliticsJuly 7, 2019

Police arrest Korean man accused of beating Vietnamese wife

A 36-year-old South Korean man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of assaulting his wife and abusing their toddler son, police said Sunday.According to police, the man is accused of assaulting his wife, 30, for over three hours starting Thursday at 9 p.m. in the presence of their child. The victim came to Korea from Vietnam as a marriage migrant.　A video of the physical and verbal assault, which took place at the couple’s home in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, was posted on social media S

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2019

Preparation underway for US-N. Korea working-level talks

Top negotiators of South Korea and the US will meet in Germany this week in an apparent move to coordinate and discuss details of upcoming working-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang, aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will visit Germany from Tuesday to Friday to meet with Ina Lepel, director general for Asia and the Pacific of the Fede

North KoreaJuly 7, 2019

Housing prices in Seoul show signs of rebounding, Land Ministry may step in

　With housing prices in Seoul showing clear signs of rebounding, the government is considering taking steps to rein in the overheated market.　Officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Sunday that the ministry will intervene if housing prices in Seoul grow faster than expected on the basis of government projections. 　According to the Korea Appraisal Board last Monday, Seoul apartment prices had increased 0.02 percent from a week before, ending a downward trend that went

EconomyJuly 7, 2019

Korean firms fear disruption of digital transformation

　Digital transformation has become a buzzword for various industrial sectors around the world – and South Korea is no exception. Ranging from tech giants to small factories, companies here are scrambling to embrace solutions for better business. 　While digital transformation means different things to different firms, it broadly refers to the use of digital technology to improve productivity. It can be applied to manufacturing processes, marketing strategies and corporate organizations.　So

TechnologyJuly 7, 2019

2019 IYF World Culture Camp kicks off in Busan

The 2019 IYF World Culture Camp, the largest cultural camp for undergrads worldwide, kicked off over the weekend in the southern port city Busan, with an aim to offer character education and exposure to Korean culture. Inviting some 4,000 participants from about 60 countries, the annual event offers a wide variety of programs this year, including performances by distinguished musicians, lectures, visits to tourist attractions, and academic sessions.“A strong mindset capable of overcoming d

CultureJuly 7, 2019

S. Korean son of late NK party chairwoman arrives in Pyongyang for permanent residence

A South Korean son of Ryu Mi-yong, the late chairwoman of a North Korean minor political party, has arrived in Pyongyang to live in the communist country for good, a North Korean propaganda media outlet said Sunday.Ryu and her husband, Choe Tok-sin, who served as foreign minister in South Korea during the 1960s, emigrated to the United States in 1976 and defected to the North in 1986, leaving behind two sons and three daughters.In the North, Ryu served as chairwoman of the central committee of t

North KoreaJuly 7, 2019

S. Korean travel to Japan falls 5% Jan. to May

The number of South Korean tourists to Japan fell nearly 5 percent in the January-May period from a year earlier, government data showed Sunday, with travel demand to Japan expected to fall further following Japan’s export curbs.In the first five months, the number of Koreans who traveled to Japan declined 4.7 percent year-over-year to 3.25 million from the same period last year, the Korea Tourism Organization said in a statement.Helped by a shortened workweek and increased flights of low-

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2019

Military to take sweeping sea border security measures

The military plans to deploy an additional naval ship, increase patrol flights by manned and unmanned aircraft and install more radars on and offshore to beef up security of the sea border with North Korea, a Defense Ministry report showed Sunday.The ministry reported the measures to the National Assembly as part of efforts to close holes in border security following revelations that the military failed to detect a North Korean boat until it traveled all the way to the port of Samcheok, about 13

DefenseJuly 7, 2019

[Newsmaker] South Korean actress faces Thai jail for reality TV stunt

A South Korean actress faces up to five years in a Thai jail for catching endangered giant clams in a reality TV stunt, an official said Saturday, despite the show's extensive apology.Lee Yeol-eum was filmed diving for giant clams at a Thai marine park for a June 30 episode of "Law of the Jungle" -- a popular South Korean reality show.After prising two giant clams from the coral-laid seabed, Lee pumped them in the air yelling "I caught it!"The creatures are listed as an endan

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2019

[양승진 기자의 English Cafe] 영어독해 자만심 왜 문제일까

영어공부를 나름대로 열심히 하면서 느끼는 함정은 바로 스스로 독해에 대한 자만심에 빠지기 쉽다는 것 입니다. “난 독해는 어느 정도 되니까 회화나 청취, 영작에 신경을 써야지”라는 생각을 한번이라도 해 보신 분들은 이러한 독해력 자만심에 빠지고 있거나 이와 비슷한 경험을 하고 있다고 생각합니다.혹은 독해자료를 읽을 때 대부분 아는 단어고 내용도 대충 파악이 된다라는 생각이 들면 독해에 대한 게으름이 시작될 수 있습니다. 문제는 이러한 게으름이 시작되면 독해자료를 꼼꼼히 보지 않게 되며, 자료 속에 숨은 여러 가지 좋은 표현도 놓칠 수 있다는 것입니다.영문 기사를 꾸준하게 읽으면 비슷한 표현들이 많이 나오고 해당 구문에 대한 이해도가 높아집니다. 그렇다고 해서 모르는 표현이나 구문들을 그냥 넘어가거나 내용을 안다고 대충 읽으면 시간투자 대비 효율이 떨어지게 됩니다.예전에 제가 듣던 영문학 과목 시간에 외국인 교수님들이 강조, 또 강조한 사항은 “독해&r

양승진 기자의 English CafeJuly 7, 2019

Seized North Korean ship sought for American student‘s death

The parents of Otto Warmbier have filed a claim for a seized North Korean cargo ship, seeking to collect on a multimillion-dollar judgment awarded in the American college student's death.     The Warmbiers filed court papers Wednesday in New York federal court saying they have a right to the assets after North Korea failed to respond to a wrongful death claim that accused it of abducting Warmbier, who had traveled there for a guided tour ahead of a study abroad program in Hon

North KoreaJuly 7, 2019

BIGBANG's T.O.P released from military service

T.O.P of South Korean boy band BIGBANG was released Saturday from his alternative military service, which had turns and twists due to a marijuana conviction. BIGBANG's main rapper, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, started his two-year mandatory military service as a conscripted police officer in February 2017. But the 32-year-old was kicked out of the police four months later after he was discovered to have smoked marijuana multiple times in 2016.  In July 2017, T.O.P was found guilty of

EntertainmentJuly 7, 2019

S. Korea's Confucian academies inscribed on UNESCO list

The Nine Seowon, Confucian academies from the Joseon era, have officially been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration said late Saturday.　The CHA said it had been decided earlier in the day at the 43rd meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan, that “Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies” are to be included as a world heritage, bringing the number of South Korean items on the list to 14. 　Seowon were educa

CultureJuly 7, 2019