DAY6 aims to capture beautiful moment of youth in new album

Youth, the main theme in the previous hit songs by five-piece K-pop rock band DAY6, such as "Congratulations" and "You Were Beautiful," still runs deep in its new album released Monday: "The Book of Us: Gravity" and its main track "Time of Our Life."With its Korean title translated as "In order to become one page," the main track pictures the wishful starting point of a romantic relationship with a message to leave a beautiful page in "The B

PerformanceJuly 15, 2019

WTO to formally discuss Japan's export curbs on S. Korea

Japan's export restrictions on advanced tech materials that could undermine South Korea's production of semiconductors will be formally discussed at the World Trade Organization, South Korea's commerce ministry said Sunday.The issue has been named a formal agenda item of the WTO General Council, the highest decision-making body of the WTO in Geneva, and will be discussed when the council meets from July 23-24, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.The move comes at a request fr

EconomyJuly 14, 2019

[Graphic News] Number of chaebol family members with over W1tr worth of shares hit 24

　The number of South Korean chaebol family members with more than 1 trillion won ($865 million) worth of listed shares reached 24 as of the previous trading session, data showed.　The combined value of listed shares held by the 24 shareholders came to 64.3 trillion won as of end-June, according to data compiled by industry tracker Chaebul.com. Of the number, nine shareholders saw their share value exceed 2 trillion won.　Lee Kun-hee, the head of South Korea’s top conglomerate Samsung who has

BusinessJuly 14, 2019

US waits for North Korea’s response on working-level nuclear talks

The US government is waiting for a response from North Korea after proposing to resume working-level negotiations on denuclearization this week, diplomatic sources said Sunday. North Korea has yet to give an answer to the offer made through a diplomatic channel last week. After their surprise meeting June 30 at the inter-Korean border, US President Donald Trump said he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had agreed to resume working-level negotiations “within two to three weeks.&rdquo

North KoreaJuly 14, 2019

[Markos Kounalakis] As British envoy just learned, loose lips sink diplomats

If the truth can set you free, then the British ambassador to Washington is now free as a bird. Unfortunately for him, he will no longer be soaring over America’s capital or hovering anywhere near the White House. In fact, the president made sure this British goose got cooked.Discretion is a key component of diplomacy, and Ambassador Kim Darroch was publicly discreet to a fault. But his private, privileged and personal observations -- reserved for his ministry and his masters -- now seem i

ViewpointsJuly 14, 2019

[From the Scene] Bombarded with deliveries, veteran postal worker asks for family time

HANAM, Gyeonggi Province -- Prospects of an all-out strike by mail delivery workers of the state-run Korea Post surprised the country last week. In a nation heavily reliant on fast-speed delivery services, postal workers’ first-ever strike in the 135 year history of the Korea Post would have brought 245 post offices nationwide to a standstill.Unlike most strikes here that call for a wage hike or an upgrade in employment status, the Korean Postal Workers’ Union urged for a bigger pool

Social AffairsJuly 14, 2019

[David Ignatius] Democrats, Trump is on a roll

The agonizing fact for Democrats this summer is that US President Donald Trump appears to be gaining ground on domestic and foreign policy, while his potential challengers are quarreling and mostly spinning their wheels. Trump is taunting allies and defying Congress -- and seemingly getting away with it. He isn’t just rewriting the political rulebook, he’s tossing it aside. And the painful fact is that the Democrats haven’t figured out a way to stop his forward momentum, even t

ViewpointsJuly 14, 2019

[News Focus] Seoul-Sejong Expressway to revamp Korea’s traffic map

SEJONG -- There are three major expressways linking the Seoul metropolitan area and the southern parts of the country.Along the western side of the peninsula, there is the Seohaean Expressway running between Seoul and Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. The oldest route, the Gyeongbu Expressway, runs between Seoul and Busan. Lastly, the Jungbu Expressway runs from Hanam, Gyeonggi Province to Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province.Over the past decades, the highways have played a great part in the countr

Social AffairsJuly 14, 2019

Moon apologizes for failure to keep campaign pledge on minimum wage

President Moon Jae-in offered a public apology Sunday for an apparent failure to keep his campaign pledge to raise South Korea's minimum wage to 10,000 won ($8.48) per hour by 2020.Moon delivered the message through his chief of staff for policy, Kim Sang-jo."As the president, it's very regrettable and I am sorry for failing to keep the promise with the people," Moon was quoted as saying.Last week, a related panel of labor and business representatives and experts voted to raise the wag

PoliticsJuly 14, 2019

Samsung secured materials to continue production amid Japan's export curbs: sources

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong secured emergency stockpiles of three key high-tech materials subject to Tokyo's export restrictions against South Korea during his recent trip to Japan, sources said Sunday.Sharing the results of his trip, Lee told a special meeting held Saturday with top executives that he secured enough fluorinated polyimides, photoresist and hydrogen fluoride to avoid disruptions in production, according to sources.  On July 4, Japan imposed restrictions on

IndustryJuly 14, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Lion King’ to roar on screen once again

Twenty-five years since the release of Disney’s “The Lion King,” the story of Simba and his journey to his rightful place on the throne has entertained fans through various media -- from a smash-hit Broadway musical to animated series like “The Lion King’s Timon & Pumbaa” and “The Lion Guard.”The animated classic can arguably be said to have influenced superhero films too, with many seeing traces of it in the 2018 film “Black Panther,&rdq

FilmJuly 14, 2019

[Newsmaker] Exploiting disadvantaged teens for sex to be punished by law

People who incite suicides and adults who have “consensual” sex with teenagers under the age of 16 will be punished under newly revised laws, the police said Sunday. The Korean National Police Agency said it will strictly enforce violations of both laws -- on protecting juveniles from sexual abuse and preventing suicide. The amendments take effect Tuesday. 　Under the revised law on sexual abuse, adults who have sexual intercourse with teenagers aged between 13 and 16 by taking advant

Social AffairsJuly 14, 2019

[Herald Interview] Mirae Asset stands tall on Wall St. amid strong rivals

NEW YORK -- Located a few blocks north of the bustling Times Square on 7th Avenue Manhattan, a South Korean brokerage is standing its ground and making inroads in the bustling financial sector.“It’s been nearly 25 years since our foray on Wall Street,” Mirae Asset Securities New York Office CEO Jae Ryu told The Korea Herald recently. “The significance of having a foothold in New York is that the office helps us expand globally and build our brand image.” But the fic

MarketJuly 14, 2019

Kosdaq sheds over W4tr in H1 amid biotech slump

Weighed down by a bearish market and a series of business license revocations on key products, South Korea’s pharmaceutical sector saw its market capitalization shed over 4 trillion won ($3.4 billion) during the first half of this year, data showed Sunday.According to market operator Korea Exchange (KRX), the market capitalization of Kosdaq-listed biotech companies stood at 28.9 trillion won as of end-June, down 12.3 percent, or 4.1 trillion won, from the end of last year.The number of lis

IndustryJuly 14, 2019

Japan sees decline in value-added trade surplus with Korea

Japan’s trade surplus in value-added goods and services (TiVA) with South Korea took a downturn during the 2005-2015 period, reflecting the diversifying structure of logistics and trade, statistics showed Sunday.In light of the interconnection of the global value chain, the country’s recent curbs on hi-tech exports to Korea are likely to affect not only the two countries but also the regional and global economy in general, Seoul’s government officials noted. According to t

EconomyJuly 14, 2019

KT seeks to leverage 5G tech in global fight against diseases

　After South Korea became the first country to launch commercial service for the fifth-generation network in April, hopes are high that the hyperspeed network will transform everyday lives. 　Ranging from ultrafast downloading of lengthy movies to driving autonomous vehicles on connected urban highways, the 5G network is expected to enable futuristic technologies. 　With telecom companies around the world seeking to maximize benefits of the advanced network technology, Korea’s leading mobile

TechnologyJuly 14, 2019

S. Korea hammered by Hungary in women's water polo debut

Host South Korea was destroyed by Hungary 64-0 in its FINA World Championships debut in women's water polo Sunday, taking a beating of historic proportions before stunned home fans.South Korea was thoroughly overmatched in every aspect of the game imaginable, as the merciless Hungary poured in 34 goals in the first half and 30 more in the latter half in Group B action at Nambu University Water Polo Competition Venue in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul.The result set the record for the larg

More SportsJuly 14, 2019

US officials share concern about Seoul-Tokyo tensions: NSC official

US officials have expressed concern that tensions between South Korea and Japan over Tokyo's export restrictions against Seoul are not conducive to trilateral cooperation between the three countries, Seoul's deputy national security adviser said Saturday.Kim Hyun-chong, deputy chief of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, made the remark to reporters as he wrapped up a four-day visit to Washington that included meetings with top officials, such as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulv

InternationalJuly 14, 2019

Japan exported prohibited items to N. Korea: UN reports

Japan exported some strategic items and luxury goods to North Korea over the past several years in violation of international sanctions, UN reports have shown.According to 10 reports that the UN panel of experts wrote between 2010 and 2019, there have been multiple cases where restricted items, including sensitive equipment and luxury goods, have been shipped to North Korea from Japan despite UN sanctions. The revelation came at a time when Japan has accused the South of leaking sensitive indust

North KoreaJuly 14, 2019