S. Korea remains on US ‘monitoring list’ for currency manipulation

The United States Treasury Department has kept South Korea on its monitoring list for currency manipulating countries, suggesting a possible removal in the next report, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday.In a semiannual report submitted to Congress on Tuesday, the US Treasury also named eight other trading partners as those requiring attention regarding their currency practices. The list comprised China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.Also, Korea

EconomyMay 29, 2019

Court to rule on arrest warrant for KCTU officials

The Seoul Southern District Court is expected to decide Thursday whether to arrest senior officials of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions for allegedly damaging police pedestrian barriers and using physical violence against police.The suspects face charges of interfering with official duties, damaging public goods, hindering traffic, trespassing and injuring a journalist.The hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held three rallies in front of the National Assembly from March 27-Ap

PoliticsMay 29, 2019

Moblie carriers turn to K-pop idols to boost 5G popularity

As South Korea’s mobile carriers focus on expanding the commercial use of 5G cellular network services since their launch last month, K-pop idols have emerged as an attractive draw to boost the popularity of 5G among consumers. 　SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are introducing various services that allow subscribers to enjoy K-pop in an optimal environment by combining virtual reality technology with the hyperspeed network in a way that totally transforms the experience. 　Given the growing appe

TechnologyMay 29, 2019

[Herald Interview] Alcantara aims to partner with more Korean firms, lifestyle brands: CEO

TOKYO -- For fashion companies in South Korea, switching to sustainable fabrics remains a far-off goal. While the concept is not unheard of, local consumers don’t yet have enough options to choose from compared with consumers in North America and Europe. Yet even here in Korea, the high-quality leather substitute developed by Italian luxury fabric maker Alcantara S.P.A. is a familiar presence – well known as a covering for Lamborgini seats and for Microsoft’s Surface lapto

IndustryMay 29, 2019

Malaysian fugitive met YG head through Psy

Low Taek Jho, a Malaysian fugitive sought by authorities in Malaysia, Singapore and the US in connection with the 1MDB scandal, denied allegations Wednesday that he had attended a dinner gathering arranged by Yang Hyun-suk, head of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment.　The MBC program “Straight” aired late Monday the allegations that Yang hosted dinner parties and procured sexual services for two wealthy Southeast Asian investors in July 2014. One of the investors was reported to be Low

Social AffairsMay 29, 2019

[News Focus] No sign of a break in the impasse between Seoul, Tokyo over forced labor

Relations between South Korea and Japan have deteriorated to what is arguably their worst point to date as they dispute every inch of ground over Tokyo’s responsibility to compensate the Korean victims of forced labor during World War II. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha’s meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, in Paris on Friday thwarted hopes that those strained ties would mend anytime soon. The two top envoys wrapped up their meeting having only escalated the tensio

Foreign AffairsMay 29, 2019

[Newsmaker] Protests against HHI-DSME merger escalate

Protests by the workers of Hyundai Heavy Industries against a tie-up with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering are escalating, with labor unions of Hyundai Motor and DSME joining the strike on Wednesday. Two days ahead of HHI’s shareholders meeting to decide on modalities of the merger, the workers’ protests intensified by occupying the venue and staging an all-out strike to disrupt the meeting. If the proposal for physical division of the company after merger is passed

IndustryMay 29, 2019

Hyundai Steel showcases steel sculptures at Suncheon Bay

South Korean steelmaker Hyundai Steel unveiled three steel sculptures featured in its H-Steel Atelier project on Tuesday at Suncheon Bay Ecology and Culture Education Center in South Jeolla Province. H-Steel Atelier is Hyundai Steel’s corporate social responsibility project that aims to convey a soft and friendly image of steel through arts and culture. It is also a chance for local young artists to create artworks. This year, a contest was open to the public to create artworks in line wit

IndustryMay 29, 2019

Stock transaction tax cut to take effect Thursday

South Korea’s decision to lower the tax rate on securities transactions by 0.05 percentage point is set to take effect on Thursday, with the financial sector divided on whether it will successfully stimulate the market.Tax levied on stocks listed on the nation’s main bourse Kospi will be cut down to 0.1 percent from the previous 0.15 percent. Stocks on the secondary tech-heavy Kosdaq will be traded at the rate of 0.25 percent instead of the previous 0.3 percent. The rate for third-ti

MarketMay 29, 2019

S. Korea drops to 28th place in global competitiveness rankings

South Korea’s global competitiveness ranking dropped one place this year, amid an economic slowdown hit by reduced exports and capital investments, an annual report by a Switzerland-based international institute showed Wednesday.The International Institute for Management Development said in its report that Korea ranked 28th in terms of world competitiveness among the 63 countries surveyed. It was ranked 27th last year.The institute, since 1997, has been ranking economies based on four cate

EconomyMay 29, 2019

Refugee crisis ‘our problem’ too: actor Jung Woo-sung

Actor Jung Woo-sung, a goodwill ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency, on Tuesday stressed the need for South Korea to support the Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in Myanmar after his second visit to the world’s largest refugee camp. “The refugee issue is not only their problem, it is our problem,” Jung told a group of reporters during an interview held at the office of the UNHCR in central Seoul. “When I say ‘we,’ it could be taken as a limited meaning, but

Social AffairsMay 29, 2019

[팟캐스트] (302) 봉준호 감독 ‘기생충’ 칸영화제 황금종려상 수상 / WHO 게임 질병 분류

 진행자 : 손지형, Paul Kerry1. Bong Joon-ho bags Palme d'Or in Cannes milestone for Korea기사요약: 봉준호 영화감독의 영화 ‘기생충’이 한국인 최초로 칸영화제 최고상인 황금종려상 수상.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] Bong Joon-ho’s social satire “Parasite” made history Saturday by becoming the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or, the top award at the Cannes Film Festival.*social satire: 사회 풍자*ma

PodcastMay 29, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Parasite’ feeds on class rage, delivers thrilling ride

Bong Joon-ho is just a brilliant storyteller. His films encompass the hard-hitting issues confronting today’s society and they reek of cynicism, yet they are just fun to watch. This is the difference between him and other directors, such as Kim Ki-duk, whose films are hard to watch: Bong’s films don’t rattle you and force you to think. They lure you in with interesting stories, get you hooked, then leave you lost in thought about what you’ve just seen as you leave the the

FilmMay 29, 2019

S. Korea to begin training on Monday for Olympic football qualifiers

South Korea will start preparing for the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament early next week, officials announced Tuesday.The Korea Football Association said head coach Kim Hak-bum on Monday will call up 26 players for the first training camp ahead of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, scheduled for Jan. 8-26 next year in Thailand.That competition will also serve as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The top three teams in Thailand will pu

SoccerMay 28, 2019

'Arthdal Chronicles' features Song Joong-ki as half-neanderthal hero in antiquity

Returning to the small screen for the first time since his sensationally popular role in the 2016 drama series, "Descendants of the Sun," actor Song Joong-ki plays a half-neanderthal hero who fights against a well-equipped chieftain in the upcoming TV fantasy series "Arthdal Chronicles." The 18-episode series, set against the background of the early civilization period around the Bronze Age, on a mythical continent called Arth, depicts a power struggle by competing chieftains

TelevisionMay 28, 2019

Third-generation LG family member wanted by Interpol for stock manipulation

A third-generation LG Group family member now on the run overseas has been placed on Interpol's wanted list on charges of stock manipulation and other crimes, prosecutors said Tuesday.The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said it has asked for Interpol's cooperation for the arrest of Koo Bon-hyun, a nephew of LG Group honorary chairman Koo Cha-kyung, after nullifying his passport. The 51-year-old Koo had escaped abroad after allegedly pocketing an illegal profit of 14.5 billion wo

IndustryMay 28, 2019

S. Korea reiterates stance on East Sea naming after Trump mentions Sea of Japan

South Korea said Tuesday that the body of water between the Korean peninsula and Japan should be referred to as both the East Sea and Sea of Japan, after US President Donald Trump used only the Japanese name.During a meeting with US troops in Japan, Trump mentioned the Sea of Japan as an area of their patrol responsibilities."Regarding the naming of the East Sea, our consistent position is clear," Kim In-chul, spokesman of Seoul's foreign ministry, told a regular press briefing. "

North KoreaMay 28, 2019

[Graphic News] ‘Parasite’ wins top honors at Cannes　

　The Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, was awarded Saturday to “Parasite,” a social satire and critical favorite from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho. It is the first time a Korean director has received the coveted award in the festival’s 72-year history.　The Cannes Film Festival is an annual event held in France. It previews new films of all genres, including documentaries from all around the world. 

CultureMay 28, 2019

Huawei says it will keep 5G event in Seoul low profile amid controversy

　With confrontation between the Trump administration and Huawei showing no signs of abating, the Chinese tech giant has pledged to go ahead with its plan to celebrate the launch of a fifth-generation network research center in Seoul on Thursday. 　According to Huawei Korea on Tuesday, the company will hold an opening ceremony for the research center as scheduled. The event is expected to take place at Huawei Korea’s headquarters in Jung-gu, central Seoul. 　But the company said it would keep

TechnologyMay 28, 2019