[Lee Kyong-hee] True blessing from Han Kang’s Nobel Prize

The news of Han Kang being awarded the Nobel Prize in literature carried me to the winter of 1970, when I started my journalism career at The Korea Times. My tasks included assisting the managing editor, who was creating the Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, the first of its kind. In considering the more than 50 years that have transpired for Korean literature -- and Korean culture at that -- it may be said that the Nobel Prize is a crowning achievement for one Korean and a watershed

ViewpointsNov. 4, 2024

US flies long-range bomber in drill with S. Korea, Japan in reaction to the North's missile test

The United States flew a long-range bomber in a trilateral drill with South Korea and Japan on Sunday in response to North Korea’s recent test-firing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the US mainland, South Korea’s military said. North Korea on Thursday tested the newly developed Hwasong-19 ICBM, which flew higher and stayed in the air longer than any other missile it has fired. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called it “an appropriate military acti

Foreign AffairsNov. 3, 2024

EU's Borrell vows to advance security, defense ties with S. Korea

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Sunday he will discuss ways to advance the EU's security and defense cooperation with South Korea during his visit to Seoul. Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, wrote on social media platform X that he arrived in Seoul to co-chair the first Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. "Over the past years, we have become even closer partners making significant progress with t

World NewsNov. 3, 2024

Korean Series champions Tigers give manager new 3-year deal

The 2024 South Korean baseball champions Kia Tigers said Sunday they have given manager Lee Bum-ho a new three-year contract. The announcement came six days after Lee led the Tigers to the Korean Series title over the Samsung Lions in his first season in charge. Lee, 42, will make 2.6 billion won ($1.88 million) total in his new deal, which will take effect immediately in place of the second year of the two-year, 900 million-won contract Lee had signed in February. Under the new pact, Lee will e

BaseballNov. 3, 2024

Over 7,000 N. Korean troops deployed near border with Ukraine, armed with rifles, mortars

Kyiv's defense intelligence agency has said Russia appears to have deployed more than 7,000 North Korean soldiers, armed with AK-12 rifles, mortar rounds and other assault weapons, to areas near the border with Ukraine. South Korea and the West have warned that North Korean troops in Russia may soon enter into combat against Ukraine that would pose a major security threat to both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) said on Saturday (local time) that

World NewsNov. 3, 2024

TechCamp Korea 2024 promotes safe, ethical AI use

The US Embassy in Seoul said it hosted “TechCamp Korea 2024,” a three-day event focused on fostering the safe and ethical use of artificial intelligence. Held from October 31 to November 3 at the Kyowon Vision Center in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the camp was part of the US Department of State’s global tech leadership initiative and marked the first time the program has been held in Korea. Aimed at strengthening ties among Korea’s next generation of AI leaders, the camp

Social AffairsNov. 3, 2024

[AtoZ of Korean mind] Ever noticed some Koreans talk to themselves?

An older Korean person at your usual bus stop mumbles something that sounds almost like a question about the weather. To be polite, you respond, only for them to glance at you and dismiss it casually with a shrug, saying, "Oh, I was just talking to myself." A 36-year-old American living in Seoul surnamed Rodriguez recalls encountering this situation upon first arriving here. Near him, an older Korean woman had murmured in Korean, “It's so cold." Assuming she was speaking to

Hashtag KoreaNov. 3, 2024

Who is writer of Hybe's controversial internal report?

A Hybe internal document on K-pop industry trends, presented to top executives, including Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, has been fueling intense debate since its disclosure at a National Assembly audit on Oct. 24. The report stunned K-pop fans and the public with its critiques of young idols’ appearances, describing some as “surprisingly unattractive" or "overly reliant on cosmetic enhancements," which brought significant attention to the document's author. Contrary

K-popNov. 3, 2024

Klook launches rural tours for inbound tourists

Hoping to make rural travel for tourists from overseas more convenient, global travel and leisure e-commerce platform Klook is launching a new product, Klook Private Taxi Tours, on Monday. The travel platform’s real-time express bus booking and payment service -- only available for foreign tourists -- opened in January this year. Its new taxi tour promotion is set to benefit vacationers who face difficulties hiring private vehicles to access tourist destinations in rural sites off the beat

TravelNov. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Composer Wildhorn readies to introduce his first small theater work

Composer Frank Wildhorn, who has compiled a long list of hits in South Korea, becoming one of the most beloved composers here in the process, will make another connection with the country, with his first-ever small stage work. The 65-year-old composer is participating in “Van Gogh in Love,” produced by renowned stage designer Oh Pil-young. The show will premiere in Korea before being introduced in Spain, Germany and more. Wildhorn, who was in Korea preparing for the staging of &ldquo

CultureNov. 3, 2024

Presidential Bio Committee to launch in December

South Korea's Presidential Bio Committee will hold its inaugural meeting in December, with President Yoon Suk Yeol chairing the committee of roughly 20 experts in the field of biotechnology, to bolster the nation's push to achieve a biotechnology breakthrough. Park Sang-ook, senior presidential secretary for science and technology, said in a briefing Sunday that Lee Sang-yup, vice president for research at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, will serve as the vice c

PoliticsNov. 3, 2024

ShinWon launches R&D center in New York

South Korean fashion company ShinWon announced Sunday that it has launched an R&D Design Center in New York, to strengthen its presence in global markets. Currently, ShinWon operates seven manufacturing subsidiaries in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Indonesia, all known for their expertise in knit and sweater production. With these production capabilities, the company has maintained long-term collaborations with top global brands like Patagonia, Columbia, GAP, Target and Walmart. &ldquo

IndustryNov. 3, 2024

[From the Scene] Gumi, home to Nongshim’s largest factory, rebrands itself as ‘city of ramyeon'

GUMI, North Gyeongsang Province -- In front of the modest Gumi Station building on Friday, the streets bustled with crowds enjoying ramyeon, despite the rainy weather. Claiming to be "the longest ramyeon restaurant in the world," the 475-meter long strip occupied by the event zone featured 24 booths offering an array of ramyeon-based dishes prepared by chefs from local establishments, including snack bars, bistros, and food trucks. In a seating area accommodating up to 960 people, visi

IndustryNov. 3, 2024

Korean startups seek global talent through D.Camp’s new internship initiative

D.Camp, one of South Korea’s largest startup incubators, held a networking event on Friday to connect international students with internship positions at local startups. The event, hosted at D.Camp’s Front1 facility in Seoul’s Mapo-gu district, brought together representatives from 13 startups and dozens of international students who had applied to these companies in hopes of securing an internship over the winter break. The event is part of a new initiative launched by D.Camp

CompaniesNov. 3, 2024

Korean battery makers brace for impact of US election

With the US presidential election just around the corner, Korean battery companies are bracing for change as the result could have significant effects on the industry, particularly if Republican candidate Donald Trump wins. Korea’s leading battery producers -- LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On -- have depended on the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act for operating profits. According to the quarterly earnings repo

IndustryNov. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Beyond weather forecasting, KMA seeks to empower climate action

Weather forecasting has become essential to daily life, yet climate change is making it more unpredictable than ever. Amid growing uncertainty in weather prediction, Chang Dong-eon, administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration, believes that the agency’s mission goes beyond delivering accurate forecasts. It also aims to empower individuals to take climate action and to enhance the nation’s overall resilience in facing the climate crisis, he said. “Just this summer,

Social AffairsNov. 3, 2024

Korean art market saw disastrous third quarter: report

The Korean art market saw a difficult third quarter, with auction sales falling a 27.2 percent on-year to 23.8 billion won ($17 million). According to a report from the Korea Art Authentication and Appraisal Institute, the market is expected to remain subdued in the long term, as it typically responds to economic trends as a lagging indicator. “The Korean art market saw the worst third quarter and what the market actually experiences seems more pessimistic,” the market report release

Arts & DesignNov. 3, 2024

Korea Herald to co-host forum on impact of Trump’s return through Seoul’s lens

The Korea Herald will co-host a forum on Nov. 13 to unpack the foreign policy, security, economic and trade implications of Donald Trump’s return to the White House for Seoul and the Korea-US alliance, while exploring strategic responses to tackle emerging challenges and seize new opportunities. The timely forum, titled "Alliance after US Election 2024: A Seoul Perspective," will be held at the National Assembly Museum in partnership with the Bipartisan Forum for Advanced Diplo

Foreign AffairsNov. 3, 2024

$200m a year, 700,000 tons of rice, space tech: The deal for North Korea in joining Russia’s war

North Korea is believed to have dispatched thousands of soldiers to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine, with thousands more anticipated to join by the year’s end, according to South Korean intelligence and military officials. While the National Intelligence Service said in its latest analysis the costs of North Korea stepping into the war seem to outweigh the benefits, other experts in Seoul say Pyongyang can now expect Moscow to have its back in a possible contingency on the Korean

North KoreaNov. 3, 2024

Will South Korea go back to banning phones in classrooms?

South Korea is mulling banning smartphones in schools, as the government weighs in on a bill proposed by the ruling party that would prohibit students from using personal digital devices during class. According to the National Assembly and education circles on Sunday, Rep. Cho Jung-hun of People Power Party introduced a bill in August to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to restrict the use of smartphones in schools, adding Article 20.3 on guidance on the student's use of cel

Social AffairsNov. 3, 2024