[Wang Son-taek] Diplomatic composure in tumultuous times

The world is undergoing significant shifts, and the pace of these changes can often provoke anxiety and uncertainty. Across continents, events are unfolding with potentially profound impacts on global stability. Former US President Donald Trump is positioning himself for another term that could potentially reshape the liberal order. North Korea is sending troops to Russia to fight Ukraine, creating new geopolitical complexities. In Japan, a new prime minister faces political instability, increas

ViewpointsOct. 31, 2024

Seoul on alert for possible Russia-backed North Korean cyber attacks

The military cyber security authorities in Seoul said Wednessday they are on the lookout for North Korea possibly colluding with Russia in its cyber attacks against pro-Ukraine countries. According to Rep. Lee Seong-kweon, who was briefed by the Cyber Operations Command, North Korean attempts to infiltrate institutions affiliated with the South Korean military have increased significantly in the past couple of years. The military’s cyber security authorities are “on alert” for

PoliticsOct. 30, 2024

N. Korea, Russia's foreign ministers to hold strategic consultations in Moscow: report

North Korea's foreign minister will hold strategic consultations with her Russian counterpart in Moscow, a news report showed Wednesday, amid concerns that the North's troops deployed to Russia may soon join combat in its war against Ukraine. Choe Son-hui, the North's top diplomat, will arrive in Moscow to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia's TASS news agency reported, citing a spokesperson at the foreign ministry. Other details, including the da

North KoreaOct. 30, 2024

Top security adviser calls N. Korea 'worst rogue group' over troop dispatch to Russia

National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik on Wednesday lambasted North Korea as the "worst rogue group" for dispatching its troops to Russia, vowing to come up with "all possible" response measures based on South Korea's alliance with the United States. Shin made the remark during a conference in Seoul as South Korea has confirmed some North Korean forces have arrived in western Russia, near the border with Ukraine, raising concerns they could soon join combat in the Russia

North KoreaOct. 30, 2024

N. Korea's 8,400-strong hacking group escalates attacks on S. Korea

North Korea's state-sponsored cyberunit, comprising some 8,400 hackers, has mounted over 10,000 attacks against South Korea this year, South Korea's cyber operation command said Wednesday. The Cyber Operations Command revealed these findings during a parliamentary audit session, according to Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People Power Party and Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party. The North Korean hacking group has intensified its cyberattacks on South Korea's

North KoreaOct. 30, 2024

Saudi to host meeting of new group pushing for Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia is on Wednesday expected to open the first meeting of a new "international alliance" to press for the establishment of a Palestinian state, state media said. The "International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution" was unveiled last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Saudi state media reported at the time, bringing together Arab and Islamic countries and European countries. This week's meeting in Riyadh is expected to last for two day

World NewsOct. 30, 2024

Rose's 'APT.' becomes fastest video by K-pop female soloist to surpass 200 mln YouTube views

Rose of popular K-pop girl group BLACKPINK set a new YouTube record for K-pop female solo artists with the music video for "APT.," her collaborative single with American pop star Bruno Mars. The video exceeded 200 million views around 11 a.m., in about 11 days and 22 hours after it was uploaded on the global video streaming service, according to her agency, The Black Label. This makes "APT." the fastest music video by a K-pop solo artist to hit 200 million views, breaking the

K-popOct. 30, 2024

Ex-union official charged with using claimed labor connections to swindle

A retired labor union member at a prominent company in Ulsan has been arrested for fraud, police said Wednesday, after he allegedly convinced others to pay him in exchange for getting jobs for their children at the company. Officials of the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency had the suspect, in his 60s, arrested and forwarded his case to the prosecution for fraud. He is accused of swindling a total of 500 million won ($363,000) from three acquaintances from March 2017 to January 2024, promising to

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

[Herald Interivew] Composer and conductor Yoon Han-kyeol on why 'Grium' is 'Grium'

The year 2024 has been a whirlwind of a year for Yoon Han-kyeol, winner of the 2023 Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award. The rising conductor led the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic in all-Brahms symphony concerts in May and many other performances in Europe. Earlier this month, he debuted with the Munich Philharmonic, an unexpected opportunity that he enjoyed immensely. Then, there was his debut with the ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna in August at the Salzburg Festival. Returning to the

CultureOct. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Park Sang-young aims to break taboos through his works

Novelist Park Sang-young is now a screenwriter, following the release of the television adaptation of his 2019 novel, “Love in the Big City.“ Park wrote the script for all eight episodes of the drama which explores the romantic and personal life of a young gay man in Seoul. The series was released in full on the local streaming platform Tving on Oct. 21. “As you may have guessed, it took some time to cast the actors and confirm the platform on which it will air due to the uni

TelevisionOct. 30, 2024

[Photo News] Mercedes-KERI EV charging research

Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl (right) and Kim Nam-kyun, president of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, pose for a photo during a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding in Seoul on Tuesday, during which the two agreed to set up a joint research center on EV charging systems, called the Global Interoperability Test Center. “As the electric vehicle market continues to evolve, expanding charging infrastructure and creating a standardized testing environment ar

IndustryOct. 30, 2024

Has ‘SNL Korea’ satire devolved into mere insults?

Treading precariously on the fault line of socially accepted norms, satire often becomes a source of controversy. “Saturday Night Live Korea” -- running since 2011 with a three-year break before it was rebooted in 2021 -- enjoys the distinction of being the longest-running international adaptation of the iconic US show, and is appreciated by fans for its weekly satirical commentary on current affairs. However, not everyone approves of how its subjects are satirized. In a recent case,

TelevisionOct. 30, 2024

Seoul shares snap 3-day rise on tech, battery slump

Seoul shares ended lower Monday, snapping a three-day rally as tech and battery stocks slumped due to foreign selling. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 24.01 points, or 0.92 percent, to close at 2,593.79, marking its first drop in four trading sessions. Trade volume was moderate, with 476.4 million shares worth 8.76 trillion won ($6.3 billion) changing hands, as decliners outnumbered gainers 514 to 350. Foreign investors sold a net 3

MarketOct. 30, 2024

Doctors group to vote for impeachment of embattled chief

South Korea's largest doctors' association is set to hold a vote of confidence against its controversy-ridden president, who has been at the center of controversy for his comments and actions, as well as bribery allegations. The operating committee of the Korean Medical Association held an emergency meeting Tuesday evening and decided on an assembly of representatives on Nov. 10 at 2 p.m., with a motion of no confidence in KMA chief Lim Hyun-taek included in the agenda. They will als

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Sibling leadership made official in Shinsegae Group revamp

South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group on Wednesday announced a structural revamp dividing its flagship retail business into two companies, E-Mart and Shinsegae Department Store, making official the sibling leadership that for years has formed part of the founding family’s succession plan. In an executive reshuffle, Chung Yu-kyung, president and younger daughter of Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee, was promoted to chair to lead the department store business Shinsegae Inc. Her elder brother Chun

IndustryOct. 30, 2024

Han says controversies surrounding first lady must be resolved in November

Ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon on Wednesday said that the controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee must be resolved by the end of next month, as he stressed the need to regain public trust in the conservative bloc. Han’s remarks made at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office came as a widening rift is observed within the ruling party over how to deal with multiple allegations regarding the president's wife, including her alleged involvement in

PoliticsOct. 30, 2024

From 'superstars' to 'privileged and spoiled': Doctors fight souring image

It used to be that when Park Ji-sun, a 45-year-old office worker, thought of a Korean doctor, it was the 2020 tvN drama series "Hospital Playlist" that first came to her mind. The series became an instant hit in South Korea, depicting the lives of five doctors battling to save lives together. It was so successful that it was renewed for a second season, which is rare for a Korean drama. "They were heroes with white gowns during the day, sometimes sacrificing their private lives in

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Cousin marriage ban poised to lose effect

Marriages between third cousins or closer relatives are prohibited in South Korea, with the ban enforced by nullifying the effects of such unions when they are discovered. However, the ban on consanguineous marriages within the eighth degree of kinship looks set to lose its effectiveness, as a legal article governing the annulment of such unions will expire at the end of this year, with no substitute measures drafted or prepared to date. Of the two Civil Act articles on consanguineous marriage

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2024

Seoul weighs monitoring team in Ukraine, affirms no artillery shell supply plans

South Korea on Wednesday acknowledged the need to send a "monitoring team" to the Ukraine battlefield, but it denied allegations that it was considering supplying 155 mm artillery shells upon Ukraine's request. "We are obliged to look into, analyze and monitor North Korean armed forces' activities (in the Russia-Ukraine war) while taking a defensive posture," an official of the presidential office said on condition of anonymity Wednesday. "We feel the need to create and

PoliticsOct. 30, 2024