[From the Scene] Anti-LGBTQ+ rally exposes divide

It was almost 2 p.m., churchgoers descended on Seoul Plaza and the crowds were growing by the minute. A buoyant mood took over as a pastor announced the start of the Sunday service in the plaza, part of planned worship gatherings spanning from Gwanghwamun Square to Seoul Station, as well as around Yeouido Park. The rallies across the capital were organized by conservative Protestant groups led by the Communion of Churches in Korea, one of Korea’s four biggest ecumenical Protestant groups.

CultureOct. 29, 2024

Painter Hwang In-ran's exhibition at Art Cube 2R2 shows abyss, solitude

Painter Hwang In-ran has unveiled new paintings that feature meticulous brush strokes with repetitive and layered lines. Her solo exhibition “Abyss at Noon: Beatrice of Silence” reveals the artist’s solitude and silence. Hwang's acrylic paintings at the exhibition are based on the artist's meditative imagery, some of which show images of flowers, birds and a woman. The exhibition kicked off on Oct. 24, running through Nov. 28 at the Art Cube 2R2 in Gangnam-gu, souther

Arts & DesignOct. 29, 2024

[Herald Review] How musical ‘Kinky Boots’ became stronger than ever, 10 years on

When “Kinky Boots” returned in July 2022 for its fifth run, the lively musical gave audience members a much-needed chance to release their pent-up desires with cheers and shouting -- perhaps for the first time since the pandemic. In comparison, the sixth run -- which also marks the show’s 10th anniversary -- is best described as “record-breaking.” It is a record-breaking in many aspects: from audience numbers and the volume of their cheers to the number of participa

CultureOct. 29, 2024

[KH Explains] How LG Energy Solution’s bold bet paid off with Tesla, Mercedes deals

Cylindrical 4680 batteries, named for their 46-millimeter diameter and 80-millimeter height, are hailed as a pivotal advanced battery technology in electric vehicles due to enhanced energy storage capacity and power output. Tesla, a trailblazer in the EV industry, gained acclaim with its affordable electric vehicles powered by these cost-effective small batteries, comparable in size to the AA batteries used in handheld devices. To produce bigger cylindrical cells that allow higher productivity

MobilityOct. 29, 2024

Seminar stresses arbitration's role in ending private equity disputes

Arbitration can be a powerful tool to resolve the rising number of disputes related to private equity investments, according to a seminar jointly hosted by leading law firms from South Korea and the US. Kim & Chang, South Korea’s leading law firm, and US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP held a joint seminar on arbitrating private equity disputes in southern Seoul on Monday. The event kicked off with lawyer Jeffrey Sullivan from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP explaining how private e

IndustryOct. 29, 2024

Seoul shares up for 3rd day led by Samsung

South Korean stocks rose for three straight sessions Tuesday as the robust performance of top-cap Samsung Electronics offset losses from battery and auto shares. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) gained 5.37 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,617.8, extending its winning streak for the third consecutive session. Trade volume was slim at 335.2 million shares worth 9.1 trillion won ($6.56 billion), with decliners beating gainers 441 t

MarketOct. 29, 2024

Korea downplays impact of US investment ban on Chinese tech

Korean authorities expect the United States’ decision to ban outbound investments in artificial intelligence and other technology sectors in China to have a limited impact on South Korea's economy. On Monday, the Biden administration said it finalized rules that will bar US funds from flowing into Chinese technology such as quantum information technologies, AI systems and advanced microelectronics due to national security concerns. The new rules, directed by an executive order signed

EconomyOct. 29, 2024

Hyundai, rival carmakers urge US to delay Chinese tech ban

Global automakers, including Hyundai Motor, Toyota and General Motors, are urging the US government to delay new restrictions on Chinese-made parts used in connected vehicles. The proposed regulations, which aim to limit Chinese and Russian components in vehicles with advanced communication and autonomous driving features, are raising concerns not only among automakers but also from Mexico, where many companies affected by the rules have invested in production facilities. According to Reuters on

MobilityOct. 29, 2024

Why Kia’s first pickup isn't debuting in US

Kia’s first-ever pickup, the Tasman, is unlikely to debut in the US, the world’s largest pickup truck market, largely due to lower profitability amid protectionist policies there. “We do not have plans to sell the Tasman pickups in the US because of the hefty tariffs imposed on Korea-made pickups under the free trade agreement between the two nations,” a Kia official told The Korea Herald at the Tasman’s media unveiling event in Seoul on Monday. The official also

MobilityOct. 29, 2024

NIS says North Korean leader’s daughter clearly in line to rule

The South Korean intelligence agency said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter Kim Ju-ae appears to be on a rising path to power. Citing the National Intelligence Service, Rep. Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea told reporters there are growing signs suggesting a “clear elevation of Ju-ae’s status.” He was briefed on North Korea affairs by the NIS as vice chair of the National Assembly intelligence committee. The NIS said Kim&

PoliticsOct. 29, 2024

Selected NK troops, generals may be deployed to front lines: NIS

A contingent of North Korean troops, including high-ranking generals, deployed to Russia may now be positioned on the front lines of the Ukraine war, South Korea’s spy agency reported Tuesday, adding that the Kim Jong-un regime appears to be clamping down on information about the troop dispatch internationally. "Troop movements between Russia and North Korea have been assessed as underway, with the agency examining the potential relocation of certain personnel, including high-ranking

Foreign AffairsOct. 29, 2024

Government mulls over allowing unis to approve medical students' leave

In response to increasing demands from national medical schools, the government is reportedly reconsidering its stance on granting universities the autonomy to approve medical students' leave of absence requests. This comes as a potential solution to the monthslong standoff over medical school enrollments following protests against the government's plan to expand the medical school quota. Sources within the education sector revealed Tuesday that the presidents of national universities

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

'Pongpongnam' row exposes South Korea's gender divide

While expressing disparagement of the opposite sex in a show of hatred has long ailed South Korea, the severe gender conflict took a turn for the worse after a cartoon recently came under fire for misogyny. The three-story webtoon, "Pong Pong Man From Another World," uploaded to Naver Webtoon last month, is a story that revolves around a 39-year-old man named Park Dong-soo who faces a series of hardships after witnessing his wife's affair, which later leads him to question his pla

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

S. Korea marks 2nd anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his condolences as South Korea on Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush that claimed 159 lives in October 2022. "Today marks the second anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy," Yoon said at a Cabinet meeting he presided over at his office. "I feel sorry for those who tragically lost their lives and I express my condolences for the bereaved families who live in sorrow." Yoon said that making people feel safe in everyday

PoliticsOct. 29, 2024

Hanon Systems to build 1st electric compressor plant in North America

Hanon Systems, a Korean automotive thermal management supplier, announced plans to build a new manufacturing plant for electric compressors in Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday to cope with growing demand from global automakers. The new plant will mark the company’s first North American facility to produce electric scroll compressors, which are essential components for thermal management in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Hanon Systems will invest $111 million in the new plant to produce u

CompaniesOct. 29, 2024

Hankook Tire uses carbon black for sustainable production

Hankook Tire announced on Tuesday that it has incorporated three types of carbon black, a byproduct of the combustion of various petroleum products, into tire production as part of its efforts to create a circular economy. Last year, Hankook Tire launched the Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model consortium together with HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai OCI to upcycle waste tires and develop carbon black. HD Hyundai Oilbank sources recovered carbon and pyrolysis oil, or bio-oil, from end-of-life

IndustryOct. 29, 2024

Fitness center rejecting senior citizen is age discrimination: rights commission

A fitness center’s rejection of the annual membership application of a 68-year-old senior citizen is an act of age discrimination, the state human rights commission stated Tuesday. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea announced that it had recommended the fitness center, which was not named, to revise its internal policies that prevent seniors aged 65 and older from obtaining annual gym memberships. The complainant had been using the club for the past 5 years by purchasing one-tim

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

Seoul City to spend W6.7tr to encourage couples to have kids

The Seoul city government will spend 6.7 trillion won ($4.9 billion) from 2025 to 2026 to financially help residents raise children, city officials said Tuesday. The city government said it was expanding an existing childbirth encouragement project launched in February as part of efforts to increase the country's low birth rate. The earlier version of the project took a comprehensive approach to supporting caregivers by providing financial assistance for infertility treatments across all in

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

Innocean hosts 2024 Partners Day for shared growth

Innocean, a South Korean marketing agency affiliated with Hyundai Motor Group, held its annual Partners Day event Tuesday. The event, which brought together around 180 executives and employees from partner firms, provided a platform for open dialogue and strategic discussions on shared growth, according to the company. This year’s gathering featured presentations on Innocean’s collaborative initiatives and introduced a range of new programs aimed at enhancing partner capabilities. Th

CompaniesOct. 29, 2024

Asia-Pacific tax chiefs gather in Seoul to bolster cooperation

The Asia-Pacific region’s largest annual tax administration meeting launched Tuesday in Seoul, bringing together top tax officials from 18 countries to advance tax administration and bolster international cooperation. The 53rd annual meeting of the Study Group on Asia-Pacific Tax Administration and Research opened at Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, hosted by South Korea's National Tax Agency. This is the fourth time Korea has hosted this gathering, and the first since 2013. Around 180

EconomyOct. 29, 2024