Seoul shares open lower despite US gains

South Korean stocks started lower Tuesday despite overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) lost 12.01 points, or 0.46 percent, to 2,600.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading. U.S. stocks finished higher ahead of earnings reports of major tech firms. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.65 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.26 percent. In Seoul, market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.69 percent and its chipmaking rival SK hynix went d

MarketOct. 29, 2024

US unveils final rules to limit AI, semiconductor, other tech investments in China

The United States issued final rules Monday to curb US investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other technology sectors in China, calling them a national security measure to keep those advanced technologies away from "countries of concern." The Treasury Department unveiled the rules -- effective Jan. 2 next year -- to implement an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in August 2023, as Washington has been striving to limit China's access to critical tec

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 29, 2024

US says N. Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to eastern Russia

North Korea has sent around 10,000 troops to eastern Russia, which will likely augment Russian forces near Ukraine "over the next several weeks," a US National Security Council official said Monday, as President Joe Biden called the deployment "very dangerous." A NSC spokesperson made the remarks after North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's western front-line Kursk region --

North KoreaOct. 29, 2024

[Graphic News] ER patients with heat-related illnesses up 31%, seniors most affected

The number of heat-related emergency room patients increased by 31.4 percent this year compared to the previous year, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Between May 20 and Sept. 30, 3,704 people were treated for heat-related illnesses in ERs, marking a sharp rise from last year. This year, 34 people reportedly died from heat-related conditions, a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. The most cases occurred in 2018, with 4,526 patients, making 2024 t

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

[Grace Kao] Taking gratitude into our own hands

I received a handwritten thank-you card from my childhood friend’s daughter this week. I sent a birthday check a little while ago. I very much appreciated it, and it shows that my friend has taught her daughter well, and that her daughter has good manners. I constantly remind my students to write thank-you notes (even a simple email message). I dare not ask them to handwrite thank-you cards. However, every so often, a handwritten thank-you card will appear. It is an exceedingly rare event.

ViewpointsOct. 29, 2024

N. Korean troops may deploy to Ukraine-Russia front sooner than expected: Yoon

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Monday that North Korean troops could be deployed by Russia to the front lines against Ukraine "sooner than expected," according to the presidential office. Yoon shared intelligence on North Korea's troop deployments to Russia and discussed potential response measures during a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held at her request, the presidential office said in a statement. "The (South Korean) pres

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

FIFA President Infantino visits KFA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid a visit to the headquarters of the Korea Football Association in Seoul on Monday. Infantino arrived in South Korea earlier Monday to attend the Asian Football Confederation Annual Awards, scheduled to take place in Seoul on Tuesday evening. The KFA said this was Infantino's first visit to its office since 2017, when South Korea hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Infantino met with KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and other KFA officials. He was briefed on the c

SoccerOct. 28, 2024

Trump, Harris lean on traditional bases eight days before US vote

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- A nail-biting US presidential campaign heads into its final week Monday, with polls showing little daylight between the two candidates as they ramp up appeals to their respective bases to turn out and vote. More than 41 million Americans have already cast early ballots ahead of Election Day on November 5, in what is expected to be one of the tightest elections of modern times. Outgoing President Joe Biden will join them in casting his own vote Monday, the White House said. On

World NewsOct. 28, 2024

NATO chief says he can confirm North Korean troops are in Russia's Kursk

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Monday that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region. "The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," Rutte told reporters after NATO officials and diplomats received a briefing from a South Korean delegation. Ukrainian forces staged a major incursion into Kur

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

S. Korea to use homegrown transmission for K2 tanks

South Korea's defense authorities approved on Monday a plan to build K2 battle tanks with a homegrown transmission system, the state arms procurement agency said. Under the plan endorsed by the Defense Project Promotion Committee, K2 tanks will be equipped with a locally developed power pack, which comprises the transmission and the engine, starting from the fourth batch of production that will be built by 2028, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. "The K2 battl

DefenseOct. 28, 2024

Yoon's foreign policy adviser visits Australia for frigate project

President Yoon Suk Yeol's foreign policy adviser, Chang Ho-jin, visited Australia on Monday to ask the country to allow South Korean firms to participate in its frigate project, Yoon's office said. In February this year, Australia announced a plan to acquire 11 new frigates for its Navy, with South Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish vessels being mentioned as candidates. On the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos early this month, President Yoon met Australian Prime Minister An

PoliticsOct. 28, 2024

Chinese provincial govt. officials in S. Korea amid push for improvement in bilateral ties

A Chinese delegation of mid-level provincial government officials is visiting South Korea this week as part of efforts to boost cooperation and exchanges between the two neighboring countries, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. The delegation, made up of foreign affairs officials representing 16 provincial governments, including the Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces, will begin a five-day visit to Seoul and other regions Monday, the ministry said in a release.

Foreign AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Police crack down on fake police uniforms during Halloween celebrations

Police said Monday they are intensively cracking down on the sale and wearing of police officer costumes during the Halloween celebrations. The police have been strengthening online monitoring to prevent the indiscriminate distribution and use of fake police uniforms and equipment since last Friday, the Korean National Police Agency said, adding the crackdown continues for two weeks before and after Halloween until Nov. 3. The KNPA said 54 major online retailers and second-hand transaction platf

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Watchdog finds denial of space rental for LGBT festival infringes on right to equality

The national human rights watchdog determined Monday that denying rental spaces for a festival for sexual minorities on the grounds of potential conflicts with opposition groups constitutes a discriminatory act. The National Human Rights Commission issued the decision against the Seoul Museum of History and the Seoul city government's public activities support center after they refused to rent their spaces for this year's Seoul Queer Culture Festival, the biggest local festival for les

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

[Contribution] Advancing justice for the DPRK's human rights abuses

Ten years after the release of the groundbreaking United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which concluded that the regime is committing crimes against humanity, we traveled to the Republic of Korea (South Korea's official name) to meet with victims and survivors, ROK government officials and activists. Our goal was to promote justice and accountability for those responsible for the widespread and systematic abuses

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

Teen charged in deadly assault of senior citizen in family dispute

A 15-year-old boy is being investigated for assaulting a senior citizen and causing his death. The Muan Police Station in South Jeolla Province said it is investigating the middle school student for death resulting from violence, punishable by up to three years in prison. The suspect is accused of using fatal violence against a neighbor in his 70s at around 5:40 p.m. on Oct. 13. The suspect told police that he punched the victim when he saw him arguing with his mother. The victim fell to the gro

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook logs record 2 billion Spotify streams

Jungkook of BTS surpassed 2 billion plays on Spotify with single “Seven (feat. Latto),” according to the platform. The solo single reached the milestone in 467 days, which is both a new record for an Asian artist and the fourth shortest time globally. It also dethroned Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” the previous holder of the record for a song released last year. Jungkook has been breaking multiple records on the music platform as a solo artist and most recently, became

K-popOct. 28, 2024

After 3-year hiatus, JTI Korea reenters e-cigarette market

Japan's JTI is reentering South Korea's heated tobacco market with a new product, Ploom X Advanced, in a renewed growth push. "We understand Korea's market is highly competitive, but we believe now is the ideal time to introduce our product," JTI Korea general manager David Wheeler said at the launch of the new product at a Seoul hotel on Monday. "As we are standing in a rapidly evolving market, it's crucial to develop products to an advanced level with top qua

IndustryOct. 28, 2024

Song Kang-ho plays unfortunate volleyball coach in ‘One Win’

In the upcoming sports movie “One Win” Song Kang-ho depicts a down-and-out coach who, despite a life miserable with continued failures, is betting on a single win. “One Win” was written and directed by Shin Yeon-sik, who Song worked with in the recent Disney+ drama “Uncle Samsik.” The movie revolves around Woo-jin, a volleyball coach who has never won before and players who have no idea how to win a game. As a team, however, they head toward their mutual goal

FilmOct. 28, 2024