Yoon's office reviews economic impact of Israel's attack on Iran, safety of S. Koreans in Middle East

SEOUL, Oct. 27-- South Korea's presidential office on Sunday held a meeting to discuss the economic impact of Israel's recent attack on Iran, and measures to protect and evacuate its nationals in the Middle East in the event of an emergency. Early Saturday, Israel's military conducted strikes against various targets in Iran, including missile manufacturing facilities, in response to Iran's missile attack earlier this month, according to foreign media reports. The office of

PoliticsOct. 27, 2024

[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+

A large crowd attends a rally organized by an ad hoc committee comprising the Communion of Churches in Korea and Protestant groups at Seoul Plaza on Sunday afternoon. The rally, which was against antidiscrimination legislation and the legalization of same-sex marriage, also convened at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Station and Yeouido. The organizers claim "over a million" participated in the rally across all locations while the police estimate was 120,000. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders

Controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee are likely to top the agenda at the upcoming second meeting between the leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, observers said Sunday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung recently agreed to hold a second round of talks, following up on their first official meeting in early September. The date for the second meeting, however, is yet to be announced. The agreeme

PoliticsOct. 27, 2024

Govt. plans to unveil road map to tackle low birth rate, aging population

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration plans to unveil a population strategy road map next year, coinciding with the launch of a new ministry dedicated to addressing South Korea’s declining birth rate and rapidly aging population, the presidential office announced Sunday. You Hye-mi, senior presidential secretary for low birth rate issues, underscored the initiative, noting that "with the establishment of the ministry of population strategy and planning, defining the ministry’s vision

PoliticsOct. 27, 2024

K-Respect campaign launches in US

The “K-Respect” campaign, launched by Seoul-based civic group Sunfull Foundation to promote respect for all cultures, has reached the United States, bringing Korean and US leaders together at two recent events. The first event, held at the Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on Oct. 18, saw the US university’s faculty members, officials and alums gather to mark the campaign’s first declaration in the US. Joan Phillips-Hernandez, dean of the NIU's College of Busi

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

SK chief assumes leadership of APEC CEO Summit

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who doubles as chair of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will preside over the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the largest gathering of business leaders in the region which is to be held next year in Korea, the business lobby said Sunday, upon the launch of the preparatory committee of the upcoming event. The APEC CEO Summit will be held on the sidelines of the annual APEC Summit, where 21 heads of state and some 1,000 businesspeople join. Gye

IndustryOct. 27, 2024

4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data

Young South Koreans entering the workforce increasingly find themselves taking on "irregular" jobs -- positions that fall outside traditional full-time employment, the latest government data shows. Four out of 10 workers aged 15-29, primarily first-time, entry-level job seekers, now hold irregular positions, marking the highest level since the government began tracking these statistics in 2003, Statistics Korea reported Sunday. Irregular employment encompasses a broad category of nonst

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

[From the scene] KGC's ginseng harvest season in full swing

ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province/WONJU, Gangwon Province – On an autumn morning in October, a bustling ginseng harvest was underway in the ginseng fields of Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Workers were busy sorting ginseng unearthed by tractors, as roots that had been buried for years finally surfaced, ready for the season’s harvest, which is between September and November. Kim Il-bong, 65, whose family has managed these ginseng fields for three generations, said he has been exclusively partnere

IndustryOct. 27, 2024

Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone

Growing indications suggest that North Korean troops are on the brink of deployment to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, as North Korean soldiers have reportedly arrived in Russia's Kursk region, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have been battling for control of key strategic border location. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Russia is expected to deploy the first contingent of North Korean soldiers to combat zones as early as Sunday and Monday, based on an

Foreign AffairsOct. 27, 2024

Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal

Rose’s hit single “Apt.,” featuring Bruno Mars, may signal a new direction for K-pop’s global reach as it dominates streaming charts worldwide. Music critics describe the song as “intuitive” with a strong hook, appealing to listeners of all ages. According to The Black Label, Rose’s agency, on Friday, the chart-topping single surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify within seven days of its release. This marks the fastest such achievement for a female K-

K-popOct. 27, 2024

[Photo News] Passion for motorsports

Hyundai Motor and Toyota -- two of the world's largest automakers -- organized the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at the Everland Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. The two companies said they aimed to offer an event to delight motorsports fans. The event featured driving performances by professional racers, an exhibition of high-performance vehicles from the two brands and opportunities to ride along on the racing track. In this photo, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Ch

MobilityOct. 27, 2024

Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability

Thousands of people, including grieving families, gathered Saturday at Seoul Plaza to commemorate the second anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush, a tragedy that claimed 159 lives -- most of them young adults -- during Halloween celebrations on October 29, 2022. Organized by the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Bereaved Families Committee and estimated to have drawn around 5,000 participants, the ceremony began at 6:34 p.m., the exact time of the first emergency call from Itaewon that night, hours befor

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

Lee Jae-myung's push to bring junior doctors to talks falls short

Despite the main opposition’s bid to break the medical impasse, Saturday’s closed-door meeting between the Democratic Party of Korea leader and the junior doctors’ representative failed to secure key stakeholders' backing for a proposed four-way consultative body. The bipartisan consultative body, designed to bring together the Yoon administration, ruling and main opposition parties, and the medical community, has been touted as a possible tool for resolving the continue

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program

Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries -- Korea’s two leading shipbuilders under conglomerates Hanwha Group and HD Hyundai, respectively -- are ramping up their efforts to win a $2.7 billion submarine procurement contract from Poland. According to HD Hyundai, Tomasz Szubrycht, commandant of the Polish Naval Academy, visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard on Thursday to assess the shipbuilder’s latest submarines and related technologies. HD Hyundai presented a

CompaniesOct. 27, 2024

Posco completes Argentina’s first lithium hydroxide plant

Posco Holdings announced Sunday it has completed the first phase of its lithium hydroxide plant in Argentina, a key step in securing a stable supply of the key material for electric vehicle batteries. Located in Guemes, Argentina, the plant will produce 25,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually, sourced from the lithium-rich Hombre Muerto salt flat, where Posco holds mining rights. The output is enough to power 600,000 EVs, making it the largest brine lithium facility operated by a single compan

CompaniesOct. 27, 2024

4 middle schoolers booked for producing deepfake porn of classmates

Four middle school students in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, have been booked by the police for producing, possessing and distributing deepfake pornography, according to Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency. Police officials confirmed on Saturday that two of the four individuals are suspected of using photos of their female classmates to create sexually explicit deepfake content since November 2023. The two students are additionally charged with possession of the deepfakes and sharing them wi

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2024

SM founder Lee Soo-man is back with A2O Entertainment

K-pop pioneer Lee Soo-man, founder and former chief producer of SM Entertainment, is throwing his hat back in the ring. A2O Entertainment, Lee's newest agency, recently unveiled a one-minute promotional clip on its official YouTube channel, showcasing 15 trainees organized into three distinct groups by age and gender. A2O Entertainment positions itself as a collaborative global artist development platform where trainees are taught in these groups. “Throughout their training, the rooki

K-popOct. 27, 2024

[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'

Southeast Asia's largest streaming platform Viu's original "Secret Ingredient" is an adventurous attempt. The series, which Viu labels a regional drama series, is a unique collaboration between a number of countries, featuring a Filipina showrunner, Korean director and a Korean writer as well as Korean, Filipino and Indonesian actors. The six-part romantic comedy follows Ha-joon, played by Lee Sang-heon from Netflix's hit high-teen romance series "XO Kitty," as

TelevisionOct. 27, 2024

Korean War memorial installed at Georgia museum to honor troops' sacrifices, cherish alliance

A new Korean War memorial opened at a high-profile museum in Georgia earlier this week to commemorate allied troops' sacrifices and their spirit that underpins the evolving alliance between South Korea and the United States, Seoul officials said Saturday. The National Infantry Museum Foundation hosted a dedication ceremony for the Korean War Memorial at the museum in Columbus on Thursday, with the attendance of some 200 people, including veterans of the 1950-53 conflict and their families

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 27, 2024

[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years

Incheon Airport witnessed a heartfelt reunion on Friday afternoon as Darragh Hannan and Jee Won Ha, sisters separated at birth and raised worlds apart, met face-to-face for the first time. The two, adopted as infants—Hannan in the US and Ha in Belgium—recently discovered their full sibling connection through a MyHeritage DNA test, sparking this life-changing encounter. Hannan, adopted in Minnesota shortly after her birth in 1986, grew up in a loving and supportive home. Ha, on the

Social AffairsOct. 26, 2024