Most Popular
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Yoon warns North Korea against nuclear attack attempt
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81-year-old model awarded ‘best dressed’ in Miss Universe Korea
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Seoul mayor suggests shift in immigration policy
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'Smart pill'? ADHD treatment prescriptions spike this year
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NewJeans fans corner Hybe amid PR backlash, looming National Assembly audit
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[KH Explains] Korea pursues ‘fire-free’ batteries amid EV fears
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Man calls 119, found dead 1 week later because officials went to wrong place
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Court rules Itaewon tragedy was 'foreseeable'
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[Herald Review] One of Netflix's most expensive Korean originals returns, but at what cost?
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Wellness Seoul 2024 to highlight healthier, balanced living
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LG Chem gains upper hand in lithium battery race
Battery-maker LG Chem said Wednesday that it has inked a deal with the world’s largest energy storage system company AES Energy to supply its lithium-ion battery modules. The ESS is considered a lucrative business and the battery units of Samsung and LG groups are fiercely seeking to gain an upper hand in the global market. LG Chem’s battery module for the energy storage system. (LG Chem)LG’s latest supply deal is the biggest of its kind in terms of its scale. The maximum battery capacity, accor
TechnologyDec. 16, 2015
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Doosan chairman backpedals on layoffs
Doosan Group chairman Park Yong-maan has ordered Doosan Infracore, the industrial conglomerate’s second-largest affiliate, to exclude junior employees from the company-wide voluntary retirement scheme that has been drawing public criticism. “I have ordered the affiliate to set up a protective mechanism for new employees (with 1-2 year work experience),” Park told reporters in Seoul on Wednesday. “Though (Doosan Infracore) is facing severe financial strains, new employees will not be subject to t
IndustryDec. 16, 2015
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Gas prices still high despite oil price drop
Lee Tae-hoon, a 33-year-old office worker who lives in eastern Seoul, keeps hearing news that global oil prices have reached record lows. Lee, who drives his car to and from his office every day, had hoped that the major cooldown in global crude oil prices would be reflected in local gasoline prices. Yet, Lee says regular gasoline prices near his home in Jamsil have stood at around 1,450 won ($1.23) per liter now, which “seems to reflect only a minor drop in prices compared to other countries l
IndustryDec. 16, 2015
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Sewol hearing highlights lackluster rescue
A three-day hearing on matters related to last year’s ferry sinking wrapped up Wednesday with the fact-finding committee stressing a lack of sufficient rescue efforts, men in charge dodging responsibility and suspicions left unanswered.The hearing focused mainly on the rescue efforts taken by the now-defunct Korea Coast Guard, Maritime Ministry and other related government officials in the face of Sewol’s sinking, which left 304 dead or missing in April 2014. The five committee members recommend
Social AffairsDec. 16, 2015
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Lockheed to take over KF-16 upgrade
The government Wednesday picked U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin as the new contractor for its project to renovate the aviation electronic systems of KF-16 fighters that has sat dormant for months due to demands for a cost hike by a previous partner. Under the 1.84 trillion won ($1.58 billion) program, the Maryland-based company will exchange and upgrade the radar, armament and other integrated electronic systems of 134 KF-16s currently operated by South Korea’s Air Force. During a defense acq
DefenseDec. 16, 2015
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Seoul book club hosts four Korean writers
The Seoul Book and Culture Club will be hosting an event with four writers who will be introducing their newly released bilingual novellas to English-speaking readers. At the event, Korean literature blogger and translation professor Charles Montgomery will be talking with the authors, whose books are part of Asia Publishers’ K-Literature series.The best-known of the four is Lee Ki-ho, author of “At Least We Can Apologize“ and “So Far and Yet So Near,” both of which are also available in English
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Speaker rejects Blue House calls to put bills to vote
The National Assembly’s speaker Wednesday rejected Cheong Wa Dae’s demand to call a vote for contentious pending bills that President Park Geun-hye has been urging the legislative body to push through as soon as possible. However, Speaker Chung Ui-hwa reiterated that he would use his authority to call a vote on a bill that would determine new rules for next year’s general election unless the rival parties’ lawmakers reached an agreement by the end of this year. His remark came as President Par
PoliticsDec. 16, 2015
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Multicultural theater releases album based on in-house musical
Multicultural theater Salad released Friday an album of songs from a musical it produced.The album, “Ara & Jjimin,” features songs from the musical of the same name, about a second-generation Mongolian girl, a Vietnamese immigrant and their experiences with Korean teachers and students in preparing for a national music competition.The songs were composed by Gil Hizon, musical director and conductor for the Philippine Hyehwa-dong Catholic Church, with the scripts and lyrics penned by Korean write
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Beer brewing class offered in Busan
Galmegi Brewing will be hosting a homebrewing class in Gwangan, Busan, on Sunday.At the second in a series of brewing classes, participants will learn how to make an oatmeal stout.The cost to attend will be 30,000 won and includes instruction, recipes and samples. It also includes 2 liters of the bottled beer made in the class, available for pickup a month later. The proceeds will go toward paying for the facility, the ingredients and the bottles. The class, which will be in English, starts at 2
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Seoul Global Center offers volunteer training
Seoul Global Center will be holding training sessions for volunteers this Friday and Saturday.The center runs a volunteering program with several activities each month that foreign residents can join.The volunteering schedule changes each month, but activities typically include visits to centers for the elderly and underprivileged children, as well as helping out with center activities, such as concerts, flea markets and job fairs.Friday’s training session will be led by art therapist Lee Na-ri
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Gwangju expat center to host year-end event
Gwangju International Center will be hosting a year-end gathering to look back on the year this weekend.In addition to a review of what the center has done in 2015, there will be a quiz and raffle, musical performances and an awards ceremony for GIC members who have made contributions to the community over the years.This will be followed by a potluck party. Those who bring their own mugs will be given a free soft drink. Drinks otherwise cost 1,000 won, and are the only thing charged for.The even
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Expat performers to put on Christmas show
Expat performers will be gathering in Haebangchon, Seoul, for a Christmas show of comedy, music and acting.Performances will include those from improvised comedy troupe Seoul City Improv, who will perform based on audience suggestions. Members of the Camarata Music Company will perform carols, and Stand Up Seoul will provide wry comments on the year gone by. The shows will be at the Camarata Music Company Studio.Admission is 10,000 won, including two drinks. Doors open at 8 p.m., with performanc
Expat LivingDec. 16, 2015
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Oil price lower than bottled water
The pretax price of gasoline per liter fell to 522 won (44 cents) this month, lower than that of bottled water, largely due to the continuous drop in international crude oil prices, officials said Wednesday.According to Opinet of the Korea National Oil Corp., the price of gasoline before tax took a dive to 522 won on average this month, a 27 percent drop from a year ago and 44 percent lower than the same month in 2013. (Yonhap)The price is comparable to that of a half-liter bottle of water, sold
IndustryDec. 16, 2015
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Romantic year-end dates, without the crowds
During the holidays, the hustle and bustle of Seoul make the city far from a winter wonderland. People shuffle down Gangnam sidewalks in single file, get swept into the swarms of people in Myeong-dong, or squeeze into cable cars on the way up to Namsan Tower. In restaurants, couples are likely to bump elbows with those dining at the next table. For those looking for a way to stay in Seoul yet get away from the maddening crowds for a romantic night out, The Korea Herald offers some ideas. Cine de
CultureDec. 16, 2015
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Oversupply feared for casino resort industry
With the South Korean government pushing to issue two new licenses for integrated complexes of foreigner-only casinos, voices of concern are rising over a potential surplus in the industry already hit by a global economic slowdown, China’s anticorruption drive and unstable demand.“As there are already two integrated resorts being constructed in the metropolitan region, an additional establishment would have a great chance of resulting in excess supply,” said Pyo Hak K., an honorary professor of
Dec. 16, 2015
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BOK to target 2% inflation
The Bank of Korea on Wednesday set the inflation target for the next three years at 2 percent, as the economy braces for a future of low growth and lower price levels. The annual target for the 2016-2018 period is higher than this year’s projected inflation of 0.7 percent. The rise in consumer prices stayed below 1 percent for 11 months this year until November, when it reported an uptick to a 1 percent gain from a year ago. In October, the central bank projected next year’s inflation rate at 1.
Dec. 16, 2015
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In new show, stars look after unusual pets
Eight male celebrities of varying age, background, and experience with animals are rolling up their sleeves to take care of other people’s pets in the new JTBC entertainment show “Mari & I.”“It’s a story about communication between animals and people,” producer Kim No-eun told press at the Stanford Hotel Seoul on Tuesday. “Since they can’t speak to each other, they have to express themselves with their bodies and hearts. I think our viewers will get to see a very different side to our cast membe
TelevisionDec. 16, 2015
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Sculpture unveiled to mark International Migrants Day
Seoul City and the International Organization for Migration installed a sculpture work in Seoul Plaza to mark International Migrants Day, slated for Friday, officials said Wednesday. Titled “My Migrant Neighbor,” the large sculpture representing three multicultural siblings offers distinguished looks through different angles, delivering a message of importance of embracing diverse cultures, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. This is part of the IOM’s campaign to raise awareness of the migra
Social AffairsDec. 16, 2015
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Union group stages strike to protest labor reforms
By Ock Hyun-ju South Korea’s second-largest umbrella labor union held a partial strike nationwide Wednesday in protest of the government’s push for labor market reform.The third partial strike of the year by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions was staged for two to four hours in the afternoon in 12 cities ahead of the third antigovernment rally scheduled for this weekend.The KCTU, which encompasses 2,043 unions and more than 691,000 members from sectors including construction, public transpo
Social AffairsDec. 16, 2015