YouTuber who attacked Ive, BTS members denies defamation accusation

A 35-year-old YouTuber who posted multiple videos about top K-pop stars denied accusations of defamation in a court hearing Monday. The lawyer of the defendant, surnamed Park, told the Incheon District Court that she admits to making the videos but denies the charges of defamation and insult she had been indicted with. Park claimed that the relevant statements in her videos were a mere expression of her personal opinion, and that her actions does not constitute defamation as she truly believed

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

Young Seoulite’s love, friendships explored in ‘Love in the Big City’

When it was published in 2019, “Love in the Big City” gained popularity for its refreshingly frank portrayal of Seoul’s queer scene, gaining international recognition when it made the International Booker Prize longlist in 2022. Now Park Sang-young’s bestseller has been adapted as a movie following the friendship of two young Seoulites: Jae-hee and Heung-soo, who know and understand each other better than anyone else -- even themselves. Kim Go-eun, who impressed critics a

FilmSept. 2, 2024

Man dies in fire he started in 'gaming center' after apparently losing money

South Korean police said Monday they plan to forward to prosecutors the case of a suspected arson that occurred Sunday at a gaming center, which testimonies suggest was due to the suspect's anger after losing money. Officials will not request criminal charges against the suspect, as he perished in the fire that left four others injured and resulted in 12.4 million won ($9,250) of damage to the facility. The suspect, identified only as a Chinese national in his 60s, is believed to have set

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

[Photo News] Kia EV center in Ecuador

Kia inaugurated the Kia E-Ground in Quito, Ecuador, on Monday to boost its position as a leading electric vehicle brand in Latin America. The 1,420-square-meter center features three thematic zones -- Planet, Energy and Mobility -- where visitors can explore Kia’s sustainability initiatives, cutting-edge EV technology and future mobility solutions. Highlights include an ocean cleanup virtual reality game, an EV driving simulator and displays of Kia's E-GMP platform. As Ecuador ranks

MobilitySept. 2, 2024

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck to drop new album

Singer-songwriter Lee Juck, known for his warm lyrics and melodies, is releasing a new album after four years. The album "I Hate Alcohol" will be released at the end of September, according to Lee Juck's agency Music Farm Entertainment. His sixth studio album "Trace" was released in 2020. The album release will be followed by a concert entitled "Lee Juck's Songs" taking place Oct. 17 to 20 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

CultureSept. 2, 2024

[Test Drive] Chevy’s new Colorado offers smooth ride as all-around truck

The all-new Colorado, the latest generation of the Chevrolet’s pickup truck, has returned as a well-rounded off-roader featuring an impressive powertrain and unexpectedly comfortable driving experience. The Korea Herald checked out the newly launched American pickup in a recent test drive including both on- and off-road courses in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Measuring 5,410 millimeters in length, 1,905 mm in width and 1,810 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,337 mm, the new Colorado looke

MobilitySept. 2, 2024

DDP lights up for annual media art festival

Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung-gu, central Seoul, is celebrating the return of fall with an annual media art festival that garnered over a million visitors last year. Seoul Light DDP, a media art festival jointly hosted and organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Design Foundation, showcases media artworks by projecting them onto the 222-meter-long exterior of the city's landmark with spaceship-like architecture. This year’s festival, which runs through Sunday, celeb

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

43% of Koreans aged 20-49 do not plan to have kids: survey

Nearly 43 percent of South Korean nationals between ages 20 and 49 do not plan to have children, though a substantial number of respondents said they would consider changing their minds if government policies and corporate support for it were significantly expanded, a survey showed. The Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future on Sunday revealed the results of its survey of 2,000 Korean nationals, including singles and couples both with and without children. Some 42.6 percent said they h

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

Tickets for premium seats in Busan Fireworks Festival available from Monday

Busan city government will open sales for the 19th Busan Fireworks Festival at 2 p.m. on Monday. Tickets for the event, set for Nov. 9, will be available through Yest24 Ticket's website and the mobile banking application of BNK Busan Bank. The festival, which takes place annually around Busan’s landmark Gwangan Bridge, draws about a million people to Gwangalli Beach every year to see the 1-hour firework show. The premium seats will be installed on the shore in front of Homers Hotel

TravelSept. 2, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Disclosure of EV battery manufacturer info, national power grid expansion

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act Proposed by Rep. Park Sang-hyuk (Democratic Party of Korea) ● Although corporate directors have a duty of loyalty toward their company, they have no legal obligations toward their shareholders. Therefore, to protect shareholders from the decisions of directors, this bill imposes a duty of fairness on directors. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Motor Vehicle Management Act Proposed by Rep. Han Jeoung-ae (Democratic Party of Korea) ●

PoliticsSept. 2, 2024

Mongolia hopes for summit with S. Korea: Mongolian presidential chief of staff

Mongolia hopes for a bilateral summit with South Korea with the leaders of the two countries paving the way to improve ties for the future, according to Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, Chief of Staff to the Mongolian President. During a breakfast meeting at the 2nd Korea-Mongolia Vision Strategy Forum, hosted by Herald Corp. — publisher of The Korea Herald and Herald Business — and the Ahnsei Foundation at the Novotel in Ulaanbaatar on Aug. 27, Zandanshatar stated, "We planned two su

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

Health minister seeks to soothe concerns over hospital emergency rooms

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Monday tried to soothe concerns about hospital emergency rooms, as some doctors have warned of a potential disruption of emergency care due to a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors. "Although there are some difficulties, we believe that emergency rooms are capable of maintaining operations," Cho told an SBS radio. "The issues extend beyond emergency rooms to follow-up treatments, which were present even before the walkout by the medical community,

PoliticsSept. 2, 2024

Seoul shares open lower on large cap losses

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday with most large caps in negative terrain. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 7.73 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,666.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index had dipped more than 1 percent Thursday on reports of worse-than-anticipated performance by artificial intelligence giant Nvidia, before slightly rebounding on bargain hunting the following day. US stocks closed higher Friday on growing hopes of a US rate cut, with the US Fede

MarketSept. 2, 2024

Experts call for innovation in content retail, seasons format for K-dramas

The K-drama industry must improve its overseas retail strategies and adopt seasonal formats to become an IP powerhouse, according to media experts. During "Korea In View," a series of talk sessions held Thursday as a part of Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) 2024, the chief researcher at Export-Import Bank of Korea remarked that Korea currently suffers from its content being stockpiled. Broadcast Worldwide (BCWW) 2024 is an annual gathering of global broadcasters. "It's true that K-

TelevisionSept. 2, 2024

[Graphic News] Kyochon tops brand rankings for chicken franchises

Recent data from the Korea Fair Trade Commission showed that franchises had grown to account for over 70 percent of the local fried chicken market. According to a recent big data analysis by Rankify, Kyochon Chicken claimed the leading position in the brand index rankings for South Korean chicken franchises, earning 20,135 points. Goobne Chicken followed in second place with 11,110 points. BHC Chicken secured third place, with 60Gye Chicken in fourth and Norang Tongdak rounding out the top fiv

Social AffairsSept. 2, 2024

[Jean Pisani-Ferry] What is needed to awaken Europe?

The European Union is facing three major crises. The first is a competitiveness crisis that was already apparent in the late 2010s but has worsened, leading to lackluster productivity and growth performance. More recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created a security crisis that is compounded by the bloc’s deteriorating relationship with China. The war also triggered an energy crisis that puts Europe at a disadvantage relative to its major competitors, the United States and China.

ViewpointsSept. 2, 2024

[Yoo Choon-sik] Rising housing prices in Seoul and trust in policy

An efficient economic policy is not necessarily one that simply achieves its intended goal regardless of side effects, but rather one that economic players trust, believing it was based on a correct assessment of the situation and expected effects from the policy. Measured against this criterion, South Korea’s recent policies and top officials' comments on rising house prices in the capital area fall short of being efficient -- not because they will fail to curb housing prices, but be

ViewpointsSept. 2, 2024

[Photo News] Art-dining performance by Han River

CultureSept. 1, 2024

S. Korea, Japan in last-minute arrangements for visit by PM Kishida: presidential office

South Korea and Japan have been in last-minute arrangements for the agenda of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit, a senior official at the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday. "Final arrangements on the itinerary and agenda are being discussed," the senior presidential official told reporters, without providing further details. Japan's Kyodo News earlier reported Kishida was considering holding summit talks with Yoon in South Korea in early September befo

PoliticsSept. 1, 2024