Raising bookworms or robots? Why private reading academies thrive

How can you cultivate a lifelong love of reading in your child? Reading them a story before bed, sharing stories and regular library visits might come to mind. In Korea, there’s another option that is popular with parents: sending your kids to private reading academies. At a typical one, children read for a designated time, followed by activities such as writing summaries, studying vocabulary and engaging in discussions about the material with the teacher. For older students, the curricu

Hashtag KoreaNov. 10, 2024

Yoon struggles amid lowest approval rating

As President Yoon Suk Yeol hit the halfway mark of his five-year term Sunday, he faced pressure from a record-low approval rate coupled with growing threats from the opposition to approve a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the first lady. Yoon's approval rating fell to 17 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, marking an all-time low since the president took office in May 2022. An unnamed official from the local pollster explained the recently surfaced

PoliticsNov. 10, 2024

US scholar calls Japan stance on Dokdo ‘inexcusably hypocritical’

Japan’s position on Dokdo, Korea’s easternmost islets in the East Sea that Japan claims as its own, is “inexcusably hypocritical,” according to a US academic. “Japan doesn’t want that territorial dispute (Dokdo) to go to the International Court of Justice because then China would have moral leverage,” said Walter Hatch, an emeritus professor of government at Colby College in Maine, referring to the Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea disputed

CultureNov. 10, 2024

Fire at Posco plant in Pohang extinguished, but raises safety concerns

A fire erupted early Sunday morning at a Posco factory in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and was brought under control within hours. Yet, a series of incidents, including multiple fires at Posco’s steel plant, has heightened anxiety among local residents this year. According to fire authorities, a fire erupted with multiple explosions at the Posco plant’s third Finex factory at around 4:20 a.m. Sunday. After initiating an emergency response at around 4:50 a.m., deploying 43 fire

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

Will ousting KMA chief on eve of new talks shift medical standoff?

Hopes for a decisive breakthrough in the monthslong medical stalemate are rising as the consultation body intended to join the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, rival parties and the medical circle for talks is set to launch Monday morning, a day after a major leadership change in the Korean Medical Association. The body's launch comes after ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon proposed in September the formation of a four-way consultative body in an attempt to resolve the ongoing medi

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

BTS’ Jin to spread happiness with 1st solo album ‘Happy’

Jin of BTS unveiled a poster for “Running Wild,” the main track on his upcoming first solo album, “Happy.” The artist shared the vintage-style poster, featuring himself and a dog running down a wide road towards a city skyline, on BTS’ official social media on Sunday. “Running Wild” is a pop-rock number with new wave sounds. Jin aims to spread happiness through this song with a warm melody that sings about running passionately toward hope. Gary Barlow fr

K-popNov. 10, 2024

Korean shipbuilders upbeat on Trump’s call for collaboration

Korean shipbuilders are raising hopes to expand their presence in the US, following President-elect Donald Trump’s call for more bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector. According to Seoul’s presidential office, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Trump had a 12-minute phone call Thursday morning after Trump won a second nonconsecutive presidential term. After exchanges of congratulations and gratitude, Trump specifically mentioned Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and the US&

IndustryNov. 10, 2024

Student backlash erupts as Dongduk Women's University weighs coed future

Dongduk Women's University, one of South Korea’s seven remaining women’s colleges, is weighing a possible shift to coeducation, a move igniting opposition among students who warn it could erode the institution’s mission of championing women’s empowerment and diminish women’s representation in society. According to the student council Naran of Dongduk Women's University on Sunday, the university will soon initiate discussions on becoming a coeducational ins

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

LG Display unveils world's most stretchable display

South Korean display maker LG Display announced Sunday it succeeded in developing the world’s first stretchable display capable of expanding up to 50 percent, the highest elongation rate within the industry. The latest breakthrough, the outcome of five years of research, was unveiled during an industrial gathering at LG Science Park in Seoul on Friday. LG's new prototype features a 12-inch screen that stretches up to 18 inches while delivering a high resolution of 100 pixels per inch

IndustryNov. 10, 2024

Deer incidents put Seoul's southern suburbs on alert

Residents south of Seoul are watching their step as another deer incident has put local authorities on high alert, just days after attacks left two people injured. A deer was spotted late Saturday on a roadway in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, prompting an immediate response from fire officials. The emergency call came in around 11:55 p.m. from a resident fearing possible vehicle collisions with the animal, local authorities said. Two emergency vehicles carrying eight personnel responded to the scen

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

Chubby banana milk bottle eyes national heritage listing

For over half a century, yellow banana-flavored milk has held a special place in Korean culture, gracing supermarket shelves as a nostalgic favorite across generations. Now, its maker, Binggrae Co., aims to elevate the beloved drink’s status even further. The Korean dairy maker said Sunday that it is launching an effort to have the chubby shape of its top-selling drink’s bottle included on the state-registered cultural heritage list. It is currently gathering data to apply for elig

CompaniesNov. 10, 2024

S. Korea, ASEAN seek ‘sustainable, resilient future’ with elevated partnership

Government officials and renowned scholars from South Korea and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened at an international conference to chart pathways for further developing cooperation, building on the October milestone that elevated Korea-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The International Conference on ASEAN-Korea Partnership 2024 was held Thursday under the theme "Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Future" at the Lotte Hotel i

Foreign AffairsNov. 10, 2024

Police uncover over 4,700 minors in crackdown on online gambling

Police said Sunday they have identified over 4,700 minors involved in online gambling activities over the past year. The National Police Agency said 4,715 individuals under the age of 19 were discovered during a special crackdown on illegal online gambling conducted from September 2023 to October this year. No arrests of minors have been made. The figure accounts for 47.2 percent of all age groups involved in the crackdown. Initially, police focused on targeting illegal gambling operators and ha

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

Loans from high-interest second-tier lenders soar amid tight lending rules

Loans from savings banks, credit unions and other secondary financial institutions rose sharply last month as authorities tightened credit regulations for major banks, officials said Sunday. Loans from savings banks, credit card firms, insurance companies and other second-tier lenders surged over 1.5 trillion won ($1.02 billion) in October, the largest gain since July 2021, according to the officials from the financial sector. In detail, cash advances and other loans from credit card firms and c

EconomyNov. 10, 2024

Fire erupts at POSCO Pohang plant; 1 worker injured

A fire broke at a Posco factory in the southeastern city of Pohang early Sunday, leaving one worker injured, fire authorities said. The fire started with multiple explosions at the steel company's third Finex furnace of the plant, located about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at around 4:20 a.m. The blaze was initially contained by around 6:30 a.m. and completely extinguished at around 9:20 a.m. Witnesses reported hearing explosions that felt like an earthquake, and some said they felt the gr

Social AffairsNov. 10, 2024

[팟캐스트] (634) 이 사람의 이사에 전국이 떠들썩?

진행자: 최정윤, Chelsea Proctor Child rapist’s relocation sparks controversy, fear 기사 요약: 조두순이 새롭게 이사한 집 5분 거리에 초등학교가 있다는 사실 밝혀지면서 주민들의 불안이 고조되고 있어 ,경찰은 인군 순찰 강화로 불안 잠재우려하지만 효과 미비하다는 반응 커 [1] Cho Doo-soon, notorious for one of the most shocking crimes in South Korean history, has once again sparked public outrage and concern after his recent move to a new residence. notorious: 악명 높은 outrage: 격분, 분노 [2] Cho, who was released from prison in December 2020 after serving 12 years for raping an 8-yea

PodcastNov. 9, 2024

US announces charges in alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump

US prosecutors announced charges on Friday in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former president Donald Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist. The foiled assassination plot on Trump was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to avenge the death of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020 in a US strike ordered by then-president Trump, the Justice Department said. Farhad Shakeri, 51, an Afghan national who is believed to be i

World NewsNov. 9, 2024

Fresh perspectives take top prizes at Korea Picture Book Award

Picture books with contemporary messages and vibrant, imaginative illustrations were recognized on Monday at the second annual Korea Picture Book Award, co-hosted by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and the Culture Ministry. In the fiction category, the grand prize went to "How to Be a True Friend" by Park Hyun-min, a dark comedy set in the snowy Himalayas that follows a mythical yeti. The story explores the coexistence of humans and nature, delivering a satirical tak

BooksNov. 9, 2024

[Weekender] AI is silently changing our work: 7 professionals share how

It may not be immediately visible, but artificial intelligence is quietly changing Korean workplaces. Since ChatGPT was first unveiled in late 2022, followed by an expanding array of AI tools, nearly 20 million South Koreans have downloaded five major generative AI apps as of July this year. The number of active monthly users stood at 7 million. The Korea Herald interviewed seven individuals across a wide range of professions, including a journalist, web designer, lawyer, translator, music p

weekenderNov. 9, 2024

Renowned overseas musicians to make much-waited Korean debuts

In November, the Seoul Arts Center and Bucheon Arts Center are set to stage the much-anticipated debuts of overseas artists. The Seoul Arts Center, the country's leading cultural complex, will present the "2024 SAC Baroque Music Series: Theo Othime Langlois de Swarte & Justin Taylor Duo Concert" on Nov. 16, at the IBK Chamber Hall. This performance marks the highly anticipated Korean debut of two rising stars in the Baroque music world: violinist Theo Othime Langlois de Swar

CultureNov. 9, 2024