[Graphic News] Online stores boost retail sales 4.8% in 2019

　Retail sales in South Korea rose 4.8 percent last year on the back of brisk sales at online malls, while revenue from offline stores lost ground, data showed. 　The combined sales of 26 major offline and online retailers reached 132.9 trillion won ($113 billion) last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. 　Of the volume, 13 online stores accounted for roughly 54.7 trillion won, up 14.2 percent from a year earlier, amid a rising number of consumers

BusinessFeb. 16, 2020

Warning for icy roads Monday morning

Weather authorities have issued warnings for icy roads, as snow blanketed Seoul and other parts of South Korea on Sunday, and icy air is forecast to move in. As of 2 p.m., Seoul received 3.8 centimeters of snow, the most this season, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. This winter has been the warmest on record, with the least amount of snow. Heavy snow advisories were issued Sunday morning for the capital city, as well as Pyeongtaek, Anseong and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province and

Social AffairsFeb. 16, 2020

[Volker Perthes] Toward new Iran nuclear deal

When Iran announced in January that it would further “reduce” its commitments under the 2015 deal limiting its nuclear activities, it was not responding to the United States’ assassination of Iranian Quds Force leader Gen. Qassem Suleimani a few days earlier. But both developments reflected the escalating confrontation between Iran and the US since the summer of 2019. Any effort to safeguard the substance of the 2015 deal -- formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Act

ViewpointsFeb. 16, 2020

Monsta X starts US promotion of new all-English album, 'All About Luv'

Monsta X met with fans in Los Angeles at its pop-up store, AAL POP_UP Experience, at Tower Records on Friday to promote its first English-language album in the US, “All About Luv.” The album has received much acclaim since its release Friday, featuring in Time magazine’s “5 Best Songs of the Week,” along with Billie Eilish. Upon its release, the album took the top spot on the iTunes album charts of 17 countries. Several well-known artists, including Pitbull, Fren

K-popFeb. 16, 2020

Hanwha Systems to develop air taxi with Overair

Hanwha Systems, the defense unit of Hanwha Group, said Sunday it would take part in an air taxi project by US personal air vehicle company Overair. On Friday, the opening ceremony of the US company -- recently spun off from aerospace-development firm Karem Aircraft -- was attended by CEO Ben Tigner and Hanwha Systems CEO Kim Yeon-chul. In December, the US Committee on Foreign Investment approved Hanwha Systems’ investment of $25 million in Overair. The Korean firm said it would contri

IndustryFeb. 16, 2020

Heaviest snowfall of season hits Seoul

South Korea's state weather agency issued a heavy snow advisory for Seoul on Sunday after the heaviest snowfall of the season hit the metropolitan area. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Seoul received about 3.8 centimeters of snow as of 2 p.m. The KMA issued the advisory for Seoul and parts of the Gyeonggi province, as well as for the southern island of Jeju. The advisory is issued for snowfalls expected to exceed 5 centimeters in 24 hours. The KMA is also set to i

Social AffairsFeb. 16, 2020

[Monitor] Car production in Korea declines nearly 30% in January

According to the trade industry, Korea’s demand for and exports of automobiles declined in January on-year. Car production decreased to 251,573 units last month, down 29 percent from the same month last year, due to the Lunar New Year holiday and partial strikes at some companies. Although sales of new cars from domestic brands, including the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Kia Seltos and Genesis GV80, were strong, overall sales reached 98,755 units, down 15.9 percent on-year. (khnews@herald

IndustryFeb. 16, 2020

Hyundai Capital’s ‘inclusive’ corporate culture wins local support

For a company that operates globally, it can be challenging to build a universal corporate culture while considering the needs of local staff. It has not been an easy task as well for Hyundai Capital, a South Korean auto finance firm, which operates in 11 countries. But its efforts to build an “inclusive” corporate culture and to open communication channels that allow employees to interact closely are key to its global operations, the company said Sunday. The initiative is

MarketFeb. 16, 2020

[News Focus] Pessimists outnumber advocates over Moon in most areas

SEJONG – More people have a negative assessment of President Moon Jae-in’s performance than a positive one, a recent poll has shown. According to the survey by Gallup Korea, which was released on Saturday, the approval rating for the president was 44 percent across the country. In contrast, the disapproval rating for him rose to 49 percent. By region, in particular, Moon’s approval rating was outstripped by disapproval ratings in most major cities and provinces, excepting Gw

PoliticsFeb. 16, 2020

S. Korea's Park In-bee captures 20th career LPGA win in Australia

South Korean star Park In-bee picked up her 20th career LPGA victory in Australia on Sunday, resuming her pursuit of an Olympic spot and a chance to defend her gold medal. The LPGA Hall of Famer captured the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open by three strokes over Amy Olson of the United States at 14-under par. Park shot an one-over in the final round at Royal Adelaide Golf Club in South Australia. She is the second straight South Korean champion this season, following Park Hee-young's victor

GolfFeb. 16, 2020

Individual Lime investors face losing entire principal

The entire amount of financial losses stemming from Lime’s funds is expected to rise to more than $1 billion, sparking deep distrust in private fund operatives and concerns over a lack of protective measures for individual investors. Lawsuits for damages and compensation are likely to follow en masse, after an intermediary audit on the hedge fund firm last week by the financial watchdog specified the case as alleged fraud. On Friday, the Financial Supervisory Service said Lime and it

MarketFeb. 16, 2020

Korean, Chinese foreign ministers discuss coronavirus, Xi’s Seoul visit

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday and agreed to cooperate to combat COVID-19 and proceed with preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Seoul in the first half of the year. “I and Minister Wang reaffirmed that there are no changes in our plans for Xi’s visit to Korea,” Kang told reporters after the bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference. “As w

Foreign AffairsFeb. 16, 2020

700 Wuhan evacuees released from quarantine centers

Seven hundred people airlifted from China’s coronavirus-hit Wuhan were released from two weeks of isolation over the weekend. On Sunday, 334 people left the quarantine facility in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, after testing negative for COVID-19. They had stayed in solitary units for 14 days -- the virus’s assumed maximum incubation period -- since arriving here Feb. 1 in the second evacuation from the city in Hubei province. Another 366 people, brought here Jan. 31 in the

Social AffairsFeb. 16, 2020

Owners of high-priced homes up 30 percent in Jamsil

     The number of taxpayers owning expensive homes, subject to higher property tax, surged at the fastest pace in Jamsil, southern Seoul, data showed Sunday.  The number of home owners who paid comprehensive real estate holding tax rose 36.1 percent on-year from some 15,000 to nearly 21,000 in Jamsil, said Rep. Kang Byung-won of ruling Democratic Party, quoting data from the National Tax Service. The number of taxpayers in Jamsil owning one residential unit with an appra

EconomyFeb. 16, 2020

[Newsmaker] News presenter Lim Hyun-ju reignites bra-free debate

News presenter Lim Hyun-ju has reignited debate on going braless after appearing on an MBC documentary on Thursday. In the program “Series M -- Do We Need to Wear Bras” (unofficial translation), Lim went bra-free for a day. She prepared for and did a live television show without wearing a bra, and shared how she felt about it afterward. On Sunday, Lim said people had left hateful comments on her Instagram account after she shared more information and her feelings about the exper

TelevisionFeb. 16, 2020

Behind successful students, there were slaves

“Sungkyunkwan National Academy and Its Surrounding Village, Banchon,” an exhibition running at the Seoul Museum of History, shows Koreans’ obsession with education, which dates back to the Joseon period (1392 to 1910). The first part of the exhibition showcases the lives of elite students of Sungkyunkwan National Academy, which served as both as a center of higher education and a symbol of Neo-Confucian culture. The academy trained around 200 top students from around the cou

CultureFeb. 16, 2020

Kim Jong-un honors father’s birthday with first appearance in three weeks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un marked the birthday of his late father at a national mausoleum in Pyongyang, in his first public appearance in 22 days amid the coronavirus outbreak, the North’s state media reported Sunday. 　 Kim paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed bodies of his father, former leader Kim Jong-il, and his grandfather, founding leader Kim Il-sung, lie, according to the Korean Central News Agency. 　 “Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of th

North KoreaFeb. 16, 2020

FTC to report Naver Chairman to prosecutors for violating antitrust laws

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission is set to report Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin to prosecutors for alleged violation of antitrust laws, officials said Sunday. The antitrust watchdog said Lee is accused of omitting 20 affiliates, including Line Friends and some of his own and relatives’ companies, when submitting data to the FTC in 2015. The company was also found to have omitted eight affiliates owned by executives of nonprofit companies wholly owned by Naver in 2017 and 2018. Ea

IndustryFeb. 16, 2020

[Behind the Wheel] Mercedes-Benz aims to bolster SUV lineup with facelift GLC

  Mercedes-Benz has consistently commanded the top position in the South Korean imported vehicles market. Last year alone, it sold 78,133 units, led by its flagship sedan series E-Class. Compared to sedans, the German luxury automaker’s sport utility vehicles had taken a back seat. To expand its clout in the promising SUV sector, the automaker began bolstering its SUV lineup early this year, bringing back a facelifted version of the GLC compact SUV after four years. The GLC is on

MobilityFeb. 16, 2020