Remains found at former Gwangju prison site may belong to over 250 people

The remains found at the site of a former prison in the southwestern city of Gwangju may belong to over 250 people, nearly three times the previously estimated 80, sources said Monday. The National Forensic Service made the assessment after examining the remains, according to the sources. The government had initially assumed that the remains belonged to 80 people -- 41 to deceased inmates and 40 to unidentified individuals. The remains were first uncovered in December during a government-led

Social AffairsJan. 27, 2020

S. Korea's land price growth falls below 4% in 2019

South Korea's official land prices grew less than 4 percent in 2019, data showed Monday, expanding at a slower pace than the previous year for the first time since 2013. The country's land prices increased 3.92 percent on-year in 2019, slowing from a 4.58 percent gain in 2018, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Land prices in Seoul posted the highest growth at 5.29 percent, followed by the administrative town of Sejong, 130 kilometers south of the capital city, w

EconomyJan. 27, 2020

Top court upholds divorce of Samsung chairman's eldest daughter

Ending a legal fight that lasted over five years, South Korea's top court said Monday it has reaffirmed a lower court's ruling accepting a divorce claim filed by Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the family that owns Samsung. The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision that ordered the Hotel Shilla chief to pay 14.1 billion won ($12.1 million) in an asset split to her estranged husband, Im Woo-jae. The court granted parental rights and custody of their only child to Lee. Lee and Im

IndustryJan. 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant left deep legacy in LA sports, basketball world

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with both his sublime skills and his unquenchable competitive fire. He also earned Los Angeles' eternal adoration during his two decades as the fierce soul of the city's beloved Lakers. Less than four years into his retirement from the NBA, Bryant was seeking new challenges and working to inspire his daughters' generation through sports and storytelling when his next act ended shockingly early. Bryant, the

World NewsJan. 27, 2020

China counts 2,700 cases of new virus, 80 deaths

BEIJING (AP) -- China says the death toll from a new virus has risen to 80, with 2,744 confirmed cases. The National Health Commission said Monday morning there were 769 new cases confirmed in the 24 hours through midnight Sunday. The government also reported five cases in Hong Kong and two in Macao. Small numbers of cases have been found in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France and Australia. The US has confirmed cases in Washington st

World NewsJan. 27, 2020

Korean economy may pull of slower-than-expected growth in 2020

South Korea's economy is expected to rebound this year from the slowest growth in a decade last year, but it may continue to face many economic headwinds, including sluggish demands at home and abroad, analysts said Monday. Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 2 percent from a year earlier in 2019, the slowest since 2009, as its exports and facility investment remained weak, the Bank of Korea said last week. Earlier, the country's finance ministry expected the economy to grow in the lower 2 per

EconomyJan. 27, 2020

Nine people dead in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash: official

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Nine people were killed in the helicopter crash which claimed the life of NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Los Angeles officials confirmed on Sunday. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said eight passengers and the pilot of the aircraft died in the accident. "There were no survivors... There were nine people on board the aircraft, the pilot plus eight individuals," Villanueva said. Early reports on Sunday said five people had been on board the hel

World NewsJan. 27, 2020

Extra!: S. Korea beat Saudi Arabia in extra time to take Asian U-23 football crown

South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in extra time to capture their first Asian men's football title in the under-23 age group on Sunday. Defender Jeong Tae-wook headed in the winner in the 113th minute in the final of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, breaking a deadlock after the two sides had fired blanks. This was the fourth edition of the biennial tournament, and the first title won by South Korea, who had one runner-up finish sandwich

SoccerJan. 27, 2020

FM could meet with Pompeo in Munich next month

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is considering traveling to Germany next month for an international security conference, officials said Monday, raising the possibility she could meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss Seoul's push for greater exchanges with North Korea. Kang's attendance at the Munich Security Conference set for Feb. 14-16 is expected to naturally lead to a one-on-one meeting with Pompeo, as the top American diplomat is also expected to attend the conference tog

Foreign AffairsJan. 27, 2020

Return of A-list bands to heat up K-pop scene this spring

The return of a group of A-list K-pop bands will heat up the music scene here this spring. After setting a record for most album sales with "Map of the Soul: Persona" last year, K-pop super band BTS will drop "Map of the Soul: 7" on Feb. 21, the second issue in the "Map of the Soul" album series. The upcoming album is likely to rewrite some K-pop records after BTS made K-pop history by winning three No. 1s on the Billboard 200 in a span of one year last year.

K-popJan. 27, 2020

Doctors’ group asks government to review restricting visits from China

A major doctors’ group on Sunday called on the South Korean government to make all necessary administrative preparations, including an entry restriction from China, to contain the spread of the new coronavirus discovered in Wuhan, China.In a briefing at its office in Yongsan, central Seoul, the Korean Medical Association’s president Choi Dae-zip said that while the limit on entry “may not be imperative right now, at the time of speaking,” blocking the visitor flow may be

Social AffairsJan. 26, 2020

Moon vows pan-governmental effort against deadly virus from China

 President Moon Jae-in issued a special public message Sunday, pledging every effort to curb the spread of a new type of virus from China.He stressed the government is on high alert during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday season and that a "24-hour response system" is in operation. He cited a host of Chinese tourists here and South Koreans retuning from visits to the neighboring country as risk factors in the spread of the disease."Now that the government is making every ne

Social AffairsJan. 26, 2020

Kim Jong-un's aunt makes 1st public appearance in over 6 years

Kim Kyong-hui, a once-powerful aunt of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has made her first public appearance in more than six years, Pyongyang's state media showed Sunday.The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong-un attended a concert celebrating Lunar New Year's Day on Saturday at the Samjiyon Theater in Pyongyang with his wife, Ri Sol-ju. The KCNA, monitored in Seoul, added that Kim Kyong-hui, widow of Kim Jong-un's late uncle Jang Song-thaek, joined the leader and his wife

North KoreaJan. 26, 2020

S. Korea reports 3rd confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus

South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world.According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far."Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms but he started suff

Social AffairsJan. 26, 2020

Classic operas on big screen gain popularity

Classical performances and operas shown in cinemas have been gaining popularity among classical music fans and moviegoers, industry data showed Saturday.CJ CGV, a leading multiplex chain run by entertainment giant CJ Group, launched a monthly opera program to show Italian operas in special theaters starting this year. The first title is “La Traviata,” by Giuseppe Verdi.More than 90 percent of tickets of the opera‘s theatrical showing at its Yongsan branch on Tuesday were sold,

CultureJan. 25, 2020

Hyundai Motor to produce hydrogen commercial cars in China

Hyundai Motor Co. said Saturday it will produce hydrogen fuel-cell electric commercial vehicles in its Chinese plant to make inroads into the local electric vehicle market.In the China EV100 Forum held in Beijing from Jan. 10-12, Executive Vice President Lee In-cheon, head of Hyundai‘s Commercial Vehicle Business Division, unveiled the plan. In August last year, the Hyundai executive said the hydrogen commercial car production plan will begin in 2023 if the company makes the decision. Sich

MobilityJan. 25, 2020

‘The Man Standing Next’ attracts more than 1.12 million viewers

“The Man Standing Next” has attracted more than 1.12 million moviegoers since the political thriller‘s release three days ago, box-office data showed Saturday, highlighting its popularity during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.The accumulated attendance for the film, which was released Wednesday, was tallied at 1,127,757, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. It was trailed by “Hitman: Agent Jun” that has attracted 220,805 viewers so f

FilmJan. 25, 2020

Seoul mulls providing financial aid to separated families for NK visit: minister

South Korea is considering providing financial support for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War to visit North Korea, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Saturday.Kim‘s remarks are in line with the government’s broader push to allow South Koreans to make individual trips to the North as a way to ease tensions and facilitate stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.“The government is considering helping the elderly people with the cost of visit

North KoreaJan. 25, 2020

‘Parasite’ team beefs up last-minute Oscar campaign

Director Bong Joon-ho and the cast of “Parasite” are entering the final stretch in the heated race for the upcoming Oscars.The genre-bending family satire was nominated in six categories -- best picture, best director, best screenplay, best editing, best production design and best international feature film -- for the 2020 Academy Awards slated for Feb. 9.It is the first time that a South Korean-made film has earned a nod for one of the world‘s biggest film events.According to

FilmJan. 25, 2020

S. Korea on high alert to prevent spread of Wuhan coronavirus

South Korea‘s public health protection authorities said Saturday the country is maintaining a high level of vigilance to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus as people celebrate the four-day Lunar New Year holiday.The country reported a confirmed case of the new coronavirus that causes pneumonia-like sickness Monday and another Friday, and said it has checked 32 other people for the new coronavirus so far with all testing negative.“The government is checking all people who are

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2020