S. Korea to spend big on next-generation chip sector

South Korea said Sunday that it will invest 1 trillion won ($863 million) in the next 10 years to nurture the next-generation semiconductor sector.According to the science ministry, cutting edge artificial intelligent (AI) and system-on-chip (SoC) technology, low energy consumption, high performance new devices and ultrafine fabrication processing will help the country to overcome its heavy dependence on memory semiconductors. South Korea has already spent some 1 trillion won in the past five ye

IndustryJan. 19, 2020

China reports 17 new cases of mystery virus

BEIJING (AFP) -- China reported 17 new cases of the mysterious SARS-like virus on Sunday, including three in a severe condition, heightening fears ahead of China's Lunar New Year holiday when hundreds of millions of people move around the country.The virus -- a new strain of coronavirus that humans can contract -- has caused alarm because of its connection to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. Of the 17 new c

World NewsJan. 19, 2020

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan to give up royal titles

LONDON (AFP) -- Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will give up their royal titles and public funding as part of a settlement with the Queen to start a new life away from the British monarchy.The historic announcement from Buckingham Palace on Saturday follows more than a week of intense private talks aimed at managing the fallout of the globetrotting couple's shock resignation from front-line royal duties.It means Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Harry and his American TV actress wife Megh

World NewsJan. 19, 2020

Nearly half of N. Korean party vice chairmen replaced in recent convention

Ri Su-yong, former North Korean foreign minister and vice chairman of the ruling party's Central Committee, and four others seem to have been replaced in a recent plenary party meeting, according to a North Korean report on Sunday.On Jan. 1, North Korea announced a major party personnel reshuffle, disclosing the results of a four-day plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party.  But the list of those who were dismissed in the reshuffle was not released at that time

North KoreaJan. 19, 2020

N. Korean ambassadors to China, UN head home: source

BEIJING -- North Korea's top envoys to China and the United Nations returned to Pyongyang on Saturday, a source in Beijing said, spurring speculation the North could review its nuclear negotiating strategy with the United States. Pyongyang's Ambassador to China Ji Jae-ryong and Ambassador to the UN Kim Song left the Chinese capital on an Air Koryo flight from the Beijing international airport in the morning, the source said.  North Korean ambassadors to Angola and Singapore were also seen a

North KoreaJan. 19, 2020

Hyundai, Kia tipped to have logged improved earnings in 2019

South Korea's top two automakers -- Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. -- are expected to deliver improved earnings results for 2019, aided by brisk sales of sport utility vehicles and the weak local currency, industry data showed on Sunday.According to earnings forecasts by brokerages compiled by Yonhap Infomax, Hyundai Motor is believed to have logged a net profit of 3.4 trillion won ($2.93 billion) on an operating income of 3.5 trillion won, which marks a 105 percent and a 46 percent rise

IndustryJan. 19, 2020

Olympic champ Park grabs LPGA Tourney of Champions lead

MIAMI (AFP) -- Olympic champion Park In-bee of South Korea fired a four-under-par 67 to seize a two-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the season-opening LPGA Tournament of Champions.Park had a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-3 18th hole to grab a four-shot lead but rolled the ball four feet past the cup and missed her comeback putt for her first bogey of the week to finish on 13-under 200 after 54 holes at Four Seasons Orlando. That left the 31-year-old from Seoul only two ahead of fift

GolfJan. 19, 2020

Trump lawyers present defense for 'dangerous' impeachment

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump's legal team presented  Saturday its line of defense for his upcoming impeachment trial, a process they dismissed as unconstitutional and "dangerous."It was the first time the team presented its arguments, modeled on those put forward since December by Trump and his fellow Republicans. White House counsel Pat Cipollone will be lead lawyer, backed by Trump's personal attorney Jay Sekulow. They will be joined by Ken Starr, who was at the ce

World NewsJan. 19, 2020

IT happens: Facebook sorry for Xi Jinping's name gaffe

NAYPYIDAW (AFP) -- Facebook apologised Saturday for a distasteful mistranslation of Chinese President Xi Jinping's name from Burmese language posts during his much-touted visit to Myanmar.His two-day visit to Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw was the first made by a Chinese leader in almost two decades. But the historic moment was dimmed by the automatic translation feature on Myanmar's Facebook page -- which rendered Xi Jinping's name from Burmese into English as "Mr Shithole". The err

World NewsJan. 19, 2020

BTS to showcase new single on CBS' 'The Late Late Show' this month

K-pop super band BTS will appear on US broadcaster CBS' "The Late Late Show with James Corden" later this month to showcase their new single, the band's management agency said Saturday.Joining the famous US talk show on Jan. 28 (US time), BTS will stage "Black Swan," a track from the bands' upcoming "Map of the Soul: 7" album, according to Big Hit Entertainment. BTS previously appeared on the show in 2017 and 2018.  The song hit major South Korean and overseas

PerformanceJan. 19, 2020

N. Korea slams Japan's plan to set up military space unit

North Korea on Saturday slammed Tokyo's plan to establish a military space unit, saying the plan is a dangerous and reckless move to make Japan a "military giant.""Japan is madly keen on exploiting even the outer space for its sinister purpose of building up 'defense capacity,'" the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, said in its editorial. "The outer space can never be reduced to a theatre for the state of aggression, the war-thirsty stat

North KoreaJan. 19, 2020

Ahn set to return home to resume political activity ahead of April elections

With fewer than 100 days before the April parliamentary elections, Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate, was set to return home Sunday to resume his political career after a year-long hiatus.Ahn, once popular with his "new politics" mantra, retreated from politics following his defeat in the Seoul mayoral race in June 2018. He left for Germany to study in September 2018 and then moved to the United States.Early this month, he made a surprise announcement of his plan to return

PoliticsJan. 19, 2020

Inter-Korean cooperation will occur within framework of denuclearization: official

South Korea's push for inter-Korean cooperation will be done in a way that can facilitate the denuclearization negotiations between the United States and North Korea, a senior presidential official said Saturday. The official made the remark one day after the office of President Moon Jae-in openly reproached US Ambassador Harry Harris for his remarks on Moon's plans to resume inter-Korean cooperation, calling them "very inappropriate."Amid concerns about the allies' friction over a pos

North KoreaJan. 18, 2020

US reaffirms support for improved inter-Korean relations: Seoul official

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States has reaffirmed its support for improved inter-Korean relations, a Seoul official said Friday, amid bilateral consultations on how to pursue South-North cooperation projects. Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, arrived in Washington earlier this week to coordinate the allies' approach to North Korea with his American counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.At the Thursday meeting, Lee said the two sides discussed ways to bring North Kor

Foreign AffairsJan. 18, 2020

4 S. Korean trekkers go missing after avalanche hits Annapurna

SEOUL/NEW DELHI -- Four South Korean trekkers have gone missing after an avalanche hit the circuit trekking route of Annapurna in Nepal, Seoul's foreign ministry said Saturday. The incident took place at an altitude of 3,230 meters around 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. (local time) on Friday, according to the ministry. Five other South Korean members of the crew took shelter at a nearly lodge after the four trekkers, along with two local guides in the advance team, lost contact. The five have now been tra

Social AffairsJan. 18, 2020

US military leader expresses full confidence in ability to defend against new NK missiles

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday that he has "100 percent confidence" in the US ability to defend itself from new North Korean missiles.Air Force Gen. John Hyten made the remark during a seminar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noting that North Korea has made significant strides in its missile development. "I don't say 100 percent very often. I have 100 percent confidence in those capabilities against North

North KoreaJan. 18, 2020

S. Korea's options on Hormuz strait appear shortlisted

The South Korean government has yet to complete a review of options on how to contribute to security in the Strait of Hormuz, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Saturday amid reports that a final decision on whether to send troops there may be imminent. "As you know, we will have to make a decision in consideration of the people's life and security as well as oil supply," the official said, adding relevant options are "still being reviewed."Consultations with Iran are under way as

Foreign AffairsJan. 18, 2020

[Herald Interview] Lee Byung-hun talks about playing controversial president’s assassin

The upcoming film “The Man Standing Next” goes back to the darkest period of South Korea’s democracy, actor Lee Byung-hun said at a group interview in Seoul on Friday.Directed by Woo Min-ho, the movie concerns itself with the assassination of President Park Chung-hee on Oct. 26, 1979, by one of his closest aides. Park, previously an Army general, seized power in a 1961 military coup.Based on the nonfiction work “Directors of Namsan” by former Dong-a Ilbo reporter Ki

FilmJan. 17, 2020

Indonesia releases ship with S. Korean crew members after 100 days of detention

Indonesia released a ship carrying South Korean crew members Friday after about 100 days of detention for violating territorial waters, diplomatic sources said.The Panama-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, named DL Lily, was seized by Indonesia's Navy on Oct. 9. Aboard were a South Korean captain and eight South Korean and eight Indonesian sailors.The captain got back related documents, including passports, and was granted approval for departure by Indonesian authorities, according t

Foreign AffairsJan. 17, 2020

BTS unveils ‘Black Swan’ ahead of February return

Offering a taste of its “Map of the Soul: 7” album, BTS unveiled “Black Swan,” the first single of the group’s upcoming LP. On Friday evening, the seven-piece act released the song on streaming sites at home and abroad, along with an art film performed by Slovenian dance troupe MN Dance Company.  Based on the emo hip-hop genre, the reflective song delves deeply into BTS members’ emotional depth and contemplations as artists. Lyrically, the musicians fear

K-popJan. 17, 2020