Actor Joo Jin-mo apologizes to women mentioned in his hacked text messages

Actor Joo Jin-mo, in trouble after his personal mobile text messages were leaked by hackers, apologized Thursday to his acquaintances and the women mentioned in the messages."Following the incident, I am leading a life in which I can't even breathe. I am sorry to everybody," he said in a message released through his legal representative."I bow deeply and ask for forgiveness from (them) ... but I have never committed the immoral act of taking secret photos of women or circulating t

PeopleJan. 16, 2020

Qatar Airways introduces Qsuite on flights from Incheon

Qatar Airways said Thursday that its new business class Qsuite will be introduced in all its flights departing Incheon International Airport. Qsuite is the airway’s business class, considered as one of the most luxurious business classes, offering customized suite room environment. It was first introduced for the Doha-London route in June 2017. All Qsuite seats can be customized. By using privacy panel, passengers can create their own room. When traveling with friends or family, the T

MobilityJan. 16, 2020

[Weekender] Korea’s obsession with tallness

“I’m a 12-year-old girl and 158 centimeters tall. All my best friends are at least 160 centimeters in height. My goal is to eventually reach 180 centimeters. Please advise how I can grow taller.” The anonymous writer of the post on web portal Naver speaks for many others -- children and parents alike -- in their quest to stand above others, literally.The average height of Koreans was 170 centimeters for men and 157 centimeters for women in 2017, according to the national statis

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

SK E&C to produce solid oxide fuel cells in Korea with Bloom Energy

SK Engineering & Construction said Thursday that it had formed a joint venture with Bloom Energy, a US-based energy firm, to produce solid oxide fuel cells from this year, a first in South Korea. According to SK E&C, it inked a joint venture agreement with Bloom Energy in September last year, cementing their plans to distribute the fuel cells and build factories in Korea.  A manufacturing facility is under construction in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and the companies will start

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

Samsung Biologics readies for potential Alzheimer’s deals

SAN FRANCISCO -- Kim Tae-han, the CEO of Samsung Biologics, said Wednesday that he expects to take on contract manufacturing deals for Alzheimer’s disease treatments, and that the company will be ready when the opportunity arises. Kim, speaking to investors at JP Morgan Healthcare Conference 2020 in San Francisco, said Biogen’s Alzheimer’s pipeline aducanumab has proven its efficacy through data. The only hurdle to US Food and Drug Administration approval, Kim said, was the com

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

[Photo News] Top Korean biopharma rivals boast friendship

Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin (left) and Samsung Biologics CEO Kim Tae-han were locked in a warm embrace in front of reporters at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference 2020 on Wednesday at Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Seo and Kim, the heads of Korea’s leading biopharmaceuticals firms, said that despite the aura of competition that is often portrayed, they are actually close friends. Their relationship dates back to the early days when both of them were working at Samsung Elec

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

Moon stresses govt. role in fostering AI sector

President Moon Jae-in said Thursday his government will make every effort to promote South Korea's artificial intelligence industry on the basis of its information technology prowess.He emphasized that the country has great potential to become an AI powerhouse while starting a meeting to receive a briefing from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission on this year's core policy goals.It was held at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in

PoliticsJan. 16, 2020

Top Mahindra exec visits Korea to seek support for SsangYong Motor

A top executive of Mahindra & Mahindra, the Indian auto giant that acquired SsangYong Motor in 2010, is in town to seek support for its ailing South Korean subsidiary, according to industry sources Thursday. M&M’s Managing Director Pawan Goenka’s visit to Seoul comes ahead of Ssangyong Motor’s board meeting slated for Jan. 30. He currently serves as chairman of SsangYong Motor’s board.A SsangYong Motor official told The Korea Herald that the company 

MobilityJan. 16, 2020

Hyundai Motor aims to sell 10,100 units of Nexo this year

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that it aims to sell 10,100 units of the hydrogen-powered sport utility vehicle Nexo in Korea this year, with the goal of cementing its dominance in the eco-friendly vehicle market here.The Nexo sold 727 units in 2018, the year it was launched, but the number skyrocketed to 4,194 units last year. Its price begins from 68.9 million won ($59,402) in Korea.  Combined with Hyundai Motor’s first commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicle Tucson ix, accumulated

MobilityJan. 16, 2020

[팟캐스트] (335) 도심 시위가 주민들에게 끼치는 영향 / 엑소 멤버 첸 깜짝 결혼 발표

진행자: 임현수, Paul Kerry 1. [Feature] Weekend rallies in central Seoul a headache for residents 아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638 기사요약: 매 주말 서울 도심에서 열리는 시위가 지역 주민들에게는 소음 등의 골칫거리를 제공 [1] Protesters chanting anti-government slogans and marching with loudspeakers in traffic lanes closed off for them have become a common sight on Saturdays in central Seoul in recent years. *loudspeaker: 확성기 *traff

PodcastJan. 16, 2020

Korea sees second hottest weather on record in 2019

The year 2019 was the second-hottest year on record in South Korea, a government report said Thursday, bringing fresh attention to the effects of global warming.The report issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration said the nation's average annual temperature was 13.5 C, the second-highest figure since relevant record keeping began in 1973.The highest average temperature of 13.6 C was recorded in 2016. Last year's average was also 1 C above the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010, the K

Social AffairsJan. 16, 2020

Law aimed at ensuring workplace safety for contractor workers goes into effect

An industrial safety law aimed at better ensuring safe workplaces for irregular contract workers went into effect Thursday, after public anger heightened over the 2018 death of a young subcontract worker at a thermal power plant.The Kim Yong-gyun bill was passed in December 2018, named after a 24-year-old subcontract worker killed in a conveyor belt accident at the power plant in Taean, about 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul.His death has ignited public debate over the treatment of temporary wo

Social AffairsJan. 16, 2020

Exports of processed rice goods up 20% in 2019

South Korea's outbound shipments of processed rice products shot up last year amid the booming popularity of Korean dramas, K-pop and other cultural assets abroad, data showed Thursday.Exports of these products reached $106 million in 2019, marking a sharp rise from $89 million posted a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.It also nearly doubled from $55 million posted in 2015. These products cover a wide range of foodstuff, such as snacks, noodles, drin

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

Kora's auto exports down 1.9% in 2019 amid slowdown

South Korea's auto exports moved down 1.9 percent in 2019 from a year earlier amid a global economic slowdown and a lack of new models from local producers, data showed Friday. South Korean carmakers shipped a combined 2.4 million units overseas last year, compared with 2.45 million units a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, auto exports moved up 5.3 percent on increasing popularity of high-end cars, including eco-friend

IndustryJan. 16, 2020

GFriend to release 1st album under BTS' music label next month

Girl band GFriend will release a new album next month, the six-member group's first music release under its new agency, Big Hit Entertainment, the band's agency said Thursday. GFriend is on its way to release "回: Labyrinth" on Feb. 3, the first release since the last album, "Fever Season," in early July last year, according to Source Music.  It also is the group's first release since Source Music was merged into Big Hit, the music label of BTS, later that month.Pre-order

PerformanceJan. 16, 2020

GM Korea launches Trailblazer SUV to revive sales

GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., on Thursday launched the Trailblazer sport utility vehicle as it strives to revive sales amid labor woes and weak demand.The Trailblazer comes in two versions -- a front-wheel drive version with a 1.2-liter gasoline e-turbo engine and a continuously variable transmission, and another with a 1.35-liter gasoline e-turbo engine -- GM Korea said in a statement.The 1.35 gasoline model is equipped with an all-wheel drive powertrain and a nine-

MobilityJan. 16, 2020

Pre-orders for BTS' new album hit all-time high of over 3.4m copies

Pre-orders for K-pop super band BTS' upcoming album hit an all-time high of 3.42 million copies within a week after it became available, the album's distributor said Thursday.Since pre-orders for "Map of the Soul: 7," the upcoming fourth full-length album by BTS, began on Jan. 9, the accumulated orders for the album have surpassed more than 3.42 million copies as of Wednesday, according to Dreamus Company, which is in charge of the BTS album's distribution. The number includes pre-orde

PerformanceJan. 16, 2020

[Newsmaker] Active-duty soldier undergoes sex reassignment surgery, voices hope for continuing service

An Army non-commissioned officer underwent gender reassignment surgery last year and has expressed a desire to continue to serve in the military as a female solider, officers said Thursday.The serviceperson, whose identity was withheld, visited a foreign country while on furlough last year for the surgery. After an examination, a military medical team declared her "a handicapped person," which requires the authorities' evaluation to decide whether to discharge her or not. The officer r

DefenseJan. 16, 2020

US, China sign 'momentous' trade deal

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- After nearly two years of conflict between the world's top two economic powers, the United States and China signed a trade truce on Wednesday, letting businesses around the globe breathe a sigh of relief.The deal is a boon to US President Donald Trump, who faces an impeachment trial and a tough reelection fight later this year. Trump called the agreement "momentous."But tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in goods remain in place -- on two-thirds of the over

World NewsJan. 16, 2020

Trump likens N. Korea talks to 'beautiful game of chess'

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he views the on-again, off-again nuclear talks with North Korea as a "beautiful game of chess."Trump made the remark during a White House signing ceremony for a phase-one trade deal between the United States and China, giving Beijing credit for "helping us with North Korea.""China is helping us with a lot of the things that they can be helping us with, which you don't see in a deal, but they have been very, very help

North KoreaJan. 16, 2020