[Newsmaker] Male rapper convicted of sexually insulting female singer in lyrics

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld lower courts' conviction of a male rapper indicted for sexually insulting a female rapper in his songs and concerts.Black Nut, the defendant rapper whose real name is Kim Dae-woong, was sentenced by the top court to an imprisonment of six months, suspended for two years, and ordered to conduct 160 hours of social service.Lower courts had previously handed out the same guilty verdict and sentences to Black Nut, who was accused of inserting controversial words

Social AffairsDec. 12, 2019

Korea, Japan foreign ministers may meet

Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is seeking to meet with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha to discuss the issue of wartime forced labor, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Thursday.Arrangements are being made for talks between the two on the sidelines of the Asia and Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Sunday and Monday in Madrid, NHK said.At the possible meeting, Motegi plans to call on Seoul to “rectify its violation of the international law in r

Foreign AffairsDec. 12, 2019

BOK says global chip market will likely recover next year

The global semiconductor market will likely rebound next year on increased demand that may have been held back on hope of additional price drops, the Bank of Korea said Thursday, apparently suggesting a recovery of the local economy as well.South Korea's exports have dropped for 12 consecutive months as of November amid the prolonged trade dispute between the United States and China but also because of an extended slump in the global semiconductor market.Semiconductors alone accounted for more t

IndustryDec. 12, 2019

Kyobo Life chief wins award for humanistic management

Kyobo Life Insurance Chairman Shin Chang-jae has won an international prize for humanistic management, becoming the first winner of the newly established award, the company said Thursday.The International Council for Small Business, the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization devoted to small and medium enterprises, has selected the South Korean insurer chief as winner of its Humane Entrepreneurship Award.The awards ceremony took place on the sidelines of the SME World Forum 2019

MarketDec. 12, 2019

Moon vows govt. efforts to transform agricultural system

President Moon Jae-in said Thursday his government will push for the epoch-making development of the country's agricultural and fisheries sectors in tandem with a response to the fourth industrial revolution. He laid out a vision for the "bold transformation" of the farming field during a town hall meeting at the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, some 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul.The liberal Moon administration's policy motto is

PoliticsDec. 12, 2019

Gangwon fire almost contained after burning 2 ha of forest

Firefighters on Thursday continued to put out the remaining flames of a forest fire that broke out in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday evening.The regional forest service said most of the fire was extinguished by around 10:39 a.m. Thursday after burning for around 15 hours. The fire started at around 7:18 p.m. Wednesday at the seventh ridge of Baekseoksan, gradually spreading to the nearby areas overnight. The fire burned through 2 hectares of forest area, with firefighters experiencing

Social AffairsDec. 12, 2019

BOK sees uncertainties easing

South Korea is still faced with continuing uncertainties, but the levels may have somewhat eased, a senior official at the Bank of Korea said Thursday."As the US Federal Reserve chairman said in a press conference, uncertainties have not disappeared. I understand he noted there always exist uncertainties and that he will carefully monitor them," BOK Dep. Gov. Yoon Myun-shik told reporters, hours after the US Fed unanimously voted to keep its policy rate frozen at a range of 1.50 percen

EconomyDec. 12, 2019

Japan threatens to overtake S. Korea in China's cosmetics market

Japan is threatening to overtake South Korea's No. 1 status in China's imported cosmetics market this year, industry data showed Thursday, mainly on the back of the growing popularity of low- to mid-priced "J-beauty" productsJapanese companies accounted for 25.2 percent of China's imported cosmetics in the January-October period, closing the gap between South Korean rivals, whose combined market share was 25.5 percent, according to industry tracker IHS Global Trade Atlas.France came in

IndustryDec. 12, 2019

US again sends surveillance plane over S. Korea: aviation tracker

The United States flew a surveillance plane over the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Thursday, the latest in a series of near-daily flights to monitor North Korea amid growing concerns Pyongyang could test-fire a long-range missile.The E-8C aircraft, or JSTARS, was spotted over the Korean Peninsula at 29,000 feet, Aircraft Spots said on its Twitter account without specifying the exact time of the operation. It also did not upload photos showing the flight route.As a platform for airbo

DefenseDec. 12, 2019

US Fed says will focus on low inflation, global economy

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The Federal Reserve kept its key lending rate unchanged on Wednesday but said it will turn its sights to low inflation and developments in the world economy.That was a signal that central bankers, who have repeatedly pledged to change course if needed, are monitoring the global slowdown and persistent absence of price pressures, which could open the door to further rate moves.At its final meeting of 2019, the Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee left the benchma

World NewsDec. 12, 2019

S. Korea beat Hong Kong 2-0 to start men's E. Asian football tournament

BUSAN -- Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Hwang In-beom scored a free kick as South Korea squeezed past Hong Kong 2-0 to open an East Asian men's football tournament at home on Wednesday.FC Tokyo midfielder Na Sang-ho headed home an insurance goal in the second half, helping South Korea take their first match of the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship at Busan Asiad Main Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.South Korea, world No. 41, are trying to win their thir

SoccerDec. 12, 2019

US warns N. Korea of consequences for 'Christmas gift'

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- The United States on Wednesday warned North Korea of consequences if it makes good on threats of a spectacular weapons test in the New Year, while offering flexibility if it stays in talks.Frustrated by the lack of sanctions relief after three summits with President Donald Trump, North Korea has vowed an ominous "Christmas gift" if the US does not come up with concessions by the end of the year.At the UN Security Council, the US ambassador, Kelly Craft, voiced c

North KoreaDec. 12, 2019

Trump urges passage of defense bill with provision against troop drawdown in S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Congress to pass a defense bill containing a provision restricting the drawdown of American troops in South Korea.On Monday, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees agreed on the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which authorizes funding for the Department of Defense.According to the accompanying conference report, the new bill restricts the use of funds for removing troops from South Ko

Foreign AffairsDec. 12, 2019

Academics explain driving force behind BTS’ global success

Academics from around the world got together in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss the global success of BTS and K-pop in general.Sponsored by Big Hit Entertainment, which houses the likes of BTS and TXT, the global seminar “K-Pop Beyond BTS” took place at Yonsei University, attracting scores of scholars, journalists and YouTubers.  In a keynote speech, Hong Seok-kyeong, a professor of communication at Seoul National University, said BTS and other K-pop boy bands offer “soft ma

K-popDec. 11, 2019

Biegun’s visit leaves slim chance for resumption of US-NK dialogue

The US top negotiator on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, is expected to visit South Korea next week amid heightened tensions on the peninsula after North Korea conducted a rocket engine test. Biegun’s visit is likely to begin Sunday, and he hopes to meet North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, according to Japan’s Kyodo news agency and local media. The Foreign Ministry was not able to confirm Biegun’s plans to meet with North Korean officials. The US

North KoreaDec. 11, 2019

[INTERVIEW] Holland is turning scars into triumphant pop

It wasn’t only a bold light blue Supreme coat and fashionable trainers that Holland was sporting that are new. He seemed more confident than ever when we met for the second time late November even as our conversation was on mental health -- an issue that has recently sparked debate in South Korea “I think agencies need to do more to take care of their artists as K-pop becomes bigger. And instead of being reactionary after something happens, people need to think twice and try to be mo

K-popDec. 11, 2019

[Exclusive] Corrupt prosecutors unheard of in Germany: Berlin anti-graft chief

In South Korea, the heated debate on the introduction of prosecution reform bills continues to rage on, leaving the National Assembly paralyzed over their passage and deepening a social divide. The proposals have been prompted by the prosecution’s long history of failing to dig deep into corruption allegations involving prosecutors, among other misconducts. The bills create an independent anti-corruption body to investigate corruption allegations involving senior public officials, inclu

PoliticsDec. 11, 2019

Court rebukes prosecutors during trial of ex-justice minister’s wife

The court has turned down prosecutors’ request to make changes to the initial complaint filed against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, a professor at a private university.Chung was indicted Sept. 6, the day of her husband’s confirmation hearing, on suspicion of having forged a document to influence her daughter’s admission to medical school.During a pretrial hearing held Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecutors’ pro

PoliticsDec. 11, 2019

[Graphic News] US regains dominance in Korea’s imported beef market

　Beef imported from the United States increased significantly, accounting for over 50 percent of South Korea’s imported beef market this year, a trade promotion agency said.　Korea imported 209,034 tons of US beef in the January-October period, up 7.9 percent from 193,685 tons tallied during the same period a year earlier, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association. 　US beef made up more than 50 percent of all imported beef here for the first time since 2003, when Kore

IndustryDec. 11, 2019

[팟캐스트] (330) 한반도 강타한 초미세먼지 / 빅히트, 방탄소년단과 불화설 일축

 진행자: 윤민식, Kevin Lee Selzer1. Ultrafine dust chokes Korea, cold spell expected late Wednesday아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638기사요약: 한반도를 강타한 초미세먼지가 기승을 부림에 따라 올겨울 들어 첫 비상조치가 취해지고, 초미세먼지주의보가 유지되고 있다.[1] South Korea was blanketed by a high level of particulate pollution Tuesday, prompting emergency dust reduction measures(조치) for the first time this winter and an ultrafine dust advisory(주의보) i

PodcastDec. 11, 2019