[ASEAN-Korea summit] Rising Southeast Asia, region of strategic priority to OECD

The 2019 ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit and the First Mekong-Korea Summit are just around the corner. Association of Southeast Asian Nations ambassadors in Paris have expressed to me their expectations of the summit on various diplomatic occasions, which reminds me of the importance of Southeast Asia and Korea’s New Southern Policy. The rapidly-rising ASEAN bloc accounts for a population of 650 million people, with a total gross domestic product of about $3 trillion. According to the Org

EconomyNov. 20, 2019

S. Korea, UNESCO to cooperate toward listing DMZ as world heritage

PARIS -- Culture Minister Park Yang-woo and UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay agreed Tuesday to make a concerted effort to have the demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea added to the UN body’s World Heritage list.Park met Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture in Paris and asked for the UN body’s cooperation, saying the joint inscription of the DMZ on the list by both Koreas would be “in keeping with the spirit of UNESCO, which is for pe

CultureNov. 20, 2019

Tax office launches probes into tax evasion

South Korea's tax agency said Wednesday that it has launched probes into dozens of companies and more than 100 individuals over suspected tax evasion in the latest crackdown on tax dodgers.The National Tax Service said the crackdown targets 46 companies and 14 individuals for alleged offshore tax evasion.The tax agency also said it is looking into 57 people for purchasing overseas properties with money from questionable sources and probing 54 wealthy people who live lives of luxury in foreign co

EconomyNov. 20, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Aida’ brings spectacle and drama to stage

One thing that is certain about the musical “Aida” is that no matter what version you check out, there is plenty happening onstage. The clever use of props and stage design was effective in making the show as grand as possible, even overcoming limitations in depicting various aspects of Africa.The Sunday performance of the show -- which runs through Feb. 23 at the Blue Square Interpark Hall in central Seoul -- was truly a sight to behold. Beyond the colorful and creative stage and co

PerformanceNov. 20, 2019

Baby Shark run continues with new tour dates

NEW YORK (AP) -- Most viral videos have a finite shelf life, but the "doo doo doo" of "Baby Shark" shows no sign of abating.The little ditty and dance about a family of sharks that captivated the toddler set and beyond will still be with us as we go into the next decade, with a "Baby Shark Live!" tour launching a new set of concert dates after recently wrapping up dozens of performances in its first run in North America. The second leg of the tour kicks off in Indep

World NewsNov. 20, 2019

S. Korea seeks to expand flights on non-Japan routes

South Korea's transport ministry said Wednesday it is seeking to increase the number of flights on non-Japanese routes as part of efforts to help airlines suffering lower travel demand to Japan. The government is in talks with the aviation authorities in Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei to supply more flights to the countries, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. It plans to extend the talks with the aviation authorities in Central Asia next year in order t

IndustryNov. 20, 2019

[팟캐스트] (327) 수능 응시인원 역대 최저 / 음주단속 연말까지

진행자: 손지형, Paul Kerry 1. Koreans sit for national college entrance exam기사요약: 응시자가 역대 최저였던 수능 스트레이트 기사.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] Nearly half a million people sat for the annual state-administered college entrance exam Thursday, with the number of test-takers marking an all-time low.  *nearly: 거의*sit for an exam: 시험을 치르다*administer: 주관하다*test-takers: 시험 응시자*an all-time low/high: 사상 최

PodcastNov. 20, 2019

S. Korea schooled by Brazil in football friendly loss

ABU DHABI -- South Korea played a supporting role in an entertaining football show put on by Brazil in their men's football friendly match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, while getting a closer look at the kind of football they should aspire to.Brazil enjoyed a convincing, 3-0 victory at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, performing with the kind of offensive efficiency and flair that continues to define Brazilian football.The first goal, scored on a diving header by Lucas Paqueta, was the result of a textboo

SoccerNov. 20, 2019

[News Focus] Trade disputes between Korea and Japan show no sign of abating

Escalating trade tension between South Korea and Japan shows no sign of abating as two rounds of bilateral talks to resolve disputes triggered by Japan’s export curbs could not reach common ground. On Tuesday, the two neighboring nations held the second round of talks at the World Trade Organization in Geneva after failing to reach a consensus at the first consultations on Oct. 11. “During two rounds of six-hour intensive consultations, the two nations became more aware of each other

IndustryNov. 20, 2019

Railway workers begin strike, demanding higher wages

DAEJEON -- Railway workers across South Korea went on strike Wednesday calling for higher wages and greater recruitment, potentially affecting a majority of rail services nationwide.The collective action by the unionized workers came as overnight negotiations with the railway operator fell through.Around 30 to 70 percent of passenger trains, including the KTX bullet train, intercity subways and the Saemaeul and Mugungwha services, as well as cargo trains, are forecast to be affected by the strik

Social AffairsNov. 20, 2019

Moon vows to maintain security cooperation with Japan despite looming GSOMIA expiry

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his government will try "till the last moment" to avoid the termination of an accord with Japan on exchanging military information but he made clear that depends on Tokyo's stance on its export restriction against Seoul. Although the agreement, known as GSOMIA, is schedule to come to an end this weekend, South Korea will maintain partnerships with Japan on regional security, he added.US officials have voiced worries about potential negative impact on

Foreign AffairsNov. 20, 2019

Esper refuses to speculate on US troops reduction in S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Mark Esper refused to speculate when asked Tuesday whether the US would consider reducing troops in South Korea short of a deal on defense cost-sharing.Esper was asked the question during a briefing with reporters near Manila, the Philippines, after the US walked out of defense cost-sharing negotiations with South Korea in Seoul.The US is reportedly seeking an increase of Seoul's contribution to $5 billion from the current $870 million for this year to support

DefenseNov. 20, 2019

2 S. Koreans seized by Houthi rebels released

Two South Koreans who were seized by Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this week have been released, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The two, whose identities were withheld, were among 16 people on three boats seized by the rebels Monday for allegedly violating their territorial waters.All of them were released, along with their vessels, early Wednesday morning (Korea time) and are safe and well, the ministry said, adding the families of the two Koreans were informed of the release. The two Ko

Foreign AffairsNov. 20, 2019

Moon says volunteer military system needs time

South Korea needs to move to a volunteer military system, but the switch from the current conscription system will need time and preparation, President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday. “(A volunteer system) is something our society must move toward. But at present, the conditions are not right to introduce a volunteer system, (the change) needs to be planned in the mid- to long-term,” Moon said, speaking in a live televised question-and-answer session with 300 selected civilians. Moon

PoliticsNov. 19, 2019

Go master Lee Se-dol, the only human to beat AI AlphaGo, retires

South Korean Go master Lee Se-dol, who is the only human to score a win against the artificial intelligence Go player AlphaGo, retired Tuesday. The 36-year-old officially retired from Go competition by submitting his letter of retirement to the Korea Baduk Association, which overseas Go professionals in South Korea.    He hinted at his impending retirement following his defeat to Chinese rival Ke Jie in a special match at a Seoul hotel in March. This puts an end to Lee's lege

CultureNov. 19, 2019

National Assembly passes 89 bills on people's livelihoods, economy

The National Assembly passed 89 bills related to people's livelihoods and the economy Tuesday in the midst of lingering partisan tensions over key reform proposals. A plenary session was held to put the non-controversial bills up for vote amid persistent political wrangling over key political and judiciary reform bills that were placed on the fast-track despite objections from the main opposition party.It was the second plenary meeting dedicated to passing legislation during the ongoing parliame

PoliticsNov. 19, 2019

Culture minister to request UNESCO's cooperation to list DMZ as World Heritage

In a meeting with the head of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on Tuesday, South Korean Culture Minister Park Yang-woo plans to ask the United Nations body to inscribe the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone as a World Heritage, according to the ministry. Park is scheduled to meet with Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the UNESCO Forum of Ministers of Culture, set to begin Tuesday morning in Paris. In the bilateral meeting, Park will request UNESCO's coope

CultureNov. 19, 2019

Govt. to allow individual tourists to visit inter-Korean truce village

South Korea is pushing to allow its citizens to make individual visits to the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, the unification ministry said Tuesday.The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council approved the 1.4 billion won ($1.2 million) expenditure plan to set up a new system to manage visits to Panmunjom, including the launch of a new website for online application for such visits, according to the ministry. The area has been

PoliticsNov. 19, 2019

Pyongyang says denuke talks with US ‘impossible’ unless US drops hostile policy

North Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator said Tuesday dialogue with the United States will be “impossible” unless it abandons its hostile policy against the communist regime. Kim Myong-gil, the roving ambassador at the North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, also emphasized again that the US should not try to involve a third party in their relationship, according to an interview with Korean Central News Agency.  “As we have already reiterated several times, the DPRK-US d

North KoreaNov. 19, 2019

[Graphic News] Global market size for luxury goods and jewelry

　According to Euromonitor International, global luxury goods sales reached $954 billion in 2017 and the global market grew 5 percent in 2018 across most segments.　Luxury cars sales accounted for almost 53 percent of all global luxury goods sales. This proportion grew over the reviewed period, and is expected to continue increasing to 2022.

World BusinessNov. 19, 2019