Japanese minister visits Tokyo war shrine

TOKYO (AFP) -- A Japanese minister on Thursday visited the Yasukuni war shrine at the centre of long-running tensions with regional neighbours -- the first cabinet-level official visit in over two years.Seiichi Eto, the minister in charge of Okinawa and what Japan calls "the Northern Territories" disputed with Russia, visited the shrine at the start of its annual autumn festival, an official at Eto's office told AFP.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meanwhile continued his recent practice of s

World NewsOct. 17, 2019

US seeks to address N. Korea's security interests: official

The United States will address North Korea's security interests if the regime gives up its nuclear weapons program, a senior US official said Wednesday, beckoning Pyongyang to return to denuclearization talks.David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, testified at a Senate hearing after working-level talks between Washington and Pyongyang broke down in Sweden on Oct. 5."They've come out to talk. We need to encourage them to continue doing that," St

North KoreaOct. 17, 2019

Son Heung-min: S. Korea lucky to escape unscathed from World Cup qualifier vs. N. Korea

The biggest takeaway for Son Heung-min from South Korea's World Cup qualifying match against North Korea was how physical his opponents played.South Korea and North Korea played to a scoreless draw in Pyongyang on Tuesday, part of Group H action in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.There were no fans or journalists at the match, and it wasn't broadcast live in South Korea. Other than that four yellow cards were issued, little had been known about the contest

SoccerOct. 17, 2019

SoftBank bailout would give it control of WeWork: sources

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Japan's SoftBank Group has prepared a financing plan that would give it control of WeWork as the office sharing startup seeks badly- needed financing, sources told AFP Monday.The plan would give SoftBank, which is controled by billionaire Masayoshi Son, more than 50 percent of WeWork and further limit the influence of former chief executive and co-founder Adam Neumann, said sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.Neumann stepped down as chief executive in September amid

World BusinessOct. 17, 2019

PM Lee likely to hold talks with Abe next week: Seoul official

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is likely to meet one-on-one with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his trip to Tokyo next week, though the plan has yet to be finalized, a Seoul official said Wednesday.   Lee plans to visit Tokyo to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony, slated for next Tuesday, in a trip that observers say could create momentum for a thaw in the countries' ties frayed over Tokyo's export restrictions and wartime forced labor.   "It

PoliticsOct. 16, 2019

Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?

Despite dominating this week’s headlines with their No. 1 debut in the US, K-pop supergroup SuperM has come under scrutiny over album sales in their home market that industry sources say have helped them secure the top spot. The group, consisting of stars from multiple acts under S.M. Entertainment -- SHINee, EXO, NCT127 and WayV -- topped the Billboard album chart in the first week of October with 164,000 album sales and 4.9 million streams, which means nearly 95 percent of the hot debut

K-popOct. 16, 2019

[Graphic News] Hong Kong protesters, police in chaotic clashes　

　Hong Kong has been battered by more than four months of pro-democracy protests - and increasingly violent clashes with police - with Beijing-backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam unable to resolve the unprecedented crisis.　　Hong Kong officials have revealed that out of 2,379 protesters arrested since June, 750 were under 18 and 104 under 16.　The subway system - viewed as an enemy for ferrying police and shuttering stations - has been crippled, with some 2,400 ticketing machines and turnstiles vanda

World NewsOct. 16, 2019

Moon urges swift prosecution reform, strengthened audit of prosecution

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday ordered the interim chief of the Ministry of Justice to complete processes related to prosecutorial reform within the ministry’s authority within the month. In a meeting with Vice Justice Minister Kim O-su, Moon urged the vice minister to ensure that the absence of the minister is not felt, saying that it would take some time to appoint the new minister. Kim is currently heading the Justice Ministry following Cho Kuk’s resignation Monday, after anno

PoliticsOct. 16, 2019

Foundation to be launched for victims of Japan’s forced labor

A private foundation aimed at supporting Asian victims forced into labor during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea will be launched as early as this year amid frayed relations between Seoul and Tokyo. “It is against social justice to neglect forced labor victims who unfairly suffered,” Son Bong-ho, who heads the preparatory committee for the foundation, said at a press conference in central Seoul on Wednesday. Tentatively named the “Asia Peace Future Foundation,” t

Social AffairsOct. 16, 2019

Kim Jong-un says pain caused by US turned to rage

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rode up Paektusan on a horse, the North’s state media reported Wednesday, highlighting it as a historical event.Visiting upper Samjiyon County -- the birthplace of his father and predecessor Kim Jong-il, according to North Korea -- Kim said the pain the US is causing his people has turned to rage. He also stressed self-reliance.Releasing photographs of Kim on the back of a white horse on a snow-covered mountainside, the state-run Korean Central News Agency p

North KoreaOct. 16, 2019

Kakao Bank to raise W500b in capital by issuing new shares

South Korea’s internet-only lender Kakao Bank has decided to raise 500 billion won ($422.4 million) in capital by issuing new shares, the firm said Wednesday. The decision was approved by its board, as the firm seeks to improve its fiscal soundness.  According to Kakao Bank, it will issue 100 million new common stocks priced at 5,000 won per share. The record date for the shares is scheduled Nov. 5 and the stocks will be listed on Nov. 22. Once the capital increase process is complete

MarketOct. 16, 2019

Seoul subway union, company reach deal to resume operations

Unionized workers of Seoul Metro on Wednesday canceled their planned strike after reaching an agreement with the management, minutes before it was slated to start.The government-operated subway company and the union clinched the deal at 8:50 a.m. after more than six hours of negotiation, the union said.Seoul Metro operates Subway Lines No. 1-8, carrying over 7.2 million commuters daily. Wednesday’s deal includes hiking wages by 1.8 percent; employing 242 more personnel in regard to the ext

Social AffairsOct. 16, 2019

Inter-Korean soccer match: Stalemate reflects relations

It was a de facto defeat for South Korea. In a men’s World Cup qualifier match held Tuesday in Pyongyang, South Korea, No. 37 in the FIFA world rankings, failed to score a single goal against North Korea, No. 113, even with Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min leading the charge. It was the first inter-Korean home game for North Korea in almost three decades, since the two Koreas played each other in 1990.   South Koreans couldn’t watch the Tuesday match or cheer for

Social AffairsOct. 16, 2019

Kim Nyung-man looks back on his early days in the ’70s

Kim Nyung-man, a 70-year-old professional photographer, is holding a solo exhibition that looks back on the early days of his 50-year career. Born in 1949 in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, Kim started his career as a photojournalist in 1978 at the Dong-a Ilbo, a local newspaper. Working as a photojournalist for 33 years, he covered the Blue House, the truce village of Panmunjom and the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. The exhibition, which opened Monday, includes 36 of his early works fro

Arts & DesignOct. 16, 2019

Macallan releases Edition No. 5 in new color

Macallan has released a new whisky called Edition No. 5, in collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute, to demonstrate its craftsmanship and pioneering design, importer Edrington Korea said Wednesday. Inspired by Macallan’s natural color spectrum, the Pantone Color Institute developed a new color it has named “The Macallan Edition Purple” for the first time in the world, and applied it to the packaging of the latest whisky product, it added.The color symbolizes the whisky b

IndustryOct. 16, 2019

[From the Scene] Hanwha automation boosts solar efficiency　

JINCHEON, North Chungcheong Province -- At Hanwha Q Cells’ factory in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, there are hardly any workers. The five assembly lines -- 330 meters wide and 100 meters long -- are run by eight workers each. The high-quality solar cell and module manufacturer claims it is one of the most automated factories in the global industry.  “Automation is important. When an employee touches cells or modules, fingerprints or microcracks can be left on the produc

IndustryOct. 16, 2019

Korean executives getting younger: study

Executives at South Korea’s large businesses are fewer in number this year and are getting younger, a study found Wednesday.According to recruiting company Unico Search, Korea’s top 100 companies had a total of 6,932 executives, around 100 fewer than last year. The majority, 60 percent, were between the ages of 45 and 54. The most popular birth year for CEOs was 1962. The 27-person list of CEOs born that year includes Korean Air CEO Woo Ki-hong, GS Engineering and Construction CEO Li

IndustryOct. 16, 2019

[Noah Smith] Economics Nobel for three pragmatic poverty-fighters

This year’s economics Nobel prize went to three worthy economists: Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Michael Kremer of Harvard University. The prize, awarded “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty,” shows several important ways that the economics discipline is changing. A popular conception of economists is that they’re the high priests of the free market, downplaying the role of government and givin

ViewpointsOct. 16, 2019

‘To the Moon With Snoopy’: Uplifting ‘Peanuts’ characters arrive in Seoul

Lotte Museum of Art’s exhibition featuring the “Peanuts” gang will satisfy not just family visitors but also fans of fine art and pop art. “To the Moon With Snoopy” shows a wide range of works, from the original cartoon and animation works by Charles M. Schulz and Snoopy-themed decorations to contemporary Korean artists’ works featuring the “Peanuts” characters.  The first section of the show celebrates the 50th anniversary of Snoopy’s

Arts & DesignOct. 16, 2019