N. Korean official calls on US to meet year-end deadline before 'window closes'

A North Korean foreign ministry official has urged the United States to make a "forward-looking" decision within this year, saying the "window for opportunity is closing every day."The remarks by Jo Chol-su, director-general of the North American department at the North's foreign ministry, at the 2019 Moscow Nonproliferation Conference on Friday are the latest in a series of attempts by Pyongyang to pressure Washington to come up with new proposals in their denuclearization t

North KoreaNov. 9, 2019

Trump invited to same Russia event as NK leader

US President Donald Trump said Friday he has been invited to attend World War II anniversary celebrations in Russia in May, prompting speculation of a possible meeting there with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Trump said in response to a reporter's question that he was invited to attend the May celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Russia's victory in the war. Russian government officials said earlier that Kim had also been invited, but that he had not sent a response yet."I wa

North KoreaNov. 9, 2019

FM Kang holds talks with French digital affairs secretary over bilateral ties

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held talks with France's digital affairs secretary in Seoul Friday to discuss bilateral relations, peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula and cooperation in new technologies, Seoul's foreign ministry said. During the talks with Cedric O, Kang noted that bilateral cooperation has deepened in various areas since South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit to France in October last year, the ministry said in a press release.She also expressed gratitude to the French se

Foreign AffairsNov. 8, 2019

[Feature] S. Korean banks in heated competition over ‘open banking’

Struggling to innovate in a fast-changing, competitive market, South Korean banks have their eye on a new integrated financial service -- open banking.The service lowers the threshold for bank customers by allowing them to use virtually all banking services of different banks via a single mobile application. While this new financial technology service increases user convenience, it has also raised concerns about excessive competition.On Oct. 30, 10 major commercial banks here started offering th

MarketNov. 8, 2019

BTS' Jungkook booked for alleged involvement in car accident

Jungkook, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, was booked as a suspect for allegedly causing a car accident last month, police said Friday.A car driven by the 22-year-old singer crashed into a taxi on a road in central Seoul in October, according to police. Both Jungkook and the taxi driver suffered minor injuries. Police said they booked Jungkook on charges of violating the traffic law, adding that they will call in him in the near future for questioning.Police earlier said he was not driving under

PeopleNov. 8, 2019

Govt. to strengthen crackdown on irregularities in private education

The education ministry said Friday it will conduct a special crackdown on alleged irregularities in the private education sector, including high-priced consulting services tailored for college admission.The move is part of the government's pre-emptive measures to tackle potential rises in expensive private tutoring services as the government has announced a change in the policy related to college admission. The Ministry of Education announced a set of measures to combat high-priced private educa

PoliticsNov. 8, 2019

Woori Bank Vietnam celebrates office opening in Danang

Woori Bank Vietnam, the local subsidiary of South Korea’s Woori Financial Group, held its office opening ceremony in Danang this week, officials said Friday.The bank’s Danang office had earlier obtained its business license in September and kicked off business on Oct. 25, becoming Woori’s tenth bank office in Vietnam and the first in the central region. It was also the first foreign bank to kick off since the State Bank of Vietnam reinforced regulations for foreign banks in May

MarketNov. 8, 2019

Solidarity for Hong Kongers spreading fast in Seoul

On the wall of the main library in Seoul National University, yellow sticky notes with messages of support for Hong Kong protesters for democracy filled empty spaces Friday. One of the notes read, “I advocate (for the Hong Kongers) as one human being, remembering that liberty was not given but was achieved.”A group of South Korean students on Wednesday transformed one side of the school’s main library building, hanging up sheets of large paper where people could write messages

Social AffairsNov. 8, 2019

Cartoon penguin with attitude charms Korea

A few years ago, Korea’s cartoon industry saw arguably its biggest triumph with “Pororo the Little Penguin.” The cute, innocent penguin character was a massive hit across the nation and in other countries.Over the past few months, another penguin character has charmed Koreans. This time, the penguin character is far from innocent. Rather, it is blunt, careless and tough. Pengsoo debuted six months ago under Educational Broadcasting System, a public broadcasting station tha

TelevisionNov. 8, 2019

Collaboration between Nike, G-Dragon creates buzz

Sportswear brand Nike will soon release a new edition of the iconic Air Force 1 sneaker in collaboration with G-Dragon. Named AF1 (Air Force 1) Para-Nose, the sneakers mark the first project for the leader of Big Bang since being discharged from the military last month.  Air Force 1 is Nike’s signature line, touted as an icon of street fashion and beloved by sports fans around the world since its release in 1982. Trendsetter G-Dragon has been leading his fashion label Peaceminusone s

Arts & DesignNov. 8, 2019

Seoul, Tokyo to hold 2nd round of talks for WTO dispute settlement

South Korean and Japanese trade officials are expected to hold their second round of working-level meetings in Switzerland later this month in an effort to resolve the two countries’ ongoing trade dispute at the World Trade Organization, the Korean government said Friday. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the two countries have agreed to meet Nov. 19 in Geneva. Their previous meeting had ended with minimal results last month.The agreement came after Seoul filed a com

IndustryNov. 8, 2019

SKT applies K-pop singer’s voice to smart speakers

　South Korea’s largest mobile carrier SK Telecom said Friday it has introduced upgraded functions for its smart speaker Nugu, including a voice assistant that sounds like a popular K-pop singer.　Titled “Nugu Celeb Alarm,” Nugu’s new voice command service is based on Irene, leader of girl group Red Velvet. This was achieved via a technology that converts written text into verbal speech, the company said. 　For the service, SKT collaborated with S.M. Entertainment, one of th

IndustryNov. 8, 2019

FM sees point in claims GSOMIA termination could benefit NK, China

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday she sees a point in claims that the possible termination of a military intelligence-sharing pact between South Korea and Japan could benefit North Korea and China.Kang made the remarks as the General Security of Military Information Agreement is set to expire on Nov. 23 unless Seoul retracts its decision to end the agreement seen as a symbolic framework to foster the US' trilateral security cooperation with its two Asian allies. "I think we can ma

DefenseNov. 8, 2019

South Korea, US to hold annual defense talks in Seoul next week

South Korea and the United States will hold their annual defense ministers’ talks in Seoul next week to reaffirm their alliance and discuss issues including the transfer of wartime operational control, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday. Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his US counterpart Mark Esper will attend the 51st Security Consultative Meeting on Nov. 15, where they are expected to touch on pending issues, such as Seoul’s intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo. Esp

DefenseNov. 8, 2019

Moon stresses education, prosecution and labor reform

President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed the importance of ridding the nation of corrupt practices, listing education and prosecution reform as two of the most urgent issues. Speaking at a meeting of the anti-corruption policy committee, Moon said the labor market and the practice of giving preferential treatment to retired public officials need urgent reform.  “Anti-corruption reform and (building a) fair society is a calling of our administration,” Moon said. Listing changes m

Social AffairsNov. 8, 2019

Hanjin KAL takes steps to enhance governance structure

Korean Air Lines Co., said Friday it has taken steps to enhance its governance structure and shareholders' value.  Hanjin KAL's board of directors has decided to set up the governance committee and the compensation committee under its wing as part of its broader efforts to improve its governance structure, according to the company.  The governance committee will conduct a feasibility study on management issues directly related to shareholders value before a decision is made a

IndustryNov. 8, 2019

S. Korea progresses to next round after Australia beats Canada

South Korea advanced to the second stage of the ongoing Olympic baseball qualifying tournament Friday, even before playing its final group game.Australia defeated Canada 3-1 in the teams' final Group C game of the Premier12 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with cleanup Logan Wade delivering a tie-breaking, two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth.This result left Australia and Canada with the identical record of 1-2, and it also meant South Korea (2-0) will finish among the top two in the group,

BaseballNov. 8, 2019

S. Korea announces first female two-star general

A female South Korean Army brigadier general was promoted on Friday to become the country's first female two-star general, the defense ministry said.Kang Sun-young, 53, became a major general in a regular reshuffle of top uniformed officers and was appointed by President Moon Jee-in to lead the Army's Aviation Operations Command, the ministry said. It will also be the first time that a female commander will take the helm of the aviation command, according to the ministry. "Maj. Gen. Ka

DefenseNov. 8, 2019

Hong Kong student who fell during protest clashes dies

HONG KONG (AFP) -- A Hong Kong student who fell from a car park while police and protesters were clashing last weekend has died, hospital officials said Friday, in a development likely to further escalate tensions after months of violent rallies in the city.Alex Chow, a 22-year-old computer science undergraduate, was certified dead at 8.09am on Friday, Queen Elizabeth Hospital said.  Chow was taken to hospital in an unconscious state in the early hours of Monday morning following late-night

WorldNov. 8, 2019

Jincheon arsonist faces murder charges

Police said Friday they are seeking an arrest warrant for a man who killed one and injured several others during a family rite in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, on charges of murder.The 79-year-old suspect, whose name has not been revealed, was detained on Thursday after he set fire to a group of his relatives performing a ritual ceremony in the mountains. An 85-year-old man was killed, while 10 others sustained burns of varying degrees.  Based on witness statements, the man allegedl

Social AffairsNov. 8, 2019