[Newsmaker] Interpol Red Notice issued for actress Yoon Ji-oh

Actress Yoon Ji-oh, who is under investigation for suspected fraud and defamation, lashed out at police for requesting an Interpol Red Notice for the Korean Canadian, despite her alleged crimes not being serious. Women’s rights activists accused police of showing “surprisingly” strong determination to conduct an investigation into Yoon, saying she is under tighter scrutiny by police because she is a woman. “A Red Notice is targeting those who committed heinous crimes

Social AffairsNov. 8, 2019

S. Korea to send fishing boat back to N. Korea after expulsion of 2 crew members

South Korea handed over a fishing boat to North Korea on Friday, a day after it deported two North Koreans accused of killing 16 fellow crew members of the vessel to the communist state, the unification ministry said.On Thursday, the two in their 20s were sent back to the North through the truce village of Panmunjom, five days after they were captured near the eastern sea border on Saturday.The two later confessed that they and another crew member killed the captain of the fishing boat out of an

North KoreaNov. 8, 2019

1st batch of Samsung's Galaxy Fold sells out online on 1st

The first batch of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Fold sold out on online stores shortly after its launch in China on Friday, according to industry officials. The Korean tech giant rolled out the Galaxy Fold on online and offline stores in China at 10 a.m. for US$2,293, making it the 24th country where the company has rolled out the foldable device. Jingdong.com, one of China's major e-commerce sites, said the Galaxy Fold sold out in just two seconds, and Samsung said on its Chinese blog that

IndustryNov. 8, 2019

Moon to meet political party leaders Sunday amid political stalemate

President Moon Jae-in will meet the heads of five political parties over the weekend, party officials said Friday, amid a political impasse over key reform bills and other pending issues.Moon has invited the political leaders to his office Cheong Wa Dae for a dinner gathering set for Sunday, the first such meeting in about four months.He intends to express his thanks to the party chiefs for their condolences over the death of his mother in late October.The party chiefs, including Lee Hae-chan, c

PoliticsNov. 8, 2019

Fiscal deficit hit record high amid slow growth, expanded spending

Weighed down by the prolonged slow growth and the government’s consequent fiscal expansion, South Korea’s fiscal deficit reached a record-high level, data by the Ministry of Economy and Finance showed Friday.According to the monthly fiscal trend report, the accumulated fiscal balance as of the end of September stood at 26.5 trillion won ($22.9 billion) in deficit.The corresponding figure had plunged into the red in 2005, 2006, 2009 and from 2013 to 2015, but the latest deficit volume

EconomyNov. 8, 2019

Moon to hold anti-corruption meeting as part of his fair society campaign

President Moon Jae-in plans to hold a meeting Friday on the government's anti-corruption efforts, Cheong Wa Dae said, having suffered a setback from his appointment of Cho Kuk as justice minister.The meeting is to start at 2.p.m., with Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl taking part. It would set the stage for Moon's first meeting with Yoon since a high-profile scandal erupted recently over alleged irregularities involving Cho's family.The meeting was delayed as Moon took special leave after the r

PoliticsNov. 8, 2019

US, N. Korea envoys meet briefly at nonproliferation conference in Moscow

The US special envoy for North Korea and a North Korean foreign ministry official handling American affairs spoke briefly to each other during a reception for participants in a nuclear nonprolifereation conference in Moscow, a participant said.Special Envoy Mark Lambert had a five-minute talk with Jo Chol-su, director-general of the North American department at the North's foreign ministry, in the reception Thursday for the 2019 Moscow Nonproliferation Conference, according to the participant. L

North KoreaNov. 8, 2019

Hyundai Motor heir says mobility innovation is for progress of humanity

The heir to Korea’s largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor, said on Thursday that the company’s future is in driving technology innovation for humanity, stressing its rationale behind works for future mobility. “Cities and mobility services were developed for humans from the very beginning,” said Chung Euisun, executive vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group at the Mobility Innovators Forum 2019, held in San Francisco.“That’s why we are making a wide range of efforts t

MobilityNov. 8, 2019

[Herald Interview] Zico returns with new reflective album ‘Thinking’

As a musician who used to fiercely jump around the stage spraying a bottle of water over hyped audiences, Zico admitted that showing his vulnerability required quite a lot of courage. The talented rapper, producer and member of K-pop boy band Block B, Zico, whose real name is Woo Ji-ho, explained that his real identity has always been shadowed by his externally confident demeanor and edgy style, or what the public expected from him. As his career progressed, through all the pressure that come wi

K-popNov. 8, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Wrap up 2019 at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul presents year-end promotions suitable for those planning gatherings to wrap up the year. Guests who make a booking from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 can choose from a festive menu (buffet or set), a beverage package, or a welcome canape set. All promotional sets are available for events with eight to 60 guests. Prices vary depending on the options. Benefits offered to all guests include vin chaud welcome drinks (one per person), festive table centerpieces, C

FoodNov. 8, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea

Chrysanthemum Exhibition of the Garden of Morning CalmVisitors to the Chrysanthemum Exhibition can enjoy the blazing fall foliage of nearby Chungnyeongsan and the golden waves created by the pine trees, as well as the myriad fully bloomed chrysanthemums covering just about every corner of the 330,000-square-meter outdoor garden. The festival runs through Nov. 24 and is open to visitors of all ages.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, visit www.morningcalm.co.kr.Seoul Lan

TravelNov. 8, 2019

[Weekender] How open is Korea to men’s makeup?

Male makeup could be the beauty world’s next big thing. And Korean men are leading that revolution as the world’s top consumers of grooming products, according to data and surveys. Men with flawless skin and colors on their eyes and lips often appear on TV here. It has even become the norm for male K-pop celebrities to apply makeup on their full face.  But off-screen, how open is Korea to male makeup? “For me, a little something to fix the complexion is OK, but eye an

CultureNov. 8, 2019

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Weathering with You(Japan)Opened Oct. 30AnimationDirected by Shinkai MakotoThe summer of his high school freshman year, Hodaka (Kotaro Daigo) runs away from his island home to Tokyo, and quickly finds himself pushed to his financial and personal limits. Then one day, Hodaka meets Hina (Nana Mori) on a busy street corner. This bright and strong-willed girl possesses a strange and wonderful ability: the power to stop the rain and clear the sky.Terminator: Dark Fate(US)Opened Oct. 30Action, Sci-fiD

FilmNov. 8, 2019

S. Korea, Japan to hold 2nd round of talks over WTO dispute

South Korea said Friday it has agreed to hold a second round of talks with Japan later this month in their latest attempt to resolve the on-going trade row over Tokyo's export restrictions at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Chung Hae-kwan, director-general of multilateral and legal affairs at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, will sit down for the discussion with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Kuroda on Nov. 19 in Geneva, according to the trade ministry here."We will make

PoliticsNov. 8, 2019

S. Korea-US air exercise to be conducted in reduced scope: Pentagon

South Korea and the United States will conduct a combined air exercise in reduced scope later this month, the Pentagon said Thursday.US Joint Staff Vice Director Navy Rear Adm. William Byrne said at a press briefing that the combined flying event will be smaller than the Vigilant Ace exercise, which was suspended last year to support diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea. A South Korean government source revealed the plan earlier, prompting an angry response from the North, which views

NationalNov. 8, 2019

[Weekender] Male shoppers gripped by lure of luxury

Lotte Department Store threw a party for some 200 of its VIP customers last month. About 10 luxury brands, including watchmaker IWC and designer clothing brand Thom Browne, set up booths, and models presented top styles for the upcoming season at a mini fashion show. Only men with annual purchases of over 100 million won ($86,485) were invited. Gone are the days when men were just an afterthought for retailers. They are emerging as power shoppers who exercise their spending power with a new sens

CultureNov. 8, 2019

US Defense Secretary Esper to visit S. Korea next week

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper will travel to South Korea next week for annual defense ministers' talks ahead of the expiry of a key military intelligence-sharing pact between Seoul and Tokyo, the Pentagon said Thursday. Esper will depart Wednesday to travel to Seoul, Bangkok, Manila and Hanoi, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said during a press briefing. He did not provide the exact dates, but it appears likely the secretary will travel in that order.Esper's trip to Seoul comes ahead of th

DefenseNov. 8, 2019

S. Korean coach Park Hang-seo signs extension with Vietnamese soccer

South Korean coach Park Hang-seo has signed a lucrative extension with the Vietnamese men's national football team.    Park signed his new contract at a press conference with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) here on Thursday. He'll continue to coach both the men's senior and under-23 national teams. The new contract will have two guaranteed years with an option for a third year.    Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Park has been making US$240,000

SoccerNov. 7, 2019

Girl band IZ*ONE postpones release of new album amid vote-rigging scandal

K-pop girl band IZ*ONE has postponed the release of its new album amid snowballing vote-rigging allegations at "Produce 48," a popular K-pop competition show.    "Off the Record, the management agency of IZ*ONE, has decided to delay the release of the group's first full-length album, originally scheduled for Nov. 11, out of respect for the opinions of fans," cable channel Mnet, which runs the K-pop competition show, said in a release on Thursday.  &nb

PerformanceNov. 7, 2019

Two North Koreans deported as probe finds mass murder charge

Two North Koreans who entered South Korean waters on a fishing boat were repatriated, as they allegedly killed 16 fellow crew members on their boat, the Unification Ministry said Thursday. The government returned the fishermen, who were in their 20s, through the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom after they confessed to mutiny during an investigation conducted by South Korean authorities.  The two men were caught south of the Northern Limit Line, a de facto maritime border off South K

North KoreaNov. 7, 2019