Pyongyang ups pressure against Seoul, denounces joint military exercise with US

North Korea denounced South Korea’s combined military exercise with the United States on Sunday, saying it is “the most concentrated” security threat against its regime. In a column on North Korean propaganda website Uriminzokkiri, Pyongyang made issue of the recent remark by US Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger, who said the joint military exercise of US and South Korean marines has continued, in a seminar. ”The US and South Korea’s military warmongers said th

North KoreaOct. 13, 2019

Prime minister to attend Japanese emperor’s enthronement ceremony

Despite soured ties between South Korea and Japan, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon will attend the Japanese emperor’s enthronement ceremony next week, the government said Sunday.According to the Prime Minister’s secretariat, Lee will visit Japan from Oct. 22 to 24 for the enthronement events of Japanese Emperor Naruhito. Lee will attend the enthronement banquet on Oct. 22, and another banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Oct. 23, the secretariat said in a statement.&nbs

Foreign AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Movies, dramas become new lucrative business for S. Korean internet companies

South Korea’s leading internet firms are seeking to boost their presence in the entertainment industry by capitalizing on online content popular here and overseas.Using their internet cartoons, K-pop streaming services and other web-based items, Naver and Kakao have been accelerating their efforts to monetize lucrative content by adapting them into movies and dramas. In addition to establishing drama studios and streaming platforms, the internet giants have acquired stakes in local enterta

IndustryOct. 13, 2019

Justice minister’s wife to face court over alleged family corruption

Court proceedings into the corruption scandal surrounding Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family are slated for later this week, a Seoul court said Sunday.According to Seoul Central District Court, the trial preparation hearing for Cho’s wife Chung Kyung-shim, 57, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday. Chung is not expected to appear at the pretrial hearing, which defendants are not obliged to attend.On Saturday, the Seoul Central District prosecutors summoned Chung for the fourth time for qu

PoliticsOct. 13, 2019

International conference for teaching English held in Seoul

A Korea-based association of teachers of English as a foreign language held an international conference over the weekend at Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul.KOTESOL -- the Korean chapter of the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages international association -- brought together new teachers and veteran educators for its annual meeting, this time themed “Blending Disciplines, Approaches and Technologies.” In a welcome message, KOTESOL President David E. Shaffer sai

Social AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Railway services disrupted for 3rd day as strike continues

South Korea's rail services were partially disrupted or delayed Sunday as unionized workers continued their 72-hour strike demanding better working conditions.Around 75.2 percent of the country's regular rail services were in operation, according to the Korea Railroad Corp. and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.KTX bullet trains were operating at 68.2 percent of the normal level, while Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains were at around 59.5 percent and 62.5 percent, respectively. 

Social AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Baseball rivals set for postseason rematch, one year after memorable battle

So they meet again.A year after trading blows in a playoff battle for the ages, the SK Wyverns and the Kiwoom Heroes will clash once again in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason starting Monday.The Wyverns will have the home field advantage in this best-of-five second round action. Game 1 is 6:30 p.m. Monday at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul.The Wyverns, the 2018 Korean Series champions, earned a direct berth in the second round after finishing the regular sea

BaseballOct. 13, 2019

Hanwha showcases defense technologies at US’ largest land power expo

Hanwha Group’s defense units will showcase their latest technologies at North America’s largest land-power exposition in Washington this week, the company said Sunday. Hanwha Corp., Hanwha Defense and Hanwha Systems will share a booth at the 2019 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the US Army, which takes place from Monday to Wednesday, local time. In its ground system zone, Hanwha will present its newest technologies, such as the Redback armored car, which was

IndustryOct. 13, 2019

[Newsmaker] BTS writes history with Arab fans at Riyadh concert

RIYADH – For BTS and the 30,000 screaming Arab fans who filled King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday evening, it was a night to remember.“We’d never thought we would perform here. Thanks to all the people, to all the ARMYs (BTS’ fandom) who made this possible. There is a beautiful full moon up in the sky. Remind of us, remind of tonight,” band leader RM called out to the crowd. Indeed, BTS’ Saudi Arabian leg of its ongoing &ld

K-popOct. 13, 2019

Online streaming giants battle for Asian audiences

BUSAN (AFP) -- Acclaimed director David Michod's epic "The King" was one of four major Netflix productions screened at Asia's largest film festival this week, underlining how streaming services are increasingly challenging Hollywood and traditional media for the attention of artists -- and viewers.Asia is seen as an important part of the global streaming industry's growth plan. In conjunction with the main event, Busan International Film Festival also hosted its first Asia Contents Awa

FilmOct. 13, 2019

US Ambassador Harris celebrates International Day at Korea International School

Korea International School held its annual “International Day” on Oct. 2 with US Ambassador Harry Harris opening the event.　In his opening address, Harris gave a message of empathy, saying that global citizenship serves us well in business, the arts, sciences and diplomacy. He also encouraged the students to express gratitude. “You cannot express enough gratitude,” he said, concluding his speech before he thanked the school for inviting him to be part of International Day

Social AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Koreas to face off in Pyongyang World Cup qualifier

North and South Korea face each other in a World Cup qualifier this week for their first ever competitive men's match in Pyongyang, while talks on the North's nuclear arsenal remain deadlocked.The teams -- with Tottenham's star striker Son Heung-min included in the South Korean squad -- are expected to step out onto Kim Il-sung Stadium turf on Tuesday.It comes in the wake of a series of North Korean missile tests and after talks with the US over its weapons programmes broke down, with Pyongyang

SoccerOct. 13, 2019

[Herald Review] ‘Journalist’ an imperfect, but worthy attempt to take pulse of society

While watching director Michihito Fujii’s “The Journalist,” I had to keep reminding myself that this is a movie based in Japan, not South Korea, so reminiscent was it of a similar incident here just a few years ago in which the government went rogue to abuse its might and sway public opinion in its favor.Having said that, I have mixed feelings on the end product. I was not a fan of the performance by Shim Eun-Kyung -- an accomplished actress held back by speaking in a foreign l

FilmOct. 13, 2019

[News Focus] Korean stocks lag behind foreign rivals

SEJONG – It’s still too early to call it confidence, but optimism is growing among some capital-market participants and analysts in South Korea over the possibility that stock prices will rebound. They cite favorable external factors involving eased concerns about the trade dispute between the US and China as the prospects of a bilateral compromise grow.The benchmark Kospi has been swayed by external factors like global financial crisis over the past few years or decades. However, li

EconomyOct. 13, 2019

S. Korea on alert over potential spread of swine fever via wild boars

South Korea's quarantine authorities remained alert on Sunday over the potential nationwide spread of African swine fever after wild boars were found dead with traces of the disease north of Seoul.The quarantine authorities said Saturday two wild boars, found dead in Cheorwon, 90 kilometers north of Seoul and bordering North Korea, were tested positive for the deadly animal disease, marking the first time traces of ASF had been found in Gangwon Province.South Korea has confirmed 14 cases of ASF

Social AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Two dead as Typhoon Hagibis batters Japan with 'unprecedented' rain

TOKYO (AFP) -- Powerful Typhoon Hagibis barrelled through Japan Saturday, killing at least two people and lashing large parts of the country with "unprecedented" rain that caused floods, landslides and emergency disaster warnings.Around 7.3 million people were given non-compulsory evacuation orders, 90 were injured -- four seriously -- and several others reported missing as flooding hit many towns and cities.Even before making landfall, Hagibis wrought havoc on two major sporting event

World NewsOct. 13, 2019

S. Korean prime minister to attend Japanese emperor's enthronement event

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is expected to visit Tokyo next week to attend the Japanese emperor's enthronement event in an apparent move to mend soured relations between the two neighbors over trade and shared history, sources said Sunday. Lee will visit Japan from Oct. 22-24 for the ceremony. The prime minister's office is set to announce further details later in the day, according to the sources.Last week, a Cheong Wa Dae official said President Moon Jae-will not attend the event,

Foreign AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Justice minister's wife summoned on corruption allegations

Prosecutors on Sunday ended the overnight questioning of Justice Minister Cho Kuk's wife as part of a widening investigation into corruption allegations surrounding the minister's family.The questioning that started around 9 a.m. Saturday at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office finished at 1:50 a.m. Sunday. It was the fourth time prosecutors had questioned Cho's wife, a university professor surnamed Chung. The actual interrogation finished before 6 p.m. Saturday, but the session extend

Social AffairsOct. 13, 2019

Seoul stocks to advance further this week on US-China trade deal

South Korean stocks are expected to build further gains as the United States and China reached a partial deal to end their trade war and as the Bank of Korea's rate decision comes under focus.On Friday (Washington time), US president Donald Trump unveiled the first phase of a deal with China to end their yearlong trade row that has roiled the global financial market and suspended a planned tariff hike.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,044.61 Friday, up 1.2 percent from

MarketOct. 13, 2019

Korean shippers set to join hands to win huge LNG shipping orders from Qatar

South Korean shippers are considering joining hands to win massive liquefied natural gas transportation orders to be placed by Qatar, industry sources said Sunday. Five bulkers -- reportedly Korea Line Corp., Pan Ocean Co., SK Shipping Co., Hyundai LNG Shipping Co. and H-Line Shipping Co. -- are set to form an alliance and hold a presentation together in Doha on Monday to explain their plans for Qatar's LNG project, according to the sources.  Qatar Petroleum, the world's largest LNG produce

IndustryOct. 13, 2019