More than 300 cases of Invossa side effects reported

More than 300 cases of Invossa side effects have been reported, the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee said Friday. Invossa is the first-ever gene therapy drug from Korea that treats joint inflammation. Kolon Life Science acquired the sales approval of the drug in July 2017, only to have it revoked this May after the company admitted mislabeling the drug’s main ingredient.When applying for Invossa’s commercialization with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety here,

IndustryOct. 4, 2019

Nearly 800 workplace bullying complaints filed in two months: ministry

Some 800 instances of workplace bullying have been reported in two months since a new labor law against workplace harassment came into force on July 16. The number of complaints filed by employees against their companies totaled 794 as of Sept. 19, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said during a parliamentary audit session Friday. Verbal abuse was the most common type of misconduct reported, accounting for 44.5 percent of all cases. This was followed by unfair demotions at 26.3 percent, and g

Social AffairsOct. 4, 2019

Lotte was No. 1 violator of FTC sanctions between 2014 and 2018

Over the past five years, Lotte Group was the South Korean conglomerate that received the highest number of sanctions from the nation’s antitrust watchdog, data showed Friday. According to the data supplied by Rep. Chun Hae-chul of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the Fair Trade Commission sanctioned Lotte on 81 occasions between 2014 and 2018. The group that received the next-greatest number of sanctions was Hyundai Motor Group with 76, followed by Kolon Group with 63, SK Group with

IndustryOct. 4, 2019

Main opposition ratchets up political attacks over justice minister following massive rally

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party called for a probe into the justice minister over corruption allegations on Friday, one day after conservatives held a massive rally to demand his dismissal.The conservative party ratcheted up its political attacks on Justice Minister Cho Kuk and the ruling party, apparently buoyed by Thursday's rally in downtown Seoul, in which the party claimed around 3 million people took part.Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets in downtown Seoul,

PoliticsOct. 4, 2019

S. Korea’s forex reserves rise in Sept. on investment returns

South Korea’s foreign currency reserve assets increased by nearly $2 billion on-month in September, bolstered by high returns from foreign asset investments, data showed Friday. According to the Bank of Korea, foreign exchange reserves increased $1.8 billion on-month to $403.3 billion last month. The figure had declined in August due to the strong dollar, but rebounded slightly last month as the central bank’s investment in foreign government bonds, mortgage-backed securities and oth

MarketOct. 4, 2019

Justice minister’s relative indicted on embezzlement charges

The prosecution on Thursday indicted Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s relative Cho Beom-dong on a number of charges, including embezzlement, over dubious financial dealings involving a private equity fund in which the minister’s wife and children had invested.Cho Beom-dong, 36, is the de facto owner of Co-Link Private Equity, the operator of a fund in which the minister’s wife and their two children, as well as his brother-in-law and his two children, have invested a combined 1.4 bil

Social AffairsOct. 4, 2019

S. Korea's economic fundamentals remain solid: Moody's

A senior official of global rating agency Moody's Investors Service has said that the overall fundamentals of the South Korean economy are solid, the finance ministry said Friday.Moody's managing director of sovereign risk, Yves Lemay, made the comment in a meeting with South Korea's Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom in London after Kim asked Moody's to take into account South Korea's policies in evaluating its rating on Seoul. Lemay said geopolitical risks constrained South Korea's rating, th

EconomyOct. 4, 2019

Chief of studio behind 'Parasite' wins French cinema award

The chief of the company that produced the Cannes-winning "Parasite" will be given a French cinema award in recognition of her role in promoting South Korea-French collaboration in cinema, the French Embassy here said Friday.Kwak Shin-ae, the CEO of Barunson E&A, which produced the film by director Bong Joon-ho, and Korean actress Bae Doo-na have been selected as this year's winners of the Etoile Du Cinema award, the embassy said. The embassy award annually recognizes actors and pe

FilmOct. 4, 2019

Movement ban extended, more pigs to be culled to halt additional ASF cases

South Korea is making seamless disinfection efforts to stem the outbreak of African swine fever, including extending the lockdown on northern areas of the country and culling more pigs as a part of preventive measures.In less than three weeks since the country's first-ever outbreak of the deadly animal disease, South Korea has confirmed 13 ASF cases, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Friday. Four cases were added in just the past two days. The ministry said the

Social AffairsOct. 4, 2019

UN Security Council to meet Tuesday on North Korea launches

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The UN Security Council will hold closed consultations Tuesday on North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches, diplomats said Thursday.Britain, France and Germany called for a council meeting following the recent series of missile launches, which are a violation of UN sanctions.The council session will take place following Saturday's meeting of US and North Korean officials in Stockholm. It will be the first US-North Korean meeting since talks broke down in February at

North KoreaOct. 4, 2019

SK Telecom to supply 5G network tech to Japan's Rakuten: sources

SK Telecom Co. will supply its fifth-generation network solutions to Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten Inc., industry sources said Friday, as South Korea's top mobile carrier expands its presence in the sector.SK Telecom will export its 5G network designs, optimized communication quality solutions for 5G, 5G antennas, and radio frequency transmission technologies, according to the sources. SK Telecom did not reveal the value of the deal, but industry insiders speculate Rakuten will invest more t

IndustryOct. 4, 2019

[Eye Plus] Hangeul, our proud script

Oct. 9 is the birthday of Hangeul, the writing system for the Korean language. On this national holiday, South Koreans celebrate the beauty of the over 500-year-old alphabet, invented by King Sejong the Great (1397-1450). Originally made up of 28 letters and later reduced to 24 -- 14 consonants and 10 vowels -- Hangeul is so logical and phonetic that linguists worldwide regard it as one of the most remarkable writing systems in the world. It is also easy to learn. King Sejong once said, &ld

CultureOct. 4, 2019

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Suite escape at Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul presents a suite room promotion, offering a 15 percent saving on regular suite rates with a complimentary bottle of red wine. A Park Suites room, featuring separated bed room and living room areas, will be offered at a starting price of 420,750 won. Guests will have free access to the hotel’s sauna, swimming pool and fitness facilities. The deal is available for bookings made until Nov. 14 for stays until Dec. 13. Reservations are available

FoodOct. 4, 2019

[Weekender] The pink invasion

Pink is the most sought-after autumn color in South Korea right now. Do an Instagram search for #pinkmuhly and you’ll get an idea of what’s going on. There are over 300,000 posts, many showing couples, children and young women posing in picturesque gardens full of pink grass. Surreal displays of pink and purple inflorescences, floating above tall grass like soft clouds, have popped up in so many cities and towns that they are difficult to keep track of: Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Ulsan, Yeo

TravelOct. 4, 2019

[Weekender] Into the red, yellow and orange

The air is crisp and the trees are getting ready to change color. Now is the time to be outdoors. With nearly 70 percent of its territory covered by mountains, South Korea is spoiled with choices for fall getaway destinations where the scenery is a magnificent display of vibrant colors. Autumn reds and oranges have already started to emerge at some high peaks in northern parts of the country. The fall foliage is expected to be most spectacular in late October to early November. Just be

TravelOct. 4, 2019

Seoul stocks open tad higher following Wall Street gains

Seoul stocks opened slightly higher Friday following overnight gains on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.91 points, or 0.19 percent, to 2,035.82 in the first 15 minutes of trading.US stocks rose Thursday (local time) on hopes that the US Federal Reserve may lower interest rates following signs of a slowing economy. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 0.47 percent to close at 26,201.04.  In Seoul, large caps traded mixed, though tech and chemical shar

MarketOct. 4, 2019

Facebook launches 'Threads' app woven into Instagram

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) -- Facebook on Thursday launched Threads, an image-centric messaging app designed to weave tight circles of Instagram friends together, while ramping up its challenge to rival Snapchat.Threads is its own separate smartphone app, but ties into lists of "close friends" that Instagram began letting users create late last year, according to director of product Robby Stein."Threads is the fastest way to share a photo or video with your close friends on Instagram,&qu

World NewsOct. 4, 2019

EU 'unconvinced' by UK Brexit proposals

BRUSSELS (AFP) -- The EU is "unconvinced" by Britain's new Brexit proposals but has not immediately dismissed them, with officials and diplomats saying Thursday there were positive points alongside the many problematic ones.The question is: are they the basis for negotiations?British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he hopes so, as he moves to execute his vow to take his country out of the EU on October 31, deal or no deal.His government submitted legal proposals on Wednesday to the E

World NewsOct. 4, 2019

Pompeo, pillar of Trump team, drawn deep into Ukraine scandal

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- Less than a month ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo triumphed over rivals to emerge as the dominant force in Donald Trump's foreign policy.Pompeo's ascendancy was confirmed in a very public manner when Trump sacked his chief adversary, John Bolton, as national security advisor on September 10.But Pompeo's fortunes have suddenly darkened over his role in the Ukraine scandal that has triggered an impeachment probe into the president.After prevaricating for days, Pompeo fin

World NewsOct. 4, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin to start Game 3 in NLDS vs. Nationals

Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin will start Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the announcement Thursday, hours before the start of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.The Dodgers, which finished with the best record in the NL at 106-56, will have the home-field advantage until the World Series, if they go that far. Game 3 of this best-of-five series against the Nationals will be at Nation

BaseballOct. 4, 2019