S. Korea doubles contribution to Green Climate Fund to $200m

South Korea and other donor states have collectively pledged to add $9.6 billion to the Green Climate Fund over the next four years. Asia’s fourth-largest economy will be the ninth-largest contributor, providing $200 million, which is double the amount it provided for the 2015-2018 period.The fund held its first high-level replenishment conference in Paris last week, seeking donations to finance its activities for the 2020-2023 period, Seoul’s Ministry of Economy and Finance said Mon

MarketOct. 28, 2019

Forced labor victim dies without resolution to suit

Lee Choon-myeon, a victim of forced labor during Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula during the first half of 20th century, died Saturday. According to the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, Lee passed away in the early hours of Saturday. She was 88 years old.  Lee’s suit seeking compensation from Japan’s Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. is pending at the Supreme Court. Lee’s surviving family members plan to continue the suit. In 1944, Lee, then 13, began working f

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2019

Moon vows more support for AI

The government will push for deregulation and expand subsidies to support the development of the country’s artificial intelligence-related industries, and a national AI strategy will be drawn up within the year, President Moon Jae-in said Monday. Speaking at Developers View 2019 -- the largest AI-related industry event held in Korea -- at the Coex exhibition center in Seoul, Moon pledged increased support for the industry, saying that the “era of AI” has arrived. “We

PoliticsOct. 28, 2019

[Herald Review] Parking lot turns circus tent for Halloween

The first edition of the Escape: Psycho Circus Korea music festival lit up the pre-Halloween weekend in Seoul.The Halloween-themed festival, organized by US festival company Insomniac, landed in Korea this year at the parking lot of Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The lot was transformed into a circus-themed wonderland, filled with sounds from more than 27 notable dance music names. The mainstage Slaughter House set up inside a large circus tent featured a stage designed in

PerformanceOct. 28, 2019

Comedienne Park Na-rae's new stand-up show creates buzz in S. Korean show biz

Making off-color jokes is taboo in the South Korean entertainment industry, especially for a woman.Comedians have to be mindful of broadcasting regulations and harsh criticism when they engage in explicit and inventive dirty talking.But Park Na-rae, a 34-year-old who made her debut on KBS' flagship Gag Concert in 2006, is pushing the boundaries in comedy."Park Na-rae: Glamour Warning," which was released on Oct. 16 on global media giant Netflix, is a stand-up comedy that delivers a fun

TelevisionOct. 28, 2019

Naver’s second headquarters to become ‘robot-friendly’

South Korean internet company Naver said Monday its advanced robot technology would be incorporated into the operation of the tech giant’s second headquarters scheduled to be built by 2021. During its developer conference Deview 2019 in Seoul, Naver’s leadership announced a specific construction plan for its new business complex. The building will be located right next to Naver’s first headquarters, Green Factory, in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.In what Naver described the world&

TechnologyOct. 28, 2019

[Newsmaker] Identity of Korean killed in Battle of Tarawa confirmed

The identity of a Korean laborer who died during the Battle of Tarawa in World War II has been confirmed, according to government data. A DNA test conducted on the remains of the victim -- who was only identified as “Tarawa No. 46” -- and a man who claimed to be his son showed a 99.9999 percent probability that the two are related, National Forensic Service data obtained by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Rep. Kwon Mi-hyuk revealed Monday. The discovery marked the first resul

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2019

South Korea’s top 1,000 firms spent W50tr on R&D last year

South Korea’s largest companies, including Samsung, Hyundai and LG, spent more on research and development and earned more in 2018 compared to the previous year, despite growing concerns about the slowing global economy, according to a local public institute on Monday. According to a new report released by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology under the Industry Ministry, the combined investment on research and development of 1,000 companies amounted to 49.7 trillion won ($42.5

IndustryOct. 28, 2019

Hanwha Systems seeks up to W460b in IPO

Hanwha Systems, the defense technology unit of Hanwha Group, announced Monday that it is expected to raise as much as 460.1 billion won ($393.7 million) for its initial public offering and join the benchmark Kospi by the end of next month. The firm is offering around 32.9 million shares at 12,250 won to 14,000 won apiece, the firm said in a press conference. The exact share price will be determined Wednesday through book building before receiving investor orders Nov. 4-5.  NH Investment &am

MarketOct. 28, 2019

Animal worming tablets ineffective as cancer therapy: MFDS

Using fenbendazole, a broad-spectrum drug used by veterinarians against gastrointestinal parasites --administered to sheep, cattle, horses, fish, dogs, cats, rabbits, and seals -- as treatment for cancer patients is inappropriate, the Korean Cancer Association and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Monday, citing lack of clinical data to vouch for its safety and efficacy.Fenbendazole’s purported oncological effects became a global sensation after multiple reports from terminal cancer pa

IndustryOct. 28, 2019

SNU to hire its first female Korean economics professor

Seoul National University, one of the nation’s top schools, said its economics department will be hiring its first-ever female South Korean professor next year. The news comes more than a year after the school failed in its first bid to appoint a female Korean economist. The department said Monday that it has decided to appoint Park Yena, currently an assistant professor of economics at the University of Rochester in New York state. Park has postponed her official assignment until Septembe

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2019

Parties wrangle over potential referring of key reform bills to plenary session

Political parties on Monday wrangled over whether the parliamentary speaker should refer key prosecution reform bills placed on a fast track to a plenary session set for this week.National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang is mulling whether to present the prosecution reform-related bills for consideration at a plenary meeting scheduled for Tuesday.The bills refer to proposals to set up an independent unit to probe corruption allegations by high-ranking public officials and to give more investigati

PoliticsOct. 28, 2019

Netflix to release 'Kingdom' season 2 next year

Global media giant Netflix said Monday its original Korean drama series "Kingdom" will return for a second season next year.The first season of "Kingdom," a genre-defining six-episode zombie mystery thriller set in the last Korean kingdom of Joseon, premiered globally on the US video streaming service in January. "The second season of Netflix's original 'Kingdom' will be released in March next year," the US-based company said in a press release.In the new season, th

TelevisionOct. 28, 2019

S. Korea's parliament ratifies free trade deal with Britain

South Korea's National Assembly on Monday ratified the free trade agreement between Seoul and London in a move to brace for Britain's exit from the European Union.The agreement will go into effect automatically in case of a no-deal Brexit, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.If Britain and the European Union reach an agreement on a Brexit deal, the FTA will be implemented after the transition period. The trade deal centers on maintaining benefits enjoyed by the two countries

Foreign AffairsOct. 28, 2019

9 in 10 K-pop fans want to visit S. Korea: poll

Nine in 10 K-pop fans would like to visit South Korea in the future, a survey showed Monday, highlighting K-pop's positive impact on the local tourism sector.In a survey of 12,663 people in 111 countries who identified themselves as K-pop fans, 89.8 percent of the respondents said they would like to visit the country, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Of those who expressed their desire to visit South Korea, 76.4 percent said they would like to visit within a year."K-pop's popula

PerformanceOct. 28, 2019

TWICE announces Tokyo Dome edition of world tour

K-pop girl band TWICE will hit the Tokyo Dome stadium next year on a new Tokyo leg of its ongoing world tour, the band's management agency said Monday. The girl band is currently on the globe-trotting concert tour, with its Japanese leg having kicked off last week in Hokkaido. According to JYP Entertainment on Monday, the ongoing Japanese leg will newly include two days of concerts at Tokyo Dome from March 3-4.It will be the girl band's second year in a row to perform at one of Japan's biggest c

PerformanceOct. 28, 2019

'It's crazy': Tiger Woods secures record 82nd US PGA Tour win in Japan

INZAI (AFP) -- Tiger Woods said it was "crazy"  after he made golfing history Monday by holding off the challenge of home favourite Hideki Matsuyama to win the weather-delayed Zozo Championship by three shots.The 15-time major winner Woods finished 19-under par to equal US legend Sam Snead's all-time record of 82 US PGA Tour victories set 54 years ago.Woods, in his first outing since arthroscopic knee surgery two months ago, broke into a huge smile after he safely got up and down

GolfOct. 28, 2019

S. Korea to approve 7th low-cost carrier

South Korea's transport ministry said Monday it will permit Fly Gangwon, the country's seventh low-cost carrier, to begin operations next month, a move that could further heat up competition in South Korea's aviation market. An air operator certificate to be issued to Fly Gangwon on Tuesday will allow the carrier to offer two flights a day on the Yangyang-Jeju route beginning in November, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement."The aviation authorities will c

EconomyOct. 28, 2019

S. Korea holds search operation for ASF-infected wild boars

South Korea's quarantine officials on Monday kicked off an intensive search operation for dead wild boars possibly infected with African swine fever near the border with North Korea.South Korea's environment and forest authorities said they will implement a joint search operation to find dead wild boars near the border, as they could be infected with the virus.About 440 officials will carry out daily patrols in the designated areas.South Korea will also induce wild boars to move to northern regi

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2019

STX Corp. signs coal trading deal with Russia's Mechel

STX Corp., a South Korean general trading firm, said Monday it has signed a deal with Russian mining giant Mechel PAO to import coal and coke produced in the Kuzbass mines in Kemerovo, Russia.Under the deal, STX Corp. will import 1.2 million tons of coal and coke a year. The Kuzbass region accounts for 60 percent of the total coal production in Russia.STX Corp. has been recently expanding its commodity trading businesses to minerals. In June, it secured rights to sell vanadium and graphite produ

EconomyOct. 28, 2019