[David Ignatius] Trump compromised national security for personal gain

If you’re wondering why it matters that US President Donald Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine while he was requesting political favors from its new president, think about the Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting a nasty proxy war against Russian-backed separatists. America is Ukraine’s ally in this fight. Ukrainian commanders, battling to hold their country together against a five-year onslaught by Russia, have been depending on US promises of military assistance. In life or deat

ViewpointsSept. 26, 2019

S. Korea to sell 6.1t won in state bonds in Oct.

South Korea plans to sell 6.1 trillion won ($5 billion) in state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday.The government will issue 1.2 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of three years and 1.2 trillion won in five-year bonds, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It also intends to sell 1.4 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of 10 years and 500 billion won in 20-year Treasurys, while floating 1.4 trillion won and 400 billion won in bonds with a maturity of 30 years

EconomySept. 26, 2019

Hyundai launches innovative festival for artists, developers, startups

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that its open innovation platform is to host a three-day festival called “Zero One Day,” where artists, developers and startups can share their ideas and communicate in a creative environment. The event is named after and hosted by Zero One, an open innovation platform launched by Hyundai in March 2018. It will offer opportunities for participants to present their projects and business models to the public. About 70 projects will be presented this ye

MobilitySept. 26, 2019

Former financial technocrat tapped as S. Korea's chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing talks with US

South Korea appointed a former career finance ministry official the new chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing talks with the United States, the foreign ministry said Thursday.Jeong Eun-bo, who served as vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission and had a long career at the finance ministry, will lead the South Korean team to negotiate a new Special Measures Agreement, according to the ministry.The pact between Seoul and Washington stipulates how much South Korea should contribute to

Foreign AffairsSept. 26, 2019

Samsung Heavy develops fuel cell-powered crude oil tankers

Samsung Heavy Industries has become the first shipbuilder to develop the world’s first fuel cell-powered aframax crude oil tankers in response to the International Maritime Organization regulations strictly limiting carbon dioxide emissions. Samsung Heavy said Thursday it acquired Approval in Principle, or AiP, by Oslo-based international accredited registrar and classification society DNV GL, for its fuel cell-powered aframax crude oil tanker. AiP is a process to verify technological

IndustrySept. 26, 2019

KOTRA hosts Korea consumer goods fair in India

The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency hosted a consumer goods fair in New Delhi on Thursday, eyeing the fast-evolving consumer goods sector of the world’s sixth-largest economy. The fair, which is part of a weeklong Korea-India business forum, involved 45 South Korean consumer goods firms and Indian buyers. They held a total of 500 rounds of meetings, according to KOTRA.  India’s consumer goods sector was valued at $53 billion in 2017, according to data provided

IndustrySept. 26, 2019

Cho Kuk's scandal tops agenda at parliamentary session

Corruption allegations involving embattled Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family engulfed a parliamentary interpellation session Thursday, with the opposition bloc calling for his impeachment.Making an appearance before lawmakers at the National Assembly for the first time as a new Cabinet member, Cho vowed utmost efforts to reform the prosecution and innovate the Justice Ministry seeking cooperation for bills related to judicial reforms. The session, however, was dominated by a new revel

Social AffairsSept. 26, 2019

S. Korean, Chinese foreign ministers reaffirm cooperation on North Korea

The foreign ministers of South Korea and China met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and agreed to continue their cooperation for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.In the 30-minute talks, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi exchanged views on the current situation, including North Korea’s nuclear program. “The two sides agreed that it is imperative to make substanti

North KoreaSept. 26, 2019

KGGTF holds symposium on green growth

A two-day symposium on green growth organized by the World Bank Group Korea Green Growth Trust Fund opened in Seoul on Thursday, bringing together more than 150 government officials, industry leaders and experts.The KGGTF -- a partnership between South Korea and the World Bank -- held the “Korea Green Innovation Days” event for the world’s leading experts in the environmental and development sectors to discuss the KGGTF’s projects and share their knowledge, strategies and

Social AffairsSept. 26, 2019

Samsung heiress ordered to pay W14.1b to ex-husband in divorce case

An appeals court on Thursday ordered Samsung Group heiress Lee Boo-jin to pay 14.1 billion won ($11.76 million) in alimony to her ex-husband Im Woo-jae, a former employee at a Samsung affiliate. The Seoul High Court ordered Lee, chief executive of Hotel Shilla, to pay Im 14.1 billion won in dividing the property held by the two, to which Lim had contributed during their years of marriage. In July 2017, the Seoul Family Court confirmed the couple’s divorce and ordered Lee to pay 8.6 bi

Social AffairsSept. 26, 2019

Gugak orchestra to present works composed by foreigners

The Contemporary Gugak Orchestra will present gugak, traditional Korean music, composed by foreigners. The orchestra will hold its 98th regular presentation “Hidden Sides & Unique Beauty of Gugak” on Friday and Saturday at the National Gugak Center.  According to the project’s music director Kye Sung-won, the audience will be able to see the difference between foreign and Korean composers’ approach to gugak.“The title ‘Hidden Sides’ refers to h

PerformanceSept. 26, 2019

Govt. to review college admission policy amid controversy

South Korea's education minister said Thursday the government will review the country's college admission policy following a recent debate over a policy that may benefit students with influential parents."Public distrust in the 'hakjong' system is great. (We) will review almost everything, including a possible revocation of (assessing) extracurricular activities (as part of admissions policy)," Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hae, who doubles as education minister, said.Yoo added that &q

Social AffairsSept. 26, 2019

More than 4,000 academics call for prosecutorial reform, end to Cho Kuk probe

Thousands of South Korean academics on Thursday called to push through with prosecutorial reform, amid the prosecution’s ongoing investigation into Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family. A group, calling itself “Korea and Overseas University Researchers and Professors Urging Speedy Reform of the Prosecution,” held a press conference Thursday at the Busan City Hall building, releasing the names of more than 4,000 academics supporting the group’s call for prosecutorial re

PoliticsSept. 26, 2019

LG CNS sets up JV with Megazone Cloud

South Korea’s LG CNS, an information technology services subsidiary of LG Corp., said Thursday it is set to establish a joint venture specializing in cloud conversion and operations with Megazone Cloud, the largest cloud management company here.The companies aim to take the lead in the cloud conversion market through their JV. They have signed a joint investment agreement. After discussing the detailed implementation plan for about three months they hope to finalize the JV’s establis

IndustrySept. 26, 2019

HHI to localize materials with Posco

Hyundai Heavy Industries said Thursday it has partnered with Korean steelmaker Posco to localize materials for liquefied natural gas tankers. HHI said it has recently applied Posco’s 9 percent nickel steel to fuel tanks -- with a model name of Hi-CIX -- for 180,000-ton LNG propulsion vessels in order to localize and stabilize the supply of core materials for cryogenic tanks. Nine percent nickel steel is a material that can maintain strength and toughness even in cryogenic environments

IndustrySept. 26, 2019

S. Korea to produce prototype indigenous combat jet by 2021

South Korea will make a prototype of its envisioned indigenous fighter jet by 2021 following the successful completion of its design, the arms procurement agency said Thursday.Under the project, which began in January 2016 and is worth 8.8 trillion won ($7.3 billion), South Korea seeks to develop a home-grown cutting-edge fighter aircraft, the so-called KF-X, to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets. After wrapping up their three-day critical design review session on Thursday,

DefenseSept. 26, 2019

Italian directors, actors join list of BIFF guests

Organizers of the 24th annual Busan International Film Festival added more names to the list of international guests on Thursday for the upcoming event, including up-and-coming directors and actors from Italy.Francesco Di Leva and Adriano Pantaleo, two actors from “The Mayor of Rione Sanita,” will be making an appearance at the festival. The film, directed by Mario Martone and based on the 1960 play of the same name, was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 76th Venice Inte

FilmSept. 26, 2019

[Newsmaker] Police say Jeju ex-husband murder suspect likely killed stepson too

Police have reached a tentative conclusion that Koh Yu-jeong, who is suspected of murdering her ex-husband, killed her 5-year-old stepson as well.Cheongju Sangdang Police Station said Wednesday that investigators believe Koh, 36, murdered her stepson -- her current husband’s biological son -- after a five-month probe into the case. Cheongju police booked Koh and her husband in June on suspicions of murder and involuntary manslaughter, respectively.Based on the couple’s testimonies, p

Social AffairsSept. 26, 2019

Audi VW opens art exhibition to present future vision

Audi Volkswagen Korea said Thursday it has opened a media art exhibition in Seoul to present the future of green mobility.Titled “The Next Chapter,” the exhibition displays joint projects by artists at home and abroad visualize safe and sustainable mobility and its role of changing the life of future generation. The two-week event is taking place at JCC Art Center in Jongro, central Seoul. It is a cultural platform for the company’s Tomoroad initiative, a joint project with Kor

MobilitySept. 26, 2019