[Diplomatic circuit] Argentine Embassy seeks to enhance cultural ties with Korea

The Embassy of Argentina here held an opening ceremony for the Sala Mirtha Legrand hall and the launch of El Ciclo de Cine Argentino 2019 on Thursday, with an aim to strengthen cultural ties between Argentina and South Korea. “Films are a bridge connecting the two countries culturally. Just as diplomatic relations expand into trade and politics, films will also help form friendly ties. This is why we have decided to screen Argentinian movies,” Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfr

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] EU ambassador to South Korea receives Austria’s presidential award

European Union Ambassador to South Korea Michael Reiterer received the Grand Decoration of Honor in Silver with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria in recognition for his service to his mother country, the related embassies said.“I am deeply honored that the President of the Republic of Austria conferred this high distinction upon me -- a recognition of my nearly four decades of work as a diplomat with assignments on three continents. ... I take this as an encouragement to continu

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 30, 2019

Samsung launches highest-end display lineup in Korea

Samsung Electronics on Monday opened a shop for its highest-end display lineup The Wall in the southern part of Seoul, rolling out the first modular displays. The world’s top TV manufacturer is showcasing the 146-inch The Wall Luxury packaged with Danish audio brand ODEPort’s Steinway Lyngdorf audio system Model O at the ODE shop in the Gangnam district.  It is the third showcase venue for the latest display technology by Samsung, following the first located in the Harrods depar

TechnologySept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] Experts from Korea, Kazakhstan shed light on denuclearization

Defense and nuclear experts from South Korea and Kazakhstan shed light on Kazakhstan’s denuclearization process in the 1990s as a reference for North Korea’s denuclearization, experts said.“North Korea’s denuclearization negotiation seemed to have hit a phase of stagnation, but recently there are signs of hope of reviving the talks,” said Lee Geun, president of the Korea Foundation, in the opening remarks at the second Korea-Kazakhstan Denuclearization Forum in cent

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 30, 2019

ICDM refuses to intervene in Korean firms’ spat

The International Committee of Display Metrology has refused to intervene in the ongoing spat between Samsung and LG Electronics over the technical superiority of their respective 8K TV technologies, according to industry sources Monday. US-based ICDM is an organization of top display metrologists and specialists of related sciences whose goal is to produce standards for measurement and evaluation of displays in a uniform and consistent manner. Regarding the use of contrast modulation -- the lev

TechnologySept. 30, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] French Ambassador to present Etoile du Cinema awards to actress Bae Doona, ‘Parasite’ producer

French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort will present Etoile du Cinema awards to Korean actress Bae Doona and Kwak Sin-ae, producer of the award-winning film “Parasite,” in Busan this week, the embassy said.From Saturday to Sunday, Lefort will be attending the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, set to kick off Thursday.The trip marks Lefort’s first visit to Busan since he took the post here last year, the embassy said.In Busan, Lefort will also attend the screening

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 30, 2019

[Jonathan Bernstein] Is that the sound of Trump’s spell over Republicans breaking?

The fate of President Donald Trump rests with Republicans. So the hearing in the House of Representatives on Thursday about a whistleblower’s allegation of impropriety involving Trump’s interaction with the president of Ukraine provided a good chance to see what GOP lawmakers are thinking.　The answer is: They’re all over the place. And that’s bad news for the White House.There are plenty of good questions about how Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee grilled the

ViewpointsSept. 30, 2019

[Daniel Moss] Where you eat your bento box now matters for Japan

Japan’s consumption-tax hike doesn’t look like it’s going to sink the economy, as a similar increase did five years ago. That’s the good news.　The bad news is that the bump, to 10 percent from 8 percent, is still happening at an inauspicious time. While a recession isn’t in the cards for Japan, the last thing any major economy needs is a fiscal brake.Twice Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shied away from the increase. No wonder: A jump in the tax was widely blamed for a re

ViewpointsSept. 30, 2019

[Herald Design Forum] Daan Roosegaarde envisions ‘Landscapes of the Future’

Over the last few years, an aesthetically refined seven-meter-tall air purifier in Beijing became viral in Korea, which shares the Chinese capital’s troubles with smog and fine dust.  That Instagrammable “Smog Free Tower” by Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde did not just suck up air pollution: It also transformed particulate matter into jewelry and then into rings, which people could buy. Roosegaarde is an artist who has been utilizing technologies to raise aware

Arts & DesignSept. 30, 2019

[Herald Design Forum 2019] Mobility coping with future environment

Discussions about future mobility often involve technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous driving and innovations surrounding electronic vehicles. Alexander Mankowsky from Daimlers research unit takes part in such discussions. He looks ahead and keeps track of technological developments aimed at bringing new vehicles that fit future environments.Mankowsky will join Herald Design Forum 2019 to deliver a speech on future mobility and the vehicles of the future that he has been lo

Arts & DesignSept. 30, 2019

[Herald Design Forum 2019] ‘Treat plastic as precious material’

Dave Hakkens, a Dutch designer who launched Precious Plastic, a global network that invites hundreds of people from all over the world to work on solving issues related to plastic waste, is due to speak Oct. 10 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul as part of the Herald Design Forum 2019Hakkens’ goal is quite simple: Make things more sustainable. “The projects I have done have been often related to reducing waste or changing the way we do things so they are more efficient and better for the envir

Arts & DesignSept. 30, 2019

Hyundai appoints ex-NASA aeronautics expert to lead mobility biz

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday that it had appointed Dr. Shin Jai-won, former associate administrator of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as vice president of its newly established urban air mobility division. In his new role, he will lead the development of air mobility technologies for the group. The automaker said Shin would propel forward the group’s efforts to advance into the urban air mobility market, based on his expertise in airframe, engine and aviation

MobilitySept. 30, 2019

Pulmuone’s kimchi tops market share in US

South Korean food manufacturer Pulmuone said Monday that its packaged ready-made kimchi has secured the largest market share in the US.According to Nielsen research data, Pulmuone had a market share of 40.4 percent as of August. In September last year, the South Korean firm tapped the US market under the brand called Nasoya, the top US tofu manufacturer which is owned by Pulmuone Foods USA. The company said its No. 1 position was due to its partnership with 3,900 Walmart stores, 1,100 Kroge

IndustrySept. 30, 2019

Government reviews allowing South Koreans to tour JSA in small groups

South Korean nationals will be able to tour the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone bordering North Korea in small groups, authorities said Monday.According to an official from the Ministry of Unification, the ministry and other concerned government bodies have begun reviewing a plan to allow small groups of South Korean tourists from the first half of next year. Currently, South Korean nationals wishing to visit the area must apply in groups of more than 30 and fewer than 45. While t

DefenseSept. 30, 2019

Moon reaffirms prosecution reform with collective responsibility

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in on Monday stressed the need for prosecution reform again, calling on the Ministry of Justice and the prosecutors’ office to cooperate with each other.  Speaking at an official briefing, Moon said that the two organizations must cooperate and fulfill the people’s expectations. At the briefing session, attended by Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, the president also asked Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to quickly draw up reform plans. Moon s

PoliticsSept. 30, 2019

South Korea strengthening taxation of YouTubers

The government is moving to strengthen taxation of high-income influencers and content creators on social networking services, including YouTubers, to prevent tax evasion, according to documents submitted to lawmakers on Monday.  According to Rep. Kang Byung-won of the Democratic Party of Korea, the Finance Ministry has been collecting foreign exchange receipts exceeding $10,000 per person from the Bank of Korea, and using the data for tax reports and investigation of high-income influencer

IndustrySept. 30, 2019

[Herald Review] Seoul Forest carried away by jazz music

Over the weekend, jazz music took over Seoul Forest, a park in eastern Seoul. The third Seoul Forest Jazz Festival took place Saturday and Sunday, and one of the highlights was a performance by the legendary jazz vocalist Park Sung-yeon. Park paved the way for jazz musicians in South Korea with Janus, the first jazz-only club in the country.    At 76, Park appeared onstage in a wheelchair but her voice was as powerful as ever, with soulful touches that gave the songs a sorrowful y

PerformanceSept. 30, 2019

[From the Scene] How 5G connects Korea’s most isolated town to world

　DAESEONG-DONG, Demilitarized Zone -- Tucked in the middle of the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, Daeseong-dong is perhaps the most isolated town in South Korea since the end of the Korean War. 　There are no supermarkets, shops or hospitals for medical treatment. There are also no restaurants or hair salons. The village does not even show up on navigation systems. 　While Daeseong-dong residents are far removed from the rest of South Korea, 197 people living there ha

TechnologySept. 30, 2019

[Newsmaker] Up to 27 coal power plants to be shut down December to March to curb pollution

A national anti-fine dust body suggested Monday that the government enforce stronger measures to curb hazardous particulate pollution, such as by shutting down coal power plants and restricting old diesel vehicles from December to March next year. 　The National Council on Climate and Air Quality suggested a seasonal dust management system, under which a crackdown on illegal emissions is toughened, up to 27 coal power plants are shut down in spring and over 1 million aged diesel vehicles are rest

Social AffairsSept. 30, 2019