Fire in Anseong put out after injuring 11

A fire at a box factory in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, was extinguished early Wednesday, 12 hours after it broke out, injuring two firefighters and nine others. According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire Department, the fire started around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday at the two-story manufacturing building with a single underground floor. It was completely put out around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities said the fire was started by an explosion inside the fuel tank located on the basement floor. The fire departmen

Social AffairsAug. 7, 2019

[팟캐스트] (312) 증시 검은 월요일 / 노재팬 깃발 논란

진행자: 손지형, Kevin Lee Selzer1. Markets roiled as US-China spat dwarfs impact of Japan factor기사요약: 증시에서 소위 ‘검은 월요일’이 재현된 가운데, 정부는 시장 불안의 원인이 한일 무역 갈등이 아닌 미중 무역 분쟁에 있다고 발언아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] As South Korea’s financial market continued to totter Tuesday after a “Black Monday,” experts observed that the key reason behind the current anxiety is the prolonge

PodcastAug. 7, 2019

Bolton links missile deployment to protecting allies in S. Korea, Japan

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Tuesday that Washington's recent willingness to deploy intermediate-range missiles in Asia has to do with protecting its allies in South Korea and Japan.Bolton made the comment on Fox News in response to China's protests against US plans to consider deploying conventional, intermediate-range missiles in Asia. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper made the plan known over the weekend after Washington withdrew from a missile treaty with Russia."That's b

DefenseAug. 7, 2019

S. Korea, China, Japan in talks over possible foreign ministers' meeting: official

South Korea, China and Japan are in talks about holding a meeting of their foreign ministers this month ahead of their possible trilateral summit in China later this year, a Seoul official said Wednesday.Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Chinese and Japanese counterparts, Wang Yi and Taro Kono, are expected to meet in China on Aug. 21 to discuss joint efforts for North Korea's denuclearization.The broadcaster also said that talks have been under way t

Foreign AffairsAug. 7, 2019

Taxi driver suspended for 30 days for cheating foreign passenger

A Seoul court has sentenced a taxi driver to a 30-day suspension for attempting to deceive a foreign passenger into paying extra charges, court officials said Wednesday.The taxi driver, whose identity was withheld, was booked in March last year on charges of asking his passenger, a visitor from overseas, to pay an extra charge of 20-percent after he intentionally pushed an out-of-city trip button on the fare meter, though the trip occurred within Seoul. The driver launched a lawsuit after Seoul'

Social AffairsAug. 7, 2019

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison dead at 88

NEW YORK (AP) -- Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in "Beloved,'' "Sula'' and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, has died at age 88.Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced that Morrison died Monday night at Montefiore Medical Center in New York after a brief illness."Toni Morrison passed away peacefully last night surrounded by family an

PeopleAug. 7, 2019

Seoul to take preemptive steps to stabilize markets

South Korea will take swift and bold steps if necessary to help stabilize the financial markets, the country's finance minister said Wednesday, assuring that the country's economic fundamentals remain strong despite what he called "temporary risks."In an emergency meeting with other top financial officials, including the head of the Bank of Korea, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the increased volatility in the market was the result of "short-term risks" that happened to ove

EconomyAug. 7, 2019

N. Korea says it fired new missiles in warning against allies' joint exercise

North Korea said Wednesday it tested new tactical guided missiles under leader Kim Jong-un's guidance in the firing of two projectiles into the East Sea the previous day in a warning against the joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States that kicked off earlier this week.  On Tuesday, North Korea fired two projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, the fourth such launch in less than two weeks. They flew about 450 kilometers

North KoreaAug. 7, 2019

[Graphic News] Cigarette sales down 0.6% in H1

　Sales of cigarettes in South Korea edged down 0.6 percent in the first half of 2019 from a year prior, data showed, amid an anti-smoking campaign and higher prices.　South Korean smokers purchased 1.67 billion 20-cigarette packs in the January-June period, compared to 1.68 billion packs in the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.　The figures represent a 17.8 percent drop from the first half of 2014. (Yonhap)

TechnologyAug. 6, 2019

[News Focus] NK missile launches aimed at domestic audience, testing intelligence capabilities of S. Korea, US: experts

After firing two unidentified projectiles that Seoul believes to be short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, North Korea issued a statement strongly denouncing South Korea and the United States for their joint military exercise that kicked off the day before.In a statement carried via its news outlets, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson poured scorn on the joint military exercise and other military actions taken by the allies, warning such actions would inevitably drive the N

North KoreaAug. 6, 2019

Japan’s export curbs to affect imports of carbon fiber, botulinum toxins

　With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet removing South Korea from its list of trusted export destinations last week, attention has been drawn to what materials will become subject to import restrictions.　According to the Korea Strategic Institute, which oversees management of strategic goods for the Korean government, 159 materials were selected as items of concern to be subject to the Japanese restrictions for security reasons. 　Among those materials that Japan claimed could be

EconomyAug. 6, 2019

Rihanna to host ‘Fenty Beauty’ makeup show in Seoul

Pop superstar Rihanna will be visiting Seoul in September to host the second makeup masterclass of her beauty brand Fenty, local promoters said Tuesday.The 31-year-old founder of Fenty will hold the “Fenty Artistry & Beauty Talk with Rihanna” at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, on Sept. 17. Rihanna held the first such event in Dubai last year. Makeup artist Priscilla Ono and Hector Espinal will join her to showcase the pop star’s makeup techniques and know-ho

Arts & DesignAug. 6, 2019

CarrieSoft to be listed on Kosdaq this month

CarrieSoft announced Tuesday that it plans to get listed on South Korea’s secondary bourse Kosdaq on Aug. 23.The firm first began with the YouTube channel “Carrie and Toys” in 2014 and exclusively produces kids’ contents. It is home to the iconic character “Carrie,” who reviews popular toys and goods. The character has evolved and now has own branded products.  Last year, CarrieSoft’s sales reached 10 billion won ($8.25 million) with an operating lo

MarketAug. 6, 2019

Asiana Airlines makes emergency landing to save 8-year-old passenger

An Asiana Airlines flight bound from New York to Seoul last month made an emergency landing when an 8-year-old passenger suddenly fell ill, according to the air carrier on Tuesday. The decision allowed for the fast transportation and treatment of the girl, who has since recovered.According to Asiana, the passenger, identified by her surname, Choi, was on flight OZ221 from New York to Incheon Airport for a visit to South Korea with her family. About an hour and 30 minutes into the trip, Choi sudd

IndustryAug. 6, 2019

[Kim Seong-kon] The moment we become emotional, we lose the battle

Regardless of our nationality, we all have merits and flaws. Of course, it all depends on people, but sometimes we unwittingly exhibit collective characteristics that contribute to the public image of a country. Living in America, for example, one can be impressed by Americans’ good-natured personality. Generally speaking, Americans are exceptionally nice and friendly. Look at their smiling faces, and you are compelled to smile back. You do not see any sign of malicious intention to hurt o

ViewpointsAug. 6, 2019

[Tyler Cowen] Greta, It’s OK to fly

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, recently announced that she would cross the Atlantic Ocean by boat to attend a United Nations global warming summit in New York. She does not believe in flying in airplanes, for the obvious reason that air travel is a contributor to the carbon emissions problem.I am here with a simple message: Greta, it is OK to fly. Indeed, I encourage you to fly.This isn’t just about Thunberg. I often hear it argued that Al Gore is a hypocrite for

ViewpointsAug. 6, 2019

National Theater Company of Korea cancels performance of play by pro-Japanese playwright

The National Theater Company of Korea has canceled scheduled performances of a play by pro-Japanese playwright Lim Sun-kyu, amid growing economic and political tensions between Korea and Japan. The work was scheduled to be staged Sept. 27-Oct. 13 at Baek Sung-hee & Jang Min-ho Theater in Seoul. “Binghwa” (1940) is a late Japanese colonial period play carrying pro-Japanese elements that was submitted to a drama contest organized by Japan as part of its cultural policy.Lim&rsq

PerformanceAug. 6, 2019

[News Focus] Korea stands to lose more than Japan: poll

SEJONG -- This year on Aug. 15, South Koreans will celebrate Liberation Day and mark the 74th anniversary of Korean independence amid a trade war with Japan.Then on Sept. 18 the nation will commemorate 120 years of railroad history, with some saying Japan initiated the railway construction in 1899 in an attempt to plunder Korea’s resources.Since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, Korea has strived to catch up with its neighbor in a variety of industrial sectors. While Japa

PoliticsAug. 6, 2019

Kim Hee-chul, Twice’s Momo deny dating reports

Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior and Momo of Twice have denied rumors that they are dating.  A local media outlet reported Tuesday that Kim and Momo have been in a relationship for two years after first meeting through a TV entertainment show in 2017.However, both sides quickly sent out official statements refuting the claim.Kim’s agency S.M. Entertainment said, “The two are close only as co-workers in the industry,” while Twice’s label JYP Entertainment called the rumor

PerformanceAug. 6, 2019