[Weekender] Summer on ice

In South Korea, summer isn’t summer without ice. On sizzling hot days, Koreans cool down with refreshing drinks filled with ice cubes. And ice -- finely shaved until it becomes satiny -- takes center stage in the season’s most beloved dessert: bingsu.  It wasn’t always like this in Korea. According to food columnist Yoon Deok-no, the country has a long history of harvesting and storing ice for cooling purposes. But there appears to be hardly any record of people in the pas

FoodJuly 26, 2019

Consumer sentiment dips to 8-month low in July

South Korea's consumer sentiment reached the lowest level in eight months in July, central bank data showed Friday, amid growing concerns that Asia's fourth-largest economy could lose more growth momentum amid protracted trade tensions.The composite consumer sentiment index came to 95.9 this month, down 1.6 from a month earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea.The reading marks the lowest since November when the index stood at 95.7. A reading below the benchmark 100 means pessimists

EconomyJuly 26, 2019

No. of cybercrimes increases 22% in H1, phishing scams rampant

Cases of cybercrimes confirmed by police across South Korea have increased over 20 percent, with phishing scams raging, in the first half of this year, data from the National Police Agency showed Friday.During the January-June period, the number of cybercrimes stood at 85,953, up 22.4 percent from a year ago, which means a cybercrime takes place every three minutes and an average 465 instances of cybercrimes per day hit the country.Among the cybercrimes, the highest number of 42,028 concerned in

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

US seeks to keep diplomacy with NK alive despite missile launches

The United States on Thursday insisted to continue its diplomacy with North Korea despite the communist state's new missile launches, apparently keeping hopes alive that the latest provocation would not derail efforts to resume nuclear talks between the two countries. The test of two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday (Seoul time) marked a new turn in the on-again, off-again negotiations to dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program.It raised questions about whether working-level talk

North KoreaJuly 26, 2019

DMZ hiking trail to open in Paju next month

South Korea said Friday it will open the third and last hiking trail along the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas next month.The western section of the DMZ trail in Paju, some 30 kilometers northwest of Seoul, will be available to the public under the DMZ Peace Trail program starting Aug. 10, according to the government.The DMZ, which is about 250 km long and 4 km wide, is one of the world's most heavily fortified borders, with the rival Koreas technically in a state of war as the 1950

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

[Herald Interview] Thriving as a freelancer in era of social media

Do you find it difficult to feel a sense of achievement and self-fulfillment at work? Are you considering a career switch to freelance work? If so, you might get some useful information from Seo Eu-ra, who has transformed herself from an office worker into a freelance translator, author and YouTuber. Seo, also known as Seo Merry on social media and YouTube, is gaining in recognition for her tips and guidance to Korean workers interested in exploring new opportunities beyond their current jobs.&n

PeopleJuly 26, 2019

[Weekender] Decadent, minimalist, galactic - Bingsu is anything but boring

Bingsu -- finely shaved ice mixed with red bean, sweet milky sauce and various garnishes -- is an iconic summer dessert for South Koreans. Every year, experimental chefs come up with creative new renditions, and at the vanguard of the traditional treat’s evolution are luxury hotels. Seoul’s Hotel Shilla’s signature apple mango bingsu, introduced in 2011 and now costing 54,000 won ($46), still has fans lining up. Other establishments are trying to duplicate this success, taking

FoodJuly 26, 2019

Kang Daniel's 1st solo album finally unveiled to make a splash in summer music scene

Breaking out of a long legal battle with his former management agency, Kang Daniel, a pivotal member of the now-defunct boy band Wanna One, hit the summer music scene Thursday with his first solo album "Color On Me."Kang wrote the lyrics for the four out of the total five tracks in the new EP, including the main track, "What Are You Up To," with which he officially returned to the K-pop scene following a six-month hiatus.His choice of music for the much-anticipated first albu

PerformanceJuly 26, 2019

BTS' RM, Lil Nas X team up for Seoul version of latter's Billboard-topping single

RM, the leader of K-pop boy band BTS, and American rapper Lil Nas X on Thursday released their collaboration, a Seoul version of the latter's Billboard chart-topping single. "Seoul Town Road," released through global online music stores and streaming platforms, is a remix of the American musician's song "Old Town Road," which topped Billboard's Hot 100 single chart this week for the 16th week in a row, according to BTS' management agency Big Hit Entertainment.  RM wrote

PerformanceJuly 26, 2019

Pompeo says he expects talks with NK to resume in couple of weeks

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that he expects working-level talks with North Korea to resume in a couple of weeks despite the regime's missile launches earlier the same day.In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Pompeo downplayed the two short-range ballistic missile launches as a negotiating tactic."Everybody tries to get ready for negotiations and create leverage and create risk for the other side," Pompeo said."It will be in a couple of weeks, I anticipate

North KoreaJuly 26, 2019

N. Korea says it fired new tactical guided weapon in 'warning' against Seoul

North Korea has fired its "new tactical guided weapon" under leader Kim Jong-un's guidance in a demonstration of power, state media reported Friday, a day after the communist state launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.The firings were aimed at sending a "solemn warning" to "South Korean military warmongers" who are introducing "ultramodern offensive weapons into South Korea" and pushing to "hold (a) military exercise in defian

North KoreaJuly 26, 2019

S. Korea's central regions on alert for heavy rain

South Korea on Thursday issued heavy rain alerts for central regions and activated a national disaster control body to cope with possible damage.  The weather authorities forecast sudden heavy downpours for some central parts of the country, including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday night or early Friday morning. Affected by the seasonal rain front, precipitation is expected to range from 100 millimeters to 400 mm and heavy rain is expected to continue until Sunday.The Ministry of

Social AffairsJuly 25, 2019

Seoul says N. Korea fired apparently new type of short-range ballistic missile

South Korea's top security officials expressed "strong regret" Thursday over the North Korea's firing of two projectiles that they believed to be a new type of short-range ballistic missile.  The North launched two missiles from its east coast early in the day, both of which flew hundreds of kilometers.South Korea's presidential National Security Council tentatively concluded that those were "a new kind of short-range ballistic missile," Cheong Wa Dae said in a press rel

North KoreaJuly 25, 2019

[Graphic News] S. Korea world’s No. 2 heated tobacco market in 2018

　South Korea was the world’s No. 2 heated tobacco market last year, and its growth will gather pace down the road, an industry tracker said.　The size of South Korea’s heat-not-burn electronic cigarette market reached $1.67 billion last year, rising sharply from $453 million tallied in 2017, according to data compiled by Euromonitor International. The country’s overall tobacco market reached $15.6 billion last year.　While South Korea’s tobacco market is anticipated to post

WorldJuly 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ex-President Park gets reduced term

A high court on Thursday sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to five years in prison for causing losses to state coffers by unlawfully receiving money from chiefs of the country’s spy agency. The Seoul High Court handed down the five-year prison term and asked her to pay 2.7 billion won ($2.3 million) in forfeitures, a reduction of one year from the lower court’s ruling and down from 3.3 billion won. The prosecution said it would appeal. It sought a 12-year term in prison for Pa

Social AffairsJuly 25, 2019

[Weekender] Cafes, coffee brands roll out seasonal drinks

For many coffee lovers, summer signals a switch to cold brews.At Starbucks, a seasonal offering has been so well received by Korean customers that the company has just weeks ago decided to put it on its regular menu for the whole year round. Launched originally as a summer drink in April, the espresso-based Dolce Cold Brew combines two of the coffee franchise’s bestselling items -- Cold Brew and Dolce Latte. It only uses cold brew that was slow-steeped in cool water for 14 hours. 

IndustryJuly 25, 2019

Child abuse concerns raised over money-making kid YouTubers

The parents of a child YouTuber, who had garnered enough money to buy a 9.5 billion won ($8.06 million) building, are receiving criticism from the public related to child abuse concerns raised in the past.South Korea’s most popular YouTuber Boram received huge attention from the public after the Maeil Business Newspaper reported Tuesday that Boram Company -- the family company operating two YouTube channels featuring the 6-year-old girl -- had recently purchased a building in one of Seoul&

TelevisionJuly 25, 2019

[News briefs] Burning Sun whistleblower comes under police protection

Police will provide protection for Kim Sang-kyo, who opened the floodgates of allegations surrounding the Burning Sun club, and his family, as requested by Kim, according to the police on Thursday.   Kim says that he has been threatened by an online group that receives and reveals tip-offs on celebrities, after he said he would disassociate himself from the group. His address will be registered in the police’s system and security will be tightened around his residence for the nex

Social AffairsJuly 25, 2019

Civic groups condemn Japan for trade feud

South Korean civic organizations on Thursday lashed out at the Japanese government’s export curbs against the country and denial of its brutal history, calling for joint action with Japan’s civil society.  An association of 350 civic organizations called on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration to withdraw its “economic retaliation” against Korea and cooperate to responsibly compensate the victims of Japan’s wartime atrocities.“The responsibili

Social AffairsJuly 25, 2019

North Korea boasts military strength ahead of South Korea-US military exercises

North Korea’s display of military might with short-range missile launches and a newly built submarine this week appears to be in protest of joint South Korea-US military exercises scheduled for next month. The North fired two short-range missiles Thursday from Hodo Peninsula on the east coast, which flew about 430 kilometers and 650 kilometers, respectively, before falling into the East Sea. On Tuesday, the North’s Korean Central News Agency said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

North KoreaJuly 25, 2019