Indonesia seeks reduction in share of expenses in joint fighter jet project

Indonesia is seeking a reduction of its share of expenses in the fighter jet development project with South Korea, as it is running about 300 billion won ($254 million) in arrears. According to Indonesian news reports, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Wiranto reiterated the need to renegotiate the deal for the Korean Fighter Experimental, citing the government’s lack of budget.Korea and Indonesia have been working together to develop a new fighter jet for t

DefenseJuly 22, 2019

[Graphic News] Face value of damaged currency rises in H1

　The face value of damaged banknotes and coins in South Korea rose in the first half of the year, data from the central bank showed. 　A total of 2.27 trillion won ($1.92 billion) worth of damaged bills and coins were discarded by the Bank of Korea in the first half, up 42.5 billion won from six months ago. 　The central bank spent 48.3 billion won replacing the damaged banknotes over the six-month period. (Yonhap)

NationalJuly 22, 2019

[Herald Interview] Royal Salute goes younger with modern twist to lineup

It is no easy decision for a brand to abandon its original concept and transform a product lineup, especially when it comes to a luxury whisky.Royal Salute, whose distillery dates back to 1801, is best known for being the only scotch whisky in the world with a lineup that begins from 21 years of maturity. The Royal Salute 21 Year Old was launched in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, named after the traditional 21-gun salute.Making a twist to its rich heritage, the br

IndustryJuly 22, 2019

[News briefs] Koreans expelled from US involved in illegal drug trade

Twenty-two drug dealers who smuggled marijuana into South Korea by mobilizing Koreans deported from the US and selling them here have been apprehended, the police said Monday. The suspected drug dealers brought in 3.4 kilograms of marijuana from the US into Korea and sold 1.5 kilograms of it between March and September 2018 in Seoul, Incheon and the surrounding areas.A couple -- surnamed Shim and Kwon -- used those holding US-Korean dual citizenships as well as Koreans who were expelled fro

Social AffairsJuly 22, 2019

S. Koreans use social media more for entertainment than communication: survey

More South Koreans are utilizing social media for sources of entertainment contents than as a means of communications with friends, according to a report released by DMC Media on Monday.According to the survey conducted on 1,000 people here aged between 20 and 60 over the last month, “viewing casually entertaining contents,” selected by 64 percent of the respondents, was the most popular reason for using social media. Other popular reasons for visiting social media platforms included

TechnologyJuly 22, 2019

[Herald interview] 10-year-old Jeju Museum of Art prepares for next decade under new director

With the Jeju Museum of Art celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Director Choi Jeong-ju, who was appointed in October, is looking to ensure transparency in the museum’s management and to offer quality programs. “The Jeju Museum of Art, which took off as a cultural platform for local artists and citizens, has taken firm roots here over the last 10 years. I think now is the time to prepare for the next 10 years,” Choi said in an email interview with The Korea Herald. 

Arts & DesignJuly 22, 2019

[Trudy Rubin] A free press can never be taken for granted

Earlier this month, President Trump addressed a group of so-called “digital leaders” invited to a social media summit at the White House.The guests included far right social media activists linked to white nationalists who spew out racist and anti-Muslim messages. They included individuals who produce fake videos, use hoaxes to smear Democratic candidates, and disseminate dangerous conspiracy theories. Only at the last minute was the welcome mat withdrawn from cartoonist Ben Garrison

ViewpointsJuly 22, 2019

[Andrew Sheng] Bastille Day and global populist uprising

July 14 is celebrated in France as Bastille Day, on which day 230 years ago, French peasants stormed the Bastille prison in Paris and sparked off the French Revolution. Thus began the populist movement that overturned the Ancien Regime (old order) of absolute monarchy and replaced it with the popular creed of liberty, equality and fraternity. There is a popular story that when Henry Kissinger asked the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in 1972 what was his view of the French Revolution, he said it

ViewpointsJuly 22, 2019

China says Hong Kong protests 'absolutely intolerable'

BEIJING (AFP) -- China reacted furiously on Monday to anti-government protesters vandalising the walls of the Beijing representative's office in Hong Kong and defacing the national emblem, branding their actions "absolutely intolerable".Thousands of masked pro-democracy demonstrators briefly occupied the road outside the office in the semi-autonomous city Sunday night and targeted the building with eggs, projectiles, laser lights and graffiti in a stark rebuke to Beijing's rule. Hong K

World NewsJuly 22, 2019

6 youths detained for protest performance at Japanese Consulate in Busan

Six South Korean youths were taken into police custody on Monday after staging a protest performance over Japan's export restrictions inside the Japanese Consulate in central Busan, police said.The six, who are presumed to be college students, were all detained at around 2:35 p.m. while displaying placards condemning Japan's export curbs for South Korea and shouting slogans, such as "Japan must apologize," they said.The protesters dashed out of the consulate's library before holding th

Social AffairsJuly 22, 2019

S. Korea gears up for financial market contingency plan amid Japan factor

In response to the escalating economic conflict between South Korea and Japan, financial authorities here are establishing a contingency plan in case Tokyo expands its trade restrictions to the financial sector, officials said Monday.The preemptive gesture came out of concern about the apparent dependency of local financial companies on Japanese lenders, which have been offering a low interest rate for years. The total amount of Japanese money circulating in Korea’s financial market was es

EconomyJuly 22, 2019

LG to release Arabic-speaking AI TVs in Middle East

LG Electronics said Monday the company will launch the latest models of its artificial intelligence TVs with Arabic language options in the Middle East market this month, starting with Saudi Arabia. The LG TVs will be the world’s first to offer Arabic as a language option for the AI platform voice controls. The Korean company is releasing organic light-emitting diode TVs and liquid crystal display-based NanoCell TVs in the Middle East market, both equipped with LG’s AI platform LG Th

TechnologyJuly 22, 2019

Samsung’s US investment plans not linked to Japan’s curbs

Samsung Electronics is not considering making additional investments in the United States as a plausible measure against the ongoing exports curbs by Japan, according to company officials Monday. Some news reports said the South Korean tech giant is considering expansion of its system-on-chip and foundry facilities in Austin, Texas, to fend off the impact of the Japan-imposed restrictions on exports of key chipmaking materials. Samsung had discussed making additional investments in the Austin pl

TechnologyJuly 22, 2019

BAT Korea names first Korean CEO

British American Tobacco Group has named Kim Eui-soung, a cross-border industry marketing expert, as new chief executive officer and president of its South Korean unit, the company said Monday.Kim replaces Matthieu Juery who led BAT Korea for two years, becoming the first Korean head of the tobacco maker’s local unit launched 29 years ago. The change comes amid intensifying market competition in the fast-changing tobacco market here along with the rise of new types of cigarettes. BAT Korea

IndustryJuly 22, 2019

Despite labor tension, Hyundai Motor’s Q2 profit jumps

Amid growing tension between the management and unionized workers, Hyundai Motor said Monday it saw its operating profit rise 30 percent in the second quarter chiefly on the weaker Korean won and sales of new sport utility vehicles.The South Korean carmaker said in a regulatory filing that it earned an operating profit of 1.23 trillion won ($1.04 billion), a 30.2 percent on-year increase, crossing the 1-trillion-won mark for the first time in seven quarters. Hyundai sold lesser cars, but both it

MobilityJuly 22, 2019

[News Focus] Korea-Japan rift likely to be protracted

The latest rocky patch in South Korea-Japan relations appears likely to continue for some time, with neither side willing to make concessions.The Seoul-Tokyo relations have hit a new low following Tokyo’s decision to apply standard conditions on exporting key industrial materials to South Korea, thereby increasing the import process to up to 90 days. Japan claims that the changes, which slow the importing of materials such as fluorinated polyimides, were made in in response to Se

Foreign AffairsJuly 22, 2019

[Feature] Boycott of Japanese goods, services spreads rapidly

The campaign to boycott Japanese products and services here is gaining steam as bilateral relations continue to be tense following Japan’s export curbs on key hi-tech materials crucial for South Korean tech firms.Japanese condiments and beer brands have been removed from store shelves, even as a substantial number of travel reservations to Japan are being canceled and inquiries for Japanese passenger vehicles have halved.As more Koreans quietly join the boycott, a website called NoNo Japan

Social AffairsJuly 22, 2019

[Newsmaker] Govt to approve extended work hours amid Japan trade feud

SEJONG -- Extended work hours will be approved for businesses that need hi-tech materials to replace those regulated by Tokyo, as part of efforts to cope with Japan’s stricter trade export control, the government said Monday.The Ministry of Employment and Labor mapped out a plan to allow work hours longer than the 52 hours a week stipulated by the law to facilitate the process of import substitution of three materials -- fluorinated polyimide, resist and etching gas -- imported from Japan.

Social AffairsJuly 22, 2019

Japan travel bookings by S. Koreans halve on trade row

A growing number of South Koreans are changing their holiday destinations from Japan to other countries, with a major travel agency on Monday saying demand for tours fell nearly 50 percent, along with increasing booking cancellations. A boycott of Japanese products, fueled by Tokyo’s decision to curb exports of high-tech materials to Seoul, has spread to the tourism sector, causing Koreans to turn away from the popular travel destination. Since July 8, a daily average of 500 cons

IndustryJuly 22, 2019