Galaxy S10 sales 12% higher than predecessor

The first quarter sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S10 series smartphones were 12 percent higher than sales of the previous model, industry data showed Tuesday.According to industry tracker Counterpoint Research, 16 million units of the Galaxy S10 were sold between March and May, which was more than sales of the Galaxy S9 series in the same period last year. Samsung introduced the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S10 Plus, and the Galaxy S10e models in March and released the Galaxy S10 5G sm

TechnologyJuly 2, 2019

KNOC, GS Energy become first in Korea to produce oil in UAE

The state-run Korea National Oil Corporation and GS Energy have become the first South Korean companies to start oil production in the United Arab Emirates, together with the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. On Tuesday, KNOC and GS Energy held a ceremony with ADNOC in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the commencement of commercial oil production in oil fields in Haliba, located in east Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by KNOC CEO Yang Su-yeong, GS Energy CEO Huh Yong-soo and ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahm

IndustryJuly 2, 2019

[Feature] Public anger, concerns persist over contaminated tap water

For more than a month, Lee Su-jin, who lives in western Incheon, has relied on bottled water to do household tasks from cooking to cleaning. Driving to a neighboring city to eat out or use a self-service laundromat has become a daily routine. It is all because of “reddish water” still running from her taps, a problem that was first detected May 30 and has affected some 15,000 households and 160 schools in Incheon. “It has become almost impossible to lead a daily life for t

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

[Graphic News] Health care, cosmetics exports surge

　South Korea’s health care and cosmetics exports surged to $14.6 billion last year, the result of solid demand, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.　Outbound shipments of drugs, medical equipment and makeup jumped 19.4 percent from the previous year, with the annual average growth rate for the past five years hitting 21 percent, according to the ministry.　Of the total, cosmetics accounted for $6.3 billion. The next-strongest export sectors were drugs and medical equipment at $4.7 billi

BusinessJuly 2, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘Men taking parental leave first step to reducing gender inequality’

Men should be allowed and expected to take parental leave and attend to their children’s needs as the first step to achieving gender equality at work, according to a prominent US feminist scholar. To encourage men to take parental leave more freely in a society where those who choose to do so are seen as poor workers and ineffectual men, the government should put in place a “daddy quota,” Joan C. Williams, a professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

Galaxy Note 10 to be unveiled Aug. 7 in New York

Samsung Electronics will unveil the 10th edition of its Galaxy Note smartphone in New York on Aug. 7, according to an official invitation sent to global media and partners on Tuesday. The Galaxy Note 10 series will be unpacked at the Barclays Center in New York, with two models for the first time.  In the invitation for the Note 10 event, Samsung highlighted a hole on the upcoming device’s display with its signature S Pen. Many market watchers are speculating that the Note 10 will hav

TechnologyJuly 2, 2019

Hanwha partners with Indian tech giant for collaborative robots

Hanwha Precision Machinery, the robot manufacturing unit of Hanwha Group, said Tuesday the company signed a contract with Wipro, India’s largest information technology business, to work together on developing automated factory solutions. Under the contract, the Hanwha unit will provide collaborative robots for network-based factory solutions aimed at automating manufacturing processes at various factories across India, led by its Indian partner. The machinery unit is a subsidiary of Hanwha

EconomyJuly 2, 2019

Consumer price growth stays stagnant for 6th month

South Korea’s consumer price growth remained below the 1 percent mark in June, reflecting the slow growth in service charges and global oil price trend, government data showed Tuesday.The consumer price index stood at 104.88 last month, down 0.2 percent from the previous month and up 0.7 percent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.This marked the sixth consecutive month that the on-year growth remained in the zero percent range. It was also the third-longest period that the

EconomyJuly 2, 2019

[Robert J. Fouser] After the surprise meeting in Panmunjom

The sight of a US president shaking hands with a North Korean leader at the border in Panmunjom and then briefly stepping into North Korea would have been unimaginable just one year ago. With this symbolic gesture, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made history Sunday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in joined the two leaders, making it the fourth time he has met Kim Jong-un. In a meeting that followed, Trump and Kim agreed to restart negotiations between the two countries.Reaction to the hastily arr

ViewpointsJuly 2, 2019

[Kim Seong-kon] Different flags on Korean Peninsula

Last week was the 69th anniversary of the Korean War. Although it was such a tragic war in which the Korean Peninsula suffered the annihilation of millions of lives, few people seem to remember it now. Many of those who experienced the war have long since died of old age and those who were babies or young children during the war are now in their 70s. When it comes to the Korean War, most Koreans do not know or care about it at all, except for the ambiguous descriptions in secondary school histor

ViewpointsJuly 2, 2019

US, N. Korea have ended hostile relations: Moon

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that the US and North Korea have put an end to their hostile relations with the recent meeting of their leaders, who stepped back and forth over the Korean border on Sunday. “Although they did not sign any document, their action was tantamount to a de facto declaration of an end to hostile relations and the beginning of a full-fledged peace era,” Moon said during a Cabinet meeting. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Ki

North KoreaJuly 2, 2019

Over 1,500 homes in Seoul have water cut off

Over 1,500 households at a large apartment complex in Seoul have had no access to water since Monday evening due to a ruptured pipe.The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that its waterworks office dispatched a support team to the apartment complex in Seoul’s west-central district of Seodaemun-gu at around 8 p.m. Monday, after a report of a flooding situation in the basement. The water valves were shut off to prevent further flooding, blocking water supplies to all households.

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

[Herald Interview] Observing K-pop crossover from other side

While K-pop crossovers have been enjoying momentum, a columnist shared his opinion on the global phenomenon and its development from the perspective of an outsider looking in.Jeff Benjamin is a freelance columnist based in the US who writes about K-pop and other genres of music. He is passionately appreciated by “Army,” referring to the BTS fandom, for actively introducing the K-pop band to the larger Western public.  “I always grew up with this idea that music could be gr

PerformanceJuly 2, 2019

A look into nature and wildlife, beyond our reach

An ongoing Seoul exhibition highlights unique moments that internationally well-known photographers have captured to reveal the natural environments beyond our reach, through National Geographic’s photographs. The exhibition at the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center, titled “Nature’s Odyssey,” presents images taken in part to bring attention to pressing environmental issues, according an exhibition organizer.British photographer Robbie Shone’s photo of a l

Arts & DesignJuly 2, 2019

CCF 2019 discusses content creation culture of Korea and beyond

As a part of the 2019 Culture Communication Forum, a debate on the internet content market and Korea’s place in it was held Tuesday at Grand Hyatt Seoul. The delegates present were: bestselling author Ito Ogawa from Japan, US pop columnist Jeff Benjamin, film director Ilya Khrzhanovskiy from Russia, think tank director Bronwen Maddox from the UK, film director Shakun Batra from India, Korean folk singer Lee Hee-moon, photographer Andreas Muhe from Germany, film director Herve Demers f

PeopleJuly 2, 2019

Non-regular school workers to stage joint strike this week

South Korean schools will likely be hit hard by a joint walkout by their non-regular workers this week.An alliance of non-regular employees working at elementary and secondary schools, including cafeteria cooks, dietitians and administrative assistants for teachers, has threatened to stage a general strike from Wednesday to Friday to push through wage increases.Ahead of the launch of the strike, representatives of the non-regular workers and education officials held last-minute negotiations on T

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

[News Focus] Payments for jobless soar in Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu

SEJONG -- The nation’s jobless rate, which posted the critical 4 percent or over for the fifth consecutive month this year, has forced the government to pay out ever-higher amounts in benefits for the unemployed. The growing volume of payouts reflects the sentiment-reflected jobless rate, a measure that also takes underemployment into account. The sentiment-reflected jobless rate far exceeds the official unemployment rate of 4 percent mark, having hovered around 12 percent f

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

Women still paid less than men: report

Women in Korea are still paid less than men on average despite their increasing economic and academic participation, a report showed Tuesday.A report on women’s lives in Korea, released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Statistics Korea, revealed that the average monthly wage of women in 2018 stood at 2.29 million won ($1,920), 68.8 percent of that of men. The report surveyed workplaces with five or more regular employees. Data showed that in 2018, 73.8 percent of female high school s

Social AffairsJuly 2, 2019

Posco estimated to lose W4b from power outages

Steelmaker Posco said Tuesday it reactivated five furnaces that were shut down at its Gwangyang steel mill due to a blackout the day before. On Monday, the company halted the operation of five furnaces at its steel mill due to a power failure. Posco said all the five furnaces have returned to normal operations and all other major production facilities are running as usual. The blackout is estimated to temporarily increase fixed costs by at least 40 billion won ($34 million) due to reduced p

IndustryJuly 2, 2019