Song Hye-kyo and her counterparts in TV dramas

Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, the two top-profile couple, are taking legal procedures for a divorce after two years of marriage. As the two met on set, the other male actors Song Hye-ko have acted with are gaining attention. In 2000, Song Hye-kyo played a central character in a romantic television drama “Autumn in My Heart’ with Song Seung-heon and Won-bin. A year later, she starred in a TV drama series “Guardian Angel” along with Kim Jong-min.  In 2003, Song appea

PeopleJune 27, 2019

‘Respect their choice’: Zhang Ziyi on Song-Song couple

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi seems to be one of the first celebrities to have broken her silence on the pending divorce between Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo.On Thursday Zhang wrote on her official Weibo account, “Respect their choice, believe it to be the best choice, and hope to see them at their best in the future.” While she did not mention the high-profile couple by name, many believe the post alluded to Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, who on Thursday announced their plans t

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song Joong-ki’s divorce announcement has people guessing who is responsible

Actor Song Joong-ki’s announcement Thursday morning that he has filed for divorce from Song Hye-kyo has raised speculations about whether one of them was responsible for breaking up the marriage. While some are claiming that Song Hye-kyo must be responsible for the divorce as it was Song Joong-ki who announced it, others have argued against such excessive speculation. Song Joong-ki filed for divorce through law firm Lee & Ko on Wednesday. According to the law firm, it was the acto

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo to continue acting

Actress Song Hye-kyo is reportedly planning to continue her acting career regardless of the divorce proceedings underway. Local media reported Thursday that Song would soon begin work on a film titled “Anna.” Her agency, UAA, said, “Song Hye-kyo is positively discussing her appearance in the new movie directed by … Lee Joo-young.”  Song had been offered the role of a lawyer in “Haena,” which is set to air later this year, but turned it down. She sa

PeopleJune 27, 2019

[News Focus] 2019 jobless rates exceed levels during decade-old crisis

SEJONG -- An election campaign pledge of President Moon Jae-in early 2017 was to create 1.31 million jobs -- 500,000 in the private sector and 810,000 in the public sector.At that time, he criticized the theory that employment should follow market principles, saying that “the (next) government (unlike past administrations) will be able to create up to 1.31 million jobs by taking the initiative (not by handing it over to the market).”In addition, he suggested that parents with prescho

EconomyJune 27, 2019

[Eye Plus] The streets that once led the nation’s garment industry

Dull knocking sounds and clunky noises from sewing machines resonate through the streets of Changsin-dong. Inside the sweatshops that line the streets, clothes are scattered here and there and colorful rolls of fabric are stacked on shelves. Located in Seoul’s central district of Jongno, this area has for many decades been the mecca of the country’s garment industry. Here stands Lumpium, the Sewing History Museum, a four-story building built in 2018 by the city government.On dis

Arts & DesignJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo suffered distress from marital problems: report

A source close to Song Hye-kyo has disclosed that she has suffered from both mental distress and physical weight loss due to marital problems, according to a local media report. Newsen on Thursday cited a source allegedly close to Song as saying that she cried while talking about her marital problems and had lost around 5 kilograms from related distress.“(Song) is usually quiet and doesn’t normally talk about her feelings, but she cried as she talked about her marital problems,&rdquo

PeopleJune 27, 2019

[Bobby Ghosh] G20 gives Trump a chance to clarify his Iran policy

When President Donald Trump arrives at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka on Friday, many of his peers will want to discuss bilateral crises with him: China’s Xi Jinping about their trade spat, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the purchase of Russian missile-defense systems and Japan’s Shinzo Abe about Trump’s bizarre notion about ending their bilateral defense pact. They will also want to hear from him about a crisis that affects them all: the confrontation with Iran.Tha

ViewpointsJune 27, 2019

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to kick off

The 23rd annual Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival will commence later on Thursday with the opening ceremony in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, kicking off 11 days of festivities that will showcase 288 films from 49 countries.Under the theme of “Love, Fantasy and Adventure” and with a focus on science fiction, Korea’s largest genre film festival will continue until July 7. A total of 170 feature films and 118 short films will be screened at theaters across the city just

FilmJune 27, 2019

Ithra holds Saudi Arabia culture week

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, kicked off an event to promote Saudi Arabia’s culture in Seoul this week. The event has been held across the world to promote Saudi culture and history and expand cultural exchanges with other countries. In Asia, South Korea is the first to hold the event, titled “Bridges to Seoul,” which will run until Wednesday at Grand Hilton Seoul. “I am very pleased to promote the history and culture of Saudi Arabia to Korea

Diplomatic CircuitJune 27, 2019

GOT7 showcases new song on ‘The Today Show’

K-pop act GOT7 showcased the English version of its new song “Eclipse” on “The Today Show,” a popular NBC program. The seven-piece act appeared on the show around 10 a.m. to enthusiastic applause and demonstrated the dance moves for the song. GOT7 is visiting the US as part of its ongoing world tour, which kicked off with a June 15-16 concert in Seoul. After a performance in Newark, New Jersey, Thursday, the band will perform in Toronto, Canada, Sunday, then return states

PerformanceJune 27, 2019

[Newsmaker] Trump says different form of talks with Kim possible

Ahead of his trip to Japan and South Korea, US President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he would not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “I’ll be meeting with a lot of other people. Not … him,” he was quoted by Reuters as saying as he departed the White House for his flight to Asia. While ruling out the possibility of a one-on-one meeting with Kim, Trump hinted that there could be an interaction. “But I may be speaking with him in a different for

North KoreaJune 27, 2019

NK businessman arrested in Malaysia, faces extradition to US

A North Korean businessman in his 50s has been arrested in Malaysia on charges of money laundering involving luxury goods, and faces possible extradition to the US, according to news reports.The man named Mun Chol-myong who has lived in Malaysia for about 10 years and has had business dealings in China was detained by Malaysian authorities on May 14 and was denied bail by a local magistrate Monday, Malaysian government news agency Bernama said. Washington requested Kuala Lumpur to extradite Mun

North KoreaJune 27, 2019

Fairytale TV romance proved untenable in real life

Actor Song Joong-ki has filed for divorce from actress Song Hye-kyo, 18 months after their much-celebrated marriage. On Thursday, Joong-ki’s attorney announced that the law firm Lee & Ko has filed for divorce on behalf of the actor. The 34-year-old actor revealed his position through his agency Blossom Entertainment. “Rather than criticizing one another and arguing over who is to blame, both of us hope that the divorce process can be wrapped up smoothly,” a statement f

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song-Song couple’s divorce brings Itaewon luxury house into spotlight

With Song-Song couple’s marriage coming to an end, the house known to be owned by Song Joong-ki in the posh neighborhood of Hannam-dong, has drawn media attention again.In May 2017, The Korea Herald reported Song Joong-ki’s purchase of a luxury house in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul in January. After the couple announced their engagement in July, speculation rose that the newlyweds would move into the house. According to a report by the Ilyo Sinmun newspaper Thursday, the house

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Barbara Kruger’s makes her way to Seoul, with new works in Korean

The Amorepacific Museum of Art is holding a Barbara Kruger solo exhibition, featuring 44 works from the conceptual artist’s four-decade career, ranging from early paste-ups to new work produced in Korean. Titled “Barbara Kruger: Forever,” the show marks her first solo exhibition in Asia.Kruger, born in 1945, is an internationally acclaimed American artist best known for works that combine images and text to convey a feminist cultural critique. More broadly, the artist has been

Arts & DesignJune 27, 2019

Divorce news rattles Song-Song couple-related stocks

Entertainment shares and others related to “Descendants of the Sun” power couple, Song Joong-ki and Song hye-kyo, displayed a weak performance Thursday following the surprise announcement of their divorce filing. Studio Dragon, the main production studio behind “Arthdal Chronicles,” closed 1.29 percent lower from the previous day’s trading at 68,800 won ($59.40).  “Arthdal Chronicles” is a blockbuster historical-fantasy series starring Song Joong-ki

MarketJune 27, 2019

[Breaking] Ex-president Lee Myung-bak admitted to Seoul National University Hospital

Former President Lee Myung-bak has been admitted to Seoul National University Hospital for cold symptoms, according to the hospital.Lee checked into the Cancer Hospital of the SNU Hospital at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the hospital confirmed to The Korea Herald. Lee will stay overnight at the hospital, but it is not certain when he would be discharged, a public relations official at the hospital said, quoting medical staff.Lee was moved to the cancer facility as there were no vacant VIP roo

Social AffairsJune 27, 2019

[Exclusive] Samsung to launch out-folding smartphone ahead of Huawei: sources

Samsung Electronics plans to soon release a wide range of foldable smartphones, including one that folds outward, sources familiar with the matter told The Investor on Thursday. They said the out-folding phone would come ahead of Huawei Technologies’ version of the foldable phone. “The launch date has yet to be unveiled, but it’s likely to be earlier than the date set for Huawei,” said one of the sources on condition of anonymity. “Suppliers have already begun m

TechnologyJune 27, 2019