Moon replaces presidential secretary for personnel affairs

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday replaced his Cheong Wa Dae secretary for personnel affairs, his office announced, as many predict a Cabinet shake-up in the coming months.Kwon Yong-il, an official at the office of the presidential secretary for civil service discipline, has been promoted to the post, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, Ko Min-jung. The former lawyer is replacing Kim Bong-jun, which is said to be preparing to run in next year's general elections. Having entered his third ye

PoliticsJune 27, 2019

Former YG Entertainment chief questioned over alleged sex scandal

Yang Hyun-suk, former CEO and chief producer of YG Entertainment, returned home Thursday after he underwent an hourslong probe by police over allegations that he arranged sex services for foreign investors.Police called in Yang on Wednesday to look into allegations that he treated potential foreign investors at a posh restaurant in Seoul and arranged sex services for them in 2014. Yang was summoned for the investigation but not a suspect. Yang has flatly denied the allegations.In a related probe

Social AffairsJune 27, 2019

Song-Song couple start divorce proceedings

Actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo have started divorce proceedings. On Thursday, Song Joong-ki’s attorney Park Jae-hyun announced that his law firm had filed for divorce on behalf of the actor on Wednesday. “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,” Song said through his agency, Blossom Entertainment.“I ask for your understanding that it is difficult to go into details of

PeopleJune 27, 2019

Song Hye-kyo, Song Joong-ki taking legal steps for divorce

Top-profile Korean star couple Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki are taking legal steps to part ways, two years after their much-celebrated marriage, the latter's management agency said Thursday.A law firm representing the actor Song Joong-ki filed for court mediation for his divorce from the actress Song Hye-kyo with the Seoul Family Court on Wednesday. "I decided to start a court mediation procedure for my divorce from Song Hye-kyo," the actor said through his management agency, Blossom

TelevisionJune 27, 2019

Trump says he may speak to Kim in 'different form' on Asia trip

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will not be meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his trip to Asia this week but may speak to him "in a different form."Trump made the remarks as he left the White House for Osaka, Japan, where he will attend the Group of 20 summit before traveling to South Korea on Saturday. "I'll be meeting with a lot of other people, not by him, but I may be speaking to him in a different form," Trump said. "I'll be going, as you k

North KoreaJune 27, 2019

US nuke envoy Biegun set to visit S. Korea ahead of Trump's trip

US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun was set to visit South Korea on Thursday ahead of President Donald Trump's trip to the Asian ally aimed at exploring ways to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table.On Friday, Biegun is expected to meet his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, to discuss the nuclear issue and the North Korea portion of the agenda for Sunday's summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump. The US president is set to arrive in Seoul on S

Foreign AffairsJune 27, 2019

Warrant sought for man for crashing car into US embassy

Police on Wednesday sought an arrest warrant to detain a South Korean man accused of crashing his sedan into the front gate of the US Embassy in central Seoul earlier this week. Officials at the Jongno Police Station said the 40-year-old man, identified only by his surname, Park, suddenly turned his car toward the embassy gate and rammed into it on Tuesday.No one was hurt in the incident, although Park had some 20 cans of butane gas in the car, police said.Investiga

Social AffairsJune 26, 2019

S. Korea to maintain criteria for setting minimum wage

The Minimum Wage Council decided on Wednesday not to consider employers' ability to pay salaries in setting the minimum wage for next year.Business groups, mainly small firms and mom-and-pop stores, have been demanding that they be allowed to establish different minimum wages depending on industry and business sizes.The wage council -- a trilateral panel of business and labor representatives and outside experts -- closed its deliberations earlier in the day and deci

MarketJune 26, 2019

[팟캐스트] (306) 문무일 총장 검찰 과거사 대국민 사과 / '제 2윤창호법' 음주단속 첫 날

 진행자: 김다솔, Paul Kerry1. Top prosecutor apologizes for prosecution’s past misdeeds기사 요약: 검찰 과거사위원회가 지난 1년 6개월간 과거 검찰의 부실수사 등에 대한 조사를 마치고 지난달 활동을 종료했는데 과거사위가 지적했던 검찰 과오에 대해 반성하며 사과했다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638[1] Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il on Tuesday apologized for the prosecution’s past abuses of power and human rights violations in connection with politically sensitive

PodcastJune 26, 2019

Iksan mayor urged to resign over racist remarks

Civic groups are calling on Mayor Chung Heon-yool of Iksan, North Jeolla Province, to resign after making racist remarks about children from multicultural families. “Biologically and scientifically speaking, they say crossbreeds are stronger,” Chung was quoted as saying in a media report. “Multicultural children are cute, but they might cause a riot if they are not properly brought up.”According to Iksan City Hall, the mayor made the comment May 11 during an event fo

Social AffairsJune 26, 2019

Mayor vows crackdown on illicit set up of far-right rally tents in downtown Seoul

A minor far-right party continued Wednesday to resist the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s clampdown on its illegal occupation of Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul. On Tuesday morning, the city government forcibly removed tents set up by Our Republican Party -- formerly the Korean Patriots Party -- after repeated warnings were ignored, only to see them put up tents again at the square in the afternoon. The party had set up tents and canopies at Gwanghwamun Square on M

Social AffairsJune 26, 2019

Dismantling Yongbyon is irreversible advance in NK’s denuclearization: Moon

President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday it that North Korea can be considered to have entered an irreversible stage of denuclearization process when it dismantles a nuclear complex in Yongbyon. “If all the nuclear facilities in the complex, including the plutonium reprocessing facilities and the uranium enrichment facilities, are completely demolished and verified, it would be possible to say that the denuclearization of North Korea has entered an irreversible stage,” he said in a joint

North KoreaJune 26, 2019

BMW Korea launches face-lifted 7 Series

BMW Korea, importer and distributer of the German luxury car, on Wednesday unveiled its face-lifted 7 series, targeting customers in theirs 30s and 40s, younger than its rival Mercedes-Benz.With its attractive kidney grille -- 50 percent larger than its predecessor -- the latest 7 series has deployed an L shape LED rear lamp and state-of-the-art drive assistant features to highlight its reputation as a high luxury sedan, the company said. The predecessor, the sixth-generation 7 Series, was unvei

MobilityJune 26, 2019

[Graphic News] World population to reach 9.7 billion in 2050: UN

　The world’s population is expected to climb to 9.7 billion in 2050 from 7.7 billion today, with the population of sub-Saharan Africa doubling, a United Nations report said.　The population could then grow to 11 billion by 2100, according to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ “World Population Prospects.”　The study paints a picture of a future in which a handful of countries see their population surge as life expectancy lengthens while the global growth rate

WorldJune 26, 2019

[Herald Interview] When your hometown is in S. Korea, but homeland is North Korea

The idea of a “fatherland” is not much thought or talked about, as it seems so obvious. But for many ethnic Korean residents of Japan, the yearning for the “fatherland” remains, as they strive to maintain their identity as Koreans.A documentary depicting ethnic Koreans in Japan who say their hometowns are in South Korea, but believe their fatherland is North Korea, was screened in Seoul as part of a three-day event starting Friday. Park Yeong-i, director of “The Sky

North KoreaJune 26, 2019

US-NK summit will take place ‘at some point’: Trump

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday a fresh summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have been mentioned in letters he exchanged with Kim and they will meet “at some point” ahead of his visit to Seoul this weekend. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said his recent letter to Kim was a “nice” response to Kim’s birthday message to him. Trump turned 73 on June 14. Asked if a summit was mentioned in the exchange of letters with Kim, he said,

North KoreaJune 26, 2019

Woman injured in snatch theft incident in Spain

A South Korean woman, who was on an official government trip to Spain, was injured after trying to avoid robbery on a street in Barcelona, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.  The woman, who is known to be an official of a Korean government advisory committee, was sent to a hospital after she injured her head when she fell down on Sunday night. The unconscious woman was treated at the scene, according to Spanish media. After failing to snatch the victim’s belongings, the su

Foreign AffairsJune 26, 2019

Retired MLB pitcher hopes to give back as SparkLabs partner

Retired Major League Baseball pitcher Park Chan-ho is hoping to have a good influence on the South Korean startup ecosystem and give back to society as a venture partner of Seoul-based global accelerator SparkLabs.“I’m glad I was given a chance to have a virtuous influence on startups,” Park said in a press conference on Wednesday. “Young entrepreneurs are brimming with passion and dreams. I think I can share with them my experience and know-how (as a former professional

MarketJune 26, 2019

Matthew Stone: Longing for something real in this digital age

People listen to digitally rendered music, but most people are not familiar with digital paintings.Choi & Larger Gallery in Seoul is holding a solo exhibition of works by London-based artist Matthew Stone, featuring some 20 digital paintings under the title “Small Awakenings.”  Stone utilizes both traditional painting tools and new technologies in his art, which usually requires twice as much time to make because of the additional processes involved.Stone first makes brushs

Arts & DesignJune 26, 2019

‘The Divine Fury’ eyes start of occult-themed film universe

Director Jason Kim’s upcoming film “The Divine Fury” seeks to break ground in Korean cinema by starting a cinematic universe, though the concept has not arrived here yet. Even more daring is Kim’s attempt to do so with an occult film -- a genre that has been a hit and miss when it comes to Korean movies.“During my visit to France, I saw a statue of an angel suppressing the devil. (The statue) embodied an enormous struggle, which got me thinking (about the possibilit

FilmJune 26, 2019