APFW to look into forestry in future, address need for global efforts

The fundamental role of forestry in mitigating climate change and natural disasters, and its potential to create jobs and promote regional peace will be highlighted at a gathering of Asia-Pacific forest experts and officials taking place in South Korea this week.  Ko Ki-yeon, the director general of International Affairs Bureau at the Korea Forest Service, told The Korea Herald that regional efforts on redefining forests and forestry would be discussed at the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week 2019

IndustryJune 16, 2019

NK leader's wreath sent to late ex-first lady expected to be preserved permanently

A wreath of flowers that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent for the funeral of late former South Korean first lady Lee Hee-ho is expected to be preserved permanently, an official said Sunday.Kim sent a condolence message and the wreath of white chrysanthemums to South Korea on Wednesday after Lee, wife of late former President Kim Dae-jung, died Monday. Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, delivered the message and the wreath at the border village of Panmunjom.The wreath was decorated with a black ribbo

North KoreaJune 16, 2019

Treasury bond yield hits new low, gold price surges amid uncertainties

Responding to mounting speculations that South Korea’s central bank may soon lower the policy rate amid uncertainties, Treasury bond interest rates hit a record-low this year, market observers noted Sunday.Gold price, in contrast, has remained strong and hit a new high, reflecting investors’ increasing appetite for low-risk assets.The yield on three-year Treasury bonds closed at 1.470 percent on Friday, marking the first case that the figure fell under 1.5 percent since November 2016

EconomyJune 16, 2019

Hankook Tire & Technology aims to lead market through innovative tech

Following the change in its name last month to Hankook Tire & Technology, the firm said Sunday it plans to lead the global original equipment tire market by beefing up its research and development on innovative technology. In May, the company was renamed from Hankook Tire as part of its holding company Hankook Technology Group’s rebranding to redefine its focus. The group said it included the word “technology” to reflect its long-term mission to achieve innovation

MobilityJune 16, 2019

S. Korean gov't struggling to handle growing number of refugee cases

More than 20,000 refugee applications have piled up, but only 81 government officials are assigned to review the cases, a local human rights group said Sunday, citing data from the justice ministry.According to the statistics obtained and released by the Seoul-based Refugee Rights Center, or NANCEN, ahead of World Refugee Day, a total of 16,173 people applied for asylum in South Korea last year, a rise of more than 6,000 from 9,942 in 2017.Ministry officials said the number of asylum seekers arr

Social AffairsJune 16, 2019

S. Korean star has 'no regrets' after losing in final to Ukraine

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in isn't one to have regrets over a loss, even if it comes in the championship final of the biggest tournament of his burgeoning career.South Korea lost to Ukraine 3-1 in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz, Poland, on Saturday, unable to hold on after Lee's successful penalty gave them a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.Ukraine pushed back with three consecutive goals for their first title. But Lee, who ended the tournament with two goals and f

SoccerJune 16, 2019

S. Korea says players should feel proud of runner-up finish

South Korea may not have captured the champion's trophy at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday, but their coach Chung Jung-yong said the players should still be proud of coming this far.South Korea lost to Ukraine 3-1 in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz, blowing an early 1-0 lead to come up one win shy of their first championship at the biennial youth tournament.A win would also have given South Korea their first title at a FIFA men's tournament, but Ukraine had other ideas, as they b

SoccerJune 16, 2019

S. Koreans take to streets to cheer for U-20 World Cup final

Tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets nationwide for the nation's under-20 football team Sunday, expressing support for the young players who came up short in their first-ever World Cup championship in the final with Ukraine.South Korea lost 3-1 to Ukraine, finishing in second place in the U-20 World Cup. It was the country's best-ever performance at a men's FIFA event. Seoul and major cities organized street cheering events to help fire up football fans, as the championship mat

SoccerJune 16, 2019

Runners-up S. Korea thrive under unheralded coach

Though South Korea fell one win shy of winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday, they still beat the odds to even reach the final, thanks in no small part to the leadership of an unheralded coach who demonstrated impressive tactical acumen on the field and developed strong connections with players off the field.Chung Jung-yong, 50, coached South Korea to their best performance at the biennial youth tournament. They took second place after losing to Ukraine 3-1 at Lodz Stadium in Lod

SoccerJune 16, 2019

S. Korea's Lee Kang-in wins Golden Ball as tournament MVP

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-win earned the Golden Ball as the best player of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland on Saturday.The 18-year-old playmaker helped lead South Korea to the runner-up finish, the country's best showing ever at the biennial tournament. Lee scored South Korea's lone goal in their 3-1 loss to Ukraine in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz earlier in the day.Lee, who plies his trade with Valencia CF in Spain, had two goals and four assists in seven matches during the countr

SoccerJune 16, 2019

S. Korea finish 2nd after loss to Ukraine

It was close but no cigar.South Korea finished in second place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup following a 3-1 loss to Ukraine in the final at Lodz Stadium in Lodz on Saturday.Lee Kang-in converted a penalty in the fifth minute to give South Korea an early lead, but Ukraine scored three unanswered goals for their first title. Vladyslav Supriaha scored twice and Heorhii Tsitaishvili scored a late dagger for the champions.South Korea fell one victory shy of winning their first title at the biennia

SoccerJune 16, 2019

'Parasite' surpasses 8 mln in admissions

The Cannes-winning "Parasite" surpassed 8 million in total admissions on Saturday, looking poised to join other films in the 10 million club.According to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), "Parasite" reached over 8 million in admissions just past 3 p.m. Saturday, the 17th day since its much anticipated release. The family satire directed by Bong Joon-ho earned the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and has stayed at the top of the local box office since it

FilmJune 16, 2019

S. Korea, Sweden to expand ties on new industries, inclusive growth

The leaders of South Korea and Sweden agreed Saturday that their tech-savvy, like-minded countries have great potential for closer partnerships in various sectors, including in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Seoul's pursuit of inclusive growth.Speaking after a summit with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, President Moon Jae-in noted that the two-way trade volume reached an all-time high of US$2.9 billion in 2018."The amount of investment is fast increasing as well. But

Diplomatic CircuitJune 16, 2019

BTS dazzles 25,000 fans in Busan

Throwing its first-ever concert in the second-biggest South Korean city of Busan on Saturday, K-pop band BTS dazzled some 25,000 fans in this bustling port city.The area around Busan Asiad Auxiliary Stadium, close to the southeastern coastline, was buzzing with BTS fans, famously known as "ARMY," from early in the morning as excited fans arrived at the concert venue far ahead of the first day of the septet's "5th Muster [Magic Shop]" tour performances in Busan.The two-day fan

PerformanceJune 16, 2019

[Newsmaker] S. Korea, Sweden sign MOUs on trade, economic cooperation

South Korea and Sweden have signed six memorandums of understandings (MOUs) to expand trade and cooperation in emerging industries, the government said Saturday.The MOUs were signed in line with President Moon Jae-in's visit to Sweden on the last leg of his eight-day Northern Europe trip that also took him to Finland and Norway.The agreements include those signed by the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, as well as the signings between res

Diplomatic CircuitJune 15, 2019

N. Korean fishing boat found stranded in East Sea, crew under investigation

A North Korean fishing boat was found adrift in South Korean waters off the east coast Saturday, and its crew members are under investigation by authorities, they said. The boat carrying four crewmen was spotted by a South Korean fishing boat in waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) at around 6:50 a.m., according to officials.  The North Korean boat is known to have drifted across the NLL, the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, due to an engine problem. The m

North KoreaJune 15, 2019

S. Korea keeps membership on UN economic-social council

South Korea has been reelected as a member of a UN council in charge of economic and social issues, a position it has held since 2008, the foreign ministry said Saturday.South Korea received membership on the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from 2020 to 2022 in a vote at a UN general meeting Friday, the ministry said. It marks the country's eighth successive entry on the 54-member council.A total of 18 countries were elected to be members for the next three years in the latest election.&nbs

Diplomatic CircuitJune 15, 2019

NK media says inter-Korean declarations are milestones for peace, prosperity

North Korean media outlets said Saturday inter-Korean agreements signed last year are milestones for peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula, celebrating the 19th anniversary of a joint declaration signed by the two Koreas at their first-ever summit. The North's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, said the June 15 declaration signed by then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 was a landmark event in the country's unification history.It said the thr

North KoreaJune 15, 2019

Ivanka Trump, Kushner took in as much as $135M last year

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner took in as much as $135 million in revenue during their second year as aides to President Donald Trump, generated from their vast real estate holdings, stocks and bonds and even a book deal, according to their financial disclosures released Friday. Ivanka Trump's stake in her family's Washington, D.C., hotel down the street from the Oval Office generated $3.95 million in revenue in 2018, barely changed from a year earlier. The hotel, a favorite gathering spot for f

World NewsJune 15, 2019

Renault Samsung workers OK wage deal, ending monthslong dispute

Unionized workers at Renault Samsung Motors Corp. voted for a wage deal on Friday, ending a monthslong dispute at the automaker plagued by output losses and helping it secure production volume for exports.In a vote over the wage deal, 74 percent of Renault Samsung's 2,063 workers cast ballots for the revised wage and collective agreement after the first tentative deal was rejected by the union last month, Renault Samsung said in a statement.The revised deal includes a "joint declaration for

IndustryJune 15, 2019