YouTube blocks preteen users from livestreaming

YouTube has updated its safety guidelines to restrict creators below the age of 13 from livestreaming without adult supervision. YouTube Korea said Friday on its official blog that it is blocking preteen users from livestreaming without being accompanied by an adult. The change had been announced on the company’s global blog on June 3.   “When it comes to kids, we take an extra cautious approach towards our enforcement and we’re always making improvements to our prote

TechnologyJune 11, 2019

Exports down 16.6% in first 10 days of June

South Korea's exports sharply fell 16.6 percent in the first 10 days of June mainly due to decreased shipments of semiconductors, one of the country's key items, customs data showed Tuesday.The country's exports stood at $10.3 billion in the June 1-10 period, compared with $12.3 billion in the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.  By product, exports of electronic appliances and vessels jumped 68.1 percent and 169.7 percent, respectively.  Meanwhile, outbound

EconomyJune 11, 2019

US House draft bill preventing reduction in US Forces Korea

The US House Armed Services Committee has revised its draft defense budget bill for next year to add a clause prohibiting a reduction in the number of American forces stationed in South Korea without congressional approval, the committee chairman has said.The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act of fiscal year 2020 prevents the US government from curtailing the number of its troops in South Korea below 28,500, but the draft bill presented by the House committee earlier this m

DefenseJune 11, 2019

Blockbuster 'Arthdal Chronicles' under fire for similarity with famous dramas, films

The blockbuster fantasy series "Arthdal Chronicles" has been struggling not only with its lower-than-expected viewership ratings but with a ballooning controversy over its apparent resemblance to famous TV dramas and movies.First aired on June 1 by cable channel tvN, the weekend drama is about a story when politics is just being birthed in the ancient city of Arthdal.It was in the center of media attention even before the premiere thanks to its star-studded cast, including movie stars

TelevisionJune 11, 2019

Hungary to lift sunken tour boat

Hungarian authorities will start salvaging a sunken tour boat from the Danube River early Tuesday (Budapest time), officials said, nearly two weeks after its deadly sinking left 26 South Koreans dead or missing. Operations to lift the Hableany from waters beneath the Margit bridge in central Budapest will begin at around 6:30 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. Korean time), the South Korean quick response team dispatched to the site told reporters. Hungary finished tying the wire ropes around the ship l

Social AffairsJune 11, 2019

N. Korea to hold elections to choose deputies for local assemblies

North Korea will hold elections next month to choose new deputies for local assemblies of provinces, cities and counties across the country, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.The elections will be held July 21, the Korean Central News Agency reported.In the previous elections in July 2015, 28,452 deputies were elected for a four-year term. Elections in North Korea are considered a formality. The official voter turnaround in 2015 was 99.9 percent, with 100 percent voting for their candidat

North KoreaJune 11, 2019

Ex-first lady Lee remembered as political buttress for husband, pioneer for women's rights

The late former first lady Lee Hee-ho was a lifelong political companion of her late husband Kim Dae-jung, the architect of the "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, and a pioneer for women's rights.Lee died at the age of 96 on Monday after battling liver cancer, according to her aides. Lee was not like a shadowlike first lady but served as a political buttress for Kim throughout the ex-president's tumultuous life and an activist for women's rights. She was also an espouser of Kim

PoliticsJune 11, 2019

Lee Hee-ho, widow of ex-President Kim Dae-jung, dies at 97

Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, died Monday at the age of 96, aides said.Lee had been hospitalized at a Seoul hospital while battling liver cancer."First lady Lee passed today at 11:37 p.m.," an official at the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center said.   Lee served as chair of the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center, which was founded by her husband to promote inter-Korean reconciliation and world peace, and fight global poverty.The former president, who served from

PoliticsJune 11, 2019

Referees from 2 Koreas to reunite in group stage match

Football referees from the two Koreas will reunite on the pitch Monday as they are set to collaborate in the group stage at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.FIFA said that North Korea's Ri Hyang-ok will serve as referee for the Group E match between Canada and Cameroon, with her compatriot Hong Kum-nyo and South Korea's Kim Kyoung-min working as assistant referees. The match will kick off 9 p.m. Monday (local time) at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. They are three of the 12 Asian refer

SoccerJune 10, 2019

Moon expects dialogue with N. Korea to resume soon

HELSINKI -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in struck an upbeat note Monday on efforts to restart talks with North Korea, stressing that dialogue momentum stays alive.Speaking after a summit here with his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinisto, Moon said dialogue is underway for the continuation of talks between South and North Korea as well as North Korea and the United States.It was unclear whether the president meant an informal contact with Pyongyang, as there have been no formal, announced neg

PoliticsJune 10, 2019

[Graphic News] North Korea ranks at bottom for press freedom: report

　North Korea, along with China, Syria and other countries, has been rated as the worst in terms of press freedom, a recent report by a US freedom watchdog showed.　US-based Freedom House released the annual report for 2019, titled “Freedom and Media: A Downward Spiral,” in which the North got zero on a scale of zero to four points.　Dozens of other countries also received zero in the report.　Norway had the best score for press freedom, followed by Finland and Sweden. Eritrea, North Kor

World NewsJune 10, 2019

Korea, Finland seek closer cooperation

President Moon Jae-in on Monday held a summit with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, where they agreed to engage in bilateral cooperation on energy and industrial innovation. The two countries also agreed to boost cooperation on policies related to gender equality and quality of life.  Moon is currently in Finland on a state visit, the first stop in his three-nation tour of northern Europe. From Finland, Moon will move on to Norway and Sweden. According to Seoul’s presidential office,

Foreign AffairsJune 10, 2019

Late Korean Air chairman's daughter forced to resign amid scandal returns

The younger daughter of Korean Air Lines Co.'s late chairman, Cho Yang-ho, returned to two management positions at logistics-centered Hanjin Group on Monday, 14 months after she was forced to resign amid controversy over her misbehavior. Hanjin KAL, the holding company of parent Hanjin Group, has appointed Cho Hyun-min as its senior vice president and executive vice president at the group's real estate developer."At Hanjin KAL, she will be in charge of managing corporate social responsibili

IndustryJune 10, 2019

Drug Ministry to provide samples of 21 new types of illicit drugs to authorities

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced Monday it has listed certified reference materials for 21 new types of illegal drugs on its inventory. Certified reference materials are drug samples that act as standards in drug screenings to examine a drug’s purity and identify its type.The ministry will provide the samples to the relevant authorities, such as the National Forensic Service, Supreme Prosecutor’s Office and Korea Customs Service.The new certified drug reference mat

Social AffairsJune 10, 2019

Medical associations voice support for WHO classification of gaming addiction as disorder

Medical associations in Korea have voiced support for the World Health Organization’s designation of gaming addiction as a disease.The Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, Association of Neuropsychiatric Practitioners, Korean Society of Epidemiology, Korean Pediatric Society and Korea Society of Preventive Medicine jointly released a statement Monday in support of the WHO’s recent move to recognize gaming addiction as a form of mental illness. The decision by the WHO was finalized Ma

Social AffairsJune 10, 2019

[Andrew Sheng] On board SS Planet Titanic

World Environment Day (June 5) was a good time to reflect on the existential threat of climate change.After five of the hottest years in living history, there is little doubt that climate change is moving center stage in the global agenda. The UN has warned that a million species are in danger of becoming extinct, with climate scientists claiming that we may have less than 10 to15 years to correct our carbon emission trajectory. It is no longer IF climate disaster will happen, only WHEN and how

ViewpointsJune 10, 2019

[Carl P. Leubsdorf] Uncertain times for US, allies

Seventy-five years ago, thousands of American and allied sailors, soldiers and aviators braved heavy seas and murderous German fire in the historic invasion that began the decisive campaign to end Nazi control of Europe.　 The success of the D-Day landings, Europe’s liberation 11 months later and its economic recovery over ensuing decades were a tribute not only to the bravery of the invading troops but to the unprecedented military and political unity that American presidents from Frank

ViewpointsJune 10, 2019

NCT 127 to set out on European tour

Boy band NCT 127 on Monday confirmed that it will commence a tour across Europe later this month, starting in Russia and ending in Paris. According to S.M. Entertainment, the 10-member band will kick off the tour with a concert at the Ice Palace arena in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 26. It will move on to perform at the Megasport Sport Palace in Moscow and the SSE Arena, Wembley, in the UK before wrapping up the tour in Paris at La Seine Musicale.Prior to heading to Europe, the band will hold co

PerformanceJune 10, 2019

Imprisoned Egyptian publisher to be awarded prize during Seoul International Book Fair

With an award recognizing an imprisoned Egyptian publisher’s struggle for freedom of the press, Seoul International Book Fair 2019 is set to open next week.The annual fair will take place June 19-23 at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Gangnam, southern Seoul.　This year, the festival will highlight the importance of the freedom of the press, organizers said during a press conference Monday in central Seoul. On June 21, the International Publishers Association will award the

CultureJune 10, 2019