Most Popular
-
1
Opposition mulls delay of financial investment income tax
-
2
Immigration policy must go beyond labor supply: experts
-
3
‘Korea crossed the line too far’ disgraced singer’s lawyer cries foul after 3rd visa denial
-
4
S. Korea to showcase Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile on Armed Forces Day ceremony for 1st time
-
5
Nasrallah's killing reveals depth of Israel's Hezbollah penetration
-
6
Park Zi-a, the actor who played 'The Glory' heroine's mother, dies
-
7
Psy's touch or new trend in music? P Nation’s solo stars lose their shine
-
8
Korean American documentary ‘Free Chol Soo Lee' wins Emmy
-
9
KMA chief under pressure after surveyed doctors refuse to back him
-
10
Meditation brings calm to Gwanghwamun
-
Han Sung Motor celebrates 5th year of Dream Gream Project
Han Sung Motor on Wednesday kicked off the fifth year of its corporate social responsibility program, the Dream Gream Project, which nurtures young artists. “I can proudly say that we have had many meaningful changes and developments. About 30 artists we have had passed down their expertise, and have been contributing a lot to the students’ future,” said Dr. Ulf Ausprung, chief executive of Han Sung Motor, at a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the program held at The K- hotel on the day
IndustryFeb. 18, 2016
-
[Newsmaker] FBI-Apple standoff puts encryption on front burner
WASHINGTON -- Apple‘s challenge of a court order to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino killers opens up a new front in the long-running battle between technology companies and the government over encryption.The standoff brings the sensitive issue, which has been at a stalemate in Congress, into the courts, and has abruptly shifted the policy debate on encryption. The Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York (AFP-Yonhap)A California magistrate Tuesday ordered Apple to provide “reas
World NewsFeb. 18, 2016
-
LG seeks synergy in refrigerators, water purifiers
LG Electronics on Wednesday unveiled new refrigerator and water purifier products, saying it would seek synergies between the two home appliances to differentiate itself in the premium market. LG entered the water purifier market in 2009 and combined the business with the refrigerator division in 2014. Based on their technological synergies, the company was the first to launch a water purifier refrigerator in Korea in 2013. LG said it would apply its new PuriCare brand to water purifiers. The P
TechnologyFeb. 18, 2016
-
W70m required for average Korean tech start-up
A Google campus in SeoulThe initial capital needed to start a tech venture in Korea is estimated at about 70.5 million won ($57,500) on average, with the most coveted area being mobile apps, a recent survey found Tuesday. Born2Global, a start-up accelerating center affiliated with the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, recently conducted a survey of 707 Korean start-ups established over the past seven years.The highest number of respondents, or 29 percent, said it took 50 to 100 milli
TechnologyFeb. 18, 2016
-
Netmarble seeks IPO for global expansion
Netmarble Games, the nation’s No. 2 game developer, said Thursday it is seeking an initial public offering later this year in Korea or in other countries such as the U.S. as part of its global expansion plans. “A Nasdaq debut will give us a lot of media attention, which is crucial for our global success. But we are also considering to list on the Seoul bourse,” said Netmarble founder and senior adviser Bang Jun-huk at a press conference. He said more details of the planned public listing, includ
TechnologyFeb. 18, 2016
-
Speculation grows about Samsung’s Cheil sell-off
There is growing market speculation that Samsung Group is considering selling off its advertising unit Cheil Worldwide as part of its ongoing business restructuring led by Samsung Electronics vice chairman and heir apparent Lee Jae-yong. Over the past weeks, French ad giant Publicis Groupe has been rumored to have evinced interest in buying all or a controlling stake in Cheil, which has a market value of $1.9 billion. Cheil, which rarely responds to market rumors, said Wednesday in a regulatory
TechnologyFeb. 18, 2016
-
Drills to map out endgame scenario for Pyongyang
The Korea-U.S. joint Key Resolve drill in 2015 (Yonhap)Next month’s joint military drills by South Korea and the United States will simulate an endgame scenario for North Korea that has the military recover the entire territory of the peninsula after the collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime, a military official said Thursday.The relatively rare simulation -- military operations are usually focused on hitting the North Korean leadership in Pyongyang -- coincided with Defense Minister Han Min-koo sa
DefenseFeb. 18, 2016
-
[Graphic News] Government to give 15,000 nonregular workers to regular positions by 2017
The government plans to additionally transform about 15,000 nonregular employees working at the public sector into by next year, according to its task force team on labor reform.Under the plans released Wednesday, the status of a total of 15,262 nonregular workers in the central government, local governments, state-run corporations and other public workplaces will be changed into regular positions.The Park Geun-hye administration has pushed for the gradual transformation of nonregular workers to
Feb. 18, 2016
-
Seoul warns of N.Korean terror threat
The National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently ordered terrorist attacks in the South, which reportedly include kidnapping or poisoning government officials or North Korean defectors here. Saenuri’s Rep. Lee Cheol-woo, member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, said that the North may target the country’s power supplies or public areas. He added members of the media who criticize the Kim regime may be vic
DefenseFeb. 18, 2016
-
Hyundai Group chairwoman to buy W30b worth shares in shipping arm
Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun said she would donate some 30 billion won ($24.4 million) of her personal funds in a bid to revive her group’s cash-strapped shipping unit Hyundai Merchant Marine, the firm said Thursday. Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun“We have decided to raise share capital by issuing 6 million shares (at 5,000 won apiece) through a third-party allotment,” Hyundai Merchant Marine said in a regulatory filing. Hyun and her mother Kim Moon-hee will buy around 30 bil
IndustryFeb. 18, 2016
-
[Keren Landman] Stop stigmatizing microcephaly
During my first week of medical school, we watched a video documenting the life and death of a child with severe spina bifida. Her parents had been aware of her prognosis long before birth but did not terminate the pregnancy; they cared for her until her death, when she was 8. Speaking years afterward, they regretted nothing. They saw her as a gift from God, to be valued and loved as much as their other children. I distinctly remember sitting in the lecture hall and thinking, “You people are ou
ViewpointsFeb. 18, 2016
-
Bank profits plunge 46%, lending margin hits fresh low in 2015
Profits of local banks last year plunged to their lowest in more than a decade with their margins from lending hitting a fresh low. According to the regulator Financial Supervisory Service on Thursday, the combined net profit of the country’s 18 commercial and state-run banks dropped 42.6 percent on-year to 3.5 trillion won ($2.85 billion). This is the lowest level since 2003, the height of a crippling credit card lending crisis. (The Korea Herald)“While the net interest margin continued to dec
Feb. 18, 2016
-
Korea world’s 6th-largest exporter
Korea is now the world’s sixth-largest exporter, World Trade Organization rankings show. Shipments from Korea totaled $526.9 billion in 2015, down nearly 8 percent from a year ago as global markets slumbered. But its share of world trade grew by 0.11 percentage point to 3.46 percent, pushing the country a notch up to its highest level in the WTO rankings. Global trade shrunk more than 10 percent last year. “Weak demand and low oil prices weighed down on global trade last year, but Korea and Chin
Feb. 18, 2016
-
[Photo News] Partnership for overseas aid
KB Kookmin Bank CEO Yoon Jong-kyu (left) and Korea International Cooperation Agency chief Kim Young-mok pose for photos at the state-run aid body’s headquarters in southern Seoul, on Thursday after they signed an agreement to boost business cooperation. The pact envisions KB Kookmin providing financial advice on the KOICA’s overseas aid projects, such as infrastructure construction. (KB Kookmin Bank)
Feb. 18, 2016
-
SM Entertainment subsidiary eyes IPO in China
The Chinese arm of South Korea’s biggest entertainment agency, SM Entertainment, is expected to list its shares in China following its partnership with Alibaba, a local brokerage said Thursday. EXO (SM Entertainment)The K-pop giant established two corporate entities, in Beijing and Shanghai -- both 100 percent owned by SM Entertainment -- through its subsidiary Dream Maker Entertainment in late 2015. “Dream Maker has the possibility to go public on the stock market in mainland China or Hong Kong
IndustryFeb. 18, 2016
-
[Jonathan Eyal] Paranoia in Pyongyang drives quest for nuclear arms
North Korea’s quest to acquire both nuclear weapons and their delivery systems was high on the agenda when United States President Barack Obama meets with Asean leaders at the Sunnylands resort in California. As the U.S. State Department’s spokesman put it, Obama wishes to forge a “close coordination towards a robust and united international response” to North Korea’s “violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions that threaten international peace and security.” But the disc
ViewpointsFeb. 18, 2016
-
[Editorial] THAAD disputes
NIMBYism, or not-in-my-backyard syndrome, is everywhere in the world. But in Korea, it is often exacerbated by political and ideological factors, as seen in the cases of the construction of nuclear waste storage facilities and naval bases. Usually liberals, civic activists and environmentalists join residents to fan fires of activism against key state projects. Sadly, it is very likely that we will witness the familiar scene again — this time over the planned deployment of the advanced U.S. m
EditorialFeb. 18, 2016
-
Korea, Denmark to erect symbolic sculptures in each other's capitals
The Seoul metropolitan government said Thursday that a miniature sculpture symbolizing the South Korean capital will be erected in the Danish capital of Copenhagen in September as part of a cultural exchange program between the two cities.A city official said the sculpture will be selected from several historic and cultural relics in Seoul, such as Gwanghwamun Gate, Sungnyemun Gate, Hanyang Fortress Wall, or Bosingak Belfry.In exchange, in September Seoul will erect a statue of the Little Mermai
Foreign AffairsFeb. 18, 2016
-
Former coach of star footballers dies of heart attack
Jeong Jong-deok, a former South Korean football coach who produced future World Cup heroes, died of a heart attack on Tuesday. He was 73.Jeong coached Konkuk University in Seoul for 20 years starting in 1980, winning seven trophies in domestic college football tournaments. His star-studded list of former pupils features former Tottenham Hotspur left back Lee Young-pyo and former national team striker Hwang Sun-hong and midfielder Yoo Sang-chul. All three were integral members of the South Korean
SoccerFeb. 18, 2016
-
Young people prefer to binge-watch than wait for new episodes: poll
Twenty-somethings in South Korea say they would rather pull an all-nighter watching an entire season of "Signal" than wait for new episodes each week, a survey showed Thursday.Univ Tomorrow, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for college-aged students, and the Future Broadcast Research Center of the terrestrial network MBC surveyed 954 women and men in their 20s from October to November. They found that 60.5 percent prefer to watch many-hours worth of TV in one sitting than be constrained to one e
CultureFeb. 18, 2016