Most Popular
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Psy's touch or new trend in music? P Nation’s solo stars lose their shine
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Seoul to hold grand military parade on Tuesday, disrupting major city routes
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Park Zi-a, the actor who played 'The Glory' heroine's mother, dies
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Yoon warns North Korea against nuclear attack attempt
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Shut up and dance
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NewJeans fans corner Hybe amid PR backlash, looming National Assembly audit
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Israel targets Palestinian group in first strike on Beirut center
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Brit pop legend Oasis to perform in Seoul next year
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[KH Explains] Is Hyundai-GM partnership win-win to beat Tesla, Chinese rivals?
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BTS’ Suga fined W15m for e-scooter DUI
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Korea issues record amount of W50,000 bills in 2015
South Korea injected a record amount of 50,000 won banknotes into circulation last year, the central bank said Wednesday, despite a low return rate of the highest denomination bills that has continuously raised concerns over the possible growth of the underground economy.In 2015, the Bank of Korea issued some 20.5 trillion won worth of 50,000-won notes, up 34.8 percent from the previous year and breaching the 20-trillion-won mark for the first time since it introduced the 50,000-won bill in 2009
Jan. 20, 2016
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Gov't calls for parliamentary endorsement of anti-terrorism bills
The government renewed its call on Wednesday for the parliamentary approval of anti-terrorism bills, citing growing threats of terrorism both at home and abroad.In addition to the first bill proposed by the government in 2011 following the 9/11 attacks, a number of anti-terrorism bills are currently pending in the National Assembly. However, the bills have not yet been put to a full floor vote due to strong dissent from the opposition party on concerns about giving more authority to the National
PoliticsJan. 20, 2016
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Seoul shares open bearish on blue chip losses
South Korean shares opened weaker on Wednesday on losses in tech and other blue chips.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 9.24 points, or 0.49 percent, to 1,880.40 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech shares led the decline, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics losing 1.88 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix moving down 3.36 percent. LG Electronics shed 1.46 percent.Carmakers also opened weaker, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor sliding 0.71 percent and Hyundai Mobis stepping down
Jan. 20, 2016
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Korean dried seaweed looks beyond dining table to snack market
What's your favorite way to eat dried seaweed?If you are a Korean, you may want to have a bowl of rice with dried seaweed, roasted with sesame oil and fine salt, and kimchi.Dried seaweed pressed into a dark green sheet is called "kim," a homonym for the most common family name in Korea. If you are in the United States, try a package of crispy seaweed as a not-so-guilty snack. It's high in vitamins and minerals, and naturally salty, so it goes well with beer. With its origins tracing back to the
FoodJan. 20, 2016
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Duty-free licenses up for grabs at two airports
Two international airports in South Korea are set to review operational licenses for duty-free shops, but the upcoming bids are unlikely to become competitive due to sluggish profitability, industry sources said Wednesday. Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul is expected to open a bid for tax-free shops later this month as the current operating rights expire in May after five years of operation. Currently, Hotel Lotte Co. and Hotel Shilla Co. have duty-free shops at the airport.Gimhae In
Jan. 20, 2016
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Ex-U.S. official calls for massive sanctions to cripple North Korea economy
Sanctions on North Korea should target not only the regime's illicit activities but also the country's overall economy to curb its economic growth and completely cut the country off from the global banking system, a former U.S. sanctions official said Tuesday.Peter Harrell, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, made the point in an article to The Hill, saying the existing sanctions on North Korea do not reflect the country's recent economic growth and other developments."The U.S. and our
World NewsJan. 20, 2016
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Pyongyang's 'technical capability' has not increased after nuclear test
North Korea's nuclear capability is not believed to have increased despite the communist nation's latest nuclear test, a senior U.S. missile defense official said Tuesday."I would assess their technical capability has not increased,"Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, said when he was asked about his assessment of the North's nuclear test during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He didn't elaborate on the basis of his assessment.
World NewsJan. 20, 2016
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Korea draw Iraq, top group in Olympic football qualifying tournament
South Korea drew Iraq 1-1 but still topped their group in the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament here on Tuesday.South Korea were nursing their slim lead on forward Kim Hyun's first-half header, until Amjed Hussein netted the equalizer in the dying moments of the final Group C match at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship in the Qatari capital.The result left both nations tied at seven points on two victories and a draw, but South Korea finished in first place thanks to t
SportsJan. 20, 2016
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Pyongyang could have tested 'boosted fission bomb' or simply ordinary nuclear weapon
North Korea's latest nuclear test could have involved a boosted fission weapon or simply a conventional nuclear bomb, and the communist nation might have exaggerated the test for political and other purposes, a congressional report said.The Congressional Research Service made the assessment in a report issued earlier this month, pointing out experts' views that the yield of the Jan. 6 test was too low to believe it involved a hydrogen bomb as claimed by Pyongyang."Another possibility discussed b
World NewsJan. 20, 2016
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POSCO forecast to post net loss in 2015
POSCO, the nation’s top steelmaker, is likely to post a net loss in 2015, weighed by excessive supply by Chinese rivals and weak demand in the global steel market, according to industry sources Tuesday. The forecast is based on the combined performance of its affiliates, including POSCO Energy, Daewoo International and POSCO Engineering & Construction. Its core steelmaking business will continue to remain profitable, the sources added. POSCO’s worst-ever performance in 2015 has been expect
BusinessJan. 19, 2016
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Renault recalls vehicles over failed emissions test
Renault is recalling thousands of new vehicles to make engine tweaks, the government said Tuesday, as the French carmaker grapples with emission levels found to exceed anti-pollution norms in some of its cars.France's second biggest auto manufacturer -- in which the French state owns nearly 20 percent -- has been under the spotlight since it emerged last week that anti-fraud investigators had raided several of the company's sites, sending stocks plunging.Amid fears Renault could be caught up in
World BusinessJan. 19, 2016
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Obama, Australia PM Turnbull to meet Tuesday at White House
President Barack Obama is welcoming his first foreign leader of the new year, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, for talks that will cover the Islamic State militant group and a 12-nation Pacific Rim trade agreement that includes their countries. Other global, regional and bilateral issues are also on Tuesday's agenda for meetings the White House says will cover the "extraordinary breadth" of the U.S.-Australian alliance. Turnbull is on his first visit to the U.S. since taking office
World NewsJan. 19, 2016
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Ministry says no illicit act by foreign envoys over law firm rules
South Korea's Foreign Ministry defended foreign envoys here Tuesday from criticism that they are illegitimately seeking to pressure the country's parliament over a bill on law firms.A day earlier, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert met with Rep. Lee Sang-min, head of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee, and delivered a protest statement against the revision bill on the opening of South Korea's legal market.It was also signed by British Amb. Charles Hay, EU Amb. Gerhard
Foreign AffairsJan. 19, 2016
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[Hallyu Power] Psy’s power goes beyond ‘Gangnam Style’
This is the first article in a series that explores the driving forces behind hallyu and the global rise of Korean pop culture. -- Ed. The global success of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” music video was both boon and bane to the 42-year-old singer, born Park Jae-sang. With the strong support of K-pop stronghold YG Entertainment, Psy was able to reach an unprecedented audience for Korean music. The video rapidly went viral, going on to reach over 2.5 billion views on YouTube. With an additional push fr
Life&CultureJan. 19, 2016
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Global anxiety rises as China growth falls
China's economic growth slowed to a six-year low in the latest quarter as trade and consumer spending weakened, deepening a downturn that has fueled anxiety abroad over its impact on an uncertain global outlook. The world's second-largest economy grew by 6.8 percent in the October-December quarter, down from the previous quarter's 6.9 percent, data showed Tuesday. That dragged full-year growth to a 25-year low of 6.9 percent. A port in Chungqing, China. (Yonhap)Growth has fallen steadily over
World BusinessJan. 19, 2016
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Heady rise and fall of Sbenu founder
Hwang Hyo-jin, founder of sports shoe brand Sbenu, seemed to have it all until last Dec. 17, when his franchisees and suppliers filed complaints for defaulting on payments of more than 7.2 billion won ($5.9 million).The 27-year-old was hailed as the epitome of Korean entrepreneurship, the indefatigable pursuit of success from scratch. However, his alleged embezzlement and fraud have torn down that image, and it will take Hwang and his business considerable time and effort to recover from the sca
IndustryJan. 19, 2016
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Global oil money expected to leave Korean bourse
Oil-producing countries will continue to pull their money out of the Korean stock market as they grapple with the prolonged slump in oil prices, a Korean brokerage house said Tuesday. (Yonhap)According to KDB Daewoo Securities, the Korean equity market has suffered 15 trillion won ($12.45 billion) in net outflows from foreign investment since June 2015, and the biggest exit came from Saudi Arabia. “Of the amount, withdrawals by Saudi Arabia accounts for nearly 30 percent at some 4.5 trillion wo
Jan. 19, 2016
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[Graphic News] Low credit scores from overdue cell phone bills surge
With most telecom subscribers having only mobile phones, overdue payments are leading to a decline in their credit scores, the Korea Communications Commission said Tuesday. The majority of consumers with unpaid mobile bills are in their teens and 20s, with their credit scores dropping from a high 1 to a low 9. In 2015, the highest number of mobile subcribers with overdue bills were in their 20s - 139,185 cases - which totaled 51.2 billion won ($42.5 million).”Those in their 20s cannot help but r
IndustryJan. 19, 2016
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Military think tank calls for robot development
The U.S. Army envisions operations by teams of super humans and autonomous combat robots in 2050, while China and Russia are spurring programs to develop combat robots and unmanned editions of the existing armored vehicles. Japan, meanwhile, has unveiled the world’s first armed robot that can carry a seated human pilot. With world powers racing to gain an edge in the military robotics industry, Seoul should step up investment in the research and development of ground robots, a state-run think t
DefenseJan. 19, 2016
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Umbrella union rejects trilateral deal
Perceiving no chance of compromise with the government on disputed labor reforms, a leading umbrella labor union on Tuesday declared its withdrawal from the labor-management-government trilateral deal, ending a brief four-month truce. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions said Tuesday that it would no longer acknowledge the tripartite agreement, which had long been opposed by the laborers for allegedly deepening labor instability and employers’ power abuse. FKTU chairman Kim Dong-man speaks at
PoliticsJan. 19, 2016