[Photo News] Mercedes for German embassy

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Monday that its all-electric vehicle EQS 450 4 MATIC has been selected as the official diplomatic car for the Embassy of Germany in the country. Ambassador Georg Schmidt underlined the German embassy’s commitment to continuously upgrading its mobility for sustainability in Korea. In this photo, Schmidt (left) and Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vait pose with the newly appointed EV. (Mercedes-Benz Korea)

MobilityOct. 14, 2024

[Herald Review] Seventeen showcases new songs in world tour ‘Right Here’

K-pop sensation Seventeen launched their world tour, “Right Here,” with two spectacular concerts at Goyang Stadium in Gyeonggi Province. The event came just five months after their Asia tour, “Follow Again,” concluded in May. Drawing a crowd of approximately 58,000 fans to the stadium over two days, the concerts also attracted viewers from 107 countries through livestreaming on Weverse, an online platform for concert streaming. The concert kicked off with “Fear,&rdq

K-popOct. 14, 2024

Pressured by fans, troubled singer Seunghan leaves Riize for good

Just two days after announcing the he was rejoining K-pop act Riize, Seunghan on Monday said he is leaving the group for good. The decision comes following a heated response from within the group's fan community, known as Briize, over his return. Wizard Production, SM Entertainment’s production team in charge of Riize, released an official statement signed by directors Kim Hyeong-guk and Lee Sang-min in which they apologized for the confusion caused by the announcement of Seunghan&rsq

K-popOct. 14, 2024

Korean chipmakers should not repeat mistakes of Toshiba, Intel: ex-ministers

Former industry and science ministers urged the government to take a more proactive approach to support the domestic chip industry, including providing direct subsidies, to maintain an edge in the intensifying global semiconductor race. Five former ministers and chip experts on Monday discussed the future of Korea's chip industry at a special panel discussion organized by the Federation of Korea Industries in Seoul, where they agreed on the need for "all-around" support from the g

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Oktoberfest arrives at Songnidangil BBQ Village

Oktoberfest has arrived at Songnidangil BBQ Village, bringing a taste of Bavaria to the heart of Seoul for the entire month of October. In partnership with German beer Paulaner, the Oktoberfest beer of which is served in Munich's Oktoberfest tents, Korean chicken giant BBQ Chicken is offering a special Bavarian-themed menu and festive atmosphere at its Jamsil branch in southern Seoul. At the heart of the celebration is the Oktoberfest Platter, a feast featuring brathendl (roast chicken), br

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

No. of female earners surpasses 10 million

The number of female workers receiving wages and salaries in South Korea has surpassed the 10 million mark this year, government data showed Monday. According to data released by Statistics Korea, the female wage and salaried workforce in 2024 reached 10.15 million, an approximately 17.7-fold increase since the government began collecting such data in 1963. Specifically, 6.962 million of these female workers were regular employees, 2.907 million were temporary workers, and 283,000 were categoriz

Social AffairsOct. 14, 2024

CN Blue returns to pure band sound with “X”

Although it has been 14 years since its debut, this year marks “another beginning” for CN Blue with the trio's contemplative 10th mini-album, "X." Although it is the band's 10th album, band leader and vocalist Yong-hwa feels as nervous and excited as when the band debuted each time a new album is released. “At the same time, I still feel the fire alive inside me,” he said in an interview with a group of reporters on Oct. 7 in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. The

K-popOct. 14, 2024

KT to make AI push with staff shakeup

South Korean telecom carrier KT is reportedly set to carry out an organizational revamp focused on artificial intelligence while elevating profitability and efficiency, according to industry sources Monday. KT plans to hold a board meeting on Tuesday, with organizational restructuring and personnel relocation likely topping the agenda. The board is expected to approve the establishment of two subsidiaries dedicated to network operation and maintenance, KT OSP and KT P&M, to start operation f

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Kim Jong-un struggles to sell '2 Koreas' narrative at home

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has not yet mustered public support for his bid to redefine the two Koreas as separate, hostile states -- a sharp break from his predecessors’ vision of a unified peninsula under a single nation and state -- former North Korean diplomats said. Some warned that Kim may ramp up military threats against South Korea to push his agenda forward. Seven of 12 former North Korean diplomats who have publicly defected to South Korea gathered on Thursday for a rare foru

North KoreaOct. 14, 2024

Yoon-Han meeting to take place next week

President Yoon Suk Yeol's office said Monday that a meeting between Yoon and ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon will be held next week. According to Yoon's office, the meeting of the conservative ruling bloc's two prominent leaders will take place sometime early next week, following Wednesday's by-elections this week. The office also said it was coordinating with the ruling party. The meeting is drawing keen attention over whether Yoon and Han are able to fully mend fences. Han, Yoon'

PoliticsOct. 14, 2024

Man wrongly incarcerated for 'spying for NK' compensated 54 years late

An 82-year-old man who served a seven-year prison term after being wrongly accused of being a North Korean spy will receive compensation from the state, over 50 years after the conviction. Seoul High Court on Oct. 4 ruled that Kim Sin-geun should get compensation worth 901.2 million won ($664,000) as "criminal compensation," after he was exonerated from the charges back in July. Kim, who was a Korea University graduate student in the 1960s, was accused of conducting espionage activit

Social AffairsOct. 14, 2024

'8 out of 10 foreign students willing to work in Korea'

Eight out of 10 international college students studying in Korea are willing to work in the country, yet the proportion of professional foreign laborers securing jobs remains quite low, according to a recent report by the Korea International Trade Association. The report, released Monday, noted that the number of foreign students in Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 197,000 in 2022. However, only 6 percent of these students secured employment through the E-7-1 professio

EconomyOct. 14, 2024

Coupang completes Gwangju hub to enhance Rocket Delivery

Coupang has announced the completion of its Gwangju fulfillment center, which will become the company’s largest Rocket Delivery hub for South Jeolla Province. The company said the new facility also aims to expand sales channels for local small and medium-sized enterprises and contribute to revitalizing the regional economy. The completion ceremony took place Monday at the Pyeongdong industrial complex, attended by over 100 guests, including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung and Coupang Representa

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Kim & Chang, Debevoise & Plimpton to host seminar on private equity disputes

South Korean law firm Kim & Chang and US law firm Debevoise & Plimpton will jointly host a seminar on private equity disputes on Oct. 28, according to the Seoul-based company on Monday. The event will be held as part of the Seoul ADR Festival, which will take place from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. The SAF is one of the most well-known alternative dispute resolution events hosted by the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and co-organized by the Justice Ministry, the International Chamber of Comme

Social AffairsOct. 14, 2024

Renault, KG Mobility gain ground in midsize SUV market

Renault Korea and KG Mobility, the two underdogs in Korea where Hyundai and Kia cars dominate almost 90 percent of the market, are starting to edge in with their latest midsize sport utility vehicles. As consumer interest in smaller city cars declines, midsize SUVs are gaining popularity here, driven by increasing demand for larger, family-friendly vehicles and automakers’ focus on more profitable segments. According to September data from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, K

MobilityOct. 14, 2024

Samsung Biologics unveils new platform

Samsung Biologics announced Monday that it has launched S-HiCon, a new platform specializing in high-concentration formulation development, designed to meet rising demand for high-concentration biopharmaceuticals. The company officially introduced the platform at Bio Japan 2024, a biotechnology expo held from Wednesday to Friday in Yokohama, Japan. A webinar explaining the platform was also released via the company's official website Monday. S-HiCon is designed to meet increasing market dem

CompaniesOct. 14, 2024

SPC Group appoints ex-Shinsegae exec as new CEO

South Korean bakery giant SPC Group announced Monday that it has nominated Executive Managing Director Lim Byung-sun as its new CEO. Lim, a business management specialist, has previously served as an executive at Shinsegae Group and its affiliates, including Shinsegae Casa and its department stores. SPC is set to appoint Lim as CEO by the end of this week. Lim will manage the group's business sectors including human resources, legal, corporate relations, compliance and public relations. Lim

IndustryOct. 14, 2024

Chinese comprise 90% of foreign investors granted resident visas: data

Nearly 9 in 10 foreign nationals who secured long-term residency in South Korea via financial investments over the past five years are Chinese nationals, according to data. Data from the Ministry of Justice, obtained and released Monday by the Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, shows that of 116 foreign investors granted an F-2 residency permit between 2019 and 2023, 89.7 percent, or 104 individuals, were Chinese nationals. Of these Chinese investors, 79.2 percent, or 92, were base

Social AffairsOct. 14, 2024

JTI Korea takes consumer-centric strategy ahead of heated tobacco launch

Japan Tobacco Group subsidiary JTI Korea is sharpening its focus on a consumer-first approach as it prepares to launch its first heated tobacco product in Korea by year-end, part of the company’s broader strategy to foster sustainable growth amid shifting market conditions, JTI Korea said Monday. As a company that has been recognized as a "Top Employer in South Korea" for five consecutive years, David Wheeler, general manager of JTI Korea, in a message to employees emphasized the

CompaniesOct. 14, 2024

[Photo News] Annyeong Bali

Daewoong Foundation, a scholarship foundation established by late Daewoong Pharmaceutical founder Yoon Young-hwan, said Monday that it has set up a Hangeul language school within Indonesia’s Bali Tourism Polytechnic in an effort to promote cultural exchange between the two countries. The program goes beyond language education, offering a comprehensive curriculum that includes lessons on Korean culture, career development and practical skills, all led by experienced Korean educators. The in

IndustryOct. 14, 2024