Multiple Russian, Chinese warplanes enter KADIZ without notice: JCS

Multiple Russian and Chinese warplanes entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) without notice on Tuesday, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighters to the scene, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.    The JCS said that two Chinese and four Russian warplanes entered the KADIZ, but did not violate South Korea's territorial air.    "Prior to their entry into the KADIZ, our military deployed Air Force fighters to conduct tactical steps in pr

DefenseMay 24, 2022

US support for Japan’s military ambitions may spell concerns for Korea

During his trip to Japan this week, US President Joe Biden endorsed Japan’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, and expressed support for the country’s plan to beef up its military. While Japan becoming a permanent member of the UN’s highest decision-making body is unlikely, Biden’s support is interpreted by some as “lip service” for the Japanese prime minister, who promised close military cooperation as the US seeks to strength

Foreign AffairsMay 24, 2022

Yoon calls for ‘rational’ energy mix

President Yoon Suk-yeol said it is necessary for Korea’s future energy sources to be a “rational” mix of nuclear power, renewable energy and natural gas to achieve carbon neutrality amid global supply chain instability and rising energy prices. Yoon attended the 28th World Gas Conference held at Exco in Daegu on Tuesday, his first public attendance at an international event since taking office. The World Gas Conference is the world’s largest international event in the

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

[Diplomatic Circuit] FRIENDLY TIES

The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young (left) paid a courtesy visit to Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Hai-ming and discussed emerging areas of cooperation Friday. Choi and Xing expressed hope to strengthen and diversify industries and media cooperation between China and Korea. (The Korea Herald)

Diplomatic CircuitMay 24, 2022

PM meets opposition leader, agrees to hold regular sessions with parliament

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday met with Rep. Yun Ho-jung, a co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea’s interim leadership committee, in a gesture seeking cooperation from the country’s main opposition party. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Han visited Yun first before he met with leaders of the ruling People Power Party. This move showed his enthusiasm to cooperate with the opposition party, at least on the surface. Overall, Han’s first encounter with the main opposition

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

S. Korean military commits to stepping up Ukraine support at US-led dialogue

South Korea’s Defense Ministry committed to seeking ways to step up support for Ukraine at the US-led defense dialogue while taking a cautious stance over providing lethal weapons to the war-torn country. Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul on Monday attended a second virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group hosted by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense announced Tuesday. The group was first established by the Pentagon in A

DefenseMay 24, 2022

Mexico should learn from Korean creative industry

Korea’s cultural and creative small and medium enterprises have been able to mobilize a whole country thanks to the public sector’s technical and financial support, and is a role model for Mexico, said Mexico’s Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto Guerrero. “We need to learn from Korea,” Frausto Guerrero said during an interview with The Korea Herald Tuesday. Saying that Mexico should learn about programs and methodologies to secure technological and innovative ski

Diplomatic CircuitMay 24, 2022

Monkeypox: Korea’s vaccine portfolio, latest travel advice

The national health protection agency on Tuesday advised against visiting destinations with known monkeypox cases, just as travel restrictions over COVID-19 are slowly fading. Lee Sang-won, heading the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s epidemiological analysis division, said at a news briefing that while traveling carries risks, bringing back mandatory quarantines for all passengers was not being considered at the moment. “Monkeypox hasn’t reached South Korea yet

Social AffairsMay 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] Lee Jung-hyun opts for comeback in hometown

Lee Jung-hyun, once a big name in the conservative bloc, is seeking a return to politics after a five-year hiatus, this time running for the governor of South Jeolla Province. Lee, a former head of the main conservative party and a close aide of ousted former President Park Geun-hye, had left politics after Park’s impeachment in 2017. Having left the central arena, Lee has returned to his political hometown. “I wanted a fresh start, working my way upward,” Lee told The

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

Shooting of stray cats by US troops causes controversy

More than 10 feral cats have been shot and killed by US troops stationed here, according to a news report Monday, sparking controversy over animal cruelty. Public broadcaster KBS aired a video showing someone who appears to be military personnel firing at a cat crouching in a cage with an air gun. The broadcaster said it was filmed at Osan Air Base, a US Air Force base located in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in December last year. “The harmful animal handling team shot the (captive) c

Social AffairsMay 24, 2022

Economic security pivotal for future German-Korean cooperation: German envoy

Economic security is of particular importance to Germany and Korea for future cooperation, German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel said at the second edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on May 18 in Seoul. Reiffenstuel pointed to how the COVID-19 pandemic, semiconductor shortage and urea crisis upended the interconnectivity and vulnerability of trade. “We will need to recalibrate our approach to certain trade and supply chain issues,” said Reiffenstue

Diplomatic CircuitMay 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] Opposition candidate promises growth with airport, World Expo in Busan mayor bid

Byun Seong-wan, representing the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in the Busan mayoral election, faces a steep uphill battle against his rival Park Heong-joon of the People Power Party. After former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don of the Democratic Party was found to have sexually harassed female employees of the city government, public sentiment toward the liberal party has turned ice cold in the southern city. Byun admits he is facing a difficult challenge. Nevertheless, Byun says he is a ca

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

Justice ministry to create new unit in charge of vetting public officials

The justice ministry will set up a new organization in charge of personnel vetting of civil servant candidates, officials said Tuesday, in line with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to abolish the office of senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. The ministry issued a public notice on its push for a partial revision of the law governing the ministry's organizational structure to establish the new organization in charge of vetting senior public officials, Cabinet members

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases around 26,300 with omicron in retreat

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases continued a downward trend Tuesday, dropping more than 5,000 cases from a week ago, as the omicron-fueled surge has lost steam since mid-March. The country added 26,344 new infections, including 43 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,993,985, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Tuesday's tally went up 2.6 times from the previous day due to more virus tests. But it hit a 16-week low for Tuesday and declined 24.

Social AffairsMay 24, 2022

S. Korea installs sensors to prevent suicides in new military prison

South Korea has introduced breathing sensors in a new military prison to help prevent suicides, an informed source said Tuesday, in the first installation of such equipment at a local correctional facility. The military installed the domestically developed sensor in about 50 cells, including solitary confinement rooms, at the prison in Icheon, 80 kilometers south of Seoul. It is to officially open next month. The sensors are designed to monitor inmates' breathing in real time and programmed

DefenseMay 24, 2022

[Graphic News] Investments in small shares of artworks increase in recent 3 years

　Total art investments into small shares of blue-chip paintings in South Korea amounted to nearly 100 billion won ($78.5 million) over the past 3 1/2 years, industry data showed. 　Four local online art investment platforms, including industry leader ArtnGuide, allow consumers to invest in iconic artworks by buying small ownership stakes, attracting small-sum investors interested in diversifying their investment portfolios to the field that had been previously only available to the wealthy. 　A

NationalMay 24, 2022

S. Korea's vice defense minister attends US-led dialogue on support for Ukraine

South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul has attended a virtual session of a US-led forum on support for war-torn Ukraine, his ministry said Tuesday. Hosted by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Monday's session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group involved officials from some 40 countries. Participants discussed the situation in Ukraine and joint efforts to aid the nation, according to the ministry. Shin strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an "act

DefenseMay 24, 2022

Yoon ranked among Time's 100 most influential people of 2022

President Yoon Suk-yeol has ranked among US magazine Time's 100 most influential people of 2022, its website showed Tuesday. Yoon, who was inaugurated two weeks ago, was chosen in the category of leaders. He was introduced as a "a former prosecutor with little foreign policy experience" who is "determined to take on the challenge" of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. "On the campaign trail, Yoon, of the conservative People Power Party, called for a tougher

PoliticsMay 24, 2022

N. Korea's total suspected COVID-19 cases reach nearly 3 million: state media

North Korea reported over 134,510 new suspected COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with the total number of fever cases reaching nearly 3 million. More than 134,510 people showed indications of fever, with no additional deaths reported, over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. The daily number of fever cases has remained below 200,000 for the third consecutive day afte

North KoreaMay 24, 2022

Yoon's pick for health minister withdraws from nomination

Health minister nominee Chung Ho-young withdrew Monday amid controversy over his children's school admissions and other issues. The former chief of Kyungpook National University Hospital has been under pressure to step down from both the ruling and opposition parties. "I will serve as a nest egg for the success of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties," he said in a statement. Chung was nominated in April to head the healt

PoliticsMay 23, 2022