Most Popular
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Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military
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S. Korea, US clinch 2026-30 defense cost-sharing deal in pre-election push
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Military aircraft evacuating S. Koreans in Lebanon returns home
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Concerns raised over chronic labor shortage at state-run center for digital sex crime victims
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BTS-themed moon jar to be unveiled on Hangeul Day
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Market uncertain on Korea's October rate cut despite slowed inflation
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Samsung unveils 'personalized AI' for all devices
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1,430 minors investigated for drug offenses from 2018 to 2023: police
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[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close
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Special counsel bill to probe first lady scrapped
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S. Korea's Hadong named FAO agricultural heritage system for tea-growing method
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization on Thursday designated a site in Hadong, a town in South Korea's South Gyeongsang Province, as one of its world agricultural heritage systems in recognition of the site's traditional tea-growing method that maintains biodiversity. At a ceremony to mark the designation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems at the FAO headquarters in Rome, the FAO also added 13 other regions in China, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Sri Lanka to its
April 20, 2018
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Govt. to reform construction industry
The land ministry said Friday it will set a road map by September to overhaul the country's construction industry whose structure is outdated and slow to adjust to market trends.A reform committee for the industry was set to hold its first full meeting later in the day to start discussions on what needs to be changed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the goal is to announce competition-boosting measures next month and have a specific reform road map by September.The constr
April 20, 2018
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GM Korea, union fail to narrow gaps as deadline nears
General Motor Co.'s South Korean unit and its labor union on Thursday failed to narrow their differences in negotiations over a turnaround plan, a day before the deadline that would see GM Korea file for bankruptcy. In a statement posted on the union's website, the union called for GM Korea to give a "sincere answer" to its demands. The two sides are expected to resume negotiations over cost-cutting measures and the fate of workers at the plant in Gunsan the following day.The Detroit automaker,
April 20, 2018
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Amorepacific holds three-day event to boost morale
South Korean cosmetics giant Amorepacific has kick-started a lavish company event under the lead of Chairman Suh Kyung-bae from Thursday, with the participation of some 600 employees, according to industry sources.AmorepacificExecutives and rank-and-file members of the company are participating in the three-day event that includes hiking in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, with a budget of some 1 billion won ($940,000), according to one source.The five-hour hiking program was Suh’s idea to help aw
April 19, 2018
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[Doing Biz in Korea] Multinational firms accused of ‘gapjil’
The Korea Herald is publishing a series of features and interviews on South Korea’s business environment for foreign companies and investors. This is the fifth installment. -- Ed.While operating in the volatile market of South Korea comes with many challenges, the trendsetting consumer base highly responsive and loyal to global brands have also created a different kind of phenomenon – “gapjil” of multinational firms.Gapjil is a Korean term which refers to the abuse of power by someone against a
April 19, 2018
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[Feature] Competition heats up in growth of health, beauty stores
When South Korean versions of drugstores were first introduced here in the 2000s, it took time for people locally to grasp what they actually were.They sold makeup, over-the-counter medicine and even snacks, a product lineup that at first seemed random, with items people were used to buying separately in specialty stores -- pharmacies, department stores and convenience stores.It took little time for the concept of health and beauty stores, or H&B, to become common among consumers here, boosted b
April 19, 2018
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POSCO chief denies political pressure behind resignation offer
The outgoing chairman of South Korean steelmaker POSCO on Thursday denied allegations that political pressure was behind his decision to resign.Kwon Oh-joon told reporters that "there was no such thing" when asked whether he had been under pressure to quit.The comments came a day after Kwon said he wanted to lay the groundwork for growth at POSCO for the next 50 years.The world's fifth-biggest steelmaker by output recently marked the 50th anniversary of its foundation. Kwon Oh-joon (Yonhap)For t
April 19, 2018
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Demand for larger TVs growing in S. Korea
The demand for larger television sets has been growing over the past few years in South Korea, industry data showed Thursday, alongside lower average prices.Industry data showed the average size of Samsung Electronics Co.'s TVs sold in the country came to 54 inches last year, up sharply from 44.5 inches in 2010. The numbers indicate the favored size of TVs grew more than an inch each year.In contrast to the growing size of TVs, their prices eased over the same period. In 2010, 55-inch TVs were p
April 19, 2018
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Korean Air faces complaints over its corporate title and identity
Following the reports on the so-called “water rage” of Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-min and other tyrannical behavior involving the owner family members, calls have been mounting here to deprive the nation’s largest air carrier of its trademark and corporate identity -- which are largely suggestive of the South Korean government.Despite the public‘s resentment, however, related government authorities and experts suggest that the recent set of scandals do not satisfy the requisites for disqualific
April 18, 2018
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GM Korea offers to relocate Gunsan workers to other plants
GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., on Wednesday offered to relocate workers at the Gunsan plant due to be closed next month to other production lines in the country.The move appears to be part of the company's last-minute efforts to seek support from its union over its drastic self-help programs. The US auto giant warned it will be forced to put GM Korea under court protection unless the union accepts the restructuring measures that include the shutdown of the Gunsan plan
April 18, 2018
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GS chief urges management to encourage challenges, innovation
GS Chairman Huh Chang-soo urged the firm’s executives to create an environment where new challenges and innovation are encouraged at a management meeting held on Wednesday. For the future growth of GS, Huh encouraged the affiliates’ new businesses, including GS Caltex‘s new investment in olefin business, GS Retail’s move into Vietnam with its convenient store GS25 and GS Power‘s building additional power plant and adoption of liquefied natural gas.GS Chairman Huh Chang-sooGS Caltex invested arou
April 18, 2018
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Chip industry relieved at deferred disclosure of Samsung’s workplace reports
South Korea’s semiconductor businesses on Wednesday welcomed deferred disclosure of Samsung Electronics’ assessment reports on workplace environments, although a legal battle between Samsung and the government will continue as scheduled. Samsung has won support from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy in its claim that workplace reports should not be made public as they contain key technologies and trade secrets, Tuesday. The tech titan’s claim to nullify the Ministry of Employment and La
April 18, 2018
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Posco’s political neutrality questioned over chairman’s abrupt resignation
The head of South Korea’s steel giant Posco, who has more than two years of his term left, abruptly offered to resign on Wednesday, amid rumors that his decision has been influenced by the intention of Cheong Wa Dae.In a surprise decision, Posco Chairman Kwon Oh-joon said he was stepping down, citing his health. He said that he wishes to pass the baton to a “young and powerful” leader who he believes can bring the changes needed to the steelmaker that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.“I’
April 18, 2018
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Foreign patient arrivals down in 2017 for first time
The number of foreigners visiting South Korea for medical purposes decreased last year for the first time mainly due to the weak inbound traffic from China, government data showed Wednesday.According to the data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a total of 321,574 foreigners arrived here in 2017 to visit hospitals, down 12 percent from a year earlier.The number of foreign patients increased by an average of 11 percent on-year since 2009 when 60,201 foreigners visited South Korea, the mini
April 18, 2018
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Top GM official remains optimistic about wage negotiations
A top official of General Motors said Tuesday he remains optimistic about crucial wage negotiations this week that could decide the fate of GM's South Korean operations.Executive Vice President Barry Engle said "yes" when he was asked whether he is optimistic about wage negotiations set to resume between GM Korea Co. and its union at 10 a.m. on Wednesday."We are committed to staying here in Korea, but time is short.We need all stakeholders to act with urgency," Engle said in a brief comment to Y
April 17, 2018
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Samsung’s service arm to hire 8,000 workers from subcontractors
Samsung Electronics Service, a warranty service affiliate of Samsung Electronics, will hire 8,000 workers from its subcontractors as regular employees, it said Tuesday. The affiliated entity of South Korea’s largest tech company announced it had agreed with the Korean Metal Workers’ Union to directly employ the workers from about 90 subcontractors.The 8,000 workers are members of the trade union. It marks an unprecedented case at Samsung of turning workers into regular employees while keeping th
April 17, 2018
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Korea to toughen punishment on companies stealing ideas
Companies will face harsher punishment if they are found to have stolen ideas from smaller companies, according to the government on Tuesday, amid growing calls from startups to protect their ideas and technologies. The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced Tuesday the revised law to prohibit unfair competition practices and to protect confidential business information. It is to take effect on July 18. Unfair competition practices include using without permission ideas shared in business
April 17, 2018
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Korean biz delegation relays concerns on trade with US
A business delegation led by the chief of the Korea International Trade Association met with the deputy US trade representative in Washington on Monday to convey the concerns of Korean steel exporters amid growing uncertainty over the export landscape in the US. The delegation included representatives of Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motors, Posco, Mando, Hyundai Steel, Hanwha Q Cells and SK Gas. “An amicable settlement in the trade deal between Korea and the US allows companies from both nations
April 17, 2018
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E-mart unveils autonomous shopping cart Eli for test run
E-mart, a South Korean discount chain operator under retail giant Shinsegae, unveiled an autonomous shopping cart Tuesday for a test operation, amid the company’s efforts to solidify its offline distribution base. A model tries out E-mart’s autonomous shopping cart Eli at E-mart Traders in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. (E-mart)For the first time in Korea, an autonomous cart will be showcased at E-mart’s warehouse-style supermarket Traders in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, from Tuesday to Friday
April 17, 2018
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Air Busan cabin crew under fire for allegedly mocking passengers
South Korean low cost carrier Air Busan, a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines, came under fire Tuesday after a flight attendant uploaded a photo to her social media allegedly mocking passengers. A screen capture of an Air Busan flight attendant’s Instagram (Instagram)A flight attendant aboard a plane heading for Busan from Jeju Island three months ago uploaded a photo of passengers to her Instagram account on Saturday. She added a caption reading, “All same permed hair (feat. Omegi rice-cake 400 box
April 17, 2018