Hong Se-hwa, author of 'I'm a Taxi Driver in Paris,' dies at 77

Hong Se-hwa, a journalist, a social activist, and the author of "I'm a Taxi Driver in Paris," died Thursday at the age of 77. He died at Wonjin Green Hospital in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, surrounded by family members. Hong had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in February of last year. Hong graduated from Seoul National University, majoring in political science and international relations. While working at a trading company's overseas office, Hong became associated with the South

April 18, 2024

Mother of student activist, whose death sparked pro-democracy movement, dies

Jeong Cha-sun, the mother of student activist Park Jong-chul, whose death by torture sparked a nationwide pro-democracy movement in 1987, passed away at the age of 91 on Wednesday. The bereaved families of Jeong said she died at around 5:20 a.m. at a hospital in Gangdong-gu, eastern Seoul. Park Jong-bu, Jeong's oldest son, told local media outlets that she "passed away peacefully with a smile on her face." "I think it was because she thought she was going to be with her son,&

April 17, 2024

Sarah Dongmi Choi named one of Korea's top LinkedIn influencers

Writer and influencer Sarah Dongmi Choi has been selected as one of top 15 Korean influencers on Linkedin by Favikon, being noted for her presence as a prominent figure in the country's digital landscape. In a selection made by a leading global influencer AI platform in the B2B and B2C sectors, Choi claimed the highest spot among the female influencers in the nation. LinkedIn is a business and employment-focused social media platform used by over a billion people across the world and has ab

April 15, 2024

[The Calling] Once Buddhist, nurse turns to Bible for healing

For Sovan Meta, nursing was less a calling than finding a job with few ups and downs. Then an encounter with Korean Christians reaching out to the Cambodian national to volunteer as an interpreter led to the soul-searching of a lifetime. She ended up becoming a Christian minister. “In Cambodia, many people become nurses but few become ministers. I decided to become one and preach to those without the benefits of spirituality,” Meta said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. In

April 10, 2024

Mother of twin boys dies; donates organs to save 4 lives

A 43-year-old dancer and mother of twin 7-year-old boys has passed away, donating after her death her lungs, liver and kidneys, which were used to save the lives of four people. The news of Jang Hee-jae was shared by the Korea Organ Donation Agency on Monday. According to the agency, Jang suffered a heart failure while asleep at her parent's home on March 9. Jang subsequently became brain-dead, despite receiving medical treatment. "(We) decided on the donation because we wanted to sen

April 9, 2024

Parents donate W100m to deceased son's university

The parents of a university student who died last year have donated 100 million won ($74,000) to their son's school, university officials said Monday. According to Changwon National University, the parents of Son Seong-hyeok made the contribution in memory of their son, who died in December due to an acute heart failure. "Our son did not get to realize his dreams at the university, but my wife and I decided to make the donation for the students of CNU who are trying their best, with th

April 8, 2024

Koglo.com CEO talks on entrepreneurship in uncertain times

Business leaders in the era of growing economic uncertainty and rapid technological change must look for new opportunities and prospects for innovation, according to Lee Keum-ryong, chairman of Koglo.com, an online platform connecting US companies with their Korean partners. “If you notice a change early enough, it can become an opportunity for your business. But if you see the change late, it may jeopardize your business as well,” Lee said at the fifth edition of The Korea Herald&rs

April 4, 2024

Actor Nam Il-woo dies at 86

Actor Nam Il-woo, who starred in the film franchise "Along with the Gods" and the 2005 psychological thriller "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," died Sunday at the age of 86, a management agency official said. Nam died of natural causes, according to the official from the agency representing his wife and fellow actor Kim Yong-rim. Nam debuted as a voice actor for public broadcaster KBS in 1958 before debuting again as a TV actor for the same broadcaster in 1964. He starred in num

March 31, 2024

Herald's new CEO and publisher

The Korea Herald announced Monday the appointment of Choi Jin-young as its publisher, as its parent firm, Herald Corp, undergoes a change of leadership. Choi, who has been serving as CEO of The Korea Herald since 2021, assumed the roles of Herald Corp. CEO and publisher of the 71-year-old media group’s two major publications, The Korea Herald and Herald Business. He succeeded Jeon Chang-hyeop, who served the roles for three years from 2021 and has been named advisor to the company. Choi&

March 31, 2024

[Eye Interview] Seeking redemption -- for church

For former Methodist pastor Lee Dong-hwan, an encounter with one of his congregants in early 2015 changed his life. About a year into his pastoral work at a church in Suwon, a churchgoer came out to Lee, prompting him to learn everything he could about homosexuality. Lee admitted that he did not know enough about it to adequately comfort and advise the congregant. “The thing is, I too thought homosexuality was a crime back then. I said I’d get back to the person with an answer and st

March 28, 2024

Top Chinese envoy highlights synergy of bilateral cooperation in industries

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming highlighted the potential for South Korea and China to lead in a broader global market by synergizing their respective strengths during his welcome remarks at The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum on Wednesday. Xing noted that there has been a notable increase in cooperation between Korea and China in recent years, particularly in innovative and future-oriented industries such as electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar products. &quo

March 28, 2024

How once-beloved actress Kim Sae-ron fell from grace

“We have no idea what Ms. Kim Sae-ron’s intent is with this action," actor Kim Soo-hyun's agency Gold Medalist said as it denied dating rumors between the two Kims. The rumor was sparked early Sunday when the 23-year-old actress revealed on Instagram a photo of her and Kim Soo-hyun, which the agency explained had been taken years before when the two had the same agency. Kim Sae-ron has yet to explain why she posted the photo on social media before the crack of dawn, or why

March 25, 2024

Global Biz Forum 2024 kicks off to navigate era of uncertainty

The fifth edition of The Korea Herald’s Global Business Forum kicked off Wednesday at the Floating Island Convention Center on the Han River in Seoul, under the theme "Age of Hyper-Uncertainty: Global Business Opportunities and Trends." Spanning 13 weeks, the weekly forum serves as a gathering point for leaders in the business and finance sectors, academic experts, diplomats and top civil servants. Its primary objective is to strengthen business networks based on shared interes

March 21, 2024

Caregiver dies and donates organs, saving 2 lives

The organs donated by a 62-year-old woman who worked as a volunteer caregiver for elderly citizens were used to save the lives of two people, the state-run organ donation agency said Monday. The bereaved family of Im Bong-ae agreed to donate her liver and both of her kidneys after she was declared brain dead on Feb. 29, according to the Korea Organ Donation Agency. Im had collapsed and lost consciousness as she was coming home after making a meal for a senior citizen on Feb. 11 and never recov

March 18, 2024

[Bridging Cultures] English classrooms build cultural ties: British Council director

For most South Koreans, the British Council in Korea is better known for classes helping prepare for English proficiency exam IELTS than for holding large-scale cultural events. Some have said the “cultural center” should live up to its mission. Paul Clementson, the council director, is confident that it is and has been doing just that. “We’re not only teaching Koreans so that they can learn English. We’re not just offering qualifications to people so that they ge

March 11, 2024

Korean stars ditch AirPods for old-school earphones

Whether it's a retro trend or just the convenience of not having to charge them in advance, wired earphones are making a comeback. On an episode of YouTube show “Lee Seojin's New York New York" released last year, actor Jung You-mi was seen using wired headphones, prompting a curious inquiry from fellow actor Lee Seo-jin: "What is up with your earphones?" When asked, she explained, "MZ generations use these." And she was right, a growing number of millenn

March 4, 2024

[Bridging Cultures] Overseas outposts promote cultural exchange: Italy culture envoy

The following is the first in a series of interviews with heads of foreign cultural centers at the forefront of cultural exchange. --Ed. Setting up more cultural centers overseas is one way South Korea can bolster its international presence, an effort that requires backing from a centralized leadership, according to the director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul. Italy runs about 90 cultural centers around the world, a little more than twice the number South Korea operates. Such cente

Feb. 14, 2024

US Ice dance siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani continue PyeongChang's legacy at 2024 Youth Winter Olympics

US ice dance duo Alex Hideo Shibutani and Maia Shibutani, siblings who secured two bronzes at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, have returned to Gangwon Province after six years to celebrate and support the first Youth Winter Olympics in Asia. They set foot in the region for the first time in six years, yet their connection with students remained steadfast through a mentoring program they initially joined in 2017 and 2018. The mentorship program was part of the “Thank You PyeongChang”

Feb. 1, 2024

83-year-old woman achieves life-long dream of college education

An 83-year-old South Korean woman who had made headlines for her belated passion for education has been accepted to the extension college of Sookmyung Women's University. The Seoul-based university on Friday said Kim Jeong-ja has been accepted as a social welfare major for its Future Education Institute, which provides courses in liberal arts, specialized education. The school has granted Kim a one-year scholarship in support for her dreams. "I will keep on learning as much as my healt

Jan. 26, 2024

Vietnam marks Hometown Spring

The Vietnam Embassy in Seoul hosted a Hometown Spring event with the Vietnamese community in Korea on Sunday. Vietnam’s traditional spring festival symbolizes hope, health, luck and prosperity for the upcoming lunar year. Attended by more than 500 members of the Vietnamese community, the event not only honored age-old traditions but also highlighted the spirit of togetherness among Vietnamese who have left their hometown. The Vietnam Embassy's charge d'affaires ad interim Nguyen

Jan. 15, 2024