[Newsmaker] From workplace to partisan politics, clash of MZ vs. kkondae in S. Korea

Korean language has no shortage of insults, but “kkondae” seems to hold a special place in the country right now. While the term‘s definition and usage have expanded over the years from condescending seniors at work to people of older generations in general who come into conflicts with younger people over values and resources, the fear of being labeled as such has grown in tandem. At Kyobo Book Center, a keyword search for “kkondae” returns some 75 entries with

June 21, 2022

[Newsmaker] South Korean pianist Lim Yun-chan becomes the youngest winner of Van Cliburn Int'l Piano Competition

Lim Yun-chan, an 18-year-old South Korean pianist, became the winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, the organizer announced Saturday. Lim, the youngest to win the competition’s gold medal, also took home two additional awards: the audience award and the best performance of a new work. Lim also won a cash prize of $100,000 for the gold medal and $7,500 for the special awards. For the next three years, he will also get substantial man

June 19, 2022

[Newsmaker] Gender Ministry abolition is ‘definite’: minister

The abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is “definite,” its new minister said Thursday. 　 “Things have changed over time, and the abolition of the ministry will clearly come,” Gender Equality Minister Kim Hyun-sook told reporters at a press event in central Seoul, though she said that there has not yet been detailed discussion on its abolition. Kim is a former lawmaker who has been in office for a month. Abolishing the ministry was one of the biggest

June 16, 2022

[Newsmaker] Should e-cigarettes be subject to more regulation?

South Korea’s fight against smoking has had some success. In 1998, when the first nationwide survey of smoking prevalence was conducted in the country, more than 35 out of every 100 Korean adults were smokers. Now, it is just about 19. A closer look at the data, however, reveals some disturbing trends: e-cigarettes and unconventional tobacco products are gaining a strong foothold here, on top of growing tobacco use among youth and women. The country’s latest anti-smoking campai

June 15, 2022

[Newsmaker] S. Korea may shorten COVID-19 quarantine mandate to five days

The South Korean government is expected to shorten the country’s COVID-19 quarantine mandate to five days, according to health officials on Tuesday. A government task force has reportedly been discussing the possibility of lifting the mandatory quarantine, but some experts from the group currently see lifting the mandatory quarantine as still risky. At the moment, it is more likely that the government could shorten the quarantine time or just keep the seven-day quarantine measure for a l

June 14, 2022

[Newsmaker] [Herald Interview] ‘Even in bearish market, K-pop-themed ETF will shine’

Unlike stocks, it is rare for an investment like an exchange-traded fund (ETF) to draw global attention. But KPOP ETF went viral in April when plans for the fund hit the news, reflecting the popularity of one of South Korea’s most high-profile exports. The orchestrator behind the ETF -- set to debut in the US market on July 5 – is Seoul-based intellectual property mogul, and Contents Technologies CEO, Lee Jang-won who recently sat down with The Korea Herald to discuss whether the K

June 13, 2022

[Newsmaker] McDonald’s Korea back on sale after six years

McDonald’s Korea, the local unit wholly owned by the US fast-food giant, is seeking a new owner -- joining the latest burger chain sales rush here. The company confirmed Friday that its US headquarters is selling its entire stake in the Korean unit as well as its business license after its first failed attempt six years ago. According to news reports, Mirae Asset Securities, the deal’s lead manager, plans to send letters as early as next month to invite potential bidders. With

June 12, 2022

[Newsmaker] McDonald’s seeks to sell Korean branch again

McDonald’s, the world’s largest burger chain by revenue, is seeking a buyer to take over the Korean business it wholly owns, six years after its first attempt, which fell apart after a local dairy company backed out. “We’re looking for a strategic partner who could help our business here grow. We’re looking at several options with outside advisers,” a McDonald’s Korea official said Friday, declining to elaborate on details. Mirae Asset Securities will

June 10, 2022

[Newsmaker] Two Koreas clash over North’s nuclear development at UN

The two Koreas once again clashed at the UN over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, with Seoul calling for an end to provocation and Pyongyang repeating its right to self-defense. In the same General Assembly meeting held in New York on Wednesday, China and Russia defended their vetoes of the resolution to impose additional sanctions on North Korea, accusing the US of stoking tension on the Korean Peninsula. “We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to stop suc

June 9, 2022

[Newsmaker] ‘Fandom Politics’: When political supporters act like K-pop fans

"Fandom politics” is the latest buzzword in South Korean politics. It made headlines after Park Ji-hyun, a former co-head of the Democratic Party of Korea’s interim leadership committee, said last month that she would change her party to become a party “for the public, not for fandoms.” Park made the remarks as she criticized the culture that “defended the faults of their own while chastising political opponents for smaller problems” in politics. She h

June 8, 2022

[Newsmaker] UK PM Johnson survives no-confidence vote

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote on Monday, securing enough support from his Conservative Party to remain in office despite a rebellion that leaves him a weakened leader with an uncertain future. Known for his ability to shrug off scandals, the charismatic leader has struggled to turn the page on revelations that he and his staff repeatedly held boozy parties that flouted the COVID-19 restrictions they imposed on others. Support among his fellow Conser

June 7, 2022

[Newsmaker] Queen marks 70 years, vows to keep serving

LONDON -- Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday brought the curtain down on her historic Platinum Jubilee celebrations, making another public appearance on the last of four days of festivities and vowing to maintain her record-breaking reign. The 96-year-old monarch, who has been troubled by mobility problems, appeared for the first time in person since Thursday on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the Trooping the Colour military parade. Her exertions at the start of the celebrations had forced her to

June 6, 2022

[Newsmaker] Police patrol Hong Kong park amid Tiananmen vigil ban

Dozens of police officers patrolled Hong Kong's Victoria Park on Saturday after authorities for a third consecutive year banned public commemoration of the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. For decades, an annual candlelight vigil was held in the park to remember China's deadly crackdown on protesters demanding greater democracy in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. Critics say the ban is part of a move to suppress political dissent and a sign that Hong Kong is

June 4, 2022

[Newsmaker] KB raises awareness of saving bees for World Environment Day

KB Financial Group said Friday it had produced and launched a video highlighting the impact of the declining bee population on the environment for the upcoming World Environment Day. The video titled “Warning of the Bees” portrays how climate change and excessive exposure to pesticides threaten the existence of bees, as well as the alarming consequences for humanity. It also paints the stories of people contributing to the effort to revive the bee population. The video is part o

June 3, 2022

[Newsmaker] Army of service robots rolling in to replace high-cost labor in Korea

Accelerated by soaring labor costs, the reduced number of workers willing to take labor-intensive jobs and pandemic-triggered noncontact services, South Korea has seen a growing number of businesses deploying front-line service robots that have begun replacing humans in performing mundane and routine tasks.  Korea’s service robot market will grow to an accumulative 230,000 robots by 2025, worth 2.8 trillion won ($2.25 billion) in value, according to market data compiled by the Inter

June 1, 2022

[Newsmaker] 2022 local elections by the numbers

The 2022 local elections are upon us. Here’s a quick look at the vote by key numbers. 2.2 percent This is the first local election in which 18-year-olds can cast ballots. They already hit the polls during the presidential election in March after the voting age was lowered from 19 to 18 in late 2019. The number of 18- and 19-year-old voters stands at 973,335, or 2.2 percent of the country‘s 44.3 million eligible voters. 7 sheets In the June 1 elections, most voters will

May 31, 2022

[Newsmaker] Conservative churches ramp up attacks on student rights ordinance

At a megachurch in the affluent Seocho district in southern Seoul, a poster near the entrance calls on churchgoers to oppose Seoul’s ordinance of student rights by signing a petition. “We are against the Student Human Rights Ordinance which tells kids that homosexuality, transgenderism and pregnancy are a right,” the poster at SaRang Community Church reads. “By not teaching the scientific fact that people aren’t born with their sexual orientation, gay and transgen

May 30, 2022

[Newsmaker] Director Park Chan-wook, master of mise-en-scene

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s best director win at the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his mystery film, “Decision to Leave,” is the director’s third prize at the international film festival. His iconic action noir “Oldboy,” indelible in the memory of many for the much-talked-about live octopus eating scene, brought him the Grand Prix in 2004, while horror film “Thirst” earned him the Jury Prize in 2009.  Marking his 3

May 29, 2022

[Newsmaker] Song Kang-ho, prolific and versatile actor

Actor Song Kang-ho became the first Korean male actor to win an acting prize at the Cannes Film Festival, grabbing the award for best actor for his role as a “baby broker” in Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Broker” on Saturday. This marked the 55-year-old’s seventh invitation to the prestigious film festival, but it is the first title the veteran actor has won at Cannes. Song starred in several Cannes award-winning films, including Park Chan-wook&rsqu

May 29, 2022

[Newsmaker] Kakao's Kim Beom-su steps down from last chairman position

Kakao founder Kim Beom-su has stepped down as chairman at the Brian Impact foundation he established last year for philanthropic projects, the nonprofit said Friday. With the announcement, Kim has resigned from all chairman posts including his resignation as Kakao chairman of the board in March. Kim will keep his position as the head of the Kakao Future Initiative Center. The founder and former CEO of the South Korean IT giant will remain as a registered director on the board and continue to t

May 27, 2022