For those who wish to enjoy popular dishes such as bulgogi and bibimbap in the comfort of their own homes, “Easy, Home-Style Recipes from the Korean Kitchen,” a new cookbook written in English, provides 20 recipes that can be easily replicated by even those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine.“This book is meant to serve as an introduction to Korean food and Korean culture to people who may have little knowledge of either,” the authors, Han Kyung-im and Jeon Mi-hyang, said in a statement.The book con

Dec. 9, 2015

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission said Wednesday it is investigating whether Apple Korea, the local unit of the Cupertino, California-based iPhone maker, had wielded undue influence over the repair policy of local service centers.  Apple`s logo. (Yonhap)The latest probe came after six service firms ― all authorized by Apple ― recently revised their unfair repair policy following the recommendation of the antitrust watchdog. “We have found unfair business contracts between Apple Korea and its a

Dec. 9, 2015

Washington has agreed in principal to transfer the 21 sets of technologies essential for Seoul’s drive to introduce its own fighter jets, officials here said Wednesday, though uncertainties remain over some undecided subcategories. A delegation of officials from South Korea’s defense and foreign ministries and state arms procurement agency held meetings with their U.S. counterparts in Washington last week to drum up their support for the KF-X program, after the State Department vetoed export lic

Dec. 9, 2015

President Park Geun-hye reiterated her calls Tuesday for the National Assembly to pass the pending bills on labor reforms, lambasting the political bickering among lawmakers which she said “only magnifies the pain of the young generation.”Presiding over a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, she also stressed the need for legislation designed to head off possible terrorist attacks on the back of the surge of the Islamic State extremist group and its threats against Seoul as a staunch U.S. ally. “Wh

Dec. 8, 2015

More than 1 million environmentally friendly cars could hit the roads in the next five years under a plan unveiled by the government Tuesday, as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions and generate new sources of economic growth.The government plan approved in a Cabinet meeting on the same day aims to increase the proportion of green cars among new vehicles sold in the country to 20 percent, from the current 2 percent, by the year 2020. About 80,000 green cars including hybrids, electric-

Dec. 8, 2015

The South Korean government has been striving to curb violence in various corners of society, including at schools, homes, workplaces and online. The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles delving into the reality and the country’s efforts to restrain the violence. This is the first installment. ― Ed.With technological development, the earlier constraints of time and space have slowly vanished as social networking enables people from across the world to instantly communicate online when

Dec. 8, 2015

The National Library of Korea is hosting an exhibition of award-winning content, including webtoons, photography and videos, at its digital library until Dec. 23, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Culture and Information Service. The National Library of Korea holds the “Hello, Korea” exhibition featuring award-winning content through Dec. 23 in Seoul. (KOCIS)KOCIS held two competitions ― “Talk Talk Korea” and “Peace Flag Campaign” ― last May to mark the 70th Libe

Dec. 8, 2015

Controversy over the authenticity of the late artist Chun Kyung-ja’s “Beautiful Woman” has been reignited with family members of the late artist issuing an ultimatum to the state-run National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is in possession of the painting.  Artist Chun Kyung-ja (Yonhap)This time, Sumita Kim, the third of Chun’s four children, and Chun’s son-in-law Muhn B.G. said they would take legal actions if the museum does not formally apologize and correct its past wrongdoings

Dec. 8, 2015

Economic policymakers in the government said early this year sliding oil prices would be a blessing for the Korean economy. Their argument was that a decline in oil prices would result in an increase in household income and consumption while helping manufacturing companies cut production costs.But such expectations have proved simply wrong, even as oil prices fell to the lowest level since 2009.The policymakers, who set this year’s growth target at 4 percent, now concede the annual growth rate w

Dec. 8, 2015

Main opposition party leader Rep. Moon Jae-in Tuesday rejected demands by dissenting party members that he step down in an escalating power game between the current leadership and the sidelined faction ahead of next year’s parliamentary race.The chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy refused to accept a proposal from former cochairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and other nonmainstream lawmakers to hold a national caucus early next year and elect new leadership before the 2016 general electi

Dec. 8, 2015

Three Indonesian migrants who were illegally residing in Korea have been deported on suspicion of supporting an international terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaida, South Korea’s spy agency said Tuesday. The government deported a 32-year-old Indonesian man from South Korea on Dec. 1 and two others whose identities were withheld on Nov. 24 for violating the Immigration Control Act, the National Intelligence Service said. This undated file image posted on a militant website on Jan. 14 shows fig

Dec. 8, 2015

Korea’s police chief on Tuesday issued an ultimatum to Han Sang-kyun, the leader of the nation’s second-largest umbrella union currently seeking refuge at a Buddhist temple, to appear before officials by 4 p.m. Wednesday, warning of a forced entry and arrest if he refuses.Korean National Police Agency chief Kang Sin-myeong said that the police would “no longer tolerate Han’s evasion,” saying that the leader of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions “had led numerous illegal and violent protests

Dec. 8, 2015

Ahead of the general elections slated for next April, the government and the ruling party are intent on strengthening their campaign front, with Cheong Wa Dae eyeing one particular figure to spearhead the job.It is considered a matter of time before Choi Kyung-hwan, the deputy prime minister, finance minister, a political heavyweight with experience in both state and parliamentary affairs and, more importantly, with unrivaled confidence bestowed by President Park Geun-hye, returns to his parliam

Dec. 8, 2015

The accumulated wealth of the five richest South Koreans exceeds the gross domestic product of North Korea, recent data showed. According to a Bloomberg Billionaires report, five South Korean business tycoons were among the world’s 400 richest people as of Friday, with their combined wealth coming in at $36.4 billion (40.1 trillion won). That is 18.3 percent higher than North Korea’s 2014 nominal GDP of 33.9 trillion won ($28.8 billion). The five tycoons were Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee (

Dec. 8, 2015

South Korea was elected to chair a U.N. human rights panel for a year, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Monday, boosting the expectation that it would play a more influential role in enhancing North Korea’s woeful human rights conditions.  Amb. Choi Kyong-lim  MOFAThe election came as the member nations of the Human Rights Council supported South Korea by consensus, Seoul officials said. Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim, who heads the country’s permanent mission in Geneva, Switzerland, will serve as the c

Dec. 8, 2015