Kazakhstan, Korea deepen partnership

The Kazakh Embassy on Tuesday marked the country’s founding on Dec. 16, 1991, and burgeoning ties with Korea at a reception in Seoul that featured photographs of the country’s remotest regions. The pictures, part of the exhibition “Undiscovered Kazakhstan,” were selected by the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan, a public organization supporting young scientists, artists, students and researchers. “Within a span of 24 years, Kazakhstan and Korea pushed our close relations to a compr

Dec. 20, 2015

[Newsmaker] 'Force Awakens' crosses $250M globally

"Star Wars" fever has spread through movie theaters around the globe, even reaching the White House, as the franchise yet again began toppling box-office records with waves of lightsaber-wielding fans.The Millennium Falcon in "The Force Awakens" (Disney Korea)Following a record $57 million from Thursday night showings in North America, and packed matinees on Friday, the Walt Disney Co. projected that "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will surpass $215 million on the weekend, besting the record dome

Dec. 20, 2015

Does Cheong Wa Dae fear the people?

On the afternoon of Nov. 14, Cheong Wa Dae and its surrounding areas were empty, quiet and serene, blockaded by police buses. The scene was in stark contrast to the violent clashes between protesters and riot police less than 2 kilometers away.The eerie comparison appeared to illustrate the growing distance between the president and the public in a country where the openness of Cheongwadae-ro 1 is a microcosm of the history of democratization. Some blamed the police for stoking violence by block

Dec. 20, 2015

Third anti-government rally turns playful

On Saturday afternoon, Gwanghwamun Square, which was shut down by police bus barricades to stop protesters a month ago, turned into a playground for antigovernment demonstrators blowing horns and shaking tambourines.Under a “noisy” and “uproarious” theme, an estimated crowd of 2,500 gathered in the square in central Seoul to signify their opposition to the sedition charge leveled against an umbrella union leader and the government’s push for controversial labor, trade and education polices. The

Dec. 20, 2015

‘USFK conducted 16 covert anthrax tests since 2009’

The U.S. Forces Korea has conducted 16 rounds of clandestine experiments involving dead anthrax samples and one plague test since 2009, a joint investigation panel said Thursday, upending Washington’s previous claim that last May’s anthrax shipment marked its first-ever trial here. In late May, 22 U.S. servicemen were found to have possibly come into contact with the lethal bacteria sent to Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province from a military laboratory in Utah. Though the USFK said that none of t

Dec. 17, 2015

[Newsmaker] Chung, ‘man of principle,’ goes against the odds

By strongly resisting Cheong Wa Dae’s efforts to press the National Assembly to pass contentious bills, Speaker Chung Ui-hwa has remained true to his “guardian of legislation” nickname. On Wednesday, the veteran doctor-turned-politician flatly turned down the presidential office’s request to put disputed bills to a parliamentary vote, saying, “The current economic situation cannot be seen as a national emergency.” He said if he did so, he would be overstepping the law.Chung, who has never shied

Dec. 17, 2015

Japanese reporter cleared of defaming president

A lower court cleared a Japanese reporter Thursday of defaming South Korean President Park Geun-hye by reporting rumors about her whereabouts during a deadly ferry disaster last year. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the not guilty verdict to Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief for Japanese right-wing daily Sankei Shimbun, citing press freedom in a democratic society. “Kato’s article was inappropriate in some ways, but press freedom, the core of democracy and its development, sho

Dec. 17, 2015

[HERALD INTERVIEW] ‘Smart branding essential in innovative economy’

In an innovative global economy, branding is no longer a nicety, but a necessity that guarantees the success of companies and countries worldwide, Danish business consultant Martin Roll argued.A long-time resident of Singapore, Roll, who authored “Asian Brand Strategy,” has offered advice for navigating the volatile international marketplace to Fortune 500 companies and leading Asian enterprises and family-owned businesses with a focus on Asia. “It’s time for Korea to project confidence for what

Dec. 17, 2015

LG chief inspects R&D complex site

LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo on Thursday paid a visit to the construction site of the group’s new research and development complex LG Science Park in Magok, western Seoul. LG last year announced a plan to build a 4 trillion won ($3.4 billion) science park on a 170,000-square-meter site in the emerging tech district located a five-minute drive from Gimpo International Airport.  LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo (center) looks around the construction site of the LG Science Park in Magok, western Seou

Dec. 17, 2015

[Photo News] Ssangyong wins Dubai project

  Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co., a South Korean builder, said Wednesday it has clinched $1.6 billion worth of orders to construct a luxury hotel, as well as apartment and office buildings, in Dubai. An artist‘s rendering shows the 47-story hotel named Dubai Royal Atlantis. (Ssangyong E&C)　

Dec. 17, 2015

Gray areas hinder medical tech innovation

After losing his father to a stroke and watching two uncles give up on expensive treatment for the same thing, engineer Ban Ho-young sought to create a disruptive technology that would make rehabilitation easy and affordable for any patient.He and cofounder Choi Young launched Neofect to create a smart rehabilitation glove that helps doctors analyze patients’ progress while keeping stroke patients motivated by helping them regain their arm and hand skills through activity games. After four years

Dec. 17, 2015

Sewol hearing highlights lackluster rescue

A three-day hearing on matters related to last year’s ferry sinking wrapped up Wednesday with the fact-finding committee stressing a lack of sufficient rescue efforts, men in charge dodging responsibility and suspicions left unanswered.The hearing focused mainly on the rescue efforts taken by the now-defunct Korea Coast Guard, Maritime Ministry and other related government officials in the face of Sewol’s sinking, which left 304 dead or missing in April 2014. The five committee members recommend

Dec. 16, 2015

Lockheed to take over KF-16 upgrade

The government Wednesday picked U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin as the new contractor for its project to renovate the aviation electronic systems of KF-16 fighters that has sat dormant for months due to demands for a cost hike by a previous partner. Under the 1.84 trillion won ($1.58 billion) program, the Maryland-based company will exchange and upgrade the radar, armament and other integrated electronic systems of 134 KF-16s currently operated by South Korea’s Air Force. During a defense acq

Dec. 16, 2015

Seoul book club hosts four Korean writers

The Seoul Book and Culture Club will be hosting an event with four writers who will be introducing their newly released bilingual novellas to English-speaking readers. At the event, Korean literature blogger and translation professor Charles Montgomery will be talking with the authors, whose books are part of Asia Publishers’ K-Literature series.The best-known of the four is Lee Ki-ho, author of “At Least We Can Apologize“ and “So Far and Yet So Near,” both of which are also available in English

Dec. 16, 2015