[Newsmaker] North Korea missile test ends in failure

North Korea on Sunday failed in a missile launch from its eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, but it wasn't immediately clear what kind of missile was fired.The launch from the city of Sinpo comes a day after one of the biggest North Korean propaganda events of the year_ celebrations of the 105th birthday of late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader's grandfather. North Korea regularly launches short-range missiles, but it is also developing mid-range and long

North KoreaApril 16, 2017

[Newsmaker] New duty-free operators mull delayed openings

Newly licensed duty-free operators in Korea have the option of delaying their opening dates in the face of uncertainty surrounding sales, according to the Korea Customs Service on Wednesday.“To increase the predictability of the duty-free market, the KCS will pursue the postponement of opening dates for new duty-free operators, extend deadlines for paying license fees and allow fees to be paid in installments,” the KCS said through a statement.The duty-free industry is reeling from falling sales

IndustryApril 12, 2017

[Newsmaker] Chinese envoy’s anti-THAAD campaign double-edged sword

For Seoul, this week’s visit by Wu Dawei, special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs at Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, is timely and weighty, coming amid spiraling concerns over North Korean provocations and shortly after a US-China summit. Yet as soon as he wrapped up his first day with business-as-usual diplomatic consultations, Wu embarked on a mission that may possibly serve what critics say is the real purpose of the trip: meeting with South Korean presidential candidates to appeal ag

Foreign AffairsApril 11, 2017

[Newsmaker] Hong Joon-pyo sheds governorship for presidential bid

Liberty Korea Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo stepped down as South Gyeongsang Province governor three minutes before the midnight deadline, which effectively blocked a by-election for his former post while keeping him in the race for the presidential office. Hong had until now been prevented from conducting his campaign due to his status as a civil servant. The deadline for public office-holders to resign to run for the May 9 presidential election was midnight Sunday.Liberty Korea Pa

PoliticsApril 10, 2017

[Newsmaker] Gorsuch: Fierce defender of US Constitution

A brilliant conservative judge with a prestigious resume, Neil Gorsuch is a proponent of traditional values, a strict reading of the US Constitution and protections for the role of religion in American society.　The elegant, silver-haired 49-year-old became the youngest justice confirmed to the US Supreme Court in a quarter-century. 　Little known until recently, the Colorado native with an Ivy League education survived an unusually rugged obstacle course between his nomination by President Donald

World NewsApril 9, 2017

[Newsmaker] ‘Europe’s unitary patent system will bring benefits to Korean firms’

South Korean companies will benefit from the upcoming unitary patent system in Europe, which simplifies and lowers the cost of applications, the European Patent Office’s principal director for unitary patents said Friday. “By reducing costs and complexity of the process, the unitary patent system will benefit South Korean companies, one of the most active applicants to the EPO,” Margot Fröhlinger, the principal director for unitary patent, European and international lega

IndustryApril 7, 2017

[Newsmaker] From IT geek to ‘iron man’: Ahn’s makeover

Having transformed from a medical doctor to computer virus vaccine developer, venture entrepreneur, professor and eventually politician, Ahn Cheol-soo’s entire life has been a series of identity changes.Preparing for his second bid for the Korean presidency this year, Ahn apparently sought to make another significant change in his public image -- this time by altering his oratorical tone and way of speech. His sudden vocal transition, despite mixed reactions, certainly fixed the spotlight back o

PoliticsApril 6, 2017

[Newsmaker] Advertisers dump Fox host after harassment claims

Major advertisers have begun canceling spots on America’s most-watched cable news show following reports of sexual harassment involving the star Fox News host Bill O’Reilly.　US insurer Allstate and French pharmaceutical maker Sanofi became the latest to exit Tuesday, following the lead of a handful of auto brands dropping ads for Fox’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” a favorite among conservatives.　Allstate spokesman Justin Herndon said, “Inclusivity and support for women are important Allstate values. W

World NewsApril 5, 2017

[Newsmaker] Tesla now 2nd-largest US automaker 　

Tesla on Monday became the second-largest US car maker in terms of market capitalization, displacing Ford, whose sales lagged amid concerns about the ability of the US market to keep growing.　Many major automakers reported US sales declines in March compared to a year ago, but Tesla over the weekend said it saw a huge jump in vehicles delivered to consumers in the first three months of the year. 　That was enough to send the electric car maker’s stock soaring Monday, even as investors punished ma

World NewsApril 4, 2017

[Newsmaker] Another Korean former sex slave dies

Another South Korean woman who was coerced into Japan's wartime sexual slavery died Tuesday, a local civic group said.The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan said Lee Soon-deok died at around 7:30 a.m. at the age of 99. Lee Soon-deok (Yonhap)Her death leaves only 38 surviving victims of Japan's brutal wartime crime. Initially, 238 women were on the list of government-registered former sex slaves. Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Kore

Social AffairsApril 4, 2017

[Newsmaker] Lotte Group reaches 50th year amid hardships

Lotte Group, South Korea’s retail giant, marked its 50th anniversary Monday with the announcement of a new vision and the lavish opening of Lotte World Tower, amid lingering concerns over its future growth and legal troubles for its leader Shin Dong-bin.Chairman Shin Dong-bin speaks at a ceremoy celebrating Lotte Group's 50th anniversary Monday. (Lotte Group)“Today as we welcome our 50th anniversary, we are at a turning point for new growth,” Chairman Shin told Lotte employees at an internal eve

IndustryApril 3, 2017

[Newsmaker] LG Chem unveils biggest R&D plan

DAEJEON -- An LG Chem researcher places two battery cells – one made with the company’s proprietary ceramic-coated safety reinforced separator, known as SRS, and the other made with polyolefin – on a hot plate of about 180 degrees Celsius. Immediately the polyolefin separator melts away and the cathode and anode in the battery gets mixed up, which the researcher explains makes it prone to catch a fire. LG’s patented separator, meanwhile, endures the heat and works normally in the battery, which

TechnologyApril 2, 2017

[Newsmaker] Musk diving into minds while reaching for Mars

Not content to reach for Mars and dethrone fossil fuels, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk on Tuesday is turning his focus to delving into people‘s minds.　In a message fired off Tuesday on Twitter, Musk appeared to confirm he is creating a startup called Neuralink devoted to enabling brains to interface directly with computers, accessing processing power and perhaps even downloading memories for storage.　“Long Neuralink piece coming out on (blog platform) @waitbutwhy in about a week. Difficult to dedi

World NewsMarch 29, 2017

[Newsmaker] Trump son-in-law to face Russia probe panel

Donald Trump’s son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner will appear before a Senate panel investigating Russian interference in the US election, the White House said Monday.　Kushner, 36, was Trump’s main intermediary with foreign governments during the 2016 election campaign and now plays that role in the White House.　He arranged meetings between Trump and leaders from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.　Jared Kushner (left), senior adviser to the president,

World NewsMarch 28, 2017

[Newsmaker] Ahn gears up for main race against front-runner Moon

Starting off the “primary week” leading to the main presidential race, the initial goal for most presidential aspirants has been to stand equal to unchallenged liberal front-runner Moon Jae-in.And it was Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People‘s Party who grasped this strategic position by marking a sweeping victory in his party’s primary race in the country‘s southwest Jeolla provinces over the weekend.Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, founder and former co-chief of the smaller opposition People’s Party (Yonhap)Rep

PoliticsMarch 27, 2017

[Newsmaker] China's favorite Lam wins Hong Kong leadership

Hong Kong's new leader Carrie Lam pledged Sunday to mend political rifts after winning a vote dismissed as a sham by democracy activists who fear the loss of the city’s cherished freedoms.　Hong Kong has been semi-autonomous since it was handed back to China by colonial ruler Britain in 1997.　But 20 years on, there are serious concerns Beijing is disregarding the handover agreement designed to protect Hong Kong‘s way of life. 　 epa05871204 Hong Kong Chief Executive Election candidates John Tsang

World NewsMarch 26, 2017

[Newsmaker] Joy and anger as Sewol surfaces

JINDO, South Jeolla Province -- Several hours after rusted parts of the sunken Sewol ferry’s structure finally emerged from the waters on Thursday, the mother of a victim still missing at sea wept aloud at the port nearest the wreckage on the island Jindo. “I really miss you, my son. I hope he gets out of the freezing water and meets me here,” the mother of Yang Seung-jin, a teacher at Danwon High School in Ansan, told The Korea Herald at the Paengmok port. “How handsome my son is! He was a good

Social AffairsMarch 23, 2017

[Newsmaker] Duty-free, air carriers seek to offset THAAD fallout

Duty-free operators and air carriers in Korea are seeking out ways to increases sales among tourists from countries other than China, as Beijing’s travel ban is expected to cut deep into revenues this year.Dependency on Chinese consumers has been high in Korea, as indicated by data for February that showed the impact of anticipation of the travel ban.According to the Korea Duty Free Shops Association, sales at duty-free outlets here hit a record high in February to reach $1.14 billion. The growt

IndustryMarch 22, 2017

[Newsmaker] Park endures grueling day at prosecution

When former president Park Geun-hye was proudly sworn into office as the nation’s first female leader, she would have never imagined this day would come – being questioned by the prosecution as a criminal suspect. It only took 47 seconds for ousted Park to get out of her black sedan, stand for photos and deliver her two-sentence message to the public before entering the prosecution’s office Tuesday.  Former President Park Geun-hye speaks to reporters after arriving at the Seoul Central District

Social AffairsMarch 21, 2017

[Newsmaker] Suh Kyung-bae stands at helm of K-beauty

When Suh Kyung-bae, Amorepacific Group chairman, inherited the family business 20 years ago, the cosmetic firm was teetering due to low demand and financial rigidity.Not only was the country suffering from the Asian financial crisis at the time, but the local beauty industry as a whole was facing a wave of foreign cosmetics that poured in after the government completely lifted a ban on imports. Amorepacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae (Amorepacific)The second-generation chaebol scion could have

IndustryMarch 20, 2017