[Newsmaker] Korea to host world’s first robot ski tournament on sidelines of Olympic Winter Games

At the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, human athletes are not going to be the only ones vying for gold in the much-anticipated alpine skiing events.Humanoid robot skiers are going to be hitting the slopes of PyeongChang, as Korea is slated to host the world’s first robot ski tournament on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement have organized a ski tournament in which self-

TechnologyJan. 30, 2018

[Newsmaker] Kospi zeroes in on 2,600 closing mark

Both stock markets in South Korea, the Kospi and Kosdaq, rallied Monday to hit records, while the nation’s market operator vowed to improve Kospi operations and become more friendly to foreign investors this year. The top-tier Kospi closed at 2,598.19, up 0.91 percent from Friday, setting a new all-time high. The second-tier Kosdaq closed at 927,05, up 1.53 percent from the previous trading day, the highest in 16 years since March 2002. The Kospi topped 2,600 for the first time in history

MarketJan. 29, 2018

[Newsmaker] Chung Hyeon becomes Korea's highest-ranked tennis player

Australian Open semifinalist Chung Hyeon became Korea's highest-ranked tennis player Monday after he cracked the top 30. Chung jumped from 58th to 29th in the latest men's singles rankings released by the Association of Tennis Professionals after earning 720 ranking points for his historic semifinals run at the season's first Grand Slam event.Lee Hyung-taik, who is retired, previously held the highest-ranked position by a Korean player at No. 36. He reached that position in August 2007.Chung Hye

More SportsJan. 29, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korea seeks alliance with WTO members against US washer safeguard

The Korean government is seeking an alliance with members of the World Trade Organization to respond to the US’ protectionist actions and is looking for ways to jointly take action on trade restrictions such as anti-dumping or safeguard measures. During a trade ministerial meeting at the World Economic Forum that ended Friday in Davos, Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said, “Import restriction measures such as anti-dumping and safeguards are used as means of realizing disguised protectionism. If th

IndustryJan. 28, 2018

[Newsmaker] Apple opens its first store in S. Korea with fanfare

Hundreds of South Koreans braved bitterly cold weather Saturday as they waited hours for the opening of Apple Korea's first store in southern Seoul.About 300 people lined up to be among the first in the country to get inside Apple Garosugil in the affluent southern district of Gangnam.Choi Ji-eon, an 18-year-old who is preparing to study abroad, said he arrived in front of the new store around 3 p.m. on Friday and later waited in a sleeping bag as he was shivering with cold at night."I would lik

TechnologyJan. 28, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK: 'Seoul's military alliance with US may end momentum'

North Korea strongly condemned the South Korea-U.S. alliance Saturday, accusing their joint defense efforts of being aimed at toppling its communist regime and saying such efforts may also lead to an end of ongoing dialogue between the two Koreas.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year message on Jan. 1. (Yonhap)"The South Korean government must realize its foul military consultation with the U.S. may be a foolish act that will put out the hard-earned chance of improving the North-So

North KoreaJan. 27, 2018

[Newsmaker] S. Korean sensation Chung Hyeon bows to Roger Federer at Australian Open

South Korean tennis sensation Chung Hyeon bowed out to Roger Federer in the Australian Open semifinals Friday, ending a historic run that has captivated a nation hungry for new sporting heroes.The 58th-ranked Chung withdrew against the second-ranked Federer with blisters on his left foot, when the score was 6-1, 5-2 in favor of the Swiss great.Chung was the lowest-ranked man to make the Australian Open semifinals since Marat Safin 2004. The 21-year-old knocked out six-time Australian Open champi

More SportsJan. 26, 2018

[Newsmaker] Shinsegae attracts W1tr funding to expand e-commerce

South Korea’s retail giant Shinsegae, led by the group’s Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin, said Friday it has attracted more than 1 trillion won ($940 million) from a foreign investment firm and a private equity firm in an aim to strengthen its e-commerce business.The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with BRV Capital Management, a consumer focused investment firm, and private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners for its new e-commerce unit.  Shinsegae Vice chairman Chung Yong

IndustryJan. 26, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK likely to hold 'intimidating' military parade on Feb. 8: Seoul minister

North Korea is likely to hold a military parade on an "intimidating" scale to mark the 70th founding anniversary of its military, one day before the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics, a Seoul official said Friday.At Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang, the North is preparing for a massive military parade to mark the anniversary of the Korean People's Army on Feb. 8, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon."There is a high possibility that the North could hold an intimidating military parade

North KoreaJan. 26, 2018

[Newsmaker] Prosecutors raid DAS again, probe closes in on ex-President Lee

　The prosecution on Thursday raided offices of the auto parts maker DAS linked to former President Lee Myung-bak, and companies associated with the firm, over allegations that Lee’s government helped the firm recoup an investment.  　The Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office collected documents and computer files from the DAS office located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the residence of the DAS President surnamed Kang. 　It is the second time prosecutors have searched the office. The Seo

PoliticsJan. 25, 2018

[Newsmaker] Supreme Court in hot water over blacklist, political bias allegations

The Supreme Court is facing increasing heat over allegedly surveilling judges and accusations of bending to political pressure.It had been alleged that the National Court Administration surveilled judges, and compiled a list detailing their character and actions. The allegations have sparked speculations that a blacklist -- much like that of cultural figures drawn up by the Culture Ministry during the Park Geun-hye administration -- had been compiled.Supreme Court in southern Seoul. YonhapIn con

PoliticsJan. 24, 2018

[Newsmaker] S. Korean tennis star Chung Hyeon beats Novak Djokovic at Australian Open

Chung Hyeon continued his impressive run at the Australian Open on Monday after he beat former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to become the first South Korean to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam event. Chung produced another upset at the Australian Open after he knocked out Djokovic 3-0 (7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)) in the round of 16 contest at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. He reached the last 16 at the season‘s first grand slam event with a surprising win over world No. 4 Alexander Zverev on Sat

More SportsJan. 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK promotes Masik ski resort ahead of S. Korea's inspection

North Korea on Monday promoted Masikryong Ski Resort, one of its leader Kim Jong-un's signature achievements, one day ahead of a South Korean on-site inspection group's visit there for joint training of non-Olympic national skiers, as part of events related to the upcoming Winter Olympics in the South. The North completed the extravagant resort in the eastern city of Wonsan in December 2013, under the North Korean leader's instruction, despite the North Korean people's economic hardship. North K

North KoreaJan. 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] Korea’s IT giants invest in cryptocurrency exchanges

Though South Korea’s government has announced tougher measures to crack down on the country’s heated cryptocurrency trading, major internet technology companies here are showing continued interest in investing in digital currency trading platforms.From local mobile messenger giant Kakao to video game company Nexon, major businesses in Korea’s IT space have already made major investments in crypto exchanges where users can buy and sell digital assets like bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Kakao cur

TechnologyJan. 21, 2018

[Newsmaker] US government shuts down; Dems, GOP blame each other

WASHINGTON -- The federal government shut down at the stroke of midnight Friday, halting all but the most essential operations and marring the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration in a striking display of Washington dysfunction.Last-minute negotiations crumbled as Senate Democrats blocked a four-week stopgap extension in a late-night vote, causing the fourth government shutdown in a quarter century. The slide toward closure lacked for high drama: The Senate vote was all

World NewsJan. 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK’s advance team for Olympic art performance due Saturday

North Korea has notified South Korea that it will dispatch an advance team over the weekend to inspect details for its art troupe’s performance during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Friday. Hyun Song-wol, leader of the Moranbong Band (left) and Kwon Hyok-bong, director of the Arts and Performance Bureau in North Korea`s Culture Ministry (right). YonhapAfter Monday’s working-level talks, the two Koreas agreed that a 140-member art troupe, including an 80-strong

North KoreaJan. 19, 2018

[Newsmaker] Masikryong, hermit kingdom’s controversy-ridden ski resort

Seoul and Pyongyang announced Wednesday night that a joint training exercise of their skiers will take place at Masikryong Ski Resort in North Korea ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.It was agreed that South Korean officials will visit the resort from Jan. 23-25 to check the facility, which will be followed by a joint training exercise there. The South Korean players sent there, however, will not be members of the South Korean national team that will compete in the Olympics, but those rec

Olympic GamesJan. 18, 2018

[Newsmaker] Policy drive, biotech boom bring Kosdaq to 16-year high

South Korea’s second-tier Kosdaq hit a 16-year high, crossing 900 points at Tuesday’s close for the first time since the decline of the US-led information technology boom of the early 2000s, this time on lofty expectations for state policy support and an ongoing biotech boom. The Kosdaq closed at 901.23 Tuesday, up 1.1 percent from Monday’s close. The index has jumped 36.7 percent in three months. The closing mark topped 900 for the first time since March 2002. On Wednesday, th

MarketJan. 17, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK’s ‘biggest’ visiting art troupe still shrouded in mystery

The two Koreas on Monday reached an agreement to send a 140-member team of performers to the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics. While it will be the biggest group of North Korean musicians ever to set foot south of the DMZ, there is scant information about the Samjiyon Orchestra and what it will perform in the South. It is to perform in Seoul and Gangneung, Gangwon Province, which is hosting Olympic events.  Samjiyon Band performs in this Jan. 3, 2017 file photo. (Yonhap)At a briefing held fo

CultureJan. 16, 2018

[Newsmaker] Hyon Song-wol, Moranbong Band leader and more

Amid inter-Korean talks on North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics on Monday, attention has turned to Hyon Song-wol, who leads the Moranbong Band, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s favored performance troupe. 　Inter-Korean working-level talks on North Korean art troupe’s participation in the Winter Games convened at the northern side of the truce village of Panmunjeom after Pyongyang last week agreed to send a delegation including athletes, an art troupe, journalists and high-ran

North KoreaJan. 15, 2018