[Newsmaker] Strong quake strikes southwest China, killing at least 7

A strong earthquake shook a mountainous region in southwestern China near a famous national park, killing seven people, injuring 88 others and knocking out power and phone networks.At least five of the dead were tourists. The information office of the Sichuan province government released an updated number of casualties early Wednesday, but it didn't have more details on the victims of the Tuesday evening quake, China's official Xinhua News Agency said. The office said 21 people were seriously in

World NewsAug. 9, 2017

[Newsmaker] Air Force chief tapped as new JCS chairman

 Chief of the Air Force Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo was tapped as South Korea’s new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday, in the first reshuffle of top military leadership since President Moon Jae-in took office in May. During a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Moon approved the nomination of Jeong. If Jeong receives a parliamentary nod, the 56-year-old general will replace the current JCS chief, Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, and become the second Air Force officer to take the highest active-duty post. H

DefenseAug. 8, 2017

[Newsmaker] Korean Kim In-kyung wins Ricoh Women's British Open

South Korean Kim In-kyung has captured her first LPGA major title in Scotland.Kim held off Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England to win the Ricoh Women's British Open by two strokes at Fife, Scotland, on Sunday, after carding a one-under 71 at the par-72 Kingsbarns Golf Links. Kim finished at 18-under 270, one shy of the tournament record in relation to par.Kim, world No. 21, now has seven career LPGA victories and is the first three-time winner on the tour this year. The 29-year-old is the fifth South

GolfAug. 7, 2017

[Newsmaker] Women rally against misogynistic crimes

The slogan “Men, stop killing women” blared from a speaker outside Gangnam Station on Sunday afternoon, surrounded by some 150 people. Women call for tougher measures against misogynic crimes in South Korea during a rally near exit 10 of Gangnam Station in southen Seoul, Sunday. (Yonhap)The location of the protest has become symbolic of the fight against misogyny since a young woman was murdered in a public toilet in May 2016. The murderer had no connection to the victim, and chose to kill her j

Social AffairsAug. 6, 2017

[Newsmaker] Iran's Rouhani sworn in as tensions simmer over nuclear deal

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani warned the US against tearing up the nuclear deal as he was inaugurated for a second term Saturday, but he also faces challenges closer to home amid accusations he is rolling over to conservatives.Rouhani met with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini before the ceremony and called for greater efforts to safeguard the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in the face of new US sanctions."Iran will not be the first to violate the nuclear deal... bu

World NewsAug. 6, 2017

[Newsmaker] Driven by Galaxy S8, Samsung retakes top spot in US

Samsung Electronics has reclaimed the top spot in the North American smartphone market from its rival Apple, driven by strong sales of its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy S8, according to a US report. In the second quarter, the world’s largest smartphone maker by sales grabbed a 33 percent share in the US market, shipping 13.4 million units of smartphones, according to a report released by Strategy Analytics on Wednesday. Apple took a 25 percent share with 10.1 million units of sales in the sa

IndustryAug. 4, 2017

[Newsmaker] Director Kim Ki-duk accused of actress assault

To say Kim Ki-duk is not a director for everyone would be an understatement. He uses rape, prostitution and incest in his films to strip all pretense and examine the raw human emotions of impulse, violence and lust.However, the controversial director may have gone a step too far: An actress has filed a complaint with prosecutors, alleging that the award-winning director physically assaulted her and coerced her to shoot an unscripted sex scene while filming “Moebius,” which was released in 2013. 

PerformanceAug. 3, 2017

[Newsmaker] 'Housekeeping soldiers': ugly face of South Korean military

  When Kwon Tae-jin (not his real name) joined the Navy after finishing his freshman year at a prestigious university in Seoul, the then-20-year-old had high expectations about spending his mandatory service sailing distant seas.  　Having endured six months of basic military training and another six months of life in the barracks, Kwon was promoted to a seaman and waited for his assignment. But the assignment he received was something he had not anticipated: becoming the commander’s housekeeper.

NationalAug. 2, 2017

[Newsmaker] Scaramucci out after Trump changes chief of staff

Foul-mouthed spin doctor Anthony Scaramucci was axed as White House communications director Monday, just 10 days after being named to the post and hours after Donald Trump installed a new chief of staff.　The 53-year-old New Yorker -- whose profanity-laden rant against colleagues gained him global notoriety -- was fired as four-star Gen. John Kelly began his quest to impose order on an administration careening out of control.　During its first six months in office, Trump’s White House has been bes

World NewsAug. 1, 2017

[Newsmaker] US to cut 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, says Putin

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the United States would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin.　Putin added bluntly that Russia was able to raise the stakes with America even further, although he hoped this would be unnecessary.　A US State Department official denounced the move as a “regrettable and uncalled for act,” adding that Washington was now weighing a potential respon

World NewsJuly 31, 2017

[Newsmaker] Moon’s trade minister pick comes with host of allegations

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday named his first chief trade negotiator, readying for possible talks with the US over the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. The new trade minister, whose position will be that of a vice minister, is Kim Hyun-chong, a graduate of Columbia Law School and professor of language and trade at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Last year Kim was also appointed a new member of the World Trade Organization‘s dispute settlement body for Korea, which doles out final decisions

PoliticsJuly 30, 2017

[Newsmaker] Transgender personnel barred from US military: Trump

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that transgender people may not serve “in any capacity” in the US military, upending a key policy from Barack Obama’s administration and drawing swift condemnation.　Announcing the major policy change via Twitter, Trump said the military should be focused on “overwhelming victory,” and not burdened with the “tremendous” medical costs and disruptions that transgender personnel would entail.　“After consultation with my generals and military experts, please

World NewsJuly 27, 2017

[Newsmaker] Cheers for McCain, then impassioned speech

The maverick stood with his party Tuesday, casting a crucial vote in the Republican drive to repeal “Obamacare.” But then, like an angry prophet, Sen. John McCain condemned the tribal politics besetting the nation.Confronting an aggressive brain cancer, the 80-year-old Arizonan served notice he would not vote for the GOP legislation as it stands now. McCain’s impassioned speech held the rapt attention of his colleagues in the Senate chamber.　”Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the rad

World NewsJuly 26, 2017

[Newsmaker] Death of ‘coffee chain king’ rattles Korean franchise industry

A businessman who had once beaten Starbucks in the coffee franchise race in South Korea some years ago has been found dead, police said Tuesday. Kang Hoon, CEO of the local dessert cafe franchise MangoSix was discovered in a bathroom at his residence in Seocho-dong by an employee on Monday afternoon, according to investigators. He was 49.Kang was a pioneer in the local coffee franchise industry, as he brought domestic coffee brands to huge success and attempted market entries to other Asian mark

IndustryJuly 25, 2017

[Newsmaker] Chief prosecutor nominee vows political neutrality

Prosecutor General nominee Moon Moo-il pledged Monday to ensure political neutrality and rebuild public trust that has been marred by what critics say are lopsided investigations into high-profile cases involving leading politicians and major corporations.  Prosecutor General nominee Moon Moo-il (Yonhap)At his parliamentary confirmation hearing, ruling and opposition lawmakers wrestled over Cheong Wa Dae’s recent disclosure of massive sheaves of documents left behind by the Park Geun-hye adminis

Social AffairsJuly 24, 2017

[Newsmaker] Trump asserts all agree he has ‘complete power’ to pardon

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has ``complete power‘’ to issue pardons, an assertion that comes amid investigations into Russian interference in last year‘s presidential election. It was one of many topics that appeared to occupy the president’s mind as the day broke.　On a day when most people are ready to forget about the issues that nagged them during the week, Trump revved up. In an early morning flurry of 10 tweets, he commented about pardons, former presidential rival Hillary

World NewsJuly 23, 2017

[Newsmaker] Veteran politician talks Macron, Third Way and Korean leaders

For Kim Chong-in, 78, morning starts at 5 a.m., with news updates about world politics. “Humans are political animals. You should know what’s going on around the world,” the veteran politician told The Korea Herald at his office in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. That’s the approach Kim, originally an economics professor, took to stay relevant, and ideally ahead of the game, for more than three decades in South Korea’s turbulent politics. Of all countries, France is his main interest now, Kim said,

PoliticsJuly 21, 2017

[Newsmaker] Role grows for KCCI chief as mediator to Moon’s reform drive

Park Yong-maan, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has exhibited a somewhat different image as a member of a chaebol family in the past years. The former Doosan Group chairman and the fifth son of the nation’s oldest conglomerate, posts his daily ride to work via subway train on Twitter, and is known as a man of humor who surprises his staff on April fool’s day. Through a TV program on Korean chaebol some years ago, the chairman even opened up his residence, family and his l

IndustryJuly 20, 2017

[Newsmaker] Celebrity defector possibly abducted by NK: report

Police have launched a probe into the case of a North Korean celebrity defector who recently appeared in a propaganda video clip for the North, amid suspicions she may have been abducted by the hermit nation. “Authorities are currently investigating the case of the North Korean defector Lim Ji-hyun,” Lee Yu-jin, the Ministry of Unification’s deputy spokesperson, said Wednesday.   A captured image of a North Korean propaganda video featuring Lim Ji-hyun, also known as Jeon Hye-sung. YonhapThe Seo

North KoreaJuly 19, 2017

[Newsmaker] Uli Stielike leaves Korea

Former national football team head coach Uli Stielike has left South Korea and returned to his home country, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.The Korea Football Association said Stielike departed for Germany on Saturday, one month after he was sacked as the men's national football team boss.The KFA said Stielike had a luncheon with his former backroom staff, including assistant coaches Jung Hae-sung and Seol Ki-hyeon, before leaving South Korea.The KFA said Stielike didn't leave a message for S

SoccerJuly 19, 2017