[Photo News] Preparations for parliamentary elections

A stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, prepares for the upcoming April 15 parliamentary elections, on Monday, two days ahead of the elections. The polls will fill South Korea's 300-seat unicameral National Assembly. (Photos: Yonhap) By Kim Tae-eun (kimt17@heraldcorp.com)

PoliticsApril 14, 2020

[Photo News] Easter service at parking lot

Members of a Christian church attend an Easter service at a parking lot in southern Seoul on Sunday.  The service in the parking lot is part of efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.  (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

CultureApril 12, 2020

[Photo News] Early voting despite virus fears

Voters were advised to wear face masks and disposable gloves while casting their ballots for the April 15 general elections, on the first day of the two-day early voting Friday. Strict quarantine guidelines were presented to prevent virus spread, as public safety is a top priority in this year’s elections. (Photos: Yonhap) By Kim Tae-eun (kimt17@heraldcorp.com)

PoliticsApril 10, 2020

[Photo News] Unexpected job interview with CEO

SK Innovation President and CEO Kim Jun (right) conducts a job interview with a candidate via video conference amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak at the company’s headquarters in Jongro-gu, Seoul, Wednesday.   Kim called for “unprecedented measures to overcome unprecedented times.”  Candidates were not informed of the CEO’s participation in advance. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

IndustryApril 9, 2020

[Photo News] Job applicants sit for outdoor test amid COVID-19 fears

Job applicants took a written exam, while seated safe distances apart, at a football stadium in Ansan, south of Seoul, Saturday. The outdoor test was part of the recruitment process at city-run Ansan Urban Corp. The company decided to hold the test in order to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.  (Photos: Yonhap)

Social AffairsApril 5, 2020

[Photo News] Ediya opens Dream Factory

Ediya Coffee Chairman Moon Chang-ki (far right) turns on a roasting machine at Ediya Dream Factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday. The factory that spans 12,982 square meters, with 40 billion won investment, is equipped with new coffee roasting technologies.  Ediya, which has 3,000 franchisees nationwide, said with the opening of the roasting factory and a logistics facility, it has automated all four processes of selecting, roasting and packaging coffee products. (herim@he

ConsumerApril 1, 2020

[Photo News] Duty-free hit by coronavirus

The duty-free zone of Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 1 appears quiet Wednesday afternoon. As the industry was hit hard by the sharp drop in outbound travelers due to the spread of the new coronavirus, some of the airport’s duty-free shops couldn’t pay the rent in February. SM Duty Free pays about 3 billion won ($2.4 million) a month in rent and incurs interest of nearly 16 percent per year if it can’t pay on time. (Yonhap)

IndustryMarch 26, 2020

[Photo News] Disinfection at BMW showroom

Officials disinfect BMW Group Korea’s showroom in Seoul on Thursday. The German automaker’s Korean unit said it has been emphasizing contactless customer service and strengthening disinfection at its showrooms to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  BMW Group Korea has donated 800 million won ($664,000) to the Community Chest of Korea to help fight the coronavirus. By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)

MobilityMarch 12, 2020

[Photo News] PARTITIONED LUNCH

LG employees eat lunch at partitioned tables as a precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19, at the group’s Twin Towers headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, Tuesday. (LG Corp.)

IndustryMarch 3, 2020

[Photo News] Starbucks Korea to releases March 1 edition goods

Starbucks Korea will roll out a new set of goods -- a mug, tumbler and card -- designed with mugunghwa, or hibiscus, to celebrate the March 1st Independence Movement Day, the company said on Thursday. The company said it will donate 100 million won ($82,200) from the profit made to the descendants of independence fighters. (herim@heraldcorp.com)

ConsumerFeb. 27, 2020

[Photo News] Hyundai's hydrogen campaign featuring BTS in NY

Hyundai Motor’s global hydrogen advertisement featuring BTS is aired via Marriott Marquis Hotel’s digital signage display at Times Square in New York on Friday.  In the advertisement, which played for an hour, BTS members explained the company’s vision and efforts to achieve a future hydrogen society through its hydrogen fuel cell car Nexo. (ddd@heraldcorp.com)

MobilityFeb. 23, 2020

[Photo News] LG leader visits design center

LG Group Chairman and Chief Executive Koo Kwang-mo on Tuesday visited LG Electronics’ research and development campus in Seoul, the firm said. During the visit Koo was quoted as saying, “It is design that gives the first impression of our products and delivers this sense of feeling that this product is worth buying.”  At the campus, Koo also checked the company’s consumer electronic products, including a smart door and a wall-mounted OLED TV, as wel

TechnologyFeb. 18, 2020

[Photo News] Convenience stores enjoy boom

With changing consumption patterns amid the rising number of single-member households and online shopping, the convenience store chains in South Korea reaped their largest margins last year, according to industry data.  GS25 made 256.5 billion won in operating profit last year, its largest on record.  CU also marked a record 196.6 billion won in operating profit.  The consolidated operating profit of Emart, the large retail store chain, meanwhile, dropped 67.4 percent to 150.7

IndustryFeb. 17, 2020

[Photo News] Coex launches 'mask united' campaign

Lee Dong-won (third from right, front row), CEO of the Convention and Exhibition Center, launches a “mask united” campaign with staff and executives amid the coronavirus outbreak, to contribute to the recovery of the Korean economy and ensure the safety of visitors at Coex in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. (Yonhap) (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

IndustryFeb. 11, 2020

[Photo News] Lotte Mart introduces flashy school safety items

Fluorescent reflective cloaks and school bag covers are showcased at Lotte Mart’s Seoul Station branch in Jung-gu, central Seoul, on Wednesday.  The number 30 signifies the 30-kilometer-per-hour maximum travel speed limit in all school zones.  The products will be available at 110 branches nationwide from Thursday.  (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

IndustryFeb. 5, 2020

[Photo News] 7-Eleven opens stores for foodies

Customers visit Food Dream, a food store launched by convenience store chain 7-Eleven in July 2019.  Compared with conventional stores, Food Dream has recorded double the sales in the food category since its launch, 7-Eleven said Tuesday. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

IndustryFeb. 4, 2020

[Photo News] Asiana Airlines sends relief goods to support Wuhan

Asiana Airlines said Friday that it has sent relief goods including masks and medical products worth 40 million won to support the people in Wuhan, China, as well as authorities’ effort to contain the virus.  The products will be delivered to people in need in China, the air carrier said, adding that it has sent the items on OZ331 flight bound for Beijing and OZ323 bound for Chengdu. By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)

MobilityJan. 31, 2020

[Photo News] Consumer agency compares UHD TVs of Samsung, LG

Korea Consumer Agency officials attend a press briefing on their review of the quality of UHD TVs at the government complex in Sejong on Thursday.  Their results showed LG’s organic light-emitting diode TV had better viewing angle and high-definition resolution than Samsung’s quantum-dot light-emitting diode TV. Both products met international standards of contrast modulation, the KCA said. (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

IndustryJan. 30, 2020

[Photo News] Final farewell for late Lotte founder

Relatives and associates gathered to bid a final farewell to Shin Kyuk-ho, the late founder and honorary chairman of Lotte Group, commemorating his legacy in a ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday.Shin was a self-made entrepreneur, who built his way up to establish Lotte Group, one of the five biggest conglomerates in South Korea – the others being Samsung, Hyundai, LG and SK. He passed away Sunday at the age of 97. More than 1,400 people participated in the ceremony held at Seoul’s Lotte

IndustryJan. 22, 2020

[Photo news] Herald CEO meets Indian envoy

[Diplomatic circuit] Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won shakes hands with Indian Ambassador to South Korea Sripriya Ranganathan (right) during a meeting in central Seoul on Wednesday. (Indian Embassy in Korea)

Diplomatic CircuitJan. 22, 2020