A Danish court decided on Monday to extend the detainment of the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the center of a massive corruption scandal in South Korea. Chung Yoo-ra has been in the custody of Danish authorities since she was arrested in this northern city of Aalborg earlier this year for illegal stay. She is under suspicion of receiving favors from a college in Seoul during the admissions process and on tests by taking advantage of her mother's ties to the president. Choi Soon-sil`s

Politics Jan. 30, 2017

　It has been roughly a decade since smart keys first appeared in Korea, allowing drivers to lock and unlock their car door via the press of a button. However, with the advent of smart technology, industry insiders are expecting car keys to make even more significantly high-tech strides by 2020. 　Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. revealed late last month that it is currently developing a wrist-band-type smart key for the first time in the local automotive industry. The smart device is e

Mobility Jan. 30, 2017

Impeached President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday denied a slew of corruption allegations against her once again, calling them "preposterous, colossal" lies.   During an hour-long interview with Jeong Kyu-jae, the chief editorial writer of the local Korea Economic Daily newspaper, Park said that "the crippling scandal involving her and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil appears to have been premeditated."   The interview at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae came amid expectations that the em

Politics Jan. 25, 2017

LG Electronics on Wednesday announced its performance improved last year, although its mobile device unit performed worse than a year earlier.  　According to a regulatory filing, LG said it posted 55.4 trillion won ($47.5 billion) in sales and 1.34 trillion won in operating profit in 2016. 　While its annual sales dropped 2 percent on-year, LG saw a 12.2 percent gain in its operating profit, owing to the largest-ever profits from its home appliance and TV businesses. 　The company’s home appliance

Technology Jan. 25, 2017

South Korea, China and Japan are unlikely to hold a trilateral summit in February as was originally planned amid a complicated diplomatic landscape involving the three Asian neighbors, a Seoul official said Wednesday.Japan tried to host the summit in December, but it was delayed, as China didn't respond to Tokyo's proposed timetable. Ever since, negotiations have been under way to hold the summit in the middle of February. "South Korea, China and Japan have made efforts to arrange a meeting in F

Politics Jan. 25, 2017

Volvo Korea has launched the new D4 model of its flagship S90 series, the company said Wednesday, touting the vehicle as one of the country’s most reasonably priced and affordable luxury sedans. 　Offered in both “Momentum” entry-level and “Inscription” trim, the 2017 D4 is priced at 59.9 million won ($51,400) and 66.9 million won, respectively, including taxes. 　In comparison, in Korea the Mercedes E-Class series runs anywhere from 60.9 million won to 98.7 million won, while Ford’s newly release

Mobility Jan. 25, 2017

The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association announced Tuesday that it will offer free inspection services by five automakers during the Lunar New Year holiday this weekend.　From Thursday to Sunday, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, GM Korea, Renault Samsung Motors and Ssangyong Motors will offer their customers vehicle inspection services free of charge at 22 participating highway rest stops and 48 service centers nationwide. 　The services will be offered at northbound rest stops on Thursday and Fri

Mobility Jan. 24, 2017

　Honda Korea has launched sales of its latest SUV model, the New Pilot 2017, less than a week after unveiling its new Accord Hybrid, the company announced Monday. 　“There continues to be growing interest … in the Pilot series because of its design, safety and space utilization, especially in a consumer culture of meticulous comparison that focuses on safety and fuel efficiency,” said Honda Korea CEO Chung Woo-young, in the company’s press release Monday.Honda Korea releases its “New Pilot 2017”

Mobility Jan. 24, 2017

IBM’s supercomputer Watson, an artificial intelligence-based cognitive computing program, is receiving mixed reviews a month after being introduced to Korean medical institutions.　Gachon University Gil Medical Center in Incheon became the first medical institute in Korea to utilize artificial intelligence to examine and treat cancer patients since October. 　Over the past 12 days, the hospital said Watson has been used to diagnose 85 cancer patients, receiving positive reviews from both patients

Technology Jan. 23, 2017

Protestors march across southern Seoul for Women's March against the US president Donald Trump on Saturday. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Koreal Herald)Hundreds of men and women took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday for the Women’s March that swept through the US and elsewhere on the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency. Braving the snow and subzero temperatures, an estimated 1,000 people, according to the rally organizers, marched for three hours through Gangnam, Seoul, joining the global grassroots ca

Politics Jan. 21, 2017