The Korea Herald

Pantech to cut half of workforce amid normalization efforts

South Korea's No. 3 handset maker Pantech Co., which has been struggling to normalize operations, said Friday it plans to cut nearly half of its employees. Under the plan, around 400 staff will leave the company on Oct.23, the company said. Pantech has been on the verge of bankruptcy after it sought to give up court protection from its creditors in May. But a South Korean consortium led by optical manufacturer Optis and telecom device firm Solid won approval from a local court to acquire P

Industry Sept. 18, 2015

Uncertainties to weigh on S. Korean market: BOK chief

The South Korean financial market will continue to face lingering uncertainties in the short term despite a U.S. interest rate freeze, the central bank chief said Friday. The U.S. Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate at a record low at its September meeting amid rising concerns over slumping global demand and unstable financial markets, stemming from China, the world's second-largest economy. "Fed Chair Janet Yellen seemed to take a dovish stance, but short-term uncertainties will still

Sept. 18, 2015

U.S. vows to use 'all the tools at our disposal' to pressure N. Korea

The United States on Thursday vowed to do all it can to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear program amid concern Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear or missile test "We do continue to look at and will aim to use all the tools at our disposal to make clear ... that North Korea has a choice to make. The onus, as I've said before, the onus is on them," State Department spokesman John Kirby said at a daily briefing. "They've got this choice to make to denuclearize and attain the peace and

North Korea Sept. 18, 2015

U.S. rate freeze to ease market uncertainty: vice minister

The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to hold its key interest rate steady is expected to help alleviate continued uncertainty in the international financial market, a senior government official said Friday. After a two-day policy meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee froze the interest rate on Thursday, citing a cooling global economy even as the U.S. economy grows steadily. "The rate freeze is a factor that could ease market uncertainty to some degree, but financial volatility at home a

Sept. 18, 2015

S. Korea's producer prices drop in Aug.

Producer prices in South Korea shrank significantly from a year earlier in August, marking the 13th consecutive monthly drop largely caused by a cut in global oil prices, data showed Friday. The producer price index, a barometer of future consumer inflation, reached 100.88 last month, down 4.4 percent from the same month last year, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The figure also marks a 0.5 percent drop from a month earlier. The price of gasoline plunged 30.

Sept. 18, 2015

U.S. lawmaker issues statement welcoming Park, her peace visions

A U.S. congressman has issued a congressional statement welcoming South Korean President Park Geun-hye's planned visit to Washington and expressing support for her visions for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), whose father fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, said South Korea is one of "America's greatest foreign policy success stories," as well as an "indispensable ally" and the "linchpin of regional peace and stability." "Korean President Park Geun-hye

International Sept. 18, 2015

Changing tides of Chuseok

With the Chuseok holiday approaching, a growing number of Koreans are opting for an easier, relaxed holiday over centuries-old rituals, reflecting the slowly changing tide of the national holiday customs. (Korea Herald)More people are choosing to travel abroad during the long holiday. For a holiday gift, some children give their parents a wrinkle reduction surgery or Botox injections. Many women order ready-made food for “jesa,” a memorial service for the family’s departed relatives, through an

Culture Sept. 17, 2015

동물의 왕국 사자가 ‘공중부양’ (영상)

최근 남아프리카공화국 크루거 국립공원에서 찍힌 사자와 버펄로의 영상이 화제다. 　배가 고팠던 사자는 버펄로 한 마리를 먹잇감으로 계속 주시하다가 중 공격한다. 버펄로를 잡은 사자는 신나 잡아먹으려던 찰나에, 버펄로 두 마리가 갑자기 나타나 사자를 공격한다. (유튜브)거대 버펄로가 뿔로 사자를 공격하자 사자는 힘도 못 쓰고 공중으로 약 5미터 날아갔다가 바닥에 떨어진다. 　　두 번 연달아 날아간 사자는 결국 도망갔고, 버펄로와 사자 모두 다 부상이 없었다고 전해졌다. 　 (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Sept. 17, 2015

Mamamoo drops new single

Rookie girl group Mamamoo, who topped local charts with their latest song “Um Oh Ah Yeah,” released the new single “Girl Crush” on Wednesday. 　The new song was created for the soundtrack of the new online game “Innisia Nest,” developed by local game company Entermate. The women of the group have also been cast as models for the upcoming game. Mamamoo (Loen Entertainment)　The retro-pop “Girl Crush” was written and composed by Park Woo-sang, who worked on the group’s previous soundtrack work “Lov

Sept. 16, 2015

[팟캐스트](111) 유럽행 난민 사태 외 1건

진행자: 송상호, Julie Jackson　 1. 헝가리 난민 입국 차단　 기사요약: 유럽행 중동 난민들이 헝가리로 몰려들자, 헝가리 정부는 난민 입국을 사실상 차단하고 국가 비상사태를 선포했다. 난민들이 입국하는 주요 경로인 남부 로츠케지역 세르비아 철조망 공사를 끝낸 상황이다. 앙겔라 메르켈 독일 총리는 난민위기를 다룰 특별 EU 정상회의를 개최하라고 요구했다.　 아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638　　　　Anger as Hungary seals borders, Merkel demands refugee summit　 [1] Hundreds of desperate migrants were Tuesday trapped behind a razor-wire fence erected

Podcast Sept. 16, 2015

iKON makes chart-topping debut

K-pop boy group iKON made its much-awaited debut Tuesday with the single “My Type,” which was topping all major charts immediately after its midnight release. 　Medium tempo hip-hop track “My Type” ranked No.1 on eight local charts, including Melon, Genie and Olleh. 　The song also nabbed the top spot on iTunes’ singles chart in seven regions, including Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. 　iKON is the newest act from YG Entertainment, home to K-pop heavyweights from Big Bang and Psy

Sept. 15, 2015

뱀, 거대 먹잇감 다시 토해내 (영상)

최근 유튜브에 공개된 동영상에는 방콕 길거리에서 배가 자신의 몸보다 크게 불러 있는 뱀이 꿈틀대고 있다. 　뱀은 괴로운지 계속 몸을 움직이며 좀 전에 사냥한 동물을 다시 뱉어낸다.(유튜브)뱀의 머리는 두세 배가량 늘어나 동물을 다리부터 천천히 내뱉어낸다. 　뱀이 다 토해내고 나니, 뱀 크기보다 큰 개가 뱀 안에 있었던 것으로 알려졌다. 　목격하고 있던 한 남성은 뱀이 먹잇감을 다 토해내자, 그 즉시 뱀을 생포했다.　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Sept. 15, 2015

美女, ‘상상초월’ 직업으로 2억 벌어

미국의 한 여성의 기이한 직업이 소개되 화제다. 25살 오데트 델라크루아의 직업은 덩치가 큰 사람들 밑에 누워 깔리는 일이다. 대학교 때 단순히 학비를 벌려고 시작한 아르바이트는 이제 정식 직업이 됐다고 말했다. 　델라크루아는 150센티미터 키의 40킬로그램의 몸무게로 작은 체형을 가졌다. 하지만, 그녀 위에 올라가는 사람들은 거대한 체형의 여성들로, 한번은 모두 합하여 800킬로그램이 넘는 다섯 명의 거대한 여성이 올라갔다고 전해졌다. (델라크루아의 트위터)“듣기에는 굉장히 이상할 수도 있는데, 저는 깔리는 게 아주 좋아요,” 라고 델라크루아가 외신과의 인터뷰에서 밝혔다. “굉장히 흥분돼요.”　델라크루아는 덩치가 큰 여성들에게 깔리는 영상을 찍어 성인 사이트 등에 올리면 인기가 많아 수입이 굉장히 좋다고 전했다. 그녀는 이 직업으로 약 2억 원 이상의 수입을 냈다고 밝혔다.　오데트는 이 직업이 재미있고 수익성이 좋지만, 어떨 때는 무거운 무게에 깔려 숨을 쉴 수 없을 때가 있는

한국어판 Sept. 15, 2015

Jonghyun to drop self-composed album

Jonghyun of SHINee will release a self-composed, self-written EP on Thursday. 　The nine-track album, titled “Story Op. 1,” includes the lead track “End of the Day,” a ballad highlighting Jonghyun’s warm and soft vocals and piano melody. Jonghyun (SM Entertainment)Jonghyun, who is a disc jockey for MBC music radio show “Blue Night,” revealed his self-written songs on a special program on the radio station titled “Blue Night Lyrics, That Man’s Composition.” The songs that were introduced in the p

Sept. 14, 2015

‘Pregnant woman punched for sitting on subway seat for elderly’

An online post claiming that a pregnant woman was punched several times by a man on a subway has sparked public outrage at the violence. “My wife, who was returning home from work on subway Line 4, was attacked by a man around 7:10 p.m. on Sept. 1,” a man posted to his Facebook account. In the post, the man says his 30-year-old wife, 10 weeks pregnant, was sitting on the seat reserved for the elderly and the weak when the man, surnamed Jang, 66, hit her on the shoulder after she refused to give

Social Affairs Sept. 13, 2015

Articles by Ahn Sung-mi