Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday announced his decision not to run in the presidential election slated for May 9, dealing a blow to the conservative bloc on the lookout for viable contenders to take on more popular liberal rivals.During a Cabinet meeting, Hwang made the announcement, ending the months-long speculation over his presidential ambitions that emerged after he took over as acting president in December following former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment

Politics March 15, 2017

Advent of the Internet is like a double-edged sword. Anyone with a smartphone today can express their views online and exercise their freedom of speech.Unfortunately, it comes at a cost -- of also empowering misogynists to engage in unfettered gender-based violence. A key way to fight this alarming trend? Strike directly at the core of the problem -- online communities where anonymous trolls share and reinforce their misinformed views -- and puncture them, a group of European experts advised. A

Social Affairs March 15, 2017

A group of South Korean scientists have developed a new type of peptide to treat autoinflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the science ministry said Wednesday.Autoinflammatory diseases are defined as the loss of self-tolerance in which an inflammatory response occurs in reaction to inappropriate triggering of Toll-Like Receptor-4. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning) (Yonhap)The team led by Choi Sang-don successfully designed small peptide inhibitors

Technology March 15, 2017

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Wednesday arrived at South Korea's southern port of Busan to participate in the ongoing joint exercises by Seoul and Washington in the latest show of force against North Korea, the US military said.The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is anchored at the port of Busan on March 15, 2017. (Yonhap)The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier plans to conduct bilateral exercises with forces from the South Korean Navy in the waters around the Korean Peninsula during the

Defense March 15, 2017

South Korea's presidential security advisor said Wednesday he will hold talks with his US counterpart this week over North Korea's growing military threats and ways to further strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance.Kim Kwan-jin, the chief of the National Security Office, made the remarks shortly before departing for Washington for talks with H.R. McMaster, the US national security adviser. Kim will stay in the US capital for two days and return home on Friday. Kim Kwan-jin, the chief of the Na

Defense March 15, 2017

South Korean stocks traded lower late Wednesday morning as investors took to the sidelines waiting the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's statement on its rate policy.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 3.79 points, or 0.18 percent, to 2,129.99 as of 11:20 a.m., slipping from its almost 2-year high in the previous session.Top market cap Samsung Electronics advanced 0.1 percent to a record high, while SK hynix, a major chipmaker, shed 2.58 percent.AmorePacific, the country's top

March 15, 2017

Falling crude oil prices will likely boost petroleum and petrochemical products consumption in emerging economies that will benefit South Korea's refiners, industry sources said Wednesday.Benchmark West Texas Intermediate ended at $49.28 per barrel as of March 9, industry data showed.It is the first time since November that WTI fell below $50 per barrel.The fall in crude prices are attributed to the rising stockpiles and the increase in crude oil drilling equipment in the United States.Crude oil

Industry March 15, 2017

South Korea is keeping a close watch on China's next moves that may work to further hurt its industries, as Beijing's travel ban to its neighboring country came into effect Wednesday, the latest hostile measure taken in protest of Seoul's stationing of a US anti-missile system. China-based travel agencies, both online and offline, are now forbidden to sell trips to Korea, including group tours, cruise stopovers and individual travels booked through agencies, following an instruction from the Chi

Industry March 15, 2017

South Korean exports of information and communications technology products increased for the fourth month in a row in February on brisk overseas sales of semiconductors and displays, government data showed Wednesday.Overseas shipments of ICT products surged 22.8 percent on-year to $14.06 billion last month, exceeding the $14 billion mark for the first time in February, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.ICT imports increased 6 percent on-year to $7.29 bi

Industry March 15, 2017

Some analysts on Wednesday gave mixed forecasts on sales of Samsung Electronics Co.'s upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone, which will be unveiled later this month. Two analysts in South Korea expected sales of the S8 smartphone to exceed those of its predecessor, the S7 smartphone, while a brokerage in Taiwan predicted that sales of the S8 may fall short of the S7. The S8 smartphone follows Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phablet, which was discontinued last year due to battery problems that caused some of th

Industry March 15, 2017

South Korea's point man on unification on Wednesday met with 13 former war prisoners in an effort to help heal their suffering stemming from the inter-Korean division, ministry officials said.Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo held a meeting with the former South Korean soldiers who were taken prisoner by North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War and later returned home, and listened to their views on the repatriation of other prisoners still left behind in the North, said the officials.Unificat

Politics March 15, 2017

South Korean girl group Twice has been hired by beverage maker Donga Otsuka Co. to promote the company's flagship sports drink Pocari Sweat, the group's agency said Wednesday. (Yonhap)"Twice was picked as Pocari Sweat's model for the beverage's 30th anniversary," JYP Entertainment said, adding that Twice has become the first idol group to model for the iconic drink product. In the TV commercial which begins airing Wednesday, the team's nine members head to the beach sporting attire that matches

Performance March 15, 2017

"Defendant" maintained its pole position in the Monday-Tuesday late night TV drama race, data showed Wednesday, as viewers tuned in to see whether the gripping crime thriller, near its final stretch, can deliver a satisfying ending. (Yonhap)The show's 16th episode that aired Tuesday night recorded 25.4 percent viewership, according to Nielsen Korea. It dropped 0.2 percentage point from the previous broadcast, but still squashed its main competitors.MBC TV's "Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People," a

Television March 15, 2017

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday renewed his appeal for national unity at a time the country is reeling from the dismissal of President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal.During a ceremony marking the 57th anniversary of a historic pro-democracy uprising, Hwang also vowed to ensure that the country will be able to hold a "clean, fair" presidential election slated to take place in May. Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn speaks during a ceremony ma

Politics March 15, 2017

Tesla Korea, the local distributor of Tesla cars, opened its first showroom in South Korea on Wednesday, offering a chance for local customers to see and experience its advanced electric vehicles.The first Tesla showroom opened at a shopping mall in Hanam, a city located just east of Seoul.The Tesla Model S 90D is on display at Tesla's Cheongdam showroom in Seoul. (Yonhap)All visitors can see firsthand the US carmaker's vehicle models, while those who make prior reservations will be given a chan

Mobility March 15, 2017