South Koreans accounted for the greatest proportion of foreign tourists to visit Japan in the first half of 2017, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization on Thursday. Of the 13.7 million foreign tourists who traveled to Japan in the first six months of this year, about one-fourth, or 3.4 million, were Koreans.The latest figure for Korean tourists to Japan marks a 42.5 percent jump from the same period a year earlier. Trailing behind Korean tourists were Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong K

Social Affairs July 20, 2017

A website in South Korea is selling a host of micro-cameras disguised as everyday objects, sparking a fierce round of complaints about such illicit products on social media. The website sells hidden cameras in a variety of shapes including wrist watch, car key, glasses, ball point pen, cigarette pack, ties, caps and fire alarms.  (Image captured from the website)The fire alarm-shaped camera is the same one that was recently exposed in a Japanese Airbnb room by a Korean couple. The horn-rimmed gl

Social Affairs July 19, 2017

Mobile apps are expanding into fishing. More Korean hobbyists are using smartphone apps to minimize trouble and maximize fun while out angling. Not only do the apps make access to information easier, they also allow anglers to carry less in their bags and do more. App users can make reservations at fishing pedestals, find where to fish, remotely check the fishing conditions in real time and even digitally measure their catches and put them online to compete with other anglers.For a hobby convent

Culture July 14, 2017

A 20-year-old female university student took her own life after writing about sexual assaults she allegedly suffered from multiple assailants since she was underage, Siheung Police said Thursday. The police found the deceased’s body at her flat, Wednesday, in a search that ensued after her friends reported a worrying social media post she had left. The said post told of the bullying the deceased had been subjected to since middle school and the multiple sexual assaults she suffered since high sc

Social Affairs July 14, 2017

South Korea's new defense minister took office Friday, reaffirming his pledge to reform and beef up the military."In order to win the trust of the people, (the military) should go beyond a simple defense reform to create brand new armed forces," Defense Minister Song Young-moo said in his inauguration speech.After being tapped to lead the Ministry of National Defense a month earlier, President Moon Jae-in officially appointed him to the post Thursday despite the opposition's allegations of misco

Defense July 14, 2017

The North Korean regime’s mouth piece Korean Central News Agency is promoting Pyongyang’s water amusement parks in what looks like a bid to draw more foreign tourists in time for the summer vacation season.Pyeongyang’s Munsu Water Park and two other parks along the Taedong River were portrayed in the broadcast. North Korean children ride the water slide at Munsu Water Park (Yonhap)The Munsu Water Park reportedly stretches over 109,000 square meters and has 14 water slides and artificial waves.Th

North Korea July 14, 2017

Hong Joon-pyo, the chief of the Liberty Korea Party, did not appear all too thrilled at the event thrown by his party on July 3, when he took the helm of the main opposition. Photos revealed Hong’s expressions on that day, reflecting his mood while taking part in activities.  (Yonhap)During the Liberty Korea Party’s National Convention, party members including Hong picked potatoes as part of volunteer work at a rural farm in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.  (Yonhap)The glorious moment came when Ho

Politics July 13, 2017

Heavy rain dampened the commutes of Koreans across the country as the work week began Monday.Early in the morning, commuters in the capital city of Seoul were hit by a sudden shower of between 50 to 100 millimeters of rain, accompanied by strong winds. Over 150 millimeters of rain was expected for the rest of the day in parts of the region. 　Around midday, the Korea Meteorological Administration released a heavy rain advisory in over 20 regions including Seoul and its satellite cities. A woman h

Social Affairs July 10, 2017

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is speeding ahead in terms of sales in South Korea, while its main rival BMW is struggling to keep pace, industry data showed Sunday.According to sales figures released by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) and other market trackers, Mercedes-Benz midsize E-Class executive sedans reigned supreme in the country despite the release of the all-new BMW 5-series cars in February."BMW's goal of taking back the No. 1 best-selling car

Mobility July 9, 2017

Leaders of the Group of 20 major countries wrapped up two days of summit meetings in Hamburg on Saturday with a declaration that the Paris climate agreement is "irreversible" despite the US decision to withdraw from the global pact aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.The G-20 Leaders' Declaration, however, made no mention of North Korea, even though the meetings came just a few days after the communist nation stunned the world with its first test-firing of an intercontinental capable ball

Foreign Affairs July 9, 2017

(사진=연합뉴스)진행자: 임정요, Kevin Lee Selzer1. 문재인-트럼프 무역, 북한, 국제적 파트너쉽 토론기사요약: 문재인 대통령은 역대 한국 대통령 중 취임 후 최단시간내 미국을 찾아 트럼프 대통령과 첫 만남을 가졌다. 두 대통령은 자유무역협정(FTA), 사드 (THAAD), 북한 등 담론할 비공식적 안건이 많았지만 서로 화평을 다지는 것을 최우선시 했다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638Moon Jae-in, Trump to work on trade, NK and global partnership[1] South Korea and the US have agreed to seek a “comprehensive, phased approach” to denucleariz

Podcast July 5, 2017

The Busan Metropolitan Government said Monday that it has selected 10 foreign startup teams to receive the city’s financial and legal support. Along with the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, it picked 10 out of 25 foreign applicants to help them launch promising startups in Busan. It is the first time for a public agency in Korea’s second-largest city to run such a project. 　 Busan (123RF)“There was more competition than we imagined. Depending on how this year’s project unfolds, we will consider

Industry July 3, 2017

Director Lee Joon-ik's latest historical film "Anarchist from Colony" led the weekend box office, taking up 48.8 percent of all tickets sold, data showed Monday.According to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council, "Anarchist" added 817,982 to its audience tally of 1.18 million over the June 30-July 2 weekend. (Megabox)Based on a real life court case, the movie depicts Korean anarchist and independent fighter Park Yeol and his Japanese wife's struggle to let the world know of the mas

Film July 3, 2017

K-pop girl group TWICE's Japanese debut album has topped the country's key music sales chart, according to its agency Monday."#TWICE," released last Thursday in Japan, rose to No. 1 on Oricon's daily album sales chart as of Sunday, JYP Entertainment said. The record has sold over 115,000 copies in just five days. (JYP Entertainment)On the day, TWICE held a debut showcase in front of a 15,000-large crowd at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.The album, which has TWICE's past hit songs, both in Japa

Performance July 3, 2017

South Korean actress Park Shin-hye had a fan convention in Taiwan over the weekend as part of her tour of Asian cities after Hong Kong, her management said Monday."In her third fan meeting ever Saturday in Taiwan following ones in 2014 and 2015, Park performed six songs live and led the event without an emcee to better communicate with her fans," S.A.L.T. Entertainment said in a release.   (사진=S.A.L.T. Entertainment)The six included a song from the 2016 TV medical series "Doctors," where she pla

Television July 3, 2017