MANILA -- A masked gunman stormed a hotel-casino complex in the Philippine capital early Friday, shooting up a TV screen, torching gambling tables and stuffing a backpack with casino chips before fleeing, authorities said. A guard was shot during the melee but survived, and more than 70 others suffered mostly minor injuries in a stampede to get away from the gunman, who was wielding an assault rifle. (EPA-Yonhap)The attack sent hundreds fleeing into the night and produced an immediate claim of t

World News June 2, 2017

YG Entertainment’s stock slid 4.2 percent as it was reported that Big Bang’s T.O.P is being investigated after testing positive for marijuana.YG, the agency which Big Bang is signed to, saw share prices drop sharply around 2:40 p.m., when the first report of T.O.P’s use of the illegal substance was released. Prices closed at 33,000 won ($30), down 4.2 percent from a trading session earlier.Trade volume of YG stocks, which ranged between 30,000 and 40,000 during the first five t

Market June 1, 2017

The newly opened Starfield Library in Seoul is so big that one may well be reminded of how Belle must have felt when she first set foot inside the Beast’s library in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald) (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Shinsegae Property officially opened the large-scale library in Starfield Coex Mall on Wednesday, featuring some 50,000 books placed on towering two-story bookshelves.The 2,800 square meter-sized library is located at the center of the

Industry May 31, 2017

The 51st Asia Pacific Bridge Federation championship opened in Seoul, Monday with 69 teams from 16 nations taking part.The championship, which runs until June 7, has six categories: Open, Juniors for those below 25, Seniors for those over 60, Youngsters for those below 20, Ladies without age restrictions and Girls for those below 25.Players compete in the 51st Asia Pacific Bridge Federation championship held in Seoul from May 29 until June 7. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)The teams in the uppe

People May 29, 2017

The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss tightening sanctions on North Korea after it fired its latest ballistic missile.US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States was working with China, Pyongyang's main ally, on a new sanctions resolution and warned that all countries must step up action against North Korea or face measures themselves."We all have to send a sign to North Korea, and that is 'No more. This is not play time. This is serious. These threats are no

North Korea May 17, 2017

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington's envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang."We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there," the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.Cho Tae-yul, South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, US amb

North Korea May 17, 2017

It’s not just President Moon Jae-in’s bodyguard who is gaining attention for his dashing good looks. Old photos of President Moon have been circulating online showing a different side to the newly elected state leader. The following pictures are not in chronological order.1. Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook when they were at university. Photo taken on a trip. (The Minjoo Party of Korea)2. Moon Jae-in and Kim Jung-sook on their wedding day in March, 1981. The President recollected in an int

Politics May 16, 2017

For those who have been fiercely following President Moon Jae-in’s picture-perfect Korean bodyguard, prepare to be crushed.Choi Young-jae is not single. And he’s not likely to be seen much in public either.The 36-year-old caught the media’s attention last week when he was spotted by the new president’s side on Election Day. (AFP)Foreign media such as Quartz, Vice, Huffington Post and Allure rushed to report about the then obscure Korean bodyguard, sending him toward the path of online celebrity.

Politics May 15, 2017

Startup Analogue Plus announced Monday plans to launch a campaign on Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, for its smart communication device, Ahead, on May 31. Ahead is a Bluetooth-based communication product that can be attached to any kind of helmet, such as a bicycle helmet, to enable the user to listen to music, make/take phone calls and use a voice navigation service. CEO Marco Park said, “Having received positive responses in January and February at some of the world’s t

Technology May 15, 2017

President Moon Jae-in brought with him his cat, named Jjing-jjing, to Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday, introducing the country’s first-ever “first cat.” Jjing-jjing, originally a stray, was first adopted by Moon’s daughter Da-hye, who passed it on to her father in 2007 when she got married. The cat had since lived with Moon and his wife Kim Jung-sook at their home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. Jjing-jjing (The Minjoo Party of Korea)Jjing-jjing became famous in 2012 when Moon first ran for the p

Politics May 14, 2017

A domestic hardware startup is set to release two IoT-enabled products for cars – a parking sensor and a smoke detector -- in response to tougher legislation on parking lot accidents and fire safety.Schaffengott said May 4 that, in the second half of the year, it will be releasing Door Edge Protection System 2, an upgraded version of the company’s independently developed ding prevention product, following the completion of product testing. Image of DEPS, the door ding prevention product develope

Technology May 14, 2017

　President Moon Jae-in and Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Thursday talked over the phone to discuss the future direction of the Korea-Japan bilateral ties, focusing on unsettled history disputes such as the wartime sex slavery issue.　“President Moon talked with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the phone for the first time since taking office,” Yoon Young-chan, the newly appointed senior presidential secretary for public relations, said in a briefing. (Yonhap)　During the 25-minute conve

Foreign Affairs May 11, 2017

Gov. An Hee-jung made a bold move to kiss South Korea’s president-elect at Gwanghwamun Square on Tuesday, with photos of the smooch instantly going viral. An, representing South Chungcheong Province, suddenly found himself in the midst of intense public attention, including from foreign newspapers and social media users, thanks to his somewhat passionate congratulatory kiss on Moon Jae-in’s cheek. While some Korean users on social media questioned whether the An-Moon smooch was appropriate, An h

Politics May 11, 2017

Yang Sung-hoon, 36, newlywed living in Incheon“The new government should provide policies that provide much-needed assistance for newlyweds to find and fund housing. “I think they can set aside some funds to provide long-term leases -- probably 5-10-year leases -- maybe with newlyweds being the first in line for those.“I believe this will provide the much-needed breathing room for the potential newlyweds to spend on other essential things rather than spending everything on housing.”Jeon Yong-ha,

Social Affairs May 10, 2017

(Yonhap)진행자: 임정요, Paul Kerry1. 문재인, 제19대 대통령 취임문재인이 제19대 대한민국 대통령으로 취임하며 제1 야당이었던 더불어민주당이 여당이 됐다. 문재인 대통령은 선거 이튿날인 10일 곧장 대통령으로서 업무를 개시했다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638Moon starts presidency[1] Moon Jae-in on Wednesday officially began his term as the 19th president of South Korea, after winning Tuesday’s election in a landslide victory. *term: 임기, 기간*officially: 공식적으로, 정말로*a landslide victo

Podcast May 10, 2017