The Korea Herald

SK Telecom becomes top-paying firm in Korea

SK Telecom Co., South Korea's biggest mobile carrier, became the highest-paying company in the country with an average salary of 67 million won ($60,497) for the first half of the year, according to the company's regulatory filing on Thursday. The average salary of SK Telecom, which has focused on investment in the Internet of Things and location-based mobile services, rose 5 million won from six months ago. Men at SK Telecom earned an average salary of 70 million won during the January-June per

Companies Aug. 18, 2016

SK Telecom becomes top-paying firm in Korea

Fire breaks out at Japanese consulate in Busan

A fire broke out on the premises of the Japanese Consulate in the southeast coastal city of Busan on Thursday, blackening a wall, with no other damage reported, police said. (Yonhap)The blaze, which erupted around 6:00 a.m. at a spot that is off-limits to the public and where wooden delivery boxes to the consulate are stored, was put out in seven minutes. (Yonhap)The police are investigating what caused the fire, including the possibility of an arson attack. (Yonhap) (Yonhap)

Foreign Affairs Aug. 18, 2016

Fire breaks out at Japanese consulate in Busan

Foreign startups pitch at accelerator program in Korea

A group of international entrepreneurs from across the world pitched their business ideas on Wednesday at a startup acceleration event hosted here by the South Korean government.The K-Startup Grand Challenge, the first of its kind, is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and conducted by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency with the cooperation of four accelerators, or venture capitals.The ministry said 78 startups were picked from a total of 2,439 applicants from 1

Companies Aug. 17, 2016

Talks under way to set date for trilateral foreign ministers' meeting

Negotiations for a meeting of foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan are under way, but the timetable has yet to be determined, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.A Japanese media report earlier said that the three countries are fine-tuning the timetable for the trilateral meeting, saying that it could take place either Tuesday or Wednesday next week in Tokyo. Speculation spread that the three might not be able to get together within this month as territorial disputes between Bei

Foreign Affairs Aug. 17, 2016

Korea, Hong Kong to streamline automated immigration checks

South Korea's government on Tuesday said it has agreed with Hong Kong to simplify the automated immigration procedures for each other starting next week, by eliminating the mandatory online preregistration.The Ministry of Justice said South Korean nationals and Hong Kong citizens will be able to use the automated immigration system when visiting each other's countries without preregistering online starting Monday.Under the new plan, South Koreans aged 17 or older visiting Hong Kong can register

Foreign Affairs Aug. 16, 2016

Chinese video site promotes tourism attractions in Korea

Major Chinese video site Youku will air a travel show introducing hot tourism spots in South Korea, featuring top celebrities from the two nations, the state-run Korea Tourism Organization said Wednesday. Liai, a top Chinese model and MC, visited major sightseeing sites here from July 25-28 for the third annual series of the program to be aired on Thursday. The program, which introduces Korean fashion, beauty and lifestyle for young urban women, drew 20 million and 40 million views for the 2014

Travel Aug. 16, 2016

Korea, Japan agree on usage of comfort women fund: report

South Korea and Japan have agreed on the thorny issue on how to use the fund Tokyo will provide Seoul to compensate victims of sexual enslavement during the colonial occupation era, a Japanese media report said Friday.The two countries' foreign ministers will hold telephone talks later in the day to confirm the agreement and officially announce it, Kyodo News said.To put an end to the decades-old diplomatic row over the wartime atrocity committed during the colonial period (1910-45), the neighbo

Foreign Affairs Aug. 12, 2016

China tightens visa regulations on group tourists: industry officials

South Koreans who want to apply for a group tourist visa will have to submit their passports instead of a copy to travel agencies starting from next week under new regulations, industry officials said Friday. The consular office of the Chinese Embassy earlier in the day notified Korean travel agencies of the toughened rules for tourist groups composed of at least five people. Industry officials said that the new requirement would complicate the visa application process, with about 90 percent of

Foreign Affairs Aug. 12, 2016

Samsung BioLogics submits application for IPO plan

Samsung BioLogics Co., a medicine-producing subsidiary of South Korea's Samsung Group, on Friday applied for preliminary approval for its planned initial public offering, the local bourse announced.The Korea Exchange is required to inform Samsung BioLogics of the results of a related panel's review within the coming 45 business days, officials said.If it's approved, the company will begin the formal process for the IPO reportedly valued at around 3 trillion won ($2.7 billion).Samsung BioLogics i

Companies Aug. 12, 2016

Samsung BioLogics submits application for IPO plan

CJ to step up global expansion following chairman's release

CJ Group, South Korea's leading food and entertainment conglomerate, said Friday it will step up its global expansion following the release of its ailing chairman on special pardon.Lee Jay-hyun was indicted in 2013 on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion and was given two and a half years in jail last year, along with a fine of 25.2 billion won ($22.8 million). His confinement has been suspended a number of times because the 56-year-old suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which involves

Companies Aug. 12, 2016

CJ to step up global expansion following chairman's release

Kerry says U.S.-Korea alliance brings peace in Northeast Asia

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday the "critical security alliance" with South Korea is key to peace and stability in Northeast Asia, as he issued a congratulatory message ahead of South Korea's Liberation Day."Our bilateral partnership continues to thrive based on our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Our enduring relationship brings opportunities and prosperity to our two countries, and our critical security alliance brings peace and stabilit

Foreign Affairs Aug. 12, 2016

Korea to confer state media on Japanese diplomat

South Korea will confer a state medal on Japan's U.N. ambassador, Koro Bessho, for his contribution to relations between the two countries.South Korean Ambassador Oh Joon will award the Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit to the Japanese envoy in a ceremony at the South's mission to the U.N. in New York on Friday, the office said.The medal is the highest honor in the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit.Before taking office as U.N. ambassador in June, Bessho served as Japan's to

Foreign Affairs Aug. 12, 2016

Xi Jinping loses ground in popularity poll among S. Koreans amid THAAD row

Fewer South Koreans said they think positively of Chinese President Xi Jinping this month compared to early July, a local public opinion poll showed Thursday. The result has been attributed to the growing diplomatic row between South Korea and China over the planned deployment of an advanced U.S. missile shield in the country. The survey conducted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies from Aug. 1-3 showed the Chinese president received 4.47 points on the 0-10 scale designed to gauge the favor

Foreign Affairs Aug. 11, 2016

Used LPG gas tanks explode, devastate village

More than 2,000 used LPG gas tanks exploded at a tank waste treatment plant in the city of Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday morning. 　The flames from the explosion flew nearly 400 meters, igniting the adjacent mountains in flames.The affected area includes a small village of nine families. There were no casualties, though farmers said the some 200 village cattle were noticeably shaken and the ancestral tombs in the mountains were destroyed. (Yonhap)Helicopters from Korea Forest Se

Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2016

Used LPG gas tanks explode, devastate village

Man gets 16 years for murdering women who owed him money

A man in his 70s received a 16 year jail term on Thursday for strangling a women who owed him money.The Chuncheon District Court said the 72-year-old man, surnamed Kim, was charged with homicide for impulsively killing the 51-year-old victim out of fear that she would not return his money. Kim worked as a gas station worker for 13 years and saved 20 million won ($18,000) which he lent to the victim in March to expand her restaurant. (Yonhap)Kim worked with the victim until she reportedly quit h

Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2016

Man gets 16 years for murdering women who owed him money

Articles by Lim Jeong-yeo