The Korea Herald

[From the scene] Japan’s race to revolutionary future in 2020

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles on the moves made by the companies and governments of South Korea, China and Japan in entering the new industry 4.0 era. This is the fourth installment. -- Ed. TOKYO -- For the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Japan unveiled the Shinkansen bullet train, broadcast live TV images via satellite and used computers to record statistics, the first such attempt for the global games. Now, over five decades later and four years away from another Olym

Industry Dec. 25, 2016

[From the scene] Japan’s race to revolutionary future in 2020

3 in 10 cars sold by Hyundai, Kia are RVs

More than three out of every 10 vehicles sold by Hyundai Motor Group this year in South Korea were recreational vehicles, auto sales figures showed Sunday. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors sold 1.07 million cars here in the first 11 months of the year, among which 343,273 units, or 32 percent of total sales, were RVs. In 2011, less than 20 percent of vehicles sold by the two automakers were RVs. In Korea, the RV category includes sport utility vehicles and multipurpose vehicles. The growth has

Companies Dec. 25, 2016

Dairy Queen to open 50 hamburger restaurants in S. Korea

The US fast food chain Dairy Queen has signed on to expand into South Korea, industry officials said Thursday. M2G USA Investment said it has signed an agreement with International Dairy Queen Inc., which owns the franchise, to open 50 DQ Grill & Chill stores here over the next five years.International Dairy Queen is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway led by famous investor Warren Buffet. Dairy Queen, commonly known as DQ, is a chain of fast food restaurants serving hamburgers, ice cream and oth

Companies Dec. 22, 2016

Diplomatic tensions slow growth of Chinese tourists to S. Korea

Diplomatic tensions have slowed the growth of Chinese tourists to South Korea, the national tourism promotion agency here said Thursday.According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea increased 1.8 percent year-on-year in November.The KTO explained tensions stemming from Seoul's decision in July to set up the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system, much to the chagrin of Beijing, have had adverse effects on tourism.South Korea

Dec. 22, 2016

N. Korea threatens war over U.N. sanctions

North Korea on Thursday threatened war in response to the latest sanctions by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC). "The latest UNSC 'resolution on sanctions' has created the danger of imminent war on the Korean Peninsula, as there are no judicial and institutional mechanisms to avert a war and armed conflicts and the 'resolution' is as good as a declaration of war," the North's foreign ministry said in an English-language statement released on the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."The U.

Politics Dec. 22, 2016

S. Korean football ends 2016 ranked 37th

South Korean football has ended the year ranked No. 37 in the world. South Korea remained at the same spot as the previous month in the latest FIFA rankings announced Thursday.Iran topped all Asian Football Confederation (AFC) members at No. 29, followed by South Korea, Japan (No. 45), Australia (No. 47) and Saudi Arabia (No. 54).South Korea will resume their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on March 23 against China. South Korea are currently ranked second behind Iran in Group A of the f

Soccer Dec. 22, 2016

S. Korea's sea level rise faster than world average

South Korea's sea level rose at a faster pace than the world's average this year due mainly to the ground subsidence, a report said Thursday. The sea level rose 2.68mm on average this year, up 8 percent from the previous year's 2.48mm, according to the report by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.It is 34 percent faster than the world average of 2.0mm surveyed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the United Nations.The ministry said that South Korea's faster sea level

Technology Dec. 22, 2016

S. Korea's sea level rise faster than world average

Seoul to confiscate passport from daughter of key figure in presidential scandal

South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday it will soon initiate the process of confiscating the passport of the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the long-time friend of President Park Geun-hye who faces charges for meddling in state affairs. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to swiftly issue an order for the return of Chung Yoo-ra's passport, and if it is not returned before a deadline, it will take steps to annul it," ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said in a press briefing.According to the

National Dec. 22, 2016

Hwang decries sexual harassment case involving diplomat, calls for tighter discipline

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday called for tightened discipline among officials in the wake of a sexual harassment case involving a South Korean diplomat in Chile.The diplomat has been accused of sexually harassing two teenage girls in the Latin American country. The case, which sparked public fury in both countries, came to light as a Chilean broadcaster recently aired its hidden camera coverage of him making improper physical contact with a teen."I call on each mi

Politics Dec. 22, 2016

Hwang decries sexual harassment case involving diplomat, calls for tighter discipline

Son of actor Song Kang-ho joins pro football club

The son of the popular actor Song Kang-ho joined a South Korean professional football club Thursday.Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the top-flight K League Classic said they drafted right fullback Song Jun-pyung out of Yonsei University.The 20-year-old previously played on Maetan High School based in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul.In this photo provided by Suwon Samsung Bluewings football club, Song Jun-pyung (top row, second from R), son of the popular actor Song Kang-h

Film Dec. 22, 2016

Son of actor Song Kang-ho joins pro football club

S. Korea to sell 7.3 tln won worth of state bonds in Jan.

South Korea plans to sell 7.3 trillion won ($6.1 billion) worth of state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday. The government will issue 1.75 trillion won worth of bonds with a maturity of three years and 1.65 trillion won worth of five-year bonds.It also plans to sell 1.95 trillion won worth 10-year Treasurys and a combined 1.95 trillion won of bonds with a maturity of between 20 and 30 years.The ministry added that it sold 4.64 trillion won worth of Treasurys in December.Earlie

Dec. 22, 2016

N. Korea has economic polarization: think tank

A photo of a coffee bar in Pyongyang carried by Chosun Sinbo, a pro-North Korean newspaper published in Japan. (Yonhap)North Koreans in the capital city of Pyongyang are three times as rich as those in other areas, South Korea's state-run think tank said Thursday, in the latest sign of the deepening economic divide in the communist country.Pyongyang's per capita gross domestic product is estimated to be at between $2,658 and $2,715 as of 2008, compared with a range of $791 and $1,213 in the Sout

North Korea Dec. 22, 2016

N. Korea has economic polarization: think tank

Exports by venture firms jump 21% in Nov.

Exports by South Korea’s venture firms grew more than 20 percent in November, a silver lining amid sluggish overall exports, data from a government-backed trade agency showed Thursday. In November, a total of 2 trillion won ($1.66 billion) worth of goods made by venture firms were shipped overseas, jumping 21.7 percent from a year ago. In the same month, overall exports grew only 2.7 percent, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association. It is the first time the gro

Dec. 22, 2016

KOTRA, Chinese fund form partnership

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese private fund management firm to invest in small and medium-sized firms with high potential, the trade agency said Thursday. KOTRA and KCA Capital Partners, which is partially owned by China’s leading investment group China International Capital, will cooperate to find companies in the fields of games and entertainment as well as consumer goods and help their entry into Chinese and Associ

Industry Dec. 22, 2016

Renault’s Korean unit to lead SUV development

Renault Samsung Motors, the South Korean unit of French carmaker Renault S.A., will be fully in charge of the research and development of new sport utility vehicles for the Renault group, the company said Thursday. Renault Samsung mid-sized SUV QM6 (Renault Samsung)The decision follows the success of the mid-size SUV QM6 which sold more than 10,000 units in Korea since its launch in September. QM6, also known as the Koleos overseas, was developed by the Renault Samsung Technical Center in Yongi

Mobility Dec. 22, 2016

Renault’s Korean unit to lead SUV development

Articles by Park Ga-young