Transgender blind spot in hospitalization: NHRCK

The Ministry of Health and Welfare rejected a request to devise guidelines of hospitalization for transgender people, said the state human rights watchdog. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) announced on Tuesday that the Health Ministry failed to give clear answers on how the country will accommodate trans patients. Under current medical law, patient rooms are operated separately for men and women. The human rights group pointed out that this puts trans and nonbinary people in

Social AffairsNov. 28, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] DAY6 to host full-group concert next month: report

DAY6 will hold a year-end concert with all four members present, a first in four years, according to a local media report on Tuesday. Label JYP Entertainment confirmed the news uploading a poster for its concert -- dubbed “The Present: You Are My Day” -- that will be held in Seoul from Dec. 22-24. “My Day” is the name of its official fandom community. It will be the first full-group effort since the bandmates completed their respective military duties. Wonpil was the las

K-popNov. 28, 2023

Daily Sports Hankook hopes to help stengthen Korea-Indonesia ties through business forum

The Korea-Indonesia Cooperation Forum is all set to take place on Thursday in Jakarta, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Indonesia. The forum is a significant step toward strengthening cooperation, boosting collaboration, and exploring business opportunities between the two nations. The Korea Herald had an interview with Cho Sung-hyun, the director of the Corporate Planning and Management Division of The Daily Sports Hankook, one of the media partners for t

EconomyNov. 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] Strings of inspiration: Classic guitarist Deion Cho talks about decadelong journey to victory

The story reads like a movie script where the protagonist, after 10 attempts, finally clinches a grand prize. Such is the story of classical guitarist Deion Cho, who emerged triumphant at the 56th Francisco Tarrega International Guitar Competition in Spain this September. Previous winners of the prestigious competition established in 1967 in honor of Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909), the composer of “Memories of the Alhambra,” includes world-renowned guitar virtuoso David Russell. Cho,

PerformanceNov. 28, 2023

Trilateral cooperation unaffected by US election outcomes: Goldberg

The existing trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan will remain enduring, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election, US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg said Tuesday. Goldberg highlighted that the foundation of the three-way cooperation among like-minded countries -- grounded in shared values such as democracy, free markets and the rule of law -- inherently signifies sustainability. "We share so many of these values and interests

Foreign AffairsNov. 28, 2023

YouTuber suspected of livestreaming after taking drugs

Seoul police said Tuesday that it is investigating a YouTuber suspected of livestreaming after taking sleep-inducing medication zolpidem, unprescribed use of which can be punished by South Korean law. The woman in her 20s, whose identity was withheld by authorities, is believed to have taken the unprescribed drugs on Monday while broadcasting from a motel in Sinchon, western Seoul, according to Seoul Seodaemun Station. Police raided the scene after one of her viewers reported that she seemed to

Social AffairsNov. 28, 2023

Airport baggage handler indicted on 208 counts of theft from luggage

A man working at Incheon International Airport has been indicted on charges of stealing 366 million won ($280,000) worth of items from passenger luggage, local prosecutors said Tuesday. Incheon District Prosecutors' Office said it has indicted a 41-year-old man on 208 accounts of larceny from November 2021 to Oct. 6 this year. He is accused of having taken high-end bags, jewelry and other expensive items from passenger luggage while working as a baggage handler in the airport's termina

Social AffairsNov. 28, 2023

Music industry seeks solution to ticket scalping through public discussion

The Record Label Industry Association of Korea’s petition to revise the ticket scalping law submitted to the government on Nov. 19 has turned into a public petition, according to the association on Tuesday. The move requires the government to gather public opinion for 30 days to deal with the petition and announce the result within 90 days. In the petition, Record Label Industry Association of Korea Chairman Yoon Dong-hwan, argues that “ticket scalping is cancerous to society,”

K-popNov. 28, 2023

Seoul shares close more than 1% higher on extended Israel-Hamas truce

South Korean stocks ended more than 1 percent higher Tuesday, as investors were buoyed by the latest news on an extended cease-fire in the Middle East. The local currency rose sharply against the US greenback. The benchmark Kospi jumped 26.1 points, or 1.05 percent, to close at 2,521.76. Trading volume was slim at 435.8 million shares worth 8.59 trillion won ($6.64 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering decliners 457 to 417. Individual investors led the rally, purchasing a net 572.6 billio

MarketNov. 28, 2023

Jeju's autonomy is model for Western Sahara: Morocco

The Moroccan Embassy emphasized the significance of administrative autonomy as a catalyst for development, citing as an example the limited autonomy given to Jeju, at a symposium it hosted in Seoul on Friday. South Korea's southernmost island is a self-governing province, except for defense, diplomacy and judicial affairs. Moroccan Ambassador to Korea Chafik Rachadi referred Jeju as a successful example of administrative autonomy playing a crucial role in regional development, at the symp

Foreign AffairsNov. 28, 2023

Samsung Biologics sees highest-ever annual orders

Samsung Biologics said Tuesday that the company has signed five contract manufacturing deals to bring the total value of its annual orders this year to an all-time high of 3.48 trillion won ($2.7 billion). According to Samsung Biologics’ regulatory filing, the company has recently inked one new and four expanded deals with a pharmaceutical company based in Asia. The five contracts are worth a total of around 761 billion won, the company said. The new CMO deal is worth 589 billion won, and

IndustryNov. 28, 2023

Israel, Hamas to extend truce for two more days

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, raising the prospect of further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war. Eleven Israeli women and children, freed by Hamas, entered Israel on Monday night after more than seven weeks in captivity in Gaza in the fourth swap under the original four-day truce, which began Friday. Thirty-three Palestinian

World NewsNov. 28, 2023

LS Materials to tap deeper into EV, green energy markets

LS Materials, a South Korean energy storage device manufacturer, said on Tuesday the firm will further solidify its presence in sustainable energy and technology markets with the fund it would raise from its upcoming initial public offering slated for next month. As the company prepares to list on the secondary Kosdaq market, it's positioning itself as a pivotal player in emerging green industries, including ultra capacitors and electric vehicles. "We're seeking a third location f

IndustryNov. 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Korea strives to set global standards for data protection in generative AI era'

With the rise of generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT, regulators across the world have started to establish rules and regulations on the technology. South Korea is also getting ready to come up with normative systems on the burgeoning AI that it hopes will serve as a benchmark for other countries, the nation's data protection watchdog chief said. Although the European Union and the United States are so far leading the world in the push to regulate AI, Korea is receiving global a

TechnologyNov. 28, 2023

China’s AliExpress eyes expansion in Korea

AliExpress, an online direct purchase platform owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, is considering whether to set up a massive logistics center in South Korea in a sign of business expansion, according to industry sources on Tuesday. “Given the extent of AliExpress’ expansion here, the company would need at least five logistics centers to manage products upon their arrival in Incheon (the nation’s main international gateway),” an industry told The Korea Herald

IndustryNov. 28, 2023

Hyundai’s ‘Uni Wheel’ system gives more room for different car designs

Hyundai Motor Group on Tuesday unveiled a more compact, integrated wheel system that frees up more room for futuristic car designs. Called “Uni Wheel,” short for Universal Wheel Drive System, the system integrates the constant velocity joints – a device that links the vehicle’s transmission to its wheels – and other parts such as the drive shaft and car decelerator into a wheel. The system, the first of its kind, also connects smaller motors to each wheel, instead o

MobilityNov. 28, 2023

Labor unions slam government efforts to attract more foreign workers

Two major umbrella unions in South Korea on Tuesday criticized the government’s latest efforts to bring more foreign workers into the country, saying that it should prioritize the “employment of Korean citizens.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, which have an estimated 110,000 members combined, released separate statements protesting the government’s plan to increase the quota or E-9 visas for unskilled foreign workers. &

Social AffairsNov. 28, 2023

New NZ minister takes oath in English and Korean

A member of New Zealand’s new National Party-led government took her oath in English and then in Korean, the language of her native country. Melissa Lee, whose Korean name is Lee Ji-yun, was named the minister for economic development, ethnic communities, media and communications, making her the first person of Korean heritage to hold a ministerial position in New Zealand’s government. Lee alternated between English and Korean while reading the oath in the official ceremony Monday. L

PoliticsNov. 28, 2023

Cheong Wa Dae to open for winter night stroll event

The former presidential office compound of Cheong Wa Dae will open its gates at night for six days next month, allowing visitors to enjoy the venue's beautiful landscape and nighttime atmosphere. From Dec. 6 to 11, Cheong Wa Dae will accept 2,000 visitors per day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said Tuesday. Visitors can explore the compound's main garden, the main building, the moonlit small garden, the former presidential residence buildings, the

CultureNov. 28, 2023

Violinist Yoo Da-yoon wins 2nd prize at Long-Thibaud competition

Violinist You Da-yoon has won the second prize at the 2023 Long-Thibaud International Competition, according to the Kumho Cultural Foundation on Tuesday. You, 22, performed Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor Op. 47 with Orchestre de la Garde republicaine at the final that took place at the University of Paris II, Grand Amphitheatre on Sunday. This year's competition took place from Nov. 22 to 26 in Paris, France, with 21 violinists selected from a pre-selection round. The violinis

CultureNov. 28, 2023