US says N. Korean actions along DMZ increasing risk of military tensions, miscalculations

North Korea's actions taking place along the inter-Korean border are raising the risk of military tensions and miscalculations, a State Department spokesperson said Monday, as the recalcitrant regime began reinstalling guard posts and heavy firearms there. Seoul's defense ministry has said that North Korean troops were spotted installing temporary guard posts and carrying weapons inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, after Pyongyang declared it would not be bound by

North KoreaNov. 28, 2023

N. Korea says spy satellite took photos of White House, Pentagon, key US naval base

North Korea said Tuesday the country's military spy satellite has taken photos of the White House, the Pentagon and nuclear aircraft carriers docked at a US naval base. Leader Kim Jong-un viewed the photos on Monday and Tuesday when he received an operations report from the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration, according to the official Korean Central News Agency said. He observed satelite photos of the White House and the Pentagon taken at 11:36 p

North KoreaNov. 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] Nam Woo-hyun returns with solo studio album after rare cancer battle

It's been quite a year for Nam Woo-hyun of the K-pop boy group Infinite. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer for which he underwent hourslong surgery, and then joined the band for comeback concerts and the release of a mini-album. On Tuesday, he dropped his first solo LP and is due to hold concerts next month. “I was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor for which I underwent surgery at a university hospital in April. I was expecting a small surgery at first. But when the su

K-popNov. 28, 2023

[Graphic News] Eco-friendly cars account for 1/3 of new car purchases in Jan.-Sept.

Eco-friendly cars accounted for one-third of all new vehicle purchases made here in the first nine months of 2023, government and industry data showed. According to data from the Transportation Ministry and the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, the rate of car purchasers who bought eco-friendly models, including hybrid and electric units, between January and September, stood at 32.1 percent of all new vehicle customers. It marked the first time for the portion of new eco-friendly model

MarketNov. 28, 2023

[Stephen Mihm] Civil War-era US Congress vs. today's

Congressional dysfunction took a dangerous turn this month. In the House, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy allegedly elbowed Rep. Tim Burchett in the kidney (McCarthy denied the claim). Not to be outdone, Sen. Markwayne Mullin challenged the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, Sean O’Brien, to a fight, with the two men exchanging insults. For those inclined to believe that these childish provocations auger the end of the republic, please consider life in the US Cong

ViewpointsNov. 28, 2023

Elon Musk visits Israel to meet top leaders as accusations of antisemitism on X grow

Elon Musk, who's been under fire over accusations of antisemitism flourishing on his social media platform X, paid a visit Monday to Israel, where he toured a kibbutz that was attacked last month by Hamas militants and was set to meet with top leaders. The billionaire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Kfar Azza kibbutz, which was stormed by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Musk, wearing a protective vest and escorted by a phalanx of security personnel, used his phone to

World BusinessNov. 27, 2023

Hyundai Motor to halt Asan factory in Korea for EV factory construction

Hyundai Motor plans to halt its factory in Asan, South Korea, to construct an electric vehicle plant in the period between Dec 31. 2023 to Feb. 13 2024, the South Korean automaker said in a regulatory filing on Monday. Hyundai Motor said it plans to resume operations at the Asan factory on Feb. 14.

IndustryNov. 27, 2023

TBS appeals to Seoul to hold off on slashing support

Public broadcaster Traffic Broadcasting System, or TBS, appealed to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Council to postpone their plan to eliminate their financial support for the radio station through an official statement on Monday. “We are facing the crisis of being forced to close down completely following the city council passing the ordinance that abolished support for TBS from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, currently effective starting next year,” said

Social AffairsNov. 27, 2023

Former Hungarian ambassador receives Gwanghwa Medal

The South Korean government awarded the former Hungarian ambassador to Seoul, Mozes Csoma, with the Gwanghwa Medal, in Budapest on Nov. 8, said Karoli Gaspar University in a press release on Friday. The award recognizes Csoma's contributions to diplomatic service and his role in fostering diplomatic ties between Hungary and South Korea. The Gwanghwa Medal, the highest level of the Order of Merit for diplomatic service, acknowledged his dedicated efforts in promoting friendship between the t

Foreign AffairsNov. 27, 2023

S. Korea, AIIB discuss stronger partnership, new investment chances

South Korea and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) discussed ways Monday to boost bilateral cooperation on the financial sector and conduct various joint infrastructure projects, the finance ministry here said. The discussion took place during the meeting between Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho and AIIB President Jin Liqun held in Seoul earlier in the day, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Choo asked for the AIIB chief's support for South Korean com

MarketNov. 27, 2023

Korean banks at risk of W3tr in losses in HK-tied ELS sales

Concerns are looming large over the loss of principles in equity-linked securities products underlying Hong Kong’s slumping benchmark index with over 8 trillion won ($6.1 billion) in ELS products sold by Korean banks set to mature in the first half of next year. The size of ELS products tracking the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index maturing next year and sold by Korea’s five major banks exceeds 13 trillion won. Of them, some 8.4 trillion won worth of ELS products are facing matu

MarketNov. 27, 2023

Korea to start hiring E-9 visa foreign workers in restaurants

Unskilled foreign workers will be allowed to work in restaurants across South Korea starting next year, as the government plans to increase the quota for E-9 visas, officials said Monday. The plan, however, will remain in test trial until further confirmation. “Korean restaurants in 100 areas across the country (including Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Incheon) will be allowed to hire unskilled foreign workers as employees (starting next year) as a test trial,” Ministry of Employment and La

Social AffairsNov. 27, 2023

Koreans will 'freeze to death' for iced Americanos even in winter

"I always drink iced Americano, even in winter," said Kim, an office worker in her 30s who identifies as an "eoljukah" person. Eoljukah is a portmanteau of the words for "Even if I freeze to death, iced Americano!" It refers to people who are die-hards for the espresso topped off with water and ice, no matter how cold the weather is. The eoljukah trend has steadily grown among Korea's office workers, as iced Americanos are now ubiquitous in cafes and convenienc

ConsumerNov. 27, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen enters Billboard 200 at No. 4

Enhypen’s fifth EP charted No. 4 on Billboard 200, according to the chart preview published on Sunday in the US. The EP “Orange Blood” notched the fourth rung on the main albums chart dated Dec. 2, tying the record it set with previous EP “Dark Blood.” It is the band’s sixth entry on the chart. The mini album was released on Nov. 17 and sold over 1.87 million copies in the first week, a new record for the seven-member act, and became its fourth million-sellin

K-popNov. 27, 2023

S. Korea's English proficiency slips 13 notches to 49th

South Koreans’ English proficiency in 2022 worsened from the previous year, descending 13 spots in an annual report by the Swedish education corporation Education First. South Korea stood in 49th place in the “2023 English Proficiency Index,” based on the test results of 2.2 million adults from 113 countries who took EF’s English certification test “EF Standard English Test” in 2022. The previous year, the country ranked in 36th place among non-English speakin

Social AffairsNov. 27, 2023

15-year-old girl saves 5 lives with organ donations after death

The state-run organ donation agency on Monday revealed the story of a 15-year-old middle school student, whose post-mortem donation of her vital organs gave five people a new lease on life. Lee Ye-won, who passed away last year on May 11 after extensive damage to her brain from a cerebral hemorrhage, had her heart, lungs, liver and both kidneys donated to five individuals, said the Korea Organ Donation Agency, an affiliate of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The child collapsed on April 26 of

PeopleNov. 27, 2023

Two dead in Gyeongju construction site collapse

A major accident occurred at approximately 11:10 a.m. on Monday at a construction site in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. According to local news reports, a pillar collapsed during the construction of a bridge over a dam reservoir, resulting in eight construction workers falling into the waters below. One worker was injured in the incident, while two others were pronounced dead at the scene. Five workers managed to escape the accident unharmed, authorities confirmed. Following the incident,

Social AffairsNov. 27, 2023

Posco to start search for new chief

Posco Group will hold a board meeting next month possibly to start its search for its new chairperson, according to industry sources on Monday. It remains to be seen whether Posco Chairman and CEO Choi Jeong-woo will seek a third term. His second term ends in March next year. Under the group’s internal policy, the current CEO should be reviewed first if he wishes to run for another term. But sources say the group is likely to revise the rule amid growing calls for a more transparent CEO se

IndustryNov. 27, 2023

'12.12: The Day’ attracts 1.8m moviegoers in five days since opening

“12.12: The Day,” a political drama revisiting a military-led coup that took place in 1979, has attracted 1.87 million moviegoers in the first week of release, according to Korean Film Council data on Monday. The movie, which was released on Nov. 22, recorded the second-highest number of moviegoers in the opening week this year. “The Roundup: No Way Out” recorded 4.5 million admissions during its opening week in June. On Saturday and Sunday, a total of 1.2 million moviego

FilmNov. 27, 2023