Athletes, teachers, doctors chosen as dream jobs for Korean students: survey

Athletes topped the list of most desired jobs for elementary school students, while teaching was picked as the most coveted job among middle and high school students, a survey showed Sunday. Teaching and becoming a doctor were picked by elementary school children as the most desirable job following athletes. The survey results showing a preference toward athletes may stem from the high number of sporting events held this year, including the Asian Games and the World Cup soccer qualifiers, acco

Social AffairsNov. 26, 2023

[Photo News] Last spurt for Busan Expo

Hyundai Motor Group’s flagship electric vehicles -- the Ioniq 6 and EV6 -- bearing the slogan “Busan is Ready,” are parked in front of Le Palais des Congres d'Issy in Paris, where voting to select the host country for the 2030 World Expo is to take place Tuesday. The automaker said the art cars promoted Busan’s bid to host the global event in Paris by driving around the voting site as well as major tourist attractions including the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre sinc

MobilityNov. 26, 2023

LG, UNESCO partner to promote AI ethics

LG AI Research, LG Group's artificial intelligence think tank, said Sunday it has signed a letter of intent with UNESCO in Seoul to jointly foster knowledge and awareness of the ethics of AI. LG highlighted the agreement as the first of its kind, where UNESCO has partnered with a Korean firm to promote the ethical development and use of AI technology. Under the letter of intent, the two sides agreed to advance AI technology that would contribute to both humanity and sustainable development,

IndustryNov. 26, 2023

First lady explains S. Korea's dog meat ban plan to Queen Camilla

First lady Kim Keon Hee told Queen Camilla about South Korea's legislative moves to ban the consumption of dog meat during their meeting in London last week, according to a presidential spokesperson on Sunday. Touting the move initiated by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the ruling party to ban dog meat sales by 2027, Kim described the proposed legal ban as a constructive step to enhance the awareness of animal rights, spokesperson Lee Do-woon said in a written statement. Yoon's t

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Posco's charity foundation donates W90b

South Korean steel giant Posco Group marked the 10th anniversary of the Posco 1% Foundation, the group's social outreach body, highlighting the voluntary participation of employees and executives as the key to long-running donations. Established in 2013, Posco 1% Foundation is financed by its employees who make regular donations using 1 percent of their monthly wages. As of 2023, over 98 percent of Posco’s workers are participating in programs to help support underprivileged communi

IndustryNov. 26, 2023

Manufacturing sentiment grows for first time in 4 months in December

South Korea's manufacturing confidence rose for the first time in four months in December, thanks to solid signs of recovery in global demand for semiconductors, a poll showed Sunday. The professional survey index for the manufacturing sector's business conditions came to 100 for next month, up from 97 for this month, according to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade. A PSI reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists. The survey was conducted earlier this

EconomyNov. 26, 2023

FM Park holds talks with China's Wang ahead of trilateral talks with Japan

Foreign Minister Park Jin held bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Busan on Sunday, hours before the two were set to meet trilaterally with their Japanese counterpart. The talks came days after North Korea said it launched a military spy satellite and successfully placed it into orbit, after two botched launch attempts in May and August, respectively. In response, South Korea scrapped part of a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction accord. In a tit-for-tat, North Kore

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Japan reportedly decides to support S. Korea's World Expo bid: media

Japan has decided to support South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern city of Busan, a local media report said Sunday, as the voting for the mega event is set to take place this week. The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun said Tokyo has made the decision in consideration of President Yoon Suk Yeol's continued efforts to improve long-frayed ties between the two countries. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had reportedly notified his will to support Busan's

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Samsung Electronics makes final pitch in Paris for Busan's bid to host 2030 World Expo

Samsung Electronics Co. has been making its final pitch for Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo with displays in Paris, company officials said Sunday. Samsung has displayed a message of support for the southeastern port city's expo bid across billboards at various places in France's capital, including Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, major shopping areas and tourist attractions, according to the officials. Samsung has also put up a giant advertising post promoting its latest f

CompaniesNov. 26, 2023

N. Korean people urged to vote as local elections take place

North Korea called for residents to cast their ballots and "fulfill their duties as members of the republic" as the reclusive regime was set to hold its first local elections featuring more than one candidate Sunday. Pyongyang was set to hold local elections to pick new deputies for local assemblies of provinces, cities and counties across the nation. In what appeared to be an intention to introduce competition in the election system, some constituencies fielded two candidates. Under t

North KoreaNov. 26, 2023

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan hold bilateral talks ahead of trilateral talks with China

Foreign Minister Park Jin held bilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in Busan on Sunday, ahead of the trilateral gathering involving their Chinese counterpart. In the talks with Kamikawa, Park was expected to discuss ways to move the bilateral relations forward amid a thaw in the ties after South Korea decided to resolve the issue of compensating Korean forced labor victims during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula without asking for contributions f

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Yoon returns home from trip to Britain, France

President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Sunday from a trip to Europe that took him first to Britain for a state visit and then to France for a final campaign to bring the 2030 World Expo to Busan. Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee paid a four-day state visit to London on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations and received a ceremonial welcome featuring a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and a state banquet hosted by King Charles III. The visit produced a new bilateral agreement, call

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Top diplomats of S. Korea, China, Japan to hold talks on resuming trilateral leaders' summit

Top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan were set to hold talks in the southeastern port city of Busan on Sunday, with discussions on resuming the long-stalled three-way summit of the three countries' leaders expected to be in focus. The trilateral meeting among Foreign Minister Park Jin, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also comes after about a four-year hiatus as the three neighboring countries seek to deepen the tripartite cooperation despite m

PoliticsNov. 26, 2023

Yoon appoints new JCS chief

President Yoon Suk Yeol approved the appointment of new Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Myung-soo on Saturday, officials said, making him the first top-ranking military officer to come from the Navy in a decade. According to the presidential office and the JCS, Naval Operations Commander Vice Adm. Kim was appointed as the new JCS chief without a confirmation report from the National Assembly. Kim underwent a parliamentary confirmation hearing earlier this month but failed to win t

DefenseNov. 25, 2023

Jeju Island offers many choices for holidaymakers with pets

If you visit Jeju Island, popular tourist spots, well-known landmarks, Instagrammable cafes and restaurants may be filled not only with holidaymakers but also with their pet dogs. A total of 307 pet-friendly destinations beckon pet owners looking to enjoy the southern resort island, worry-free. It is an increase of 130 places from 2022, taking into consideration the 23 spots that closed this year, according to Jeju Tourism Organization. Recognizing that most pet-welcoming places are restaurants

TravelNov. 25, 2023

Teen rapist's lawyer asks for leniency because he is 'polite'

“He was a polite and delicate student who shed tears even when scolded by the teacher,” a statement by the attorney of a 15-year-old middle school student said, asking for leniency despite admitting that the student had committed a serious crime deserving severe punishment. The prosecution sought imprisonment for a student who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a woman in her 40s during her late-night commute, robbing her of cash before escaping. The Nonsan branch under the Daejeon Dis

Social AffairsNov. 25, 2023

Man to get commendation for rescuing driver from burning EV

A 34-year-old man will be presented with a letter of appreciation for rescuing a driver in his 70s from a burning electric vehicle in Busan, Busan Yeonje Police Station said Thursday. Yoo Se-rim was passing by in Yeonje-gu when he saw an electric taxi on fire at around 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday. The taxi had burst into flames after it crashed into a shop. Yoo helped extract the driver who was stuck inside the car. The driver sustained severe burns on his face, arms and legs, but is conscious, accor

Social AffairsNov. 25, 2023

‘Gorpcore’ a global validation of Korean ajeossi’s fashion instincts?

Long before the seemingly inscrutable neologism "gorpcore” entered the global fashion lexicon, middle-aged men in South Korea were trailblazing the look, seamlessly incorporating Gore-Tex jackets and hiking boots into their daily attire for work, dining and socializing. Leisurely strolling through Seoul's Dongmyo flea market, some of these ajeossi, an appellation for middle-aged men in Korean, caught the eye of a young menswear designer in July 2018: Kiko Kostadinov, whose anti

Hashtag KoreaNov. 25, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Five Nights at Freddy'” (US) Opened Nov. 15 Horror/Mystery Directed by Emma Tammi Mike starts working as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. Spending his first night shift on the job, he soon notices that his work at Freddy's won't be so easy to endure. “The Boy and the Heron” (Japan) Opened Oct. 25 Animation Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Twelve-year-old Mahito finds a new home following the death of his mom. But after encountering a talking

FilmNov. 25, 2023

[Eye Plus] Korean traditional painter helps haegeum blooms

As a staff of Haegeum Laboratory Moogung, Kim Da-rae draws traditional Korean paintings on haegeum, a traditional Korean instrument that consists of a wooden body with two strings and a bow. “I am a haegeum creator who imbues a fresh wave into haegeum,” Kim said. Kim majored in Korean art both in college and graduate school. She says it was lucky that she was able to become a designer after a long journey to find the right career for her. “I had a dream to be an artisan who pro

CultureNov. 25, 2023