Belarusian Embassy marks Orthodox Christmas

The Belarusian Embassy in Seoul marked Orthodox Christmas Day on Friday, celebrating a unique tradition. According to the embassy, Belarus observes both Christmas on Dec. 25 and Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7. "Christmas is a holiday that makes the old feel like children again. Because from the very beginning, Christmas was full of joy and magic," said Belarusian Ambassador to Korea Andrew Chernetsky, delivering remarks at the embassy event. Chernetsky recalled the enchantment of Christm

Jan. 9, 2024

Singer-turned-actor Lee Na-eun denies dating soccer star Lee Kang-in

South Korean actor Lee Na-eun, who was formerly part of girl group April, denied rumors that she is in a romantic relationship with soccer player Lee Kang-in on Tuesday. Lee's agency, Namoo Actors, said that she and the Paris Saint-Germain player "just know each other," responding to earlier reports the two are dating. The agency said that the two had had a meeting, but it was merely for the actor to receive tickets to a game. Lee Kang-in's representatives did not comment. Ea

Jan. 2, 2024

1st baby born in 2024 is gift to couple who struggled through 12 years of infertility

The first South Korean officially born in the New Year is a healthy, 3.15-kilogram boy, born to a couple who struggled to conceive for over a decade. Cha Gangnam Medical Center in Seoul said Monday that the baby boy was born exactly at midnight of the year 2024, making him the first person to be born in the country in the new year. The boy was conceived through in vitro fertilization to 44-year-old Lee Ju-hong and 38-year-old Im A-yeon. "(Our baby's birth) is even more special becaus

Jan. 1, 2024

[Life in Korea] American soul singer's struggle to rise in Korean show business

K-pop is long since no longer confined to Korea, with artists across genres as well as trot singers venturing into the international market. However, back in the less globally connected 2000s this was not the case, and in 2009 Greg Priester bridged the gap from Indiana to Korea with soul music, creating a niche in the local music industry. Priester, also known as “Greg-hyeong” here, shared his two-decade journey as a “foreign singer” in an interview for the “Life

Dec. 23, 2023

Kyrgyz boy gets facial reconstruction in Korea

An 8-year-old boy from Kyrgyzstan, whose face had been scarred from severe burns, has made full recovery from the facial reconstruction surgery he received at the Asan Medical Center, the hospital said Tuesday. The AMC staff said the boy, named Alinur, has received nasal reconstruction surgeries and operations to remove his scars, and is set to head back home. The medical costs were fully covered by the hospital and the Asan Foundation, headed by Chung Mong-joon. According to the AMC, Alinur sus

Dec. 19, 2023

Korea Herald, Verslo Zinios ink MOU to boost media cooperation

The Korea Herald and Verslo Zinios, a Lithuanian newspaper headquartered in Vilnius, inked a memorandum of understanding to foster international media collaboration Thursday. The agreement aims to elevate awareness of both Lithuania and South Korea through strategic cooperation in journalistic endeavors. The MOU covers the creation and exchange of journalistic content, the sharing of sources, comprehensive news coverage, heightened public awareness, joint event hosting, and conducting interviews

Dec. 15, 2023

Gimhae to commemorate hometown hero killed in 1979 coup

A commemorative ceremony in honor of the late Lt. Col. Kim Oh-rang, who died while battling the rebel forces during the 1979 military coup, will be held Tuesday in his hometown of Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. According to city officials, the annual ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. near Kim's bust erected between Samjeong Middle School and Samseong Elementary School, which the deceased soldier graduated from. The ceremony has been held each year since 2014, when the government conferre

Dec. 11, 2023

Tourism potential of Philippines, Korea discussed at GBF

Philippines Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-DeVega and Korea Tourism Organization President Kim Jang-sil shared economic and tourism potential of the two countries with CEOs attending the Global Biz Forum hosted by the Korea Herald on Wednesday. Amb. Dizon-DeVega emphasized the forward-looking approach of both countries, noting the significance of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement signed on Sept. 7, 2023. South Korea and the Philippines solidified their economic and industria

Dec. 7, 2023

Hero soldier may get honorary degree from university

Chosun University said Thursday it is seeking to present an honorary bachelor's degree to Jeong Seon-yeop, a soldier who died while resisting the military coup of 1979 that resulted in former dictator Chun Doo-hwan rising to power. "We are seeking to present an honorary degree to honor the spirit of Sgt. Jeon, who perished while trying to resist the rebel forces," the university said. The degree is slated to be awarded in January, after a deliberation process and obtaining consent

Dec. 7, 2023

Born rich, promoted young: chaebol scions become president just after 40

Members of major conglomerate owner families generally become executives in their mid-30s, and assume leadership roles sometime in their early 40s, a report released Wednesday by a local corporate tracker showed. Leaders Index analyzed the careers of 199 members of owner families running South Korea's 100 leading conglomerates, who are either the chairman or vice chairman of their group, or a president of an affiliate company. In total, there are 827 members of owner families currently work

Dec. 6, 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

Nov. 27, 2023

City becomes attractive when social minorities are empowered: Seoul mayor

Strengthening social minorities and developing a city’s competitiveness should not be considered separately from each other when establishing city policies and development projects, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a forum on Wednesday. “The Seoul Metropolitan Government aims to accompany and assist social minorities while transforming Seoul into a more attractive and appealing city for everyone,” said Oh at the Global Business Forum hosted by The Korea Herald. Oh presented a set

Nov. 23, 2023

German ambassador advocates 'de-risking' at Global Biz Forum

The German ambassador to Korea, Georg Schmidt, addressed the need to pursue a "de-risking" strategy to protect the economy in the face of global uncertainties, at the Global Biz Forum in Seoul on Wednesday. In his remarks, Schmidt recalled the perils of relying heavily on a single source, citing Germany's vulnerability caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, when gas supplies from Russia were disrupted. Germany swiftly adapted by diversifying its sources, constructing LNG terminals and

Nov. 23, 2023

Memorial sculpture of US general unveiled at UN Peace Park, Busan

A special ceremony unveiling a memorial sculpture of Gen. Richard S. Whitcomb, who served in the Korean War (1950-1953), took place at UN Peace Park in Busan, Saturday. Titled "Going to the Future Together," the sculpture commemorating the US General was created by sculptor Kwon Chi-gyu, 57, who also created a sculpture of Ahn Jung-geun, an independence fighter during the Japanese colonial period, at the Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Museum in Seoul. Gen. Whitcomb served as the commander of t

Nov. 13, 2023

GBF highlights investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, S. Chungcheong Province

Kazakh Ambassador to Korea Nurgali Arystanov and South Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Tae-heum showcased their expanding business and investment potential at the fourth edition of the Global Biz Forum hosted by The Korea Herald on Wednesday. Arystanov's presentation centered on Kazakhstan's active "multivector" foreign policy, its rising status as an investment destination and the significance of South Korea in the C5+Korea initiative launched in 2007. He highlighted South Kor

Nov. 9, 2023

ArtToken, KAIST sign MOU to cooperate in art, technology fields

Online non-fungible token art trading platform ArtToken and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have signed a memorandum of understanding to push for projects integrated with art and technology. The MOU between KAIST’s Graduate School of Culture Technology and ArtToken, inked on Thursday, aims to foster collaboration in the fields of art and technology such as coding art, interactive art and NFT art based on blockchain technology. Based in Seoul, ArtToken has organized proje

Oct. 31, 2023

Koreans well equipped to overcome global economic turmoil, says ex-FSC chief

A former chief of the Financial Services Commission expressed optimism that the Korean people, who have achieved unprecedented economic growth over the past several decades, possess inherent qualities that will enable them to surmount the global economic crisis. Speaking at the Global Business Forum held at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Wednesday, Kim Seok-dong, chairman of the Jipyong Institute of Humanities and Society, an affiliate of Jipyong LLC, gave a historical overview of the factors that led u

Oct. 26, 2023

81-year-old K-pop star to receive highest national cultural merit

Eighty-one-year-old singer Lee Mi-ja will receive the highest national cultural merit on Saturday for her contributions to Korean pop culture. Lee was selected as the recipient of the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of her status as the most influential Korean pop artist of the 1960s, the Culture Ministry said Friday in announcing the recipients of various honors for popular culture. Lee is the first K-pop artist to win the highest rank of the Order of Cultural Merit. Lee, who de

Oct. 20, 2023

Strengthening Vietnam-S.Korea cooperation, exchanges discussed at GBF

Given South Korea and Vietnam's complementary roles, there is more room for bilateral cooperation between the two countries, said Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung on Wednesday. "Vietnam and South Korea can formulate such a good partnership. With Vietnam's abundant labor forces, I bet South Korean companies will be able to enjoy a new wave of business opportunities based on their advanced technologies," said Tung at the Global Biz Forum held at Summit Galler

Oct. 19, 2023

[Herald Interview] Park Youn-hee thinks fashion is beyond clothes

Park Youn-hee, the founder and head of fashion brand Greedilous, took the steps that most fashion designers take. She majored in fashion design at a university in Busan and entered the fashion industry as a designer at local women’s clothing brands Obzee and Handsome, which is now run by the Korean fashion conglomerate Hyundai Department Store Group. After 15 years working at the company, she is now in her 12th year of running her own fashion brand. “I was a bit tired of company poli

Oct. 19, 2023