• 

  North Korea

  Seoul calls shots in engaging Pyongyang: official

  South Korea is a sovereign country that dictates its own North Korean policies, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Friday, in a reference to remarks by US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris that Washington should be consulted on potential cross-border tourism to the North. “The United States has made it clear through many channels that it respects the sovereignty of South Korea, and our policies on North Korea fall under that description,” Spokesperson Lee Sang-min said at a

• Social affairs
  

  Cho Kuk indicted for alleged power abuse

  The prosecution on Friday filed charges against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk in connection with allegations that he abused his power to suspend an inquiry into a former Busan vice mayor. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office charged Cho with abuse of power without physically detaining him, three weeks after the prosecution’s request for a warrant to arrest him was rejected by a local court.Prosecutors accused Cho of abusing his power in 2017, as then-presidential secretar

• Industry
  

  Samsung de facto leader Lee Jae-yong attends fourth hearing of retrial

  Samsung Electronics’ de facto leader Lee Jae-yong on Friday appeared at the Seoul High Court with his lawyers to attend the fourth hearing of the retrial on Lee’s bribery scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye. Lee remained silent on questions asked by reporters on the scene. At the entrance to the Seoul High Court, a group of people from local labor unions demonstrated in support of more jail time for Lee. For this hearing, Samsung tried to bring CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyu

• Transport
  

  Chevrolet rolls out Trailblazer as new core SUV model

  Chevrolet launched Friday its new sport utility vehicle Trailblazer in Korea, dubbing it as the brand’s “core next-generation model.” The midsized SUV sits between the compact SUV Trax and Equinox, targeting urban drivers. It contains Chevrolet’s next-generation powertrain and high-tech driving functions, said the American automaker, which is owned by General Motors.  “Trailblazer is a stylish SUV that will strengthen the Chevrolet SUV lineup, maximize the driv

• Money
  

  Three-way merger scenario not yet confirmed: Celltrion affiliates

  South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion’s key affiliates said Friday they have yet to set a clear blueprint in regards to Chairman Seo Jung-jin’s hint at the blockbuster merger of Celltrion, Celltrion Healthcare and Celltrion Pharm by as early as 2021. “The company is considering the merger plan on the premise of shareholder agreement, but we have yet to make any confirmation as to how and when the merger would be undertaken,” the three firms said in respective disc

• Industry
  

  [Weekender] Korea’s obsession with tallness

  Koreans embracing “heightism’ create lucrative niche market

NEWSMAKER

• Social affairs

  

  Main opposition lawmaker found not guilty in daughter’s hiring scandal

  A Seoul court on Friday cleared main opposition lawmaker Kim Sung-tae of bribery charges, clearing a hurdle for him to run in the upcoming April 15 general elections. The Seoul Southern District Court found Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the Liberty Korea Party not guilty of receiving bribes from Lee Suk-chae, former chief of telecom firm KT. Lee was also cleared of offering bribes to Kim. Based on testimony from former KT President Seo Yu-yeol, prosecutors indicted Lee for inappropriately asking Lee

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  Film

  [Herald Interview] Lee Byung-hun talks about film on presidential assassination

  Upcoming film “The Man Standing Next” goes back to the darkest period of Korea’s democracy, actor Lee Byung-hun said at a press event in Seoul on Friday. Directed by Woo Min-ho, the movie tells the story of what may be the most shocking event of the 1970s and 1980s -- a presidential assasination. On Oct. 26, 1979, former President Park Chung-hee, who had been in power for 18 years, was killed by one of his closest confidants.  The film centers on the 40 days leading up to

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  Indonesia releases ship with S. Korean crew members after 100 days of detention

  Indonesia released a ship carrying South Korean crew members Friday after about 100 days of detention for violating territorial waters, diplomatic sources said.The Panama-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, named DL Lily, was seized by Indonesia's Navy on Oct. 9. Aboard were a South Korean captain and eight South Korean and eight Indonesian sailors.The captain got back related documents, including passports, and was granted approval for departure by Indonesian authorities, according t

• Today

  

  K-pop

  BTS unveils ‘Black Swan’ ahead of February return

  Offering a taste of its “Map of the Soul: 7” album, BTS unveiled “Black Swan,” the first single of the group’s upcoming LP. On Friday evening, the seven-piece act released the song on streaming sites at home and abroad, along with an art film performed by Slovenian dance troupe MN Dance Company.  Based on the emo hip-hop genre, the reflective song delves deeply into BTS members’ emotional depth and contemplations as artists. Lyrically, the musicians fear

• Today

  

  Industry

  Court to check on Samsung’s fulfillment of compliance rules before sentencing Lee

  Seoul High Court rules out evidence of accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics related to Lee Jae-yong’s managerial succession

• Today

  

  Transport

  Korean Air says new loyalty program reflects global standards

  Korean Air, the country’s biggest and national flag carrier, is trying to assuage customers ill at ease about a revised plan for the airline’s loyalty program, saying the latest changes reflect global standards, including reasonable benefits for customers in comparison to foreign carriers, according to the company on Friday. The airliner recently uploaded a notice to its homepage to clarify facts about the revision plan for the loyalty program amid strong backlash from customers, inc

More Stories

SPOTLIGHT

• Television

  

  ‘A nose ring is not weird -- you are not used to it’

  Actress Han Ye-seul goes bold, backed by 620,000 YouTube subscribers

• 

  Travel

  Hongcheon Ice Fishing Festival faces cold shoulder

  Winter festival underwhelms tourists amid unseasonably warm weather

• 

  Fashion

  Will students wear hanbok school uniforms?

  We may be seeing students dressed in hanbok-inspired school uniforms soon. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday its plans to adapt hanbok-inspired school uniforms, at a New Year’s event held at Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotel & Residences in central Seoul.The Culture Ministry and Ministry of Education last year signed a memorandum of understanding on the school uniform project, with a contest held to come up with school uniform designs based on Korea&rsquo

• 

  Culture

  Where ordinary moments are turned into special memories

  While it has become second nature for many to snap away with cutting-edge smartphones, trying to find a “special moment” among the hundreds of photos stored is never easy.Following are four studios in Seoul offering unique ways to remind patrons of their ordinary yet special moments. Photo Cafe CharLee-GangmoolA cafe from not only the outside but also the inside, Cafe Charlee-Gangmool hides two paparazzi who take pictures of lovers, friends and families relaxing at the tables. Even w

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Unconstitutional idea

  Cheong Wa Dae mentions real estate transaction permission, targets Gangnam again

• Aging population

  Korea needs concerted efforts to help senior citizens lead active, healthy lives

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Startups & Investors

  

  Self-driving cars with lidar tech likely to hit Seoul roads soon

  Global carmakers are paying closer attention to lidar-based sensing technology for better detection of objects on the road.Lidar, which involves sending out light pulses and detecting objects by analyzing the light reflected off targets, will likely be applied to fully autonomous vehicles in the future. Despite its outstanding accuracy in identifying objects, lidar has not yet been widely adopted in self-driving cars, largely because of its high price tag -- $10,000 or more.Lee Han-bin, co-found

• 

  Startups & Investors

  Alien Robot shows glimpse of future with robotic arm

  Robotic firm aims to revolutionize food and beverage sector

• 

  Samsung

  Samsung to acquire US network service provider

  Samsung Electronics announced on Jan. 14 that it plans to acquire TeleWorld Solutions, a Virginia-based network service provider.TWS specializes in providing network designs, installations, testing and optimized solutions to mobile service and cable operators as well as original equipment manufacturers. With the latest deal, Samsung is expected to increase its presence in the network infrastructure market as an end-to-end service provider.The South Korean tech giant has been supplying network eq

• 

  Deals

  Goldman Sachs, SK to invest W50b in eco-friendly cold chain logistics center

  Goldman Sachs and SK Corp. announced on Jan. 13 plans to invest jointly in an eco-friendly cold chain logistics center in South Korea.Global investment banking group Goldman Sachs and SK Group’s holding company, which specializes in investment, said they would invest 50 billion won ($43 million) in Belstar Superfreeze, a developer and operator of cold chain logistics centers utilizing liquefied natural gas cold energy. In the initial tranche of funding, Goldman Sachs and SK Corp. will each

K-POP

• 

  BTS unveils ‘Black Swan’ ahead of February return

• 

  K-pop generates over 6 billion tweets in 2019

• 

  Enoi makes bold return with ‘Cheeky’

• 

  EXO's Chen to get married

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Film

  

  Lee Byung-hun talks about film on presidential assassination

  Upcoming film “The Man Standing Next” goes back to the darkest period of Korea’s democracy, actor Lee Byung-hun said at a press event in Seoul on Friday. Directed by Woo Min-ho, the movie tells the story of what may be the most shocking event of the 1970s and 1980s -- a presidential assasination. On Oct. 26, 1979, former President Park Chung-hee, who had been in power for 18 years, was killed by one of his closest confidants.  The film centers on the 40 days leading up to

• 

  Social affairs

  After court clears him, man vows to continue campaign to out deadbeat dads

  Court says posting identities of child support dodgers is fair game

• 

  Diplomatic Circuit

  Bangladesh’s top envoy expresses hope for Moon’s visit

  [Meet the diplomat] Ambassador says women’s empowerment in Bangladesh played major role in socioeconomic development

• 

  Technology

  ‘Philips has same DNA as Korea in innovation’

  Starting with pregnancy apps, Dutch electronics giant prepares new health care solutions for Korea

PHOTO NEWS

• Arts&Design

  

  Look into King Jeongjo’s dream city: Hwaseong Fortress

  The Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, dates back to the latter part of the Joseon era (1392-1910).Designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in December 1997, the 5.74-kilometer-long fortress wall was constructed from 1794 to 1796, taking two years and nine months. The fortress was intended to display King Jeongjo’s filial piety toward his father and create a new city with its own economic power.Jeong Yak-yong, a prominent Silhak -- practical learning -- scholar, led the

VIDEO

• Transport

  

  Genesis’ first SUV GV80 launched, threatens likes of Benz, BMW

  GV80 has reasonable price, “Korean luxury” design

• 

  Technology

  Amorepacific shines at CES 2020 with K-beauty tech

  Korean cosmetics firm lures visitors with newest wearable beauty device, tailored 3D mask-printing technology

• 

  Culture

  The magic and romance of Christmas

  The magical morning of Dec. 25 is a time of great excitement and anticipation, as you get to spend time with your beloved family and make more memories to cherish. One of the essential parts of celebrating Christmas is exchanging good vibes and spreading the holiday’s goodwill. It’s exactly around that time of year where the whole world turns boisterous and people are drawn to the festive spirit. The noise of bells jingling, colorful seasonal decorations and Christmas trees embellish

• 

  Food&Beverage

  The puzzle of flavor

  Imagine a glass of cold craft beer and place it in front of you. “Psssh.” That’s the sound of beer being extracted from the machine. “Tssst.” Next, the frothy foam on top brings oxygen to the liquor. Afterward, have a quick sip and let the fresh brew glide down. This is perhaps the high point of the day, only rivaled later when you lay down in your cozy bed, ready to fall off to sleep. It’s no secret that Koreans spend some of the longest hours in th

MOST POPULAR

• Korea’s obsession with tallness
• Will students wear hanbok school uniforms?
• Queen to hit Seoul stage re-creating Bohemian sensation
• ‘A nose ring is not weird -- you are not used to it’
• Seoul calls shots in engaging Pyongyang: official
• Netflix in Korea ordered to change unfair terms of use
• Seoul seeks to revive tours to NK
• Transgender sergeant seeks to continue serving in military
• After court clears him, man vows to continue campaign to out deadbeat dads
• Genesis’ first SUV GV80 launched, threatens likes of Benz, BMW

FEATURES

• Social affairs

  

  Weekend rallies in central Seoul a headache for residents

  Police seek to tighten regulations on noise level

• 

  Politics

  Reforming the prosecution, or taming it?

  What’s behind Moon’s divisive campaign to overhaul the powerful law enforcement body?

• 

  Social affairs

  Korea urged to pay conscripts better

  All able-bodied men in South Korea must serve in the military for about two years. A reminder that the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, the constitutional duty has rarely invited questions about whether soldiers are duly compensated for their service.  That now shows signs of change. Both the public and the government are increasingly aware of soldiers’ right to due monetary compensation, shifting away from considering military service as a statutory civic

• 

  Retail

  Soju goes ‘newtro’

  New Jinro hits 100 million bottles in sales less than a year after launch

WEEKENDER

• Industry

  

  Korea’s obsession with tallness

  Koreans embracing “heightism’ create lucrative niche market

• 

  Social affairs

  The case for Korean millennials in the workplace

  Millennials everywhere get a bad rap, and South Korea is no exception.As more millennials join the workforce, theories and assumptions about the millennial ways abound.Millennial workers have been called weak and entitled, or are portrayed as not trying hard enough. They also hold a reputation for being quitters and job-hoppers.But blaming the “millennial mindset” for traits seen in young workers can prevent us from seeing the whole picture, experts say. For today’s youths, get

• 

  Music

  From tradition to innovation

  Though gugak, traditional Korean music, is often considered an unchanging art form from the past, various gugak acts and institutions are working on revitalizing the genre to make it more relatable to today’s audiences.K-pop has taken the world by storm, but Korea’s traditional music is still underappreciated even among South Koreans, let along the wider global audience. Strong prejudices against gugak exist -- namely, that it is boring and difficult to listen to.Despite those negati

• 

  Social affairs

  A look back at 2019

  As we approach the end of the year, it is time to look back at some of the major events and memorable moments of 2019. From trade wars between the US and China and then Korea and Japan, to the unrest in Hong Kong and rival rallies in Seoul over then-Justice Minister Cho Kuk, 2019 had plenty of conflict and discord to take note of. There were also memorable milestones achieved this year, such as the first-ever image of a black hole captured by scientists. Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite