• 

  North Korea

  US moves to seal nuclear deal with N. Korea before year-end deadline

  • Minister says he will help create environment for US-NK talks
  • NK missile tests a threat to Pacific region: senior US official
  • NK leader’s idea of denuclearization matches that of US: Moon

• North Korea
  

  Trump urges NK leader to 'act quickly,' 'get deal done'

  WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday to "act quickly" and reach a deal with him on dismantling the regime's nuclear weapons program.Trump's tweet came as denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since the two leaders' second summit in February ended without a deal. The US president suggested that they meet again soon."I am the only one who can get you where you have to be," he tweeted. "

• Industry
  

  S. Korea sees lowest trade deficit with Japan in 16 years

  Neighboring countries to hold second bilateral talks at WTO on Tuesday

• Social affairs
  

  Prosecutors indicted ex-Justice Minister Cho’s brother

  On Monday, prosecutors indicted former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s brother, Cho Kwon, accused of filing fraudulent lawsuits against a school foundation run by his family and accepting money from job applicants in exchange for teaching positions at the school.  Cho Kwon is now the third member of the Cho family, after Cho Kuk’s cousin's son and wife, to face trial over alleged corruption. Placed in custody since Oct. 31, Cho Kwon has reportedly turned down every round of questioni

• Industry
  

  [Herald Interview] Why Epic Games would go whole nine yards for Korea

  BUSAN -- Korea has the greatest number of developers who can use the Unreal Engine with proficiency anywhere around the world, which is why Epic Games keeps a close eye on the country, according to the firm’s Korea representative.“Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney is often pleasantly excited by the level of games created by Korean developers using Unreal Engine,” Epic Games Korea’s representative director Ray Park told The Korea Herald in an interview held during the G-Star

• North Korea
  

  Minister says he will help create environment for US-NK talks

  Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Sunday he will make the effort to “create an environment” for denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea as he began his first trip to the US since taking office.　Kim’s seven-day visit to the US came after Pyongyang demanded Seoul remove all the facilities it had built at the Kumgangsan resort and vowed to build its own resort. 　“I plan to meet some people in the State Department and Congress to exchange views on the Nort

NEWSMAKER

• Social affairs

  

  Korean man accused of murdering Vietnamese wife

  A Korean man in his 50s was apprehended for allegedly murdering his Vietnamese wife, a woman 25 years his junior, the police said Monday.  The Yangju Police Station said they are investigating a 55-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his 30-year-old Vietnamese wife at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday at his home, putting her body in the trunk of his car and dumping it in his hometown of Wanju, North Jeolla Province. The man, who was apprehended at around 1 p.m. on Sunday, reportedly admitted to

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  Economy

  S. Korea’s policy rate is high, considering inflation: OECD

  South Korea’s actual key interest rate, in relative term to its inflation, is one of the highest among peer economies, data showed Monday, raising speculations that the country may carry out additional rate cuts.According to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and cited by experts here, Asia’s fourth-largest economy had the third highest “actual” base rate in October, next to Turkey and Mexico.The official policy rate here currently

• Today

  

  World News

  'Kawaii!' Olympic robot mascots thrill Tokyo students

  TOKYO (AFP) -- Robot versions of Japan's Olympic and Paralympic mascots thrilled hundreds of school children in Tokyo on Monday, striking sporting poses and displaying hearts in their electronic eyes.The event at a local elementary school was billed as a chance to showcase some of the technology Japan hopes will wow visitors at the Tokyo 2020 Games.Some 600 pupils clapped and shouted "kawaii (cute)!" as the toddler-sized versions of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic mascots were un

• Today

  

  North Korea

  US moves to seal nuclear deal with N. Korea before year-end deadline

  The United States has stepped up efforts to keep up momentum for dialogue with North Korea, urging the North’s leader to take swift action to forge a denuclearization agreement and accepting the regime’s demand to postpone the US joint military exercise with South Korea. “I am the only one who can get you where you have to be,” US President Donald Trump told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un via a tweet Sunday. “You should act quickly, get the deal done. See you soon!

• Today

  Editorial

  Growth potential

  Misguided policies hamper expansion of Korean economy by weakening private sector

• Today

  

  Industry

  Major companies’ Q3 profits fall sharply over trade disputes, economic slump

  A majority of top South Korean companies listed on the nation’s major bourse saw their operating profits fall rapidly in the third quarter on-year over protracted trade disputes and the stagnant global economy, data showed Monday.According to Infobigs, a data analysis unit of Yonhap News Agency, the combined operating profits of 90 affiliates from top 10 conglomerates plummeted 75 percent between July and September to 6.16 trillion won ($5.3 billion) from 25.28 trillion won in the same per

More Stories

SPOTLIGHT

• Film

  

  Doorbell song from 'Parasite' hits internet

  As Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" continues to make waves as an international film in North America, a short catchy song from the movie has gone viral on the internet across the world.The so-called Jessica jingle is a brief chant that the character Ki-jung, played Park So-dam, sings with her brother Ki-woo (Choi Woo-sik) in order to remember her false identity and alias, Jessica, before ringing the doorbell of a rich family's house.The wily siblings sweet-talk the affluent fami

• 

  Baseball

  S. Korea undone by lack of firepower

  TOKYO -- After his squad lost to Japan in the championship final of the Premier12 baseball tournament, South Korean manager Kim Kyung-moon said it was all his fault that the team came up short.Kim, long known for being fiercely loyal to his players, isn't one to throw his players under the bus. But he came as close to doing so as he ever had Sunday, when he acknowledged that the heart of his order never quite got it going."Our sluggers never came around, and that just goes to show you baseb

• 

  Industry

  Physically impaired participants give thumbs up to G-Star 2019

  BUSAN – Gaming’s power for social inclusivity was one of the many things on show at the the 15th annual game expo G-Star 2019 in Busan last week, with visitors with physical disabilities experiencing improved access. Among the crowd at the city’s Bexco center were visitors in wheelchairs watching live e-sports. “This is my third year coming to G-Star. I’m enjoying the event without encountering any major issues,” said 29-year-old Lee Shim-hoon, who has a first

• 

  Music

  SPO shares plans for 2020

  Mahler, Sibelius expert conductor to take baton for orchestra, starting 2020

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Growth potential

  Misguided policies hamper expansion of Korean economy by weakening private sector

• Risky bet

  GSOMIA decision doomed to hurt Korea’s security; Questionable if follow-up steps are in place

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Mobile & Internet

  

  Naver, SoftBank announce merger of Line, Yahoo! Japan

  South Korean internet giant Naver and Japan’s SoftBank on Nov. 18 announced that they agreed to merge messenger app Line and portal Yahoo! Japan in a deal that is set to create the largest Japanese mobile platform. By uniting, Naver and SoftBank will each hold 50 percent of the merged company. Currently, Naver owns more than 60 percent in Line while SoftBank has more than 40 percent in Z Holdings, which controls Yahoo! Japan. They will sign a definitive contract in December and comple

• 

  Bio & Medicine

  SK Biopharm’s Sunosi receives positive CHMP opinion

  SK Biopharm announced on Nov. 18 that its narcolepsy drug Sunosi received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).Narcolepsy is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by excessive sleepiness. According to SK Biopharm, Sunosi can also be effective for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, which is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep.“We’ve been focusing on research and development to

• 

  Deals

  CJ CGV to raise $286m from MBK-Mirae consortium in Asian operation revamp

  South Korea’s cinema chain CJ CGV said Nov. 18 its Hong Kong-based subsidiary has agreed to raise $286 million from a consortium of private equity firm MBK Partners and investment bank Mirae Asset Daewoo.This came in a move to turn the subsidiary into a holding company that controls its Asian operations in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.Related:MBK to buy 25% in CJ CGV overseas businessCGI Holdings, now wholly owned by CJ CGV, will receive funds from the consortium in exchange for its 653,36

• 

  Startups & Investors

  Micro-mobility startup MaaS Asia launches upgraded kickboards

  South Korean micro-mobility startup MaaS Asia announced on Nov. 18 that it has launched upgraded electric kickboards for its sharing service. “We reflected on the diverse feedback we received after operating our first-generation electric kickboards,” MaaS Asia CEO Jung Su-young said in a statement. “Our newly launched premium kickboard model is more safe and convenient. We plan to expand to all parts of Korea with the new model in 2020.”The company added that the upgraded

K-POP HERALD

• 

  Mamamoo sings about self-confidence in new single ‘Hip’

• 

  Eric Nam talks about first English album, hopes of winning over global fans

• 

  Return of 1st-generation K-pop bands bring old fans back together

• 

  Blackpink becomes 1st K-pop group to have music video with over 1b YouTube views

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Industry

  

  Why Epic Games would go whole nine yards for Korea

  BUSAN -- Korea has the greatest number of developers who can use the Unreal Engine with proficiency anywhere around the world, which is why Epic Games keeps a close eye on the country, according to the firm’s Korea representative.“Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney is often pleasantly excited by the level of games created by Korean developers using Unreal Engine,” Epic Games Korea’s representative director Ray Park told The Korea Herald in an interview held during the G-Star

• 

  Industry

  Royal Salute adds artistic touch to its blend Scotch whisky

  Icelandic artist Kristjana S. Williams holds royal Menagerie-motivated visual art exhibition

• 

  Industry

  ‘Korea should expedite knowledge-based assets development’

  Amid the tough business environment and deteriorating trade situation following worldwide conflicts, South Korea should expedite the development of knowledge-based assets and increase independence in related technologies to compete globally, according to the intellectual property office chief. “Advanced countries have been bolstering their industry dominance based on knowledge-based assets. Especially, a growing number of foreign companies have been preoccupying patents that are close

• 

  K-pop

  Zico returns with new reflective album ‘Thinking’

  As a musician who used to fiercely jump around the stage spraying a bottle of water over hyped audiences, Zico admitted that showing his vulnerability required quite a lot of courage. The talented rapper, producer and member of K-pop boy band Block B, Zico, whose real name is Woo Ji-ho, explained that his real identity has always been shadowed by his externally confident demeanor and edgy style, or what the public expected from him. As his career progressed, through all the pressure that come wi

PHOTO NEWS

• Travel

  

  A stroll through Korea’s naval history

  Since the early history of the Korean Peninsula, the Han River has served as a strategic waterway and was the center of a power struggle among the Three Kingdoms of Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo.It was also near its banks that Joseon-era kings visited to observe the training of the nation’s Navy.Seoul Battleship Park, located on the river’s northern bank in Mapo-gu, is the first shipbuilding theme park in Seoul, providing an ideal destination for family outings.The 9,952-square-meter ar

VIDEO

• Arts&Design

  

  Exhibition offers unique joy of taking pictures

  Karl Lagerfeld famously said, “Pictures capture a moment that is gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” Whipping out a camera and taking photos yourself helps you grab the precious memories. This is mainly because when you see yourself in pictures, you can flashback to how you laughed, posed and even smiled during that particular click. The Korea Herald’s intern reporters visited today’s trendiest photo studio exhibition, located in Garosugil, southern Seoul, and explore

• 

  Diplomatic Circuit

  Mexico top diplomat in Seoul optimistic on Seoul’s Pacific Alliance associate membership prospects

  Mexican Ambassador to Korea calls for Seoul’s greater participation in Central America’s development

• 

  Diplomatic Circuit

  ASEAN delegation relishes ASEAN-Korea Train, future of ASEAN-Korea

  Video shot and edited by Kim So-mee SUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province -- Some 200 participants representing South Korea and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered at the lobby of Paradise Hotel, Busan, in the early morning of Thursday beaming with excitement about the second day of the three-day train trip across the country ahead of the ASEAN-Korea special summit in November.After a jam-packed day of a six-hour train ride, a visit to the temple Bulguksa, wh

• 

  Food&Beverage

  A mix of ‘nogari’ and beer in Euljiro, Seoul

  Euljiro has emerged as one of the most popular districts in Seoul thanks to a host of unique pubs, cafes and shops. A distinctive vibe resonates through its narrow alleys, best known for their old print shops. The Korea Herald’s interns visited Manseon Hof, a popular spot in Euljiro that is going strong on social media. Thanks to its surging popularity, thirsty hordes usually begin to appear early in the evening. The pub’s signature dish is “nogari,” or dried pollack, whi

MOST POPULAR

• Korean Air flight delayed after collision at Frankfurt Airport
• People question policy on Seoul apartments
• Lawyer who faked 184 refugee applications gets suspended sentence
• Korean, Japanese defense ministers reconfirm differences on GSOMIA
• Police bust 10,000 drunk drivers in 50-day crackdown
• 6 in 10 Koreans support hike in electricity prices to curb fine dust: survey
• Coming challenges call for stronger Korea-ASEAN ties
• Korean man accused of murdering Vietnamese wife
• S. Korea recaptures No. 1 spot in shipbuilding orders
• S. Korea's trade deficit with Japan tipped to hit 16-year low this year

FEATURES

• Social affairs

  

  Will K-pop singer Steve Yoo be allowed into South Korea?

  Once a K-pop icon, Steve Seung Jun Yoo, also known as Yoo Seung-jun, is ever closer to entering South Korea again for the first time in more than 16 years.With the exception of a brief sojourn in 2003, the Korean American singer and actor has not been able to set foot in his motherland since he chose to become a US citizen, which immediately relieved him of his duty to serve in the military in Korea. Korea’s Military Manpower Administration, or MMA, viewing his US naturalization in 20

• 

  Social affairs

  Year of soccer, Olympics, elections coming up

  SEJONG -- The 2010s will terminate in about 50 days, and South Korean politics will face a turbulent time from the beginning of the 2020s as the nation has already entered the election mode for the 21st Assembly.In 2020, the general election for the National Assembly is slated for April 15, while there will be a presidential election in the US on Nov. 3.Meanwhile, next year will also feature big international sports events.People in Europe and across the globe are waiting for opening of the

• 

  Politics

  President’s detractors cite economy as No. 1 reason

  But Moon supporters say prosecution reform is main factor: poll

• 

  Health

  Using robotics in dementia prevention, care

  An orb with a set of ears, blinky eyes and the voice and speech manners of a chatty child is making advances in dementia therapy at a hospital in Seoul. Named Bomy, the robot assists cognitive training for patients in the early stages, or at the risk of developing dementia.Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital’s Robot-assisted Cognitive Training Center opened its doors in April, and is headed by Dr. Kim Geon-ha, a neurologist who has been researching related technologies since 2009. The

WEEKENDER

• Travel

  

  Busan beckons

  Korea-ASEAN summit host city brims with culture, history and vitality

• 

  Culture

  How open is Korea to men’s makeup?

  Men’s cosmetics are big here, but not as big as some might think

• 

  Fashion

  The lure of leggings

  Athleisure is booming, as brands explore the possibility of activewear as daily fashion