• 

  Politics

  Top prosecutor Yoon promises bold in-house reforms at audit

  • Moon urges swift prosecution reform, strengthened audit of prosecution
  • Cabinet passes prosecution reform plans
  • What lies ahead for prosecution reform?

• Diplomatic Circuit
  

  S. Korean, ASEAN officials look ahead to special summit and stronger regional ties

  BUSAN -- Ahead of the highly anticipated summit in Busan next month between the leaders of South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, top officials from participating countries gathered in the southern port city Wednesday and voiced high expectations for the future of the relationship between South Korea and the ASEAN nations.South Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Lim Sung-nam, ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary-General Lee Hyuk, Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and Myanmar Ambassador to South Korea

• Industry
  

  FTC stalls proposed merger of LG Uplus with CJ Hello

  South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said Thursday it has decided to delay its judgment on the proposed merger of LG Uplus and CJ Hello, putting the brakes on the country’s third-biggest mobile carrier’s attempt to acquire the largest cable TV operator here. According to the Fair Trade Commission, its decision-making body failed to reach an agreement on the issue during the meeting held a day earlier. The FTC officials said they would revisit the agenda “after reviewing a sim

• World News
  

  Brexit deal is 'fair and reasonable': EU's Barnier

  The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday hailed the last-minute Brexit deal struck with Britain ahead of a crunch summit as a reasonable compromise that protects European interests. "We have reached an agreement that is fair and reasonable and corresponds to our principles," Barnier told reporters, but urged caution as the deal must still be passed by the British parliament -- which has rejected a Brexit deal three times before.Prime Minister Boris Johnson will take the acc

• Social affairs
  

  Cho’s wife grilled amid questions over diagnosis

  The wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk left the prosecutors’ office around midnight on Wednesday after being questioned over allegations that she forged a document and managed a dubious private equity fund. It was the sixth time prosecutors summoned Chung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University, for interrogation. She was questioned Oct. 3, 5, 8, 12 and 14.Chung’s lawyers said Tuesday that Chung has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and a cerebral infarction, or stroke. T

• Technology
  

  Samsung ranks 6th in global brand value

  Samsung Electronics was ranked sixth among 100 global corporate brands in terms of their value, according to a consulting firm Thursday.  The brand value of South Korea’s tech giant was estimated at $61.1 billion this year, increasing from $59.9 billion last year, according to the list of 100 Best Global Brands announced by US-based Interbrand. Its brand value surged 250 percent from $17.5 billion in 2009.Samsung first entered the list of top 10 brands in 2012, and has been rising ste

NEWSMAKER

• Social affairs

  

  Top court confirms suspended sentence for Lotte chief

  South Korea’s top court on Thursday confirmed a suspended sentence for Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin for his involvement in a corruption scandal that removed former President Park Geun-hye from power in 2017.The Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that sentenced Shin to 2 1/2 years, suspended for four years, on charges including bribery, dereliction of duty and embezzlement. 　Lotte Group said in a statement it will do its best to become a trusted company by contributing

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  Korea-US alliance is 'linchpin' for regional security: Harris

  US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris on Thursday hailed the alliance between the two countries as a linchpin for Northeast Asian security and called for its further development to tackle new challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.Harris made the remarks in his congratulatory speech during the ROK-US Partnership Dinner event in Seoul co-organized by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation and the Korea Defense Veterans Association."A secure environment is essential to create condit

• Today

  

  Social affairs

  S. Korea raises travel alert for Catalonia

  South Korea on Thursday advised its citizens to refrain from visiting Catalonia, northern Spain, due to growing separatist protests.The foreign ministry raised its travel alert for the region, which includes Barcelona, from blue, or travel caution, to yellow, or travel restraint. Riots have continued in several Catalan towns after lengthy prison sentences were handed down to nine leaders of the region's drive for independence from Spain. Protesters have clashed violently with riot police in Barc

• Today

  

  Social affairs

  9th case of African swine fever found in wild boar near inter-Korean border

  Two wild boars found dead near the border with North Korea tested positive for African swine fever on Thursday, bringing the number of cases to nine in South Korea, a state-run institute said.The confirmation came a day after the two wild boar carcasses were found in the border towns of Paju and Yeoncheon, said the National Institute of Environmental Research controlled by the Ministry of Environment."The area where new cases were found is near where previous cases were confirmed," an

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  New ambassador vows to seek 'constructive role' from US in resolving tesions with Japan

  South Korea's new ambassador to the United States said Thursday that he will encourage Washington to play a "constructive role" in resolving tensions between Seoul and Tokyo that led to the South's decision to end a military information-sharing pact with Japan.Lee Soo-hyuck, who was formally appointed this week, made the remark as concerns have grown over trilateral cooperation between the US and its two Asian allies after Seoul decided in August to withdraw from the General Security o

• Today

  

  World

  S. Korea’s passport ranks 3rd most powerful

  　The South Korea passport has nearly topped the list as the world’s most powerful, offering citizens access to 188 countries without a visa in advance, tying it with Germany and Finland, according to the Henley Passport Index. 　Singapore and Japan shared the No. 1 spot with access to 190 countries.　Denmark, Italy and Luxembourg hold the next spot with 187 countries, while France, Sweden and Spain ranked one lower with 186 countries, according to the report.

More Stories

SPOTLIGHT

• K-pop

  

  Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?

  : Hybrid K-pop supergroup’s high-profile US debut drew mixed reactions over ‘unusual’ sales tactics

• 

  Fashion

  Game changers gather for Sustainable Fashion Summit Seoul

  With the 2020 Spring-Summer Seoul Fashion Week currently underway, the organizers hosted a forum to discuss sustainable fashion on Wednesday and Thursday The Seoul Design Foundation hosted Sustainable Fashion Summit Seoul at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul invited fashion designers who are currently participating in sustainable fashion projects from here and abroad.The event was divided into four sessions: fashion and community development; harmony of human and technology; sustainab

• 

  Soccer

  KBS cancels plan to broadcast footage of inter-Korean football match

  South Korean public broadcaster KBS said Thursday it canceled a plan to broadcast a prerecorded video of this week's inter-Korean World Cup qualifier football match in Pyongyang after its arrival from the North earlier in the day.KBS had earlier said it would consider airing the football footage at 5 p.m. Thursday on KBS 2TV after obtaining a North Korea-produced DVD delivered by the South Korean football squad that returned from Pyongyang early in the day.South Korea and North Korea played to a

• 

  Automode

  Hyundai Kona named best compact diesel SUV in Europe

  Hyundai Motor said Thursday its compact vehicle Kona was named the best diesel SUV model in Europe by an auto magazine in Germany. 　The German publication Auto Bild conducted a comparative evaluation of four compact diesel SUVs currently sold in Europe -- Hyundai Motor’s Kona, Mazda’s CX-3, Ford’s EcoSport and Dacia’s Duster.  The four models were assessed across seven categories of body, powertrain, driving dynamic, connectivity, environment, driving comfort and cos

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Insufficient tool

  Interest rate cut inevitable, but not enough to bolster the slumping economy

• Sterile business climate

  80% of companies say won’t come back to Korea; Business-friendly reshoring steps needed

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Startups & Investors

  

  [INTERVIEW] Twinny seeks to challenge global robotics heavyweights

  Startup’s solutions wean mobile robots off GPS, QR codes to save logistics costsIn the global race for automation in logistics, unmanned mobile robots are playing an important role, largely with the assistance of an underlying system that varies from QR codes on the floor to beacon sensors on walls and wearable devices.South Korean startup Twinny is one company that is moving the other way by weaning its mobile robotic solutions off the system. By becoming independent, its robots can preci

• 

  Deals

  CarrieSoft to raise W8.2b in 2nd IPO attempt

  South Korean kids contents and intellectual properties company CarrieSoft seeks to raise 8.2 billion won ($6.9 million) in its second initial public offering attempt before listing on Kosdaq, the startup said on Oct. 17.The news comes as a result of oversubscription by institutional investors in a tranche that wrapped up Oct. 15. Seoul-based CarrieSoft’s shares were 924.8 times subscribed by institutional investors.Related:CarrieSoft drops IPO plan amid market volatility CarrieS

• 

  Bio & Medicine

  Ministry orders Medytox to scrap Meditoxin inventory for exports

  The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Oct. 16 ordered Medytox to withdraw and dispose of the entire batch of its botulinum toxin Meditoxin produced for exports.The problematic products were produced on Oct 6, 10 and 19 of 2016 and its expiry date is Oct 5, 11 and 18 this year, respectively. The Korean company did not announce the specific amount that it will withdraw and dispose of.“We apologize for our customers’ concerns,” announced Medytox on its website on Oct. 17. &ldquo

• 

  Deals

  S. Korean telcos’ cable network M&A process drags on

  The approval process for proposed mergers and acquisitions between South Korean telecommunication firms and cable network operators is dragging on. At an Oct. 16 meeting, antitrust body the Fair Trade Commission postponed the approval of a major deal amid lingering controversy about the cross-selling of services and its impact on the country’s pay TV market.At the meeting, the FTC stopped short of reaching a final conclusion about the planned acquisition by LG Uplus, the nation’s No.

K-POP HERALD

• 

  Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?

• 

  BTS writes history with Arab fans at Riyadh concert

• 

  ATEEZ gears up for first full-length album

• 

  Mnet launches another audition show amid Produce 101 controversy

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Technology

  

  Twinny to challenge global robotics heavyweights

  Startup’s solutions wean mobile robots off GPS, QR codes to save logistics costs

• 

  Industry

  Is it a go or a no for Korean bio investment?

  PMG Investment Solutions’ head of health care investment says investors need to understand science better

• 

  Diplomatic Circuit

  S. Korea, Poland to work closely for nuclear energy, defense, cybersecurity: Polish FM

  Amid South Korea’s strengthened economic relations with Poland, the European country is seeking to bolster cooperation in nuclear energy, defense and cybersecurity, Polish top envoy said.“South Korea is now our main economic partner in Asia. We are talking of increasing cooperation with Korean companies,” Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told The Korea Herald in an exclusive interview in Seoul.“There is also potential (to cooperate in) in nuclear energy. Of cours

• 

  Social affairs

  ‘Korea should stop funding coal power in Indonesia’

  While South Korea has vowed to phase out fossil fuels and turn to clean energy to combat climate change and air pollution, it is supporting coal-fired power plants elsewhere -- like in Indonesia.The government is virtually contributing to environmental damage as well as corruption in Indonesia by financially supporting Korean companies that are building coal-fired power plants there, according to an environmental activist. 　“The land has been contaminated so much that we cannot plant fruit

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Seonyudo, a place of peace and tranquility inside Seoul

  Seonyudo is one of several natural islands on the Han River in Seoul. Located west of Yeouido -- the biggest of those islands -- it is a popular destination for those seeking peace and tranquility inside the concrete jungle of Seoul. The 110,400-square-meter island was the site of a water treatment plant for more than two decades, until the facility closed in 2000. City officials decided to turn it into an urban park, and Seonyudo Park opened to the public in 2002. Its current look is the w

VIDEO

• Industry

  

  Looking beyond today’s crises and into the future

  The Korea Herald holds 2nd annual Biz Forum to address corporate risks

• 

  Social affairs

  Gimpo nursing home fire leaves 2 dead, 47 injured

  GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- A woman, 90, and a man, 86, were killed and 47 others injured in a fire at a nursing home in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday morning.According to the Gimpo Fire Station, the blaze started at around 9:05 a.m. in the boiler room inside the Gimpo Rehabilitation Clinic, located on the third and fourth floors of a five-story building. The fire, contained in less than an hour, did not spread to other floors, the officials said. The facility had 132 patients at the time of

• 

  Politics

  Politics of ‘head shaving performance’

  Head shaving has cultural history, but may lack significance in modern era

• 

  Industry

  Mobile orders and unmanned serving: Robot restaurant lands in Seoul

  When you take your seat in this seemingly ordinary Italian restaurant in Seoul, no waiter comes to the table with a menu. Bustling servers carrying plates of food are also missing.Touted as the nation’s first robotized restaurant, Merry-Go-Kitchen opened its doors in southeastern Seoul last month in collaboration with South Korean food-delivery unicorn Woowa Brothers.At this establishment, placing an order for a meal starts by downloading the mobile application Baedal Minjok -- Baemin for

MOST POPULAR

• Fans, friends bid final farewell to K-pop star Sulli
• Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?
• Inter-Korean soccer match: Stalemate reflects relations
• Cho’s wife grilled amid questions over diagnosis
• Swedish diplomat offers glimpse into crowdless 'Korean Derby' in World Cup qualifying
• Kim Jong-un says pain caused by US turned to rage
• PM Lee likely to hold talks with Abe next week: Seoul official
• Son Heung-min: S. Korea lucky to escape unscathed from World Cup qualifier vs. N. Korea
• Top prosecutor Yoon promises bold in-house reforms at audit
• KBS reporters slam sexual harassment on Rhyu’s show

FEATURES

• Economy

  

  Portion of optimists over economy stays at 13%: poll

  SEJONG -- A variety of polls show that the public disapproval rating for President Moon Jae-in now outstrips his approval rating.According to a survey from Gallup Korea, the portion of respondents who expressed negative opinion toward the president, exceeded the supporters for him for the sixth consecutive week since August.In the pollster’s latest survey, conducted on Oct. 1-2, 51 percent of the 1,000 citizens polled expressed disapproval of Moon’s performance, while the approval ra

• 

  Social affairs

  2 in 5 South Koreans aged 50 or over

  Number of 50s-and-above up 47% in the last decade, while population growth stays at 4.3%

• 

  Economy

  Real estate mortgages hinder economic growth

  Outstanding loans to household sector up 49% in 5 years

• 

  Politics

  Prosecution reform stands at crucial crossroads

  4,000 Korean professors and researchers at home and abroad demand urgent reformation

WEEKENDER

• Travel

  

  Into the red, yellow and orange

  When and where fall foliage is at its most spectacular across South Korea

• 

  Food&Beverage

  Taste of the North

  Savor contemporary North Korean cuisine in South Korea

• 

  Arts&Design

  From eyesores to hot spots

  How run-down factories get art-ified