Lee Jung-jae donates W50m to support senior actors

Actor Lee Jung-jae has donated 50 million won ($38,000) to the Korean Senior Filmmaker Association to support members of the local film industry, according to Shin Young Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation. The donation included the 20 million won the actor received in prize money for the film artist award at the 13th Beautiful Artist Award organized by the Shin Young Kyun foundation in October. “Whenever I hear of senior members inthe industry who devoted their youth to film but are living a

FilmDec. 1, 2023

BM of Kard to return solo with single ‘Lowkey’ this month

BM from the co-ed quartet Kard is set to make a solo comeback this month for the first time in more than a year. According to RBW, BM is releasing his third single, “Lowkey,” on Dec. 7. This is his first solo comeback after releasing his second single, “Strangers,” in August 2022. BM has been expanding his career spectrum as a solo artist by releasing various singles he composed and wrote the lyrics to. The artist announced his comeback by releasing a teaser poster on his

K-popDec. 1, 2023

9 foreign players not tendered contract for 2024 KBO season

Nine foreign players are among dozens of players not receiving a contract for next season in the top South Korean baseball league. The Korea Baseball Organization unveiled a list of 59 non-tendered players Thursday evening. Other than a handful of players in the group who have announced their retirements, non-tendered players immediately became free agents. Underachieving foreign players, including KT Wiz outfielder Anthony Alford, SSG Landers pitcher Kirk McCarty and NC Dinos pitcher Tanner Tul

BaseballDec. 1, 2023

N. Korean leader calls for increased combat posture

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on the air force to enhance its combat posture to immediately respond to military threats by enemies, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday. Kim's remarks came amid fresh tension on the Korean Peninsula following the launch of a North Korean military spy satellite. South Korea partially suspended a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction deal in response to the satellite launch, condemned as a violation of U.N. Security Council resoluti

North KoreaDec. 1, 2023

[김대균의 영어산책] 2024년 수능영어 영문법 문제, 문맥파악 문제 한 문제씩 풀어보기

2024년 수능영어 영문법 문제 , 문맥파악 문제 한 문제씩 풀어보기 이번 수능영어는 수능영어 전문가들 뿐만 아니라 여러 수험생들이 대부분 어려웠다고 평가하고 있다. 그 중에 비교적 쉬운 29번과 30번을 함께 풀어 보려고 한다. 예전의 연재에도 의견을 드렸지만 문법은 뼈대이고 어휘는 살과 근육이다. 그런데 수능영어에는 29번에 문법문제가 공식적으로 한 문제밖에 나오지 않고 다음과 같이 출제된다. 필자는 문법문제가 아래문제 유형보다는 쉽고 짧은 문장으로 5~6문제 정도 출제되어야 균형 잡힌 영어시험이 될 것이라고 믿는다. 29. 다음 글의 밑줄 친 부분 중, 어법상 틀린 것은? A number of studies provide substantial evidence of an innate human disposition to respond differentially to social stimuli. From birth, infants will orient preferentiall

English EyeDec. 1, 2023

US slaps additional sanctions against N. Korea in response to spy satellite launch

The United States on Thursday sanctioned a North Korean cyber espionage group and eight foreign-based agents of the reclusive regime in response to Pyongyang's spy satellite launch last week, the Department of Treasury said. The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control added to its sanctions list KIMSUKY, a cyber incursion group, and the individuals who facilitated sanctions evasion to support the North's weapons of mass destruction programs, the department said. OFAC enforce

North KoreaDec. 1, 2023

Seoul shares start lower on tech, battery losses

South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Friday led by losses from chip and battery shares, bucking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 24.49 points, or 0.97 percent, to fall to 2,510.8 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US stocks continued their November rally on optimism that the Federal Reserve is set to end its hawkish mode. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.5 percent, and the S&P 500 gained 0.4 percent. In Seoul, market bellw

MarketDec. 1, 2023

[Well-curated] Eccentric art, 'hanji' mobiles and Christmas ornaments

Reflect at must-see MSCHF exhibition Thought-provoking artworks by MSCHF, an art collective that refuses to be confined by gallery walls, are on show at Daelim Museum in Anguk-dong, Seoul. Titled “Nothing Is Sacred,” the exhibition brings together 130 works by MSCHF including paintings, interactive games and fashion objects created by the group since 2016. At a glance, the collective's pieces look like playful and funny graphic designs. However, the works are designed to challen

CultureDec. 1, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Yuseong Christmas Festival Yuseong Christmas Festival is scheduled to take place at Yuseong Hot Springs and its nearby park in Daejeon. The three-day event, which starts from Friday and runs through Sunday, features a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in front of Yuseong Hot Springs’ water screen at 6 p.m. A special Christmas market, featuring wine, candles, Christmas trees and Yuseong-themed merchandise, will run throughout the festival period as well. The store is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p

TravelDec. 1, 2023

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Sheraton Grand Incheon presents seasonal food promotion Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel’s restaurant, Feast, presents a “Festive Wonderland” of grilled beef, seafood and unlimited rose sparkling wine and beer throughout December. The promotion showcases American-style pork rib barbecue, roast beef, duck and steamed seafood. Guests can also enjoy cuisines ranging from traditional Korean to Chinese and Japanese. Children can munch on mini hot dogs, chicken nuggets and chocolate fond

CultureDec. 1, 2023

[Graphic News] Global wine production hits lowest level since 1961

Global wine production has fallen this year to its lowest level since 1961 as vineyards were pummeled by extreme weather events, the International Organization of Vine and Wine said. Output reached 244.1 million hectoliters, down 7 percent from last year, the intergovernmental body said as it presented its first estimates. A number of major producers in the southern hemisphere had significant drops in production. Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Brazil all saw output drop between 10

World NewsDec. 1, 2023

[Robert J. Fouser] Korean learning boom at US universities

The Modern Language Association recently released its survey of second language enrollment at US universities as of the fall 2021 semester. Founded in 1883, the MLA is the most prominent organization of college and university second language educators in the county. The survey has been conducted every three or four years since 1958 and offers a window into the state of second language education in the US. The most notable change in the latest survey is the rise of Korean. For the first time ever

ViewpointsDec. 1, 2023

Extra Cabinet meeting set for Friday over veto against contentious bills

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this week over proposals requesting President Yoon Suk Yeol exercise his veto power against four contentious bills unilaterally passed by opposition parties earlier this month, his office said Thursday. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, is expected to handle the motions asking Yoon to reject a pro-labor bill, commonly known as the "yellow envelope bill," and three other bills on broadcasting laws. The &

PoliticsNov. 30, 2023

Disgraced Korean-American singer wins suit over visa denial

Korean American singer Steve Yoo, known here as Yoo Seung-jun, won the final trial that overturned the initial denial of his visa and passport issuance, according to legal professionals on Thursday. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the disgraced K-pop singer in his case against the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, which turned down his request for an F-4 visa issuance, upholding an appellate court’s ruling. The Seoul High Court ruled in favor of Yoo in July. The court judg

Social AffairsNov. 30, 2023

S. Korea halts Panmunjom tour again over armed N. Korean troops in DMZ

A tour program to the truce village of Panmunjom on the inter-Korean border has been suspended again as safety concerns increased due to North Korean soldiers armed with pistols in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, the unification ministry said Thursday. The government partially resumed the tour program on Nov. 22, after it had been halted since mid-July following US Army private Travis King crossing the border into North Korea. But the ministry said it has recently decid

North KoreaNov. 30, 2023

S. Korea, US discuss Inflation Reduction Act, chips subsidy rules

South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun met with the US White House Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Pyle on Thursday for talks on lingering uncertainties regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other trade issues of mutual concerns, Seoul's industry ministry said. Ahn asked the US official to pay close attention to South Korean firms' concerns about the potential impact of the IRA, which provides tax credits of up to $7,500 to buyers of electric vehicles (EVs)

EconomyNov. 30, 2023

Chung Mong-joon pays tribute to Henry Kissinger

Chung Mong-joon, the honorary chairman of the Asan Institute of Policy Studies, paid tribute on Thursday to the late Henry Kissinger, expressing deep sorrow over his passing that was announced late Wednesday. “Henry was a giant in global affairs; his insight and dedication have left an indelible mark on how we approach international peace and stability," said Chung in a statement. Renowned for his role as the national security adviser and secretary of state during the Richard Nixon an

CompaniesNov. 30, 2023

Toss Bank logs first quarterly profit

Toss Bank, a Korean internet-only bank, saw its first quarterly profit in the third quarter. The company on Thursday announced it logged a net profit of 8.6 billion won ($6.65 million) in the third quarter, shifting from a net loss of 10.5 billion won the previous term. This marked the first time the company posted a quarterly profit since its launch in October 2021. The company attributed the growth to increased interest revenue during the pandemic when mobile banking services saw an influx of

IndustryNov. 30, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Zerobaseone to debut in Japan in March

     Zerobaseone will officially debut in Japan in March, according to WakeOne Entertainment on Thursday. The band will debut in the country under a contract with Sony Music Label and will host a fan meet event, its first in Japan, in the same month. The rookie team of nine already has a huge following there, though. Its first-ever fan concert held in Seoul in August was broadcast live across the country in cinemas. Both its two albums -- “Youth In The Shade” and

K-popNov. 30, 2023