Trump picks ex-Florida Attorney General Bondi as attorney general after Gaetz's withdrawal

President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Department of Justice on Thursday, hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the post amid a controversy over his sexual misconduct allegations. Trump issued a statement on the designation of Bondi, who served as a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, after Gaetz withdrew, saying his confirmation process was "unfairly" becoming a "distraction" to Trump's transi

World NewsNov. 22, 2024

US official says 'tariffs' not the only issue dictating trade amid worries about Trump's policy

A senior US diplomat said Thursday tariffs are "not the only issue" that will "make or break" trade, as concerns have lingered over President-elect Donald Trump's election-year proposal for sweeping tariffs on US imports that could affect trade with South Korea and other partners. Matt Murray, the US senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at the State Department, made the remarks as he addressed a question about whether the APEC platform can serve as an

Foreign AffairsNov. 22, 2024

Gaetz withdraws as Trump's nominee for attorney general

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general Thursday amid a controversy over sexual misconduct allegations that clouded the prospects for his confirmation. Gaetz announced the decision to withdraw from consideration for the top Justice Department post, dealing a setback to Trump's ongoing efforts to round out his Cabinet to push for his America First policy agenda. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confi

World NewsNov. 22, 2024

Seoul shares start higher on Wall Street gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Kospi added 18.82 points, or 0.76 percent, to 2,499.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.06 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.03 percent. In Seoul, major shares started in positive territory. Chip giant SK hynix rose 1.9 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 1.87 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai climbed 0.2

MarketNov. 22, 2024

Senior NK general wounded in Ukraine strike in Russia: WSJ

A senior North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's western Kursk region, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Western officials. The newspaper on Thursday said it is the first time Western officials have said a high-ranking North Korean military officer has become a casualty in the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia last month in support of its invasion. The officials did not say who the general is or how badly h

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024

NK leader says past negotiations with US only confirmed hostile policy against Pyongyang

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that his country went to every length in negotiations with the United States, but it only confirmed Washington's unwavering hostile policy toward Pyongyang, the North's state media said Friday. Kim made the remarks during a speech at the opening ceremony of an arms exhibition titled "National Defense Development-2024," in Pyongyang the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency said. "We have already gone to every length in ne

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024

[Well-curated] Cimer down, design at Wappen, familiar space

Swim and sauna in paradise For those torn between swimming and a sauna experience, Cimer provides a luxurious retreat with its combination of swimming pools and spa facilities. Located in Jung-gu, Incheon, Cimer is primarily divided into two zones: the Aqua Spa Zone, which features a variety of swimming pools, and the Jjimjil Spa Zone, with spa facilities. In Korean, "jjimjil" refers to heat therapy, emphasizing relaxation and wellness. This luxurious destination is ideal for friends,

CultureNov. 22, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul presents enchanting Christmas cakes Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, a serene retreat on the slopes Namsan in central Seoul, is offering four decadent Christmas cakes from Dec. 14 to 25. Indulge in the signature Noel C’est la Vir, a pistachio and berry creation that tastes as delightful as it looks. Vanilla lovers will swoon over the Noel Fraise, featuring custard cream and strawberries. For chocolate aficionados, the Neige is a rich pairing of cassis and

TravelNov. 22, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Devils Stay” (South Korea) Opened Nov. 14 Mystery Directed by Hyun Moon-seob Cardiologist Seung-do (Park Shin-yang) believes his daughter is still alive after an exorcism. During her funeral, he comes into conflict with Hae-shin (Lee Min-ki), a priest, over her fate. “Gladiator II” (US) Opened Nov. 13 Action/Adventure Directed by Ridley Scott The story of Lucius (Paul Mescal), the former heir to the Roman Empire, continues 20 years after he takes on Maximus’ lega

FilmNov. 22, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Mums at Jeju Folk Village Find fields of chrysanthemums at their peak at Jeju Folk Village, where visitors can also get an idea of how life on the island looked in the 19th century. Flower installations make for a perfect setting to take a few snaps. The flower festival ends on Sunday. Admission for adults is 15,000 won, discounted for seniors, teens and children. Visit jejufolk.com for more information. Light festival at Ansan Star Village A light festival is running year-round in Ans

TravelNov. 22, 2024

[Lee Byung-jong] Bromance with President Trump?

Now that former President Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, should President Yoon Suk Yeol practice golf and get used to hamburgers? By indulging in Trump’s favorites, can President Yoon win the US leader's heart and build a bromance with him for the sake of South Korea’s national interests? Unfortunately, these seemingly playful questions have become a serious topic lately in Seoul’s political and diplomatic circles. That is because as the most powerful l

ViewpointsNov. 22, 2024

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S., Japan, Philippines, Australia discuss cooperation on sidelines of ASEAN meeting

Defense chiefs of South Korea, United States, Japan, the Philippines and Australia discussed multilateral cooperation on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministerial meeting in Laos. In their first joint meeting held in Vientiane, the defense chiefs "emphasized their shared commitment to advancing a vision for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where international law and sovereignty are respected," according to Seoul'

PoliticsNov. 21, 2024

S. Korea issues travel ban alert for entire Kursk region in Russia amid intensifying clashes

South Korea is banning travel to the entire Kursk region in Russia amid intensifying clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-North Korean troops there, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The Level 4 travel ban, the highest of the four-scale travel warning system, will be applied to all areas in Kursk effective from Thursday midnight. Previously, a Level 4 advisory was applied to certain areas within 30 kilometers of the border in five Russian regions bordering Ukraine. However, with this a

PoliticsNov. 21, 2024

Disney+ offers sneak peek at 2025 lineup of Korean originals

SINGAPORE — Disney+ offered a sneak peek at its highly anticipated lineup of Korean originals for 2025 during a series of press conferences, giving fans of Korean content an early look at next year’s star-studded releases. As part of the Disney Contents Showcase Asia Pacific 2024 event held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center on Thursday, the platform unveiled details about several upcoming titles, with the slate including "Unmasked," "Hyper Knife," "Kn

TelevisionNov. 21, 2024

LG chooses stability in leadership reshuffle amid uncertainties

LG Group chose stability in its year-end executive reshuffle on Thursday, rather than seeking drastic changes in the top brass amid growing uncertainties surrounding the business environment at home and abroad. Most CEOs at key affiliates retained their jobs, considering their experiences in tackling challenges at times of economic difficulties. Battery-making unit LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Dong-myung and consumer goods unit LG H&H CEO Lee Jung-ae kept their posts. LG Uplus, the telecom uni

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

Paper firms fined W30b for colluding on newsprint prices

South Korea’s antitrust watchdog has fined three paper manufacturers a total of 30.5 billion won ($21.8 million) for colluding to raise newsprint prices. According to the Korea Fair Trade Commission on Thursday, Jeonju Paper, Daehan Paper and Paper Korea engaged in price-fixing by twice raising prices by 60,000 won per ton, in 2021 and 2022. The companies also pressured local newspaper companies that resisted the price hikes by reducing their supply of newsprint. The three companies are do

IndustryNov. 21, 2024

Police claim NK hackers stole cryptocurrency worth W58b

Hackers linked to North Korea’s military intelligence agency were found to be responsible for extorting ethereum cryptocurrency worth 58 billion won ($41.5 million) back in 2019, according to the National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency, Thursday. According to the KNPA, North Korea’s state-sponsored hacker groups Lazarus and Andariel were found to be involved in the theft of 342,000 ethereum tokens from the South Korea-based cryptocurrency exchange Upbit

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

[More than APT] On our own, but together: Shared housing points to new possibilities

One might easily surmise that there are only a few types of housing in South Korea, and rightly so. The urban landscapes in the country are dominated by towering apartment blocks and low-rise multi-unit buildings called "villas." What is less well known is that new types of homes are being built that aim to break the isolation and monotony of apartments by creating shared spaces. These buildings, while still few in number and mostly hidden from sight in the densely packed city of Seoul

CultureNov. 21, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa invited to Coachella as solo acts

Jennie and Lisa of Blackpink will hit the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival next year as solo performers, according to the festival’s announcement Wednesday. The lineup for next year’s event listed Jennie performing on April 13 and 20 and Lisa on April 11 and 18. Blackpink was the first K-pop girl group to be invited to the festival in 2019 and the first Asian artist to headline it last year. Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone will headline next year's fest

K-popNov. 21, 2024