Daylong strike disrupts lunch plans at 220 schools

A total of 1,610 school workers with non-guaranteed contracts across the country participated in a one-day strike Friday, disrupting lunch plans at 220 schools, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The strike, led by an umbrella group of unions representing "non-regular" workers, was held in protest of their wage disparity with school workers with guaranteed contracts. Korean companies usually sign permanent employment contracts with their "regular workers,&quo

Social AffairsDec. 6, 2024

Korean Air wins Global Traveler Award for best inflight service

Korean Air announced on Friday that it has earned the prestigious Best Airline Onboard Service title at the Global Traveler 2024 GT Tested Reader Survey Awards. The airline's Skypass loyalty program also received recognition, winning the Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption category. Additionally, Korean Air ranked highly in several other categories, including second place for Best First-Class Seat Design and third place for Best Airline Cuisine, Best Business-Class Seat Design, Best Flight

IndustryDec. 6, 2024

HDC Group appoints financial experts as new leaders

South Korean construction giant HDC Group on Friday named Jung Kyung-koo, CEO of HDC, the group’s holding unit, as the new CEO of its flagship construction unit HDC Hyundai Development Company in its year-end leadership reshuffle. Jung, 59, is a financial specialist who majored in law at Seoul National University and started his career at Shinhan Investment Securities. At HDC, he has served in diverse leadership positions, including head of management planning and chief finance officer at

CompaniesDec. 6, 2024

Yoon, Han meet before impeachment vote

President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party Leader Han Dong-hoon are rumored to have met Friday before the National Assembly impeachment vote scheduled Saturday. According to news reports, Yoon and Han are to meet at the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul later on Friday to discuss the aftermath of Yoon's declaration of martial law earlier this week. Also attending the meeting were Yoon's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk and Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

Allies’ top diplomats hold talks as US rebukes Yoon’s martial law decree

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States held their first discussions on Friday since President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden and short-lived declaration of martial law, as the Biden administration has openly questioned its legitimacy in light of individual rights and liberties and voiced sharp criticism. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed domestic developments following Yoon's martial law declaration and exchanged views

Foreign AffairsDec. 6, 2024

Who is Han Dong-hoon? A key player in Korea’s presidential impeachment drama

Ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, once President Yoon Suk Yeol’s staunchest ally, has called for the swift suspension of Yoon’s duties amid ongoing impeachment proceedings. Han’s shift in stance could decisively shape South Korea’s political landscape. At a Supreme Council meeting that captured nationwide attention on Friday morning, Han made a statement, asserting that it is necessary for the president to “promptly cease” performing his duties

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

LG Energy Solution, GM celebrate 100 millionth EV battery cell from Ohio plant

LG Energy Solution and General Motors celebrated a major milestone on Friday as their joint venture, Ultium Cells, produced its 100 millionth electric vehicle battery cell at Plant 1 in Warren, Ohio. The milestone also coincided with the fifth anniversary of Ultium Cells, which was launched on Dec. 5, 2019. To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held at the facility. “This achievement shows our commitment to advancing clean energy across industries like electric vehicles and energy storage s

MobilityDec. 6, 2024

Agriculture minister apologizes for attending Yoon’s Cabinet meeting for martial law declaration

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong on Friday expressed deep regret over her attending a Cabinet meeting convened by President Yoon Suk Yeol Tuesday night to discuss martial law declaration. “If I had known about the agenda, I wouldn’t have attended the meeting. I feel deeply sorry to the public,” Song told reporters after a meeting at the government complex in Sejong. “I was both confused and deeply concerned about (martial law declaration). I

IndustryDec. 6, 2024

[Photo News] Haeundae Light Festival to illuminate Busan’s winter nights

The 11th edition of Haeundae Light Festival is coming to Busan’s iconic Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Market areas, from Dec. 14 to Feb. 2, 2025. Under the theme of “New Wave Snow Wave,” the festival’s opening ceremony will take place at Haeundae Beach at 6 p.m., featuring a concert by vocalist Kim Jae-hee, media projections and fireworks. The spectacular night view will be presented with the decorative lights, media art, a megasized Christmas tree and a light playground. A

TravelDec. 6, 2024

[Breaking] South Korean military says will defy another martial law

The acting defense minister of South Korea said Friday the military would defy any further attempts to enact martial law, should President Yoon Suk Yeol decide to declare it a second time. Kim Seon-ho, the acting defense minister, told a press conference the military would refuse to follow orders from Yoon, the commander-in-chief, if he makes such a declaration.

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

Samsung C&T, Sweden’s Karnefull Next join hands to develop SMRs for data centers

Samsung C&T said Friday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Swedish small modular reactor developer Karnfull Next as part of efforts to advance its SMR business in Europe. A signing ceremony was held in Seoul on Thursday, attended by Karnfull Next CEO Christian Sjolander, South Korea's Trade Minister Jeong In-kyo and Samsung C&T CEO Oh Se-chul. Karnfull Next, a subsidiary of the private nuclear power company Karnfull Energi, specializes in SMR development. The agre

CompaniesDec. 6, 2024

[Exclusive] NIS agents banned from entering National Assembly

National Intelligence Service agents have been suspended from entering National Assembly buildings after troops broke in following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration. Several sources told The Korea Herald on Friday the National Assembly Secretariat has banned NIS agents from accessing parliament buildings starting Wednesday, along with the police and the Ministry of National Defense officials. The entry passes for NIS agents have been suspended accordingly, sources said. The

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

Choongam High School official slams president, ex-defense minister as ‘shameful alumni’

The chair of the Choongam High School's foundation publicly criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol and other former pupils for their involvement in Tuesday's declaration of martial law. Chair Yoon Myung-hwa denounced members of the government's "Choongam faction," including the president and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, calling them “shameful alumni.” The chair expressed her frustration on Facebook, writing, “The school office has been bombarded w

Social AffairsDec. 6, 2024

Prime Minister orders public servants to remain at posts, carry on their duties

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday urged all Cabinet members and public servants to remain at their posts, as the conservative bloc has been grappling with chaos from the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree early this week. "I ask all Cabinet members and public officials of ministries to fulfill their assigned duties at all times to ensure the nation's safety and that people can carry on with their everyday lives without (concerns)," Han said in a wri

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

SNU med profs urge Yoon's impeachment

Amid growing calls for President Yoon Suk Yeol to be suspended, the emergency medical professors at Seoul National University and Seoul National University Hospital on Friday were set to hold a press conference at the school at 2 p.m. to urge Yoon's impeachment. This marks the first action among the medical circles calling for the unpopular president's impeachment. "Dear South Korean citizens, are you not afraid that the martial law declaration grants the president the power to wi

Social AffairsDec. 6, 2024

Special Warfare Commander says no more martial law, vows to refuse such order

Kwak Jong-geun, the Special Warfare Commander who led special forces into the Assembly on Tuesday evening, said Friday that there would be no additional martial law and that he will refuse any such orders in the future. Speaking at a YouTube live show hosted by Democratic Party lawmakers Park Sun-won and Kim Byung-joo, members of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, Kwak said he received orders from Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to drag lawmakers out of the Assembly, 20 minu

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024

NEC decries troop dispatch as 'clear violation of Constitution'

The National Election Commission on Friday said the government dispatching soldiers to its offices Tuesday night was a clear violation of South Korea's Constitution and also of other laws, vowing legal action against those responsible. "After the emergency martial law was declared on Dec. 3, about 300 martial law forces forced their way into the NEC headquarters and other offices. ... The troops confiscated the cellphones of five officials, blocked off the entrances and set a perimeter

PoliticsDec. 6, 2024