Govt. posthumously confers state medal on late Ven. Jaseung

The government on Saturday posthumously conferred a state medal on late Ven. Jaseung, a former leader of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect Jogye, in recognition of his decadeslong service in the Buddhist community. Culture Minister Yu In-chon awarded a Mugunhwa Medal of the Order of Civil Merit to the deceased during his visit to the Jogye Temple in central Seoul, where a memorial altar has been set up to pay tribute to the late monk. The Mugunghwa Medal is the highest of five medals that

CultureDec. 2, 2023

At UN climate talks, world leaders to pledge and plead on second of leaders' summit

A critical climate conference that began with world leaders acknowledging an Earth in crisis was set for a second day of leaders' speeches on Saturday that organizers hope will set the stage for concrete action in coming days. The annual United Nations conference, known as COP28, was dominated Friday by presidents, prime ministers and royals laying out their plans to reduce heat-trapping emissions and urging each other to come together to avert climate catastrophe that seemed to draw closer

World NewsDec. 2, 2023

N. Korea to hold plenary meeting of ruling Workers' Party in late Dec.: state media

North Korea will hold a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party later this month to discuss this year's state policies and policy goals for next year, its state media said Saturday. The ninth plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the WPK will be convened late in December to "review the execution of the Party and state policies in 2023," the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language dispatch. The decision was made during a politburo meeting on Fr

North KoreaDec. 2, 2023

Seoul says FEOC guidance reduces uncertainty, will continue close consultation with US

The Seoul government on Saturday welcomed the release of proposed U.S. guidance on U.S. tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs), noting it will help remove uncertainties surrounding the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The U.S. released the guidance on Friday (U.S. time), defining a "foreign entity of concern" (FEOC) whose battery components and critical minerals may disqualify EVs from U.S. incentives. "Our battery makers have been asking for an early release of FEOC requireme

IndustryDec. 2, 2023

US issues rules on 'foreign entity of concern' ineligibility for EV car tax credit

The United States on Friday released proposed guidance defining a "foreign entity of concern (FEOC)" in a move to clarify its rules meant to block tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) with battery components and critical minerals from China. The Treasury and Energy Departments announced the long-awaited rules of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as South Korean battery makers have stressed the need to clarify the FEOC requirements to address uncertainties in their overseas oper

Foreign AffairsDec. 2, 2023

US authorizes potential sale to S. Korea of munitions, equipment for F-35 stealth jets

The United States has approved a potential sale to South Korea of munitions for the operation of F-35 radar-evading fighter jets and related equipment to help improve the Asian ally's defense capabilities, a government agency said Friday. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency under the Department of Defense made the announcement on the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) estimated to cost US$271 million. South Korea has made a request to purchase 39 AIM-120C-8 A

DefenseDec. 2, 2023

UN World Food Program extends assistance plan for N. Korea by one year

The U.N. World Food Program has extended its food assistance plan for North Korea by another year to the end of 2024, according to an updated document on its website Saturday. The revision extends the one-year duration of the interim country strategic plan for North Korea until Dec. 31, 2024, the document showed. The amount of budget for the project has also increased to US$247.7 million from $214.9 million. The revised assistance plan is expected to benefit some 5.2 million North Korean people,

North KoreaDec. 2, 2023

Koreas' spy satellite launches heat up arms race in space

Space has emerged as an extended battlefield for the rival Koreas as they have successfully launched their own spy satellites into orbit and are gearing up to send more to better monitor each other amid an intensifying arms race, analysts said Saturday. South Korea's first homegrown spy satellite was launched from U.S. Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Friday (local time). It successfully entered orbit and communicated with a ground station a little over an

DefenseDec. 2, 2023

S. Korea successfully launches 1st spy satellite into orbit

South Korea successfully launched its first indigenous military spy satellite from a U.S. military base in California Friday (local time), the defense ministry said, in a culmination of Seoul's quest for space-based intelligence capabilities amid growing North Korean threats. The launch of the satellite atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base came after Pyongyang claimed success in its own spy satellite launch last week -- a move that underscored a growing inter-Kor

DefenseDec. 2, 2023

Hyundai Mobis develops world’s first quantum dot car display

Hyundai Mobis, a South Korean auto parts maker affiliated with Hyundai Motor Group, unveiled on Thursday that it has developed the world's first quantum dot display for automobiles with local dimming technology, offering a lower-cost alternative to organic light-emitting diode displays commonly found in luxury vehicles. It marks Hyundai Mobis' entry into the high-end automotive display arena, positioning its quantum dot innovation as a challenger to pillar-to-pillar OLED display format

MobilityDec. 2, 2023

National security advisers of S. Korea, US, Japan to meet in Seoul next week

The national security advisers of South Korea, Japan and the United States will meet in Seoul next week, government sources said Friday, amid escalating threats from North Korea following its launch of a military satellite. The three-way meeting is set to be held for two days starting next Friday, they added. It will be held between South Korea's Cho Tae-yong, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Japan's National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Takeo Akiba. Ch

North KoreaDec. 1, 2023

UNC says it will continue monitoring situation on Korean Peninsula amid growing tensions

The United Nations Command said Friday it is monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula amid escalating tensions in the region, including the rearmament of North Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas. "The Joint Security Area remains a neutral ground for dialogue and de-escalation," the UNC said, noting its intent is to maintain "peace" and "security" in the area. The UNC added its mission has remained unchanged for 70 years

North KoreaDec. 1, 2023

LG Display's new CEO aims for turnaround

LG Display's newly appointed chief executive officer Jeong Cheol-dong emphasized the importance of improving performance for turnaround as he begins his official duty Friday. "Getting out of the red is the most urgent priority, and for that, it is important that we complete the deals as we promised to our customers and achieve our planned targets,” Jeong said, sending his inaugural message to employees via email. "We will put a strong drive on cost innovation across the busi

CompaniesDec. 1, 2023

Short selling ban important for Korean market development: FSC

South Korea's recent temporary ban on stock short selling is aimed at reinforcing the Korean market's fairness and the advancement of the market system, a top financial regulator said Friday. Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kim So-young made the remark as he addressed foreign correspondents in Seoul, acknowledging the rising fear among global investors following the country's comprehensive ban of all short selling trades. According to Kim, financial regulators disc

EconomyDec. 1, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] BTS member Jungkook’s ‘Golden’ 4th most-streamed on Spotify this year

The solo single from Jungkook of BTS was the fourth most-streamed song this year on Spotify, according to the platform’s year-end roundup announced Wednesday. His “Seven (feat. Latto)” ranked No. 4 on Spotify’s Top 10 Songs Globally, after “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Kill Bill” by SZA and “As It Was” by Harry Styles. The single was No. 1 on its Global Top K-Pop Songs of the Year list. He earned a Guinness World Record with the single fo

K-popDec. 1, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Our Season’ Kim Hae-sook wants to play mothers of all kinds

Veteran actor Kim Hae-sook, mostly known for her mother role in hit projects “My Brother” (2004), “Sunflower” (2006) and “Mom” (2010), stars once again as a mother in “Our Season.” Kim plays Bok-ja, a deceased woman who has come to visit her daughter Jin-joo (Shin Min-a) in the world of the living as part of her “vacation from heaven” led by a guide (Kang Ki-young). While Bok-ja can see her daughter from a close distance, Jin-joo cannot

FilmDec. 1, 2023

Yoon vetoes contentious pro-labor, broadcasting bills

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday vetoed a new pro-labor bill and three broadcasting law revisions passed by parliament last month. Yoon's decision came mere hours after the Cabinet officially filed a request for him to reject the bills that were unilaterally passed by the National Assembly on Nov. 9, despite the ruling People Power Party’s strong opposition. The opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, currently holds the controlling majority of se

PoliticsDec. 1, 2023

S. Korean court network hit by malware infection

South Korea's Supreme Court belatedly revealed that it had confirmed the infection of computers used in courts with malware earlier this year. However, the court said it could not conclusively determine the connection of cyberattacks to North Korea. "Earlier this year, a malware infection was detected during a routine cybersecurity scan," the Office of Court Administration of the Supreme Court said in a statement issued Thursday. "During our response to the malware detection,

Social AffairsDec. 1, 2023

Kakao proposes tackling illegal content distribution with Japanese counterparts

Kakao Entertainment, a content arm under Korea’s IT giant Kakao Corp., said Friday that it proposed Japan's manga industry take joint legal action to tackle illegal distribution of webtoons and web novels. In the latest exchange session jointly held by Korea’s Copyright Overseas Promotion Association (COA), an organization of major Korean content companies for overseas copyright protection, and Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), a leading Japanese

IndustryDec. 1, 2023

Seoul city to beef up inspection in bedbug-prone residential areas

To tackle the hike in bedbug infestations in single-room residences, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that it would increase inspections of such homes as nearly half of all bedbug reports came from there. The plan comes after 39 reports out of 89 came from “goshiwon,” a type of budget accommodation consisting of one small studio room with no separate kitchen or bathroom. The city government will assign personnel dedicated to overseeing goshiwon in each autonomous distric

Social AffairsDec. 1, 2023