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  North Korea

  [News analysis] Trump’s ‘new method’ on North Korea may indicate nuclear weapon first approach

  • Moon heads to US for UN General Assembly, Trump summit
  • N. Korea’s seasoned negotiator responds quickly to Trump’s ‘new method’
  • S. Korea’s top nuclear envoy calls for flexibility in upcoming US-NK negotiations

• Social affairs
  

  Prosecution raids Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s home in unprecedented move

  Prosecution probe narrows focus, targets Cho

• Economy
  

  S. Korea sees steep drop in merchandise exports among G-20

  South Korea has been dealt among the harshest blows in its exports among G-20 nations from the ongoing US-China trade war, data compiled by the World Trade Organization showed Monday.According to data released by the Geneva-based body, South Korea’s second-quarter exports dropped 8.6 percent on-year to $138.6 billion, marking the second-largest decline among G-20 members in the period. Indonesia outranked Korea in terms of decline in exports and came No. 1 with a 9.1 percent drop. By natio

• North Korea
  

  Seoul’s FM says biggest hurdle is drawing up road map for denuclearization

  NEW YORK -- Drawing up a road map for the denuclearization of North Korea will be the biggest hurdle in working-level talks between the US and North Korea, even though all parties share a common definition of denuclearization, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said Sunday. Speaking in New York, where she arrived as part of President Moon Jae-in’s entourage at the UN General Assembly, Kang said she believes the two Koreas and the US share the same idea of denuclearizat

• Social affairs
  

  Concerns resurface as suspected case of African swine fever reported in Gimpo

  SEJONG -- Another suspected case of African swine fever was reported Monday at a hog farm in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, while there has been no additional confirmed case of the virus for four days since the second outbreak in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday.The farm is located in Gimpo’s Tongjin district, which is south of Kaesong in North Korea and west of Gyeonggi’s Paju, where the first outbreak of ASF hit the nation last Tuesday. Tongjin, Paju and Yeoncheon are areas cl

• Defense
  

  Conscientious objectors wait for alternative service as legislators remain idle

  With little progress since landmark ruling, introduction of new system likely to be delayed to latter half of 2020

NEWSMAKER

• Social affairs

  

  Doctor performs abortion on wrong patient

  A pregnant woman here lost her child when a doctor performed an abortion after medical staff mixed up her medical chart with that of another patient.Seoul Gangseo Police Station on Monday said they booked a gynecologist and a nurse for conducting an abortion on a six-week pregnant woman by failing to check the patient’s information before the operation.According to investigators, the alleged victim -- a Vietnamese national -- who was six weeks into her pregnancy was prescribed nutritional

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  Social affairs

  3rd case of African swine fever confirmed in Gimpo

  SEJONG -- Another case of African swine fever was confirmed Monday at a hog farm in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, following the second outbreak of the virus in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, last Wednesday.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, which dispatched a group of quarantine officials to the farm earlier in the day, announced at 7:53 p.m. on Monday that the suspected pigs at the farm tested positive for the virus.The hog farm is located in Gimpo’s Tongjin di

• Today

  

  Social affairs

  Foreign embassies in Seoul offer glimpse into history, culture

  There are many exotic buildings in the heart of Seoul that combine Western architectural elements and traditional Korean materials, providing a glimpse into the country’s history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Located right next to Deoksugung in central Seoul is a plot of land belonging to the UK, which British Deputy Ambassador to Korea Nik Mehta proudly said was the most beautiful diplomatic compound here. Walking to the back of Aston Hall, the main hall inside the office bui

• Today

  

  Automode

  Hyundai Motor, Aptiv team up for $4b joint venture on self-driving technology

  South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Group has teamed up with Aptiv, formerly known as Delphi, for a $4 billion joint venture to develop autonomous technology, the companies said Monday. The joint venture between the world’s fifth-largest carmaker and the world’s leading software developer of autonomous vehicles is a “rare case,” Hyundai said, adding that the two will have 50 percent of shares each. Under the deal, the Seoul-based carmaker expects to make a bold move in

• Today

  

  North Korea

  ‘N. Korea’ springs to mind first as DMZ image: survey

  　When people think about the inter-Korean DMZ, North Korea comes to mind first, according to a survey. 　Of the 500 South Koreans, 150 Chinese and 150 German respondents, 7.5 percent of respondents replied “North Korea” when asked what first comes to mind in relation to the 4-kilometer-wide area that separates the two Koreas. 　The “truce line” came next with 6.8 percent, followed by “inter-Korean division,” “mines” and “peace.” The surve

• Today

  

  Technology

  Samsung vs. LG TV spat expands to other home appliances

  The war of words between Samsung and LG Electronics has expanded from 8K TVs to home appliances, with the former taunting its crosstown rival in online videos.Two updated video clips on Samsung’s YouTube channel feature its lineup of home appliances enabling clothing care, such as the air dresser and laundry dryer. Regarding the steam closet system, the company made an indirect comparison of its Air Dresser and LG Styler, presumably criticizing the technique used to remove dust from clothe

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SPOTLIGHT

• Theater

  

  Finding way home in ‘1945’

  Director Koh Sun-woong depicts chaos after Korea’s liberation from Japan

• 

  Social affairs

  Yonsei professor accused of disparaging ‘comfort women’ suspended, denies allegations

  A Yonsei University professor was suspended Monday from teaching after his remarks on wartime sexual enslavement sparked controversy. The university said Monday in a statement that Ryu Seok-chun, a sociology professor, has been suspended from teaching and that the school’s gender equality committee has launched an internal investigation. Speaking about victims of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement during his lecture on Thursday, Ryu said “Japan is not the direct assailant (of c

• 

  Culture

  Website about Goryeo Buddhist Paintings in US museums launched

  A website carrying information about Buddhist paintings from the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392) currently held at US museums has been launched.The digital catalogue, “Goryeo Buddhist Painting: A Closer Look,” launched by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the US-based Freer and Sackler Galleries, was revealed to the public Saturday. The website carries information about the 16 Goryeo paintings owned by eight museums in the US: Freer and Sackler Galleries (three), Metropolitan Museum

• 

  Theater

  Geomungo electrified

  A Muto performance is not merely an unconventional combination of different art forms, but also an unusual spectacle. One of the band’s musicians plays the “geomungo” -- a Korean traditional string instrument -- with a violin bow, while another uses a modular synthesizer to create an exotic harmony with it. There are two large video panels that stand together and function like a folding screen, showing colorful visual works. Numerous laser lights create various geometrical patt

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Risky approach

  Trump’s ‘new method’ could give Pyongyang time to consolidate nuclear status

• Rage at injustice

  Professors, lawyers, medical doctors, students rise up against Cho Kuk’s appointment

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Industrials

  

  [INTERVIEW] Local mindset behind global market clout: Schneider CEO

  SINGAPORE -- Roughly 30 percent of France-based Schneider Electric’s revenue came from the Asia-Pacific region in 2018. Another 30 percent came from North America and Western Europe, respectively, with the portfolio ranging from voltage distribution products to solutions for automation, energy storage and smart building infrastructure.Behind the firm’s global clout is its ability to make use of local resources and meet local demands, a quality that is also playing out in South Korea,

• 

  Bio & Medicine

  Celltrion’s Remsima SC close to sales approval in EU

  Celltrion Group on Sept. 20 announced that European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended giving sales approval for Remsima SC.CHMP is responsible for preparing the opinions to EMA on questions concerning human medicines based on scientific evidence. According to the Korean company, it now has high expectations to successfully receive sales approval in Europe following CHMP’s recommendation.Remsima SC is a subcutaneous version of Remsi

• 

  The Investor

  SsangYong’s Changwon plant responsible for gasoline engines of SUV powerhouse

  SsangYong’s Changwon plant responsible for gasoline engines of SUV powerhouseCHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province -- An engine is often dubbed the “heart of a car” as it converts gasoline energy for motion. When it comes to sport utility vehicles, the performance of an engine is even more important because it decides their power. SsangYong Motor, with 30-year-history, has been churning out gasoline engines at its Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province.The plant, comprised o

• 

  Samsung

  Korean chipmakers expect to bottom out in H2

  Memory chip prices steady now signaling demand recovery, but Japan export curbs remain a risk factorThe semiconductor firms in South Korea are holding their breath at the current market conditions, cautiously judging that they may have avoided the worst.  “Starting with NAND, memory chip prices are showing signs of a rebound,” said an industry insider. “DRAM prices also stopped falling last month, which we hope is a sign of bottoming out finally.”  The price of

K-POP HERALD

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  Zico to release 1st full-length solo album

• 

  BTS leader donates 100 m won for students with hearing impairments

• 

  Seventeen’s ‘Ode to You’ rattles Seoul with unwavering love for fans

• 

  Kassy drops new love-themed EP ‘Rewind’ for your autumn blues

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Industry

  

  Can AI replace radiologists?

  GE Healthcare underlines AI role in personalized, precision medicine, but stresses it will always be humans who will hold reins

• 

  Theater

  Finding way home in ‘1945’

  Director Koh Sun-woong depicts chaos after Korea’s liberation from Japan

• 

  Industry

  Local mindset behind global market clout: Schneider CEO

  SINGAPORE -- Roughly 30 percent of France-based Schneider Electric’s revenue came from the Asia-Pacific region in 2018. Another 30 percent came from North America and Western Europe, respectively, with the portfolio ranging from voltage distribution products to solutions for automation, energy storage and smart building infrastructure.Behind the firm’s global clout is its ability to make use of local resources and meet local demands, a quality that is also playing out in South Korea,

• 

  Technology

  Once labor-intensive, shipbuilders in race for digital transformation

  SINGAPORE -- Traditional methods for cost efficiency in the labor-intensive field of shipbuilding and marine engineering will give way to digital solutions that are already quietly permeating the industry, Craig Hayman, CEO of UK industrial software developer Aveva, said in a recent interview with The Investor.“Shipbuilding firms are now focused on reducing labor (costs) associated with the construction and the number of hours put into designing them,” Hayman said, adding that South

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Peaceful Buam-dong rises as hip place

  Nestled between two mountains -- Bugaksan and Inwangsan -- Buam-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a quiet neighborhood often described as an oasis of tranquility not far from the city center. While a large number of Seoul’s residential villages have turned into giant fortresses of high-security high-rise apartment complexes, Buam-dong has kept its old-town feel with low-lying houses, curved roads and ample greenery. Not accessible by Seoul’s massive web of subways, the villages were

VIDEO

• 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

• 

  Food&Beverage

  Trendy treats on offer at Seoul Dessert Fair 2019

  South Korea’s biggest dessert festival, the Seoul Dessert Fair, closed the doors on its 23rd event last weekend at the Setec exhibition hall in Gangnam, Seoul.(Shot and edited by Choi Ji-won / The Korea Herald)The three-day event ran Friday to Sunday and garnered more than 30,000 visitors. Around 240 dessert shop owners and individual sellers from around the country presented assorted confections ranging from seasonal sweets to those following the latest trends.Traditional Korean treats an

• 

  Industry

  How far are we from printing hearts for transplant?

  Close look at two standout players in Korea’s 3D bioprinting, medical device printing

MOST POPULAR

• Fire at Dongdaemun fashion market injures 2, fumes continue for hours
• Doctor performs abortion on wrong patient
• Typhoon Tapah sweeps Korea’s southern region, at least one dead
• Professor under fire for comparing ‘comfort women’ to prostitutes
• Prosecution raids justice minister's house over corruption scandal
• Moon in New York for summit with Trump, UN session
• N. Korea’s seasoned negotiator responds quickly to Trump’s ‘new method’
• University students nationwide call for Cho Kuk’s resignation
• Moon heads to US for UN General Assembly, Trump summit
• G-7 loses prestige amid growing nationalism

FEATURES

• Social affairs

  

  Koreans 5 years older, on average, than a decade ago

  SEJONG -- South Korea has become one of several countries undergoing rapid demographic changes that could dent the nation’s competitiveness in the mid- to long term. With fewer babies being born, senior citizens make up a growing proportion of the Korean population and the average age has climbed over the past decade.According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the average age reached 42.4 years as of August, as compared with 41.9 a year earlier.The average ages for men and women were

• 

  Politics

  Support-rating gap between rival parties narrows

  SEJONG -- The 2020 general election for South Korea’s next National Assembly is coming in about 200 days.A core issue is whether the ruling Democratic Party of Korea will continue to secure its dominance in support ratings over the main opposition Liberty Korea Party.The Democratic Party has yet to yield its leading position in approval ratings among the people since President Moon-Jae-in took office in May 2017.But symptoms of situation change have emerged over the past few months amid sa

• 

  Economy

  Korea marks 20th anniversary of FTA talks across globe

  SEJONG -- It has been two decades since South Korea took its first steps into the free trade market, seeking bilateral deals with major world economies in hopes of enjoying tariff benefits.Since launching negotiations toward a free trade agreement with its first partner, Chile, in 1999, Korea has put 15 FTAs in place with three continental trade blocs (that involve 42 countries collectively) and 12 countries.The three trade blocs are the 28-member European Union, the 10-member Associat

• 

  Politics

  Moon to pass halfway point with challenges at home and abroad

  SEJONG -- President Moon Jae-in will pass the halfway point in November, finishing the first 30 months of his 60-month term.The Moon administration launched in May 2017, several months after a political scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil swept the nation and ignited public fury.The people pinned great hopes on Moon, who stressed justice and fairness in his inaugural speech.Moon’s approval ratings hovered around 70-80 percent during the first y

WEEKENDER

• Arts&Design

  

  From eyesores to hot spots

  How run-down factories get art-ified 　

• 

  Food&Beverage

  Like it hot!

  Tracing the roots of Koreans’ love for chilies

• 

  Arts&Design

  From trash to art

  In a fancy Seoul building, an upcycling ecosystem is being hatched

• 

  Economy

  The life and death of Korean won

  South Korean banknotes and coins begin life at a factory in Gyeongsan, just outside Daegu. They are then transported to the Bank of Korea’s vault in Seoul, heavily guarded by armed security officers, to enter the money circulation cycle. In its lifespan as a medium of exchange, the banknotes and coins travel around at varying speeds, with some -- 1,000 won bills in particular -- changing hands numerous times before exiting circulation. However, some coins spend most of their time sitt