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  North Korea

  S. Korea-US drill starts amid NK missile concerns

  By Jung Min-kyung

  Concerns of a possible attack by North Korea continue to haunt the Korean Peninsula, as the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian drill kicked off Monday. The annual South Korea-US drill is beginning as tensions rise to a new high, with Washington raising the pressure on several nations to sever ties with the hermit state. Military tensions are expected to peak during the annual exercise after North Korea openly lambasted the drill as “the most explicit expression of hostility” against its regime, via the Nort

• 

  Film

  Actor Jang Dong-gun once thought himself unattractive

  By Rumy Doo

  Actor known for chiseled looks opens up about midlife slump, aspiration of ‘rough’ male life

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  Social affairs

  Activists call for end to factory farming amid egg scandal

  By Ock Hyun-ju

  Animal rights groups on Monday called for measures to reform the livestock industry, saying that factory farming is behind the egg contamination scandal. 　The pesticide-tainted egg crisis is only a prelude to bigger threats to the food safety and public health unless the practice of cramming chickens into battery cages to maximize profits is stopped, they said. 　“It is a consequence of industrialized livestock production and it poses a threat to our food security,” said Jeon Jin-kyung, executive

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  Social affairs

  Seoul City’s use of W1b for two-day event stirs controversy

  By Kim Da-sol

  Public criticism is mounting over the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s 1 billion-won ($878,000) event in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul to promote the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics.The waterslide installed in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul as part of an event to promote Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics stands idle on Sunday. (Yonhap)　As part of the event, a 300-meter-long and 22-meter-high “bobsleigh waterslide” was open to the public Saturday to draw public attention to the 2018 Win

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  Social affairs

  Human rights watchdog examines care facilities for signs of abuse

  By Bak Se-hwan

  The National Human Rights Commission of Korea announced Monday that it will release human rights abuse data from local care facilities that serve people with physical and mental disabilities.(Yonhap)In a joint national survey conducted by the watchdog and three activist groups, some 292 care facilities users nationwide have been interviewed since last month on whether they have experienced abuse. “The in-depth research is part of our effort to look into possible violations of human rights among

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  Industry

  Sanitary pads face safety checks after claims of health problems

  By Lim Jeong-yeo

  A range of South Korean female sanitary pads is to undergo a government safety inspection as users raised claims Sunday of hormonal disruption after using the product.Users of Lilian pads have raised claims online that their periods were ending faster than before and with less amount of blood. An anonymous user who claimed to have used the Lilian pads for over a year said her vaginitis had worsened during the time. Promotional image for Lilian sanitary padsTaking note of the spread of negative f

NEWSMAKER

• Industry

  

  Samsung Bioepis jumps into new drug development with Japan’s Takeda

  By Sohn Ji-young

  Deal seen as major achievement for Samsung's future business initiated by bedridden Chairman Lee Kun-hee

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  World News

  1 dead, 1 injured as van rams bus stops in Marseille, France

  MARSEILLE, France (AP) _ A van rammed into two bus stops about 5 kilometers (3 miles) apart in the French port city of Marseille on Monday, killing one person and injuring another, police officials said.The driver of the van, arrested in a third location, was a 35-year-old from the Grenoble region in eastern France who was being treated for psychological problems, an official at police headquarters said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with French law enforcement practice

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  Moon says even slight conflict on Korean Peninsula may threaten many lives

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in again urged the United States Monday to refrain from taking any action against North Korea that could start an armed conflict on the peninsula, saying even the slightest conflict here may cost the lives of many South Koreans and U.S. troops.Senator Edward Markey (left), shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday. (Yonhap)"President Moon said he understands why the United States has traditionally said all options were on the

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  Moon urges improved Seoul-Tokyo relations despite need to address history issues

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday stressed the need to improve relations between his country and Japan to jointly deal with North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile capabilities, but still noted the need to address their history issues more fairly and squarely."The North Korean nuclear and missile issues are a matter of life or death for South Korea, but I do understand they are also a source of great concern for Japan," the South Korean leader was quoted as saying while meeting wit

• Today

  

  World News

  Guam official says the island is calm despite N. Korea threat

  TOKYO (AP) -- The lieutenant governor of Guam has reassured Japanese that the U.S. territory is calm amid the recent tension between the U.S. and North Korea. Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio said in Tokyo on Monday that Guam remains in a "state of normalcy.'' Japan is a major source of tourists for the Pacific island.North Korea threatened recently to launch ballistic missiles into waters near Guam.A beach in Guam (Yonhap)Tenorio said at a news conference that the White House has told Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo

• Today

  

  Finance

  Korea tensions keep a lid on global markets

  LONDON (AP) -- Global stock markets traded in narrow ranges Monday as investors awaited a key meeting of central bankers later this week and continued to monitor developments on the Korean peninsula.In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was steady at 7,326 while Germany's DAX fell 0.3 percent to 12,132. France's CAC 40 was 0.3 percent lower at 5,100. U.S. stocks were poised for a similarly tepid opening with Dow futures and the broader S&P 500 futures unchanged.On Monday, U.S.

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SPOTLIGHT

• Music

  

  ‘TVXQ Week’ heralds phase 2 of duo’s career

  By Yoon Min-sik

  They’re back.Having started off as teenage heart-throbs before blossoming into artists of international fame, the duo of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin appeared before the public as TVXQ on Monday, the first time since being discharged from the military.“We’ve been introduced as ‘K-pop kings, and I’m really starting to feel the weight of such an expression. I’m happy to be back and to be able to greet you all as TVXQ,” U-Know Yunho said at a press conference held at Hotel Shilla in Seoul on Monda

• 

  Music

  DJ duo Garenz hopes to fill clubs with own music

  By Hong Dam-young

  The Korea Herald is introducing Korean singers, musicians and actors poised to join the next wave of top stars in a twice monthly series. -- Ed.

• 

  Economy

  ‘Seoul expected to limit amendment talks in FTA showdown’

  By Julie Kim Jackson

  Seoul is expected to play defense against the United States’ push to utilize the two nations’ upcoming special joint committee meeting to discuss possible amendments to the bilateral free trade agreements, by limiting talks regarding trade modifications, local experts said Monday.　The capital is gearing up to play host to a Korea-US Free Trade Agreement joint session at the request of the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, at the Lotte Hotel on Tuesday. Although the US Trade Representati

• 

  Diplomatic circuit

  ‘UK-Korea commerce expedient, bespoke after Brexit’

  By Joel Lee

  Mark Garnier, parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Department for International Trade (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)After the United Kingdom formally exits the European Union, the commercial relationship between the UK and Korea will be nimbler and tailored to their particular needs and demands, according to a British politician tasked with international trade and investment. As opposed to being constrained by slow and cumbersome stipulations of the 28-member EU, the UK economy -- the world

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Pyongyang’s next step

  North Korea should not make further provocation

• Helter-skelter response

  Tainted eggs in eco-friendly farms arouse suspicion of certification overissue, cozy public-private ties

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• 

  Samsung

  Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ditches ATL batteries

  [ET NEWS] Samsung Electronics has decided to ditch batteries from its long-time Chinese partner ATL for its flagship phones following the massive recall of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 last year, according to industry sources on Aug. 21. The upcoming Note 8 that will be unveiled this week in New York uses 3,300mAh batteries produced by Samsung SDI and Japan’s Murata Manufacturing. Batteries of the Note 7 phones are tested at a Samsung lab.This is the second time that Samsung is ditching ATL batt

• 

  The Investor

  [DECODED X] Thank you, Mr. President!

  [THE INVESTOR] The Aug. 17 issue of The Investor's blockbuster newsletter DECODED X is out. Check out some of the highlights.THANK YOU, MR.PRESIDENT!The Moon Jae-in government hit a milestone today: its first 100 days in office. Celebratory stamps sold out, and all over the web, Koreans were thanking the president for the past three months and a half .  Moon seems to be one of the few Korean leaders with such blanket support, except, of course on certain issues, such as North Korea.Speaking of t

K-POP HERALD

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  ‘TVXQ Week’ heralds phase 2 of duo’s career

• 

  Dong-gun once thought himself unattractive

• 

  Kim Go-eun poses in Paris

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Diplomatic circuit

  

  ‘UK-Korea commerce expedient, bespoke after Brexit’

  By Joel Lee

  Mark Garnier, parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Department for International Trade (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)After the United Kingdom formally exits the European Union, the commercial relationship between the UK and Korea will be nimbler and tailored to their particular needs and demands, according to a British politician tasked with international trade and investment. As opposed to being constrained by slow and cumbersome stipulations of the 28-member EU, the UK economy -- the world

• 

  Technology

  Neofect eyes global lead in smart rehabilitation device market

  By Sohn Ji-young

  [Health-tech Korea] Neofect's flagship smart robotic glove uses biofeedback gaming system to make post-stroke rehab more motivating and efficient

• 

  Culture

  Jung Saem-mool explains what goes into flawless K-beauty

  By Rumy Doo

  Veteran expert known for intricate makeup technique talks about expansion of Korean beauty and healthy approach to self-adornment

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Lotus flower, miracle of unwavering purity

  By Korea Herald

  Nothing is more divine than this immaculate and pure flower. Gazing into its large colorful blossoms that rise high above broad green leaves, you’ll be drawn to their blithely beautiful figures, and even find yourself unburdened from worldly cares. The lotus, which comes to its beautiful full bloom in the summer, is a flower that defies logic. With its roots deep in the murky pool, the flower slowly emerges toward the surface and bursts out of the water to reveal its fragrant petals, bearing no

VIDEO

• Industry

  

  Beauty meets IT for customized experience

  By Won Ho-jung

  The Korean cosmetics market is a jungle. With its vast spectrum of cosmetics brands at every price point and rapid-fire changes in the latest trends, it is one of the most competitive consumer industries here.But the zeal of brands to constantly come up with new, exciting products can often overwhelm consumers who find it difficult to decide on products to buy.To increase convenience for customers and to help them find the best products, Korean cosmetics companies have found ways to incorporate

MOST POPULAR

• Racism in Korea, from TV to real life
• Sanitary pads face safety checks after claims of health problems
• Four killed in explosion at STX plant in Changwon
• Moon says quality jobs, reduced working hours keys to addressing low birthrate
• iPhone 8 unlikely to have curved edge display: source

FEATURES

• 

  Politics

  Political parties experience internal frictions in push for reform

  By Jo He-rim

  Three months into the new Moon Jae-in administration, political parties across the aisle are experiencing internal friction as they push for reforms before local elections slated for June next year. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers are divided over their chairwoman’s plan to establish a committee to improve the party, and change nomination rules for the local elections.Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the party leader, said current party regulations should be changed to allow the nominations of new fi

• 

  Diplomatic circuit

  ‘Singapore, Korea pacesetters in low-growth era’

  By Joel Lee

  As a small city-state at the foot of peninsular Malaysia, Singapore has blazed a trail through the rough currents of international politics and business over the 52 years since its independence, which it marked on its National Day on Aug. 9. Dubbed the “Lion City,” “Garden City” or “Little Red Dot,” the cosmopolitan metropolis of 5.6 million people has a gross domestic product of $311 billion, or $55,000 per capita, making it the richest Asian country. As the Association of Southeast Asian Natio

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  Social affairs

  8 in 10 Korean men admit abuse of girlfriend

  By Kim Da-sol

  About 8 in 10 Korean men said they had used violence against romantic partners, a study showed Thursday.According to a study conducted by the Korean Institute of Criminology, 1,593 of 2,000 Korean men, or 79.7 percent, said they had abused a girlfriend while they were dating. About 71 percent of those who admitted to a history of dating abuse said they had control over their girlfriends’ personal activities, such as restricting them from meeting friends or keeping them isolated from others, incl

• 

  Arts&Design

  Highly politicized state of the seas

  By Kim Hoo-ran

  Kukje Gallery group show exposes man’s insatiable greed, crisis on the Mediterranean

WEEKENDER

• Culture

  

  Seoul and adventurous after-hours

  By Rumy Doo

  It started out with cabarets and discotheques in the 1980s, when Korea saw an unprecedented economic boom. Seoul’s nightlife has been growing and thriving ever since, giving birth to a myriad of clubs with different themes. (D.Bridge)Back then, nightclubs were places for people to dance and performers to put on shows. Cabarets were home to the middle-aged, usually featuring a live band and bluesy tunes. Dubbed “colatheques,” some venues would offer upbeat music and a lively social atmosphere wit