• 

  Soccer

  S. Korea finish 2nd after loss to Ukraine

  • S. Korea's Lee Kang-in wins Golden Ball as tournament MVP
  • Runners-up S. Korea thrive under unheralded coach
  • S. Koreans take to streets to cheer for U-20 World Cup final
  • S. Korea says players should feel proud of runner-up finish
  • S. Korean star has 'no regrets' after losing in final to Ukraine

• Politics
  

  No deal reached, parliamentary standoff to continue

  A parliamentary impasse appears set to continue, as rival political parties on Sunday failed to narrow differences on holding a public hearing on the country’s economic situation. In addition, an extraordinary session in June is likely to be held without the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. Floor leaders from the Liberty Korea Party, Democratic Party and minor opposition Bareunmirae Party held behind-the-scenes discussions to narrow their differences over the weekend, as they are

• Economy
  

  Treasury bond yield hits new low, gold price surges amid uncertainties

  BOK chief’s hint at monetary easing further dampens bond market

• North Korea
  

  [News Focus] Moon returns to mounting speculations about NK dialogue

  President Moon Jae-in has returned back from a three-nation tour of Europe, but his comments regarding North Korea have gained more public attention than Seoul’s relationship with Nordic countries. On the tour to Finland, Norway and Sweden, Moon not only put a timeline on his desired meeting with Kim Jong-un, but also urged Pyongyang to take concrete steps, while voicing his views on the groundwork necessary for US-North Korea dialogue.  “(I think) working-level negotiations sho

• Industry
  

  LG CNS, Microsoft to develop cloud-based business platform

  　LG CNS, the information technology services unit of South Korea’s LG Group, said Sunday it will work with Microsoft to develop advanced business platforms to improve its working environment. 　The company said that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to develop cloud-based business platforms. The agreement was reached on Friday at Microsoft’s Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. 　The new platforms are designed to incorporate Microsoft’s advanced softwa

• Defense
  

  Concerns raised over military surveillance after NK fishing boat drifts over sea border

  Concerns have been raised over the military’s surveillance capability after a North Korean fishing boat was found adrift in South Korean waters, assumedly hours after it entered. The North Korean fishing boat was found drifting some 150 kilometers below the Northern Limit Line in territorial waters of the South on Saturday. The boat, carrying four fishermen, was reportedly drifting after its engine broke.  South Korean fisherman first spotted the boat near waters off Samcheok Port in

NEWSMAKER

• Music

  

  Ex-YG head Yang may face police probe over snowballing drug and cover-up scandal

  Larger negative impact feared for broader K-pop industry

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  World Business

  Amazon dethrones Google as top global brand

  　US retail giant Amazon has overtaken tech titans Apple and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand, according to a survey. 　The brand value of Amazon surged 52 percent to $315 billion, global market research agency Kantar said in its 2019 100 Top BrandZ report.　Amazon jumped from third to first place to eclipse Google, which slid from first to third place. Apple held on to the second spot.　South Korea’s Samsung fell five spots to stand at No. 38.

• Today

  

  Technology

  SKT to develop 6G network tech with Nokia, Ericsson

    South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom said Sunday it will develop the sixth-generation network technology with Nokia and Ericsson, as the Korean government seeks to enhance economic ties with Nordic countries. The telecom firm signed memorandums of understanding for research and development cooperation with the two companies based in Finland and Sweden. The agreement with Nokia and Ericson was made on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, at their headquarters. While

• Today

  Columnists

  How US drug war victimizes women

  It has been two years since Cecilia’s son, Carlos, set sail from the coast of Ecuador on an ordinary day’s fishing voyage. She has not heard from him since. At first, she feared that his fishing trawler had sunk or been attacked by pirates. But the fate Carlos turned out to have met was more surreal than that, and in a way, even more harrowing: deep in international waters, thousands of miles from the United States, he was detained by the US coast guard. He has been locked away in a

• Today

  

  Columnists

  Is the Iran-US tinderbox about to ignite?

  As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of “unprovoked attacks” near the Strait of Hormuz, video screens behind him showed thick black smoke billowing from the two tankers that were struck Thursday. It was the dramatic imagery that sometimes precedes armed conflict. Pompeo didn’t offer hard evidence, and Iran denied the attacks.The US response in the escalating confrontation with Iran, for now, seems to be continued pressure short of war. “Our policy remains an eco

• Today

  Editorial

  Corporate exodus

  Anti-business policy pushes Korean firms to invest more abroad, less at home

More Stories

SPOTLIGHT

• North Korea

  

  NK leader's wreath sent to late ex-first lady expected to be preserved permanently

  A wreath of flowers that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent for the funeral of late former South Korean first lady Lee Hee-ho is expected to be preserved permanently, an official said Sunday.Kim sent a condolence message and the wreath of white chrysanthemums to South Korea on Wednesday after Lee, wife of late former President Kim Dae-jung, died Monday. Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, delivered the message and the wreath at the border village of Panmunjom.The wreath was decorated with a black ribbo

• 

  Social affairs

  S. Korean gov't struggling to handle growing number of refugee cases

  More than 20,000 refugee applications have piled up, but only 81 government officials are assigned to review the cases, a local human rights group said Sunday, citing data from the justice ministry.According to the statistics obtained and released by the Seoul-based Refugee Rights Center, or NANCEN, ahead of World Refugee Day, a total of 16,173 people applied for asylum in South Korea last year, a rise of more than 6,000 from 9,942 in 2017.Ministry officials said the number of asylum seekers arr

• 

  Music

  BTS dazzles 25,000 fans in Busan

  Throwing its first-ever concert in the second-biggest South Korean city of Busan on Saturday, K-pop band BTS dazzled some 25,000 fans in this bustling port city.The area around Busan Asiad Auxiliary Stadium, close to the southeastern coastline, was buzzing with BTS fans, famously known as "ARMY," from early in the morning as excited fans arrived at the concert venue far ahead of the first day of the septet's "5th Muster [Magic Shop]" tour performances in Busan.The two-day fan

• 

  Social affairs

  Yang quits as YG chief amid growing suspicions of drug offense cover-up

  Yang Hyun-suk, quit as the head of YG Entertainment, the agency he founded 23 years ago, as allegations of police collusion grew Friday.In the latest development in a string of scandals swirling around the embattled label, a whistleblower filed a report against YG with the Anti-corruption and Civil Rights Commision Tuesday, which raised suspicions of the label’s colluding with the police to cover up a possible drug use offense involving one of its artists -- B.I of iKon. YG terminated

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• Corporate exodus

  Anti-business policy pushes Korean firms to invest more abroad, less at home

• Rash responses

  Presidential secretaries’ comments on petitions stoke political strife

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Automobiles

  

  Hyundai Motor Group chief calls for global effort toward ‘hydrogen economy’

  Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai Motor Group executive vice chairman, called for world leaders to take action for the hydrogen-focused energy transition during the Group of 20 meeting of environment and energy ministers on June 15. 　Chung, who co-chairs the Hydrogen Council, was invited to exchange views on the global energy paradigm and to analyze the role and possibilities of hydrogen energy, Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday. The council comprising some 60 companies is a global CEO-level initiative for g

• 

  Industrials

  SKT to develop 6G network tech with Nokia, Ericsson

  South Korea’s biggest mobile carrier SK Telecom said on June 16 it will develop the sixth-generation network technology with Nokia and Ericsson, as the Korean government seeks to enhance economic ties with Nordic countries. 　The telecom firm signed memorandums of understanding for research and development cooperation with the two companies based in Finland and Sweden. 　While there are still no technological standards for what constitutes a 6G network, and its preceding 5G network is only a

• 

  Automobiles

  Hankook Tire & Technology aims to lead market through innovative tech

  　Following the change in its name last month to Hankook Tire & Technology, the firm said Sunday it plans to lead the global original equipment tire market by beefing up its research and development on innovative technology. 　In May, the company was renamed from Hankook Tire as part of its holding company Hankook Technology Group’s rebranding to redefine its focus. 　The group said it included the word “technology” to reflect its long-term mission to achieve innovation throug

• 

  Finance

  Treasury bond yield hits new low, gold price surges amid uncertainties

  Responding to mounting speculations that South Korea’s central bank may soon lower the policy rate amid uncertainties, Treasury bond interest rates hit a record-low this year, market observers noted on June 16.　Gold price, in contrast, has remained strong and hit a new high, reflecting investors’ increasing appetite for low-risk assets.　The yield on three-year Treasury bonds closed at 1.470 percent on Friday, marking the first case that the figure fell under 1.5 percent since Novembe

K-POP HERALD

• 

  Yang Hyun-suk steps down from YG amid mounting pressure

• 

  LGBT support growing in K-pop

• 

  Trending K-pop: 10 hottest tracks of the week

• 

  Jimin says thanks from purple-lit Busan

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Book Review

  

  Behind making of Baek Hee-na’s latest picture book

  Author, illustrator of beloved ‘Cloud Bread’ returns with ‘I Am a Dog,’ a warm, witty story of a pet dog

• 

  Technology

  S. Korea's top IP official vows to create user-friendly patent system

   　South Korean companies will experience faster, more predictable and applicant-friendly patent system in the future both here and overseas as efforts are underway to create an efficient and transparent ecosystem, the country’s top intellectual property official said on Thursday.　During his interview with The Korea Herald, Intellectual Property Office Commissioner Park Won-joo said top IP officials from five major countries agreed to streamline patent registration processes for applic

• 

  Music

  Young composer-conductor excited about Seoul-Paris premiere

  For composer-conductor Choi Jae-hyuck, this June is a time of anticipation. The winner of the 72nd Concours de Geneve Composition Prize, Choi grabbed the attention of the classical music scene for conducting Stockhausen’s “Gruppen” at the 2018 Lucerne Festival with maestros Simon Rattle and Ducan Ward. June 28 will be a big day for the 24-year-old musician. His works will be put onstage across continents, in Paris and Seoul. Ensemble InterContemporain, a renowned cont

• 

  Finance

  KIS Vietnam to become first foreign brokerage to launch covered warrants in Vietnam

  HO CHI MINH, Vietnam -- In Vietnam, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, investors have been searching for ways to hedge risks in times of equity market volatility. Last year, the benchmark index on Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (Hose) slipped 9.3 percent, while that of the development board fell 10.8 percent.One alternative they found was the derivatives market. Among the many instruments, they pounced on covered warrants -- a publicly traded product that allows investors to make lev

PHOTO NEWS

• Politics

  

  Cry for democracy still rings out in torture rooms

  Right next to the railroad of Namyeong Station in Seoul stands a tall, dark gray building with peculiar-looking windows -- so narrow only a single beam of light passes through. While one would never know from its exterior view, it carries a portion of the turbulent history of South Korea’s democracy that was earned through sacrifice. Constructed in 1976, the seven-story building was the office for the anti-communism investigation division under the National Police Agency, disguised as

VIDEO

• Food

  

  Tender, sweet spareribs at Seongsu-dong

  Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. -- Ed.Going out for grilled meat is always a treat, especially if you can sit outside in the nice early summer weather.Seongsu-dong Galbi Alley, situated near Seoul Forest in eastern Seoul, allows diners to grill meat outside. Tables and chairs

• 

  Social affairs

  Partisanship pauses for Lee Hee-ho’s funeral

  Politicians on both sides of the aisle came together Tuesday to mourn the passing of Lee Hee-ho.Lee, a women’s rights and pro-democracy activist, first lady and aide to Kim Dae-jung, died at 11:37 p.m. Monday at Severance Hospital in western Seoul. She was 96. Starting Tuesday morning, visitors filled the funeral hall to offer their condolences. The corridor leading to the memorial parlor was lined with bouquets of white flowers and ribbons from National Assembly members, mayors, governors

• 

  Industry

  Big buyer NHIS signals real estate market trend shift

  The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles and videos about some of the most expensive and fascinating landmark office buildings in Seoul. -- Ed.The real estate market for office buildings, which involves multibillion-won units even for average transactions, tends to be defined by lump-sum landmark deals. Investor attention is usually fixed on the most expensive item on the market, the tallest building in the city or country, or the most commercially active complex.But when the seller o

• 

  Fashion

  At 77, silver model dreams of big show

  Choi Soon-hwa, now in her heyday, opens new chapter of life

MOST POPULAR

• S. Korea finish 2nd after loss to Ukraine
• Busan buzzing with excitement over BTS concerts
• Yang quits as YG chief amid growing suspicions of drug offense cover-up
• BTS dazzles 25,000 fans in Busan
• Yang Hyun-suk quits as YG Entertainment head
• Court dismisses filmmaker Hong Sang-soo's divorce suit
• Samsung denies rumors of Galaxy Fold’s July launch
• S. Korea, Sweden sign MOUs on trade, economic cooperation
• US state department aims for one-time solution to denuclearize North Korea
• S. Korea's Lee Kang-in wins Golden Ball as tournament MVP

FEATURES

• Politics

  

  Will Democratic Party defend its 82 seats in capital area?

  SEJONG -- The general election for the 21st National Assembly is coming up in about 300 days, and it will be a crucial moment when ordinary people get their chance to assess the Moon Jae-in administration.Currently, few people expect the results of the parliamentary election to mirror those of the 2018 local elections, when the ruling Democratic Party of Korea scored a landslide victory over its main rival, the Liberty Korea Party. According to a variety of pollsters, President Moon’s

• 

  Industry

  Pharmacists turn to YouTube

  Growing number online turn to pharmacists for “medicational” advice, but resistance rises to views on drug analysis

• 

  North Korea

  ‘Contributing to South Korean society in the way we can’

  North Korean defectors seek to return help they received; South Koreans raise awareness as neighbors

• 

  Social affairs

  No pension at 65? Will payouts be delayed as Korea’s population ages?

  SEJONG -- It has been 31 years since South Korea introduced the national pension, and 20 years since it became a universal program in April 1999.The number of policyholders for government-administered annuity products offered by the National Pension Service now comes to more than 22 million. Among those policyholders, subscribers paying into the state pension via their workplaces in the form of mandatory deductions accounted for the dominant proportion, or 62.3 percent. Their numbers totale

WEEKENDER

• Fashion

  

  Perfect summer looks

  From neon to tie-dye, this summer’s fashion is all about vibrant colors and beach vibes

• 

  Culture

  Korea’s ‘graynaissance’ stars

  From YouTube to the catwalk, seniors find new platforms for later-life success

• 

  Film

  Korean cinema: 100 years in the making

  Last Saturday, renowned Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. As the auteur said, it was a “timely gift” to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Korean cinema, which has grown in leaps and bounds to become the fifth-largest player in the world film industry by the number of box office admissions, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Although the box offi

• 

  Travel

  An eerie reminder of precarious peace at DMZ Peace Trail

  Cheorwon section of 3-route hiking trails at border area offers unique combination of history, nature