Today   Foreign Affairs

South Korea-US defense cost-sharing deal may begin mid-Sept.

South Korea and the US are expected to launch defense cost-sharing talks in mid-September, according to a Foreign Ministry official, amid a growing concern here over US President Donald Trump’s push for the Asian ally’s substantial hike in contribution. The negotiation for the Special Measures Agreement is for deciding South Korea’s share of the cost for the upkeep of the 28,500 US troops. “I predict that SMA talks could open in mid-September at the earliest, after t

Today   Social affairs

[From the scene] Students angered by university admission allegations involving Cho Kuk’s daughter

A spiraling series of allegations ranging from his dubious investment in a private equity fund to his involvement in a left-leaning group have cornered Cho Kuk since he was nominated as justice minister earlier this month.What appears to be further pushing him into the corner are allegations surrounding his daughter’s college admission, with young Koreans planning to hold candlelight vigils in protest of the former progressive icon.Cho is facing criticism over his 28-year-old daughter, who

Today   Industry

Posco starts overseas production of cathode materials in China

South Korean steelmaker Posco said Thursday that it has completed construction of a plant in China that will produce cathode materials for rechargeable batteries starting late this year. Under a joint venture with China’s Huayou Cobalt, Posco built the plant in Zhejiang province, capable of producing 5,000 tons of cathode materials per year. It is Posco’s first overseas plant for cathode material production, officials said. Posco holds 60 percent in the venture, with Huayou Cobalt ta

Today   Viewpoints

[David Ignatius] Unlikely crusade to save capitalism from itself

“Evolve or die,” wrote hedge-fund billionaire Ray Dalio in a manifesto published in April titled “Why and How Capitalism Needs to be Reformed.” With each passing month, more business executives have been joining this unlikely crusade to save capitalism from itself. The loudest reform call yet from inside the system came this week from the Business Roundtable, which represents the chief executives of 192 of the nation’s largest companies. Most of its members signed a

Today   Arts&Design

To things that we find ambivalent, inconsistent

Seoul exhibition raises questions about what makes a masterpiece

Today   North Korea

Blue House expects imminent resumption of US-NK talks

The US and North Korea are expected to resume denuclearization talks soon, Kim Hyun-chong, a deputy director at the presidential National Security Office, said Thursday after a meeting with a top US envoy for Pyongyang. “The impression I have (from the meeting) is that talks between the US and North Korea will soon begin and it will go well,” Kim told reporters at the Government Complex in Seoul. But Kim said he cannot disclose the details that convinced him US-North Korea nuclear ta

Today   Film

'Parasite' selected as S. Korea's Oscar contender

The Cannes-winning film "Parasite" by renowned auteur Bong Joon-ho has been selected as South Korea's entry to the best international feature film category at the upcoming Academy Awards.The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) said Thursday that it picked Bong's black comedy film to compete for an Oscar nomination for best foreign film next year.The state-run council said it chose "Parasite" for its Palme d'Or achievement at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the worldwide reputation

Today   Automode

Teaser image for Hyundai Motor’s EV concept car 45 revealed

Hyundai Motor Group released a teaser image for its electric vehicle concept car 45 on Thursday, ahead of the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show next month.According to Hyundai Motor, 45 is a reinterpretation of the carmaker’s first concept car design revealed in 1970. It has been renewed under Hyundai Motor’s next-generation design philosophy -- “sensuous sportiness.”  The latest concept car has customized customer experience under the new brand strategy “Style Set Fre

Today   North Korea

NK notifies UN its FM will attend General Assembly in Sept.: source

North Korea has notified the United Nations that its Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho will attend this year's session of the General Assembly slated to take place in New York next month, a diplomatic source here said Thursday.His possible trip to New York raised the prospects of bilateral talks with his US counterpart, Mike Pompeo, as Washington is seeking to restart working-level nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang. "The North has informed the UN that Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho will deliver a

Today   Economy

[News Focus] 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

Today   Technology

[Newsmaker] Facebook wins court battle over network cutoff

　Facebook Korea has won a yearlong legal battle against the government’s decision to impose a financial penalty for a massive network cutoff in 2017.　The Seoul Administrative Court ruled Thursday that it was unlawful for the Korea Communication Commission to impose a 396 million won ($367,000) fine on Facebook for delaying access for those subscribed to SK Telecom, SK Broadband and LG Uplus by changing network connection routes.  　Facebook had denied the accusation, saying that the te

Today   Film

[Herald Review] 'Tune In for Love' a mediocre film with familiar tune, but has heart

We’ve seen this before, literally. Ever since “Architecture 101” stole the hearts of many who spent their youth in the 1990s, romance dramas riding on wistful ’90s nostalgia have popped up every few years.“Tune In for Love,” directed by Jung Ji-woo, is nothing special and has glaring flaws in its somewhat clunky storytelling. Despite its familiarity -- if you are a child of the ’90s -- it does send you back to the good ol’ days, which is always a w

Today   Technology

LG Chem prioritizes sustainability in battery material suppliers

South Korea’s leading battery maker LG Chem has introduced sustainability as an evaluation factor for battery material suppliers to incorporate the rising importance of supply chain management and ethical purchases, the company said Thursday.  The company recently conducted the first assessment of its material suppliers, in which it evaluated the suppliers’ sustainability by examining working conditions, human rights of employees, safety of the work environment, management of ma