Renowned South Korean artist Lee U-fan confirmed Thursday once again that he did paint all 13 paintings that are suspected of being forgeries.In a press briefing in central Seoul, the artist said the paintings in question were his work beyond a doubt."I checked them with my own eyes and they are certainly all mine judging from their breath, rhythm and colors," the artist said.He continued: "Breath and rhythm are like fingerprints, which no one can copy. A third person, however talented the perso

Park Yu-chun, the troubled member of popular K-pop boy band JYJ, appeared before police Thursday to face questioning over his sexual assault allegations which have been rocking the local entertainment scene. The 30-year-old singer-actor appeared at the Gangnam Police Station in southern Seoul about three weeks after he was first sued over allegedly raping a woman working at a local bar."First of all, I am very sorry for causing many people concern," he told reporters before entering the office,

Samsung Group denied rumors circulated Thursday that its chairman Lee Kun-hee, who has been hospitalized for over two years, has died.Earlier in the day, rumors that the 74-year-old has died and that the news will be made public at 3 p.m. were circulated around the local stock market and social media.Samsung Electronics Co., the flagship of South Korea's largest family-run conglomerate, said the rumors are "groundless," shortly after the Korea Exchange (KRX) demanded an explanation over the spec

The head of a private education institution has received a jail term for leaking questions from a U.S. college admissions test and teaching students with the material, court records showed Thursday.The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the defendant, identified only by her surname Kim, to a year in prison, suspended for two years, for obtaining questions of earlier Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) from her acquaintances and students, and using them in classes in 2011. Previous tests are not

이탈리아의 한 마을에 초대형 ‘미확인미행물체’(UFO)가 나타났다. 얼핏 보면 마치 외계인이 침공한 것처럼 보인다. (사진=세계기상기구)최근 세계기상기구(World Meteorological Organization)는 공식 페이스북을 통해 이탈리아 시칠리아 섬의 에트나(Etna) 산 정상에서 흡사 UFO를 연상시키는 신기한 구름 사진들을 소개했다. 　이탈리아 매체들은 앞다투어 ‘외계인의 침공’ 등과 같은 익살스러운 제목으로 신비한 구름에 대해 보도했다. 　산 정상을 완전히 뒤덮고 있는 사진 속 구름의 정식 명칭은 ‘층적운’으로, 상승하는 기류가 산맥에 부딪쳐 상승 기류가 만들어질 때 형성된다.　층적운은 대개 높은 산맥에서 형성되며 히말라야나 안데스, 로키 산맥에서 자주 나타나는 것으로 알려졌다.　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

세계적인 포르노 스타로 한 때 이름을 날렸던 치치올리나(64)가 컴백을 선언했다. 　최근 이탈리아 잡지 바니티 페어는 ‘포르노 퀸의 귀환’을 알리면서 이 같이 보도했다. (사진=Ilona Staller Cicciolina 페이스북)치치올리나는 인터뷰에서 “영화 제작을 위해 프로듀서를 모집 중”이라며 “팬들에게 최고의 선물이 될 것”이라고 밝혀 그녀의 컴백에 대한 기대감을 높였다.　치치올리나는 1951년생으로 올해 만 64세이다. 하지만 여전히 젊고 아름다운 외모를 자랑해 많은 팬들을 깜짝 놀라게 했다.　한편, 그녀는 약 30년 전 20편 이상의 포르노에 출연하며 스타덤에 오른 바 있다. 현재 치치올리나의 촬영 계획은 구체적으로 알려지지 않았다. 　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

A South Korean umbrella labor union and progressive civic groups held a massive rally Saturday to protest the government's policy on labor reform, police said.About 15,000 members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions gathered at Seoul Plaza in central Seoul to protest the government's push for labor reform, according to police. An association of farmers also held a rally at a separate place to call for a parliamentary hearing on the alleged violent crackdown by police on last year's rally

South Korea on Saturday said it will keep close tabs on the impact of the Brexit on the local market and take actions swiftly and firmly to minimize its fallout if needed."For now, the uncertainties (on Britain's exit from the European Union) are big, and we cannot predict the consequences,"the government said.On Saturday, officials from the finance and industry ministries, as well as the central bank, held a gathering to check the repercussions of Britain's vote to leave the EU.Hit by the Brexi

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Britain's planned departure from the European Union was "not an amicable divorce" but called for it to be quick."I do not understand why the British government needs until October to  decide whether to send the divorce letter to Brussels," he told German public  broadcaster ARD late Friday."I'd like it immediately."He admitted that the EU had hoped Britain would stay but that now it was  key to make the separation process as speedy and painless

The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved its first four loans worth US$509 million as the bank holds its first annual meeting. Three of the four loans were co-financed with other multilateral lenders such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. The loans will be funded for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, Indonesia, Tajikistan and Bangladesh, the bank said in a statement. The AIIB "looks to take its place as one of the leading multilateral financial

Founding EU members are to hold a crisis  meeting Saturday on the future of the bloc after Britain's seismic vote to  leave the union and the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron.As the "Brexit" vote sent global financial markets into freefall, Moody's cut Britain's credit rating outlook to "negative", saying the vote to pull out of the European Union could hurt its economic prospects.After the shock result German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President  Francois Hollande led calls

South Korean shares will face increased fluctuation next week as foreign investors are expected to reduce part of their risky assets following Britain's decision to exit the European Union (EU), analysts said Saturday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 1,925.25 on Friday, down 3.09 percent, or the biggest daily loss in more than four years following the unexpected outcome of Britain's vote to leave the world's single largest economic bloc.Analysts said the country

The South Korean stock market is expected to face fluctuations for the time being due to Britain's decision to leave the European Union, analysts said Saturday.Hit by the Brexit rout, the country's benchmark stock index dived 3.1 percent to close at 1,925.24 points on Friday, the biggest daily loss in over four years."It will take some time for the market to stabilize, and investors should seek to manage their risks," said Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities Co. "For now, it is hard

A North Korean nuclear envoy returned home on Saturday after a six-day visit to Beijing where she declared that the North has no intention of returning to the negotiating table on its nuclear weapons program. Choe Son-hui, deputy director for North American affairs at North Korea's foreign ministry and the North's deputy chief nuclear envoy, was seen arriving at the Beijing airport earlier in the day. Choe made no comments upon her arrival at the airport and entered the departure gate for diplom

 Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Saturday condemned North Korea's latest test of mid-range missiles, saying that the North's provocation proves its offer to hold inter-Korean dialogue is a fraudulent act."Although years have passed since the cease of gunfire, our security remains unstable as a divided country," Hwang said during a speech to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn gives a speech to commemorate the 66th anniversary o

The chief of South Korean business group Lotte won support of Japanese shareholders of Lotte Holdings, the group's de-facto holding company, in a vote on Saturday, cementing his grip on the retail giant currently embroiled in the slush fund scandal in South Korea.The shareholders' meeting was held at the request of Shin Dong-joo, the former vice president of Lotte Holdings and the elder brother of the incumbent chief. Lotte chairman Shin Dong-bin (Yonhap)The first son of Lotte founder Shin Kyuk-

The U.S. Treasury Department has frozen more than $40,000 held by blacklisted North Korean officials in recent years, South Korean officials said Tuesday, in the latest sign of pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program.The Treasury Department froze $40,800 in a total of nine cases from May 2014 to April 2015, the officials said. The U.S.authorities found out the North Korean funds, which were exposed as financial transactions involving U.S. dollars going through the U.S. financial system.

With North Korea moving to adopt new ruling party rules to declare itself a “nuclear-armed state,” the South Korean government has stepped up defense against the North, saying that it will “never be recognized as one.”North Korean ruling party’s central committee has officially adopted its two-track pursuit of nuclear and economic goals and reaffirmed its leader Kim Jong-un’s control, the state media reported Monday.According to observers, the North is expected to conclude its four-day Working P

 성소수자 시민단체 연합은 동성애 및 무슬림 혐오 공약으로 논란이 되고 있는 기독자유당을 이달 말 국가인권위원회에 진정할 예정이라고 3일 밝혔다. 행동하는성소수자인권연대, 무지개행동과 이주공동행동은 현재 온라인 및 오프라인으로 지지 서명을 받고 있으며, 잠정적으로 24일 기자회견을 열어 기독자유당을 인권위에 진정하는 취지를 밝힐 예정이다. 현재 3000명을 목표로 온라인, 오프라인 지지 서명을 받고 있다. 행동하는성소수자인권연대 오소리 활동가는 “인권위에 기독자유당의 차별선동 및 증오조장 행위에 대한 입장을 요구하는 게 진정의 취지”라며 “기독자유당을 위축시키고, 연대를 넓히는 것이 목표”라고 밝혔다. 지난 3월 창당된 기독자유당의 대표적 공약은 동성애 법제화 반대, 할랄단지 조성 등 이슬람 특혜 반대, 차별금지법 반대 등이다. 지난 1일 종로 보신각 앞에서 이주노동자 노동절 집회에서 행동하는성소수자인권연대가 기독자유당 국가인권위원회 진정을 위한 서명을 받고 있다 (성소수자인권연대)

Civic groups in support of sexual minorities are set to file a petition against a Protestant-affiliated party in late May amid growing controversy over the party’s campaign pledges.The groups advocating the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in South Korea began to collect signatures online on Tuesday, hoping to lodge the petition with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on May 24. There are a flyer reading “Christian Libertarian Party is Human Rights Violation Party! Sto