Honda Motor Company has unveiled the latest model to hit Korea’s burgeoning green car market -- the new Accord Hybrid. 　The major Japanese automaker released its popular Accord series for the first time in Korea on Wednesday, looking to increase its presence in the competitive local market with its latest eco-friendly sedan. 　“Last year Honda Korea sold 6,636 vehicles in the Korean market,” said Jung Woo-young, CEO of Honda Korea, at a press conference held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Seoul on W

European businesses in South Korea are increasingly voicing negative feedback regarding the business environment here, a survey by the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea showed Tuesday.　Of the 131 European executives polled, 60 percent said business in Korea has become more difficult, compared to 52 percent in 2014 and 2015. Eleven percent responded that business has become easier.　The ECCK is a nonprofit, non-political organization of European companies operating in or related to Korea. Its

After achieving record growth last year, Mercedes-Benz Korea has announced plans to introduce six new vehicle models this year, as well as its latest smartphone customer service platform. 　The local distributor of the luxury German car brand achieved double-digit growth here in 2016, selling 56,343 units -- a 19.9 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association.　During a press conference at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Monday mornin

　Kia Motors is set to launch its latest Smart Compact All New Morning lineup Tuesday, including a special model geared toward women -- a strategy that other automakers have tried in the past, and mostly failed. 　Along with a sleek new design and smart technology upgrades, the new third generation line of its Morning compact car series will feature a brand new option -- the “Lady Edition.” 　Targeted at Kia’s growing number of female consumers, the new Lady version is looking to unveil a vehicle t

The Korean government said Thursday that is has approved Volkswagen’s first set of recall plans for 27,000 Tiguan SUVs sold with faked emissions tests. 　The recall is set to begin on Feb. 6. 　The decision follows the indictment of seven former and current staff at Audi Volkswagen Korea, including the Korean unit chief Johannes Thammer.　“We will send out letters explaining the recall procedures and schedules to all the customers of the targeted vehicles starting on Jan. 24,” the company said in a

Starting Feb. 1, Mercedes-Benz customers in Korea are going to encounter slightly higher prices, according to the local branch of the German automaker Wednesday. 　“The change in price will be a minimum of a 0.4 percent increase, with a maximum increase of 1.2 percent (average of 0.8 percent),” said a representative of Mercedes-Benz Korea in a press statement. “The reasons for the increase is due to the rising costs of logistics, raw material prices, inflation as well as upgraded product specific

Hyundai Motor is preparing to initiate a recall of its Tucson sport utility vehicles in Korea and China, due to faulty rear trailing arms, according to the automaker and the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Tuesday.  (Hyundai)The decision follows South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s report on Dec. 28 that the strength of the new Tucson model’s trailing arm suspension was weak and could lead to further complications.The

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its sleek new E-Class Coupe for the first time at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, the company said Tuesday.  　The 2018 model of the two-door luxury Coupe is 123 millimeters longer and 74 millimeters wider than its predecessor, and is equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission. According to the German carmaker, the new coupe can reach speeds of up to 209 kilometers per hour. 　Featuring all-new architecture and upgraded electronic

With the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump set for Jan. 20, economic tensions are high in South Korea, as the new administration might make revisions to the current Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. 　During his election campaign, Trump publically criticized the agreement, referring to it as “catastrophic” and “unfair” to the US, and claiming it took away jobs from Americans.　However, US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert said he remains positive about the future prospects of econo

One of the newest cultural trends sweeping the nation is all about the art of being alone. 　From eating, drinking, shopping and living solo, this new trend seems to defy the once cultural norm of “togetherness.”　With the phenomena of “honsul” and “honbap” -- meaning to “drink alone” and “eat alone,” respectively -- there no longer appears to be social stigmas attached to requesting a table for one. Nor is there a corresponding gasp of dismay or pity for one going to a bar solo and enjoying a coc

Kia Motors is gearing up to unveil its latest Smart Compact All New Morning cars, the new third generation line of its Morning compact car series, the company said Wednesday.　The new line marks the first new edition of Kia’s compact series in six years. It will be available to the public starting Jan. 17. 　Emphasizing a sleek new design, color palate and smart internet technology features, the new Kia Morning series couples practicality with lifestyle and comfort, the company said. An exterior v

The New Year means a new season of theater and exhibitions. And with 2016 having come to a close, 2017 promises a new set of unforgettable shows and big-name productions for local theater lovers.　Seoul’s major performing arts centers are already gearing up to play host to a variety of concerts and performances to usher in the New Year.　The LG Arts Center in Gangnam-gu Seoul has announced its new season, featuring 15 international and local productions from jazz to modern dance, classical music a

South Korean action thriller “Master” attracted more than 5 million viewers as of New Year’s Day, industry data showed Sunday.　According to the film‘s distributor CJ E&M, the very strong showing was reached 13 days after its official release. It said the tally was taken at 7 a.m. on Sunday and reflected weekend sales.　The distributor also said that for a film released in December, Master reached the landmark 5 million mark in the shortest period of time, which is a testament to the appeal of the

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- A massive geodesic dome with 61 glass eyes is coming to Arkansas‘ Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.　  The structure, called Fly’s Eye Dome, was designed by the late Buckminster Fuller, who was known for his futuristic inventions and who hoped it would revolutionize housing. Museum curators say Fuller was inspired to design the dome after looking at a photo of a fly‘s eye.  　  The dome will join a 1950s home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that became part of the mu

ATLANTA (AP) -- Tyler Perry is known for creating opportunities for black actors. But recently the African-American filmmaker weathered a backlash for assembling an all-white starring cast for the TLC drama series “Too Close to Home.”　  Perry rejects the criticism, much of it on social media. Some questioned his casting choices, with one calling the show an “all time low” for the producer when the series aired this year.　  But by the end of the season, those harsh words turned mostly into praise

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- In 1979, Annette Bening was 21 years old. A year earlier she had moved from San Diego to San Francisco to study classical drama. She remembers it as a time of tremendous change and uncertainty and the big moments like the day Harvey Milk and George Mascone were killed, but, for the most part her head was in Chekov and Shakespeare and Shaw and Arthur Miller. 　  So when she read the script for Mike Mills‘ “20th Century Women,” now in limited release, it caught her of

Double S 301 member Kim Hyung-jun (CI ENT)SS301’s Kim Hyung-jun has passed the conscripted police exam and plans to enlist for his mandatory military service in April, according to his agency CI ENT. 　Kim had initially announced he would enlist in 2014, but his then-budding music and acting career led him to postpone the enlistment.  　Kim joins a number of other celebrities who plan to join the conscripted police force next year, including Big Bang’s T.O.P and JYJ’s Kim Jun-su. 　The artist made

AOA (FNC Entertainment)Girl group AOA will team up with mega K-pop producer Brave Brothers once again for its upcoming album, “Angels Knock.”　The album is slated for release on Jan. 2 and will mark AOA’s first full-length album since debuting in 2012. According to news reports, it will feature two lead singles, one of which was produced by Brave Brothers. 　Often referred to as a “hit maker,” Brave Brothers is one of the most sought after producers in the K-pop industry. It has worked alongside s

New K-pop boy band Varsity (CSO Entertainment)As the year comes to a close, 2017 is revving up to welcome a new string of groups hoping to become the industry’s next big thing. 　From the minds of the famed choreography company Yama & Hotchicks, founded by Bae Yoon-jung, new girl group Seeart is set to make its official debut next year.　The first group ever to be debuted by Yama & Hotchicks, the new K-pop act is garnering much attention as its makers are behind some of the industry‘s most famed d

Canadian pianist, composer and producer Steve Barakatt has agreed to compose and record the official anthem for the city of Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province.  　Saemangeum lies at the mouth of the Dongjin and Mangyeong rivers on the coast of the province. The area comprises reclaimed tidal land and is currently being developed as a free economic zone. 　“It is now official, I will compose the Official Anthem of the revolutionary City Project of Saemangeum, South Korea,” the New Age pianist tweete