South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, following the US Federal Reserve's reiteration that rates would remain at near-zero through 2023. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 32.5 points, or 1.07 percent, to 3,080 points as of 9:23 a.m. Stocks started strong as the results from a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting partially soothed market concerns of earlier-than-expected post-pandemic inflation. In Seoul, top cap Samsung Electronics advanced 1.22 percent

WASHINGTON -- The United States will discuss ways to mitigate possible military threats from North Korea when its top foreign and national security officials meet their Chinese counterparts this week, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday. She stressed the importance of all countries working together when it came to reducing threats from the North. "I will say that part of our strategy, as it relates to the denuclearization of North Korea, is of course to lead with diplomacy an

한인 여성 4명 등 모두 8명이 숨진 미국 애틀랜타 연쇄 총격 사건의 용의자 로버트 에런 롱(21)이 추가 범죄를 저지르기 전에 잡힌 것은 부모의 신속한 신고 덕분인 것으로 확인됐다. 애틀랜타 지역신문인 애틀랜타 저널 컨스티튜션(AJC)은 17일(현지시간) 전날 사건 발생 직후 용의자 롱의 부모가 조지아주(州) 체로키 카운티 보안관실에 연락했다고 보도했다. 롱의 부모는 사건 현장의 영상 속 인물이 자기 아들이라는 사실을 알린 뒤 롱이 운전하는 현대자동차의 SUV(스포츠유틸리티차) 투싼에 위치정보시스템(GPS) 추적기가 설치돼 있다는 점도 제보했다. 롱의 GPS 정보는 수사기관에 공유됐고, 결국 롱은 첫 번째 사건이 발생한 지 3시간여만인 오후 8시 반께 애틀랜타에서 240㎞ 떨어진 크리스프 카운티에서 붙잡혔다. 롱은 플로리다주에서 추가로 범행을 계획했던 것으로 알려졌다. 케이샤 랜스 보텀스 애틀랜타 시장은 기자회견에서 롱이 플로리다에 도착했을 경우 피해가 훨씬 심각해졌을 것

South Koreans are estimated to have spent more than 70 billion won ($62.4 million) for Netflix's video streaming services last month, more than tripling from the previous year, data showed Thursday. Local credit and debit card payments on the video streaming platform reached 72.5 billion won in February, the highest-ever monthly figure, compared with 22.5 billion won the same month the previous year, according to the data from industry tacker WiseApp. Based on the data, WiseApp said there were

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday offered condolences to the families of victims in deadly shootings in Atlanta, calling the incident "very troubling." "The investigation is ongoing. And the question of motivation is still to be determined," Biden said after speaking to the US. attorney general and director fo the Federal Bureau of Investigation about their ongoing investigation of the shootings on the previous day that killed eight people, including four people of Korean

South Korea's drug safety agency said Wednesday that Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp.'s acute pancreatitis drug has failed to get conditional approval as a treatment for the novel coronavirus. An advisory board consisting of outside experts under the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced its review on the efficacy and safety of the drug, Nafabeltan. The panel said the drug, currently used as a blood anticoagulant and acute pancreatitis treatment, failed to show effectiveness in treatin

Justice Minister Park Beom-kye on Wednesday exercised his investigation command authority over a case involving Han Myeong-sook, a former prime minister convicted of taking bribes. The move came as the statute of limitations is set to expire on Monday in an alleged perjury case, in which prosecutors are suspected of forcing inmates who spent time in prison together with the man who bribed Han to make false testimonies against her in 2011. Earlier this month, the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO

A North Korean media outlet on Wednesday unveiled a propaganda poster depicting a club hammer smashing the alliance between South Korea and the United States, as the top US diplomat and the defense chief visited here for discussions on the North and other alliance issues. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin were set to hold one-on-one meetings later in the day with their South Korean counterparts. North Korea is expected to top the agenda during their meet

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday the alliance with South Korea has "never been more important" given "unprecedented challenges" from North Korea and China, as he reaffirmed Washington's security commitment to the South. Austin made the remark at the start of his first in-person talks with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook in Seoul, calling their alliance a "linchpin" for peace, security and prosperity for Northeast Asia, and their military r

Super Junior, one of the longest-running K-pop boy groups, has dropped a new album in a belated celebration of the 15th anniversary of its debut. The group's 10th studio album, titled "The Renaissance," carries 10 songs, including the main track "House Party" as well as "Super," "Burn the Floor," "Paradox" and "Closure." "This album shares a lot of similarities with our very first album," Leeteuk, the band's leader, said du

South Korean stocks finished lower Wednesday on selling by foreigners and institutions amid rising uncertainties ahead of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 19.67 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 3,047.5 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 803 million shares worth some 13.2 trillion won ($11.7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 430 to 409. Foreigners s

South Korea's central region, including the greater Seoul area, was choked by yellow dust blowing in from the inland deserts in northern China for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, a state forecasting agency said. According to the National Institute of Environmental Research's Air Quality Forecasting Center, the density of fine dust particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, known as PM 10, remained at the "bad" level in Seoul and surrounding areas, the central province

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday submitted a proposal to the National Assembly to launch a parliamentary inquiry into a snowballing land speculation scandal involving employees of a state housing developer. Twenty employees at the Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) are currently under investigation on suspicion of using insider information to purchase farmland mainly in the cities of Siheung and Gwangmyeong, both south of Seoul, before the central government designated t

South Korean health authorities said Wednesday that the rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will continue despite major European countries' decision to pause vaccinations to investigate reported side effects. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a press release that there is no evidence suggesting correlation between vaccines manufactured by British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University and reports of blood clots in some recipients. A

The victim of alleged sexual harassment by late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Wednesday called for terminating all "consuming" debate on her case. The victim, a former secretary of Park, made the plea during a news conference arranged by her supporters in Seoul ahead of the April 7 by-election to elect his successor. It is the first time since the case erupted last July that the victim has stood in front of the media. On July 8 last year, the victim filed a complaint with the police,

The head of South Korea's arms procurement agency on Wednesday attended a ceremony in Indonesia to mark the handing over of a 1,400-ton submarine to its navy, his office said. The 61-meter submarine, dubbed Alugoro, was the third unit South Korea delivered to Indonesia under a 1.3 trillion-won (US$1.15 billion) contract in 2011 to export three submarines to the Southeast Asian country, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co

"Minari," the drama film about a Korean American immigrant family, continued its rally at the South Korean box office and is expected to get a major boost thanks to its six Oscar nominations, including best picture, data showed Wednesday. The US movie garnered nearly 20,000 moviegoers the previous day, with a total of 531,000, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. Since its release on March 3, it has not missed the top position for the past 14 days at the local box offi

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong expressed hope Wednesday for expanded cooperation with Latin American countries on digital technologies and in other areas, calling the region a key partner for co-prosperity. Chung made the remarks at the Korea-LAC Digital Cooperation Forum, which took place as part of an annual gathering that Seoul hosts to promote collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean countries on economic and other issues. "Central and South America -- a companion for South Ko

South Korea said Wednesday it plans to release 100,000 tons of reserved rice next month as the long rainy season last year coupled with major typhoons reduced output of the grain. The country plans to release the new batch of rice harvested in 2019 into the market in April, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. South Korea already released 170,000 tons of reserved rice into the market over the first two months of 2021. The move comes in line with the government's

Baekhyun, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, will return with the new album "Bambi" later this month, his management agency said Wednesday. The singer's third EP will carry six songs, including title track "Bambi," and will be available on streaming platforms starting 6 p.m. on March 30, according to SM Entertainment. The agency explained that "Bambi" is a R&B number that highlights Baekhyun's vocals. Details on the other five tracks will be released going forwar