SPOTLIGHT

• Education

  

  Gyeonggi Province rebrands English Village to Change Up Campus

  Gyeonggi English Village, which was South Korea’s first residential English camp, has rebranded itself as Change Up Campus as part of efforts to nurture and promote high-quality and future-oriented education for students, according to the province Tuesday. Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil speaks during the opening ceremony of Change Up Campus on Sunday in Paju, north of Seoul. (photo: Gyunggi Province)The Change Up Campus run by Gyeonggi Province will provide programs designed to help st

• Film

  

  Female presence strong at Busan Film Fest

  Female actors and directors are being spotlighted at the 22nd edition of the Busan International Film Festival this year.For the first time in the festival’s history, both the opening and closing films -- Shin Su-won’s “Glass Garden” and Sylvia Chang’s “Love Education” -- have been helmed by female directors. “Glass Garden” features actress Moon Geun-young as its lead, while “Love Education” tells the stories of Chinese women.BIFF’s leader Kang Soo-youn, a veteran actress and the first female ex

• Film

  

  Romance titled ‘Let Me Eat Your Pancreas’ grabs attention at BIFF

  A romance film titled “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” has become one of the most talked-about films among festivalgoers at this year’s Busan International Film Festival.The Japanese film directed by Sho Tsukikawa and starring Minami Hamabe, Takumi Kitamura and Shun Oguri, is based on a 2015 novel of the same titled by Yoru Sumino, which became a bestseller in Japan. In the film, the protagonist, a high school student, discovers that his popular classmate Sakura is suffering from a pancreatic disease

• Music

  

  BTS hints at new project by flying mysterious blimps

  Not long after completing promotions for the group’s latest EP “Love Yourself Seung Her,” BTS swiftly moved on to its new project, this time in the form of advertisement blimps. On Monday, two large ad blimps that showed members Jin and Jimin’s photos appeared in the skies over Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province and Busan, respectively. The blimp in Gwacheon, Jin’s hometown, featured a phrase “Love Myself” on the front and “I Will Always Love ARMY” on the back. The one in Busan, where Jimin is from, ha

LATEST NEWS

• 

  Film

  Despair, lack of hope pervades in Asian cinema: Oliver Stone

  Director Oliver Stone met with reporters Tuesday at the Busan Cinema Center to discuss his impression of Korean cinema’s current mood. Stone commented on the jury’s review of the New Currents category, of which he is head juror this year.　“The jury saw ten films and I have to say we commented last night and made our choices which will be announced Saturday night. The whole jury commented on the despair and lack of hope that was evident in the ten films we saw, from not only Korea but China, Taiw

• 

  Travel

  No. of visitors to local tourist attractions soars 60% during holiday

  The number of visitors to local tourist destinations soared nearly 60 percent during the recent Chuseok holiday season, government data showed Tuesday.According to data compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 8.87 million people visited 108 major tourist attractions in South Korea during the 10-day Chuseok break, the country's autumn harvest celebration, up 59.6 percent from 5.56 million tallied last year.  Tourists visit Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province (Yonhap)This year,

• 

  North Korea

  US, Japanese officials arrive in Seoul for talks on NK nukes

  Senior US and Japanese diplomats arrived in Seoul Tuesday to discuss diplomatic measures to tackle North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. "I am here to focus on our diplomatic efforts to address the issues that confront us about the DPRK," Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan told reporters at Gimpo International Airport. He flew from Japan after a two-day visit.The DPRK is the abbreviation of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. US Deputy Secretary o

• 

  Olympic Games

  President Moon promises full support for PyeongChang Paralympic Games

  President Moon Jae-in promised all-out efforts Tuesday to help make the upcoming Winter Olympic Games and Paralympics in South Korea a success.The president's remarks came in a meeting with Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.The new IPC chief arrived here Sunday for what he called a "mid-term" inspection of local venues for the Winter Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to be held early next year. President Moon Jae-i

• 

  Health

  1 out of 6 Korean youths are obese

  　According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 1 out of 6 South Korean children and youths (elementary, middle school, and high school students) are obese with the rate increasing every year. 　The obesity rate increased from 11.2 percent in 2008 to 14.3 percent in 2010, 14.7 percent in 2012, 15 percent in 2014 and moved up to 16.5 percent in 2016, the data showed.　Also, the data showed that 77.1 percent of children and teens drink soft drinks at least once a week, up from 74.2 percent in 2014

• 

  Social affairs

  Final decision nears on fate of Shin Kori No. 5, 6

  An independent committee reviewing President Moon Jae-in’s proposal to abort the construction of two nuclear reactors will announce its final decision on Friday.  Shin Kori No. 5 and 6 in a southeastern city of Ulsan. YonhapConstruction of Shin Kori No. 5 and 6 reactors, located in a southeastern city of Ulsan, was halted at about 28 percent completion in July, amid the Moon administration’s drive to turn energy policy away from nuclear power toward renewables. The government, by forming the com

• 

  Social affairs

  Prosecution turns down police request for arrest of Korean Air chief

  The police's request for a warrant to arrest Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho accused of fund misappropriation was rejected by the prosecution on Tuesday.  Cho, who doubles as CEO of Korean Air Lines Co., is under investigation over suspicion that he siphoned off 3 billion won ($2.6 million) from company funds to pay for his house remodeling expenses between May 2013 and August 2014. Police made the writ request for Cho on Monday on possible charges of breach of trust. The Seoul Central Distric

• 

  North Korea

  US, NK struggle to narrow difference over condition for talks

  With North Korea taking a halt in a series of military provocations and the United States senior officials stressing the need for diplomatic approach, speculation has emerged that the two sides may seek negotiations. But the prospect of a breakthrough in a monthslong military standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear programs appears to remain slim as Pyongyang and Washington have significant gaps over under what conditions they can resume talks with neither side wanting to narrow the difference for now

• 

  Baseball

  After injury-plagued regular season, American pitcher confident of postseason bounceback

  After an up-and-down regular season marred by shoulder issues, Doosan Bears' right-hander Michael Bowden said Tuesday he's confident of a bounceback in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason.The Bears, two-time defending champions, are scheduled to take on the NC Dinos in the best-of-five second round series starting Tuesday at home, Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.Bowden is slated to start Friday's Game 3, which could potentially be a series-clinching contest or even an elimination game for the Bea

• 

  Industry

  Amazon unlikely to launch in Korea

  Despite rumors about Amazon‘s future plans to enter the South Korean market, it is unlikely that the e-commerce giant will launch a Korean version of its flagship online shopping website, according to industry insiders.“It is unclear what Amazon will have to gain by entering the e-commerce market at this point,” an official at another e-commerce firm operating in Korea said, asking not to be named.Rumors have been circulating that Amazon was planning a launch of a Korean arm after the US e-comme

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Columnists

  

  In the National Assembly we trust

  The same scenes are repeated each fall. Angry faces, shouting matches and group boycotts, and all these in front of national TV cameras. The National Assembly started this year’s plenary national audit on Oct. 12. It will run for 20 days until Oct. 31. The first four days of the audit indicate that we can expect the same this year as well. To governmental agencies and entities with state funding, the annual audit is one of the most critical moments of the year for leaders and organizations alike

• Columnists

  

  The Scarlet Letter and Moby Dick in our society

  Reading nineteenth century American literature, we encounter a number of memorable characters. Among others, Rip Van Winkle, Huckleberry Finn, and Hester Prynne come to mind as they are unforgettably charming protagonists.Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle is known to be an archetypal American man who “was a simple, good-natured man; he was, moreover, a kind neighbor, and an obedient, hen-pecked husband.” Mark Twain’s Huck Finn, too, is a typical American man who constantly wants to explore the

THE INVESTOR

• Samsung

  

  Samsung likely to kick off corporate restructuring in Nov.

  The long-delayed restructuring at Samsung, including executive-level reshuffle, is picking up pace following the Oct. 13 announcement of Samsung Electronics co-CEO Kwon Oh-hyun that he is stepping down.Kwon is expected to recommend his successor in a board meeting on Oct. 31, a move prompting anticipation that large-scale reshuffle of top executives will take place as early as November. Many of the top brass at key tech and financial affiliates including Samsung SDI, Samsung Elect

• Economy

  

  [DECODED X] End of an Era

  DECODED X is more than just news. It’s a weekly brief of critical political and economic events in Korea and their takeaway, created by The Investor staff for an exclusive group of opinion leaders. To ensure content quality, DECODED X is offered as a paid service.Corporate annual subscription fees are set at US$3,000, but The Investor is handing out special discounts this year. For more details, please contact Monica Lee (jylee@heraldcorp.com), or call 82-727-0616. You can also get in touch with

• Start-ups

  

  [INTERVIEW] Yozma out to replicate Israeli startup success in Korea

  Yozma Group, known for initiating Israel’s now-thriving startup scene, is seeking to do the same in Korea. The Tel-Aviv-based venture capital firm’s confidence stems from its ability to spot the next global trend from a 25-year-old database, combined with extensive networks in the tech sector, and last but not least, a good eye. “How do we detect the next tech trend? Since the early 1990s, Yozma has been working closely with R&D centers of multinational firms based in Israel, that

• Automobiles

  

  VW, Audi customers sue ministry for recall decision

  Korean customers of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles that were involved in the carmaker’s emissions-rigging scandal sued the Ministry of Environment on Oct. 17, saying the move is “insufficient.” A group of 27 owners of Audi and VW cars filed the lawsuit at a local court, calling on the ministry to revoke the recall as the measures are not enough to fully compensate the damages they suffered. They also claimed a software update is incapable of effectively reducing emissions levels, ac

K-POP HERALD

• 

  BTS hints at new project

• 

  Secret behind D.O.’s tattoo on ‘Room No.7’

• 

  Sunmi’s manicure sparks lesbian rumors

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Film

  

  Christoph Terhechte says Korean cinema ‘still has surprises’

• Film

  

  ‘Tip of iceberg’: Sundance co-founder speaks out against Weinstein

• Economy

  

  Analytic tools crucial in improving regulatory practices: US adviser　

• Music

  

  GOT7 veers away from past to embark on new chapter

PHOTO NEWS

• Travel

  

  Han River covered with buckwheat flowers

  Buckwheat and canola flowers cover Banpo Seoraeseom Island in Seoul on Tuesday. With temperatures falling to 9 degrees Celsius in the mornings and nights in the capital city, Korea has fully entered the fall season. By Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com)

VIDEO

• Film

  

  Busan Film Fest embarks on 22nd edition with star-studded red carpet

• Industry

  

  Ikea Goyang focuses on environment, sustainability

• Fashion

  

  Learning to wear hanbok with confidence

• Travel

  

  Rest stops become tourist attractions in South Korea

FEATURES

• Industry

  

  Amazon unlikely to launch in Korea

  Despite rumors about Amazon‘s future plans to enter the South Korean market, it is unlikely that the e-commerce giant will launch a Korean version of its flagship online shopping website, according to industry insiders.“It is unclear what Amazon will have to gain by entering the e-commerce market at this point,” an official at another e-commerce firm operating in Korea said, asking not to be named.Rumors have been circulating that Amazon was planning a launch of a Korean arm after the US e-comme

• Film

  

  Platform Busan hopes to provide community for Asian indie filmmakers

  BUSAN -- Independent filmmakers from around Asia have high hopes for the Busan International Film Festival’s newly launched feature Platform Busan, they said Sunday.The platform, in commemoration of the late BIFF executive programmer Kim Ji-seok, seeks to provide a network and community for indie filmmakers throughout Asia, who often struggle from lack of funding and producing in their respective countries. Its blueprint was designed by Kim years before his death. “During a lunch last year, Kim

• Social affairs

  

  Employees pressured to eat dog meat by chairman

  A man who forced his workplace subordinates to eat dog meat was booked under charges of illicit coercion, Incheon Seobu Police said Monday.The man, a 62-year-old chairman of a branch of the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives in Incheon, is accused of ordering some 10 employees to prepare dog meat for team-bonding dinners. Such meals allegedly took place three times between June and August. According to police, the man admits partially to having meals with his staff to boost team

• Social affairs

  

  Park calls trial ‘political vendetta,’ attorneys resign en masse

  Former President Park Geun-hye, who is standing trial over the corruption scandal that led to her ouster in March, unleashed pent-up frustration during a court hearing Monday, calling her case a “political vendetta.”  Former president Park Geun-hye is escorted to the courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court to attend a hearing on Oct. 16, Monday, 2017. (Yonhap)Speaking at length for the first time since her trial began in May, Park said she could not “accept the court’s decision to extend”