SPOTLIGHT

• People

  

  Award-winning author Han Kang to contribute writing to foreign art project

  International award-winning South Korean author Han Kang has been named the fifth author in a Norwegian government-sponsored project to collect the works of 100 renowned writers, one author a year, and publish them in 2114, Seoul's embassy in Oslo said Friday.Han, a 2016 Man Booker International Prize winner for her novel "The Vegetarian," is also the first Asian writer to be selected as a contributor to the Future Library project, which aims to connect current and future generations through wri

• People

  

  Sound is universal language: ASMR creator Miniyu

  Korean YouTuber makes videos to comfort and heal

• Music

  

  BTS breaks its own record for highest first-week album sales with 'Map of the Soul: Persona'

  K-pop sensations BTS sold more than 2.13 million copies of their new album, "Map of the Soul: Persona," in the first week of the album's release, setting a new record of highest first-week record sales, the band's management agency said Friday.The new album sold 2,130,480 copies in the seven days since its release last Friday, Big Hit Entertainment said, quoting figures from local chart compiler Hanteo. BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)This makes "Map of the Soul: Persona" the highest-selling K-pop al

• Travel

  

  Journeying across scattered islands off Taean

  The West Sea is famous for islands scattered across the coast, like breadcrumbs enticing seagulls. The 114 islands off the coast of Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province, are a typical example. Featuring a natural habitat that has remained free from human touch for the most part, each island boasts its own unique characteristics. There is no train connection, so visitors have to either drive or take a bus to the coastal town. If you are traveling from Seoul, buses are available at the Central Ci

LATEST NEWS

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  North Korea

  US arrests former Marine connected to North Korea embassy raid in Spain

  WASHINGTON -- US authorities have arrested a former US Marine who is a member of a group that allegedly raided the North Korean embassy in Madrid in February and stole electronics, two sources familiar with the arrest said on Friday.In a related development, armed US federal agents on Thursday raided the apartment of Adrian Hong, leader of Cheolima Civil Defense, a group seeking the overthrow of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that is blamed for the Feb. 22 embassy raid, a person close to the gr

• 

  World News

  Japan courts Trump using emperor, first lady’s birthday

  TOKYO -- Without close friends in Asia, Japan‘s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be using every opportunity, even the emperor’s accession, to court President Donald Trump.Abe is scheduling a rushed visit to Washington to meet with Trump and celebrate first lady’s birthday, and then is inviting him to be first foreign leader to meet the new emperor, the two countries announced Friday.  (AP-Yonhap)Tokyo and Washington said that Trump and first lady Melania Trump will make a state visit to Japa

• 

  Music

  BTS becomes first Korean artists to top British chart

  K-pop sensations BTS has topped the British chart with its new album, becoming the first South Korean artists to do so.The new album “Map of the Soul: Persona” landed at the top with 26,500 combined sales on Friday (local time), the Official Charts Co. said.The album's main track, “Boy With Luv,” is also the band’s first ever British Top 15 single, charting at number 13 on Friday, it said. (Yonhap)“Map of The Soul: Persona” is BTS‘ fourth collection to chart in the UK Top 40, following their thr

• 

  Finance

  Seoul shares likely to trade in tight range on earnings concerns

  South Korean shares are likely to trade in a tight range next week as investors digest a series of corporate earnings reports from major firms, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,216.15 points on Friday, down 0.77 percent from a week earlier. (Yonhap)Earlier this week, the main bourse extended its winning streak to 13 trading sessions but lost ground as investors opted to cash in recent gains.On Thursday, the KOSPI plunged more than 1 percent after

• 

  North Korea

  N. Korea hosts 1st int’l blockchain conference

  North Korea is holding its first international conference on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Pyongyang, a US-based radio broadcast said Saturday.The Korean International Blockchain Conference was launched Thursday for an eight-day run in the North Korean capital city, according to the report by Radio Free Asia. (Yonhap)The event, postponed from last September, has brought some 100 experts in the cutting-edge field from around the world, the report said.The main summit will take pla

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  Industry

  Gov't corrects data on fine dust emissions by LG Chem

  The government said Friday that it wrongfully calculated data on fine dust emissions by LG Chem Ltd., days after it unveiled the outcome of its probe into chemical firms' alleged manipulation of pollutant emissions.LG Chem and five chemical firms are alleged to have colluded with four measurement agencies to rig data on emissions of air pollutants over the past four years, the environment ministry and a local environment agency said Wednesday.In particular, it said LG Chem manipulated records on

• 

  World News

  All Notre-Dame paintings to be removed as officials head inside

  PARIS -- The remaining paintings inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris are to be removed on Friday and stored, with fire service officials now satisfied the damaged structure is safe enough to go inside.Firemen and engineering experts have been working on the fragile landmark since a devastating blaze on Monday night, erecting scaffolding and other wooden supports to stop any of the stonework collapsing."The paintings inside the cathedral have been saved from the flames and can now be taken d

• 

  Industry

  FTC to review game firms’ consumer regulations

  South Korea’s antitrust regulator said Friday it will carry out an extensive review of the consumer regulations of game firms. The Fair Trade Commission has contacted 10 game companies here, including Nexon NCSoft, Blizzard and Riot Games, for their opinion.Both computer and mobile games’ clauses are subject to a review. Part of the sweeping reviews include, but are not limited to, clauses regarding underage users’ in-game purchases. (Pixabay)“Some news reports suggest that it may become easier

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  Economy

  S. Korea says exports likely to improve in 2nd half

  South Korea's exports are likely to improve in the second half as demand for semiconductors picks up gradually, a senior government official said Friday.Lee Ho-seung, the first vice minister of economy and finance, made the forecast in a regular meeting with officials from the central bank and other relevant financial authorities.South Korea's outbound shipments fell 8.2 percent on-year to US$47.1 billion in March due to falling global prices of chips. It marked the fourth straight month that ex

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  Film

  'Avengers: Endgame' breaks ticket presales record in S. Korea

  Advance sales of tickets for the upcoming Marvel film "Avengers: Endgame" reached 1.23 million on Friday, setting a new record for advance box office sales in South Korea, according to data by the Korean Film Council.Presales of tickets for the final "Avengers" flick, set to hit local screens on Wednesday, reached 1,230,181 as of 4:21 p.m., the real-time data showed. At that moment, the superhero film accounted for 92.1 percent of all the tickets sold in advance.The presales figure marks a new r

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Columnists

  

  How Xi overplayed his hand with America

  In the rebalancing of Sino-American relations that’s underway, the usual roles are reversed: China’s normally deft President Xi Jinping appears to have badly overreached in seeking advantage. And President Trump, who often seems tone-deaf on foreign policy, is riding a bipartisan consensus that it’s time to push back against Beijing. The two nations will probably make a trade deal soon, patching together a working relationship that has been frayed by a year of tariffs and economic brinksmanship.

• Columnists

  

  Mysterious global impact of BTS

  Exactly how Jimin, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, V, and Jungkook pull off one history-making feat after another is a mystery

THE INVESTOR

• Finance

  

  FSS calls on financial institutions to forge long-term ties with SE Asia

  South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service urged financial institutions based in Korea to foster a “long-lasting relationship” with Southeast Asian countries in a closed-door seminar held April 19.At an event joined by representatives of 16 Korean financial institutions at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul, FSS First Senior Deputy Gov. Yoo Kwang-yeol stressed the significant role Korean financial firms play in localizing offshore units in Southeast Asian nations that contribute to the advancement of th

• Retail & Consumer

  

  Many foreign, domestic investors keen to acquire Skinfood

  More than 13 foreign and domestic investors have handed in letters of intent to acquire South Korean cosmetics firm Skinfood, which is under court receivership, according to sources on April 19.Although the company has around 44.5 billion won ($39.14 million) debt, investors appear to be keen to acquire it as it has solid retail channels in more than 19 countries, including in Sephora and Ulta Beauty in the US. Its corporate value is projected to be around 50 billion won.According to industry so

• Bio & Medicine

  

  Kyung Nam Pharm seeks new owner

  Kyung Nam Pharm, a local drug maker known for its vitamin supplement Lemona, has decided to receive letters of intent from April 22-24 to find a new owner. The company plans to pick a buyer for its newly issued shares to become the biggest stakeholder. The preferred bidder will be chosen around May 10.Some local firms, including Bio Genetics -- that intend to acquire the company -- are expected to join the bid. Bio Genetics is a condom maker that bought 11.29 percent stake in Kyung Nam in Februa

• Startups & Investors

  

  Abyo Korea hopes to redesign delivery industry

  About a year ago, Dasan New Town, a gigantic new apartment complex in Gyeonggi Province, found itself at the center of a nationwide controversy. A car-free community, it faced a dispute with delivery companies because it was impossible for trucks to get past the entrance. Delivery people were expected to complete their routes on foot. Refusing to comply, the couriers left the packages at the complex entrance. The impasse was eventually resolved, but it highlighted the difficulties that the deliv

K-POP HERALD

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  KARD’s Somin, CLC’s Seungyeon to compete to be ‘Next Beauty Creator’

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  BTS returns with new chart-topping album in ode to fans

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  BTS makes ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Social affairs

  

  'Underage sex trafficking getting worse’

• Social affairs

  

  Boosting rental housing supply as solution to housing problem

• Industry

  

  ‘Moon will do more for foreign investors’

• Technology

  

  Boosted by BTS and K-pop, Naver’s V Live challenges YouTube

PHOTO NEWS

• Music

  

  Paradise for music players

  In Seoul, there is a paradise for music players.Nakwon Instrument Arcade, otherwise known as Nakwon Music Mall, is a one-stop shopping center of over 300 independent music stores -- selling virtually everything related to music.  (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)Located in the vicinity of the tourist-heavy Insa-dong and currently Seoul’s hippest street Ikseon-dong, this shop cluster occupies the second and third floors of Nagwon building, which also houses eateries, practice rooms, a concert st

VIDEO

• Industry

  

  Lotte World Tower, witness to group’s twist and turns

• Food

  

  Tongyeong is destination for seafood lovers

• Culture

  

  Throwback to Korea’s roaring ‘20s in Ikseon-dong

• Industry

  

  IFC Seoul, a Yeouido landmark reeling from competition

FEATURES

• Arts&Design

  

  Mindful relaxation at Museum San

  Museum San opens meditation hall, offers art-centered sanctuary

• Social affairs

  

  Gyeonggi Province to build more satellite towns of Seoul

  Gyeonggi’s new cities promise influx of in-city jobs, access to nature, convenient commute to Seoul

• Industry

  

  Korean firms struggle to enter halal market

  Clinching globally acclaimed halal certification key to expansion

• Automode

  

  Why SUVs are hot, while sedans are not

  Changing lifestyle, widened features and automakers‘ supply strategy boost popularity