SPOTLIGHT

• Technology

  

  LG seeks turnaround with V30, with broadened AI capability

  LG’s mobile business outlook upbeat, AI tech to expand, connect with other appliances

• Technology

  

  Samsung's next task: AI chips to empower devices

  Huawei to debut Kirin 970 chip to take on Samsung, Apple

• Television

  

  Lee Hyo-ri’s slow-life reality show comes to end

  The reality show featuring K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri’s life on Jeju Island, “Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast,” wrapped up Sunday evening on JTBC.　In the final episode, Lee shed tears after reading a heartfelt goodbye letter written to her by singer IU, who stayed as a guest and helper at Lee’s Jeju home throughout the show. 　"Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast”(JTBC)The show, which kicked off in June, surpassed a 9 percent viewership rating at its peak, according to Nielsen Korea, a new record for JTBC variety sho

• Industry

  

  McDonald's to run safety checks on stores nationwide

  McDonald’s Korea said Monday that it will be cooperating with the Korea Food Safety Association to run an independent nationwide safety check on its stores.(McDonald's)The inspections, to cover 80 items including compliance with food sanitation laws, store facilities, employee sanitation and ingredient inventory management, will come as part of McDonald‘s previously announced plans to strengthen safety at its stores following allegations of products leading to adverse health effects.The unannoun

LATEST NEWS

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  North Korea

  NK accuses US of declaring war, claims to have justification for shooting down US bombers

  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho on Tuesday accused US President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country, and warned of military response to further show of force maneuvers by the US. Speaking to the media outside the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza in New York, Ri claimed that recent actions by Trump were declaration of war.  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho accuses the US of declaring war on his country in New York on Tuesday. AP“This past weekend, Trump again decl

• 

  North Korea

  NK foreign minister to hold press conference at 11 p.m.

  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho will hold a press conference at 11 p.m.In addressing the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Ri lambasted US President Donald Trump for his earlier UN address in which he warned that North Korea would face destruction if it attacks the US or its allies.  North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho arrives at New York`s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 20 to attend the UN General Assembly. (Yonhap)In his address, Ri said that North Korea would take

• 

  World Business

  Uber CEO apologizes to users for company's mistakes

  The new CEO of Uber offered contrition for past mistakes on Monday, just days after London's transport authority said it would scrap the company's operating license. Dara Khosrowshahi issued a letter to London's Evening Standard newspaper acknowledging that the company ``has got things wrong along the way'' as it expanded. He confirmed the company will appeal the London decision but will do so ``with the knowledge that we must also change.'' ``We won't be perfect, but we will listen to you; we w

• 

  World News

  Iraqi Kurds vote in referendum on independence from Baghdad

  Iraqi Kurds cast ballots on Monday in their autonomous region and in a wide sweep of captured territories on whether to seek independence from Baghdad, a historic vote that has also raised tensions and fears of instability. The referendum is non-binding and will not immediately bring independence, but it would mark a definitive stance by the Kurds to break away, and Kurdish leaders say they will use a ``yes'' vote to press for negotiations with Iraq's central government to win statehood. From An

• 

  North Korea

  US, NK brinksmanship brings warning of ‘unpredictable nosedive’

  WASHINGTON (AFP) - Spiking nuclear tensions between the United States and North Korea showed little sign of abating Sunday as Russia warned of a “very unpredictable nosedive” if Washington does not ease up on its fiery war of words with Pyongyang.US bombers and fighter escorts flew off the coast of North Korea on Saturday and US President Donald Trump took to Twitter with verbal threats as the brinkmanship with Pyongyang intensified.“Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at UN. If he

• 

  World News

  Juncker urges strong German government after Merkel vote wobble

  European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday congratulated Angela Merkel on a "historic" German election victory but called for the formation of a strong coalition government as soon as possible.Merkel met with her party Monday after winning a fourth term with a far weaker mandate, facing the double headache of an emboldened nationalist opposition party and thorny coalition talks. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker gives a press conference at the European Commission in

• 

  North Korea

  Trump does not want nuclear war with NK: Mnuchin

  US President Donald Trump does not want a nuclear war with North Korea and his administration will do everything to stop it from happening, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday.The assurance comes as Trump has engaged in an escalating war of words with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over Pyongyang‘s nuclear and ballistic missile program.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (Yonhap)Last week the American president threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea if it attacked the US or its all

• 

  World News

  Japan's Abe triggers snap election amid N.Korea crisis

  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever-pitch.Abe hopes to capitalise on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals."I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th" of September, Abe told reporters, a precursor to a general election. The prime minister did not give

• 

  Social affairs

  More Koreans spending Chuseok holiday alone: survey

  Two in five workers in South Korea have no plans to go to their hometowns to visit their family during the upcoming 10-day Chusoek holiday, a survey showed Monday. According to a poll on 834 workers by job portal site Saramin, 39.4 percent of the respondents said that they had no plans to go back to their hometowns during the holiday that begins on Saturday.  (Yonhap)Chuseok is similar to Thanksgiving in the US, with people travelling to their hometowns to spend time with family and friends. Thi

• 

  World

  World population to reach 9.8b in 2050

  　According to a recent United Nations report, the world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. 　Roughly 83 million people are expected to be added to the world's population every year, even though fertility levels are assumed to continue declining. 　Among the 10 largest countries worldwide, Nigeria is growing the most rapidly. The population of Nigeria -- currently the world’s seventh largest -- is projected to surpass th

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Columnists

  

  North Korean threat to utilities

  In times of market uncertainty, some investors will flock to “safeguarded” currencies such as the Swiss franc or Japanese yen. Others may choose diversifiers like gold, farmland or other hard assets. And then there are those who flock to alternative investments like bitcoin or fine wine. Yet one investment that has historically been considered a safe bet, low-risk option for investors when frothy markets appear ripe for a correction, or when market bubbles look to burst, is the utility sector. B

• Columnists

  

  Extinguish Kim Jong-un’s threats without sacrificing Korea

  “I lived in that system for more than 50 years. ... To be honest, my life in North Korea was nothing but the life of the slave.” - Thae Yong-ho, former Pyongyang ambassador (May 4, 2017)“An American first strike would likely trigger one of the worst mass killings in human history.”- Mark Bowden, The Atlantic (July 2017)In June, three northern soldiers defected across the perilous North-South border within a two-week time frame. Two individuals made the journey on foot -- somehow traversing the h

THE INVESTOR

• Mobile & Internet

  

  Apple likely to ditch 5.28-inch OLED iPhone next year

  Apple has decided to ditch the smallest 5.28-inch OLED iPhone next year, while adding a larger -- possibly more than 6 inches -- LCD model into the full lineup, according to The Bell on Sept. 25.Citing local parts makers, the report said Apple had originally given panel orders to Samsung Display, its sole OLED supplier, under a plan to launch three OLED iPhones next year -- 5.28-, 5.85-, and 6.46-inch models. But the report said the development work for the 5.28-inch model has rec

• Mobile & Internet

  

  [ITU BUSAN] Global leaders vow united efforts to address ICT issues

  BUSAN -- ITU Telecom World 2017, one of the largest UN-backed information and communication technology events, kicked off in Korea’s southern port city of Busan on Sept. 25.　Hundreds of ministers, government officials, and business leaders from ITU’s 193 member states packed the auditorium of Bexco, an exhibition center and the main event venue for the conference, to celebrate the opening of the quadrennial event.　The conference, which is being held under the theme “Better Sooner,

• Economy

  

  [DECODED X] Chip off the shoulder

  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

• Deals

  

  France’s Brandt joins race to acquire Dongbu Daewoo

  French home appliance maker Brandt Group has become the latest bidder for acquiring Dongbu Daewoo Electronics that is already crowded with multiple players, including Sweden’s Electrolux, China’s Haier and Mexico’s Mabe, according to news reports on Sept. 25. The Korean appliance maker is drawing much attention from overseas bidders as it operates in 40 countries globally. Its strong presence in Latin America, including a production plant in Mexico, has made the firm extremely app

K-POP HERALD

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  'Love Yourself' at No.7 on Billboard 200

• 

  ‘Love in the Moonlight’ to air during holiday

• 

  Go Ara craves good works

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Technology

  

  AI to lead next innovation at Asia's top chat app: Line CTO

• Culture

  

  ‘The hands that raised candles should now hold books’

• Technology

  

  Kakao seeks to go global with content distribution business: CEO

• Industry

  

  Suprema seeks opportunity in mobile fingerprint scanner

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Take in the autumn breeze at Sangam Sky Park

  There have been many big incidents in South Korea this year.But let bygones be bygones. It is right time to enjoy the scenic beauty because autumn is the most beautiful season of the year.And there are places where you can find its special charms, even in the middle of the city.One such recommendation is the Sky Park in Sangam-dong, Seoul.Visitors can appreciate tall metasequoia trees while hiking to the park, located 98 meters above sea level.It is the highest neighborhood park Seoul, where vis

VIDEO

• Culture

  

  Ever-expanding universe of ramen

• Defense

  

  Seoul carries out missile drill targeting NK’s nuclear sites

• Social affairs

  

  Cheonan-Nonsan Expressway collision results in 11 casualties

• Social affairs

  

  Extended Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway unveiled

FEATURES

• Music

  

  Electrifying music, disappointing operation in World Club Dome

  The self-proclaimed “biggest outdoor club in the world” finally landed in Korea on Friday, and neither the DJs nor the audience held anything back, partying the night away with the hottest electronic dance music in the world.World Club Dome Korea 2017 was held from Friday to Sunday at Munhak Stadium in Incheon, hosting 100,000 music fans from in and out of Korea. It was the first time that the event -- founded in Frankfurt in 2013 by German radio station Big City Beats -- had been hosted in Asia

• Technology

  

  Samsung heralds era of super storage solutions with V-NAND chips

  To address the challenges to meet the pressing requirements of next-generation data processing and storage systems, Samsung has introduced new Vertical-NAND memory solutions and technology to its global customers. At this year’s Flash Memory Summit held in Santa Clara, California, in August, Samsung showcased solutions to address next-generation data processing challenges centered around the company’s latest V-NAND technology and an array of solid state drives. The company hopes SSDs will be at

• Social affairs

  

  W17m booze tab: Itaewon bars face probe over foreign tourist ripoff

  A promise of a fun night out at a bar in Itaewon left an American tourist with a booze tab totaling 17 million won ($15,000).Seoul police said on Thursday owners and employees at three bars in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, have been indicted without detention for overcharging foreign tourists.One of the indicted bar owners, surnamed Lee, allegedly charged an American tourist 17 million won for drinks he had during his one hour and 40 minutes stay at the bar.An American tourist was charged 17 million won

• Social affairs

  

  Seoul's subway Line No. 2 may get 24-hour service: official

  Seoul Metro is considering operating its subway line No. 2 around the clock. Kim Tae-ho, managing director of Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation said it will run Subway Line No. 2 all night every Friday and Saturday during a test period. (Yonhap)Subway Line No. 2 is the most used line in Seoul and connects the city’s key areas. There has been an increasing demand for late night service.By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)