SPOTLIGHT

• Food

  

  When dining alone, can you be carnivorous?

  K-pop act Mamamoo’s Hwasa sparked a gopchang craze earlier this month with her appearance on the MBC reality show “I Live Alone.” She visited a gopchang restaurant by herself and devoured the dish of cow’s small intestines. The very next day, people lined up in front of the featured eatery, waiting for two to three hours. Sales also soared at other gopchang restaurants across the nation. In reality, however, eating gopchang alone is not easy. Most of the people who lined up to have gopchang came

• Social affairs

  

  Over 15% of S. Korean schoolchildren battle digital addiction: survey

  A government survey showed Friday that over 15 percent of South Korean elementary and middle schoolers are addicted to either the internet or smartphones. According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the survey polled a total of 1.29 million students -- fourth graders, seventh graders and 10th graders -- in March and April. The results indicated that some 196,337 schoolchildren, or 15.2 percent, refuse to put down their phones or stop going on the internet, an increase from 14.3 perc

• Music

  

  Boy band sues entertainment agency for ‘poor’ treatment

  A five-piece Korean boy band debuted during the summer of 2016 after signing a contract with an agency in December 2015. However, the group’s hopes of becoming part of the next generation of Hallyu were shattered in less than a year.The agency, downsizing its workforce, did not provide the band with a manger, a vehicle or vocal and dance lessons.The bandmates were asked to pay for their own hairstyling and makeup, as well as aesthetic procedures such as dermal fillers and botulinum toxin injecti

• Travel

  

  Hyatt’s Andaz to launch in Seoul

  Andaz, a luxury boutique hotel brand under Hyatt, is set for its first launch in Korea. The brand under the global hotel chain Hyatt plans to open its first hotel in Seoul by 2019, Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced Wednesday. A Hyatt affiliate has entered into agreements with Kt estate Inc. and Hotel HDC Co., Ltd. for the development of Andaz Gangnam. An architectural rendering of Andaz Gangnam (Baum Architects)The new boutique hotel will be situated near Apgujeong Station.Andaz Gangnam is expected t

LATEST NEWS

• 

  Economy

  S. Korea, Russia to conduct joint studies on cross-border energy projects

  South Korea and Russia will conduct a joint study to check the feasibility of cross-border energy projects involving North Korea and prepare negotiations for a trade deal to bolster bilateral economic ties, Seoul's trade ministry said Friday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it signed eight memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Russia's energy ministry and state utility firms to expand cooperation in energy, industry and investment between the two nations.The agreements were re

• 

  Foreign Policy

  Moon, Putin vow efforts to launch FTA talks, boost cooperation

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Friday to work to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement between their countries.In a summit held in Moscow, the leaders agreed to initiate “local processes” to allow the start of FTA talks, Moon’s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.“To achieve the goal of $30 billion in trade and 1 million in the number of visitors between the two countries by 2020, the two leaders agreed to work for pr

• 

  Soccer

  ‘Red Devils’ spill out to the streets for World Cup

  World Cup 2018 kicked off last week in Russia. As for South Korea, the first group match against Sweden on Monday revived the tens of thousands of “Red Devils” to take to the streets to cheer for the national team once again.In front of Gwanghwamun Square in the center of Seoul, 25,000 people wearing the iconic red uniforms and head bands resembling a devil’s horns became the Red Devils, while 5,000 also watched Korea’s first match via large outdoor screens installed at Seoul Square in front of

• Editorial

  Police reform first

  Investigation impartiality, people’s basic rights matter

• 

  Columnists

  Mr. Putin, seize chance to release dissidents

  On Monday, the US State Department called on Russia to release “more than 150” political and religious prisoners. In this political climate, an appeal like that from the US would usually be the best way to ensure they remain behind bars. But the State Department may have picked a good moment: President Vladimir Putin could show largesse by pardoning the prisoners while the eyes of the world are on Russia and the World Cup.　The Russian human rights group Memorial, which maintains the most complet

• 

  Columnists

  China digs a trench for US trade siege

  If you’re about to start a trade war, best ensure your citizens are in an optimistic mood.　That’s one way of looking at the US tax cuts passed in November. Stimulus from that law will boost economic growth by about three-quarters of a percentage point this year and next, Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard said last month –- no doubt one reason the S&P 500 index finished just 3.8 percent below its record high on Tuesday despite the growing drumbeat on trade.　Not content with returning fire on pla

• 

  Social affairs

  Cement block falls from apartment building

  An 8-year-old has been injured by fragments of a cement block that fell from an apartment building.Uijeongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province said Friday that the block fell into a playground in an apartment complex located in Uijeongbu-dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province.Although no one was directly struck by the block, the kid was hit by its fragments. The child was sent to hospital for scratches on his knee. (123RF)It has been identified that the 23-centimeter block was made of cementPolice

• 

  Social affairs

  Report on 40 years of Korea's state violence against ‘vagrant’ children released

  The Human Rights Commission on Thursday released a report detailing state violence against “vagrant” children in a facility in Gyeonggi Province, which the commission believes to have lasted for some 40 years from 1942-1982.　The report claims that some 4,691 children were kidnapped, brutally abused and coerced into harsh labor. Although the facility, named Seongam Hagwon, was characterized as a shelter or welfare institution for vagrant children or orphans, the report reveals that many of the ch

• 

  Culture

  Mind your surroundings

  Ancient art of pungsu looks to find meaning and significance of the environment

• 

  Industry

  Young, dynamic and connected -- ASEAN offers endless opportunities for Korea

  Southeast Asia can offer market and business opportunities to South Korea with its young, digitally connected and growing middle class in return for Korea’s sharing of its quickly developed economic strategies, according to a high-ranking official from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community. “Korea will benefit from ASEAN’s dynamism, creativity and growth potential, as the regional production networks are fast expanding,” said Aladdin D. Rillo, deputy secretary-general for

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Columnists

  

  Mr. Putin, seize chance to release dissidents

  On Monday, the US State Department called on Russia to release “more than 150” political and religious prisoners. In this political climate, an appeal like that from the US would usually be the best way to ensure they remain behind bars. But the State Department may have picked a good moment: President Vladimir Putin could show largesse by pardoning the prisoners while the eyes of the world are on Russia and the World Cup.　The Russian human rights group Memorial, which maintains the most complet

• Columnists

  

  China digs a trench for US trade siege

  If you’re about to start a trade war, best ensure your citizens are in an optimistic mood.　That’s one way of looking at the US tax cuts passed in November. Stimulus from that law will boost economic growth by about three-quarters of a percentage point this year and next, Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard said last month –- no doubt one reason the S&P 500 index finished just 3.8 percent below its record high on Tuesday despite the growing drumbeat on trade.　Not content with returning fire on pla

THE INVESTOR

• Retail & Consumer

  

  JYP takes second leap with new HQ, strategy

  JYP Entertainment, the 20-year-old K-pop powerhouse that rolled out Twice, 2PM, Suzy, Wonder Girls and Rain, is taking the second leap to drive innovation and expansion to reach more global audiences. Calling it “JYP 2.0,” the agency’s namesake founder and largest shareholder Park Jin-young announced the blueprint for the firm, which includes a new headquarters, organizational changes and debuting non-Korean groups, during his rare appearance at a startup event in Seoul. “We are m

• Samsung

  

  Samsung to miss 350 million smartphone shipment goal

  Samsung Electronics is likely to miss its annual smartphone shipment goal of 350 million units, according to those close to the matter. “Samsung's goal this year is 350 million units, which is higher than originally reported, and considering the lower-than-expected sales of the Galaxy S9 and its struggling mobile business in China, the figure appears to be a far-fetched goal,” an industry source briefed on the matter told The InvestorSamsung’s initial plan was to ship 320 million

• Mobile & Internet

  

  Naver to invest in Sequoia’s new venture fund: report

  Korean internet giant Naver is investing in Sequoia Capital’s new venture capital fund, according to Korea Economic Daily on June 22. The firm reportedly decided the investment in a recent board meeting. The exact amount was not revealed. The Silicon Valley-based Sequoia, an early investor in the most successful tech companies like Apple and Airbnb, is tapping investors to raise up to US$8 billion for its new venture fund Sequoia Global Growth III -- the largest after SoftBank Gro

• Economy

  

  FTC chief vows to cooperate with EU to handle issues in Korea

  Fair Trade Commission head Kim Sang-jo on June 22 said that he will solve economic issues here through learning and cooperating with the European Union. Kim Sang-jo　“One of the most important tasks of Korea is to unite the dividided society and increase social connection,” Kim said during a European Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting in Seoul. “Because European member countries all have different historical background and economic development stages, EU has been moderating diffe

K-POP HERALD

• 

  Twice to drop first Japanese studio album

• 

  Jo Jung-suk, Gummy to tie the knot this fall

• 

  Son Ye-jin dazzles in southern France

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Culture

  

  Master calls for Korea to bring geomancy into open

• Music

  

  Jaurim’s music revolves around humans, world they live in

• Book Review

  

  Now is time to talk about Korean literature

• Industry

  

  Taking global Starbucks phenomenon to next level

PHOTO NEWS

• Soccer

  

  ‘Red Devils’ spill out to the streets for World Cup

  World Cup 2018 kicked off last week in Russia. As for South Korea, the first group match against Sweden on Monday revived the tens of thousands of “Red Devils” to take to the streets to cheer for the national team once again.In front of Gwanghwamun Square in the center of Seoul, 25,000 people wearing the iconic red uniforms and head bands resembling a devil’s horns became the Red Devils, while 5,000 also watched Korea’s first match via large outdoor screens installed at Seoul Square in front of

VIDEO

• Fashion

  

  Private perfume pioneer aims to bring solace through scents

• Soccer

  

  South Korean team trains for World Cup in Russia

• Food

  

  Satisfying sweet tooth with red beans, patbingsu

• Culture

  

  Small bookstores draw book lovers with specialty-driven curation

FEATURES

• North Korea

  

  Trump’s remark on US war remains fuels confusion

  　US President Donald Trump’s remark over the remains of US service members fueled confusion in South Korea, despite the president’s apparent attempt to correct his previous suggestion that the remains have been sent back from North Korea to the US. 　During his meeting with cabinet members Thursday, Trump said the remains of US troops missing in the Korean War were in the process of being returned to the US from North Korea. The president said Wednesday that the remains have been sent back. 　Trum

• Automode

  

  Affordable foreign cars pose threat to South Korean carmakers

  South Korean carmakers now face tougher competition at home as their foreign counterparts are becoming increasingly cost-competitive, on top of their preconceived image as being higher-end or safer.Domestic sales of foreign cars led by German automakers rose 21.7 percent compared to a year prior to 26,133 in May last year, while those of locally produced cars sold by automakers like Hyundai and Kia Motors fell 2 percent to 131,638, according to recent data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry an

• Technology

  

  Samsung focuses on solid-state batteries at forum

  Professor Lee Se-hee of the University of Colorado delivers a presentation on solid-state batteries at a forum hosted by Samsung Electronics on Friday. (Samsung Electronics)Samsung Electronics focused on solid-state batteries as the next generation of lithium-ion batteries at an open forum on related technologies, it said Friday. The South Korean tech titan held the event to keep track of the latest progress in development of the new batteries and share industry cases. The forum held at Seoul Na

• Technology

  

  Fall of Korea’s top carpool app amid financial struggle, regulatory hurdles

  South Korea’s top carpooling startup Poolus has laid off around 70 percent of its employees as part of business restructuring initiated by growing financial difficulties and regulatory hurdles that have weighed down on the app’s growth.　　Poolus confirmed Thursday that its CEO Kim Tae-ho had resigned as of June 7 during a board meeting. The startup said it has been seeing “stagnant earnings and operational difficulties due to regulatory issues” and will “re-examine the viability of its business a