SPOTLIGHT

• Economy

  

  Trump’s KORUS FTA opt-out a ‘real possibility’: expert

  By Julie Kim Jackson

  Amid continued ambiguity regarding the fate of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, some industry experts are predicting high odds that US President Donald Trump may actually terminate the trade deal, following North Korea’s escalating threats, which are adding tension to the political and economic climate between South Korea and the US. 　“While some people view Trump’s threats as being bluffs, in my expert opinion, Trump deciding to back out of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement is a real possibil

• Music

  

  Glen Check tells stories of Seoul, curiosity, experience

  By Rumy Doo

  Critics’ darling, electronic duo returns with trans-genre EP album

• Television

  

  ‘Shadow Singer’ vows to unearth more hidden gems

  By Yoon Min-sik

  Despite skeptics’ view that it is but a copy of other music variety shows, “Shadow Singer” is seeking to become a regular on tvN, with officials confirming eight more episodes.The creators of the show said Monday that the cable channel would air at least eight more episodes of the program. “It was originally supposed to be only eight, but it was extended due to favorable fan response. It will be extended further, if ratings keep climbing,” said Min Chul-ki, the show’s producer.The program aims t

• Finance

  

  Markets in red on NK downward momentum

  By Son Ji-hyoung

  Markets in South Korea took a downturn Monday in the wake of the most powerful nuclear bomb test by North Korea on Sunday, drawing a mixed forecast on the aftereffect from local analysts.The main bourse index Kospi closed at 2,329.65, down 1.19 percent, while the tech-heavy secondary Kosdaq tumbled 1.68 percent to 650.89. 　 (Yonhap)Market bellwether Samsung Electronics‘ stock price fluctuated, starting 2.02 percent lower in the opening and closing at 0.95 percent lower.Of the Kospi-listed top 20

LATEST NEWS

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  North Korea

  N. Korean delegation heads to Russia for regional forum involving S. Korean leader

  A North Korean delegation left for Russia Monday, the North's state media reported, for a regional economic forum that will also involve a South Korean government delegation headed by President Moon Jae-in.The North Korean delegation, led by Kim Yong-jae, minister of external economic relations, left for Vladivostok for the Third Oriental Economic Forum, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported.(Yonhap)The forum, better known as the Eastern Economic Forum, will be held Wednesday and Thurs

• 

  World News

  UN accuses Burundi govt. of crimes against humanity

  UN investigators on Monday accused Burundi's government of crimes against humanity, including executions and torture, and urged the International Criminal Court to open a case "as soon as possible". The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi said it had "reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed and continue to be committed in Burundi," pointing a finger at "the highest level of the state".The three investigators, appointed by the Human Rights Counci

• 

  World News

  China may be the real target of North Korea's pressure

  North Korea's escalating nuclear provocations are putting putative ally China in an increasing bind, and may be part of a strategy to twist Beijing's arm into orchestrating direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington, analysts said.The North's Kim dynasty has repeatedly used nuclear brinkmanship over the years in a push to be taken seriously by the United States but traditionally avoided causing major embarrassment to China, its sole major ally and economic lifeline. Chinese President Xi Jinpi

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  World News

  Suu Kyi and Myanmar face chorus of anger over Rohingya crisis

  Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai and Muslim countries in Asia led a growing chorus of criticism on Monday aimed at Myanmar and its civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi over the plight of its Rohingya Muslim minority.Nearly 90,000 Rohingya have flooded into Bangladesh in the past 10 days following an uptick in fighting between militants and Myanmar's military in strife-torn western Rakhine state.The impoverished region bordering Bangladesh has been a crucible of communal tensions between Muslims

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  Politics

  Opposition party doubles down on claim of govt. attempt to control media

  The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Monday ramped up its claim of a government attempt to control the media, drawing fire from the ruling party that urged a united front amid North Korea's escalating nuclear threats.Dozens of LKP lawmakers visited the prosecution and Korea Communications Commission to protest a court's recent issuance of a writ to detain MBC CEO Kim Jang-kyom over alleged unfair labor practices, arguing it is a scheme to hold sway over public broadcasters.The conservative

• 

  North Korea

  Moon to speak with Russian, German leaders over N. Korea

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in is set to hold talks with his Russian counterpart and Germany chancellor later Monday in telephone conversations widely expected to focus on ways to rein in North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile provocations, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said. (Yonhap)Moon will first hold a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at 9:30 p.m. (Seoul time).His call with Russian President Vladimir Putin will begin at 11:30 p.m., according to Cheo

• 

  North Korea

  Seoul hardens line on Pyongyang, eyes powerful US arms

  Seoul’s North Korean policies will shift to give military issues more weight as President Moon Jae-in seeks punitive measures “of the highest order” following Sunday’s nuclear test, it was revealed Monday. Speaking to the parliamentary defense committee, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo said that the shift was decided at Sunday’s National Security Council meeting. “At yesterday’s NSC meeting, the consensus was that the direction the government should take is strengthening (readiness i

• 

  North Korea

  North Korea may fire ICBM toward North Pacific: spy agency

  North Korea may fire an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the North Pacific as early as this week, Seoul’s spy agency was quoted as saying in a parliamentary briefing Monday. In a closed session, National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon briefed lawmakers on indications that Pyongyang may be preparing to launch another ballistic missile, possibly an ICBM, around the anniversary of the regime’s foundation slated for Saturday, or the establishment of the ruling Workers’ Party of Kore

• 

  North Korea

  North Korea conducts sixth nuclear test

  　North Korea on Sunday conducted its sixth nuclear test, claiming it was now capable of producing intercontinental ballistic missiles fitted with thermonuclear warheads. 　Several nuclear weapons states around the world carried out these experiments throughout the 20th century, but North Korea is believed to be the only country to do so after 2000.

• 

  Politics

  Choo receives flak after proposing envoy dispatch to North

  South Korea’s ruling party chief on Monday proposed sending special envoys to both North Korea and the United States to alleviate heightened tensions following the communist regime’s recent nuclear test. Her idea, however, was immediately rejected by conservative lawmakers who said the liberal leader was being naive and lacking in understanding of the gravity of the situation. While denouncing Pyongyang for Sunday’s nuclear test, the Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae reiterate

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Columnists

  

  Why hasn’t Rex Tillerson resigned?

  By Korea Herald

  President Donald Trump’s top lieutenants are going rogue again.Last weekend, his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, refused to say whether Trump’s statements about violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, reflected American values. Trump’s chief economic aide, Gary Cohn, suggested that the president was wrong to equate white supremacists with “citizens standing up for equality” and said the administration “must do better.” His secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, told troops that because of internal

• Columnists

  

  (2): Baekbeom would free NK’s political prisoners

  By Robert Park

  “In every way, I reject dictatorial rules and tendencies. I shout to our compatriots. Be careful lest we find ourselves under a dictatorship. I shout that we should build a nation in which each individual among our people enjoys freedom of speech to its fullest and things are done according to opinions of our entire people. ... A nation that is as wide as the earth and as free as the sky.”- Kim Koo (1876-1949), “My Wish”As evidenced by the above citation from Baekbeom’s 1947 statement of politi

THE INVESTOR

• Mobile & Internet

  

  'Apple’s OLED iPhone specs not yet finalized'

  Korean parts suppliers for Apple’s first OLED iPhone are said to have started their shipments just recently, hinting at the phone’s delayed launch no earlier than November. “We started our shipments from late August,” an official from a local Apple supplier told The Investor on condition of anonymity on Sept. 4. He said his firm usually ships parts for Apple in the initial phase of the supply chain, declining to further elaborate. “Apple has not yet informed us the exact supply vo

• The Investor

  

  [DECODED X] An exodus?

  The Sept. 1 issue of The Investor's blockbuster newsletter DECODED X is out. Check out some of the highlights.AN EXODUS? 　There are rumors of Samsung Electronics moving to the US, more specifically, California. Samsung, of course, is refusing to say anything, but according to industry sources, the company is considering relocating overseas. On top of Lee Jae-yong getting a 5 year sentence, the new government comes with an assortment of regulations for conglomerates. And it’s not j

• Automobiles

  

  Hyundai replaces China head amid sales decline

  Hyundai Motor has replaced the head of its Chinese unit amid plunging sales, largely due to heightened geopolitical tensions between Seoul and Beijing. The Korean auto giant named Tao Hung Than as the new president of Beijing Hyundai, a joint venture with Beijing Automotive, replacing Chang Won-shin, effective Sept. 4. Chang, who resumed the top China job last October, will return to the headquarters in Seoul. Tao is known as an expert of the Chinese market and played a crucial ro

• Automobiles

  

  Genesis G70 to debut in US early next year

  Hyundai Motor gave media a peek at its luxury marque Genesis’ all-new sports sedan G70, with plans to release the car in the US early next year. “We are planning to launch Genesis G70 in the North American market sometime early next year,” said Hwang Chung-yul, senior vice president at the Genesis Project Management Center, at a media preview held in Seoul on Sept. 1. “We will gradually roll out the car in other regions.” Prior to G70 global debut slated for Sept. 15, Hyundai unve

K-POP HERALD

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  2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon joins military Monday

• 

  Lee Jong-suk, Suzy share romantic moment

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  Park Bo-gum‘s dandy fashion shoot

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Culture

  

  BBC journalist Francine Stock talks about Korean films’ richness, complexity and honesty

• Industry

  

  ‘Smartphone OLED will face oversupply by 2020’

• Industry

  

  ‘Korea needs stronger botulinum toxin regulations’

• Diplomatic Circuit

  

  Planning for smart, sustainable future with Singapore

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Chinatown in Incheon, still at the heart of Korea-China ties, history

  By Son Ji-hyoung

  A gold-embellished, red-lacquered pailou, or Chinese arch, looms over a street on the shore of South Korea’s port city of Incheon.The blue-colored board attached to the 11-meter high structure reads Zhonghuajia, Chinese for ‘Chinese avenue,’ marking the entrance to Incheon Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in the nation. For over 130 years, Incheon Chinatown has been standing as the only officially recognized one of its kind in Korea since 1884, when Joseon Dynasty leased parts of Incheon to Qing

VIDEO

• Social affairs

  

  Extended Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway unveiled

• People

  

  Meet Korean Billy, the internet sensation of 2017

• Culture

  

  Slimy ‘liquid monsters’ captivate Korean adults

• Industry

  

  Beauty meets IT for customized experience

FEATURES

• Economy

  

  Korean firms’ woes over THAAD deepen

  By Kim Kyung-ho

  South Korean companies struggling with restraints on their businesses in China are likely to come under more pressure with the deployment of additional launchers of a US anti-missile battery here set to begin as early as this week.Beijing seems unlikely to ease its stance on the issue in the wake of North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test Sunday.China began to take retaliatory measures in July last year when Seoul agreed to deploy the US missile shield known as the Terminal High Altit

• Technology

  

  Harman CEO: Samsung will outdo Google, Amazon with AI speaker

  By Song Su-hyun

  Samsung, Harman accelerate cooperation on new AI platform

• Social affairs

  

  Indonesian woman’s nightclub beating draws angry reaction

  By Ock Hyun-ju

  An Indonesian woman claimed Sunday that she was discriminated against and beaten up by a Korean bouncer of a club because of her nationality, in an incident that drew a lot of social media attention over the weekend.   　Jessica Setia, a 21-year-old Indonesian national who has studied here for two years, suffered a 0.5-centimeter-deep wound on her lips and a bruise on her chin as a result of her brawl with the male bouncer of a club in Busan around midnight Friday. 　Setia claimed the Korean man w

• Music

  

  ‘Culture President’ reigns once again with BTS

  By Hong Dam-young

  Pop icon Seo Taiji shows he’s still got it after 25 years