SPOTLIGHT

• Social affairs

  

  Man fined for altering President Moon’s profile as ‘N. Korean’

  By Kim Min-joo

  A software company CEO surnamed Yang was sentenced to a criminal fine Friday for altering President Moon Jae-in and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung’s profile on Wikipedia as “North Korean politician.”　The Seoul Central District Court fined Yang 4 million won ($3,500) for defamation and violation of the Public Official Election Act.　Yang had been indicted for editing the nationality information of Moon and Lee, then presidential candidates from “Republic of Korea” to “Democratic People’s Republic of

• Music

  

  IU to drop second cover EP this month

  By Kim So-yeon

  Singer IU will release her new album “A Flower Bookmark Two” in mid-September, her agency FAVE Entertainment said Friday. The album is the singer’s second cover EP following “A Flower Bookmark” released in May 2014. The 2014 album featured the singer’s cover versions of K-pop classics from 1980s to 90s, such as Kim Chang-wan’s “The Meaning of You,” Kim Wan-sun’s “Pierrot Smiles at Us” and Kim Kwang-seok’s “Flower.” It received favorable reactions both from critics and the general public, sweepin

• Industry

  

  Alleged Samsung Galaxy S7 explosion causes severe burns

  By Kim Min-joo

  A Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone, a model previously offered in exchange for the recalled Galaxy Note 7, caught fire while charging, a Korean phone owner claims. The 20-year-old user said Wednesday that her Galaxy S7 smartphone she had left charging in the room caught fire at around 3 a.m. on Aug. 14.Sparks from the fire burned the floor and furniture in her bedroom, as well as her hands, resulting in severe blisters. (Yonhap)The user clarified she has been using Samsung’s official charger and the

• Social affairs

  

  Teacher-pupil sex incident leads to misguided witch hunt

  By Lim Jeong-yeo

  Personal data about unrelated teachers leaked online following sex case of female teacher, 12-year-old student

LATEST NEWS

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  Social affairs

  Moon renews vow to help broadcasters secure independence, objectivity

  President Moon Jae-in on Friday renewed his pledge to help local broadcasters secure independence from political power and objectivity, stressing their responsibility to protect citizens‘ right to know and freedom of speech.　Moon made the remarks during a ceremony marking Broadcasting Day, as some labor unions of local broadcasters are poised to go on strike next week, demanding their presidents step down over their allegedly political influence on news production. South Korea President Moon Jae

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  Finance

  Ex-Seoul chief of U.S. equity fund released: ministry

  The former Korea branch chief of U.S. equity firm Lone Star has been released in Italy, Seoul‘s justice ministry said Friday, dimming the prospects of his return to Korea for an inquiry into alleged irregularities surrounding the 2003 sale of a local bank.　The ministry said that a Milano-based court has recently set free Steven Lee, the Korean-American who headed the Seoul office between 1998 and 2005, apparently because the statute of limitations of the charges against him had expired.Lee was c

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  Social affairs

  Court issues warrant to detain MBC president for labor probe

  A Seoul court issued a warrant to detain the chief of public broadcaster MBC for a week for an investigation into alleged unfair labor practices, prosecutors said Friday. 　Kim Jang-kyom, the company‘s embattled CEO and president, has refused several times to answer the summons by the Seoul regional office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor for questioning, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office said. 　“This is an issue that the ministry has been investigating now.　Thus, it will dete

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  Industry

  ITCCK, Edrington Korea promote pre-dinner wine

  The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea and Edrington Korea are holding a weeklong promotion to promote Campari, a predinner wine imported from Italy.The campaign, “Reddy to Italy,” kicked off Monday to first promote Italy’s aperitivo, a part of the country’s dining culture, and Campari, one of its representative predinner wine brands. The word “reddy” represents the color of the wine and was picked to raise consumer interest in the world of Italian wine, the company said. The Aperitivo Week ru

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  Industry

  Earphones becoming standalone, convenient and smarter

  In the premium earphone market traditionally dominated by high-end audio producers, smartphone giants have jumped into the race by integrating with their advanced handset technologies. Global smartphone makers Apple, Sony, Samsung and LG are luring music lovers with more standalone, convenient and smarter earphones, moving beyond sound quality by removing wires, adopting ergonomically designed headsets and integrating with software in their smartphones. Bundled, high-end earphones for smartphone

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  Technology

  'Leadership vacuum deals serious blow to Samsung'

  Samsung’s home appliances head says family ownership backbone of Samsung‘s success today, shares his encounter with heir in jail

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  Education

  'In era of AI, women will thrive in men’s world'

  Ewha Womans University president aims to nurture future talent, rebuild school’s tarnished image

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  Automode

  Five Korean carmakers' sales fall 1.6% on weak overseas demand

  South Korea's five carmakers said Friday their combined sales fell 1.6 percent on-year last month due mainly to weak demand from overseas markets. The five automakers -- Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Korea Co., Renault Samsung Motors Corp. and SsangYong Motor Co. -- sold a total of 631,870 vehicles in August, down from 642,170 units a year earlier, according to the companies' sales data. Their domestic sales fell 12 percent to 120,847 cars last month from the previous year's 107,677 un

• 

  Viewpoints

  Americans are a little too relaxed about nukes

  North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program isn’t the only news to unnerve arms-control experts this summer. A new survey has revealed that Americans are surprisingly willing to make a first nuclear strike -- and kill millions of civilians abroad.The survey casts doubt on the power of what experts call the “nuclear taboo,” said Stanford University historian David Holloway, author of “Stalin and the Bomb.” The idea, or hope, behind the concept is that it’s not just luck that humans haven’t dr

• Editorial

  Nothing but loyalty

  Envoys to major countries lack experience, expertise

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Viewpoints

  

  Americans are a little too relaxed about nukes

  By Bloomberg

  North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program isn’t the only news to unnerve arms-control experts this summer. A new survey has revealed that Americans are surprisingly willing to make a first nuclear strike -- and kill millions of civilians abroad.The survey casts doubt on the power of what experts call the “nuclear taboo,” said Stanford University historian David Holloway, author of “Stalin and the Bomb.” The idea, or hope, behind the concept is that it’s not just luck that humans haven’t dr

• Viewpoints

  

  China’s car sector needs a shakeup

  By Bloomberg

  China’s SUV specialist Great Wall Motor Co. may, in the end, never get its hands on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s Jeep division. But expect more and more Chinese automakers to seek out foreign acquisitions. The Chinese government has long dreamed of creating a globally competitive car industry, and having Chinese automakers purchase established companies and brands would seem one obvious way to accomplish its goal.Unless the government rethinks its own industrial policies, however, the strategy

THE INVESTOR

• Samsung

  

  [IFA] 'Leadership vacuum deals serious blow to Samsung'

  BERLIN -- Amid mounting uncertainty over the future of Samsung, with its de facto leader Lee Jae-yong in jail, the world’s largest chip and handset maker has recently lost a business opportunity to acquire an artificial intelligence technology company, said one of the top brass of the company on Aug. 31.  Lee Jae-yongIn a rare speech, Yoon Boo-keun, president and CEO of the consumer electronics division of Samsung Electronics, expressed concerns about the unprecedented leadership

• Mobile & Internet

  

  Apple plans to launch 6-inch screen iPhone next year

   Apple has started the development of a 6-inch OLED iPhone with aims to launch the largest-ever screen iPhone next year, industry sources said on Aug. 31.The largest iPhone available now is a 5.5-inch LCD model. Sources said Apple plans to launch two OLED iPhones next year -- a 5.85-inch and 6.46-inch models. The 5.58-inch is the same size screen of the upcoming iPhone 8 this year. Apple has started development work with Samsung Display, the sole OLED supplier, and other parts makers ea

• Samsung

  

  Samsung Galaxy S9 likely to debut in Jan.

  Samsung Electronics’ next flagship smartphone Galaxy S9 is highly likely to debut earlier than usual, possibly in January, The Bell reported on Aug. 31. The report said Samsung Display’s OLED panel shipments will start in November, two months in advance of the current S8 whose display shipments started in January this year before the phone’s unveiling in March. Galaxy S8Display panels are usually shipped earlier than other parts such as camera modules and cases. After the panel sh

• Deals

  

  Yum! Brands sells Pizza Hut Korea

  US restaurant giant Yum! Brands announced on Aug. 31 that it has sold its 100 percent stake in Pizza Hut Korea to a Korean investment firm. The deal price has not been revealed. The Korean unit’s ownership rights will be handed over to Orchard One, a newly established firm for the deal by Korean investment consulting firm KHI. Pizza Hut Korea said it will continue operations through a master franchise contract with the US headquarters. Despite the ownership change, the company add

K-POP HERALD

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  EXO listed in Guinness World Records

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  ‘Legend of Blue Sea’ cleared of plagiarism

• 

  Park Bo-gum in tug of war with girlfriend

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

• Travel

  

  Signs of fall in the sky in Seoul

  By Park Hyun-koo

  Cool breeze and a clear sky signaled the arrival of fall in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday. Daytime temperature dropped to an average of 18 degrees Celsius nationwide, creating an optimal weather for outdoor activities. A dry spell is anticipated in the following weeks. Photographed by Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com)

VIDEO

• People

  

  Meet Korean Billy, the internet sensation of 2017

• Culture

  

  Slimy ‘liquid monsters’ captivate Korean adults

• Industry

  

  Beauty meets IT for customized experience

• Technology

  

  A tattoo that is painless, removable and safe

FEATURES

• Film

  

  Busan Film Fest announces New Currents nominees

  By Rumy Doo

  The Busan International Film Festival announced the nominees for its New Currents category, which awards up-and-coming Asian directors, Friday.　The selections provide distinctive perspectives and themes found throughout east and southwest Asia, BIFF said in a statement. 　Three of the nominated films are Korean pieces that convincingly tell tragedies in different ways. Shin Dong-seok’s “Last Child,” about parents’ ambivalent feelings toward a child who survived an accident that claimed the life o

• Music

  

  Lena Park to become KBS World Radio DJ

  By Rumy Doo

  Power vocalist Lena Park will be debuting as a radio DJ on the program “One Fine Day” on KBS World Radio.　“It’s been my longtime dream to be a DJ,” she told reporters at a press conference Friday at the Yeouido KBS headquarters. 　“One Fine Day” will be delivering Korean music and musicians’ stories to listeners in English. “I want to make a program that can get close to and offer good music to foreigners in Korea and people abroad,” the veteran R&B singer said. 　Park, who married a Korean-Americ

• Film

  

  Korean film's depiction of brutally abused women -- Is it too much?

  By Rumy Doo

  Recent thriller “V.I.P.” at center of a whirlwind debate about artistic expression, gender sensitivity

• North Korea

  

  South Korea to upgrade Kaesong guidelines amid UNSC sanctions

  By Jung Min-kyung

  South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Thursday it will launch a research project that aims to overhaul and upgrade the operational guidelines of the now-suspended Kaesong Industrial Complex. “It is necessary to draw an expansive management plan of the Kaesong industrial complex by improving its operational guidelines, to prepare for a progress in the inter-Korean relationship,” a Unification Ministry official said Thursday. North Korean workers at Kaesong Industrial Complex. (Yonhap)The joint