[Herald Interview] Actor-director Kai Ko uses experience to guide actors

A decade after Taiwanese acting heartthrob Kai Ko, also known as Ko Chen-tung, attended Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for the first time, he is returning this year not as an actor, but for his directorial debut. “I’ve been to various film festivals around the world but I really like Bifan’s vibrant and dynamic mood as well as its concertlike opening ceremony. As I have visited this time as a director, I feel like I’m showing my baby to the world,” Ko

FilmJuly 4, 2023

[Herald Interview] EU seeks cooperation with South Korea to de-risk from China amid supply chain woes

The European Union is keen on cooperating with South Korea in chips, digital trade and clean technology, the European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said Friday, amid mounting geopolitical uncertainties. "It is important that like-minded partners cooperate by coordinating policies, align on issues related to economic security and discuss trade-distorting practices, not only to ensure a level global playing field, but also to guarantee that supply chains are resilient to ext

IndustryJuly 4, 2023

[Herald Interview] Chip wars: No end in sight

For those who may believe in the ideal of "free trade," it might seem "protectionist" for governments to intervene in international trade and provide subsidies to nurture their own industries. But these days, semiconductor powerhouses such as the US, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, are all racing to present hefty subsidy programs to boost their own industries based on the fear that the lack of governmental support will decide the fate of their key strategic sectors. The world&

IndustryJuly 3, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea at forefront of innovation, leadership: GSMA execs

SHANGHAI -- Top executives of GSMA, the host of the Mobile World Congress, said South Korea is a perfect place to learn about the digital transformation since it has been at the forefront of technological innovation and leadership. “Korea was one of the very first (countries) to launch 5G (network) services. It's got such vibrant operators and a technology ecosystem that are globally known and respected,” John Hoffman, CEO and director at GSMA Limited, said in an interview with

TechnologyJuly 2, 2023

[Herald Interview] Louis Pere & Fils hopes to cement presence in Korea

Louis Max-Starkman, the sixth-generation chairman of Louis Pere & Fils to succeed the family's winery business, said he takes prides in Louis Pere & Fils’ unique method of wine production, which he described as a combination of tradition and modern transformation. Established in 1859 in Beaune, a small town in the center of the French winemaking Burgundy region, Louis Pere & Fils follows just one rule, according to Max-Starkman. “We have focused on producing high qua

FoodJuly 1, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea's favorite French writer Bernard Werber says he has achieved his goal as a writer

French science fiction writer Bernard Werber has returned to Korea for the ninth time, marking the 30th anniversary of the first publication of the Korean translation of his debut novel, “Empire of the Ants.” “Visiting Korea has always been a pleasure,” said Werber during a press conference held in Seoul on Wednesday. “I think Korean readers are very future-oriented, and the success of my books is thanks to them.” The French writer expressed his gratitude to K

BooksJune 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'We just want to be ourselves'

So Sung-uk, 32, met his spouse Kim Yong-min, 33, 10 years ago when they were fulfilling their alternative military service as social service agents. They fell in love like any other couple, decided to live together, and promised to spend the rest of their lives together. But the two men faced a series of challenges as a married couple. Not only did they face a lack of acceptance from their families during the first few years, but they also encountered frequent hurdles in their daily lives becaus

Social AffairsJune 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] WEi ends odyssey of 'Love' with sixth EP

Boy band WEi is marking the end of its odyssey of love with the new EP "Love Pt. 3: Eternally." The new album, the sixth EP from the sextet, comes out on Thursday, marking their return to the music scene after eight months. Ahead of their return, the members held a joint press interview last Thursday in Seoul. The final episode of the band's love trilogy "Eternally" takes the topic of love to a more profound level and addresses the universal emotion of self-love. With th

K-popJune 29, 2023

[Herald Interview] Christian Burgos finds roots, opportunities in Mexico

In 2017, Mexican TV personality Christian Burgos told The Korea Herald that his dream was to one day become Mexico's ambassador to Korea. Although not quite there yet, the 30-year-old star has stepped closer to that dream, taking on various roles beyond the small screen to connect the two countries. Returning to The Korea Herald's building after six years, Burgos said, "I still have that dream with me, but so much has happened since. The pace and direction of my life has changed.

TelevisionJune 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Lamborghini Revuelto is sold out in Korea until 2025’

South Korea has become Lamborghini’s eighth-largest market in the world and No.1 in the Asia Pacific last year, selling over 400 units for the first time. With the growing strategic importance of the Korean market, the Italian high-end car brand is upping the ante here with its first hybrid sports car Revuelto, according to the company’s regional chief. “(Even before the official launch,) through pre-orders, the allocated number of cars until 2025 for the Korean market has comp

MobilityJune 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Wine popularity among Koreans, opportunity for Georgia: deputy minister

The growing popularity of wine among young Koreans is a promising opportunity for Georgia, Yuri Nozadze, Georgian deputy minister of environmental protection and agriculture, told The Korea Herald on Friday. Nozadze was in Seoul last week to attend the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2023, where 14 Georgian wine producers showcased their extensive range of wines. The expo engaged Korean consumers through wine tastings and establishing potential partnerships, Nozadze said expressing

Foreign AffairsJune 26, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea an ideal landing spot for megasized data centers

John Pritchard, the head of the tenant advisory group and global services at Cushman & Wakefield Korea, calls Korea a competitive investment destination for hyperscale data centers -- enormous tech complexes with soaring demand for data processing and storage in the burgeoning era of artificial intelligence. “The Korean market is primed for hyperscale data center investment,” the executive at the Korean unit of the US commercial real estate services firm told The Korea Herald in

IndustryJune 25, 2023

[Herald Interview] Cross-border cooperation drives success of Chevrolet Trax Crossover

The number of preorders for the second-generation Chevrolet Trax Crossover surpassed 13,000 a week after the Korean office of General Motors launched the preorders in March. The figure set a new record for the American auto brand as the vehicle with the most preorders in a week, according to GM. The vehicle’s relatively cheap price tag starting at 20.5 million won ($15,900) is likely to have contributed to the sales rush, but the automaker is attributing both the vehicle’s immersive

MobilityJune 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Living witness recounts forging of US, South Korea's 'blood alliance'

At the age of 16, Lee In-bum made his way to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, in July 1951 amid the chaos of the Korean War, which had broken out the year before and torn the nation into pieces. Although he was too young to enlist officially in the South Korean military, he was set on finding a way to help defend his homeland against the forces of North Korea and China. Through his service, the war veteran said he bore witness to the making of the "blood alliance" between South Korea and t

DefenseJune 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Restraints are off for return of ‘The Zone: Survival Mission’

Disney+’s “The Zone: Survival Mission,” has scaled up the set pieces for its second series. Using escape room-style games, the first season of “The Zone: Survival Mission” threw a star-studded cast of Yu Jae-seok, Lee Kwang-soo and Kwon Yuri into catastrophic situations such as a zombie apocalypse, water shortage, gambling addiction and more, for four hours. In an interview with local reporters at a cafe in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, directors Cho Hyo-jin and Kim Don

TelevisionJune 21, 2023

[Herald Interview] Koreans' 'discerning taste’ spurs Mercedes-Benz's growth

Mercedes-Benz Korea sold 80,976 units last year -- the first time an auto importer has sold more than 80,000 in a year here -- while claiming the top spot for the seventh consecutive year among foreign automakers in South Korea. Thomas Klein, who is wrapping up his 2 1/2-year tenure as the CEO of the German carmaker’s Korean office this week, says the auto brand’s success here is linked to Korean customers’ "discerning taste." “I believe South Koreans in general

MobilityJune 21, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea’s 1st-generation activist fund aims to become corporate savior, not raider

South Korean private equity house Korea Corporate Governance Improvement’s Managing Partner Lim Hyun-chol said the performance of activist funds should not be judged by the time frame of their investments. “The significance lies not in the length of the investment period but rather in the actual changes brought about in the company after the activist fund's calls,” Lim said during a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “We see that it is unfair to accuse us of &

IndustryJune 21, 2023

[Herald Interview] Korea-Germany partnership crucial for sustainable future: KGCCI chief

The Germany-Korea partnership holds potential for significant progress in renewable energy development and a greener, more sustainable future, said Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI) President Martin Henkelmann in an interview with The Korea Herald on Monday. Referring to the goals pledged by Germany and Korea to become carbon neutral by 2045 and 2050, respectively, Henkelmann said those net-zero emissions goals are pushing companies to increase corporate efforts in decarboni

Diplomatic CircuitJune 20, 2023

[Herald Interview] Violinist Randall Goosby plays ways to more inclusive classical music scene

American violinist Randall Goosby had a profound revelation at the age of 14: Composers could be Black. That was seven years after he had started playing the violin. Goosby, the son of an African American father and a mother who is a third-generation Korean who grew up in Japan, was troubled by the realization, which only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was a lot of attention on the divide between races in America and I think in classical music that divide is as clear as i

PerformanceJune 20, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Bloodhounds’ producer, actors bond tightly after final two episodes rewritten

Director Jason Kim’s first-ever drama series “Bloodhounds,” which released on Netflix on June 9, runs for a total of eight hours, about four times longer than his previous films “Midnight Runners” and “The Divine Fury.” Yet with an unexpected setback involving the series’ main female actor, the effort and time invested in bringing the eight-episode series to life ended up far exceeding the director’s initial expectations of a mere fourfold in

FilmJune 18, 2023