[Herald Interview] Korea must actively regulate against plastic waste: WWF-Korea chief

As South Korea grapples with a significant surge in plastic pollution, the chief of the world’s largest nongovernmental conservation group's Korean office called for the government here to adopt stricter regulations, calling it an "absolutely necessary" measure. “Some environmental issues cannot be resolved through voluntary participation, and targeting plastic waste problems is one of them,” World Wide Fund for Nature-Korea's executive director Park Min-h

Social AffairsMay 15, 2024

[Herald Interview] Carbon breakthrough in Korea: Making diamonds at atmospheric pressure

In the realm of materials science, diamonds have long held a prestigious status for their unparalleled hardness and brilliance. Traditionally, the synthesis of these coveted gems has relied on high-pressure, high-temperature methods, representing a significant barrier to large-scale production. However, recent research by Rodney S. Ruoff and his team at the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials within the Institute for Basic Science has opened a new chapter in diamond synthesis -- growing

IndustryMay 14, 2024

[Herald Interview] S. Korea, EU embrace 'great opportunities' for advancing climate action: envoy

South Korea and the European Union share great opportunities for further cooperation in addressing climate change and its impacts not only on a bilateral level but also across the broader Indo-Pacific region and beyond, EU Ambassador to South Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez said. "For the EU, the Republic of Korea is one of the key like-minded partners in the context of climate and environment, with the shared values and common goals against the climate crisis," Castillo Fernandez sai

Social AffairsMay 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kimsooja expands Bottari philosophy with vast mirror installation

PARIS, France -- The building in the heart of Paris that once housed the Paris Chamber of Commerce and the Paris Stock Exchange was transformed into a contemporary art museum, the Pinault Collection, in 2021, with renovations by architect Tadao Ando. At the center of the building is a rotunda 29 meters across whose floor is covered a total of 418 mirrors. The mirrors are an installation entitled "To Breathe -- Constellation,” by South Korean artist Kim Soo-ja, who professionally goe

CultureMay 13, 2024

[Herald Interview] Sculptor inspired by childhood friend nature

Wood sculptures that reveal both the soft inner bark and the rough outer bark appear to be stacked or clumped together – some may remind you of towers of stones carefully placed on top of each other, found along mountain trails and near mountainside Buddhist temples. The sculptures appear to breathe, their forms like blood vessels. The sculptures were part of artist Kim Yun-shin's solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery, which ran through April 28. "I do not know what kind of art is tre

Arts & DesignMay 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] Hanatour CEO talks reshaping travel landscape

As the travel landscape undergoes profound transformations postpandemic, the golden era of traditional, large-scale travel agencies may be coming to an end. However, Hanatour, Korea's leading travel agency with more than three decades of experience, aims to defy the growing perception. Leveraging extensive tourism data both inbound and outbound, Hanatour CEO Song Mi-sun said the company is seeking ways to pioneer a new era of travel, defined by enhanced safety, efficiency and tailored trave

IndustryMay 6, 2024

[Herald Interview] Director of 'Goodbye Earth' aimed to ask how we would face apocalypse

Kim Jin-min, director of the Netflix original series "Goodbye Earth," under heavy criticism for its difficult plot and complicated sequencing, said he would consider the drama series a success if it could get the audience to ponder what they would do in the face of imminent demise. The 12-part science fiction series, which is based on the popular Japanese fantasy novel “Shumatsu no Furu," tells the story of South Koreans who are told that a meteorite is slated to strike and

TelevisionMay 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] ‘Time to Be Strong’ follows retired K-pop idols’ self-discovery

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- This year’s Jeonju International Film Festival saw its iconic Korean Competition section receive the highest number of submissions ever -- 134 films. While a majority of the submissions focused on female narratives, director Namkoong Sun’s “Time to Be Strong” clearly stood out among the 10 films in competition for the top three awards. The rookie director’s second feature film “Time to Be Strong” follows three retired K-p

FilmMay 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Former IEA chief calls for strong global governance to achieve net zero

The Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, calls for limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, stressing that emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Nobuo Tanaka, former executive director of the International Energy Agency, says that the world needs to do a lot more to countermeasure global warming and achieve these goals. “The IEA’s net zero by 2050 scenario tells us th

IndustryMay 2, 2024

[Herald Interview] Asia’s first Master of Wine empowers Shinsegae’s wine push

Jeannie Cho Lee, the first Asian Master of Wine, has joined hands with Shinsegae Group, the Korean retail giant that is recently making a big push to lead the nation’s soaring luxury wine market. Lee earned the wine industry’s top honor in 2008. Being a member of the exclusive community of 417 Masters of Wine globally, she has built an extensive network within the industry and collaborated with numerous companies such as Watson’s Wine, Ficofi and Berry Brothers & Rudd. Curr

IndustryMay 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Xdinary Heroes shoot for the next level with 'Troubleshooting'

Xdinary Heroes dropped their first studio album “Troubleshooting” comprising 10 songs, including the title track “Little Things,” for which the band members took part in composing and writing lyrics. “This album aims to convey inner stories that are often left unsaid, focusing on honest and perhaps even trivial emotions that people may find difficult to express to others,” said Gaon, the band's guitarist. Bassist Joo-yeon recalled that preparing the first

K-popApril 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Mom’s Touch seeks to replicate success in Japan

Renowned for its signature spicy thigh patty burgers, Mom’s Touch has established itself as a dominant player in South Korea’s fast-food landscape, with the highest number of branches here, despite its relatively late entry to the market. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the fast-food chain has ventured into the Japanese market with the opening of its inaugural branch in Tokyo's Shibuya district on April 16. Mom’s Touch CEO Kim Dong-jeon revealed that the decisi

CompaniesApril 29, 2024

[Herald Interview] Korean banks’ earnings dilemma: More profits, more responsibility

Korean banks may face diminishing profitability due to mounting pressure to take on social responsibilities amid the country's slowing economic growth, a senior official at global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said. Commercial banks, often criticized for making money from excessively high interest rates, are facing stronger pressure from local authorities to return a portion of profits to the provision of public goods. “From the operating environment side, the pressure to commit to s

IndustryApril 29, 2024

[Herald Interview] Mistakes turn into blessings in street performance, director says

Where to draw the line separating the audience from actors in a street performance is tricky for any director. Some are wary of seeing the script derailed by indulging too much into on-the-spot impromptu interaction with spectators. But not so for Song Jae-sung. The director oversees various shows scheduled at Gyeongbokgung this week as part of the annual Seoul festival promoting five palaces from the Joseon era (1392-1910). The nine-day K-Royal Culture Festival, now in its 10th year, kicked off

PeopleApril 28, 2024

[Herald Interview] Guggenheim Museum makes a push for technology-based art with LG

As technology continues to evolve, art also expands its horizon with artists exploring technology-based art. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s LG Guggenheim Art and Technology Initiative launched last year aims to support such pioneering artists. Noam Segal, an LG Electronics associate curator, considers pioneering artists to be those who inspire understandings of how technology shapes and is shaped by society. Segal joined the museum to helm the five-year initiative with Korean conglomer

Arts & DesignApril 26, 2024

[Herald Interview] Kukje Gallery's Lee Hyun-sook brings Korean artists to Venice Biennale

It was almost a decade ago that the Kukje Gallery brought dansaekhwa artists to the Venice Biennale, a watershed moment for Korean contemporary art as it came under the global spotlight with the artists garnering international recognition. Lee Hyun-sook, founder of the Kukje Gallery, recalled why she pushed for the exhibition at the time – to present the authenticity of Korean art. The biennale’s collateral exhibition “Dansaekhwa” in 2015 showed works by Park Seo-bo, Chun

Arts & DesignApril 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'

As South Korea grapples with a shrinking population, it is increasingly turning to foreign workers to fill crucial roles. Today, labor from overeseas is concentrated in low-paying unskilled jobs, but in the future, many will be hired to perform highly skilled work, according to Kim Young-Jung, president of the Korea Employment Information Service. Highly skilled jobs may include engineers, scientists, teachers, managers and IT professionals, he said. “Korea is getting more and more in need

Social AffairsApril 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] 2 new villains in ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ differentiate themselves in the details

“The Roundup: Punishment,” the fourth installment of the country’s most successful crime action franchise, features two new villains. Because the audience still remains captivated by the first installment’s Jang Chen (Yoon Kye-sang), an ethnic Korean gangster from Harbin who collects debts, and the second installment’s psychopathic serial killer, Kang Hae-sang (Son Suk-ku), many moviegoers are anticipating something new from the new villains, hoping perhaps they&#

FilmApril 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' features even more advanced VFX techniques: producers

Since its first outing in 2011, Planet of Apes reboot has demonstrated the pinnacle of visual effects in its realistic depiction of primates. The series has earned global recognition for its VFX techniques, including visual effects nominations at both the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards. Now, a fourth installment, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," is in cinemas, seven years after the previous one. According to the producers, the movie showcases even more advanced visual effects, a cul

FilmApril 24, 2024

[Herald Interview] Bridging Korea, Philippines for better future

Building bilateral ties between Korea and the Philippines could be a means to boosting the livelihoods of the people of each country for Luis Chavit Singson, chairman of the Philippines’ LCS Group of Companies, and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. Singson and Pacquiao, longtime friends and investment partners, visited Seoul this week in a search for new business opportunities, along with Secretary of Agrarian Reform Conrado Estrella. Over the years, the two have been highly interested in coop

IndustryApril 23, 2024