Most Popular
-
1
Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
-
2
Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
-
3
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
4
[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
-
5
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
6
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
-
7
Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
-
8
[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
-
9
Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
-
10
On May Day, labor unions blast Yoon's foreign nanny proposal
-
[Herald Interview] Peace treaty for Korean Peninsula should be on agenda for Trump-Kim summit, peace activist says
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Tensions are easing on the Korean Peninsula, a region where the wounds of war still remain. With the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set to take place within a couple of weeks, hopes are high that their meeting will be a meaningful step toward peace on the peninsula.One of the most crucial tasks the two leaders should focus on at the upcoming summit is drawing up a peace treaty to bring a formal end to the 1950-
Foreign AffairsFeb. 14, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] ‘I have fans in their 20s now’: ‘SKY Castle’ star Yum Jung-ah
JTBC hit show “SKY Castle” came to an end earlier this month, but the buzz around the show lingers on, as impressed viewers and late-comers continue to discuss the series online, amid a torrent of tweets, TV commercials and comedy skits. At the center of the discussion is Yum Jung-ah, who plays the disciplinarian mother Han Seo-jin. She takes strict parenting and education craze to a level not seen on Korean TV before, but as extreme as she may be, her character proved to be a ratings success.“I
TelevisionFeb. 11, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] ‘Chocolate is all about love after all’
Stepping inside chocolate shop Piaf, the aroma of chocolate fills the nose. The smell is captivating, exciting even those who are not sweet-toothed. The floor plan of the chocolate paradise is relatively simple, without chairs or tables. The furnished atmosphere resembles that of a fine jewelry boutique. A lone refrigerated showcase stands at the center, open without a glass cover on top. Inside, the stainless steel case is jeweled with a variety of chocolate confections. A chocolatier picks up
FoodFeb. 7, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Netmarble eyes growing business in Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand -- There’s a reason why Korean game makers are foraying into Thailand. The Southeast Asian nation’s game market is currently valued at 500 billion won ($445 million), with an annual growth rate of 20 to 30 percent indicating strong buying power. Netmarble Thailand accounts for 3 percent of the total annual revenue of Netmarble, one of the early Korean pioneers in the Thai market. The Korean games company recorded 2.4 trillion won in revenue in 2017. “The figure should b
IndustryFeb. 7, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Twitter: K-pop’s great leveler
While Twitter is headquartered in San Francisco, the social media giant’s K-pop capital is its office in Seoul. At the helm of the K-pop hub is Kim Yeonjeong, the head of global content partnerships at Twitter Korea.“It’s been a while since K-pop took off in Asia, and it’s safe to say it has now expanded its reach to a wider audience worldwide -- BTS being one example,” Kim said, adding she is proud to witness the genre’s globalization.As a Billboard charts staple, United Nations speaker and 201
PerformanceJan. 31, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] ‘Sky Castle’ star Chani talks stardom, dancing to the show’s theme song
With its final episode to air this week, JTBC’s hit drama “Sky Castle” has been one of the most successful shows of the year so far. And Chani from boy band SF9, whose real name is Kang Chan-hee, is among the cast members who have seen the series take off and win the hearts of viewers across the country over the past few weeks. Sitting in FNC Entertainment’s office in Gangnam, the singer-actor grinned as he recalled the end-of-show party on Saturday, where he said everyone, including actors, sta
TelevisionJan. 29, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Rebranded SoftBank Ventures Asia to form new fund for AI startups in Asia
SoftBank Ventures Asia, which recently renamed itself to reflect its broadened focus on startups in the Asia-Pacific region beyond South Korea, will form a new investment fund dedicated to artificial intelligence startups in Asia with “globally disruptive” products and services this year. The venture capital arm of Japan’s SoftBank Group plans to establish within the year a new global investment fund to back promising AI startups in Asian countries other than China, according t
MarketJan. 28, 2019
-
[Herald interview] Sitcom ‘Haiphong Families’ depicts reality of Korea’s multicultural families
JEJU -- As an ordinary man who has lived in Korea his whole life, Kim Jung-hyuk did not have many chances to meet foreigners or multicultural families and even felt prejudiced against people of different races and nationalities. However, that changed when he encountered stories of children from multicultural families being bullied and discriminated at school. Upon learning about such incidents, he realized that such actions are not right. That is how Kim, a TV producer at a regional broadcaster
Social AffairsJan. 24, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Jung Woo-sung, Kim Hyang-gi discuss new movie ‘Innocent Witness’
Veteran actor Jung Woo-sung and budding starlet Kim Hyang-gi have come together for a memorable performance in the upcoming drama “Innocent Witness” by Lee Han. The film is about a young girl with autism testifying in court about what she witnessed in a supposed murder, and her interaction with a lawyer caught between compromising with reality and doing the right thing.With the movie set for release on Feb. 13, the lead actors sat down for a group media interview to discuss their roles. Jung Woo
FilmJan. 23, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Gamelan music, an elixir for monotonous modern life
Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi (left) and gamelan composer Nyoman Wenten (third from right) pose at the premiere of “Bali: Beats of Paradise” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, California, on Nov. 7, 2018. (Indonesian Embassy)On the Indonesian island of Bali, music and dance are deeply ingrained in people’s daily chores and rhythms, effortlessly blurring the lines between work and leisure. Before going to school in the morning, children stop by the vil
Diplomatic CircuitJan. 21, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] A rare glimpse of the ‘factorylike’ K-pop idol training system
Lee Jong-im, a pop culture expert and author of “Idol Trainees’ Sweat and Tears,” goes beneath the surface of the heavily fortified K-pop industry and lays bare some ugly truths about the challenging idol training system. Sitting down at a cafe in central Seoul, she shared valuable insight gained through months of research and numerous attempts at interviews since 2016 -- a time when idol training shows like Mnet’s “Produce 101” were just starting to gain a presence on South Korean TV.After docu
PerformanceJan. 18, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Hip-hop film seeks to show realities of life in the Philippines
For Philippine director Treb Monteras II, hip-hop has always been about politics and social issues, and no situation is more pressing today for the country than that of de facto martial law under authoritarian President Rodrigo Duterte.Director Treb Monteras II (Treb Monteras II)“Respeto” -- “respect” in both Tagalog and Spanish -- is the director’s first feature film, after helming more than 300 music videos since 2004. The main role of aspiring street rapper Hendrix is played by Abra, while th
FilmJan. 17, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Englishmen in Seoul, London and all over YouTube
Here are two Englishmen who are even more famous in Korea than they are back home. To define them, one needs to add one more word to their nationality and get rid of the plural. They are not just Englishmen, they are “Korean Englishman.” YouTubers Josh Carrott and Ollie Kendal -- Josh & Ollie -- are better known as “Korean Englishman” on the global streaming platform. With more than 3 million subscribers on YouTube, they are definitely big players in the new entertainment industry. The duo intro
PeopleJan. 17, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Audi Volkswagen steps up to support Korea’s Industry 4.0 drive
Determined to restore customer trust and committed to doing so by contributing to society, the head of the Korean arm of Audi Volkswagen said the automaker is on board with the South Korean government’s drive to promote future technologies and is planning to foster young professionals in the area of future mobility.In an interview with The Korea Herald, Rene Koneberg, a group managing director with Audi Volkswagen Korea, said the company would start providing educational and cultural opportuniti
MobilityJan. 15, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Imagining a bona fide global Korea
When Korea’s foremost civilian ambassador, Choi Jung-wha, walked along Paris’ Champs-Elysees Avenue last year, she was struck by familiar tunes sung in Korean.Young French people belted out K-pop band BTS’ songs in Korean, to the surprise of Choi, who first landed in France in the late 1970s for her studies. Back then, Korea, much less South Korea, was barely on the mental map of an average French person. But with the country’s continuing economic and cultural ascent on the global stage, the Kor
Diplomatic CircuitJan. 14, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Life beyond the lens
Lights, camera, action! There is always a sense of glamour in the fashion industry. Pricey labels, niche perfumes and expensive Champagne exude a certain “wow” factor. Here is fashion photographer Hong Jang-hyun, a man who must be living a life full of glamour. He is the first man you search for when planning a luxury photo shoot here. He is invited to every posh party and event, where he mingles with high-profile figures. Working with top celebrities and high-end fashion houses, those who do no
PeopleJan. 10, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Rolls-Royce Motor CEO attributes record sales to Asia, Korea
Strong business growth in Asia was behind the record-breaking sales of British luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce last year, particularly in China and South Korea, its head said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “Our growth was fueled by a strong Asian business and a Korean business. We have seen an uptake in your market by around 40 percent compared to the year 2017 and for that reason I am very satisfied with the results,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor C
MobilityJan. 10, 2019
-
[Herald interview] Changing lives, one building at a time
Taking the steep, narrow staircase to meet architect Seung Hyo-sang, or Seung H-Sang as his business card says, one almost fears for one’s life, tottering down the steps in heels with one hand against the wall for support in the semidarkness.Upon reaching the floor, there is a sigh of relief and a sense of salvation as one follows the sound of choral music to Seung’s office. It is a few days before Christmas, and there is something of a sacred quality to the space, crammed with bookcases and a l
Arts & DesignJan. 3, 2019
-
[Herald Interview] Korean duo seeks to spread happiness through singing
YouTube is full of videos of cover songs, but not all amateur artists win over viewers. Coed duo Darlim&Hamabal however, was special from the start. When the two debuted on YouTube in December 2017, many saw their potential and predicted the duo would succeed.Darlim&Hamabal soon grew to become one of the most distinguished artists in Korea’s YouTube scene, garnering more than 184,000 viewers in a year. The team also made a name for itself among global music fans by singing J-pop and popular movi
PerformanceDec. 31, 2018
-
[Herald Interview] ‘Hungary can help inter-Korean ties, innovation with Central Europe’
Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma is a fluent speaker of the Korean language and has written numerous books and papers on the country’s history and relations with Central European countries (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)Hungarian Ambassador to South Korea Mozes Csoma speaks Korean better than any other language other than Hungarian. Korean being his first foreign language, he is about as good as a nonnative can get.He is so fluent that this interview was entirely conducted in Korean. As th
Diplomatic CircuitDec. 31, 2018