Every child has the right to rest or have fun how they want to. This is article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989. It is one of the most ratified international treaties in history. More than three decades after its ratification here, South Korea is revisiting the clause with renewed enthusiasm, largely thanks to an ill-advised move by the Education Ministry to put kids in school one year early. “Children need to play,” read the ban

Social Affairs Aug. 8, 2022

A fire broke out at an office building in the southeastern city of Daegu on Thursday, leaving seven dead and injuring 46 others, officials said. The fire broke out at the seven-story building in the city, 302 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 10:55 a.m., according to firefighters. It was fully extinguished some 20 minutes later. Dozens of other citizens evacuated the building. Authorities mobilized 50 fire trucks and 160 firefighters at the scene. Police said they were investigating the

Social Affairs June 9, 2022

The coverage on this blog has ended. For more updates, results and news on South Korea’s presidential election, visit www.koreaherald.co.kr. -- Ed. Yoon Suk-yeol elected president of S. Korea Yoon Suk-yeol, a former chief prosecutor and political neophyte, was elected the next leader of South Korea on Thursday in one of the closest presidential elections in the country’s history. With all the votes counted, the conservative candidate garnered 48.6 percent, against 47.8 percent of

Politics March 9, 2022

When Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin wrote “Annihilate communism” on his Instagram along with a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, it is unlikely that he intended to start a fad.  But for some conservatives salivating over a chance to slam the ruling camp’s guiding philosophy of diplomacy known as strategic ambiguity, the half-joke was just too spot on. A day after Chung’s post, Yoon Suk-yeol, presidential candidate of the conservative Pe

Politics Jan. 10, 2022

“Land of Squid Game” By Min Byoung-chul BCM Publishing Company 　 For many global audiences, 2021 may have been a year of discovering Korea. From Netflix’s megahit “Squid Game” to the mighty BTS, Korean cultural products have expanded their reach across the globe. Min Byoung-chul’s new book, “Land of Squid Game,” arrives at this opportune time when there appears to be growing genuine curiosity about South Korea, a country until not so long ago o

Books Dec. 27, 2021

Siemens Korea announced Wednesday the promotion of Chung Ha-joong to president and chief executive officer. Chung, who served as vice president prior to the appointment, will oversee all businesses of the German technology giant’s Korean unit, effective Friday, while also serving in his current role as head of smart infrastructure and CEO of Siemens Mobility Ltd., Seoul, the firm said. Since joining Siemens Korea in 2000, the new chief has taken up various key roles in energy, mobili

Industry Oct. 1, 2021

South Korean steelmaker Posco has forged a five-way partnership encompassing shipbuilders and ship registries to develop a liquid carbon dioxide carrier tanker, as part of its bid to gain an upper hand in the global transition to a net-zero economy, the firm said Sunday. Its four partners are Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Lloyd’s Register Asia and Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry.  According to the agreement, signed Frida

Industry Aug. 29, 2021

Amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, consumers’ interest in what makes their home a more pleasant place to be has grown. This has certainly affected the home appliance market. Before, devices like electric dehumidifiers were not something people sought aesthetic satisfaction in. Yet, in this era, they need to change. Coway’s recently launched Noble Dehumidifier AD-1221E is a new addition to the ranks of premium appliances, with design elements more commonly found in luxury furnit

Technology Aug. 29, 2021

Nexon employees hired within the past two years have created seven-minute video clips to share their experiences with new recruits. The company is hiring interns as part of its six-month Nexon Tutorial program. In the clips, five employees from the game firm’s four divisions -- business, new development, live development and intelligence labs -- briefly introduce their work and offer candid thoughts for people hoping to land internships at the company. Nexon Tutorial, launched this ye

Industry Aug. 26, 2021

DataStreams, a local big data solutions provider, has been recognized for its contributions to the development of the local big data industry by the Korea Society of Management Information Systems, the Seoul-based tech firm said Sunday. It has been chosen as the recipient of the 10th KMIS award, which recognizes and honors an outstanding corporation in information technology. DataStreams, with its persistent focus on research and development, has churned out a stream of innovative products an

Technology June 20, 2021

Samsung’s ownership family on Friday announced how the late group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s Samsung stocks would be distributed among its members. Many local analysts saw it as the finale in a long, storied process of passing down control over the colossal corporate empire to the third-generation leader, Lee Jae-yong. The junior Lee, the deceased’s only son who had run the group on behalf of his bedridden father since 2014, inherited half of his holdings in Samsung Life Insuranc

Industry May 2, 2021

The bereaved family of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee is not at odds over who should get what from the late tycoon’s Samsung company shares, worth 19 trillion won ($17.06 billion) in total, officials at Samsung Electronics, the flagship unit of the conglomerate, said Wednesday. The late Lee’s equity holdings have immense implications for the group’s ownership structure, influencing the Lee family’s continued grip over the colossal corporate empire, which alone acco

Technology April 28, 2021

In time for Parents’ Day on May 8, SK Broadband is presenting a new family plan targeting adults living separately from their aging parents and looking out for them in this coronavirus pandemic. The plan, called “B tv Family,” is a package of services tailored for senior citizens who cannot go out as often as they used to and cannot meet up with their grandchildren and other loved ones. On top of the typical combination of high-speed internet, home Wi-Fi, IPTV and a TV set

Technology April 28, 2021

If there were ever any chance of a “cooperative parliament,” as President Moon Jae-in once hoped, the latest clash of two judicial titans -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl -- appears to have just blown it. In her battle to reform the country’s powerful prosecution, or tame it as some would say, on Tuesday, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from duty over alleged wrongdoing. The unprecedented move sent s

Politics Nov. 25, 2020