Articles by Shin Ji-hye
Shin Ji-hye
shinjh@heraldcorp.com-
Kim’s Absence Risks Growing Unease Among North Korea Elite Ranks
Kim Jong Un hasn’t been seen in public for five weeks with his absence potentially unnerving the North Korean elite whose loyalty he needs to stay in power, and making an erratic regime even more unpredictable. North and South Korean forces exchanged fire yesterday across one of the world’s most-fortified borders for the second time in less than a week. The firefight came hours after Kim skipped an annual visit to a family mausoleum for the first time since coming to power in late 2011, further
North Korea Oct. 11, 2014
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N. Korea says talks with South 'all but scrapped'
North Korea's state media said Saturday high-level talks with the South were now all but scrapped due to the launch of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets from the South a day earlier.The two Koreas traded heavy machine-gun fire across their border Friday, triggered by the North Korean military trying to shoot down balloons carrying the leaflets, launched by activists in the South.Some rounds fell on the Southern side, which then responded with high-calibre machine gun fire. No casualties were re
North Korea Oct. 11, 2014
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Samsung Chairman's eldest daughter files for divorce
The eldest daughter of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee is going through divorce proceedings, the company said Saturday.Ending a 15-year marriage, Lee Bu-jin, 44, filed for divorce mediation with her 46-year-old husband, Im Woo-jae, at the Seongnam branch of Suwon District Court on Wednesday, according to the company. Meditation during divorce is a way of finding solutions to issues such as child custody and spousal support without a formal trial. When an agreement is not reached amicably, a divorce
Industry Oct. 11, 2014
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S. Korea, Japan agree to resume finance ministers' talks
South Korea and Japan agreed Friday to hold a finance ministers' meeting in Tokyo at an early date, resuming a consultation mechanism that has been stalled for nearly two years amid badly frayed relations.South Korean Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso reached the agreement during a one-on-one meeting held on the sidelines of a series of international meetings that the top economic policymakers were attending."The finance ministers of the two countries exchang
Foreign Affairs Oct. 11, 2014
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China protests after captain killed in scuffle off S. Korea
A senior Chinese diplomat has held an "emergency meeting" with South Korea's ambassador to China and lodged a protest after the captain of a Chinese fishing boat died during a violent clash with the South Korean Coast Guard during a crackdown on illegal fishing. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao met with the South Korean ambassador to China, Kwon Young-se, on Friday night and made "solemn representations" over the incident, which happened144 kilometers off South Korea's western coa
Foreign Affairs Oct. 11, 2014
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Foreign firms back Korea’s film industry
Global companies doing business in South Korea are stepping up engagement in the local film industry as part of their social responsibility activities. JTI Korea, the Japanese tobacco company’s local unit, is no stranger to the film scene.The firm has been offering support for film festivals here since 2011, and this year it has set up a smoking lounge with portable ashtrays at the Busan International Film Festival. During the festival period, it is also conducting campaigns to promote proper sm
Industry Oct. 8, 2014
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Foodpolis to act as bridge to China
Top global food companies are eyeing South Korea’s food cluster Foodpolis with keen interest as it is expected to serve as a stepping stone for expanding into China, Asia’s largest food market. Up to 48 foreign companies, including Italy’s Forno d’Asolo, the Netherlands’ NIZO food, America’s Hampton Grains and France’s SEB, have signed pacts with the local Agriculture Ministry to set up shop in Foodpolis when it is completed by 2016 in Iksan, North Jeolla Province. “A growing number of global co
Industry Oct. 7, 2014
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Concerns rise over capital inflow from China
A growing reliance on capital from China may soon become a major concern for South Korea’s financial market, according to industry watchers on Monday. China’s foreign direct investment into the nation reached $1 billion in the January-September period, a 230 percent rise from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Trade. The nation’s investment in Korea’s stock and bond markets was 23 trillion won ($21 billion) in August ― more than 50 times the 470 billion won recorded in Decem
Industry Oct. 6, 2014
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Top U.S. envoy urges N. Korea to release detained Americans
A U.S. envoy called on North Korea Tuesday to release three detained American citizens, saying that the issue poses a "serious impediment" to better ties with Washington.Glyn Davies, the top U.S. nuclear envoy, was in Seoul as part of his three-nation Asian tour that already took him to China. The tour, which also includes a stop in Tokyo, is for discussions on ways to reopen the long-stalled six-party talks on denuclearizing North Korea. During his one-day stay in Beijing, Davies made a similar
North Korea Sept. 30, 2014
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S. Korea sweeps 4 golds in sailing
South Korea grabbed four sailing golds and one bronze medal at the Incheon Asian Games Tuesday, after surprise victories in the sport that remains largely a niche in the country. With 13 medals decided in sailing at Wangsan Sailing Marina in this port city, Park Sung-bin won gold in the men's optimist dinghy race after earning 27 net points and discarding 16 penalized points.The 14-year-old skipper became the youngest gold medalist in the host country's 831-member delegation.After 12 races in se
More Sports Sept. 30, 2014
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Korea to dish up Asia’s first food cluster
South Korea is pushing ahead with building Asia’s first food cluster, Foodpolis, to tap into the global food industry, which is expected to be worth up to $6 trillion by 2020. The nation plans to invest 553 billion won ($524 million) in setting up the cluster by 2016. It is currently in talks with up to 160 domestic and foreign companies, colleges and research centers that are vying for a spot at Foodpolis. It has been roughly modeled after Napa Valley, California’s famous wine country, but Food
Industry Sept. 30, 2014
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Rival parties make compromise on controversial ferry bill
Ending months of bitter political confrontation, South Korea's rival parties on Tuesday reached a compromise on a controversial bill aimed at parsing the truth behind April's deadly ferry sinking.South Korea's parliament has been stuck in limbo as the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Political Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) remained locked in a bitter dispute over the terms of the proposed bill that, among other things, would set the boundaries of an independent counsel probe of t
Politics Sept. 30, 2014
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Philip Morris donates W100m to charity
Philip Morris Korea’s head Chung Il-woo (left) poses with Ahn Yoon-han, chief of a scholarship center in Yangsan, at Philip Morris Korea’s plant. (Philip Morris Korea)Philip Morris Korea said Monday that it had donated 100 million won ($95,000) to a scholarship center in Yangsan as part of its social responsibility activities. The company said the scholarships will be given to middle and high school students who show academic promise. The regional scholarship center was established in 2006 in a
Industry Sept. 29, 2014
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Won-yen rate may drop to 800 won
The won-yen exchange rate is likely to drop to the 800 won level in the third quarter of next year as Japan is expected to continue quantitative easing to boost its economy, according to global financial companies like JP Morgan and Citibank. French bank BNP Paribas projected the bleakest outlook, claiming that the rate could nosedive to 700 won per 100 yen next year. The rate dropped below 960 won (92 cents) this month, the lowest since Aug. 2008, when it posted 954 won. “The weaker yen may und
Sept. 28, 2014
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[Weekender] Island home to tech firms
Daum Communications’ headquarters on Jejudo IslandA number of tech companies have moved to Jejudo Island on for its pleasant working environment and various tax incentives in recent years. The influx of high-tech companies to the island is transforming it from an agricultural and services-based economy into a center for information technology and manufacturing. Over 100 information and bio technology companies, including Daum Communications, Nexon, ESTsoft and Moneual have already relocated to J
Industry Sept. 26, 2014
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