South Korea's exports rose 3.2 percent on-year in the first 10 days of November on the back of rising demand for semiconductors and vehicles, data showed Monday. Outbound shipments reached $18.24 billion in the Nov. 1-10 period, compared with $17.67 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Per-day exports also grew 3.2 percent on-year to $2.15 billion during the cited period, it added. Imports added 1.2 percent on-year to $19.98 billion during th

Economy Nov. 13, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell for the first time in three weeks to 34.7 percent, a poll showed Monday. The survey, conducted by the polling agency Realmeter, showed the positive assessment of Yoon's performance went down by 2.1 percentage points from the previous week, while 62.2 percent of respondents disapproved of his performance, up 2 percentage points. Yoon's approval rating had previously risen for two weeks in a row from 32.5 percent to 35.7 percent and 36.

Politics Nov. 13, 2023

North Korea on Monday renewed its calls for dissolving the US-led United Nations Command, claiming that a plan by South Korea and UNC member states to hold the inaugural defense ministerial meeting this week is a "dangerous" scheme to spark a "new war of aggression" against the North. South Korea and 17 member states of the UNC will hold their first meeting of defense chiefs and representatives Tuesday in Seoul to explore the role of the UNC in deterring war on the Korean Pen

North Korea Nov. 13, 2023

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group stands as the second-largest player in the U.S. market for electric vehicles (EVs) despite concerns surrounding Washington's protectionism policy, data showed Sunday. Hyundai Motor Co. took up 4.8 percent of the U.S. EV market in the January-September period, with its smaller sister Kia Corp. accounting for 2.7 percent, according to U.S. magazine Automotive News. Their combined market share came to 7.5 percent, or 64,000 units, taking up the second-l

Mobility Nov. 12, 2023

Two-thirds of residents in Gyeonggi Province are opposed to the proposal to incorporate satellite cities near Seoul into the sprawling capital, a poll showed Sunday, amid the ruling party's push for a megacity project. The survey, conducted by Realmeter from Nov. 2-5 on 3,004 Gyeonggi residents aged 18 and older, showed that 66.3 percent oppose the idea, while 29.5 percent are in support of it. The remaining 4.2 percent said they have no idea. By region, the opposition was highest among res

Politics Nov. 12, 2023

A win away from capturing their first Korean Series title in 29 years, the LG Twins will send their top starter, Casey Kelly, to the hill in the potential clinching game. In a rematch of the opening contest of this best-of-seven series, the KT Wiz will counter with right-hander Ko Young-pyo on Monday as they try to stay alive. The starting pitching matchup was announced Sunday, the eve of Game 5 of the Korea Baseball Organization championship round. After dropping Game 1 last Tuesday, the Twins

Baseball Nov. 12, 2023

South Korea will make a final pitch for the country's bid for hosting the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern city of Busan, two weeks before the crucial vote, with President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo set to travel to Paris in the coming weeks to bolster the campaign. Han was set to leave for Paris later Sunday for a four-day trip in an effort to drum up support to host the quadrennial event in Busan, according to his office. Member states of the Bureau International des

Politics Nov. 12, 2023

Sales of diesel automobiles built by local manufacturers fell more than 20 percent on-year through the third quarter of 2023, data showed Sunday, amid the rising preference for electric vehicles in the market. South Korea's five carmakers sold 76,367 units of diesel passenger cars over the January-September period, down from 97,235 tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. By model, sales of diesel models of Hyundai Motor Co.&#

Mobility Nov. 12, 2023

The main opposition Democratic Party called on President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday to promulgate a pro-labor bill and three other contentious measures that were passed earlier this week. On Thursday, the DP-controlled National Assembly passed revisions to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and three other bills on broadcasting laws after the ruling People Power Party called off its plan to use a filibuster to block their passage. "President Yoon Suk Yeol should promulgate th

Politics Nov. 11, 2023

North Korea said Saturday that its relations with Russia will remain strong despite the United States' warning against their arms transfers. In a statement issued by a spokesperson for the North's foreign ministry, Pyongyang also said the US should be accustomed to the new reality of growing relations between the North and Russia. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Seoul that Russia is providing "technology and support" for North Korea's military programs, as Pyong

North Korea Nov. 11, 2023

LG Energy Solution, South Korea's top battery maker, said Saturday its plan to build a battery plant in Turkey with Ford Motor has been scrapped as a Turkish partner revoked its participation in the project. In February, LG Energy Solution signed a non-binding agreement with Ford and Turkey's Koc Holding A.S. to push for a joint venture to build an EV battery in Baskent, a city near the Turkish capital of Ankara. But Koc decided to revoke its participation, citing its consideration of

Industry Nov. 11, 2023

The agriculture ministry said Saturday it has completed its nationwide campaign to vaccinate all cattle against lumpy skin (LSD) disease, less than a month after the country reported its first-ever infection. The ministry has inoculated some 4.05 million cattle in the country to protect them against LSD after launching the intensive vaccination campaign following its first-ever case of LSD on Oct. 20. Authorities, meanwhile, plan to remain vigilant for the time being as it will take three weeks

Social Affairs Nov. 11, 2023

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold a much-anticipated summit in the San Francisco Bay Area next week, senior U.S. administration officials have said. Biden and Xi plan to meet bilaterally Wednesday on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering slated to begin its weeklong run in San Francisco on Saturday, the officials said in a telephonic press briefing Thursday. The leaders are expected to discuss a "whole range" of issues, including

Foreign Affairs Nov. 10, 2023

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has designated a unique fishing style of female divers on South Korea's southern island of Jeju who dive without oxygen masks as one of its world agricultural heritage systems, officials said Friday. The decision to list the Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System on the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems was made during a three-day General Assembly session at the FAO headquarters in Rome, according to Jeju City. "Haenyeo," some in thei

Culture Nov. 10, 2023

South Korea's top container shipper HMM Co. said Friday its third-quarter earnings tumbled on sluggish shipping rates amid decreased cargo volume. Net income amounted to 95.4 billion won ($72.3 million) in the July-September period, down 96 percent from a year earlier, the shipping company said in a regulatory filing. Sales dipped 58 percent on-year to 2.1 trillion won, with operating income plunging 97 percent to 75.8 billion won. In the first three quarters of this year, the company poste

Market Nov. 10, 2023