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

South Korean stocks finished lower Friday after the US Federal Reserve's chief hinted that interest rates could be raised further and Tesla dropped overnight. The local currency fell against the greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 17.42 points, or 0.72 percent, to close at 2,409.66. Trading volume was slim at 304.12 million shares worth 5.61 trillion won ($4.26 billion). Losers outnumbered gainers 600 to 259. US stocks sagged overnight after Federal Reserve Ch

Market Nov. 10, 2023

Unionized Seoul subway workers opposed to their company's downsizing plans are set to end a two-day "warning" strike Friday evening but threatened to go on a general strike sooner or later unless their demands are met. The latest strike was launched Thursday by the biggest of the three labor unions of Seoul Metro, the operator of subway lines 1-8, in protest of the city-run company's bid to reduce its workforce by 13.5 percent, or 2,212 employees, by 2026 to address its chron

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2023

South Korea will host an annual ceremony this week to commemorate the sacrifices of fallen troops who fought under the United Nations flag during the 1950-53 Korean War, the veterans ministry said Friday. The "Turn Toward Busan" event will take place at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Saturday, with the attendance of some 1,000 people, including bereaved family members, Korean War veterans and diplomatic delegates, according to the ministry. The

Defense Nov. 10, 2023

South Korean stocks opened lower Friday in line with overnight losses on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 20.68 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,406.40 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks sagged overnight after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated interest rates may be hiked again if needed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7 percent and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.9 percent. In Seoul, market heavyweights remained weak. Top market cap

Market Nov. 10, 2023