Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
# In-depth
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
Cravity redefines itself with new EP ‘Redefine’
Boy group Cravity is returning with its eighth EP, “Redefine,” using its latest release to revisit who they are six years into their career — not by rejecting the past, but by carrying it forward. Ahead of the album’s release, the nine-member group sat down for a round interview at Starship Entertainment’s headquarters in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul on April 23, where the bandmates shared their excitement ahead of the new album, which arrives in the same month as the anniversary of the group's de
April 29, 2026 - 07:00:00
Government buying power key to AI race, says Korea's procurement chief
South Korea’s public procurement system is undergoing a quiet but consequential shift — from a back-office function focused on price and efficiency to a frontline policy tool shaping industrial strategy, supply chains and emerging technologies. At the center of that transition is the Public Procurement Service, which oversees roughly 225 trillion won ($160 billion) in annual public spending — equivalent to about 9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. In a recent interview with The Ko
April 28, 2026 - 15:24:39
Building an 'Ulsan sound': Sascha Goetzel's bet on a Korean industrial city
When Austrian conductor Sascha Goetzel was named recipient of the 2026 BBC Music Magazine Award for Orchestral Recording on Wednesday London time, he wasn't in Europe to collect it. The 55-year-old maestro heard the news in Seoul, where he was preparing a performance with the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra — the finale of this year's Orchestra Festival organized by the Seoul Arts Center. The winning album, recorded with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire on the BIS label, brings together
April 28, 2026 - 13:58:52
Ikea studies Korean living, redesigns around it
South Koreans are more likely than the global average to view home as a place to unwind, yet less likely to feel satisfied with their own living spaces. So goes the recent finding of internal research by Ikea Korea, and that is the gap it aims to fill, according to Folkert van Keulen, the country commercial manager. "People want to improve their homes, but they are not always sure how to do it," said van Keulen in an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. "For us, it's about making that k
April 27, 2026 - 10:00:00
[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] Korean ESG enters era of evidence: Yulchon partner
Yoon Yong-hee can tell that Korean compliance with environmental, social and governance goals and regulations has clearly crossed into a new phase — because his law firm is now being audited for it. Multinational pharmaceutical clients, he said, have started sending Yulchon, where Yoon is a partner specializing in ESG regulation, formal questionnaires asking how much carbon the firm emits, what its decarbonization plan looks like, and how its workforce diversity metrics are trending. "The era ha
April 25, 2026 - 16:00:00![[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] Korean ESG enters era of evidence: Yulchon partner](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/04/26/news-p.v1.20260422.7c9ff8380b5b445b93b2152b9cfa62c8_T1.jpg?type=h&h=320)
Hans Christian Andersen winner Janisch asks if adults — not children — are reading enough
People lament that children don’t read these days. But according to Austrian author Heinz Janisch, the more pressing question we should be asking is: Are adults reading enough? Janisch, whose work spans picture books, poetry, prose, plays and dance theater scripts, received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2024, widely regarded as the highest honor in children’s literature. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages. “If parents read, children will naturally follow.” The Aust
April 24, 2026 - 09:00:00
[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] At LG, sustainability is measured in numbers — and returns
Jeong Soo-jeong's case for sustainability at LG Electronics comes down to what can be counted. "When it comes to proving impact, in the end, numbers are the most effective thing," the head of LG's ESG Strategy Planning Team said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald, ahead of H.eco Tech Festa 2026, where she will join a panel on how environmental performance is turning into a source of competitive advantage. That conviction shows up in how the Korean electronics maker has begun booking sus
April 23, 2026 - 10:56:47![[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] At LG, sustainability is measured in numbers — and returns](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/04/23/news-p.v1.20260423.ec2b6d97137a4ff6a179bfd6901629d1_T1.png?type=h&h=320)
3-term lawmaker vows to make Incheon more immigrant-friendly
Rep. Park Chan-dae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea is envisioning a self-sufficient, immigrant-friendly Incheon as he vies for the city's mayoral post in June. Park, who has represented Incheon's Yeonsu-A constituency for three terms, says that the city is becoming more than just an immigrant gateway of South Korea. "As South Korea is seeing a growing influx of foreign workers, Incheon has served as not only the gateway for foreigners to enter South Korea, but also their place to live,"
April 22, 2026 - 12:01:06
Seerslab’s AI glasses aim to fit in, not replace smartphones
Artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses are moving closer to the mainstream, but not every company is trying to replace the smartphone. “We didn’t start with that idea,” Michael Chong, chief executive of Seerslab, said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. “We wanted to see if AI could fit naturally into daily life — like a normal pair of glasses.” During a demonstration, the company’s glasses identified ingredients on a table and suggested recipes within seconds via voice comman
April 21, 2026 - 10:00:00
Choi Soo-young of Pa:nStori redefines immersive performance through scent, sound in New York
In a darkened space in New York, audiences are asked to let go of sight. Instead, they listen, touch and move — guided only by a thin string tied to their pinky finger. This is “remini,scent,” a debut project by Korean producer Choi Soo-young and the first official production of her company, Pa:nStori. The name combines the Korean word “pan,” meaning a space where something unfolds, with a reimagined form of “story.” “The development of this idea (of ‘remini,scent’) was driven by a fascination w
April 19, 2026 - 17:14:39
[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] Sustainability now a condition for market access: HP exec
Sustainability is increasingly shaping how companies compete — not as a cost, but as a condition for market access and long-term competitiveness. The shift is already reflected in business performance, with more than 60 percent of HP’s global revenue tied to products and services that contribute to reducing environmental impact, Kim Hye-sun, head of government affairs, public policy and sustainability compliance for Korea and Japan at HP Inc., said in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “W
April 19, 2026 - 10:00:00![[H.eco Tech Festa 2026] Sustainability now a condition for market access: HP exec](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/04/16/news-p.v1.20260416.9cb0313259c54485b25b6a026f0d9adc_T1.jpg?type=h&h=320)
Xdinary Heroes expands their ‘melting pot’ sound with 8th EP
Since debuting in 2021, Xdinary Heroes has built a reputation for its wide musical spectrum — often described as a “melting pot” of genres. From emotional rock ballads to hard rock and alternative metal, the band has continuously pushed its sonic boundaries. That approach continues in “Dead And,” the boy band’s seven-track eighth EP set to be released Friday. However, compared to their previous releases, the newest EP places a stronger emphasis on cohesion. “We always try to include a variety of
April 17, 2026 - 16:00:00
Xdinary Heroes turn endings into new beginnings with ‘Dead And’
Boy band Xdinary Heroes is set to return with its eighth EP, “Dead And,” continuing its streak of genre-blending releases while expanding its narrative of what it means to be a “hero.” Ahead of the album’s release on Friday, the group sat down for a round interview on Wednesday at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, eastern Seoul. “Since this marks our first release of the year, we feel especially excited,” said leader and drummer Gunil. “There are a lot of songs in this album that we really love, and track
April 17, 2026 - 08:00:00
'Kimchi MAGA' are marginalizing conservatives, says Reform Party chair
South Korea's conservatives have lost their diplomatic standing, pushed aside by the Lee administration's more pragmatic approach and saddled with an increasingly ineffective pro-US, anti-North Korea mantra, according to Reform Party Chair Lee Jun-seok. "The conservatives' voice has been completely lost in the field of diplomacy," Lee said in an interview with The Korea Herald. While their impact on diplomatic affairs has been reduced, the conservatives should not fall back into their comfort zo
April 16, 2026 - 15:31:38
Standard Chartered brings crypto into private banking
Standard Chartered plans to extend its digital asset offering to affluent clients this year, a move that adds a new dimension to the bank's push to deepen its wealth management business in South Korea and broader Asia. Samir Subberwal, Standard Chartered Bank's global head of wealth solutions, retail products and data and analytics, said the bank sees custody, rather than simple access to crypto, as the core differentiator as digital assets move further into mainstream wealth conversations. "Ban
April 14, 2026 - 17:30:56
