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?
Michael Sanderling finds a common 'soul' in Sibelius, Tchaikovsky
When Michael Sanderling returns to South Korea this month with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, he will lead the Swiss ensemble from a podium he reached via an unlikely route: nearly two decades as a principal cellist and not a single conducting lesson. The 59-year-old German conductor spent nearly 20 years as a principal cellist with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra before he turned to conducting full time. Those years in the orchestra, he says, allow him
June 15, 2026 - 14:31:54
Why was Seoul chosen as part of Pompidou's expansion abroad?
Centre Pompidou is undergoing a major transformation ahead of its 2030 reopening. In the meantime, the renowned French institution has increasingly looked beyond France for international partners, with Seoul emerging as one of the most significant. “The choice of Seoul as a partner city is no coincidence,” Centre Pompidou President Laurent Le Bon said in a recent written interview with The Korea Herald, citing the rapid growth of Korea’s cultural landscape and its increasing global influence. As
June 15, 2026 - 14:25:03
'Demand exceeded expectations': IBKR on Korea's new omnibus accounts
Foreign investors have traded more than 6 trillion won ($3.9 billion) through Korea's new omnibus account system, highlighting strong global demand for easier access to the local stock market. Among the early adopters is Interactive Brokers, the global electronic brokerage firm that launched Korea's first omnibus account service for foreign investors with Samsung Securities in May. "There has been strong demand from Interactive Brokers clients globally for access to the Korean market for some ti
June 14, 2026 - 10:22:02
For Gang Dong-won, Korea isn't the finish line
Gang Dong-won has only one goal. "Quite simply, all I want is to become the greatest actor in the world," he said during a press interview on May 19. "Well, the greatest actor in the world can mean many things. It could be about acting ability, star power or a combination of different qualities. I don't think those things can really be separated." He has reasons to be confident. For an actor who has remained firmly on Korea's A-list for more than two decades, ever since his rise as one of the co
June 13, 2026 - 16:00:00
BTS took a bold but necessary gamble with 'Swim,' Karlsson says
Swedish songwriter and producer Alex Karlsson has spent more than a decade helping shape the sound of K-pop from behind the scenes. Since beginning his collaboration with SM Entertainment in 2013, Karlsson has infused elements of Swedish pop songwriting into numerous K-pop releases. His credits span some of the industry's biggest acts, including BTS' "We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal," SuperM's "Tiger Inside," Enhypen's "Fever," Tomorrow X Together's "Loser=Lover" and Ateez's "Bouncy (K-Hot Chill
June 11, 2026 - 16:07:22
The technology is ready: Volvo Trucks seeks more EV support
The technology for electric trucks and other low-emission solutions is ready, but deployment remains constrained by policy and infrastructure gaps, says Volvo Trucks, calling on the South Korean government for stronger support for charging infrastructure and incentives. "The solutions are there. Sustainable solutions are available in the market, but we need to scale it now, and it requires incentives and also investment in infrastructure,” Per-Erik Lindstrom, senior vice president of Volvo Truck
June 10, 2026 - 15:12:01
Three classical musicians united by Beethoven and K-pop
In January 2023, violinist Daniel Lozakovich and cellist Gautier Capucon shared a Paris stage with Blackpink, performing alongside the K-pop group at a televised charity gala hosted by French first lady Brigitte Macron. This month, the two meet again — in Seoul, and for Beethoven. They join pianist Helene Mercier, conductor Mikhail Pletnev and the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra for the Triple Concerto at the Classical Bridge International Music Festival, marking the orchestra’s Korean debu
June 8, 2026 - 15:06:20
From investor to operator: Kakao Bank's next overseas bet
Kakao Bank is preparing for its biggest overseas test yet. The launch of its Thai virtual bank venture, Bank X, marks a shift from investor to operator for Korea's largest internet-only bank. Unlike its previous overseas investments, Kakao Bank is taking responsibility for designing and developing the digital bank's mobile platform and services, making it the most hands-on role it has assumed in an overseas venture. "We think the launch will probably take place late this year or early next year,
June 8, 2026 - 14:09:52
George Washington University seeks deeper Korea ties in AI, student exchange
George Washington University plans to deepen ties with South Korean universities as part of efforts to expand its research and degree programs in artificial intelligence, public health and international affairs, the university's president said. Ellen Granberg, who visited Seoul last week with a university delegation, said Korean universities have become increasingly important partners for GW as the Washington, DC-based institution seeks to expand international cooperation in fast-moving academic
June 8, 2026 - 10:32:41
Finding home: Inside BoyNextDoor's first LP
Three years after their debut, BoyNextDoor returns with the group's first LP — and with what the band says may be its most personal work yet. The six-member boy band releases its first LP, “Home,” on Monday, marking the first new effort since fifth EP “The Action.” The album traces the journey from the bandmates' trainee days to their present, bringing together stories of youth, family, fans, ambition and the memories that shaped them. “For a singer, releasing a full-length album feels symbolic,
June 8, 2026 - 08:00:00
Gong Myoung looks beyond his rom-com image
Possibly every actor's greatest fear is being reduced to a single persona rather than being recognized as someone capable of disappearing into any role. For Gong Myoung, that fear is very real. Though his puppy-like charm quickly turned him into one of Korean television's most sought-after rom-com leads, the 32-year-old actor admits he is now eager to distance himself from that specific image. "Even I started to feel that I can no longer be seen only as the 'younger guy,'" Gong said during an in
June 6, 2026 - 16:00:00
No heirs, no buyers: Korea's SME succession dilemma
As more aging founders of small and midsized companies in South Korea struggle to find heirs willing to take over, business succession is moving beyond inheritance tax planning into a broader challenge of building the financing, valuation and governance structures needed to keep viable firms alive, said Yoon Seong-hoo, general manager at Woori Bank's Corporate Succession Support Center. "Family succession remains the first choice for most business owners," Yoon said in a recent interview with Th
June 4, 2026 - 15:22:55
Pianist Sun Youl cut his practice in half — and started asking why
When Sun Youl arrived in France to study, his new teacher had an unusual request: promise not to practice more than three hours a day. The teacher, French pianist Olivier Gardon, had a question for him too: If you play perfectly, without a single mistake, what are you actually getting out of it? What is all the practice even for? "The question landed like a hard blow to the head. I realized I had been running like a machine, without even knowing why I practice," Sun told reporters in a roundtabl
June 4, 2026 - 14:58:12
The man of the moment: What's next for Koo Kyo-hwan?
The first half of 2026 saw Koo Kyo-hwan everywhere. Previously a fixture of South Korea's independent cinema, the actor transitioned this year into a highly bankable mainstream lead, headlining a trio of tentpole projects that showcased his chameleon-like range. The 43-year-old actor's box office momentum began in late 2025 with "Once We Were Us." It pulled off a major market upset by unseating James Cameron's sci-fi epic "Avatar: Fire and Ash" at the Korean box office, subsequently holding the
June 4, 2026 - 14:56:52
Jun Ji-hyun on fame, aging and her Cannes debut
This year's Cannes Film Festival appears to have injected vital momentum into a post-pandemic Korean film industry. While auteur Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope" left the podium empty-handed, it quickly emerged as the market's buzziest breakout title. Its sales across more than 200 territories are reportedly on track to shatter the overseas presale record previously set by Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice." Another undeniable epicenter of conversation on the Croisette was "Colony," a Midnig
May 28, 2026 - 14:29:56
