Top actors heat up December box office

As the year draws to a close, the South Korean box office is gearing up for a fierce, star-studded showdown featuring the country’s top actors. Song Kang-ho, Kim Yoon-Seok, Hyun Bin and Song Joong-ki will each bring their star power to highly anticipated films, ranging from an underdog sports drama to a heartwarming family comedy, a historical epic and a gritty survival tale. Kicking off December is director Shin Yeon-sik’s sports comedy-drama “One Win.” The film follows

FilmNov. 24, 2024

Purme Foundation honored with HD Hyundai charity award

The Purme Foundation, a South Korean nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities lead independent lives, has been awarded the Grand Prize at the 2nd annual HD Hyundai Honor Awards. The announcement was made Sunday by the HD Hyundai 1% Nanum Foundation, which organizes the awards. The HD Hyundai Honor Awards were created to spotlight individuals and organizations making a real difference in their communities. Winners are chosen for their efforts to tackle social challenges and promote

CompaniesNov. 24, 2024

Job creation lowest on record among under-30s

The number of newly hired workers in their teens and 20s marked the lowest figure since an official tally has been kept since 2018, a government data showed Sunday. A total of 1.45 million new hires among people under the age of 30 occurred in the second quarter of this year, down 8.6 percent from 1.59 million in the same quarter in last year, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service data by the Statistics Korea. The number of existing jobs held by the same worker for Q2 marked

EconomyNov. 24, 2024

[From the Scene] Immersive heritage exhibit opens in Gangneung, Las Vegas

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- An immersive exhibition highlighting Korean cultural heritage including intangible cultural properties has opened in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The eight-minute multimedia show entitled “Heritage Garden: Threads of Connection” showcases 146 items, from Goryeo celadon and Joseon moon jars to the Jinkwansa Bronze Bell and the Seokguram Grotto on the walls of Arte Museum, a private museum operated by d’strict design company. Eight such museums oper

Arts & DesignNov. 24, 2024

Opposition leader faces sentencing hearing over allegedly suborning perjury this week

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is set to face a sentencing hearing this week for allegedly suborning perjury, legal sources said Sunday, 10 days after he got a suspended prison term for election violations. The Seoul Central District Court is set to deliver a verdict Monday on Lee's charges of suborning a secretary of a former Seongnam mayor to make false court testimony in his favor in a 2018 election law violation case involving him, according to the sources. Prosecutors suspect the lead

PoliticsNov. 24, 2024

Japan voices regret over S. Korea's non-attendance of Sado memorial

This July 28, 2024, file photo shows an exit of the Sado mine complex on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. (Yonhap) The Japanese government on Sunday expressed regret over South Korea's decision not to attend a memorial ceremony in Japan honoring forced labor victims, including Koreans, at an old Japanese mine complex. The Japanese Embassy in Seoul made the remarks in response to a question by Yonhap News Agency, a day after South Korea decided not to attend the ceremony on Japan�

Diplomatic CircuitNov. 24, 2024

S. Korea not to attend Sado mine memorial: foreign ministry

  South Korea will not be attending a memorial ceremony scheduled to take place in Japan to honor wartime forced labor victims, including many Koreans, from an old Japanese mine complex, the foreign ministry said Saturday. The decision, made only a day before the planned ceremony, came after Tokyo announced that a Japanese vice foreign minister with an apparent hard-line political stance on past history will be attending the ceremony as its government representative. "We have decided n

PoliticsNov. 23, 2024

Gyeongju blends old with new

Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC–935 AD) in today's North Gyeongsang Province in the southeastern Korean Peninsula, is sometimes called a “roofless museum” for its centuries-old temples, palaces, royal tombs and treasures scattered around different areas of the city. With great accessibility to Silla’s legacy along with a blend of nature, history and culture, the city enjoys a reputation among Koreans as a must-visit tourist destination. The

TravelNov. 23, 2024

[What to Play] Cozy songs to warm you up

As winter's chill sets in, cozy up with the soothing sounds of Zion. T's "Snow," a smooth and soulful track that perfectly captures the serene beauty of the season. For a more upbeat yet equally cozy vibe, NewJeans' "Ditto" brings a warm, dreamy atmosphere that pairs wonderfully with a hot drink by the fireplace. Lee Mujin’s "When It Snows" offers a soft, heartfelt melody that perfectly complements the peacefulness of a snowy day. These songs wi

weekenderNov. 23, 2024

[Weekender] Korea's traditional sauce culture gains global recognition

South Korea's traditional culture of making "jang," a culinary practice encompassing knowledge and techniques related to the production of fermented soybean condiments, is poised to gain global recognition, as UNESCO considers adding it to the list of intangible cultural assets. On Nov. 5, an evaluation body under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage recommended Korea’s “Knowledge, beliefs, and practices relate

weekenderNov. 23, 2024

Toxins at 622 times legal limit found in kids' clothes from Chinese platforms

Toxic substances up to 622 times Korea’s permitted levels were found in children’s winter clothing sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday. In the latest safety inspection conducted by the city government on 26 items of winter clothing for children and infants from Temu, Shein and AliExpress, toxic chemicals were found in seven products from Temu and AliExpress. One children’s jacket sold on Temu contained phthalate plasticizers -- t

Social AffairsNov. 23, 2024

At Gwangcheonok, try North Korean-style sundae gukbap

Nestled in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gwangcheonok is known for its authentic North Korean-style soups and traditional flavors. It is a hidden gem for those seeking to explore the subtle yet comforting taste of North Korean cuisine, known for more restrained seasoning compared to its South Korean counterpart. One of Gwangcheonok’s signature offerings is the sundae gukbap, a hearty soup featuring slices of Korean blood sausage — sundae — served with rice. While many Koreans are familiar

FoodNov. 23, 2024

Over 80,000 malicious calls made to Seoul call center since 2020

There have been 80,368 calls made with possibly malicious intent to the 120 Dasan Seoul Call Center from 2020 to October this year, the state-run foundation for the city's official information service said during a conference on Wednesday. The 120 Dasan Call Foundation hosted a seminar on the emotional labor of call center workers at the Seoul City Hall, during which it revealed the statistics related to problematic complaints or calls made to the call center. It defined malicious petitio

Social AffairsNov. 23, 2024

Trump picks ex-N. Korea policy official as his principal deputy national security adviser

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump named Alex Wong, who was engaged in working-level nuclear talks with North Korea during his first term, as his principal deputy national security adviser amid expectations he could seek to reengage with Pyongyang after returning to office. Trump issued a statement on his decision to appoint Wong, who served as the deputy special representative for North Korea and the deputy assistant secretary for North Korea in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at th

Foreign AffairsNov. 23, 2024

BLACKPINK's Rose stays at No. 3 on British Official Singles chart with 'APT.'

Rose of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has maintained her third position on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for the third consecutive week with "APT.," her collaboration with global pop icon Bruno Mars. It marks the fifth consecutive week that the song has stayed in the top 10. The single's position remained unchanged from last week at No. 3, behind U.S. singer-songwriters Gracie Abrams' "That's So True" and Gigi Perez's "Sailor Song," acc

K-popNov. 23, 2024

What you need to know about Adani's US bribery indictment

BENGALURU (Reuters) -- Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his alleged role in a $265 million scheme to bribe Indian officials, sending shockwaves across his eponymous $142 billion ports-to-soybeans business conglomerate. Here is what you need to know about the US indictment. THE MAJOR US INDICTMENT Gautam Adani, one of world's richest people, faces his biggest challenge after being charged with seven others for alleged bribery related to power supply dea

World NewsNov. 22, 2024

Hyundai Motor’s Genesis US push challenged by Trump’s tariff hike: sources

The US sales expansion of Hyundai Motor Company’s luxury brand, Genesis, may face setbacks with President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariff hikes, according to industry sources Friday. The incoming Trump administration, set to begin its term on Jan. 20 next year, reportedly plans to implement up to 20 percent tariffs on most goods from other countries in line with its campaign pledges. Currently, Genesis exports most of its vehicles manufactured in Korea to the US. Hyundai Motor&r

MobilityNov. 22, 2024

Oasis confirms first Korean concert in 16 years

Legendary Britpop group Oasis confirmed it would perform in South Korea next year, marking the band's first concert here in 16 years. Event organizer Live Nation Korea announced on Friday that Oasis will hold a concert on Oct. 21 next year at the Goyang Sports Complex. Tickets for the event will go on sale exclusively through Interpark Ticket from Nov. 29 at noon. Oasis confirmed the news via the band's official social media, posting, "South Korea, Our new best friends. Hold on. O

PerformanceNov. 22, 2024

North Korean leader ‘convinced’ dialogue won’t change US hostility

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his previous efforts for dialogue and diplomacy could not change US hostility toward his country. “We had explored every path we can with the US through dialogue. The only outcome that can come from it, I am convinced, is the superpower’s implacable logic of force and unchanging policy of hostility toward our country,” Kim was quoted saying in the Workers’ Party of Korea-affiliated newspaper Rodong Simun on Friday. Kim has yet to offic

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024