SPOTLIGHT

• Music

  

  YG denies rumors of G-Dragon’s concert in China

  K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment on Wednesday warned fans about fake tickets for K-pop band Big Bang’s leader G-Dragon’s rumored concert in China.In an official statement, YG said it has spotted fake news about G-Dragon’s supposed concert in China on several online websites, including WeChat, a widely used social media platform in China. While G-Dragon will not perform in a concert in China, the company said that some people have received preorders for the tickets.“All i

• Music

  

  IZ*ONE to resume music career next month

  K-pop girl band IZ*ONE will return to the music scene next month, resuming its high-profile music career that was put on hold amid a vote-rigging scandal involving the band's native audition show last year. "Mnet and the management agencies of IZ*ONE members decided to resume their activities in respect of the members and their fans who wish for a career resumption," Mnet said in a statement. The music channel said the girl band will return to the music scene next month, saying the exa

• Soccer

  

  Tottenham's Son Heung-min ends 7-match scoring drought in win

  Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has ended his seven-match goalless drought, while scoring for the first time in 2020 in the process.Son headed in the 79th-minute winner in the Spurs' 2-1 victory over Norwich City in the Premier League contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Tuesday (local time). It was Son's first score since the jaw-dropping wonder goal against Burnley in the Premier League on Dec. 7. He had gone scoreless in his past four Premier League matches, one UEFA Champions

• Culture

  

  Flavor chemistry behind cocoa gastronomy

  The mouth-watering sweetness that originated from cocoa serves as the main component of chocolate in the modern confectionery industry. The unique bounties of rare flavors coming from the deep brown beans are undoubtedly the magic hands behind the juicy touch. Many chocolate lovers agree -- a bite of fine chocolate can be as exquisite as a fancy truffle risotto, conveying the pleasure of tasting something truly delectable. On Jan. 10, the world’s largest chocolate festival, “Salon du

LATEST NEWS

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  North Korea

  North Korea to make Munich Security Conference debut in 2020

  North Korea will send a delegation to the Munich Security Conference for the first time in the 56-year history of the top diplomatic gathering, organizers said Thursday.An MSC spokesperson confirmed that North Korean vice foreign minister Kim Son-gyong would attend next month's event.The announcement comes a month after Pyongyang declared it was abandoning moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.The self-imposed ban on tests had been the centerpiece of two years of nu

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  Social affairs

  Justice minister expresses intent to probe prosecution over indictment of presidential official

  Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae expressed intent on Thursday to order an internal probe into prosecutors that brought charges against a presidential secretary for suspected misconduct, calling it a rash move that did not follow due process.Choo delivered her message to the press after an anti-corruption team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office earlier in the day indicted Choi Kang-wook, a presidential secretary for public office discipline, for fabricating an internship certificate for

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  Technology

  Samsung sets up tech platform center, names new home appliance biz chief

  Samsung Electronics created an in-house technology platform unit and named a new chief for its home appliance business in the company's latest reshuffle, corporate sources here said Thursday. Samsung combined its in-house tech units related with artificial intelligence, internet of things and big data solutions to set up a new tech group, tentatively named "next-generation platform center," according to the company officials.  The center will be headed by Chung Eui-suk, an executi

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  Foreign Affairs

  Search operations for S. Koreans missing in Himalayas suspended due to bad weather

  The search for four South Koreans missing after an avalanche in the Himalayas were called off Thursday (Nepal time) as worsening weather continued to hamper operations. Nepalese authorities and a voluntary South Korean rescue team have been conducting the search since Friday's accident that left four Koreans and three Nepalese guides missing after an avalanche struck the popular trekking route on Mount Annapurna in northwestern Nepal. South Korea's quick response team dispatched to the site said

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  Money

  Samsung may see passive funds cut exposure sooner than expected

  A cap on Samsung Electronics’s weight in a Korean equity index could kick in earlier than planned, triggering fears that billions of dollars will exit the stock.Instead of the bi-annual adjustment, the Korea Exchange is considering putting a 30 percent limit on Samsung’s weighting on the Kospi 200 Index earlier due to the stock’s recent rally, said Ahn Kil-Hyun, the manager of the team that oversees the index. Given the gauge’s popularity among passive funds, research pro

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  Defense

  Furlough threat hangs over US military bases in S. Korea

  The US is warning it will send furlough notices within weeks to almost 9,000 South Korean workers at US bases if the two countries don’t reach agreement on President Donald Trump’s demand for Seoul to increase dramatically what it pays for American troops.Trump’s push for South Korea to contribute much more has put the alliance under strain at a time when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s regime has said it would no longer be bound by its previous promise to halt testing

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  Defense

  NSC members discuss follow-up measures to Hormuz troop dispatch decision: Cheong Wa Dae

  South Korea’s top security officials had internal discussions Thursday on ways to strengthen "communication" with Iran and the United States in connection with its decision to send naval troops to the Strait of Hormuz for contributions to maritime security there, according to Cheong Wa Dae.They reviewed the international community’s responses to the move and discussed "follow-up measures," including the strengthening of "communication" with relevant nati

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  Social affairs

  Another Korean sexual slavery victim dies, number of survivors at 19

  Another elderly Korean victim of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery died Thursday, the gender ministry said. The death of the woman, whose identity was withheld at the request of her family, puts the number of surviving victims at 19, according to the ministry. A total of 240 are officially registered with the government as victims of sexual enslavement by the Japanese imperial army during World War II. Five died last year. Gender Minister Lee Jung-ok expressed condolences to the family over t

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  Social affairs

  Labor leader gets suspended sentence for organizing violent protests

  The leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a militant labor umbrella group, was given a suspended sentence Thursday for masterminding assaults on police during outdoor rallies.The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Kim Myeong-hwan to 2 years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, and ordered him to complete 160 hours of community service.Kim was accused of overseeing violent illegal acts during KCTU members’ four protest rallies in front of the National Assem

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  Markets

  Duty-free shares suffer decline amid new coronavirus fear

  Shares in South Korean duty-free operators took a hit amid concerns that the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus may hurt the companies’ revenues from Chinese visitors, data showed Thursday. Hotel Shilla closed at 97,000 won ($83) on Thursday, down 10.6 percent from Friday’s closing price of 108,500 won.   Shinsegae fell 4.37 percent over the cited period to finish at 306,500 won. Lotte Shopping also tumbled 4.76 percent to close at 130,000 won.On Monday, South Korea reported

GRAPHIC NEWS

OPINION

• Viewpoints

  

  The case for consumption equality

  Discussions about economic development often focus on how to increase income equality. More recently, however, thoughtful observers have begun to regard consumption equality -- the equal use of goods and services -- as a more robust indicator of parity in human wellbeing. After all, it more accurately captures inequality as people experience it when they consume, and consumption can be affected by borrowing and saving, as well as by social safety-net programs.But consumption equality is a double

• Viewpoints

  

  Trump’s weak trade deal with China completely ignores big picture

  By many counts, the trade deal President Donald Trump signed on Jan. 15 with China lacks heft. It doesn’t remove all the tariffs, it doesn’t impose any major penalties on intellectual property theft, and it punts completely on issues including China’s state subsidies to prop up its own companies in international markets.Yet on one matter, the agreement could dramatically alter the US-China relationship and the future of global democracy.At the signing, Trump trumpeted a future

THE INVESTOR

• Finance

  

  Shinhan chief gets suspended sentence over influence-peddling charges

  　Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung on Jan. 22 received a suspended sentence on influence-peddling charges in the flagship banking unit’s recruiting scandal, even as his leadership remains unscathed. 　The Seoul Eastern District Court handed the 63-year-old executive a six-month prison term, suspended for two years. Expressing disappointment, Cho said he would appeal to a higher court.　The lower court found Cho partially guilty on the charges, including influence-peddling

• Samsung

  

  Samsung’s financial units brace for changes with new CEOs

  South Korea’s largest conglomerate on Tuesday appointed new chief executives -- all in their 50s -- in an apparent move to tackle challenges in the fast digitalization of the capital market and diversify its business portfolio for sustainable growth.　Samsung Group’s insurance unit, Samsung Life, has appointed Jeon Young-muk as its new CEO. He has served as CEO of Samsung Asset Management since 2018.  　Samsung Life vice presidents -- Kim Dae-hwan and Shim Jong-keug -- have been t

• Economy

  

  S. Korea to launch financial data exchange platform in March

  South Korea will test-run a financial data exchange platform in March, enabling users to sell and purchase such data conveniently, the nation’s top financial regulator said Tuesday, in a move seen as an effort to accelerate digital transformation. 　According to the policymaking Financial Services Commission, the data will be uploaded to the platform by providers including financial and public institutions, insurance companies and mobile operators. It will then be purchased by buyers such a

• Startups & Investors

  

  Student-led venture vibe livens up Seoul basement

  In a dark basement club in Seoul on Friday, scores of 20-somethings got themselves into the spirit, cracking up with laughter and hollering at one another.Soon, people filling up the basement broke up into eight teams. They were given 15 minutes to come up with business ideas. Each team took turns pitching the ideas which were put up for virtual auction before the participants. Live hip-hop performances followed.For Lee Yeon-ji, a 23-year-old university student, the event, called “Social-R

K-POP

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  After first meeting as fans, this couple got married to BTS music

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  Starbucks’ BTS items selling out fast in Korea

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  How airports become battleground for K-pop idols, photographers, fans

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Social affairs

  

  ‘I take pride in my gay son’

• Social affairs

  

  Lawyer on mission to redeem justice failures

• Music

  

  Halsey says working with BTS one of best experiences in life

• Transport

  

  S. Korea very lucrative market for Rolls-Royce: CEO

PHOTO NEWS

• Arts&Design

  

  Look into King Jeongjo’s dream city: Hwaseong Fortress

  The Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, dates back to the latter part of the Joseon era (1392-1910).Designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in December 1997, the 5.74-kilometer-long fortress wall was constructed from 1794 to 1796, taking two years and nine months. The fortress was intended to display King Jeongjo’s filial piety toward his father and create a new city with its own economic power.Jeong Yak-yong, a prominent Silhak -- practical learning -- scholar, led the

VIDEO

• Transport

  

  Genesis’ first SUV GV80 launched, threatens likes of Benz, BMW

• Technology

  

  Amorepacific shines at CES 2020 with K-beauty tech

• Culture

  

  The magic and romance of Christmas

• Food&Beverage

  

  The puzzle of flavor

FEATURES

• Transport

  

  What will happen at Hanjin KAL’s March shareholders meeting?

  Eyes on KCGI, Bando Construction, Kakao to see if they back Cho Won-tae or Cho Hyun-ah

• Social affairs

  

  International marriages increasing after lull in 2010s

  Nearly half of Korean women who married foreigners in 2018 chose Chinese or American grooms

• Social affairs

  

  Korea’s youth population sees steepest fall among OECD members

  SEJONG -- Fifty years ago, South Koreans aged 14 and under made up 42.5 percent of the population in the wake of the country’s 1955-1963 baby boom.Korea ranked second in a retrospective comparison of the 36 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which looked back at youth populations relative to total country populations in 1970. While Mexico topped the list for that year, with 46.8 percent of its population no older than 14, the majority of OECD members post

• North Korea

  

  Love without borders, or nuclear threats?

  A hit drama reflects South Koreans’ deep-rooted interest in North Koreans, despite military hostility