The Korea Herald

SK launches W30b fund to support start-ups

Dec 21, 2015

SK Group on Sunday launched a 30 billion won ($25 million) fund that aims to support tech start-ups in the fields of agriculture and fisheries. The fund targets venture firms and young entrepreneurs based in Daejeon and the neighboring Sejong area where SK opened a start-up acceleration center in July to join a government-led initiative across industries. With the latest funding, SK has secured a combined 75 billion won to support venture firms and start-ups and create an ecosystem for business
Denmark marks 150 years since C. Nielsen’s birth

Dec 20, 2015

The Danish Embassy teamed up with communications company Jabra to hold a concert Tuesday to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Danish composer Carl Nielsen. The event at the Seoul National University Museum of Art attracted 150 guests from diplomatic missions, cultural industries, educational institutions and business communities, part of worldwide performances celebrating the occasion. Danish-Korean group “Trio con Brio Copenhagen” ― comprised of Korean sisters, violinist Hong Soo-jin and cell
French language gets boost in Korea

Dec 20, 2015

The International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), an agency dedicated to popularizing French language and culture worldwide, launched a support group in Seoul last week to widen collaboration with Korea.The Council of Promotion of Francophonie in Korea is comprised of diplomats with networks in Tokyo, Hanoi, Bangkok and Jakarta. The agency will support cultural events, academic conferences and business partnerships, meeting once or twice a year.“We are here to celebrate Francophonie’s es
Tunisian Embassy celebrates quartet’s Nobel Peace Prize

Dec 20, 2015

The Tunisian Embassy on Tuesday held a reception to commemorate the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, a coalition of unionists, employers, lawyers and human rights activists that brokered peace and forestalled a civil war.The quartet is credited with preventing violence in 2013, following the Jasmine Revolution that overthrew longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and ended six decades of dictatorship. By facilitating compromise between dive
Indonesia honors Korean Army general

Dec 20, 2015

The Indonesian Embassy on Friday awarded a former Korean military chief for his contributions to strengthening the bilateral alliance and Indonesia’s defense capacity. Former ROK Army Chief of Staff Kim Yo-han was awarded the Order of Service Medal, an honor bestowed to individuals who made distinguished achievements benefiting the Indonesian government or military. The medal is conferred by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. “The Indonesian government and army express deep gratitude to Gen. Kim
WTO members agree to end farm subsidies

Dec 20, 2015

The member countries of the World Trade Organization agreed to end agricultural export subsidies by 2023 during their latest ministerial talks in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday. The Korean Trade Ministry said Sunday that the 162 WTO members reached a dramatic agreement on some key issues in the agricultural sector, including the sensitive farm subsidies. (Yonhap)WTO director general Roberto Azevedo in a statement welcomed the agreement, calling it the “most significant outcome on agriculture” in t
Daewoo E&C seeks sale of mall near Yongsan Station

Dec 20, 2015

Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. is promoting the sale of “Yongsan Summit Square,” a shopping mall in Yongsan, central Seoul, company officials said Sunday.The officials said the mall in front of Yongsan Station was part of the high-rise residential complex “Yongsan Prugio Summit” that the company has constructed. An artist’s rendering of Yongsan Prugio Summit (Daewoo E&C)The three-story mall includes 139 shops and is expected to draw high demand given that it is situated near AmorePacifi
Korea enters into 3 new FTAs

Dec 20, 2015

Korea on Sunday entered into free trade pacts with three economies, including its largest trade partner and one of today’s major sources of global economic uncertainty ― China. (Yonhap)The FTAs with China, Vietnam and New Zealand are projected to bring to Korea an additional 1 percentage point in gross domestic product growth over the next decade through a $5 billion increase in annual shipments to the three markets. “Global trade outlook is not good, but we hope the FTAs will serve as a much-n
Samsung Pay, Apple Pay to vie in China

Dec 20, 2015

Rival mobile-payments services Samsung Pay and Apple Pay will compete head to head in the all-important Chinese market next year. Samsung Electronics and Apple on Thursday announced separate deals with state-owned bank card network China UnionPay Bank that will allow customers to add credit or debit cards to their respective mobile-payments services. The services would start in China as early as the first quarter of next year after the tests and certifications required by the Chinese regulators.
Kazakhstan, Korea deepen partnership

Dec 20, 2015

The Kazakh Embassy on Tuesday marked the country’s founding on Dec. 16, 1991, and burgeoning ties with Korea at a reception in Seoul that featured photographs of the country’s remotest regions. The pictures, part of the exhibition “Undiscovered Kazakhstan,” were selected by the Foundation of the First President of Kazakhstan, a public organization supporting young scientists, artists, students and researchers. “Within a span of 24 years, Kazakhstan and Korea pushed our close relations to a compr
[Newsmaker] 'Force Awakens' crosses $250M globally

Dec 20, 2015

"Star Wars" fever has spread through movie theaters around the globe, even reaching the White House, as the franchise yet again began toppling box-office records with waves of lightsaber-wielding fans.The Millennium Falcon in "The Force Awakens" (Disney Korea)Following a record $57 million from Thursday night showings in North America, and packed matinees on Friday, the Walt Disney Co. projected that "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will surpass $215 million on the weekend, besting the record dome
Does Cheong Wa Dae fear the people?

Dec 20, 2015

Since the launch of Park Geun-hye administration, Blue House returns as symbol of isolation
Third anti-government rally turns playful

Dec 20, 2015

On Saturday afternoon, Gwanghwamun Square, which was shut down by police bus barricades to stop protesters a month ago, turned into a playground for antigovernment demonstrators blowing horns and shaking tambourines.Under a “noisy” and “uproarious” theme, an estimated crowd of 2,500 gathered in the square in central Seoul to signify their opposition to the sedition charge leveled against an umbrella union leader and the government’s push for controversial labor, trade and education polices. The