At the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, human athletes are not going to be the only ones vying for gold in the much-anticipated alpine skiing events.Humanoid robot skiers are going to be hitting the slopes of PyeongChang, as Korea is slated to host the world’s first robot ski tournament on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement have organized a ski tournament in which self-

Both stock markets in South Korea, the Kospi and Kosdaq, rallied Monday to hit records, while the nation’s market operator vowed to improve Kospi operations and become more friendly to foreign investors this year. The top-tier Kospi closed at 2,598.19, up 0.91 percent from Friday, setting a new all-time high. The second-tier Kosdaq closed at 927,05, up 1.53 percent from the previous trading day, the highest in 16 years since March 2002. The Kospi topped 2,600 for the first time in history

Australian Open semifinalist Chung Hyeon became Korea's highest-ranked tennis player Monday after he cracked the top 30. Chung jumped from 58th to 29th in the latest men's singles rankings released by the Association of Tennis Professionals after earning 720 ranking points for his historic semifinals run at the season's first Grand Slam event.Lee Hyung-taik, who is retired, previously held the highest-ranked position by a Korean player at No. 36. He reached that position in August 2007.Chung Hye

Korea moves to file WTO complaint on US sanction after Feb. 7

Hundreds of South Koreans braved bitterly cold weather Saturday as they waited hours for the opening of Apple Korea's first store in southern Seoul.About 300 people lined up to be among the first in the country to get inside Apple Garosugil in the affluent southern district of Gangnam.Choi Ji-eon, an 18-year-old who is preparing to study abroad, said he arrived in front of the new store around 3 p.m. on Friday and later waited in a sleeping bag as he was shivering with cold at night."I would lik

North Korea strongly condemned the South Korea-U.S. alliance Saturday, accusing their joint defense efforts of being aimed at toppling its communist regime and saying such efforts may also lead to an end of ongoing dialogue between the two Koreas.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year message on Jan. 1. (Yonhap)"The South Korean government must realize its foul military consultation with the U.S. may be a foolish act that will put out the hard-earned chance of improving the North-So

South Korean tennis sensation Chung Hyeon bowed out to Roger Federer in the Australian Open semifinals Friday, ending a historic run that has captivated a nation hungry for new sporting heroes.The 58th-ranked Chung withdrew against the second-ranked Federer with blisters on his left foot, when the score was 6-1, 5-2 in favor of the Swiss great.Chung was the lowest-ranked man to make the Australian Open semifinals since Marat Safin 2004. The 21-year-old knocked out six-time Australian Open champi

South Korea’s retail giant Shinsegae, led by the group’s Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin, said Friday it has attracted more than 1 trillion won ($940 million) from a foreign investment firm and a private equity firm in an aim to strengthen its e-commerce business.The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with BRV Capital Management, a consumer focused investment firm, and private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners for its new e-commerce unit.  Shinsegae Vice chairman Chung Yong

North Korea is likely to hold a military parade on an "intimidating" scale to mark the 70th founding anniversary of its military, one day before the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics, a Seoul official said Friday.At Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang, the North is preparing for a massive military parade to mark the anniversary of the Korean People's Army on Feb. 8, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon."There is a high possibility that the North could hold an intimidating military parade

　The prosecution on Thursday raided offices of the auto parts maker DAS linked to former President Lee Myung-bak, and companies associated with the firm, over allegations that Lee’s government helped the firm recoup an investment.  　The Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office collected documents and computer files from the DAS office located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the residence of the DAS President surnamed Kang. 　It is the second time prosecutors have searched the office. The Seo

The Supreme Court is facing increasing heat over allegedly surveilling judges and accusations of bending to political pressure.It had been alleged that the National Court Administration surveilled judges, and compiled a list detailing their character and actions. The allegations have sparked speculations that a blacklist -- much like that of cultural figures drawn up by the Culture Ministry during the Park Geun-hye administration -- had been compiled.Supreme Court in southern Seoul. YonhapIn con

Chung Hyeon continued his impressive run at the Australian Open on Monday after he beat former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to become the first South Korean to reach the last eight at a Grand Slam event. Chung produced another upset at the Australian Open after he knocked out Djokovic 3-0 (7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)) in the round of 16 contest at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. He reached the last 16 at the season‘s first grand slam event with a surprising win over world No. 4 Alexander Zverev on Sat

North Korea on Monday promoted Masikryong Ski Resort, one of its leader Kim Jong-un's signature achievements, one day ahead of a South Korean on-site inspection group's visit there for joint training of non-Olympic national skiers, as part of events related to the upcoming Winter Olympics in the South. The North completed the extravagant resort in the eastern city of Wonsan in December 2013, under the North Korean leader's instruction, despite the North Korean people's economic hardship. North K

Joining Kakao and Nexon, NHN Entertainment mulls investment in Chinese digital currency trading platform OKCoin Korea despite government crackdown

WASHINGTON -- The federal government shut down at the stroke of midnight Friday, halting all but the most essential operations and marring the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration in a striking display of Washington dysfunction.Last-minute negotiations crumbled as Senate Democrats blocked a four-week stopgap extension in a late-night vote, causing the fourth government shutdown in a quarter century. The slide toward closure lacked for high drama: The Senate vote was all