Samsung Electronics has reclaimed the top spot in the North American smartphone market from its rival Apple, driven by strong sales of its latest flagship smartphone Galaxy S8, according to a US report. In the second quarter, the world’s largest smartphone maker by sales grabbed a 33 percent share in the US market, shipping 13.4 million units of smartphones, according to a report released by Strategy Analytics on Wednesday. Apple took a 25 percent share with 10.1 million units of sales in the sa

To say Kim Ki-duk is not a director for everyone would be an understatement. He uses rape, prostitution and incest in his films to strip all pretense and examine the raw human emotions of impulse, violence and lust.However, the controversial director may have gone a step too far: An actress has filed a complaint with prosecutors, alleging that the award-winning director physically assaulted her and coerced her to shoot an unscripted sex scene while filming “Moebius,” which was released in 2013. 

  When Kwon Tae-jin (not his real name) joined the Navy after finishing his freshman year at a prestigious university in Seoul, the then-20-year-old had high expectations about spending his mandatory service sailing distant seas.  　Having endured six months of basic military training and another six months of life in the barracks, Kwon was promoted to a seaman and waited for his assignment. But the assignment he received was something he had not anticipated: becoming the commander’s housekeeper.

Foul-mouthed spin doctor Anthony Scaramucci was axed as White House communications director Monday, just 10 days after being named to the post and hours after Donald Trump installed a new chief of staff.　The 53-year-old New Yorker -- whose profanity-laden rant against colleagues gained him global notoriety -- was fired as four-star Gen. John Kelly began his quest to impose order on an administration careening out of control.　During its first six months in office, Trump’s White House has been bes

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the United States would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin.　Putin added bluntly that Russia was able to raise the stakes with America even further, although he hoped this would be unnecessary.　A US State Department official denounced the move as a “regrettable and uncalled for act,” adding that Washington was now weighing a potential respon

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday named his first chief trade negotiator, readying for possible talks with the US over the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. The new trade minister, whose position will be that of a vice minister, is Kim Hyun-chong, a graduate of Columbia Law School and professor of language and trade at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Last year Kim was also appointed a new member of the World Trade Organization‘s dispute settlement body for Korea, which doles out final decisions

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that transgender people may not serve “in any capacity” in the US military, upending a key policy from Barack Obama’s administration and drawing swift condemnation.　Announcing the major policy change via Twitter, Trump said the military should be focused on “overwhelming victory,” and not burdened with the “tremendous” medical costs and disruptions that transgender personnel would entail.　“After consultation with my generals and military experts, please

The maverick stood with his party Tuesday, casting a crucial vote in the Republican drive to repeal “Obamacare.” But then, like an angry prophet, Sen. John McCain condemned the tribal politics besetting the nation.Confronting an aggressive brain cancer, the 80-year-old Arizonan served notice he would not vote for the GOP legislation as it stands now. McCain’s impassioned speech held the rapt attention of his colleagues in the Senate chamber.　”Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the rad

A businessman who had once beaten Starbucks in the coffee franchise race in South Korea some years ago has been found dead, police said Tuesday. Kang Hoon, CEO of the local dessert cafe franchise MangoSix was discovered in a bathroom at his residence in Seocho-dong by an employee on Monday afternoon, according to investigators. He was 49.Kang was a pioneer in the local coffee franchise industry, as he brought domestic coffee brands to huge success and attempted market entries to other Asian mark

Prosecutor General nominee Moon Moo-il pledged Monday to ensure political neutrality and rebuild public trust that has been marred by what critics say are lopsided investigations into high-profile cases involving leading politicians and major corporations.  Prosecutor General nominee Moon Moo-il (Yonhap)At his parliamentary confirmation hearing, ruling and opposition lawmakers wrestled over Cheong Wa Dae’s recent disclosure of massive sheaves of documents left behind by the Park Geun-hye adminis

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has ``complete power‘’ to issue pardons, an assertion that comes amid investigations into Russian interference in last year‘s presidential election. It was one of many topics that appeared to occupy the president’s mind as the day broke.　On a day when most people are ready to forget about the issues that nagged them during the week, Trump revved up. In an early morning flurry of 10 tweets, he commented about pardons, former presidential rival Hillary

For Kim Chong-in, 78, morning starts at 5 a.m., with news updates about world politics. “Humans are political animals. You should know what’s going on around the world,” the veteran politician told The Korea Herald at his office in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. That’s the approach Kim, originally an economics professor, took to stay relevant, and ideally ahead of the game, for more than three decades in South Korea’s turbulent politics. Of all countries, France is his main interest now, Kim said,

Ex-Doosan Group head urges businesses to embrace worsening poverty, inequality

Police have launched a probe into the case of a North Korean celebrity defector who recently appeared in a propaganda video clip for the North, amid suspicions she may have been abducted by the hermit nation. “Authorities are currently investigating the case of the North Korean defector Lim Ji-hyun,” Lee Yu-jin, the Ministry of Unification’s deputy spokesperson, said Wednesday.   A captured image of a North Korean propaganda video featuring Lim Ji-hyun, also known as Jeon Hye-sung. YonhapThe Seo

Former national football team head coach Uli Stielike has left South Korea and returned to his home country, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.The Korea Football Association said Stielike departed for Germany on Saturday, one month after he was sacked as the men's national football team boss.The KFA said Stielike had a luncheon with his former backroom staff, including assistant coaches Jung Hae-sung and Seol Ki-hyeon, before leaving South Korea.The KFA said Stielike didn't leave a message for S