The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the splinter minor Open Democratic Party announced their merger agreement Sunday, in a move meant to strengthen unity in the liberal political bloc ahead of the March 9 presidential election. DP leader Song Young-gil and Choe Kang-wook, the head of the satellite party, signed the agreement, including a decision to use the ruling party's name as that of the me...

President Moon Jae-in has pointed out the need for South Korea to have defense capabilities not only to deter North Korean threats but also to cope with its geopolitical position "stuck between great powers," his aide said Sunday. Moon made the remarks during a meeting with his secretaries last month while commenting on the country's project to acquire a light aircraft carrier by 2033, Park Soo-...

The Tongyeong International Music Festival, an annual classical music gala, will take place March 25 to April 3, under the theme of “Vision in Diversity.” Marking its 20th anniversary, the annual music festival aims to contemplate diversity. The festival held in the southern coastal city of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, will be directed by composer Chin Un-suk and feature classical to co...

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 6,000 for the second straight day Sunday following fewer tests on Christmas Day but critical cases remained high. The country added 5,419 more COVID-19 cases, including 5,339 local infections, bringing the cumulative total to 607,463, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Sunday's tally fell from 5,842 cases on Saturday, 6,...

By Kim Arin ( arin@heraldcorp.com )

St. Andrew Kim Taegon Jeju Island was the first place in Korea where Korea’s first Catholic priest landed on Sept. 28, 1845. St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-1846), Korea’s first Catholic priest, was educated in Macao and in the Philippines from the age of 15, and was ordained as a priest in Shanghai in 1844 by the French bishop Jean-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste Ferreol (1808-1853). St. Andrew Kim Taegon’s ...

“This year, I bought a beam projector to watch Christmas movies with my friends at home. Not only that, I found that it’s a thing to put up nice scenery with the beam projector to make it feel like we are having fun somewhere else,” said Lee Ji-won, 28. People are also looking for other ways to give Christmas presents to loved ones via mobile apps’ gift and shopping features. “I bought a ticket...

Energyhaeyou’s net-zero joint markets have been serving as an open space of communication for people to participate in the net-zero movement. Its newest joint market in Beop-dong shares space with an existing energy cafe in the same area. It features diverse zero-waste products including shampoo bars, solid toothpastes, bio plastic toothbrushes and pens, eco-friendly dishwashing pads, recycled pa...

The Santa Claus outfit that workers wore was sanitized under the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.

Chinese yam rolled in gim Harvested from late October onward, gim tastes best in winter. By finely grating Chinese yam (ma), which is full of vitamins and minerals, and mixing with chopped shiitake mushrooms and carrots, you can have a gim dish with a fragrant sea aroma to perk up your appetite. Ingredients 6 sheets of gim 300 g Chinese yam (ma) 3 shiitake mushrooms ⅓ carrot 2 tbsp flour ...

A decade ago, Seoulites were exposed to all of the elements of climate alongside automobile exhaust while waiting for the next bus to come. Today, the city has adopted digitally renovated bus stops that alert passengers of incoming vehicles, protect them from weather changes and help them better respond to medical emergencies. Known as “smart shelters,” these tech-savvy bus stops are equipped w...

Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential nominee of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), said Saturday he will fix the country's tax system to stabilize the housing market. "The current government thought soaring home prices were caused by multiple homeowners' speculative demand, or their cornering and hoarding in the market, but that is wrong," Yoon said on 3Pro TV, a YouTube channel about the ...

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), said Saturday South Korean stocks are undervalued and he believes the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) can go up to the 5,000-point range. "KOSPI reaching 5,000 points is not difficult," Lee said on 3Pro TV, a YouTube channel about the economy. KOSPI closed at 3,012.43 on Friday. Asked why he thinks local st...

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 6,000 for the first time in four days Saturday, apparently as a result of antivirus restrictions, but critical cases surged to another record high. The country added 5,842 more COVID-19 cases, including 5,767 local infections, bringing the cumulative total to 602,051, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Saturday's tally is ...

South Korea's defense ministy on Saturday reported 25 additional COVID-19 cases, with 24 of them being breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload in the military to 3,089. Of the new cases, five are from the Army, 13 from the Navy, five from the Air Force, two from units under the direct control of the defense ministry. Of the total military caseload, 1,297 are breakthrough cases. The...