Seoul to use all 'cards available' to pay less for USFK

Cheong Wa Dae is considering using all the leverage it can in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States to reduce the amount South Korea pays for the upkeep of the United States Forces Korea (USFK). This will include expanding the “definition” of the contribution to include defense costs not directly linked to the upkeep of the 28,500 USFK troops and support staff.

Macron option for Korea

Korea may need a touch of Emmanuel Macron in reshaping its most important alliance with the United States. The French president is calling for a change to the Europe-U.S. alliance to meet changing conditions, best epitomized by what he calls Europe's reclamation of security sovereignty. The Macron call comes as U.S. President Donald Trump presses NATO countries to meet the pledge of spending 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.

Kim Gun-mo countersues alleged rape victim

Singer Kim Gun-mo, 51, currently embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, has filed a complaint against the alleged victim claiming her accusation was false, his agency said Friday. In a statement, the agency said Kim decided to take legal action against the woman for spreading “false information” on a YouTube channel thereby defaming the singer.

Samsung to strengthen foothold in China

Samsung Electronics is investing an additional $8 billion into its semiconductor plant in Xian, China, in a bid to ramp up NAND flash memory chip output and strengthen its foothold in the neighboring country, according to the Korean tech giant Friday. The company has already spent $7 billion on its second plant in Xian, the firm's only overseas memory chip production base. The investment is expected to help restore full economic cooperation between Seoul and Beijing at a time when the two are pushing to hold a summit at the end of the year. Kang Bong-yong, Samsung Electronics vice president of the device solutions (DS) division, told Chinese officials during a recent meeting, ...

Ex-dictator Chun seen at lavish luncheon on coup anniv.

Former President Chun Doo-hwan was spotted participating in a lavish luncheon with longtime aides from his dictatorial rule of South Korea, Thursday, the 40th anniversary of his 1979 military coup, according to a video clip released by Justice Party deputy leader Lim Han-sol.

Korean food delivery giant merged into German rival in $4 billion deal

Woowa Brothers, operator of the Baedal Minjok food delivery service, said Friday that German food delivery giant Delivery Hero will acquire the company for $4 billion.

Ryu Hyun-jin appointed as sports human rights honorary ambassador

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has appointed Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin an honorary ambassador to promote athletes' human rights.

Banks advised to compensate up to 41% of 'KIKO' losses

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said Friday that banks should compensate local exporters for up to 41 percent of losses incurred from currency-linked financial derivatives options, which caused over 3 trillion won in losses to the firms at the time of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Female leaders in finance consolidate presence

Despite the cold of December, executives and managers of banks and state-run financial institutions flocked to the Korea Federation of Banks headquarters in central Seoul at the break of dawn, Tuesday.

Hyundai Heavy launches new robotics subsidiary

Hyundai Heavy Industries Group will spin-off its robotics business and establish a new subsidiary, Hyundai Robotics, aiming to increase sales from the promising business to 1 trillion won ($853 million) by the end of 2024, the group said Friday.

Hyundai Motor, Grab partner on EV-based car hailing service in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor is looking to raise its share of Southeast Asian markets by launching a car-hailing service in Indonesia in partnership with Grab, the company said Friday.

Second Korean War 'possible'

Graham T. Allison, a famed American political scientist at Harvard University and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy and Plans, says it's “possible.” And the chance of a second Korean War is “increasing” as the impasse in denuclearization negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. continues, especially with the year-end deadline for talks rising on the horizon, he said at a recent academic forum in Japan. According to the Japanese daily Sankei Shimbun that covered the forum on Thursday, Allison said the probability of the two Koreas going to war was “lower than 50 percent, but it's quite possible.”

Mobile TV on verge of fading away from smartphones

Mobile TV, dubbed as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), is on the verge of fading away from smartphones as the service enabling people to watch broadcasts via mobile devices has lost viewership significantly with the advent of more convenient and smarter options such as video streaming services.

Actor Park Jung-min talks about his real personality

Thirty-two year-old actor Park Jung-min has come back to play a rebellious teenage troublemaker in the new film “Start-up.” At a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Thursday, Park met with journalists to talk about the film before its release. As a hard-working actor, Park is never settled. He has taken various roles such as an independence movement fighter in “Dong-ju: The Portriat of the Poet,” a servant with Downs Syndrome in “That's Only My World,” and a mysterious technician in “Svaha: The Sixth Finger.” “I usually doubt myself. When I get feedback from people, I only take on negative comments, because that's what helps me improve,” he said.

'Hurrah for Women 2' unfolds touching family drama

The Seoul Arts Center presents 'Hurray for Women 2,' a play on the theme of women's growth and love in a family, that will run for about six weeks from Dec. 24 to Feb. 2 at its 240-seat Jayu Theater. The play premiered in 2018 at a theater in Daehak-ro - Seoul's northern district famous for its concentrated collection of theaters and plays - and garnered positive reviews both from audiences and critics for its originality.The play unfolds as Yi Yeo-ja, a women in her 70s, shows up at a family consisting of three women of different generations - a submissive and dutiful daughter-in-law in her 50s, a fastidious mother-in-law in her 70s, and a feisty daughter in her 30s. As Yi stays for three months with the family, she disrupts their relationships.

Cosmic Girls' Dawon takes forced rest over mental distress

Dawon of K-pop girl band Cosmic Girls has been forced to rest due to an anxiety disorder, her agency Starship Entertainment said Thursday. “The singer was recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder,” the agency wrote on the group's official fan community.

Actor Lee Byung-hun confident with his new film 'The Man Standing Next'

Star actor Lee Byung-hun said Thursday that his forthcoming movie "The Man Standing Next" is a stylish film noir about a political dynamite in 1979 that changed the South Korean modern history.

Progressive group under probe for defaming LKP head Hwang

Police are investigating a progressive group for allegedly defaming the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn in leaflets that describe Hwang as a “pro-Japanese collaborator” with “a cunning face.”

Cho to lead Shinhan for 3 more years

Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung was essentially reappointed to another three-year term, Friday, as the banking group's chairman recommendation committee decided to put him forward as a sole candidate.

Coupang offers pre-order for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T

Coupang is offering a pre-order service for the Redmi Note 8T, the latest device from Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, the company said Friday.

600 students, parents attend IGC admissions policy presentation

In the four-hour event, officers from the universities presented their admissions policies in detail and, on the sidelines, offered individual consultation. Graduates of the schools also took part, sharing their first-hand experience and merits of studying at IGC.

Male rapper convicted of sexually insulting female singer in lyrics

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld lower courts' conviction of a male rapper indicted for sexually insulting a female rapper in his songs and concerts.

Singer Kim Feel to release first full album

K-pop artist Kim Feel is set to release his first full album - “Yours, Sincerely” - at 6 p.m. Friday. This is his first full album in eight years after debuting through Melon's singer-songwriter audition “Take#1” in 2011.

U.S. sets terms for China trade deal, sources say, but Beijing mum

Washington has set its terms for a trade deal with China, offering to suspend some tariffs on Chinese goods and cut others in exchange for Beijing buying more American farm goods, U.S. sources said on Thursday

Johnson wins 'huge' mandate for swift Brexit in UK election

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding election victory on Friday that will allow him to end three years of political paralysis and take Britain out of the European Union within weeks

MLB, union agree to testing for opioids after Skaggs' death

Major League Baseball will start testing for opioids and cocaine, but only players who do not cooperate with their treatment plans will be subject to discipline.

S. Korean coach for Vietnam football seeks 'long-term plans' on path to World Cup, Olympics

Whatever Park Hang-seo is preaching to his players on the Vietnamese men's national football teams, it's working.