Series

Latest News

Industry
[Herald Interview] Korean banks’ earnings dilemma: More profits, more responsibility

Heightened pressure puts banks in tricky position for growth, says Fitch Ratings director Korean banks may face diminishing profitability due to mounting pressure to take on social responsibilities amid the country's slowing economic growth, a senior official at global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said. Commercial banks, often criticized for making money from excessively high interest rates, are facing stronger pressure from local authorities to return a portion of profits to the provision of
April 29, 2024 - 10:27:49
Arts&Design
[Herald Interview] Guggenheim Museum makes a push for technology-based art with LG

As technology continues to evolve, art also expands its horizon with artists exploring technology-based art. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s LG Guggenheim Art and Technology Initiative launched last year aims to support such pioneering artists. Noam Segal, an LG Electronics associate curator, considers pioneering artists to be those who inspire understandings of how technology shapes and is shaped by society. Segal joined the museum to helm the five-year initiative with Korean conglomerate LG
April 27, 2024 - 18:41:31
Arts&Design
[Herald Interview] Kukje Gallery's Lee Hyun-sook brings Korean artists to Venice Biennale

It was almost a decade ago that the Kukje Gallery brought dansaekhwa artists to the Venice Biennale, a watershed moment for Korean contemporary art as it came under the global spotlight with the artists garnering international recognition. Lee Hyun-sook, founder of the Kukje Gallery, recalled why she pushed for the exhibition at the time – to present the authenticity of Korean art. The biennale’s collateral exhibition “Dansaekhwa” in 2015 showed works by Park Seo-bo, Chung Chang-Sup, Chung Sang-
April 25, 2024 - 18:30:18
Social affairs
[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'

Rapidly shrinking population in homogenous society may require foreign engineers, scientists, teachers, IT professionals in future, says KEIS head As South Korea grapples with a shrinking population, it is increasingly turning to foreign workers to fill crucial roles. Today, labor from overeseas is concentrated in low-paying unskilled jobs, but in the future, many will be hired to perform highly skilled work, according to Kim Young-Jung, president of the Korea Employment Information Service. Hig
April 25, 2024 - 18:17:37
Film
[Herald Interview] 2 new villains in ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ differentiate themselves in the details

Actors Kim Moo-yul, Lee Dong-hwi star as ruthless killer and cheeky mastermind, respectively “The Roundup: Punishment,” the fourth installment of the country’s most successful crime action franchise, features two new villains. Because the audience still remains captivated by the first installment’s Jang Chen (Yoon Kye-sang), an ethnic Korean gangster from Harbin who collects debts, and the second installment’s psychopathic serial killer, Kang Hae-sang (Son Suk-ku), many moviegoers are anticipati
April 25, 2024 - 17:45:57
Film
[Herald Interview] 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' features even more advanced VFX techniques: producers

Since its first outing in 2011, Planet of Apes reboot has demonstrated the pinnacle of visual effects in its realistic depiction of primates. The series has earned global recognition for its VFX techniques, including visual effects nominations at both the BAFTAs and the Academy Awards. Now, a fourth installment, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," is in cinemas, seven years after the previous one. According to the producers, the movie showcases even more advanced visual effects, a culmination o
April 25, 2024 - 11:43:35
Industry
[Herald Interview] Bridging Korea, Philippines for better future

Filipino biz tycoon Singson, legendary boxer Pacquiao stress investment vision lies in improving people’s livelihoods Building bilateral ties between Korea and the Philippines could be a means to boosting the livelihoods of the people of each country for Luis Chavit Singson, chairman of the Philippines’ LCS Group of Companies, and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. Singson and Pacquiao, longtime friends and investment partners, visited Seoul this week in a search for new business opportunities, along
April 24, 2024 - 18:02:24
Industry
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system

Popular banking app pours more than 10% of tech spending into security In 2022, South Korean fintech app Toss launched the nation’s first bug bounty program by a finance company, inviting attacks on its security system from the outside. Operating the program for several months in the first two years, Toss has kept the doors open starting last year so that hackers can report whenever they discover a vulnerability in Toss security. White hat -- or ethical -- hackers that make a significant discove
April 23, 2024 - 15:05:31
Performance
[Herald Interview] 'Romeo and Juliet for, and about, a new generation,' says Matthew Bourne

Renowned British choreographer Matthew Bourne's "Romeo and Juliet" is set to make its Korean premiere at the LG Arts Center in Seoul from May 8 to May 19. This contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragic romance and Prokofiev’s ballet masterpiece takes the audience to the near future at the Verona Institute, an imaginary reformatory for young people that is tightly watched over by security guards. In a written interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday, Bourne described the piece as "'Rome
April 22, 2024 - 10:18:25
K-pop
[Herald Interview] Doyoung of NCT to share his story of ‘youth’ in 1st solo album

Over the past nine years, Doyoung has built a career as the vocalist of the popular K-pop boy group NCT. But it was just a year ago, as NCT embarked on a world tour and released various albums, when Doyoung realized he was ready to debut as a soloist. “Last year, I released three albums as a member of NCT when one of our vocalists Taeil took a break due to health concerns. I felt pressure in having to fill in his void. But after having overcome such challenges, I thought I had improved my vocal
April 22, 2024 - 08:00:00
Culture
[Herald Interview] Lim Yunchan: Chopin album feels like long-awaited eruption

First Decca studio album of 20-year-old pianist released on April 19; Lim to kick off national recital tour in June When practicing for the recording of his first solo album, "Chopin Etudes," which was released internationally on April 19, Lim Yunchan, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, paid meticulous attention to each note. He would assess whether they could strike his heart, sometimes spending several hours to perfect just two measures. “When you p
April 20, 2024 - 18:26:32
Books
[Herald Interview] International Booker-shortlisted Hwang Sok-yong says literary journey continues

One of the finalists for this year’s International Booker Prize, Hwang Sok-yong has vowed to continue until the end, asserting his commitment to the art of writing. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, a week after named to the International Booker shortlist with his novel “Mater 2-10” on April 10, the 81-year-old writer revealed his plan to write three to four more novels by the time he turns 90, in addition to completing his book project of completing a 50-volume collection of
April 18, 2024 - 18:10:59
Arts&Design
[Herald Interview] Pearl Lam Galleries looks to boost its presence in Korea

Pearl Lam Galleries has established its name primarily in Greater China, working with artists from around the world for the past 20 years. The gallery is now embarking on a move to expand its presence to South Korea, which has grabbed global recognition as another art hub in Asia. “Seoul is an important center of not only contemporary culture but also strong traditional tastes and aesthetics,” said Pearl Lam, founder of the gallery, in a recent email interview with The Korea Herald. “Korea is ve
April 18, 2024 - 17:16:09
Social affairs
[Herald Interview] Government to support firms in reducing carbon emissions

Kim Sang-hyup, co-chair of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, said that the environmental crisis caused by climate change is “not something to consider for the distant future, but a current matter of survival for everyone.” During an interview with Herald Business and The Korea Herald on Mar. 28, Kim mentioned that extreme weather events have recently become more frequent and that climate change has seriously affected people’s daily lives and the global economy. A
April 18, 2024 - 14:43:25
Performance
[Herald Interview] Master organist Ben van Oosten to bring 'deep feeling of spirituality' to concerts

Dutch organist Ben van Oosten, 69, has devoted his life to the instrument ever since his first appointment as a church organist at the age of 11. His father, an amateur organist and pianist, would take him to organ concerts in The Hague and to different churches where he played. His first impression of the instrument’s sound was overwhelming, and it soon became his favorite instrument. “Due to its almost limitless sound colors and dynamic possibilities, the organ is capable of provoking a wide r
April 17, 2024 - 14:24:42