Han Kang, this year's laureate of the Nobel Prize in literature, hopes her novel "Human Acts" will be an access road to understanding the May 18, 1980, pro-democracy people's uprising in Gwangju to many people. "I was all the more cautious since this novel depicts a real incident," the South Korean author said during a meeting with Korean reporters at a publishing house in Stockholm on Wednesday (local time). "I hoped this book would be something like an access

Culture Dec. 12, 2024

Seoul shares opened higher Thursday, tracking overnight gains of US blue chip tech shares backed by US Consumer Price Index data, which cemented bets for another rate cut by the Federal Reserve. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 20.41 points, or 0.84 percent, to 2,462.92 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 gained ground as investors digested the new US CPI, which was in line with expectations and backed forecasts

Market Dec. 12, 2024

The National Assembly is set to open a plenary session Thursday to vote on a special counsel bill to investigate whether President Yoon Suk Yeol committed insurrection and other violations over his short-lived declaration of martial law last week. The Assembly will also vote on a bill mandating a special counsel probe into two key allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee -- her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and interference in election nominations through a power broker

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

Prosecutors were questioning Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong on Thursday as part of a widening investigation into the botched martial law order by President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said. The special prosecution team handling the probe called Cho in for questioning over his alleged involvement in Yoon's martial law declaration, including his attendance at a Cabinet meeting where the martial law was believed to have been discussed. Cho is the first known Cabinet member to be undergoing questio

Politics Dec. 12, 2024

North Korea's state media reported on the martial law turmoil in South Korea for a second consecutive day Thursday, saying political chaos is escalating amid calls to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which caters to the general North Korean readership, published the same article saying, "Voices of protest demanding the impeachment of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime are escalating every day, further deepening political chao

North Korea Dec. 12, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol had conducted a legal review of last week's martial law decree in person while rewriting it, the ex-defense minister, one of the key suspects in the alleged insurrection, said Wednesday. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was questioned by prosecutors at a detention facility for the first time since his arrest earlier in the day. During the five-hour questioning, he reportedly testified that President Yoon had conducted a legal review of the martial law declaratio

Politics Dec. 11, 2024

Police ended their hourslong attempt on Wednesday to raid the presidential office as the presidential security service refused to cooperate with their investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law last week. Instead, Yoon's office voluntarily submitted "very limited" documents and materials to the police. A team of 18 investigators arrived at the presidential office compound shortly before noon to search for ma

Politics Dec. 11, 2024

The incumbent national football chief Chung Mong-gyu was cleared by the top national sports body to go for his fourth term Wednesday. According to the Korea Football Association, the Commission for Fair Play in Sport at the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee gave Chung the green light to run in the Jan. 8, 2025 election. Per KSOC regulations, heads of national sports federations seeking reelection beyond the second term must be approved by the fair play commission. The commission reviewed Chun

Soccer Dec. 11, 2024

Seoul shares closed over 1 percent higher Wednesday, extending their winning streak to a second session as a widespread investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration by various law enforcement agencies picked up speed. The Korean won lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 24.67 points, or 1.02 percent, to finish at 2,442.51. Trade volume was moderate at 607 million shares worth 7.53 trillion won ($5.26 billion),

Market Dec. 11, 2024

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo on Wednesday insisted the recent political situation in South Korea will likely have only a limited impact on exports, stressing that the government will work to address both internal and external uncertainties. Cheong made the remark during an emergency meeting with trade-related organizations to address market concerns sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration last week, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. &q

Economy Dec. 11, 2024

The main opposition Democratic Party is set to introduce a new impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday over his failed bid to impose martial law, days after Yoon avoided impeachment because most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a vote. The DP's move comes after a motion to impeach Yoon was scrapped last Saturday due to a lack of quorum as nearly all lawmakers from Yoon's ruling People Power Party boycotted the vote. Following the scrapping of the motion, the DP

Politics Dec. 11, 2024

South Korea's oceans ministry said Wednesday the government will invest 14 trillion won ($9.75 billion) through 2045 to upgrade Busan Port, aiming to achieve the world's largest container handling capacity and establish it as the leading logistics hub in the region. Under the plan, South Korea will construct a new port in Changwon, near Busan, integrating it with the existing Busan Port to create an unified "mega port" with double the current cargo handling capacity, accordin

Economy Dec. 11, 2024

The government said Wednesday it will work to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic aviation industry while minimizing potential monopolistic harm from the soon pending merger between Korean Air Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. The transport ministry announced an aviation industry support plan during a meeting of industries-focused ministries held at Hanwha Ocean Co.'s research and development campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. To manage monopoly concerns arising from the merger, the m

Industry Dec. 11, 2024

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said Wednesday that the government will continue to closely monitor the market and to fully implement market stabilization measures amid lingering uncertainties from a political crisis. Choi made the remarks during a daily emergency meeting with Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong and other top financial officials, as the government is scurrying to minimize economic impacts of President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law last week. "As u

Economy Dec. 11, 2024

South Korea's exports grew 12.4 percent from a year earlier in the first 10 days of this month on strong shipments of chips, data showed Wednesday. Outbound shipments reached $17.6 billion in the December 1-10 period, compared with $15.6 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports gained 11.6 percent on-year to $19.1 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $1.55 billion. Adjusted for the number of working days, daily average exports increas

Economy Dec. 11, 2024