The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드

21/09/2025

No one knows K-pop methodology better than Lee Soo-man, founder of SM Entertainment and currently visionary leader at US-based A2O Entertainment. He believes the future of K-pop will be shaped by artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and fan-driven content.

Lee has long championed the concept of Culture Technology, a system encompassing casting, training, production and marketing. He produced some of K-pop’s most iconic acts, from legendary groups like H.O.T., S.E.S., and BoA to TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation and more recent acts such as NCT and aespa — bringing the genre to audiences worldwide.

“CT evolves as we pass management processes to the next generation, adapting them to contemporary trends,” he said Friday during the Global Media Conference held in Seoul.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10580068

21/09/2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill is finally heading east, launching its first Asian locations in Korea and Singapore next year through a joint venture, S&C Restaurants Holdings Pte. Ltd, formed with SPC Group affiliate Big Bite Company.

Chipotle’s trust in SPC Group owes much to its track record with global chains, with BR Korea operating Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ and Big Bite Company overseeing Shake Shack and Jamba.

Bold as it is, the burrito chain’s success may hinge on SPC’s finesse in navigating Asia’s food market, especially in Korea, where fried chicken and burgers still reign.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10580055

21/09/2025

A decisive week lies ahead for two special counsel teams investigating the former presidential couple, as they seek to summon former President Yoon Suk Yeol over an alleged illegal drone operation to North Korea, a possible treason charge, and move to detain Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church.

A special counsel team — led by Cho Eun-suk — probing whether Yoon’s botched martial law declaration would constitute both treason and insurrection, summoned Yoon to appear for questioning over allegations that he ordered the sending of drones to Pyongyang last year.

Wednesday’s summons will be Yoon’s first questioning on allegations of treason, a set of crimes covering collusion with a foreign country to threaten South Korea's security, according to the Criminal Act.

A decisive week lies ahead for two special counsel teams investigating the former presidential couple, as they seek to summon former President Yoon Suk Yeol ove

21/09/2025

The Seoul Administrative Court on Sunday recognized the death of an employee following three consecutive nights of "hoesik," company dinners that often involve heavy drinking, as an industrial disaster.

According to the court’s decision, a Samsung Electronics manager in charge of overseas sales was found dead in a parking lot in July 2022, with an autopsy citing acute alcohol poisoning.

Records showed that he attended three straight evening dinners with colleagues and business partners. The company officially sponsored the first two gatherings, while the final dinner — hosted by the employee and several team members for locally hired staff— was partially paid for with his personal credit card.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10580010

21/09/2025

South Korea’s poorest households are falling further behind on electricity bills despite subsidies, even though the country has some of the lowest power prices in the developed world.

New data released by Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Park Ji-hye, based on figures from Korea Electric Power Corporation and the Korea Energy Agency, shows that nearly 53,000 households receiving subsidized rates were in arrears in the first half of 2025.

That is almost double the 24,591 households recorded in 2020.

These households qualify for welfare discounts because they include vulnerable groups such as basic welfare recipients, people with disabilities and national merit holders. Despite the reduced rates, about 3 percent of the 1.54 million eligible households last year could not keep up with bills.

The average length of arrears also stretched from 168 days in 2020 to 188 days in 2024, meaning families were typically more than six months behind.

South Korea’s poorest households are falling further behind on electricity bills despite subsidies, even though the country has some of the lowest power prices

21/09/2025

K-pop girl group Itzy has renewed its exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment, the agency confirmed Saturday.

“With their current contracts set to expire early next year, all five members — Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna — have signed renewals with us,” JYP Entertainment said in a statement. “Itzy has earned recognition for their unmatched performance skills and global impact, and we were able to complete this renewal early based on mutual trust.”

The move ensures that Itzy and JYP Entertainment will continue their partnership, with the agency pledging full support to strengthen the group’s position as a leading global act.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10579989

21/09/2025

North Korea’s admiration of Apple products was once again on display this month when its state media published photos of a locally made computer that appeared to mimic the US tech giant’s iMac desktop.

In its September issue, the country’s monthly propaganda magazine Kumsugangsan carried an article lauding North Korean IT company Blue Sky. It said, "Electronic and IT products manufactured by Blue Sky are gaining domestic popularity,” and published several accompanying photos.

An accompanying image showed the North Korean IT company’s employees using computers that bore a resemblance to Apple’s iMac, with its distinctive all-in-one design and silver-white aluminum-like finish. The similarities are striking, though Apple’s logo has been replaced by a Blue Sky emblem.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10579988

21/09/2025

About 1.72 million people in South Korea were on more than 10 medications due to chronic illness as of June, National Health Insurance Service data showed Sunday.

The number of people who have at least one chronic condition and take multiple medications for a minimum of 60 days increased by 52.5 percent from 1.12 million in 2020, according to the report compiled by Rep. Han Ji-ah of the main opposition People Power Party. The figure has risen every year since 2020, reaching 1.63 million in 2023.

Some 80.6 percent of the people taking more than 10 medications were aged 65 and above.

About 1.72 million people in South Korea were on more than 10 medications due to chronic illness as of June, National Health Insurance Service data showed Sunda

21/09/2025

The Ulsan District Court said Sunday it has sentenced a man in his 40s to four years and six months in prison for stabbing his mother in February.

The defendant stabbed the victim in her stomach after an argument at their home in Ulsan. The victim put off going to a hospital to hide her son's crime, but was ultimately treated by emergency operators after her condition worsened.

The feud between the defendant and the victim in her 60s was over a real estate investment gone wrong nine years prior. The defendant had entrusted 200 million won ($142,900) of his savings to an investment opportunity introduced by his mother, but it turned out to be a scam.

The Ulsan District Court said Sunday it has sentenced a man in his 40s to four years and six months in prison for stabbing his mother in February. The defendant

21/09/2025

Over 200,000 accidents occurred at schools across the country last year, according to Ministry of Education data released Sunday, marking a 9.6 percent increase compared to the previous year.

According to a report compiled by Rep. Sun-mi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 200,592 accidents occurred throughout 2024, up from 183,093 in 2023. It marked nearly a fivefold increase from 40,382 in 2020.

In terms of severe accidents, referring to ones leading to crippling injury or death, 101 cases took place in 2024. The figure hit 102 in 2020, then stayed below the 100-mark for the subsequent three years: 87 in 2021, 79 in 2022, and 99 in 2023.

The accidents occurred most frequently in physical education class, with 75,475 cases, or 37.6 percent of total accidents. Another 35,686 happened during recess, 31,178 during lunch time, and 22,106 during non-PE classes.

Over 200,000 accidents occurred at schools across the country last year, according to Ministry of Education data released Sunday, marking a 9.6 percent increase

21/09/2025

The number of female patients treated for breast cancer has increased steadily since 2015, with last year's figures up by 95.7 percent compared to nine years earlier.

A total of 307,910 women were treated for breast cancer in 2024, according to a report by Rep. Kim Ye-ji of the main opposition People Power Party, based on data from the National Health Insurance Service. The annual figure reached 157,373 in 2015 and has continued to increase each year.

Data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare showed that the number of women newly diagnosed with the disease went from 19,402 in 2015 to 29,391 in 2022.

https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10579949

21/09/2025

South Korean government said Sunday it is considering a legal revision to remove liability for the actions and safety of family members with mentally illnesses,

as one of the key projects detailed in a government-commissioned plan for 2026-30 that has been rolled out.

The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs’ five-year plan was established under commission of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which includes the content about rights and treatment of the mentally ill.

South Korean government said Sunday it is considering a legal revision to remove liability for the actions and safety of family members with mentally illnesses,