The southwestern city of Gwangju, the second largest auto-producing city, is aiming to become a hub for the domestic green car industry as part of the new growth engine which would also create more jobs, the city’s mayor said.  Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun of Gwangju Metropolitan City. Photo: Gwangju Metropolitan CityMayor Yoon Jang-hyun of Gwangju Metropolitan City, which produces over 620,000 automobiles per year at the Kia Motors plants, said in an interview with The Korea Herald that by 2021 the cit

Social Affairs Feb. 27, 2018

Monday’s weather is expected to be clear and sunny with peak temperatures in the high 12 degrees Celsius. Drought advisories are in place in some parts including Gangwon and Chungcheong Province, the weather agency said.  (Yonhap)As of 8:30 a.m., morning lows hover from minus 3 C in Seoul, minus 3 C in Incheon, minus 6 C in Chuncheon, minus 2 C in Daegu and 5 C in Busan. Temperatures will rise to 11 C in Busan in the afternoon, 8 C in Seoul, 7 C in Gangneung and 11 C in Jeju. The density of part

Social Affairs Feb. 26, 2018

South Korea’s “Garlic Girls” secured a much-anticipated semifinal victory in the women’s curling at the PyeongChang Olympics on Friday, guaranteeing them at least a silver medal.The four-member team, whose nickname reflects the produce their hometown is famous for, beat Japan 8-7 at the Gangneung Curling Center.The victory came after the team led by skip Kim Eun-jung had defeated higher-ranked teams, including favorites Canada and Sweden, becoming the first to qualify for the semifinals.South Ko

Olympic Games Feb. 23, 2018

Jain Song felt a strong sense of pride after showcasing her clothing line that dancers wore at the forefront of the Feb. 9 opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, attended by an audience of more than 30,000. But what the South Korean designer has prepared for the Olympics is not over yet.  Artists in costumes of the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom designed by Jain Song perform during the Feb. 9 opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Photo: PyeongChang Organizing Committe

Olympic Games Feb. 23, 2018

Athletes competing in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games are presented with a stuffed tiger when they step onto the podium. This peculiar scene often leaves many viewers wondering “Who made it?” Lee Hee-gon, chief marketing officer of mass C&G, explains PyeongChang Olympic mascots Soohorang and Bandabi. Park Hyun-koo/The Korea HeraldThe name of the non-athlete star and mascot of the Olympics is “Soohorang,” a combined word of “Sooho,” which means protection in Korean and “-rang,” the middle lette

Olympic Games Feb. 22, 2018

Thursday is forecast to see largely cloudy weather, along with some light snow or drizzle at times in Seoul and western parts of Gangwon Province.Morning lows are to hover from minus 9 degrees Celsius to 1 C, while highs are expected to remain from 5 C to 9 C across the country.   (Yonhap)The density levels of particulate matter will fall into the World Health Organization’s “bad” category at times in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and North and South Chungcheong Province. Up to 7 centimeters of snow

Social Affairs Feb. 22, 2018

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- For Yun Sung-bin, his gold medal in the skeleton at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics is not the end of the story. The 23-year-old South Korean slider said he can show more after the Olympics, aiming to take another gold in the World Championships scheduled to be held next year in Doha, Qatar, as a “top priority.” “My previous goal was to win the race in the Olympics, and now I’ve done it,” said Yun, who became the first athlete from Asia to ever win a medal i

Olympic Games Feb. 21, 2018

Mostly clear skies and a slight fall in temperatures are expected throughout the country Wednesday, the Korean Meteorological Agency said. Daytime high temperatures will be lower than the previous day, at between 2 and 9 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in the morning is at minus 4 C in Seoul, minus 3.2 C in Incheon, minus 2 C in Gangneung and minus 4.5 C in Busan as of 5 a.m. (Yonhap)Factoring in wind chill the low in Seoul will be minus 6.8 C. There will be a moderate amount of fine and ult

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2018

Liquor and fruit have been among the most purchased items at convenience stores by foreign visitors in Gangwon Province, where the 2018 PyeongChang Games are being held, according to CU, South Korea‘s largest convenience store chain. Nearly 30 percent of the products sold at around 20 convenience stores of the chain near Olympic venues in PyeongChang and Gangneung in the period from Feb. 9-18 included wine, beer, hard liquor and soju, the chain’s sales data showed Tuesday. When broken down by br

Social Affairs Feb. 20, 2018

Cloudy weather is expected for most of the country Monday with some light rain and snow in Jeju, according to Korean Meteorological Agency. Monday morning witnessed lows of minus 6 degrees Celsius in Chuncheon, minus 2 C in Seoul, minus 3 C in Daejeon and 3 C in Busan, while highs of 7 C in Chuncheon and Seoul, 8 C in Daejeon and 11 C in Daegu and Busan are expected.  (Yonhap)Drought advisories are in effect in most parts of the country, including inland areas of PyeongChang, where the Olympic W

Social Affairs Feb. 19, 2018

K-pop star Taeyang of Big Bang is set to begin his mandatory military service on March 12, according to YG Entertainment on Thursday.  Taeyang (YG Entertainment)The 29-year-old who recently married actress Min Hyo-rin will begin his service two weeks after his bandmate G-Dragon enlists on Feb. 27. Taeyang will  be the third member to enlist for active duty service. T.O.P is currently serving as a public service worker to fulfill the military duty.By Bak Se-hwan (sh@heraldcorp.com)

Television Feb. 15, 2018

Tuesday’s women’s 500-meter short track speedskating final in the PyeongChang Winter Games quickly drew the ire of many South Koreans. The country’s favorite Choi Min-jeong was disqualified from winning the silver medal for interfering with Canadian skater Kim Boutin, who appeared to have done her share as well in pushing Choi away. “I feel sorry that I failed to meet the support that many fans gave me,” the 19-year old said, crying. “I still have other competitions left, so I will concentrate o

Olympic Games Feb. 14, 2018

Dozens of Olympic staff who are locked up at a remote youth training facility due to norovirus infection have blamed the organizers for the spread of the sickness in Gangwon Province, accusing them of “irresponsible action.”  One of the quarantine rooms at a youth training facility in PyeongChang where Olympic personnel who have caught norovirus are being kept. Bak Se-hwan/The Korea Herald Five support staff interviewed by The Korea Herald at the facility in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, said t

Olympic Games Feb. 13, 2018

Weather on Tuesday is mostly clear with a significant rise in temperature, according to the weather agency. Morning highs hover from minus 11 degrees Celsius to 4 C, but will gradually rise during daytime hours to 8 C in most of the country.  (Yonhap)Air quality is forecast to be partially bad throughout the day in the southern regions of the country, while light snow is expected to fall in some parts of Gyeongsang provinces and Jeolla provinces. In the coastal regions of Gangneung and mountaino

Social Affairs Feb. 13, 2018

WONJU, Gangwon Province -- From the unified march of warring South and North Korean athletes to the spectacular displays of K-pop music, the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics provided some of its most stunning moments during the opening ceremony on Feb. 9. (Shot by Park Hyun-koo / Edited by Park Ju-young)But one group in particular has received the lion’s share of attention from home and abroad: pink-suited volunteer dancers.In a tightly choreographed performance under their pink ski pants and So

Olympic Games Feb. 12, 2018