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Korea could suffer greater shock from COVIC-19 The country's industrial output edged up slightly by 0.1 percent in July from a month earlier, according to Statistics Korea. The figure appears to be not that bad, given the crippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But looking at domestic consumption, we cannot help but be pessimistic about the overall economic outlook. Retail sales nosedived 6 p..

Conservative main opposition should revamp in earnest The conservative main opposition United Future Party (UFP) will likely adopt the new name “People's Power,” set to be finalized on Wednesday. Political parties in Korea have adopted new names on the occasion of monumental moments ― in party mergers or when in need of revamp. For the UFP to have to change its name three times over the past thr..

K-pop sensation tops Billboard chart Was it just a matter of time? Yes! The seven members of BTS made history by becoming the first Korean artist, either solo or group, to top Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart with the English language song “Dynamite.” The song, recorded to send out a cheerful and hopeful message to people around the globe, found resonance. The billboard charts are not new terri..

Striking doctors should return to dialogue A conflict between the government and the medical sector is escalating over a plan to increase the number of medical students. The Korean Intern Resident Association, the mouthpiece of 16,000 trainee doctors, said Monday that it has decided to go on an indefinite strike. The haggling is worrisome as it comes amid the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic here. Th..

New party leader should promote national unity President Moon Jae-in's former prime minister, Lee Nak-yon, will steer the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as he was chosen with slightly over 60 percent of the party member votes. Lee's expansive track record as former five-term lawmaker, former governor of South Jeolla Province and former journalist gave his candidacy a dominance over the o..

BTS became the first South Korean artist to land at No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart in the United States on Monday. "BTS achieves its first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as 'Dynamite' debuts at the summit," Billboard reported Monday, one day before its chart will be refreshed. Previously, the highest-charting South Korean artist ever on the Hot 100 was soloist PSY with his ..

그룹 방탄소년단이 글로벌 그룹의 위상을 재확인했다. 세계적 권위의 ‘MTV 비디오 뮤직 어워즈(Video Music Awards·VMAs)’에서 한국가수 최초로 본상인 ‘베스트 팝’ 부문을 비롯해 4관왕을 차지했다. 블랙핑크도 ‘최고의 서머(여름) 송’으로 한국 걸그룹 최초의 영예를 안았다. 이들이 빌보드 싱글차트에서도 새 역사를 쓸지 관심이 쏠린다. 방탄소년단은 8월31일 오전(이하 한국시간) 전 세계 생중계된 ‘MTV 비디오 뮤직 어워즈’ 시상식에서 2월 발표한 정규 4집 ‘맵 오브 더 솔:7’(MAP OF THE SOUL:7)의 타이틀곡 ‘온’(ON)으로 ‘베스트 팝’ 부문을 수상했다. 한국가수로는 처음이다. 레이디 가가, 아리아나 그란데, 할시, 테일러 스위프트, 저스틴 비버 등 톱스타들을 제치고..

This week crucial to make or break virus control South Korea is engaged in an uphill battle against COVID-19. The number of new daily infections has remained in the triple digits for two weeks. This has prompted the health authorities to enforce far stricter social distancing measures in a desperate bid to contain the resurgence of infections. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..

Can leadership change help mend Seoul-Tokyo ties? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tendered his resignation for health reasons. Japan is set to choose its new prime minister soon in mid-September. Now the question is whether the looming replacement of the Japanese leadership will bring about any changes in soured relations between Seoul and Tokyo. We hope the neighbors will mend ties to en..

How do bottles of the trans-generational Korean liquor soju ― with different colors ― get recycled? Until 2009, it was unthinkable. This was why soju makers agreed that year to manufacture the bottles in green color with same size and design so the makers can share each other's bottles to recycle them. The voluntary agreement ― not bound by law ― between the soju makers and the Ministry of Envir..