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KCNA via Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSEOUL, Aug 17 (Reuters) - North Korea may launch an intercontinental ballistic missile or take other military action to protest a summit between the United States, South Korea and Japan, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, citing the country's intelligence agency. North Korea has criticised deepening military cooperation among the three nations as part of a dangerous prelude to the creation of an "Asian version of NATO". Yoo said there was a chance the North would launch the satellite to celebrate its founding anniversary on Sept. 9. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made it a priority to conduct a launch during the second half of this year, Yoo noted. The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, which it calls a "special operation", including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets and missiles.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju, Joe Biden, Camp David, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Yoo Sang, Yoo, Kim Jong, Kim, hyang Choi, Edmund Klamann, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, South, Camp, South Korean, NATO, National Intelligence Service, United, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, South Korean, Seoul, Tokyo, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Scion of Family Tied to 2014 Ferry Disaster Is Being Extradited to South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( John Yoon | More About John Yoon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A businessman whose family’s company operated a ferry that sank off South Korea in 2014, killing more than 300 people, will be flown to that country from the United States to face embezzlement charges, officials said on Thursday, after years of requests from Korean prosecutors. The businessman, Yoo Hyuk-kee, 50, also known as Keith Yoo, is expected to arrive in South Korea, where he faces trial on seven counts of embezzlement, on Friday. South Korea’s Justice Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Mr. Yoo would arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday at 5:20 a.m. local time. A company controlled by Mr. Yoo’s family, the Chonghaejin Marine Company, operated the Sewol ferry, which capsized off the southwestern coast of South Korea in April 2014. Most of those who died were teenagers on a school trip, and the disaster traumatized the country.

Persons: Yoo Hyuk, Keith Yoo, Yoo, Yoo’s Organizations: Korea’s Justice, International Airport, Chonghaejin Marine Company Locations: South Korea, United States, New York State

☆ The Perpetual Stew Is More About Community Than Cuisine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Orlando Mayorquin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

They wore floppy toques and were flanked by an array of ingredients: vegetable broth, chili peppers, bay leaves, potatoes, shallots, radishes, garlic powder, canned beans, carrots and more — all crowdsourced from their eager guests. As their pots emptied, they made more stew. Annie Rauwerda, 23, started cooking a vegan stew in a slow cooker on June 7 and — with the help of her boyfriend, David Shayne, 27, and a close friend, Hajin Yoo, 23 — hasn’t stopped since. It’s a perpetual stew; Ms. Rauwerda and her friends eat most of it, leaving just a small amount of broth and other ingredients in the pot before they replenish it. They have repeated that cycle for over a month now, stirring an online buzz along the way.

Persons: Annie Rauwerda, David Shayne, Hajin Yoo, hasn’t, It’s, Rauwerda Locations: Brooklyn

☆ S.Korea opposition lawmakers want more experts to review Fukushima discharge plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi and South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon attend their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERS/File PhotoJuly 12 (Reuters) - More expert organizations should take part in reviewing Japan's plan to release Fukushima wastewater into the sea in addition to the U.N nuclear watchdog, South Korean opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday while visiting Japan. Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon, who was among the group of lawmakers from the opposition parties, made the comment in a joint statement at a press conference in Tokyo. When asked about the South Korean government's position, Wi said Seoul needed to relay the voices of people who were concerned and opposed to the plan. "We are doing our best to persuade the government and this is why we are visiting Japan right now," Wi said.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Wi, Yoo Suk Yeol, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Democratic Party, National Assembly, Yonhap, REUTERS, Democratic, International Atomic Energy Agency, Korean, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korean, Japan, Tokyo, South

☆ IAEA chief in South Korea to allay Fukushima water dump concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

No expert behind the IAEA's Fukushima report disagreed with the content, Grossi told news agency Yonhap on Saturday, hinting at his comment during an interview with Reuters one day earlier. Prior to that, Grossi said during a Friday press conference in Japan that he wanted to also meet with the opposition party in South Korea which has been critical of the discharge plan. South Korea's government said on Friday it respected the IAEA's report and that its own analysis had found the release will not have "any meaningful impact" on its waters. But the plan has stirred anger and concern among South Koreans, prompting some shoppers to buy up sea salt. Despite South Korea's assent for the plan, a ban on food and seafood products from the Fukushima region would remain in place.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Yonhap, Yoo Suk Yeol, Lee Jae, myung, Hyunsu Yim, Richard Chang, Kim Coghill Organizations: United Nations, South, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Reuters, Opposition Democratic Party, International Tribunal, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Japan, Seoul's, Tokyo, South, Fukushima

☆ This 40-year-old pays $1,600/month to live in a tiny home by the beach—it's smaller than the average parking spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Sung Yoo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make ItMy rent, including utilities, parking and WiFi, is $1,600 a month. A look inside my tiny homeThe house is smaller than the average size of a parking spot (which is roughly 150 square feet). Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make ItThe glass door allows for plenty of natural light and really opens up the space. Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make ItThe bedroom area is a little a cove that fully surrounds my mattress. Tristan Pelletier for CNBC Make ItBuilt to be energy efficient, the temperature is regulated by concrete panels.

Persons: I'm, Tristan Pelletier, it's, I've, Sung Organizations: CNBC, Minarc, Scouts Locations: New York City, Santa Monica , California, New York, Santa Monica, York

☆ The return of perms
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Yola Mzizi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Perms, or the permanent wave, have been a fixture of American culture since the late 19th century and reached peak popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. While beauty trends, like fashion, are cyclical, perms today differ greatly from those once seen on stars like Cher and Stevie Nicks, thanks to gentler products and digitized heat technology. Digital perms, or hot perms, have also become popular. “It certainly helps that K-Pop and K-Dramas are popular and the stars get perms, so that has made it more culturally acceptable,” said Chen. Wella’s Munz is hopeful the resurgence of perms will also encourage brands to further engage with the multicultural consumer.

Persons: Charles Chen, “, ”, Cher, Stevie Nicks, perms, Roland Munz, Briana Dunning, Dunning, BTS’s, Kim Tae, Gong Yoo, Lydia Wolfe, Jack, Wolfe, Chen, Wella’s Munz Organizations: The, Fashion, CNN, Wella, Korean, Busan ”, perms Locations: perm, Manhattan, TikTok, perm ”, Euromonitor, Gen, Los Angeles, “, Striiike, Korean, Korean perm, American perm, Busan, London

☆ Watch an Emotional Reunion in ‘Past Lives’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Mekado Murphy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

And they’re sort of reuniting in New York. And it’s meant to be a little bit terrifying.” [FOOTSTEPS] - [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] “So this is the moment in the past for them where they were childhood sweethearts. And then we move over and we see Hae Sung again. Because now we’re going to miss Hae Sung again, and we’re so happy to see Nora. And of course, they’re so happy, and we sort of walk them out of the scene.” - [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] - [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] - [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] - [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [LAUGHS]

Persons: Celine Song, ’, Hae Sung, who’s, Teo Yoo, Nora, Greta Lee, she’s, Shabier Kirchner, ”, we’re, Hae Locations: New York, New York City, It’s

☆ ‘Students will suffer’: Harvard and UNC students, alumni react to 'disappointing' Supreme Court ruling rejecting affirmative action in admissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina that consider a student's race for college admissions are unconstitutional. The court's decision is not surprising but "disappointing" nonetheless, says Julian Taylor, a rising junior and member of the Affirmative Action Coalition at UNC Chapel Hill. The CEO and founder of the sustainability brand Blueland has been vocal about the importance of maintaining affirmative action policies at top colleges. Research has shown that the removal of affirmative action has led to declines in minority admissions at universities. Overturning 40-plus years of affirmative action in colleges

Persons: Edward Blum, Blum, Julian Taylor, Brown, Taylor, John Roberts, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, Sarah Paiji Yoo, wouldn't, Claudine Gay Organizations: U.S, Supreme, of Harvard College, University of North, Harvard, Fair, UNC, United States, Affirmative, Coalition, UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Affirmative, Chapel, ACT, Harvard Business School, CNBC Locations: University of North Carolina, Washington ,, Chapel Hill

☆ ‘Past Lives’: Celine Song and the cast on love, loss and ‘inyeon’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Tom Page | Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Past Lives,” by Korean Canadian writer and director Celine Song, is broadly autobiographical. Before “Past Lives,” Song wrote the stage play “Endlings,” which debuted in 2019 at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with its subsequent New York run cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. Celine Song directs Greta Lee on location during the production of "Past Lives." “Past Lives” eschews such visual literalism, using its romantic totems Hae Sung and Arthur instead. Courtesy A24In “Past Lives,” the notion of “inyeon” permeates the narrative.

Persons: Greta Lee isn’t, John Magaro, Teo Yoo, “ John, ” Lee deadpanned, Magaro, Lee, ”, –, Celine Song, Nora, Arthur, Hae Sung, ” Song, “, Greta Lee, Jon Pack, “ That’s, “ I’m, Hae, ” Lee, Netflix’s, Oscar, Evelyn, Michelle Yeoh, Arthur poignantly, ” Hae Sung, Arthur wryly, White, ” –, it’s Organizations: CNN, “, American, Theater, Apple, Sundance, US Locations: United States, American, Canadian, Korea, Canada, New York City, New York, Cambridge , Massachusetts, Seoul, Greta, Los Angeles, Korean, South Korea, China, Berlin

☆ Molecular fossils open window on 'lost world' of primordial life
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The researchers discovered that the molecular fossils indicating the presence of these primitive eukaryotes were commonplace in rocks spanning from about 1.6 billion years ago to 800 million years ago. "It is a lost world in the sense that we had not been able to see or detect them - although there was an entire world of them. It is a lost world also because these forms are now entirely extinct, Brocks added. The oldest of the rocks bearing these fossils were unearthed in the remote Outback of northern Australia, near Darwin. Scientists long were puzzled about the seeming absence of molecular fossils from this time span indicative of primitive eukaryotes.

Persons: Jochen Brocks, geobiologist Jochen Brocks, Benjamin Nettersheim, Brocks, sapiens, Konrad Block, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Australian National University, Handout, REUTERS, University of Bremen, Thomson Locations: Creek, Northern Australia, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Canberra, Germany, Australia, Darwin

☆ ‘Past Lives’ Review: Longing for a Future
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Manohla Dargis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Past Lives” is a wistful what-if story about two people, the children they were and the adults they become. The movie follows them through the years and across assorted reunions, separations and continents as well as milestones momentous and ordinary. “Past Lives” centers on Nora (played as an adult by a terrific and subtle Greta Lee) and a boy named Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), though mostly it’s about her. They’re charming — they’re children — and close. Hae Sung comforts her because he’s a nice boy; he will become a nice man, but by then she will be long gone.

Persons: Nora, Greta Lee, Hae Sung, Teo Yoo, —, “, ” Nora, ”, He’s, Celine Song, Jacques Rivette’s, Julie Go Organizations: Korean Locations: Seoul, American, Canada, Nora’s

☆ South Korean lawmaker says they estimate Kim Jong Un is over 300 pounds and has a 'severe' sleeping disorder
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A South Korean lawmaker says AI estimates that Kim Jong Un weighs about 300 pounds. Kim also appears to have "severe" insomnia, the lawmaker said. Yoo also said it's believed that Kim has a "severe" sleeping disorder, because the northern country has been extensively researching insomnia treatments for its top official, according to an intelligence report, Reuters reported. Yoo said that Kim has also been "engaging in excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption," according to The New York Post. He said that it has created a "vicious cycle" which has worsened his apparent sleeping disorder, the New York Post reported Yoo saying.

Persons: Kim Jong, Kim, —, Kim Jong Un, Yoo Sang, Yoo, it's Organizations: North, Service, Reuters, The New York, New York Post Locations: North Korean, North Korea

☆ South Korea experts say more study needed on Japan's nuclear water plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Chairperson Yoo Guk-hee announce the results of their inspection of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant during a press conference at Government Complex Building in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea's inspection team for... Read moreSEOUL, May 31 (Reuters) - South Korean nuclear safety experts who visited Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said on Wednesday that detailed analysis was needed to verify Japan's plan to release tonnes of contaminated water from it into the sea. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was destroyed by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in 2011, triggering three reactor meltdowns. The 21-member South Korean team had focused during its six-day trip on water purification, transport and release equipment, as well as sampling and analysis facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency is also conducting a safety review of Japan's plan to release the water.

Persons: Yoo Guk, Japan's, Yoo, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Hyonhee Shin, Robert Birsel Organizations: Safety, Security, Nuclear Safety, Security Commission, South Korean, International Atomic Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Fukushima, Tokyo, Japan

☆ South Korea May 1-20 exports fall 16.1% on year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, May 22 (Reuters) - South Korean exports in the first 20 days of May fell 16.1% from a year earlier and imports dropped by 15.3%, customs agency data showed on Monday. The country's trade balance came in at a $4.3 billion deficit for the May 1-20 period, the data showed. South Korea's heavily trade-dependant economy has been hit hard by faltering global demand. Exports have declined in each of the past seven months on an annual basis, their longest losing streak in three years. Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Abu Dhabi identifies $2 billion in investment opportunities in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 22 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi organisations have identified about $2 billion of investment opportunities in South Korea after the two sides agreed to expand business ties in January, a joint statement said on Monday. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) pledged during South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Abu Dhabi in January to invest up to $30 billion in the Asian country in sectors including energy and information technology. "To date, Abu Dhabi organisations have helped identify approximately $2 billion of potential investment opportunities in Korea," read the statement on Monday from Korea Development Bank and Mubadala Investment Company. The two agencies have been exploring follow-up investment since the summit. Editing by Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ S.Korea tells China ambassador it hopes for continued economic cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Choonsik Yoo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 19 (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister on Friday met the Chinese ambassador and discussed economic cooperation, as diplomatic tensions with Beijing put an additional dent on the already sluggish economy. The ministry said in a short message after the 30-minute meeting that Minister Choo Kyung-ho expressed his hopes for continued economic cooperation between the two countries on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect. Choo, South Korea's highest economic and financial policymaker, also asked for support for preparations ahead of a bilateral economic ministers' meeting this year in Seoul, the statement added. The ministry did not disclose remarks by Ambassador Xing Haiming during the meeting, which was held after South Korea's ambassador to Washington said early this month Seoul would soon pursue senior-level engagements with Beijing. Share prices of South Korean companies with exposure to China business rose on Friday, with media content producer CJ ENM (035760.KQ) jumping 2.5% and online game developer Netmarble (251270.KS) rising 1.5%.

☆ South Korea signs $130 mln aid package with Ukrainian minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho speaks during an interview with Reuters in Incheon, South Korea, May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL, May 17 (Reuters) - South Korea signed an agreement with Ukraine on Wednesday on its plan to provide a $130 million financial aid package, a day after the visiting first lady of the war-hit country asked for military assistance. South Korea's finance ministry said Minister Choo Kyung-ho and Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, in Seoul to attend a conference, signed the agreement on the package, which will consist of donations and aid loans. South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, has said it was not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia. Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

May 16 (Reuters) - Hippocratic Health, a startup building artificial intelligence models for the healthcare industry, has raised $50 million in a larger-than-usual seed funding round, signaling strong investor interest in betting on AI models for specific industries. Large language models are AI systems that mine vast amounts of data to summarize information and generate content. Also known as foundation models, large language models can perform tasks from writing essays to generating codes. Our focus is to build the safest language model for healthcare," said Shah, who previously founded insurance startup Health IQ. A16z said it is one of the largest seed checks it has written in the healthcare industry.

☆ South Korea lifts power prices by 5.3% in delayed move
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It is the second increase in power prices this year after a sharper 9.5% hike that took effect at the beginning of the year. The price adjustment had been due on April 1 but was delayed after a public outcry about the increased cost of living. Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), the state-run electricity powerhouse, suffered an operating loss of 6.2 trillion won ($4.69 billion) for the first quarter after a huge 32.6 trillion won loss for the whole of last year. The ministry also announced a 5.3% increase in city gas prices for households. With parliamentary elections some 11 months away, the latest opinion poll by Gallup Korea showed last Friday the disapproval rating on President Yoon stood at 59%, far outpacing the approval rating of 35%.

Some Chinatown residents benefited from the development boom, selling properties to developers or drawing more customers from increased foot traffic. Some residents have shown tentative support for the luxury buildings, saying they might make the neighborhood safer or bring in wealthier Asian residents who could boost Chinatown's economy. Manhattan Chinatown's housing stock is "really aged," which has led to costly fires, according to Thomas Yu, executive director of Asian Americans for Equality. Chinatowns and the pandemicMany debates surrounding luxury development and affordable housing were accelerated by the pandemic, which shuttered hundreds of businesses across Chinatowns. However, business owners who spoke with CNBC said Chinatown's businesses, though still recovering, are keeping the city's culture alive.

☆ South Korea current account swings back to surplus in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, May 10 (Reuters) - South Korea's current account balance in March ended a two-month run of deficit to post a surplus, but suffered its biggest quarterly deficit in more than 14 years during the January-March period, data showed on Wednesday. The country posted a $0.27 billion current account surplus in March, after setting a deficit in each of the preceding two months, the Bank of Korea data showed. For the first quarter of this year, it posted a deficit of $4.46 billion, the biggest since the third quarter of 2008. Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ South Korea inflation hits 14-month low, backs view rate-hike cycle is over
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Choonsik Yoo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea's consumer inflation eased for a third consecutive month to a 14-month low in April and the central bank expects the downward trend to persist for some time, supporting the market's view that its policy tightening cycle is over. The consumer price index (CPI) stood 3.7% higher in April than a year earlier, the Statistics Korea data showed on Tuesday, marking the slowest growth since February last year and following a 4.2% increase in March. The Bank of Korea (BOK) issued a broadly dovish statement, although it repeated that uncertainty remained high over the future path of inflation. "The consumer price growth will show a clearly slowing trend through the middle of this year, while the core price growth will show a trend of easing at a slower pace than the headline inflation," it said. The central bank held interest rates steady at the last two successive policy meetings after raising them by 300 basis points since late 2021.

☆ Bank of Korea sees rapid pace of inflation easing for awhile
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank said on Tuesday inflation would keep easing at a rapid pace through the middle of this year, although core inflation would ease at a slower pace. Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ South Korea April inflation eases to 14-month low, matches expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea's consumer inflation eased for a third consecutive month to a 14-month low in April on an annual basis, data showed on Tuesday, supporting the market's perception that the central bank's policy tightening cycle is over. The consumer price index (CPI) stood 3.7% higher in April than a year earlier, the Statistics Korea data showed, marking the slowest growth since February last year and following a 4.2% increase in March. Despite the sustained cooling in annual inflation, other measures showed inflation pressure was far from disappearing as prices rose on a monthly basis and annual inflation held steady when excluding volatile items. The CPI rose 0.2% in April from March, gaining for a fifth consecutive month, while the annual growth in the index excluding foods and energy items held steady at 4.0% for a third consecutive month, the data showed. The official target for the Bank of Korea's monetary policy is managing the broadest CPI growth at around 2% on an annual basis.

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