From the Scene In series
Stories told from where they are happening.
#Issues
# First-hand
Would you like to subscribe?
From the Scene In series
Stories told from where they are happening.
Would you like to subscribe?
With weight of crisis, Korea votes with renewed resolve
On a radiant Tuesday morning, the schoolyard of an elementary school in Jongno, central Seoul, momentarily resembled a scene of carefree family life, as a couple swung their young daughter by her arms, laughter echoing across the grounds. But this was no ordinary school visit — the family came to cast their ballots in a critical by-election to choose Korea’s next president. The vote follows a tumultuous chapter in the nation’s political history. Six months earlier, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol d
June 3, 2025 - 14:29:39
Soju from shelves to tables: HiteJinro raises toast to Philippines
MANILA, Philippines — A shared glass of liquor, known as tagay in the Philippines, has long been central to Filipino communal drinking. Yet while the drinking tradition has endured, what fills those glasses is shifting — especially among K-pop fans and spirit lovers — from familiar gin or rum to soju bearing the Jinro label from South Korea’s leading soju-maker, HiteJinro. The once-exotic green bottles now have greater visibility, not only in Korean barbecue joints, but also in supermarkets, con
May 28, 2025 - 11:55:02
More than a vacation: Jeju’s new educational retreats to revitalize regional communities
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — “I’m earning credits, gaining real-world experience and spending my semester by the ocean. What’s not to love?” said Kim Seung-ju, a 20-year-old university student taking pictures in Seogwipo on the southern coast of Jeju Island. “This is nothing like school back in Seoul.” What began as a global shift toward workcations — blending work with leisure in picturesque settings — is evolving in South Korea into something more academic: the learncation, a fusion of learning and
May 26, 2025 - 13:09:32
S. Korean defense SMEs target Southeast Asia at LIMA 2025
By Hwang Joo-young and Joint Press Corps LANGKAWI, Malaysia — A group of small and mid-sized South Korean defense and technology firms participated in Southeast Asia’s largest defense exhibition, LIMA 2025 as part of the Korea Pavilion organized by the Korea Defense Industry Association. While not as high-profile as companies specializing in full-scale platforms or missile systems, these firms are making their pitch to expand from a domestic customer base into export markets, offering niche, nar
May 25, 2025 - 10:53:41
S. Korean defense firms make mark in Southeast Asia at LIMA 2025
By Hwang Joo-young and Joint Press Corps LANGKAWI, Malaysia — Southeast Asia’s largest defense exhibition opened Tuesday on the island of Langkawi, with South Korea emerging as a dominant presence amid growing regional demand for cost-effective, adaptable and combat-proven weapons systems. The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, or LIMA 2025, kicked off its five-day run with some 510 exhibitors from 25 countries. Among them, South Korean defense firms Korea Aerospace Indus
May 21, 2025 - 15:53:12
[From the Scene] Lee Jae-myung campaign buoyed by court verdict delay
JEONJU, North Jeolla Province — With less than a month left until the June 3 presidential vote, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Rep. Lee Jae-myung was halfway through a restless week on the campaign trail in the liberal stronghold of North Jeolla Province on Wednesday. Mid-campaign, reassuring news for Lee arrived. The Seoul High Court said it would postpone its ruling on Lee until after the election, after threats of impeachment from the Democratic Party. Last week, the Supreme Court sent L
May 7, 2025 - 15:43:18![[From the Scene] Lee Jae-myung campaign buoyed by court verdict delay](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2025/05/08/news-p.v1.20250507.332caa976d704e68812a1c4f76b446d3_T1.jpg?type=h&h=320)
Joseon royal archive home reopens to public
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — A museum dedicated to historical records from the Joseon era (1392-1910) has reopened following a 10-month renovation, with a focus on outreach to community. The National Museum of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty houses the original “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” and “Joseon Wangjo Uigwe.” “Joseon Wangjo Sillok” documents 472 years of Joseon’s history chronologically from 1392 to 1863, highlighting the accomplishments of Joseon kings, from the first king, Taejo, to the 2
April 30, 2025 - 17:31:01
SK Telecom stores overwhelmed as customers rush to replace USIM cards over security fears
What was meant to reassure customers after a major security scare quickly turned into long lines, delays and frustration, as SK Telecom’s free USIM card replacement program struggled to meet overwhelming demand on its first day. Earlier this month, South Korea’s largest mobile carrier disclosed that it had discovered malware inside a key internal system, the Home Subscriber Server — the database that manages mobile user identities and network authentication. The discovery raised concerns that se
April 28, 2025 - 15:09:40
Hansae Mobility bets on innovation, US growth amid tariff risks
Based in Daegu, Korea, Hansae Mobility is one of the world’s leading halfshaft suppliers, delivering to a wide range of global automakers from mass market brands, including Stellantis and Volkswagen, to luxury brands such as Porsche and Maserati. A halfshaft transmits rotational force from the engine or motor to the wheels, with flexibility that ensures its function remains unaffected by drivetrain twists. Despite growing concerns over potential tariffs on car parts in the US, the destination of
April 25, 2025 - 16:06:45
'Kicked out in pajamas': Women in Seoul's fading red-light district protest evictions
On a busy Monday morning, two women in pajamas sat inside a small tent pitched on the sidewalk outside the Seongbuk District Office in northern Seoul. A dog rested beside them, drawing curious glances from passersby. The women are sex workers from Miari Texas, a red-light district in Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu. Having been forcibly evicted on April 17 from their homes, where they also worked, the two were now living in the tent — both as a form of protest and because they had nowhere else to go.
April 24, 2025 - 17:42:17
Robots, AI and zero dust: Inside LG Innotek's 'Dream Factory'
GUMI, North Gyeongsang Province -- LG Innotek on Thursday opened the doors of its cutting-edge “Dream Factory” in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, to the local media for the first time, showcasing the company’s ambitious move to position itself as a major player in the next-generation semiconductor substrate market. Spanning 26,000 square meters -- about three times the size of a soccer field -- the Dream Factory is an ultra-modern smart facility equipped with the latest IT innovations, includin
April 20, 2025 - 14:35:33
‘The Heritage’: Shinsegae revives century-old bank as cultural, retail landmark
In 1935, Seoul saw the construction of a rare building in the heart of Myeong-dong: the five-story Joseon Savings Bank designed in a neo-Baroque style. Shedding its banking identity of 90 years -- including as Korea Savings Bank, Jeil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank Korea -- the building has been refashioned into something different, following a decade of reimagining by South Korean retail giant Shinsegae Group. According to the group, the building lives up to its new name, The Heritage, as a r
April 15, 2025 - 14:27:31
Now a defendant, Yoon again claims martial law was public message
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday, defending himself against the prosecution's claims that his declaration of martial law amounted to an act of insurrection. Yoon, formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court earlier this month, said his martial law decree on Dec. 3, 2024, was a "message to the public," not an act of insurrection. “Martial law was declared to clearly let the public know about the country's desperate situation. This
April 14, 2025 - 15:40:47
‘Heat-not-burn’: Philip Morris’ smoke-free push takes shape at Korean plant
Asia’s key production site banks on rising demand for IQOS devices at home and abroad YANGSAN, South Gyeongsang Province -- Nestled in the countryside of Yangsan in southern Korea lies a sprawling factory tinged with the scent of tobacco. It lingers in the air -- distinct, yet far less pungent than that of traditional cigarettes. Surprisingly high-tech and thus almost out of place in its rustic surroundings, the factory is redefining what it means to produce tobacco in the modern age, embodying
April 10, 2025 - 14:27:00
Netmarble opens game museum showcasing Korea’s gaming legacy
Korea’s game industry is a major driver of the country’s cultural exports. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency, games accounted for 58 percent of Korea’s total cultural exports in the first half of 2024, significantly surpassing K-pop, which made up 12 percent. Despite the industry's scale, there have been limited venues offering a structured overview of its development in Korea, particularly in the form of educational or public exhibitions. Addressing this gap, Korean game developer
April 9, 2025 - 09:00:00
