Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
# In-depth
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
Korea central to BAT’s smokeless pivot: COO
British American Tobacco, one of the world’s largest tobacco firms, is reinforcing its commitment to South Korea as a strategic hub for its smokeless transformation, positioning the country as both a key innovation testbed and a competitive frontline for next-generation nicotine alternatives, according to the group’s top executive. BAT Group Chief Operating Officer Johan Vandermeulen said Korea’s value to the London-based group extends far beyond immediate sales, speaking in an exclusive intervi
June 29, 2025 - 15:01:05
Teen composer Lee Hanurij reimagines Korean rhythm
Eighteen-year-old composer Lee Hanurij is set to unveil his most ambitious work yet: a 40-minute composition, more than twice the length of his previous longest piece, which ran 16 minutes. But it is not just the duration that marks new territory. This time, Lee, winner of the 2024 Bartok World Composition Competition, steps into the unfamiliar terrain of writing for a Korean traditional orchestra. “I started wanting to try writing for a Korean traditional orchestra after hearing works by school
June 26, 2025 - 14:44:06
Korean cash cows: Heifers drive dairy gains for Nepali farmers
SINDHULI, Nepal — In Kamalamai Municipality of Nepal’s Sindhuli District, Korean aid is delivering visible results, chiefly in the rising incomes of local dairy farmers. Upendra Kumar Pokharel, mayor of Kamalamai Municipality, has witnessed the changes firsthand. “For farmers with limited income, this project has been transformative. Dairy productivity is up, and so are local incomes,” he said during a press interview. In December 2022, South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affai
June 26, 2025 - 09:00:00
H1-Key enchants with summer nostalgia
H1-Key is back with a new album that perfectly captures summer's vibrant, refreshing charm. “We prepared this album hoping it could become our signature summer song,” said member Riina during a group interview held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Friday. “Lovestruck” marks the group’s first new release since its third EP, “Love or Hate,” which dropped in June last year. Compared to the previous main track “Let It Burn,” a powerful alt-rock track with glam-punk elements, the new album showcases the soft
June 25, 2025 - 14:37:19
FX artist Lee Jae-jun makes waves at Pixar
"Characters perform human emotions through acting, but I convey the film's atmosphere and feelings through natural phenomena and landscapes," says Lee Jae-jun, describing his role as a special effects technical director at Pixar. Speaking via video call from Los Angeles on Tuesday, Lee discussed his contributions to the studio's latest release, “Elio.” The film follows a quirky 11-year-old who dreams of alien abduction, only to be mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to a cosmic council. While audien
June 25, 2025 - 14:35:37
Korea guides Nepal’s push for holistic agricultural reform: NARC director
KATHMANDU, Nepal — In May, when Nepal forged a partnership with the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture, led by South Korea’s Rural Development Administration, it sowed the seeds of transformation in its agricultural development. In an earnest tone, Krishna Timsina, executive director of Nepal’s National Agricultural Research Council, the country’s key research and policy institution for agriculture, mapped out what the new ties could bring in the years to come. “This partnership wit
June 24, 2025 - 09:00:08
Cravity dares to crave more with its 2nd LP
In its sixth year, nine-member boy group Cravity made a grand comeback with its second studio album "Dare to Crave," showing a broader musical spectrum amid unending challenges. The new album features 12 tracks centered on the theme of temptation and craving something without hesitation. The main track, “Set Net G0?!,” bursts with fast-paced, bold synth sounds and rapid melodic repetition that reflect the emotional rollercoaster one faces when standing before a new challenge. While the group sta
June 23, 2025 - 07:00:00
Park Chun-hue writes across borders — and touches hearts
“I wanted to present a world that feels familiar yet strangely unfamiliar to Korean audiences, and one that feels foreign yet oddly relatable to international audiences,” said Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, reflecting on the origins of "Maybe Happy Ending," the 2025 Tony Award-winning musical he co-created with Will Aronson. That creative vision has defined Park’s approach as a writer and it has resonated widely. Developed with longtime collaborator Aronson, "Maybe Happy Ending" has beco
June 18, 2025 - 15:34:55
Cornerstone reenters Korea to tap Asia’s executive market
Cornerstone International Group is betting big on Asia’s dynamic skilled worker market, reopening its Seoul office as the American executive search powerhouse seeks to capture the region’s most coveted leaders for both multinational and ambitious local companies. “The world of economics has changed a lot. It used to be driven by Europe and the US, but now Asia is becoming a very strong champion all over the world in particular industries,” said Simon Wan, CEO of Cornerstone International Group,
June 18, 2025 - 15:17:17
‘Baby box is last refuge for single mothers’
“I just gave birth to a baby,” said a woman’s urgent voice over the phone as Hwang Min-sook was about to leave work one winter day. Hwang urged her to call 119, the medical emergency hotline, but the caller replied, “I can’t do that.” Hwang told her to take a taxi and come to her at Babybox Korea in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. A few hours later, the woman arrived with her newborn in her arms. The staff suggested she stay overnight and go to the hospital the next morning, but the mother insisted on leaving
June 18, 2025 - 09:40:02
Interview: In 'Life of Ballerino,' men dance their dazzles and struggles
It felt more like a K-pop concert. With every leap and turn, cheers erupted from the audience, applause ringing out as if they were watching their favorite idols on stage. But this wasn't a pop spectacle — it was a ballet. That kind of visceral reaction is rare in the world of classical ballet. Yet a handful of male dancers from Mnet’s hit dance survival show “Stage Fighter” have not only broken through, but in doing so, have drawn renewed attention to the artistry and presence of the ballerino.
June 17, 2025 - 17:43:08
So Ji-sub discusses 'Mercy for None,' iconic webtoon turned into series
Adapting a hit webtoon into live action has become a go-to move for drama creators, lowering risk while guaranteeing a ready-made fanbase eager to leap from digital panels to episodic storytelling. It is no surprise that original screenplays are becoming the exception rather than the rule in today’s drama landscape. Netflix Korea’s tentpole series “Mercy for None” rode that wave, bringing one of the most critically acclaimed webtoons to life with a star-studded ensemble cast. Fans were especiall
June 15, 2025 - 13:34:08
Interview: K-pop idol-turned-actor Cha Hak-yeon comes into his own
At 35, Cha Hak-yeon still carries the youthful spark that gave him a commanding presence in Vixx a decade ago. Turn back the clock to the days of the group's greatest hits, like "Voodoo Doll" and "Error," and that same electrifying energy, now channeled with more restraint, powers his transition from K-pop idol to seasoned actor. While fans may still remember him as the boy band's charismatic leader and main dancer, N, Cha has spent nearly a decade building his acting chops across television. Mo
June 12, 2025 - 14:55:14
Chef To Kwok Wai: Merging tradition and innovation at Yu Yuan
“It is about rooting myself in tradition while constantly innovating to reinvent the contemporary dining experience. I believe in respecting traditional methods and recipes, but also in evolving them with the times and in response to the expectations of diners,” says To Kwok Wai, defining his culinary philosophy. To is the head chef of Yu Yuan, the Cantonese fine-dining restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. By focusing on accentuating the natural taste of the ingredients, just as traditional C
June 12, 2025 - 12:00:01
SBS sets sights on Asia’s version of Eurovision
Asia is getting its own take on the Eurovision Song Contest. Apparently, “Veiled Musician,” an upcoming global audition show from leading South Korean broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System, was made with the world's longest-running television music competition in mind. Featuring participants from 13 countries — Korea, Japan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos — the show, slated to premiere later this year, will kick off
June 11, 2025 - 15:14:31
