Category: General

SEOUL, Shinsegae DutyFree, South Korea’s third-largest duty-free shop, said Tuesday it has partnered with Cathay Group to revive sales through the Hong Kong-based group’s mileage program.

Shinsegae DutyFree signed an agreement with Cathay Group to allow its airline affiliate Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.’s passengers to shop at Shinsegae’s duty-free shops with their mileage points and earn miles when shopping at the duty-free stores, the company said in a statement.

It is the first time for a domestic duty-free shop to join hands with a foreign carrier for marketing purposes.

Starting in February, Cathay Pacific passengers can shop at Shinsegae’s three duty-free shops in South Korea, and they can use the mileage points earned on purchases at 90,000 stores of Cathay’s 800 partner companies around the world, the statement said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, New York-listed e-commerce company Coupang, Inc. said Tuesday it will acquire British online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch Holdings in a deal that brings Coupang the leading position in the $400 billion global personal luxury goods market.

The deal will provide Farfetch with $500 million in capital to continue its operation, Coupang said in a statement.

“Farfetch is a landmark of the luxury landscape and has been a transformative force in demonstrating that online luxury is the future of luxury retail,” Coupang CEO Kim Bom-suk said in the statement.

Farfetch will rededicate itself to providing the most elevated experience for the world’s most exclusive brands, while pursuing steady and thoughtful growth as a private company, he said.

The British firm has operated an online platform selling high-end fashion and jewelry and it has been struggling with weak sales amid an economic slowdown.

“Coupang’s proven track record and deep experience in revolutionizing commerce will enable us to deliver exceptional service for our brand and boutique partners, as well as for our millions of customers around the world,” Farfetch founder and CEO Jose Neves said.

Coupang’s businesses range from food delivery and video streaming to payment services and operate in markets that include South Korea, Singapore, China and India.

The e-commerce giant plans to combine its logistics expertise with Farfetch’s know-how in high-end brands to make a presence in the rapidly growing luxury goods market in South Korea.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea’s military said, after a senior Seoul official warned the North could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile in the coming weeks.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch but did not give further details.

The launch came days after South Korea’s First Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said the North could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile within this month as he arrived in Washington on Thursday to attend the second session of the Nuclear Consultative Group.

During the talks, the allies agreed to complete the establishment of guidelines on the planning and operation of a shared nuclear strategy by the middle of next year.

The North’s latest saber-rattling came amid heightened tensions after Pyongyang last month scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement designed to reduce tensions and prevent accidental clashes along the border.

Seoul had partially suspended the deal in protest of the North’s successful launch of its first military spy satellite on Nov. 21.

The North last fired a ballistic missile on Nov. 22, but the launch apparently failed, according to the JCS.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea’s military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch but did not give further details.

The launch came two days after South Korea’s First Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said the North could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile within this month.

The North last fired a ballistic missile on Nov. 22, but the launch apparently failed, according to the JCS.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

South Korea will work toward coordinating bilateral and trilateral measures involving the United States and Japan if North Korea continues to engage in provocations, a senior Seoul security official said Sunday.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remarks at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, after returning home following his attendance at the second meeting of the South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Washington last Friday.

Last week, Kim raised the possibility of North Korea launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in December. North Korea last test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM in July.

“If such provocations from North Korea continue, we will work toward coordinating necessary measures between South Korea and the U.S., actions the two countries can take individually and joint actions that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan can collectively implement,” Kim told reporters after arriving at the airport.

Kim added that Washington also “recognizes the possibility of North Korea conducting ballistic missile provocations, including ICBMs, by mid-December or at the latest early next year.”

He noted that the North’s potential capability to equip missiles with nuclear warheads was a crucial concern that the NCG needs to be attentive of.

Amid renewed North Korean ICBM launch concerns, the USS Missouri (SSN-780), a Virginia-class nuclear-powered U.S. attack submarine, entered a key naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, earlier in the day, according to the South Korean Navy.

The deployment of the submarine comes just three weeks after the USS Santa Fe (SSN-763), a Los Angeles-class submarine, entered the Jeju Naval Base on the southern resort island.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

South Korea came under the grip of the season’s coldest weather on Sunday, with the morning lows plummeting to minus 12.4 C in Seoul, the state weather agency said.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) predicted temperatures will drop further Monday morning, with the morning lows in the capital expected to be between minus 18 C to minus 3 C.

The weather agency said the Daegwallyeong district in Gangwon Province saw the temperature drop to morning lows of minus 16.8 C and a sensible temperature of nearly minus 29.7 C on Sunday.

A total of 14 flights were canceled on the southern resort island of Jeju on Sunday afternoon, officials said, amid the cold wave and heavy snow.

The cold snap affected Jeju International Airport, prompting the 14 flights to be canceled and another 97 flights to be delayed, according to airport officials.

As of 3:10 p.m., mountainous areas in Jeju had received up to 22.6 centimeters of snow, weather authorities said.

The flight cancellations at the Jeju airport came a day after the KMA issued heavy snow warnings for the country’s central and western areas.

Jeju police were controlling traffic on all 1,100 roads across the island, allowing only large vehicles with winterization equipment on the roads.

A cold wave advisory also took effect in areas including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon and Daegu at 9 p.m. Saturday.

The advisory is issued when the morning low comes below minus 12 C for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 10 C to below minus 3 C.

On Sunday, the Seoul metropolitan government said it maintained the cold wave advisory and took precautionary measures against potential damage.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 — South Korea and the United States agreed Friday to complete the establishment of guidelines on the planning and operation of a shared nuclear strategy by the middle of next year, a Seoul official said, as the allies held key deterrence talks on countering growing North Korean threats.

Seoul’s Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo made the remarks after he and Maher Bitar, the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) coordinator for intelligence and defense policy, led the second session of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) at the Pentagon.

“(The two sides) agreed to complete guidelines regarding the planning and operation of a nuclear strategy by the middle of next year,” Kim told reporters. “In other words, (we) agreed to complete the overall guidelines on how to deter and respond to North Korean threats next year.”

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo speaks during a meeting with reporters at the South Korean Embassy in Washington on Dec. 15, 2023.

Kim said that the guidelines will encompass a whole range of issues concerning the sharing of sensitive nuclear information, the establishment of a relevant security system, the formulation of consultation procedures for nuclear crisis as well as the operation of a real-time leader-level communication channel.

The guidelines will also delineate concrete plans for crisis management and risk reduction, he said.

“At the second NCG session today, (the two sides) approved a work plan for the next six months, and through the NCG, South Korea and the U.S. will move toward a unitary South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence system,” he said.

“While strongly deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, (the allies) will be able to take an immediate, overwhelming and decisive response measure in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack,” he added.

Based on the work plan, the two countries plan to build a fleshed-out nuclear extended deterrence system around June next year, he said.

Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally. Through the NCG, the two sides have been seeking to leverage South Korea’s conventional military assets to support America’s nuclear operations in pursuit of an integrated deterrence formula.

Following the inaugural meeting in July, the second NCG session proceeded amid tensions heightened by Pyongyang’s launch of a military reconnaissance satellite last month and the possibility of the regime launching another intercontinental ballistic missile this month.

The second session of the South Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group is in progress at the Pentagon near Washington on Dec. 15, 2023, in this photo released by South Korea’s government delegation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)

The participants also agreed on a plan to incorporate scenarios of nuclear operations in next year’s allied military exercises, including the summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield, according to a Seoul official who requested anonymity.

Work is also under way to build a mobile system to enable immediate communication between the leaders of the two countries in case of a crisis, the official said.

“We have been building a system to enable the leaders of the two countries to phone each other immediately and make their decision, and to both presidents, a mobile device for frequent communication has already been delivered in case a problem flares up,” he said.

But more work needs to be done to protect the leader-level phone communication from a potential electromagnetic attack or other security issues, he added.

At this week’s NCG meeting, the U.S. also agreed to provide “in-depth” nuclear education to South Korean officials next year, Kim said. In October, 15 South Korean officials received education on the U.S.’ nuclear policy, strategy and planning.

“To put it simply, our side’s nuclear ‘IQ’ will continue to grow,” he said.

After the meeting, the two sides issued a press statement, which reaffirmed that any North Korean nuclear attack against the U.S. and its allies is “unacceptable” and will result in the “end of the Kim regime.”

The two sides agreed to hold the third NCG meeting in South Korea in summer next year, according to the statement.

The latest NCG session lasted for over seven hours and was attended by some 60 security, military and diplomatic officials from the two sides, including those from the U.S. Forces Korea, the U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

The NCG was established under the Washington Declaration that President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted during their summit in Washington in April as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence.

The inaugural session was held in Seoul in July, led by Kim and U.S. NSC Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and NSC Coordinator for Defense Policy and Arms Control Cara Abercrombie.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, As South Korean outfielder Lee Jung-hoo was being introduced as the newest member of the San Francisco Giants, his father Lee Jong-beom, one of the greatest players in South Korean baseball history, was thrust into the spotlight.

The proud dad watched from the first row as his 25-year-old son held his introductory press conference at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday (local time). The junior Lee signed a six-year, US$113 million contract with the Giants this week, one year after winning the regular season most valuable player (MVP) award for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

The senior Lee also won an MVP award in 1994 for the Haitai Tigers, after batting .393 with 19 home runs, 77 RBIs and 84 steals. The Lees are the first father-son duo to have won MVP awards in the KBO.

That steals total remains the single season record in the KBO. Lee owns three of the 10 highest steals totals in league history, having swiped 73 bags in 1993 and 64 in 1997.

Lee was nicknamed “Son of the Wind” for his speed, and that naturally made his son the “Grandson of the Wind.” Lee Jung-hoo, though, isn’t close to being the burner that his old man was in the 1990s. The junior Lee has never stolen more than 13 bases in a season.

“My dad was really fast,” Jung-hoo said. “If we were to race each other at the same age, I would never beat him.”

In this EPA photo, Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants walks up the dugout steps at Oracle Park in San Francisco after his introductory press conference on Dec. 15, 2023.

As for his moniker, he said, “Because my dad was the Son of the Wind, I was the Grandson of the Wind from birth. I think it sounded a little cheesy and corny in Korean, but it sounds cool in English.”

Lee Jong-beom was seen as a complete package at the peak of his powers, someone who could hit for high average and power while also stealing bases and playing strong defense.

Asked what he’d learned from such a legendary father, Jung-hoo cracked, “I learned nothing from him baseball-wise.”

After drawing laughter from a throng of reporters, Lee turned more serious and said, “From my father, I learned about character and about ways to grow up as a good person. I also learned how to behave when you’re playing well.”

In a scrum with South Korean reporters after the presser, Lee Jong-beom said he believed his son has what it takes to thrive in the majors.

“Just being able to play for a team like this will be a great opportunity for Jung-hoo. He is young and full of energy. I think he’s going to do well,” the father said. “During spring training, he will have to figure out what he has to do.”

Lee said the most important trait moving into a new environment was to be fearless. He was speaking from experience, having played in Japan from 1998 to 2001.

“I’d like to tell him that it’s important not to hang your head even if you fail,” Lee said. “When I was Jung-hoo’s age, I didn’t have fears. I am sure Jung-hoo is the same way. If he plays the way he’s capable of playing, he will have good results.”

He also called on his son to take a long view on his major league career.

“Since he signed a long-term deal, he should use the first season trying to make adjustments,” Lee said. “He will need to reach out to his teammates and have some sense of humor, too.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, Police are tracking down the person behind graffiti spanning some 44 meters sprayed on the walls of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, officials said Saturday.

The suspect repeatedly sprayed the phrase “free movie” in Korean, in red and blue paint, on both sides of the western gate to the palace and palace walls near the National Palace Museum of Korea at around 1:50 a.m., according to officials.

A phrase that reads “free movie” in Korean is sprayed in red on the walls of Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Dec. 16, 2023.

Also sprayed were the names of illegal video-sharing and streaming platforms, with similar graffiti also found on the walls of the nearby Seoul Metropolitan Agency.

The damage incurred by the apparent vandalism on the two parts of the palace walls measures more than 44 meters in length and between 2 and 2.4 meters in height, according to officials.

Upon receiving a report at 2:20 a.m., police started analyzing CCTV footage and reviewing whether they can hold the suspect accountable for violating the Cultural Protection Heritage Act, according to officials.

Phrases that read “free movie” in Korean are sprayed in red and blue on both sides of the western gate to Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in this photo provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Dec. 16, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), which preserves cultural assets, said it will swiftly launch a probe and restore the damage.

The agency has temporarily covered up the graffiti and plans to dispatch preservation specialists to the scene to clean and restore affected parts.

CHA said it is closely cooperating with police and plans to install more CCTV cameras in the area to better preserve and manage the walls of the Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace.

Gyeongbok Palace is a state-designated historic site, with the affected gate and the walls all recognized as cultural heritage.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, South Korea was gripped by a cold wave and heavy snow Saturday, with lower temperatures and more snow expected over the weekend, the state weather agency said.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued heavy snow warnings for the country’s central and western areas. As of 10 a.m., the interior ministry had upgraded its snow alert level to “caution” from “interest.”

Holding an umbrella, a person walk on a street in Jeonju, 192 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 16, 2023, when heavy snow fell on five cities and counties in North Jeolla Province.

As of 7 p.m., the southwestern city of Gwangju and Jangseong County in South Jeolla Province had received 7.94 cementers and 4.54 cm of snow, respectively.

More than 20 cm of snow is expected to fall in North Jeolla Province until Sunday. Gwangju and southwestern parts of South Jeolla Province are forecast to receive more than 15 cm of snow, according to the KMA.

The weather agency said 1-3 cm of snow is expected in Seoul, Incheon, west of the capital, and the southern island of Jeju.

A cold wave advisory also took effect in areas including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon and Daegu at 9 p.m. Saturday.

The advisory is issued when the morning low comes below minus 12 C for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 10 C to below minus 3 C.

Heavy snow and the cold wave caused passenger ship and flight cancellations across the nation, according to the government.

As of 6 p.m., 107 passenger liners on 85 routes and 14 flights had been cancelled, according to the central government’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Public access to 247 sites at 13 national parks, including ones in Mount Mudeung and Mount Jiri, were restricted.

Snow froze on roads, causing car accidents in some regions.

At around 7:47 a.m., five vehicles rear-ended near and another four cars were in similar pile-up accident near the Sangnam 6 Tunnel along the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway. Seven people were said to have suffered mild and serious injuries.

At around 3:30 p.m. 15 vehicles rear-ended on a road in Anseong, 64 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Strong winds and the cold wave caused power blackouts in an apartment complex in Uijeongbu, 22 km northeast of Seoul, and a movie theater in Cheongju, 112 km southeast of Seoul.

The KMA said the temperature is likely to further drop on Sunday, with morning lows reaching between minus 4 and 17 C across the country. Morning lows were expected to be minus 12 C in Seoul, minus 16 C in the border city of Paju and minus 17 C in Cheorwon County of Gangwon Province.

Source: Yonhap News Agency