Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
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Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
‘We export safety expertise, not just reactors,’ says Korea’s nuclear watchdog chief
As the global race to build energy-hungry AI data centers accelerates, nuclear power is reemerging as one of the few scalable, carbon-free baseload energy solutions — and with it, an unprecedented surge in demand for strict regulatory oversight. In South Korea, that responsibility falls squarely on the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, a 13-year-old state regulator that now sits at the center of nearly every major decision shaping the country’s nuclear future. From licensing next-generatio
Nov. 24, 2025 - 13:56:21
AI must be human-centered to protect public: German envoy
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at unprecedented speed, experts from Germany and Korea are urging democratic nations to deepen cooperation to ensure AI is developed in ways that uphold human dignity, civil liberties and the rule of law. Speaking on the sidelines of the German Innovation Days — an initiative hosted by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Seoul and The Korea Herald publisher Herald Media Group — German Ambassador to Korea Georg Schmidt and AI ethics exp
Nov. 23, 2025 - 15:04:41
‘Busan plant is key to our North America strategy,’ says Polestar CEO
Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer, is poised to leverage its Busan plant into a strategic export base to North America, marking a broader push to diversify its once China-heavy supply chain. “We’re focusing on Europe, North America and Asia, and within this three-pillar approach … this Busan factory is of highest importance, especially because of its link to North America,” said Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller during a group interview at Polestar Seoul in Yongsan, Seoul, on Th
Nov. 21, 2025 - 08:00:00
'We want representation': SNU's foreign student body speaks out
A cheerful atmosphere filled a large hall at Seoul National University on Friday as students roamed the aisles in search of their assigned groups. Korean students mingled with their peers from abroad, exchanging hellos, holas and bonjours. The Language and Culture Exchange event paired international students with Korean students based on their language interests. Through on-campus missions and group activities, participants helped each other learn their native languages while building personal c
Nov. 20, 2025 - 09:37:34
Sound of Slovenia reverberates in Korea for first time
The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra — one of Europe’s oldest ensembles, with a history stretching back more than 300 years — makes its Korean debut this week with a three-city tour visiting Daegu, Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Although Slovenia and South Korea have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992, exchanges between the two countries remained limited until recently. The opening of the Slovenian Embassy in Seoul in 2022, followed by Korea’s establishment of its own mission in Lj
Nov. 19, 2025 - 12:20:20
Infinite's Jang Dong-woo looks to China despite restriction
Even as K-pop idols continue to face restrictions under China's unofficial ban on Hallyu, Infinite's Jang Dong-woo has expressed hopes of engaging more with Chinese fans in his new album and future projects. "Up until this year, I've been frequently invited to Chinese-speaking regions, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and even Jakarta (in Indonesia), so I started thinking about focusing more on the Chinese market. I've been taking Chinese lessons for the past three months, too," the 34-
Nov. 18, 2025 - 14:37:59
Spyair's love for turning live performances into pure connection
For Japanese rock band Spyair, performing live on stage is about sharing music with the audience in the most direct and genuine way. The group, which formed in 2005 and professionally debuted in 2010, operates under the belief that music is at its best when it brings people together. Each song has something to say and the singers carry that message forward. "The magic of a live performance comes from the things that can only happen on stage — the sense of unity with the audience and the emotion
Nov. 18, 2025 - 09:45:02
'Korea must look beyond the US,' economist says
Countries like South Korea should strengthen economic ties with Southeast Asia to prepare for a global trading order that increasingly sidelines the US, according to Danny Quah, professor of economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “Korea has no shortage of countries that want to deal with it on coequal terms,” Quah said in a group interview in Seoul on Monday, during a visit for a joint conference hosted by the KDI School of Public Policy and its Singaporean counterpart. “Countrie
Nov. 17, 2025 - 17:35:54
[Exclusive] SK On fast-tracks pilot output in all-solid-state battery race
SK On is moving faster than expected toward commercializing next-generation all-solid-state electric vehicle batteries by 2029, with its pilot line in Daejeon set to begin operation before the end of the year, as key partner Solid Power completes the final round of on-site equipment testing. “We’re on batch three right now of the Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) of the planned six batches at SK On’s Daejeon pilot line. … We’ll have that completed by the end of November,” Solid Power CEO John Van Sc
Nov. 17, 2025 - 14:29:15![[Exclusive] SK On fast-tracks pilot output in all-solid-state battery race](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2025/11/18/news-p.v1.20251117.611a51c182b546348b32ccc3233f6193_T1.png?type=h&h=320)
'Kokuho' director Lee Sang-il wants you to stop making it about identity
"Don't take it so seriously," Lee Sang-il says, waving off questions about what it means for a Zainichi Korean director to have made Japan's biggest film of the year. The numbers tell one story: "Kokuho" has pulled in over 12 million viewers since June, earning 17 billion yen ($110 million) and becoming 2025's singular phenomenon in Japanese cinema. The film is all but certain to dethrone "Bayside Shakedown 2" (2003) in the coming weeks to become the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of
Nov. 17, 2025 - 13:56:47
SK Chemicals zeroes in on recycling, next-level copolyester
SK Chemicals is doubling down on recycling and advancing its copolyester technology, as the Korean green chemical firm seeks to maintain and expand its lead in the global market. “We collect polyester waste, break down polyester from such waste into raw materials and polymerize them. In other words, advancing our chemical recycling business is the most important next step for us,” said Kim Eung-soo, head of SK Chemicals’ Green Materials Business, in an interview with The Korea Herald at the comp
Nov. 16, 2025 - 16:05:39
South Korea ripe for more private credit exposure: Apax exec
Institutional investors in Korea are ramping up their allocations to private credit as they seek to broaden alternative portfolios while maintaining tighter risk control, according to a senior executive at global private equity firm Apax Partners. Derek Jackson, partner and head of Credit at Apax, said Korean institutions are increasingly exploring private credit — debt financing provided by nonbank lenders such as private equity firms — as they look for yield and diversification beyond traditio
Nov. 13, 2025 - 15:26:51
K-culture boom: Are Koreans really that creative? Sam Richards says that's the wrong question
Korea’s reputation as a conformist, hierarchical society has long raised questions about its creative potential. How could a country often described as rigid and rule-bound become a global cultural powerhouse, producing works likes "Squid Game," "Parasite" and the worldwide phenomenon of K-pop? For American sociologist Sam Richards, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, the answer lies in the paradox: Korean hierarchy and conformity that have often been criticized as stifling creativity
Nov. 12, 2025 - 09:00:00
'Squid Game' star Lee You-mi finds power in fragility in 'As You Stood By'
Learning life’s toughest lessons often begins with empathy — the ability to inhabit someone else’s pain. Few professions demand a level of emotional surrender quite like acting. In the new Netflix Korean psychological thriller "As You Stood By," Lee You-mi embodies that challenge, portraying a terrified wife trapped in an abusive marriage — a role she says made her stronger and helped her grow in a healthy way. The series follows Hee-soo (Lee) and Eun-soo (Jeon So-nee), two close friends who con
Nov. 11, 2025 - 14:14:01
Ven. Pomnyun won’t 'answer' thousands of questions
The Ven. Pomnyun walked onstage to a rock beat Friday afternoon, moments after the singer Maya energized the opening of Youth Festa. Before hundreds of young people, he launched into his signature live dialogue — often mislabeled as an “instant Q&A.” “I cannot trust my senses because I’m disabled. I kind of realized that I have to live differently from those without a disability, but I don’t know what to do next,” a person in the audience posed. “I’m struggling in my relationship with my mother.
Nov. 10, 2025 - 15:51:15
