Latest news with #Roh
Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Political leaders to attend memorial service for late President Roh
Heavyweight politicians from both liberal and conservative parties, including Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, were set to attend a memorial service Friday marking the 16th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun. The memorial service in the southeastern rural village of Bongha, where Roh lived after his retirement, comes ahead of the June 3 presidential election. On the sidelines, Lee is expected to meet with former President Moon Jae-in, who served as a key secretary under Roh's administration. Among the participants were Rep. Kim Yong-tae, interim leader of the conservative People Power Party, and DP floor leader Park Chan-dae. Early Friday, Lee also paid tribute to the late president in a Facebook post, vowing to carry on Roh's legacy of fighting for justice and follow his path of choosing "principles over compromise." Lee Jun-seok, presidential candidate of the conservative minor New Reform Party, also paid his respects to the late president by visiting Bongha on Friday. Roh, a liberal politician who ran the country from 2003 to 2008, leaped to his death from a cliff behind his retirement home 15 years ago amid a corruption investigation involving his family and aides. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Defining ‘hanok' right opens up possibilities
Seoul City hanok director proposes 'K-living' in hanok to rival apartment life Roh Kyung-rae, director of the Hanok Heritage Preservation Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, speaks during an interview with The Korea Herald on May 1. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald) Koreans have long taken pride in the traditional Korean house, the 'hanok,' for its embrace of a lifestyle seeking harmony with nature. However, what truly makes hanok the kind of house that embodies such ideals is still debated — a discussion now in need of a conclusion, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's director of hanok preservation. 'Hanok has survived generations, meaning its adaptations today are varied, catering to the needs of many contemporary architects and homeowners,' said Roh Kyung-rae, director of the Hanok Heritage Preservation Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The priority for the city government, Roh added, is to come up with an agreement or a framework laying out characteristics that define hanok. A hanok classroom at Seoul Jungsu Elementary School in Seongbuk-gu (Seoul Metropolitan Government) 'To make hanok universally appreciated, we need that coherency more than ever. That way we could start building on numerous talents — domestic and foreign — looking to see their different hanok interpretations materialize,' Roh said, noting hanok now is a theme picked up by not only local architects but those with a global presence. This year an annual hanok symposium organized by the city in October will bring together hanok practitioners worldwide and their proposals to deepen discussion over crafting the hanok identity. According to Roh, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is best positioned to work to that end, drawing on its vast resources compiled and expertise honed over the last 25 years. 'Our hanok preservation project took off in 2000 and has been evolving over decades,' Roh said, referring to how that first step has had a global impact with the emergence of Bukchon Hanok Village. One of the must-see travel destinations adjacent to Seoul's signature palace, Gyeongbokgung, in Jongno-gu, Bukchon Hanok Village was visited by some 6.6 million tourists last year. About 70 percent of the visitors were foreign arrivals, according to the Jongno-gu Office. Hanok: 'K-living' The Seoul Metropolitan Government could not stay complacent because, according to Roh, 'a hanok isn't something to be looked at from afar like objects on exhibition.' Such concerns led the city government to adopt a new hanok policy in 2023, when Roh's office was tasked with rendering hanok 'fit to live in.' 'That's where the future of hanok lies,' Roh said, suggesting his new mission could ride waves of the momentum increasingly putting the country in the spotlight. Korean cultural exports from K-pop to films and television shows have recently emerged as a new sources of revenue, prompting dedicated policies at the highest level. 'Next in line would be K-living,' Roh said of an umbrella term encompassing everything associated with building hanok. The public reception to the latest city push is more than encouraging, Roh added, referring to a survey by the state-run AURI National Hanok Center in 2021. The latest data found 68 percent of 1,200 Koreans aged between 30 and 65 willing to live in a hanok residence, an 11 percent jump from 2013. Eighty-four percent held a favorable view of hanok. Sirijae in Jongno-gu, Seoul (Seoul Metropolitan Government) The respondents cited 'open spaces, eco-friendly and therapeutic nature and an air of emotional stability' of hanok, the survey noted. The target audience for hanok living, Roh said, can be much wider. 'We plan to reach out to Gen Z and the silver generation as well,' Roh said of a cohort born after 1995 and those aged 60 and above, respectively. According to an internal study by Roh's team in 2023, the favorable view of hanok is on the rise, especially among the two age groups. The study interviewed residents living in some 8,900 hanok units in the capital. Taking on apartments? The biggest threat the study flagged was the higher cost of building a hanok residence compared to buying a similarly sized apartment unit, a popular residential option for Koreans, according to Roh. His office is aggressively addressing the issue, he said. 'If need be, I'm not against multistory hanok buildings. They look unconventional, unorthodox and hanok traditionalists used to belittle them as unwarranted tweaks. Times have changed,' Roh said. Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul (Eunpyeong-gu Office) The hanok director was emphatic that hanok buildings should take advantage of a full range of technological advances available to render hanok residences as readily accessible and enjoyable as possible. Roh believes such a shift in the way Koreans live could, in the long term, help the country map out a future where hanok housing is an option worth a thought before blindly settling on an apartment unit. Yueojae in Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Seoul Metropolitan Government) 'Is hanok an alternative to that? I think it definitely could be. We can't just keep building apartments to the point they flood the entire country,' Roh said. For hanok to count as a viable option for potential residents and hanok practitioners eager to preserve the Korean-style housing, defining hanok and its intrinsic elements is a priority, Roh noted. 'We have to keep the definitive hanok spirit along the way,' Roh said. Roh Kyung-rae, director of the Hanok Heritage Preservation Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, poses for a photo before an interview with The Korea Herald on May 1. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald) Renewed interest in 'hanok,' or traditional Korean houses, is palpable today, demonstrated by the growing number of hanok cultural facilities, cafes, accommodations and homes. While some new hanok architecture espouses the traditional form dating from the Joseon era, hanok buildings that have been adapted to contemporary conditions and lifestyles are also gaining ground. In this series, entitled 'Evolving Hanok,' The Korea Herald explores how hanok continue to evolve to stay relevant to current milieus. — Ed. siyoungchoi@
Korea Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
South Korea's first deaf news anchor joins KBS newsroom
Roh Hee-ji says she hopes to help shift social prejudices and become a source of hope for others The country's first-ever deaf news presenter went on air at noon Wednesday, presenting the life news segment of "KBS News 12." Roh Hee-ji, 26, was selected through the state broadcaster's recruitment program for anchors with disabilities, which has been running since 2011. She is the eighth person with a disability to take on an anchor role at KBS, following in the footsteps of Lee Chang-hoon, the broadcaster's first anchor with low vision. In a press release, Roh expressed her hopes for the role. 'As a member of the public broadcaster KBS, I want to become a news anchor who gives hope to viewers. I also hope to help change societal prejudices against people with disabilities.' Born with a severe hearing impairment, Roh has spent years building her communication and speech skills through extensive speech therapy and practice, so much so that many people no longer notice her disability, according to KBS. One unique practice she adopted was holding a chopstick in her mouth to detect subtle speech vibrations, helping her refine her pronunciation. To become a professional anchor, KBS also revealed that Roh has undergone extensive training to effectively communicate with newsroom producers through an in-ear device during broadcasts. According to KBS, despite turning the volume to the maximum, Roh can only faintly hear the producers' instructions and cues. Reflecting on her journey, Roh shared, 'I've realized that disability can never be a barrier. I no longer let my disability define the limits of my life.' She added that her motivation for applying to KBS was to inspire others. 'I came to realize that I could be someone who helps shift social prejudices. I wanted the path I've walked to become a source of hope for someone else.'
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korea, Thailand resume EPA talks to boost trade ties
South Korea and Thailand are holding their fifth round of negotiations this week to finalize the Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at deepening bilateral trade and investment ties, Seoul's Trade Ministry said Tuesday. Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said the talks will take place from Tuesday to Friday in Bangkok. The EPA is a form of trade pact similar to a free trade agreement, but it goes further by incorporating a broader cooperation framework in addition to tariff reduction and market liberalization. Roh Keon-ki, deputy minister for trade negotiations at the Trade Ministry, is leading the Korean delegation, while his Thai counterpart, Chotima Iemsawasdikul, director general of the department of trade negotiations of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, will head the Thai delegation. About 90 representatives from both sides are taking part in the talks, Seoul's ministry said. "The rapidly changing trade landscape, including US-led tariff actions, underscores the importance of bilateral agreements as a reliable safety net for Korean exports," Roh said. "We are committed to accelerating negotiations for a swift conclusion to the EPA with Thailand, a leading ASEAN (Southeast Asian) economy and a promising trade partner." According to the ministry, the fifth round of talks will cover 13 key areas, such as goods, services, investment, intellectual property and sustainable development. Both sides aim to advance market access, harmonize trade rules and strengthen future-oriented cooperation, the ministry added. Korea and Thailand first launched the EPA negotiations in March 2023. Since then, they have held four rounds of discussion to arrange a high-standard bilateral agreement that builds on existing regional frameworks, including the free trade agreement between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. During the Bangkok trip, Roh will also attend the Korea-Thailand RCEP Trade Forum and also host a roundtable meeting with major Korean companies operating in Thailand. Participants are expected to discuss improving the use of RCEP benefits and addressing challenges faced by local companies, including those related to US-led tariff measures, according to the ministry. Over 100 Korean and Thai government officials and business representatives are expected to join the events, including Ekachat Seetavorarat, the deputy permanent commerce secretary. The business roundtable will include executives from key Korean firms in Thailand, including Hyundai Motor and Kia, Posco TCS, LG Electronics and Samsung Life Insurance.
Asharq Al-Awsat
01-04-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Samsung Elec Appoints Mobile Chief as Interim Head of Consumer and Mobile Division
Samsung Electronics appointed on Tuesday its mobile chief Roh Tae-moon as acting head of the company's consumer and mobiles business, following the death of his predecessor, Han Jong-Hee, a week ago. "Samsung Electronics plans to minimize the leadership vacuum in the DX Division through this executive reshuffle, and make every effort to strengthen global competitiveness and ensure thorough preparation for the future," Samsung said in a statement. Roh, 56, has been in charge of the company's mobile business since 2020. Samsung said in March Roh has been "spearheading new smartphone markets" with AI phones and foldable phones as growth is slowing and competition is intensifying. Roh will oversee the so-called DX division, which includes TVs, home appliances and smartphone businesses. The death of Han, 63, who was in charge of its consumer electronics and mobile devices division, left newly-appointed boss Jun Young-hyun solely in charge of the South Korean tech giant as it revamps its underperforming chip business and navigates rising competition and trade uncertainties. Samsung said the company's board of directors will decide on a new CEO later, and a spokesperson said that "nothing has been decided whether or not to keep the previous co-CEO structure at the moment."
