KROwnership & classification
Founded: 1953
Ownership
The Korea Herald is a Seoul-based English-language daily founded in August 1953 (originating from the government-linked Korean Information Service paper The Korean Republic) and published by Herald Corporation. In December 2002 businessman Hong Jung-wook acquired the then-distressed Herald Corporation and chaired it for years; in 2019 the group was sold to Jungheung Group, a large South Korean construction conglomerate, which now controls Herald Corporation and The Korea Herald.
Funding
It is a commercial outlet funded by advertising, subscriptions/circulation, events and its parent's other media and education businesses; it is no longer government-funded as it was in its 1950s origins.
Affiliation & stance
Today The Korea Herald is a privately owned, broadly centrist English-language daily; at the 2019 sale the buyer publicly pledged to preserve editorial independence. Although its distant origins were a state-information paper, it is now owned by a private corporate group (Jungheung) with no party or government control, so it is classed INDEPENDENT (CENTER lean, consistent with the site's guess).
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 366
89/100
Factual
86/100
Objective
740
Articles
740
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
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Recent coverage
An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
Putin recognizes the oil map for the first time
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russia is building 'some oil reserves' during a meeting focused on energy issues. He emphasized the need to strengthen domestic oil production and increase output. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, detonating an oil purification plant in the southern Krasnodar region, which produces around four million tons of crude oil annually. The Krasnodar region is one of Russia's largest oil-producing areas located near the Black Sea. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched large-scale air strikes on Sevastopol, the largest city on Crimea, including attacks on oil facilities. In response, Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, has restricted fuel sales to the public to counteract the energy shortages. According to reports, these attacks have had no impact on the front line. During an interview with a Russian state television station, Putin described the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as an attempt to destabilize Russian society. He stated that Ukraine's goal was to halt the deployment of Russian military units to improve their position in arms control talks.
Sejong City secures landmark W8tr investment from Samsung
Sejong Special Self-Governing City has secured a landmark 8 trillion won ($5.2 billion) investment from Samsung Electro-Mechanics to establish a cutting-edge semiconductor package substrate production line. This marks the largest single investment deal in Sejong's history since its establishment. The agreement was signed at Samsung Display’s second campus in Asan, with participation from new Sejong Mayor Cho Sang-ho, regional governors, and executives from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Celltrion. The investment aligns with Samsung’s broader 140 trillion won plan for the Chungcheong region, aiming to position Sejong as a global hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. The new facility will focus on AI server package substrates, which are essential components for high-performance computing systems. This follows a separate 550 billion won investment agreement with Asung Daiso, bringing Sejong’s total secured investments to 8.55 trillion won in just two days. Mayor Cho, who recently won local elections, has emphasized strengthening Sejong’s role as both South Korea’s administrative capital and an economic powerhouse.
Police officer investigated for trying to board plane with live rounds
A police officer from Gyeonggi Province is under investigation for attempting to board a flight with live ammunition, according to Jeju Island police. The incident occurred on Sunday when the officer, in his 30s, was heading to Gimpo Airport at Jeju Airport. He was not carrying a firearm but had two .38-caliber bullets, which are standard issue for South Korean police. Airport officials did not discover the bullets in his luggage during boarding. The National Forensic Service confirmed the caliber of the bullets. The officer claims he received the bullets from a retired colleague. South Korea has strict laws requiring police officers to store their weapons at the station.
Gyeonggi gov. orders inspection, after bullying death of nurse
Following the death of a 27-year-old nurse who reportedly committed suicide after experiencing severe workplace bullying, Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae has ordered inspections of medical facilities in the province. The nurse had previously filed a complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which investigated and confirmed bullying against only one of the three senior nurses accused. Despite this, the hospital reprimanded the nurse while allowing the others to keep their positions. The practice of 'taeum,' where new nurses are bullied until they resign, has drawn national attention and criticism, including from President Lee Jae Myung, who condemned it as unjustifiable violence. Authorities are now investigating the case, with police interviewing the victim's family and colleagues and examining digital evidence.
Former World Cup star Park Ji-sung co-chairs soccer reform committee
Former South Korean soccer star Park Ji-sung has been appointed as a co-chair of a new football reform committee aimed at addressing systemic issues within the sport. The committee, established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, follows criticism of the Korean Football Association (KFA) for appointing Hong Myung-bo as head coach, which many believe contributed to the national team's poor performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Hong resigned after the team finished 34th, marking one of its worst World Cup results. The committee includes former players, sports officials, and KFA leadership, with plans to review governance, youth development, and technological integration. Park and other former players have publicly criticized Hong's management, citing favoritism and poor decision-making.
Arrest warrant sought for armed rampage at Geoje beauty salon
A man in his 80s is suspected of attacking two individuals at a beauty salon in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, using a knife. The incident occurred around 11:26 a.m. on Thursday, resulting in non-fatal injuries to a salon worker in her 30s and a customer in his 40s. Police have requested an arrest warrant for the suspect, who reportedly told authorities he attacked the stylist due to dissatisfaction with his haircut. The suspect also claimed to have taken poison, but this was disproven by a blood test. Investigators suggest the attack was premeditated, with the suspect allegedly preparing the weapon beforehand. The relationship between the suspect and the victims remains unclear.
S. Korea to establish low-Earth orbit communications network by 2035
South Korea has announced plans to develop a low-Earth orbit satellite communications network by 2035, aiming to create a domestic equivalent of SpaceX's Starlink. This initiative includes launching between 128 and 512 satellites, costing between 4 trillion and 13.2 trillion won every five years. The project is part of broader efforts to advance the nation's space capabilities, including accelerating the first lunar landing to 2030. To support this, the government intends to form a special-purpose company with private firms to commercialize satellite data, projected to generate over $1.7 billion in revenue by 2034. Additional plans include launching a lunar communications orbiter in 2029 and an Earth-Moon scientific probe in 2031.
Here’s what it takes to become an Air Force pilot: surviving 6 times gravity
This article describes the intense physical and mental challenges faced by individuals undergoing flight environment adaptation training at the Republic of Korea Air Force Aerospace Medical Training Center in Cheongju. The training includes a G-tolerance test simulating six times Earth's gravity, emergency egress drills, spatial disorientation exercises, and high-altitude low-pressure simulations. These exercises aim to prepare future pilots for the extreme conditions they may encounter in military aviation. The article highlights the physical strain and the importance of proper technique to avoid injury during emergencies. It also notes the broader challenge the Air Force faces in maintaining sufficient numbers of qualified pilots.
KB Financial shortlists 6 candidates for chair post
KB Financial Group has narrowed its search for a new chair to six candidates, including current Chair Yang Jong-hee. The group announced the shortlist following a meeting of its chairman candidate recommendation committee. Internal candidates include Yang, Lee Jae-keun, Lee Chang-kwon, and Lee Hwan-ju, while external candidates are former Woori Bank CEO Kwon Kwang-seok and an anonymous individual. The selection process involves two rounds of interviews in August and September, with the final nominee determined by a shareholder meeting in November.
Cheong Wa Dae rebuts US report accusing Seoul of targeting Coupang
South Korea's presidential office has denied allegations made in a recent U.S. congressional report that accused Seoul of unfairly targeting Coupang, a major U.S.-listed e-commerce company. During a press briefing, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac stated that the investigation into Coupang was conducted in a non-discriminatory manner according to domestic law and due process. He criticized the report for relying heavily on Coupang's claims and failing to accurately represent South Korea's stance. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee's report claimed that South Korean regulators have been engaging in hostile regulatory actions against Coupang, including unfair enforcement and disproportionate penalties compared to local companies. The controversy stems from an investigation into a data breach at Coupang, which involved a former Chinese national employee who allegedly took a backup key. South Korean authorities estimate that over 33 million personal records were exposed, while Coupang and the suspect claim only around 3,000 records were affected.
Lee pledges push to make South Korea a space power
President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of strengthening South Korea's space and aerospace industry during a meeting of the National Space Council in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. He described space as a new frontier for economic and strategic growth, comparing it to the historical significance of maritime exploration. Lee highlighted the shift from state-led space initiatives to market-driven development, citing SpaceX as an example of successful private-sector innovation. He called for increased investment and support for domestic companies and researchers to enhance South Korea's industrial competitiveness. The meeting took place near the country's southern coastal aerospace cluster, which the government aims to develop into a regional hub for space and aviation industries.
Lee touts investments to transform southeast into AI-aerospace hub
President Lee Jae Myung praised major investments by South Korean conglomerates in the southeastern region, aiming to establish it as a hub for advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and aerospace. Companies including Hanwha, Hyundai Motor, Samsung, SK, Doosan, and LG pledged a combined 312 trillion won ($204 billion) for projects ranging from satellite development and autonomous mobility to humanoid robot production and nuclear power infrastructure. The investments were highlighted as part of broader efforts to diversify economic growth beyond the Greater Seoul area, which currently dominates South Korea's economic activity. President Lee emphasized deregulation, tax incentives, and financial support for these firms, aligning with his administration's strategy to reduce regional economic disparities. Recent investment announcements by Samsung and SK hynix, along with other regional initiatives, underscore a push to decentralize economic development.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
