Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
#Interview
# In-depth
Would you like to subscribe?
Herald Interview In series
A series of in-depth interviews.
Would you like to subscribe?
'Samsung must rethink everything to survive AI era'
Samsung Electronics needs a bold new strategy to navigate the next industrial shift driven by artificial intelligence — one on par with the late Chair Lee Kun-hee’s “New Management” initiative that reshaped the company more than two decades ago, according to Colley Hwang, founder and chair of Taiwan-based tech research firm Digitimes. Hwang, a four-decade industry veteran, said such reinvention is vital for the future survival of South Korea’s largest industrial powerhouse. He spoke in an interv
Nov. 7, 2025 - 17:45:05
Newbeat channels Michael Jackson in 'Louder Than Ever'
From his unmatched stage presence and charisma to his musical genius and artistic versatility, the influence of Michael Jackson has pervaded nearly every performer, whether rapper or K-pop idol. With hopes of following in the steps of the legendary music icon, boy band Newbeat said the group's upcoming first mini album, "Louder Than Ever," to release Thursday evening, echoes the spirit of the late singer's performance. "We've taken a lot of inspiration from Michael Jackson, and people can see it
Nov. 6, 2025 - 07:00:00
'Korea is a living lab for future of cities': MIT's Carlo Ratti
BARCELONA, Spain — As cities worldwide race to reinvent themselves with sensors, artificial intelligence and green infrastructure, one country stands out as a real-world laboratory for the future of urban living: South Korea. At the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Italian architect and MIT professor Carlo Ratti told The Korea Herald why he sees Seoul as a “living testbed” for how technology, transparency and citizen participation can reshape cities. Ratti, who leads the MIT Senseabl
Nov. 5, 2025 - 13:35:04
Pritzker-winning Riken Yamamoto warns Seoul faces crisis without new housing vision
Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2024, warns that Seoul's future is in jeopardy if its record-low birth rate persists — a crisis he believes is deeply tied to how the city conceives of and inhabits housing. “Many of the fundamental problems stem from housing. Because housing, at its core, is about how we choose to live,” Yamamoto said during an interview with a group of reporters at Seoul City Hall this September. The Japanese architect, who has com
Nov. 3, 2025 - 17:35:23
Designer Woo Young-mi breaks obsession, embraces openness in Wooyoungmi Itaewon
More than two decades after launching her eponymous high-fashion label in Paris, South Korean designer Woo Young-mi has returned home with a landmark debut: Wooyoungmi’s first flagship store in Itaewon, Seoul, on Wednesday. “Itaewon is a town of diversity where different cultures and nationalities coexist, creating a young and hip energy. Embracing such diversity is our brand’s most important philosophy,” Woo said in an interview with The Korea Herald. The store’s striking architecture reflects
Nov. 2, 2025 - 15:04:44
Thailand, S. Korea can work together on cybercrime, economy: Thai PM
Thailand has long been one of South Korea’s key trading partners, maintaining strong economic ties since the Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement came into effect in 2010. Now, Bangkok seeks to take the relationship a step further through the swift conclusion of a bilateral trade pact that could serve as a new pillar for cooperation. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Bangkok hopes to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, saying the deal would help bo
Nov. 2, 2025 - 14:53:32
Data, AI new engines of maritime growth: HD Hyundai Marine Solution executive
HD Hyundai Marine Solution, the maritime service arm of HD Hyundai Group, is accelerating its role as a core innovation driver for the conglomerate’s transition toward sustainable, technology-driven growth, according to Choi Bong-jun, managing director and head of the firm’s digital technology center. Founded in 2016 through the integration of service divisions within HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the company began as an after-sales service provider for ships, but has since expanded into eco-frie
Oct. 31, 2025 - 11:22:09
Korea's clear growth path inspires others: World Bank
South Korea serves as a role model for developing countries, having achieved growth by setting a clear direction for expansion, according to a senior executive at the World Bank. Anna Bjerde, managing director of operations at the multilateral institution, visited Korea to attend this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. "Over the decades, Korea has gone from an impoverished country relying on donor funds from the likes of the World Bank to
Oct. 30, 2025 - 14:42:15
Global X Australia CEO: Digital innovation to drive next ETF wave
Australia’s booming exchange-traded fund market is entering a new phase of digital transformation and thematic diversification, says Alex Zaika, CEO of Global X Australia, who sees the next wave of growth coming from “research-led innovation and investor education.” “Australia’s ETF ecosystem is one of the world’s most competitive,” Zaika told The Korea Herald in a recent email interview. “Our strength lies in identifying areas where investor demand meets real market opportunity, from Australian
Oct. 30, 2025 - 14:09:01
Kim Wan-sun rediscovers life’s rhythm through art
Kim Wan-sun, a K-pop diva nearing the 40th anniversary of her debut, has returned not with a new song but with a brush in hand. With her paintings, she reconnects with Kim Chang-hoon from the legendary band Sanulrim, who produced her first record. The two reunite after decades for a special exhibition titled “Art Beyond Fame,” where Kim unveils the latest chapter of her evolving artistic world. Her new exhibition marks not only another creative milestone, but also a deeply personal chapter, one
Oct. 29, 2025 - 10:21:25
Song Ji-hyo's long game
"We've been doing this for 15 years now. I started at 30, and I'm 45 today," Song Ji-hyo says over coffee in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. "At some point, 'Running Man' will just be a memory. But until then, I'm giving it everything. I'll keep going until my knees give out completely." Of course, you would expect that level of commitment from Song, who has been at the center of Korea's longest-running variety juggernaut since 2010. For a decade and a half, she's been "Ace Ji-hyo" — the blank-faced stra
Oct. 26, 2025 - 15:29:41
From arbitration to AI: Korea’s new era of construction dispute resolution
“Construction is, in many ways, one of the oldest industries,” said Woo Jae-hyong, partner at Yulchon LLC and head of the education committee at Society of Construction Law Korea. “But at the same time, it’s also one of the most technologically advanced.” This dual nature — where centuries-old practices coexist with cutting-edge innovation — is at the core of a quiet revolution now underway in how disputes are resolved in the global construction industry. At the forefront of this shift is SCL Ko
Oct. 26, 2025 - 11:40:46
Korea should lead global push for shipping decarbonization: Rystad analyst
Amid geopolitical uncertainties clouding global net-zero efforts, South Korea should take a leading role in accelerating maritime decarbonization at international platforms such as next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to a partner analyst at Oslo-based Rystad Energy. “Korea could reaffirm its position as a strong proponent and supporter of decarbonization in the global shipping industry, especially as we’re now at the Kormarine event, building momentum toward APEC,” sa
Oct. 24, 2025 - 16:25:27
‘Dragon Lady’ of avant-garde music writes her sonic memoir with toy piano
A good craftsman doesn't blame his tools. The saying holds especially true for Margaret Leng Tan, the Singapore-born, New York–based pianist who has played everything from toy pianos and tea pots to coffee cans on her way to becoming one of the world’s leading avant-garde musicians. Also a muse to the legendary composers John Cage and George Crumb, Tan has been at the forefront of American experimental music for more than four decades, continually expanding the very definition of what can be con
Oct. 24, 2025 - 13:40:48
Semyon Bychkov and Czech Philharmonic return with 'Soul of Czech music'
In 2023, the Czech Philharmonic performed in Korea under the baton of its chief conductor and music director Semyon Bychkov and with an all-Dvorak program. The ensemble was lauded for its refined musicianship and powerful, cohesive sound — setting high expectations for the orchestra's two performances in Seoul next week. On Tuesday, which coincides with the Czech Republic’s Independence Day, Bychkov will lead a performance of Smetana’s "My Homeland," a monumental six-part symphonic poem often de
Oct. 22, 2025 - 16:55:10
