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?
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
Missouri, Korea build nuclear research project on 70-year partnership
Leaders from the University of Missouri arrived in Seoul this week to start a new chapter in a partnership that stretches back seven decades -- from the aftermath of World War II to the frontiers of modern science. A delegation representing Missouri's academic and political leadership -- including University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves, UM System President Mun Choi and Missouri House Speaker Jonathan Patterson -- sat down with The Korea Herald on Wednesday to discuss their la
Oct. 22, 2025 - 15:22:51
'It’s me, unfiltered, revealed to the world.”: Ha Ji-won’s journey into art
Veteran actor Ha Ji-won, in her new solo exhibition “Phenomenal Change: Looking into the Reason I Am Myself,” greets her audience not through a glowing screen, but through her canvases. “There was always confusion between Ha Ji-won the actor and the person I really am,” Ha told The Korea Herald ahead of her solo exhibition opening on Sept. 27. “I encounter so many emotions through the characters I play, and I love the film set deeply, but there was always something within me that remained unfulf
Oct. 20, 2025 - 10:20:23
Conductor summons Hogwarts to Seoul in live 'Harry Potter' concert
Next week, wizards, witches and anyone who has ever wished they were will gather at Seoul’s Sejong Center for Performing Arts for a magical reunion. From Oct. 24-26, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I in Concert" will bring the final battle of the wizarding world to life — on screen and through the soaring, Academy Award–winning score by Alexandre Desplat, performed live by the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra. For fans, it is a chance to take a magical adventure through Harry, Ron and
Oct. 17, 2025 - 18:11:41
Between kimchi and Haribo: Koo Jaha explores boundaries in art and identity
Koo Jaha, a Korean director, writer, composer and performer based in Europe, continues to explore what it means to live between cultures. Following his acclaimed “Hamartia” trilogy — "Rolling and Rolling," "Cuckoo" and "A History of Korea" — Koo presents “Haribo Kimchi,” which premiered in Brussels last year and will be staged in Seoul from Thursday to Sunday at Quad in Daehangno, the city’s small theater district. Often described as a hybrid form that merges music, video and robotic performers,
Oct. 15, 2025 - 15:37:47
The reinvention of Bae Jin-young: Singer sheds cute image to go solo
When Bae Jin-young appeared as a contestant on Mnet's audition survival program "Produce 101 Season 2" in 2017, little did he know that he would go on to be recognized as a versatile artist with a well-rounded body of work. He started in group F the lowest-ranked group — but finished 10th and joined the K-pop project group Wanna One. After the group disbanded in 2018, he re-debuted as part of CIX in 2019. He left the group six years later, saying wanted to present his true musical identity. "It
Oct. 15, 2025 - 08:00:00
British Council Korea’s new director accelerates UK-Korea cultural exchange
Since taking the post of director of the British Council Korea on Aug. 11, Sarah Deverall has been keeping a full schedule, including two major art and architecture events where prominent British cultural figures were in the spotlight. UK artist Antony Gormley had a major exhibition in collaboration with White Cube and Thaddaeus Ropac during Frieze Seoul in early September, while UK architect Thomas Heatherwick helmed the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism that opened in late September
Oct. 13, 2025 - 15:22:47
The royal who makes film festivals matter to kids
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — You might assume she's another royal dabbling in the arts for prestige. But Sheikha Jawaher, general director of the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth, has put in the work. Before launching the festival 12 years ago, she spent a decade in classrooms teaching English. She studied family therapy in San Diego, where she first picked up a broader view of the world beyond her own. That grounding in education and child development shapes how she
Oct. 12, 2025 - 14:09:32
The next Byeon Woo-seok? Lee Chae-min discusses 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty'
Byeon Woo-seok, the breakout star of "Lovely Runner," has become a rising star in an era when the K-drama scene is increasingly dominated by a saturated A-list. Once a B-list actor navigating the margins, Byeon now represents the lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon, a talent whose momentum can carry a series from domestic acclaim to global recognition almost overnight. Into this narrative steps Lee Chae-min, the lead of "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" -- tvN’s biggest hit of 2025 -- whose explosive pop
Oct. 9, 2025 - 12:53:42
