Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong, center, at the monetary policy board meeting held in central Seoul on Thursday. [BOK]

Bank of Korea ups rates a quarter point citing high inflation

The Bank of Korea raised the base interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 1.75 percent on Thursday.

K-pop
Supreme Court upholds one year six month prison sentence for Seungri

The Supreme Court upheld a one year and six month prison sentence for Seungri, an ex-member of boy band Big Bang, after he was found guilty of offering women for sex to potential investors, gambling overseas and embezzling money from his nightclub.

Seungri [YONHAP]
K-pop
[CELEB] SEVENTEEN is staying strong even seven years in

There's a saying that most K-pop idol groups disband or significantly lose popularity around the seven-year mark, but the curse does not seem to apply to boy band SEVENTEEN. In fact, the band is seeing its highest sales since debuting in 2015 ...

S.COUPS, member and leader of boy band SEVENTEEN [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT]

Food & Travel

Portable pies are perfect for picnics

Classic Mash Set at Ginger Bear Pie Shop in Songpa District, southern Seoul [LEE JIAN]

Television

Netflix Korea announces cast for new original series 'Celebrity'

From top left clockwise; Actors Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk, Jun Hyo-seong, Lee Dong-gun and Lee Chung-ah have been cast for the upcoming Netflix Korea original series "Celebrity." [NETFLIX]

Movies

'The Roundup' garners more than 4 million in ticket sales, most since pandemic

A scene from ″The Roundup″ [ABO ENTERTAINMENT]

K-pop

Wonho to release his new EP 'Façade' on June 13

Singer Wonho will release his EP ″Façade″ on June 13. [HIGHLINE ENTERTAINMENT]

Talk of the Town

Himchan under investigation for alleged sexual assault

Himchan [NEWS1]

Industry

Donut miss this

A visitor takes a photo of various types of donuts displayed at the 2022 Suwon Cafe & Bakery Fair on Thursday, held at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi. [NEWS1]

Economy

Nurturing SMEs

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Kexim) received a presidential citation for its dedication to nurturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during an event that emphasized the importance of collaboration between big corporations and SMEs held in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday. President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and chairman and president of Kexim Bang Moon-kyu, center, stand for a photo at the award ceremony. The bank dedicated 30.3 trillion won ($23.9 billion) for the growth of local SMEs last year, the highest ever and 45 percent more than the 20.9 trillion won dedicated 10 years ago. During the same period, the export volume of Korean SMEs increased by 30 percent to stand at $228.4 billion, according to Kexim. It was the only financial institute to receive the citation. [KEXIM]

Football

Golden Boot winners Son Heung-min, Mo Salah to face off in international friendly

Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring a goal against Iran during a World Cup qualifier at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on March 24. [NEWS1]

Football

Ji So-yun's arrival could help WK League get the attention it deserves

Ji So-yun [KFA]

Today's Photo

All politics is local

Officials check voting booths at a polling station in Yangdeok-dong, Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on Thursday, one day before early voting begins for June 1 local elections. [NEWS1]

Opinion