Most Popular
-
1
[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
-
2
[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
-
3
Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
-
4
Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
-
5
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
-
6
[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
-
7
Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
-
8
S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
-
9
North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
-
10
Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
-
Kori-1 reactor receives approval to restart
The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced on Wednesday that the Kori-1 plant, the country’s oldest nuclear reactor, is safe to continue operation.The nuclear safety governing body announced the decision after a three-month long safety check.The Kori-1 plant, which began operation in 1978 in the northern part of Busan, was shut down on March 12 after one of its two reactors temporarily lost power early this year. The power cut did not lead to any damage, but caused public uproar as the
July 4, 2012
-
Doctors to launch union
A union of salaried doctors at medical institutions will be launched as early as September, the Korean Medical Association said Wednesday.However, the establishment may cause a stir as such doctors, who now work overtime above the legal limit, have vowed to reduce their duties. According to the nation’s largest interest group of doctors, the union will include about 40,000 doctors including residents, fellows, professors and others to raise issues concerning their rights. Roh Hwan-kyu, head of t
July 4, 2012
-
President’s brother faces arrest warrant
Prosecutors are planning to file an arrest warrant for Lee Sang-deuk, elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak and former six-term lawmaker, by the end of the week after he apparently admitted to several bribery charges during a Tuesday summons, a source said Wednesday. The first-ever arrest of a sibling of an incumbent president is expected to lead to the probe expanding to officials ranging from the president’s right-hand man to opposition leaders, and into the possible slush fund created duri
July 4, 2012
-
(online) Women’s rights group protests violence against women
South Korean women’s rights activists are staging simultaneous one-person street demonstrations in major cities on Tuesdays to protest violence toward women.The campaign by Korea Women’s Hot Line is called “Tuesday of Memories.” It aims to commemorate women killed by lovers or husbands, and banish the physical abuse of women, the group said upon launching the campaign earlier this month.On Tuesday, activists held signs in 25 locations across the country demanding the following: Complete revision
July 4, 2012
-
(online) Korean seniors income level lowest in OECD nations
The income of elderly people compared to the average household’s in South Korea ranked second lowest in major economies, a report showed Tuesday, indicating that the country’s public pension system remains relatively insufficient to support retirees. The report by the National Pension Service (NPS) analyzed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) data of 2010 income inequality and found that the income of Korean senior citizens stayed at 66.7 percent of the average hou
July 4, 2012
-
Japanese teen ‘forced to practice suicide’
A boy who committed suicide last year in Otsu, Japan may have been forced to do so by school bullies, Japan’s The Mainichi reported Wednesday.A school survey conducted after the 13-year-old boy killed himself last October found that he had been coerced into "practicing suicide" every day."(The deceased boy) had sent an e-mail to the bullies, saying ‘I will die’ or ‘I will give my life to a friend with cancer,’" said some of the students who participated in the survey. Out of 320 students surveye
July 4, 2012
-
Rep. Chung to be grilled Thursday
Prosecutors plan to summon Rep. Chung Doo-un of the ruling Saenuri Party on Thursday for questioning over his alleged involvement in a snowballing bank-lobbying scandal, officials said Tuesday.Chung is alleged to have received 30 million won ($26,385) from Lim Suk, the chairman of Solomon Savings Bank, after introducing him to Lee Sang-deuk, President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother.Chung has denied the allegations.The elder Lee was questioned on Tuesday on suspicion that he took some 500 million
July 3, 2012
-
President’s brother grilled over bribery
Lee Sang-deuk, President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother and former ruling party lawmaker, was questioned by prosecutors on Tuesday over allegations he received more than 700 million won ($599,000) from businessmen in exchange for his influence. He is one of many prominent figures in the ruling and opposition parties allegedly involved in savings bank bribery.Lee, once the most influential figure in the ruling party, showed up at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul around 10 a.m.When
July 3, 2012
-
Minimum wage hike rate lowest under Lee
The nation’s minimum wage has risen at the lowest-ever rate under the incumbent Lee Myung-bak administration, government data showed Tuesday.According to the data released by the labor ministry, the nominal minimum wage has increased 5 percent on average since 2008 when Lee began his five-year term.It is half the level seen under the preceding Roh Moo-hyun administration when the minimum wage went up by 10.6 percent, and the lowest since 1988 when South Korea introduced the system, the data show
July 3, 2012
-
Obama to send delegation to Yeosu Expo
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― U.S. President Barack Obama will send a delegation to the Yeosu Expo in South Korea this week, the White House announced Monday.The five-member presidential delegation plans to attend the U.S. National Day celebration Wednesday at the expo in southwestern South Korea, it added.The U.S. marks Independence Day on July 4.The team will be led by Jane Lubchenco, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who also serves as under secretary of comme
July 3, 2012
-
New family-care leave program starts in Aug.
A program allowing “family-care” leave takes effect as of Aug. 2, allowing workers to take up to 90 unpaid days off to care for ill or elderly family members, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday.A parent with a preschool child in need of his or her attention will also be able to choose to reduce their working hours instead of taking parental leave, the ministry said.The Cabinet endorsed a set of executive orders to implement new measures to help employees balance work and family an
July 3, 2012
-
Researchers discover new way to make flexible electronics
A team of Korean and U.S. researchers have invented a new technology that will allow electronic materials to stretch like rubber while maintaining conductivity. The finding published in the online journal Nature Communications marks major progress in developing wearable computers and flexible display devices. Current technologies in the field are limited to produce only thin sheets of materials. Also, one of the key remaining technical challenges is to find materials that can endure the repeated
July 3, 2012
-
KAIST professor to receive top microbiology award
Lee Sang-yup, professor of bioengineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has been selected to receive the 2012 Charles Thom Award, the university announced on Tuesday.The Charles Thom Award is one of the most prestigious awards for microbiologists. The Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology each year selects a recipient who has made an outstanding research contribution to the field.Lee is the first Korean to receive the award since its establishment in
July 3, 2012
-
Park vows to share know-how globally
Mayor says Seoul will set up city management research centerSeoul City is to embark on a project to spread its urban development and management know-how overseas, especially to developing countries.The metropolitan government plans to establish a new institution in charge of cooperation with foreign cities in areas including environment, transport, infrastructure and information technology-based governance. The globalization program is also aimed at helping developing countries boost the compet
July 3, 2012
-
Lee's elder brother appears before prosecutors over suspected bribery
President Lee Myung-bak's elder brother appeared before prosecutors Tuesday morning for questioning over allegations that he took bribes from troubled savings banks and several others in return for peddling influence.Lee Sang-deuk, 77, formerly a six-term legislator with the ruling Saenuri Party, entered the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul at 10:00 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer."I
July 3, 2012
-
Former president hospitalized after showing cold symptoms
Former President Kim Young-sam has been hospitalized after showing signs of a cold, his aides and hospital officials said Tuesday.The 85-year-old Kim, who served as president from 1993 to 1998, was admitted to Seoul National University Hospital in downtown Seoul on Monday afternoon due to light cold symptoms, according to the former president's chief secretary and hospital officials.The former pre
July 3, 2012
-
Japan reports death of 2 crewmen of S. Korean vessel
Two crew members of a South Korean vessel sailing off Japan's southwestern coast have died, a Japanese media report said Monday.Japan's maritime police received an emergency call from the 994-ton "Chemhana" at about 3:05 p.m. stating two crew members were in critical condition after apparent gas inhalation, Kyodo News said.The two -- one a 56-year-old Korean and the other a 28-year-old from Myanma
July 3, 2012
-
President misses Sejong City launch
After a decade of controversy, a new administrative city officially opened in South Chungcheong Province on Monday. Government officials and lawmakers, including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, attended the event to celebrate the birth of Sejong City. But President Lee Myung-bak was absent from the ceremony.Spanning over 465 square kilometers of land, about 75 percent the size of Seoul, Sejong City will be home to 36 central government offices, including nine ministries and 16 state-run organizati
July 2, 2012
-
Rights chief under mounting pressure
Critics bolster campaign against head of National Human Rights CommissionOpposition parties and civic activists are up in arms against the government’s attempt to grant a second term to Hyun Byung-chul, the controversial chief of the National Human Rights Commission. They cited his past record of racist remarks, ignorance of minorities in politically sensitive situations and violation of public servant rules.While Hyun awaits the National Assembly’s approval through the first-ever confirmation h
July 2, 2012
-
Women may outnumber men from 2015: survey
The number of females in South Korea is expected to exceed that of males starting in 2015 due mainly to the country’s rapidly aging population, government data showed Sunday.According to the data by Statistics Korea, the number of women in South Korea will likely reach 25.31 million in 2015, slightly surpassing the male population of 25.30 million.The female population is projected to continue to outnumber that of males and reach 26.26 million in 2031, with the number of men likely to decline af
July 1, 2012