U.S. FDA to review artificial colorings

Red No. 40 and other artificial dyes have increasingly become scarlet letters (and numbers) to parents who read food labels. Some believe that these common food, drug and cosmetic dyes can exacerbate behavioral disorders in children, as well as possibly contribute to allergies and cancers.The FDA, after long stating that no scientific evidence conclusively links the petroleum-based colorants to hy

TechnologyApril 14, 2011

Spring’s here ― don’t let the insects bug you

WASHINGTON (AP) ― It’s that time of year when the bugs emerge to bug us.Some can pose real threats ― Lyme disease from tiny ticks, West Nile virus from mosquitoes, or life-threatening allergic reactions to bee stings. But most bug bites in this country are an itchy nuisance.How itchy or big the welt depends in part on your own skin, how much of the chemical histamine it harbors. Yes, some people r

TechnologyApril 14, 2011

Stress management

We all encounter numerous stressors in everyday life. Stress refers to our emotional and physical state as a final product from interplay between life stressors and the self. Stress is known to be an important factor in the development of many diseases, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatic disease, pain disorder, etc. Many factors, such a

TechnologyApril 14, 2011

Expats favor Soon Chun Hyang

International health care center aims to make patients feel at homeThis is the third in a series of articles on international clinics at major medical centers in Seoul. ― Ed.Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, made international headlines last month when its doctors successfully performed gastric resection on two severely obese women from New ZealandMaking the proced

TechnologyApril 14, 2011

Hyundai to offer auto finance in U.K., Brazil

Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo (right) greets Banca Sandanter’s chairman Emilio Botin at the carmaker’s office in Seoul on Wednesday. (Hyundai Motor Group)Hyundai Motor Group will set up auto-financing firms in Brazil and the U.K. in collaboration with Spain-based Banco Santander.Banco Santader is Europe’s largest commercial bank with more than 86 million customers. Hyundai Motor chai

IndustryApril 13, 2011

Central bank raises inflation forecast to 3.9%

IMF predicts 4.5% prices growth, BOK expects stability in oil pricesThe Bank of Korea on Wednesday revised its projection for this year’s consumer inflation to a three-year high of 3.9 percent while maintaining its growth outlook at 4.5 percent. Oil and vegetable prices, the main drivers of inflation, are expected to ease during the third quarter, but the underlying upward trend will continue into

April 13, 2011

Hyundai Motor sets up research center in Beijing

HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Hyundai Motor Co., Korea’s No. 1 auto maker, has established a research center in Beijing in an effort to expand its business in China, company officials said Wednesday.The recent launch of the “Hyundai Motor Research Institute for the China Management” comes after China replaced Korea as the largest market for Hyundai Motor last year. The Korean company sold 700,000 cars

April 13, 2011

Nonghyup under probe for glitch in network system

Financial regulators on Wednesday launched an inquiry into the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, also called Nonghyup or NH Bank, which suffered a significant problem with in its online transaction systems.Nonghyup has seen its network systems, including Internet banking and automated teller machines, break down since around 5 p.m. Tuesday.The bank had to make an official apology as it

April 13, 2011

[Meet the CEO] ‘Flash sale’ site eyes local luxury fashion market

Online retailer Tryst boasts price competitiveness but has yet to overcome credibility issuesA fresh online luxury retail channel is eying a slice of the pie in the conglomerate-dominated local market with price competitiveness and quality service.The launch of flash sale site Tryst on Wednesday, the first of its kind here, may be intriguing news for savvy Korean shoppers. The website can be descr

CompaniesApril 13, 2011

Online luxury shops challenge retail giants in growing market

The introduction of new online retail channels is expected to expand the size of the local luxury retail industry appealing to an increasing number of younger shoppers with affordable price and convenience, industry watchers said. Yet they face fierce competition from the market-dominant retail giants and are to overcome credibility concerns typically associated with e-commerce in the country. Wit

IndustryApril 13, 2011

Samsung to offer W610b support to vendors

Korea’s biggest conglomerate issues public pledge aiming to prop up partner firmsSamsung Group on Wednesday pledged a number of measures including a 610 billion won ($558.7 million) fund, patent rights and improved payment systems to help promote growth in its smaller vendors and suppliers. Samsung signed an agreement at its Seocho headquarters outlining these and other efforts to become the secon

IndustryApril 13, 2011

IEA warns oil prices could hit growth

'Oil prices above $100 hurt global economy, demand outlook stable'The International Energy Agency maintained its outlook for global oil demand in 2011, while warning that prices above $100 a barrel are starting to hurt the global economy. Worldwide oil consumption will increase by 1.4 million barrels a day, or 1.6 percent, this year to average 89.4 million a day, the Paris-based adviser said Tuesd

IndustryApril 13, 2011