The Korea Herald

Picturing Seoul to send to the world

Jun 27, 2012

Global street art project aims to share respect between many nations Hundreds of Seoulites are posing for portraits to join a global street art project for World Peace Day. The Inside Out Project aims to capture images of people in 17 countries before sharing the posters as public art in cities across the world on Sept. 21. The project inviting participants to “Be the Change” aims to connect p...
Chung Mong-koo Foundation to help neglected groups

Social affairsJun 27, 2012

The Chung Mong-koo Foundation, funded by the Hyundai Motor Group chairman, has launched a welfare program aimed at providing medical services to the socially neglected. It said Wednesday that the foundation has formed partnerships with Seoul Red Cross Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital and the Korean Red Cross to open a treatment center. The center, located within Seoul Red Cross Hosp...
Korea to increase hiring of provincial colleges’ graduates

Social affairsJun 27, 2012

More than 30 percent of employees in all of the country’s public and quasi-government firms will come from colleges outside the capital city starting next year, the government said Wednesday. The quota system is part of a set of measures drawn up by the education ministry to provide talent from regional colleges with more chances to land a job, which is expected to give the schools a competitive...
Meteor metal among solar system's oldest

ScienceJun 27, 2012

U.S. scientists say they've discovered a new primitive mineral in a meteorite that they believe to be among the oldest minerals formed in the solar system. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology studying a meteorite that fell in Mexico more than 40 years ago report they discovered the new mineral, dubbed panguite, embedded in the space rock. The mineral, a titanium oxide, is na...
Shanghai Metro’s remark over female dress code sparks outrage

Social affairsJun 27, 2012

Shanghai’s Metro has posted a comment warning women that wearing revealing clothes can lead to sexual harassment, prompting strings of negative responses and protests, according to news reports. The Chinese subway authority recently posted a picture of a woman wearing a see-through dress that revealed her underwear on the Chinese microblogging website Sina Weibo. Under the photo it wrote, “It’s...
Divided progressive party's leadership election marred by server error

PoliticsJun 27, 2012

The ongoing leadership election of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) has been suspended due to errors in its server for online voting, party officials said Wednesday, amplifying uncertainties for the left-wing party beleaguered by an escalating factional conflict over alleged primary rigging earlier this year. The minor party with 13 seats in the 300-member National Assembly is set to elect it...
Navy investigating accidental discharge of torpedo in Yellow Sea

DefenseJun 27, 2012

The Navy said Wednesday it is investigating a recent accidental discharge of a torpedo from a frigate during an exercise in the Yellow Sea. According to the Navy, a 2,300-ton frigate called Cheongju accidentally fired a deactivated torpedo during a drill in waters off Taean, South Chungcheong Province, last Thursday. The Navy said the torpedo didn't explode and sank to the bottom of the water. ...
Underdogs line up for presidential race

PoliticsJun 26, 2012

Overheated match may drown out policy debate, prompt negative campaigning A myriad of fringe candidates are joining the race toward the December presidential election in the hope of reshaping politics despite being overshadowed by high profile figures and having minimal public support. The peripheral candidates may be overestimating their chances, laying the groundwork for a distant bid, or eve...
Seoul to launch shopping event for tourists

PoliticsJun 26, 2012

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday that it will kick off its biggest shopping event of the year for foreign tourists here this week to help them feel more satisfied with their trip and to boost tourism. The 2012 Seoul Summer Sale, the fifth in a series, will be held for one month from June 29-July 29, where 4,228 department stores, duty free shops, cosmetic shops and restaurants in t...
Korean given U.S. medal for military diplomacy

PoliticsJun 26, 2012

A South Korean Army officer has received a U.S. military medal for his contribution to improving military diplomacy between the allies, the defense ministry here said Tuesday. Col. Cha Soon-young was the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded by the U.S. Defense Department, on Monday. As a former military attache at the South Korean embassy in Washington, Cha was recognized for mai...
Seven jailed for NEC cyber attack

Social affairsJun 26, 2012

The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday gave jail terms of a maximum of five years to seven people for attacking the server of the National Election Commission website during the Oct. 26 by-election. Judge Lee Won-beom ordered 28-year-old Gong, a former secretary of former ruling party lawmaker Choi Ku-sik, and Kim, a former secretary of National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae, to spend five ...
Korea to ease visa rules for Chinese

Social affairsJun 26, 2012

The government on Tuesday decided to expand the issuance of multiple visas and visa waivers for Chinese visitors to Korea from Aug. 1. Aiming to attract more than 1 million Chinese tourists to the country this summer, authorities also decided to streamline the visa application process and increase the provision of financial and hospitality conveniences. “Such plans are expected to boost tourism...
5-term lawmaker Chung launches presidential bid

PoliticsJun 26, 2012

A five-term lawmaker and former opposition leader announced Tuesday his bid to run for president in December, pledging to focus on the economy, jobs for ordinary people and small and medium firms in a country that relies heavily on exports. Rep. Chung Sye-kyun of the main opposition Democratic United Party is the fourth candidate who has officially announced a presidential bid in the liberal par...
UPP scraps over second vote-rigging probe

PoliticsJun 26, 2012

Faction suspected of corruption accuses panel of disregarding crucial report Factional fighting in the minority Unified Progressive Party is escalating over a new in-house investigation into vote-rigging allegations. Kim Dong-han, chief of the inquiry committee, abruptly resigned Tuesday just two hours before the panel reported the results to the national steering committee. “Judged by my cons...
Roh’s widow, daughter questioned on slush fund

Social affairsJun 26, 2012

The prosecution has reportedly questioned the daughter and the widow of the late President Roh Moo-hyun on suspicion of violating the Foreign Exchange Control Law and creating a slush fund to buy pricy real estate in the U.S. The two are likely to be called in as both have reportedly denied the allegations. According to the central investigation team of the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, fo...