Most Popular
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Controversy rekindled over when to name criminals, suspects
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Seoul transit pass for travelers to be available starting July
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Hybe-Ador CEO conflict gets messier
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Battery makers ramp up efforts to diversify graphite supply chain
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Prosecutors to summon pastor who allegedly gave Dior bag to first lady
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‘Monk’ DJ spreading Buddhism goes global
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[LLG] Unseen inheritance: Trauma of transnational adoption 'trickles down' to adoptees' children
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[KH Explains] Hyundai Motor’s plan for new landmark keeps hitting bumps
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Court's ruling set to shape path of medical school expansion
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Loans of self-employed swell 50% in four years
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Chinese handset makers pose challenge
Chinese handset makers such as Huawei and ZTE are catching up in the fast-changing smartphone industry.Huawei, a Shenzhen-based telecom equipment manufacturer that has turned its focus to consumer products in recent years, shipped some 10.8 million smartphones to surpass Nokia and Research In Motion in the fourth quarter of last year. ZTE, the second-largest telephone equipment maker in China, is also eager to boost this year’s smartphone shipments with a new lineup of premium handsets running o
TechnologyFeb. 6, 2013
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U.S. trade body to make final ruling on Samsung, Apple patent suit
The final ruling in a patent suit between South Korea's Samsung Electronics and the U.S.' Apple will likely be made in August, the South Korean company said Wednesday, buying Samsung a significant amount of time to prepare for a possible ban on shipments of its products to the U.S.According to officials from Samsung, the final decision by the U.S.' International Trade Commission will be made Aug. 1, following its preliminary decision on April 1. The upcoming reviews will decide whether to uphold
BusinessFeb. 6, 2013
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Researchers track mysterious creature in Russian lake
A Russian research team claimed that they have found the remains of a huge, mysterious creature in Lake Labynkyr in Siberia, perhaps finally proving the existence of the lake’s “Devil,” reported the Siberian Times. The study was conducted by the Russian Geographical Society in coordination with divers from the Russian Emergencies Ministry and scientists from Yakutsk State University. “There have been all sorts of hypotheses about what kind of creature it could be: a giant pike, a reptile or an a
TechnologyFeb. 6, 2013
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Lunar New Year gift sets see wide price gaps
As South Korea’s biggest national holiday, Lunar New Year, fast approaches, retail stores are busy piling up gift sets. But a recent survey showed that there is a wide gap in prices, with some stores charging twice as much for the same product.The Korea Consumer Agency released its research on Wednesday comparing price ranges on 20 popular gift sets among 36 retailers including department stores, large supermarkets and online shopping malls across the nation. The country’s consumer watchdog age
Feb. 6, 2013
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NHN to set up new units to bolster mobile business
NHN Corp., the operator of South Korea's top portal Naver.com, said Wednesday it plans to set up two subsidiaries as part of efforts to strengthen its mobile business.NHN said it has won board approval to inject 40 billion won (US$37 million) each to "Camp Mobile" and "LINE Plus."Under the plan, the company will hold a 100 percent stake in Camp Mobile, which will pioneer NHN's new mobile services. NHN will also own a 40 percent stake in "LINE Plus," which will support the company's flagship mobi
IndustryFeb. 6, 2013
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BlackBerry says thanks with a gift phone
Canadian firm BlackBerry said it would give away 12,000 special edition Z10 smartphones to application developers who stuck by the company.Formerly known as Research In Motion, BlackBerry changed its name last week as it launched two new phones, including the all touch-screen Z10. BlackBerry, once a pioneering company in the smartphone market, is now playing catch up to the likes of Apple and other companies that have eclipsed BlackBerry in sales. The new phones will be carried by Verizon Wirele
IndustryFeb. 6, 2013
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Seoul shares close almost flat on currency woes
South Korean stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as the prolonged currency volatility and North Korea's threat for a nuclear test continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 0.1 percent, or 1.99 points, to 1,936.19. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 461 to 338."Despite the gains on Wall Street
Feb. 6, 2013
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Samsung to launch Windows 8-based smartphone in Hong Kong
Samsung Electronics Co., the world‘s top maker of smartphones, memory chips and flat-panel TVs, said Wednesday it will start selling a new smartphone that runs on Windows 8 in Hong Kong.The ATIV S will go on sale in the Chinese territory on Thursday as the South Korean tech behemoth seeks to expand its product line of mobile devices and meet the needs of different consumers. “Equipped with the latest Windows Phone 8 smartphone operating system, the new Samsung ATIV S enables users to enjoy the e
TechnologyFeb. 6, 2013
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Dell buyout highlights PC sector woes: analysts
Dell‘s plan to take the computer giant private offers an opportunity to return to its start-up roots, but won’t solve the fundamental problems facing the company and the PC sector, analysts say.The Texas-based tech giant on Tuesday unveiled a $24.4 billion buyout deal giving founder Michael Dell a chance to reshape the former number one PC maker away from the spotlight of Wall Street.Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint Technologies, said Dell‘s plan underscores the deep problems of an industry roiled
IndustryFeb. 6, 2013
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Many Facebook users report site 'fatigue'
While two-thirds of online American adults are Facebook users, most of them often take a break from the site for several weeks or more, a survey indicates.A poll by Pew Research Center‘s Internet & American Life Project also found 20 percent of online adults who do not currently use Facebook say they once used the site but no longer do so.Users gave many reasons for taking a break from Facebook either permanently or temporarily, including being too busy with other demands, a general lack of time
TechnologyFeb. 6, 2013
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Seoul shares edge up 0.1 pct in late-morning trade
South Korean stocks traded 0.1 percent higher late Wednesday morning, buoyed by gains in mobile carriers and technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 1.94 points to 1,940.12 as of 11:20 a.m.Mobile carriers led the market gain, with leading SK Telecom increasing 3.44 percent and No. 2 player KT moving up 2.11 percent.No. 3 player LG Uplus climbed 2.87 percent.Tech blue chips also continued to trade higher, with market behemoth Samsung Elect
Feb. 6, 2013
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Seoul shares open higher on U.S. gains
South Korean stocks began higher Wednesday as investor sentiment got a boost from overnight gains on Wall Street, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.22 percent, or 4.28 points, to 1942.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech blue chips drove up the shares, with top chipmaker SK hynix increasing 0.84 percent and handset maker LG Electronics climbing 0.58 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display moved up 1.63 percent.Construction firms also traded higher, w
Feb. 6, 2013
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S. Korean won hits 18-month high to U.S. dollar in Jan.
The South Korean currency hit an 18-month high against the U.S. dollar last month following monetary easing by economic powerhouses, data showed Wednesday, sparking concern over exporters' profitability.The local currency changed hands at an average of 1,066.54 won against the greenback in January, the highest since July 2011, according to the data by the Korea Center for International Finance. Its previous monthly high against the dollar was 1,047.11 won quoted in August 2008. The won gained 8.
Feb. 6, 2013
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Samsung tops Apple in U.S. customer loyalty
A U.S. study found Wednesday that Samsung Electronics has taken the top spot from Apple in smartphones in customer loyalty and engagement. According to the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, Samsung was ranked No.1 in the smartphone category recording the highest emotional engagement level with its customers.Apple came in second, followed by LG Electronics in third, Nokia and Sony tied for fourth and Motorola in fifth place, it said. Taiwanese HTC and BlackBerry maker RIM were also ne
IndustryFeb. 6, 2013
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‘Bionic man’ goes on show at British musuem
A “bionic man” costing one million dollars went on display on Tuesday at Britain’s Science Museum, complete with artificial organs, synthetic blood and robot limbs.Named Rex, which is short for “Robotic Exoskeleton,” the six foot six inch (two metre) humanoid with its uncannily life-like face was assembled by leading roboticists for a television programme.Although cheaper than the “Six Million Dollar Man” made famous by the cult 1970s television series starring Lee Majors, the technology is far
TechnologyFeb. 6, 2013
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Foreign IBs cut 2013 growth outlook for S. Korea
Major foreign investment banks' average growth outlook for the South Korean economy has been downgraded to the 2 percent range for 2013 as growth momentum remains weak amid the global downturn, a report showed Wednesday.A total of 10 investment banks forecast that Asia's fourth-largest economy will grow an average of 2.9 percent as of the end of January, down from a 3 percent estimate made in the previous month, according to a report by the Korea Center for International Finance.Their outlooks c
Feb. 6, 2013
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K-water closer to winning Thai water control project
K-water closer to winning Thai water control projectBy Seo Jee-yeonA South Korean consortium led by Korea Water Resources Corp. neared Tuesday to win Thailand’s mammoth water management project estimated to be worth around 12 trillion won (about $11 billion). K-water officials said the consortium was chosen as a priority negotiation partner for all 10 major projects to improve water resources infrastructure and to prevent flooding. Another preferred bidder for the Thai projects is ITD-Power Chin
Feb. 5, 2013
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Visitors from China overtake Japanese
Visitors from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong topped tourist numbers to Korea last year, surpassing Japanese tourists for the first time, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports officials said Tuesday. The number of Chinese visitors rose 27.8 percent to 3.75 million in 2012 from the previous year, while the number of Japanese visitors grew just 7 percent to 2.84 million in the same period due to the weak yen. Chinese visitors took 33.6 percent of the nation’s inbound tourism market, followe
Feb. 5, 2013
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FSS looks into big firms-suppliers trading
The nation’s financial regulator has bolstered its monitoring on conglomerates’ transactions with subcontractors amid the Korean won’s strong position against the Japanese yen.The policy of the Financial Supervisory Service reflects worries over the possibility that big firms could hand over their losses from declining exports amid weaker price competitiveness to subcontractors.In the past, conglomerates changed their settlement currency from the won to the dollar in paying for subcontractors’ p
Feb. 5, 2013
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Shares fall on nuke test woes
South Korean stocks ended 0.77 percent lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concern over North Korea’s nuclear test, analysts said Tuesday. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 15.03 points to 1,938.18. Trading volume was moderate at 361.3 million shares worth 3.7 trillion won ($3.4 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 602 to 215. )“Rising geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea’s pledge to carr
Feb. 5, 2013