Most Popular
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Seoul transit pass for travelers to be available starting July
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[Weekender] Pet food makers bet big on ‘recession-free’ pet food market
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N. Korea says to deploy new multiple rocket launcher starting this year
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State-led adoption system to be established to ensure adoptees' well-being, minimize overseas adoption
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Controversy rekindled over when to name criminals, suspects
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[Drama Tour] Romantic trip to ‘Queen of Tears’ filming spots
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Buddha's birthday lantern parade to light up Seoul
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Business moguls attend concert by Helene Mercier, wife of LVMH CEO
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BTS leader RM's new song tops iTunes charts in 82 countries
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What's Seoul's No.1 landmark? Seoulites say Han River, foreigners pick Gwanghwamun Plaza
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Overweight drivers at higher risk of death in accidents: study
Overweight people are more likely to die in a car accident than those who of normal weight, according to a study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley.The study was conducted on a total of 3,403 traffic accidents which involved 6,806 drivers, mostly men. The team divided the overweight people into three groups, “most obese with a BMI of 40, severely obese with a BMI index of 35 to 39.9 and obese with an index of 30 to 34.9.” Those with a BMI of 18 to 25 are considered healthy. The
TechnologyJan. 22, 2013
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Lotte Card investigated over consumer complaints
The Financial Supervisory Service conducted a two-month investigation into Lotte Card, as the company ranked bottom in consumer protection among five major credit card issuers.“(For an intensive probe), we dispatched inspectors to the headquarters of Lotte Card between September and October (in 2012),” an FSS official told The Korea Herald on Tuesday.In addition to the on-site investigation, the FSS summoned Lotte Card’s executives to be held accountable for the poor grade and called on them to
Jan. 22, 2013
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Loneliness corrodes health
Loneliness boosts inflammation, which is linked to coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer‘s disease, U.S. researchers suggest. Lead author Lisa Jaremka, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University, and colleagues found people who were more lonely showed signs of elevated latent herpes virus reactivation and produced more inflammation-related proteins in response to acute stress than people who felt more socially conne
TechnologyJan. 22, 2013
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Seoul shares close 0.49 pct up on yen weakness
South Korean stocks closed 0.49 percent higher on Tuesday as investors remained cautious over the impact of Japan's monetary easing to stimulate the economy, analysts said. The local currency edged up against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 9.66 points to finish at 1,996.52. Trading volume was moderate at 547.9 million shares worth 4.2 trillion won (US$3.95 billion) with gainers slightly outnumbering decliners 404 to 399."Investors are now less worr
Jan. 22, 2013
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Google co-founder spotted on NY subway with ‘wearable computer’
Google co-founder Sergey Brin was spotted on the New York subway wearing glasses-cum-smart device “Google Glass.”U.S.-based IT magazine PC Magazine reported on Monday that Brin caught the eyes of citizens on the subway on Sunday.A New York resident named Noah Zerkin posted a photo of Brin on Twitter spotting the Google co-founder.Zerkin also posted a photo of himself wearing Brin’s Google Glass, adding that he couldn’t operate the device since mobile phone service was not available in New York’s
TechnologyJan. 22, 2013
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Rumors of multiple iPhones from Apple
New rumors suggest Apple will bring out three new iPhone models this year, including one dubbed the “iPhone Math,” tech sites say.Brightwire.com, translating stories from the China Times and Taiwan-based Commercial Times, said the iPhone Math would feature a 4.8-inch screen and an 8-megapixel camera. Brightwire could offer no explanation for the odd moniker, especially since all previous and current iPhones have model names consisting of just numbers and letters, such as the iPhone 3G and the iP
TechnologyJan. 22, 2013
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Seoul shares up 0.06 pct in late-morning trade
South Korean stocks traded 0.06 percent higher late Tuesday morning as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the results of Japan's key policy meeting, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.15 points to 1,988.01 as of 11:20 a.m.Tech shares led the rise, with Samsung Electronics gaining 1.24 percent and LG Display rising 2.28 percent. Top mobile carrier SK Telecom advanced 1.78 percent and No. 2 player KT rose 1.89 percent.The Japanese central bank is exp
Jan. 22, 2013
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Seoul shares trade higher after weak start
South Korean stocks opened a tad lower Tuesday but soon moved to positive territory on gains in auto and tech shares, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.33 points, or 0.07 percent, to 1,988.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 0.21 percent and LG Display advanced 1.58 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor gained 0.24 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors added 0.56 percent.The local currency was changin
Jan. 22, 2013
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LG to expand Optimus G global release
South Korean handset maker LG Electronics Inc. on Tuesday announced plans to expand the global availability of its flagship "Optimus G" smartphone in the first quarter.LG plans to launch the long-term evolution (LTE) smartphone in 50 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa in the January-March period, the company said in a press release.The company is set to kick off the move in Singapore later this month with mobile operator StarHub, according to a company spokesman.The move com
TechnologyJan. 22, 2013
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Bacchus spin-off plan stirs row over Dong-A Pharm governance
Dong-A Pharmaceutical, Korea’s largest drug maker, is grappling with controversy over corporate governance as it plans to set up a holding company and put its cash cow energy drink business, Bacchus, under an unlisted firm.With the National Pension Fund, which controls a 9.5 percent stake in Dong-A, holding the casting vote, industry observers expect the state-run fund’s stance to be an indicator of the incoming Park Geun-hye administration’s policy on corporate governance.The case is drawing mo
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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Foreign holdings of Korean bonds hit new record
Foreign investments in bonds increased in 2012, spurred by monetary easing overseas that led to an inflow of capital seeking higher-yielding assets.According to the Bank of Korea, foreign net shareholdings in Korean treasuries and monetary stabilization bonds reached a record high of 91 trillion won ($86 billion) as of the end of December 2012, accounting for 7 percent of the total.Funds from the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore were the biggest investors of Korean fixed-income securities, with the
Jan. 21, 2013
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Orange juice worst for teeth: report
Orange juice, lemonade and other acidic fruit juices increase the risk for tooth decay the most among mass-produced drinks, a study showed Monday.A research team at Seoul National University Hospital’s School of Dentistry studied the relationship between the level of acid and the possibility of tooth erosion with eight types of drinks, such as lemonade, soda, sports, drinks and kids’ beverages, for eight days.Orange juice had the worst effect of teeth erosion and decreased enamel hardness, the s
TechnologyJan. 21, 2013
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[Power Korea] SK Group rises as a global conglomerate
SK, the country’s third-largest conglomerate, made its debut in the 1950s as a textile firm, but has now evolved into a corporation that covers energy as well as information technology.The corporation was called Sunkyung Textile back in 1953. Founded by former chief executive Chey Jong-kun, it was the first in Korea to export rayon textiles to Hong Kong in 1962.Since stepping into the petrochemical sector about a decade later, the corporation was taken over by the founder’s younger brother Chey
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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[Power Korea] SK Hynix powers up expansion under group’s wing
SK Hynix, the newest member of SK Group, had been ownerless for more than a decade. The company, which was established as Hyundai Electronics in 1983, acquired LG Semiconductor in 1999 and separated itself from Hyundai Group soon after in 2001.Since changing its name to Hynix Semiconductor, it has shown remarkable progress.On top of becoming the world’s No. 2 memory chipmaker, it launched the world’s fastest 128-megabyte graphics memory chip, called double data rate synchronous dynamic random ac
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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[Power Korea] SK Innovation transforming into top global energy firm
SK Innovation, the holding firm for SK Group’s oil refining and petrochemical businesses, has seen success in converting to a technology-driven global energy firm.SK Innovation was born following SK Group’s decision to spin off its petrochemical business in January 2011.Fast decision-making and nurturing of new growth engines in its petrochemical projects were expected to come to life under the new name.Formerly named SK Energy, SK Innovation was given three subsidiaries: SK Energy, SK Global Ch
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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Shares edge down on earnings woes
South Korean stocks inched down 0.05 percent Monday as investors dumped large cap shares due to a pessimistic outlook on fourth-quarter earnings, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 0.99 points to finish at 1,986.86. Trading volume was moderate at 440.75 million shares worth 3.76 trillion won ($3.54 billion) with gainers outpacing decliners 459 to 352.“The mood is quite positive in recent times. China’s fourth-quarter growth met market expectations and U.S. policy
Jan. 21, 2013
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Woongjin chief vows to use his money to save holding firm
The head of Woongjin Group, a mid-size conglomerate in South Korea, has expressed his intention to contribute an unspecified amount of his personal wealth to the group’s troubled holding company in an effort to help it get back on its feet, a company official said Monday.Yoon Seok-keum, chairman of Woongjin Group, has made the decision to help Woongjin Holdings tide over a liquidity crunch, the official said. The holding company was placed under a court receivership last year, along with its con
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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Home plus publishes book on corporate history
Retailer Home plus on Monday said it has published a volume on the company’s 12-year history. Entitled, “12 Years of Home plus, the Dreams and Passion of the Great Stone Face,” the book deals mostly with the history of the company and also the management initiatives of CEO Lee Seung-han. There are also a series of illustrations to go along with the narrative, the company said via its website.Home plus was established in 1999, first as a joint venture between Samsung Group and U.K.-based Tesco, a
IndustryJan. 21, 2013
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KoFC to increase financial support to SMEs
The Korea Finance Corp. plans to increase its financial support to the nation’s small and medium companies in 2013, the state-run finance promoter said on Monday in a New Year’s press conference. The state-run agency plans to assign about 7.6 trillion won, or about two-thirds of the company’s 12.2 trillion won capital for this year, to support small and medium enterprises.“We will be spending 62 percent of our total budget to support small and medium-sized companies,” said KoFC president and chi
Jan. 21, 2013
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Won’s gains most against yen in 14 years
The South Korean currency’s ascent to the Japanese yen hit a 14-year high last year, the central bank said Monday, spawning concerns about its impact on Seoul’s exports.The local currency reached 1,238.3 won per 100 yen as of the end of 2012, up 19.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the Bank of Korea.The 2012 numbers marked the strongest gain since the won appreciated 21.8 percent against the Japanese yen in 1998, it added.Last year, the local currency also appreciated 7.6 percent per t
Jan. 21, 2013