Most Popular
-
1
Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
-
2
Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
-
3
[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
-
4
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
5
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
6
Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
-
7
[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
-
8
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
-
9
Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
-
10
On May Day, labor unions blast Yoon's foreign nanny proposal
-
Korea grapples with over-education
This is the first installment of a three-part series looking into problems in Korea’s tertiary education system. ― Ed. After nearly a year of job hunting, Lee decided to lower her expectations. The 27-year-old graduate of a university in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, now goes to a vocational training institute in Seoul to learn how to make coffee. Hopefully, after completing this four-month course,
June 16, 2011
-
Dioxin traces found in streams near U.S. base
Trace amounts of dioxin were found in streams near a U.S. military base where drums of Agent Orange were purportedly buried about three decades ago, a South Korea-U.S. probe team announced Thursday.However, it said no dioxin was detected from samples of underground water taken from 10 tube wells located within 2 kilometers of Camp Carroll in Waegwan, North Gyeongsang Province, a key logistical sup
June 16, 2011
-
Seoul to hold first plebiscite vote on free school meals
Seoul City will hold its first plebiscite vote in August on the controversial free school meal ordinance, which was approved last year by the city council.The plebiscite vote, introduced in Korea in 2004, has been carried out three times to make important policy decisions in other regions. But the Seoul referendum will be the first one to have been demanded by citizens. The Commission for Anti-Wel
June 16, 2011
-
SNU mulls free tuition for low-income students
Seoul National University may waive tuition fees for students from low-income families from the fall semester, an official said Thursday. Of the 16,325 undergraduate students at the school, some 1,700 to 2,000 are expected to benefit from the new measure. “(The school) is considering offering a full scholarship to students from low-income households in the bottom 50 percent of the income bracket,”
June 16, 2011
-
Ministry on the rack over OTC drug market opening
Just 44 items to be taken from pharmacy controlThe Ministry of Health and Welfare’s attempt to permit sales of over-the-counter drugs, including cough drops, pain killers and digestion pills, was crushed Wednesday as representatives of pharmacists, doctors, consumers and the administration failed to reach an agreement. Instead, the group agreed to allow a total of 44 items including the energy dri
June 16, 2011
-
Lee's friend sentenced to prison for influence-peddling
A businessman and friend of President Lee Myung-bak received a prison sentence on Thursday for taking kickbacks in return for using his influence to help a troubled company.Chun Shin-il, chairman of Sejoong Namo Tour agency, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a forfeit of 3.2 billion won (US$2.96 million) for influence-peddling."The jail term was inevitable since we need to eradic
June 16, 2011
-
Suwon mob members arrested: Police
Members of organized crime outfit “Bookmoonpa” were arrested for violations of the Act on Punishment of Violence etc., according to Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency.The mob’s vice-leader, surnamed Choi, and 15 other members were detained, while another 74 were booked without detention.The group was organized in Suwon in 1983 by their leader, surnamed Kim, who is now abroad. Therefore, Choi is bel
June 16, 2011
-
Korea to allow supermarket sales of 44 OTC drugs
The health ministry said Wednesday that it will allow 44 over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products to be sold not only at licensed drug stores, but also at supermarkets, convenience stores and any other retail outlet.The measure is expected to go into effect as early as August, considering the time needed for administrative procedures to revise related regulations and for preparations by phar
June 16, 2011
-
Seoul City sees steady increase in foreign visitors
Chinese tourists emerging as biggest spendersDespite recent unfavorable conditions including North Korea’s bombardment on Yeongpyeong Island, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, an earthquake and radiation fears in Japan, Seoul City sees a slight increase in the number of foreign visitors to the capital this year.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday, the number of foreig
June 15, 2011
-
Korea gets tough on corruption
Land Ministry hit by series of bribery scandalsThe government will begin carrying out a stringent across-the-board inspection of public officials next month in efforts to stamp out corruption and shore up deteriorating public confidence, officials said Wednesday. The move comes as the public is becoming disenchanted with the government’s mantra of a “fair society” following a recent spate of corru
June 15, 2011
-
Hyundai Development chief accused of tax evasion, embezzlement
Four executives of Hyundai Development Co. including its chairman Chung Mong-gyu were accused last Friday by a local housing developer on charges of tax evasion, breach of trust and embezzlement, prosecution sources said Wednesday.The chief of the housing developer in charge of the sale of the I-Park apartment units built in Ulsan by the Hyundai construction unit filed the accusation with the pros
June 15, 2011
-
Lee’s ex-aide denies bribery allegations involving bank
A chief of a public corporation and former presidential secretary on Wednesday denied allegations that he pocketed tens of millions of won in kickbacks from the troubled Busan Savings Bank Group in return for business favors.The prosecution is said to have secured a statement by Yun Yeo-seong, a financial broker who has been arrested in the investigation into the banking group, that he gave money
June 15, 2011
-
Autopsy result of motorist hit by K-pop idol Daesung’s car postponed
The autopsy results of a man allegedly hit and killed by a car driven by K-pop idol Daesung will be released next week, police said.Daesung, member of the Korean pop idol group “Big Bang,” allegedly ran over the motorcyclist who was lying on the street late at night on May 31. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, but whether he died after he was run over by Daesung’s car or before hasn’t been
June 15, 2011
-
Man kills neighbor’s dog with pesticide for being too noisy
A man was booked without detention for allegedly feeding pesticide to a neighbor’s dogs for being too noisy, Daejeon Jungbu Police Station reported.The accused, identified by his surname Ahn, was irritated by several dogs in his neighbor’s yard.Although Ahn filed complaints to the local government several times, the problem continued until he decided to resolve the issue by himself.Eventually, he
June 15, 2011
-
Suspects caught for illegal online human egg sales
Arrest warrants sought for 2 tradersThe police on Tuesday sought arrest warrants for two people suspected of brokering illegal sales of human eggs and booked 13 ovum donors without detention.The ovum brokers identified only by their last names Koo and Chung ran a website where people shared information on fertility and received applications for ovum transplants or donations for a year until last S
June 14, 2011
-
‘Housekeepers may form labor union’
Will housekeeping be acknowledged as a secure profession given equal labor rights to office or industrial workers?Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Chae-pil on Tuesday said the Korean government is considering protecting the rights of housekeepers, personal chauffeurs, cooks and gardeners, often referred to as “domestic workers.” In his interview with the press before giving a keynote speech at
June 14, 2011
-
Korea to introduce 5-day school week
The government will recommend that all primary and secondary schools adopt the five-day school week starting next year.Currently, local schools rest every second and fourth Saturday in a month. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Tuesday that a pilot program will start at some schools in the second half this year as the new measure is likely to affect the pattern of family life
June 14, 2011
-
‘Defoliants sprayed on DMZ in late ’50s’
Retired U.S. soldier: Without herbicide, troops in South vulnerable to N.K. snipersA former U.S. Forces Korea soldier claimed Tuesday that he had witnessed defoliants ― apparently containing toxic dioxin ― being hand-sprayed in the Demilitarized Zone regularly in the late 1950s.His claim comes amid continuing controversy over when the U.S. military sprayed Agent Orange over the DMZ to stop North K
June 14, 2011
-
Illegal human egg brokers busted
The police on Tuesday sought arrest warrants for two people suspected of brokering illegal sales of human eggs and booked 13 ovum donors without detention. Seoul police on Tuesday sought arrest warrants for two people on charges of brokering in the illegal trade of human eggs via the Internet. (MCT)The ovum brokers identified only by their last names Koo and Chung ran a website where people shared
June 14, 2011
-
Nepal worker found dead after losing job
A migrant worker from Nepal killed himself last Sunday, referring to apparent unfair treatment at work.According to the Daegu branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a worker whose name has not been released hanged himself at his colleague’s home.After arriving in Korea from Nepal with an employment visa nine months ago, he had been working at Seongso Industrial Complex until recently.
June 14, 2011