Most Popular
-
1
Ex-presidential official’s leaked phone call rattles conservative bloc
-
2
Pay debate plagues foreign nanny pilot
-
3
K-pop star lip-syncing controversy flares up again
-
4
35% of S. Koreans view unification 'unnecessary'
-
5
Man escapes DUI charges by downing bottle of soju while pulled over
-
6
Pianist Lim Yunchan double winner at Gramophone Awards
-
7
[Reporter’s Notebook] Was Netflix film opening BIFF really a bad thing?
-
8
N. Korean leader's sister derides Seoul's Hyunmoo-5 missile as 'useless'
-
9
Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years
-
10
[KH Explains] Is private equity giant MBK a risk-taker or renegade?
-
S. Korea: N. Korea's possible rocket launch not helpful to North
South Korea said Tuesday that North Korea's possible long-range rocket would not be helpful to the communist country, calling it a violation of U.N. resolutions.Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook made the comment a day after North Korea vowed to launch a series of satellites as part of its space development program.North Korea did not provide any specific time frame for the satellite launches, but there is speculation that it may launch a long-range rocket in October to mark the 70th annivers
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
Biz lobbies vow to seek law for more sweeping labor reforms
South Korea's business lobby groups said Tuesday that they will file a petition with lawmakers to enact a law intended for more sweeping labor reforms, saying that the recently agreed-upon deal falls far short of expectations.On Sunday, the tripartite committee consisting of government, business and labor leaders agreed to cooperate in resolving such issues as differentiated salaries for regular and non-regular workers, improving jobless benefits, clarifying the definition of customary salary an
Social AffairsSept. 15, 2015
-
Vietnam emerges as major export market for S. Korea
South Korea's exports to Vietnam have jumped this year despite a slump in other overseas markets, industry data showed Tuesday, prompting local firms to rush to strengthen business ties with their Southeast Asian counterparts. In the first seven months of the year, exports to Vietnam surged 29.9 percent on-year, emerging as a new major destination for South Korean goods, according to the data. Last year, the Southeast Asian country jumped up two spots to rank as South Korea's No. 4 export market
World BusinessSept. 15, 2015
-
N. Korea vows to launch rocket
Uncertainties are growing over cross-border relations as North Korea hinted Monday that it would launch a long-range rocket on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of its ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10. (Yonhap)Seoul, along with its ally, Washington, said that any launch using ballistic missile technology would contravene a set of U.N. Security Council resolutions. It also stressed that any launch would be a “grave provocation and military threat.”Apparently to counter the
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
S. Korea's household debt-GDP ratio highest among emerging markets: report
The ratio of South Korea's household debt to its gross domestic product was the highest among key emerging countries last year, a report showed Tuesday, adding to growing concerns over the country's already high level of such liabilities.The country's household credit accounted for 84.3 percent of its GDP at the end of 2014, which was well higher than 13 other emerging countries, including Malaysia with 68.9 percent, Hong Kong with 65.6 percent and Singapore with 60.6 percent, according to the q
Sept. 15, 2015
-
Samsung may cut 1,000 jobs in China amid weak smartphone sales: reports
Global smartphone leader Samsung Electronics Co. is likely to eliminate 1,000 jobs in China, Chinese media reports said Tuesday, as sales of smartphones in the country become saturated. The possible job cut would affect about 9 percent of Samsung's workforce in China, said reports by Chinese media, including the state-run China Daily newspaper. Samsung Electronics in Seoul declined to provide details on the issue, adding it cannot comment on workforce-related policies.The reports cited unidentif
IndustrySept. 15, 2015
-
S. Korea logs trade surplus for 43rd month in Aug.
South Korea posted a trade surplus for the 43rd month in a row in August as imports dropped at a much faster pace than exports, customs data showed Tuesday.According to the data by the Korea Customs Service, the country's trade surplus reached $4.27 billion last month, up from $3.31 billion the year before but smaller than the $6.9 billion reached in July.Exports plunged 14.9 percent on-year to $39.24 billion in August, while imports nosedived 18.3 percent to $34.97 billion. In August 2014, expo
Sept. 15, 2015
-
Watchdog says ministers did not violate election laws
The election watchdog has decided that separate comments made by the home affairs minister and the finance minister, allegedly in favor of the ruling party, did not violate election laws.The National Election Commission reached the decision for Minister of Security and Public Administration Chong Jong-sup and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan during its plenary meeting on Monday.The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy had asked the commission to determine whether the recent commen
Social AffairsSept. 15, 2015
-
More than half of smartphones to boast NFC-backed mobile payment tool in 2016: report
More than half of the smartphones to be sold around the globe will boast near field communication, a key technology in mobile payment, in 2016, a report showed Tuesday, casting a cloud over Samsung Electronics Co.'s latest mobile payment tool, Samsung Pay.The portion of NFC-equipped smartphones will reach 52.4 percent in 2016, compared to an estimated 39.8 percent this year, the data compiled by industry tracker Strategy Analytics showed.Strategy Analytics added the portion of new models that su
TechnologySept. 15, 2015
-
LG Electronics to unveil new smartphone next month
South Korea's No. 2 handset maker LG Electronics Inc. said Tuesday it will unveil a new smartphone with improved video and camera features next month amid weak sales of its flagship smartphone G lineup.Market rumor had it that LG might roll out a new Nexus smartphone made together with Google Inc., which may come with the Android Pay mobile payment system.But an LG official told Yonhap News Agency that the new smartphone, to be showcased on Oct. 1, will be a separate device that boasts improved
TechnologySept. 15, 2015
-
Kia Motors unionists set to hold vote on strike this week
Unionized workers at Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest carmaker, will hold a vote this week to decide whether to go on strike after their leaders failed to hammer out a deal with the management over working conditions, labor officials said Tuesday.Kia Motors' labor union will have a yes-or-no vote, asking around 34,000 members whether to go on strike, the officials said.The vote will be held Wednesday afternoon.The labor and management have failed to produce a breakthrough in their
Social AffairsSept. 15, 2015
-
S. Korea-U.S. alliance basis for Seoul's ties with Beijing: top envoy
South Korea's alliance with the United States is the basis for the country's relations with China, Seoul's top diplomat in Washington said Monday.Amb. Ahn Ho-young made the remark during a parliamentary audit of his embassy as lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties voiced concern that Seoul's strengthening ties with Beijing may have negative effects on the alliance with Washington."Amid changes in international situations, the Korea-U.S. relations have steadily strengthened, and are in
Foreign AffairsSept. 15, 2015
-
Foreigners stay net sellers of S. Korean stocks in Aug.
Foreign investors remained net sellers of South Korean stocks in August for a third consecutive month, the financial watchdog said Tuesday, amid rising concerns that a massive outflow of foreign funds would deal a hard blow to Asia's fourth-largest economy.Foreigners dumped a net 3.94 trillion won ($3.34 billion) worth of local shares last month, expanding from a net selling of 2.26 trillion won the previous month, according to the Financial Supervisory Service.The August figure marks the highes
Sept. 15, 2015
-
N. Korea's space agency acknowledges rocket launch possibility for first time
The statement from North Korea's space agency represents Pyongyang's first official acknowledgment of the possibility that it may launch a long-range rocket around next month's 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.Speculation has long persisted that the communist nation could carry out a long-range rocket launch to commemorate the Oct. 10 anniversary even after a conciliatory mood was created between the two Koreas following a tense military standoff last month. On Monday night, the Nor
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
U.S. says N. Korean satellite launch would violate U.N. resolutions
The United States said Monday North Korea would be violating multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions if it forges ahead with its plans to launch a satellite using ballistic missile technology.State Department spokesman John Kirby made the remark after the North's space agency strongly suggested that the country may launch a satellite aboard a long-range rocket around next month's 70th anniversary of the foundation of the ruling Workers' Party."There are multiple U.N. Security Council resoluti
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
No long-range rocket seen at North Korea's launch site yet: diplomatic source
North Korea has not moved a long-range rocket to a launch pad yet and the chances of the communist nation conducting a launch around next month's ruling party anniversary are not high, a diplomatic source in Washington said Monday."As of September 6th, it appeared that there was no rocket present at the launch tower," the source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity, referring to the North's recently upgraded Sohae Satellite Launching Station on the country's northwest coast."There i
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
U.S. aware of N. Korea's pledge to launch long-range rocket
The United States said Monday it is aware of North Korea's pledge to launch a new round of long-range rockets, possibly around next month's 70th anniversary of the founding of its Workers' Party, but declined further comment."We have seen the statement. We will not speculate on the timing of the statement, or any possible provocative actions by the DPRK (North Korea)," State Department spokesperson Anna Richey-Allen said in comments sent to Yonhap News Agency. North Korea's National Aerospace De
North KoreaSept. 15, 2015
-
S. Korea, Philippines ink pact on protecting classified military info
South Korea and the Philippines on Monday signed a pact to protect classified military information in a bid to exchange military intelligence, Seoul's defense ministry said.South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his Filipino counterpart Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the deal in Manila following their talks, according to the ministry.Han arrived in the Philippines on Monday for a two-day visit following his trip to Australia for a so-called "two plus two" meeting among the two nations'
DefenseSept. 14, 2015
-
Louis Vuitton tops Incheon duty-free sales
Louis Vuitton is the best-selling brand at Incheon International Airport’s duty-free stores, data showed Monday. The French luxury brand sold items worth 73.2 billion won ($61.8 million) last year at its boutique at The Shilla Duty Free center, which is the brand’s first airport store in the world, having opened in 2011. It marks the third consecutive year that the brand ranked as the most popular brand by sales. Sales of Louis Vuitton in Korea, however, declined from 102 billion won in 2012 to
IndustrySept. 14, 2015
-
Lawmaker slams unethical behavior among Korea Airports Corp. officials
Over 30 officials at the state-run Korea Airports Corp. have been punished for incidents including sexual harassment and corruption since 2013, an opposition lawmaker said Monday. According to data provided by the KAC to Rep. Kang Dong-won of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, 31 officials faced disciplinary actions for two years, with six of them dismissed. Despite being led by Kim Seok-gi, a former police executive and current president of the KAC, the firm has faced a st
IndustrySept. 14, 2015