Medytox says China approvals proceeding without glitch

Government approval for wrinkle-smoothening botulinum toxin Medytoxin is proceeding as planned in China under the name Neuronox, Korean BTX maker Medytox said Wednesday in a regulatory filing.It came in response to a local media report that claimed the China Food and Drug Administration has ceased its review of Neuronox. On Wednesday, shares of Medytox shares closed at 435,000 won ($370), down 7.76 percent from a day earlier. Medytox said the Neuronox is in the final stage of the approval proces

IndustryJune 5, 2019

[Photo News] Citibank Korea hosts Singapore Digital Day in Seoul

William B. Stanton, Citibank Korea’s head of commercial bank, speaks at the “Singapore Digital Day” seminar, hosted by the Korean unit of the international banking giant, at Google Campus in Seoul on Wednesday. Around 100 corporate strategy, planning and treasury officers as well as Yip Wei Kiat, Singapore’s ambassador to Korea, attended the event, where experts shared their knowledge of the digital market and global opportunities in Singapore and ASEAN nations. (Citibank

MarketJune 5, 2019

Moon joins test drive of Korea’s first hydrogen-powered city bus

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday joined a test drive of the nation’s first city bus powered by hydrogen and developed for commercial use, demonstrating his administration’s drive to nurture the development of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The president took the nation’s first hydrogen bus planned for regular intracity bus service at an event held on the sidelines of World Environment Day in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. It was the third test drive of hydrogen cars for M

IndustryJune 5, 2019

[Elizabeth Drew] To impeach or not to impeach

As the US Congress returns from a 10-day break, the question of whether the House of Representatives (controlled by the Democrats) should formally commence the process of impeaching President Donald Trump for misdeeds committed during his tenure -- and perhaps before -- has split the party. Theoretically, impeachment by the House would be followed by a trial in the Senate. But the Senate, controlled by the Republicans, is considered highly unlikely to convict their party’s standard-bearer,

ViewpointsJune 5, 2019

[Kim Myong-sik] Foreign minister and rescue operations on Danube

Let me ask our readers a question: Do you think it was appropriate for our minister of foreign affairs to go to Budapest, Hungary, to join rescue operations for Korean tourists missing when their boat sank in the Danube River? I expect a negative answer, but President Moon Jae-in and his aides thought it was necessary. These days, many are concerned that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa is somewhat off the line of the denuclearization business against North Korea. Yet, she is responsible for the

ViewpointsJune 5, 2019

N. Korea may suspend propaganda show after Kim voices dissatisfaction: tour agencies

North Korea may suspend a propaganda group gymnastic and artistic performance from next week after its leader Kim Jong-un recently expressed dissatisfaction over its content and format, tour agencies specializing in trips to the North said Wednesday.Citing anonymous sources, China-based Young Pioneer Tours said on its website that the performance, titled "The Land of the People," could be suspended from Monday due to Kim's dissatisfaction with it. Koryo Tours, another Beijing-based tou

North KoreaJune 5, 2019

[Newsmaker] Blue House, main opposition dig in over meeting of president, party leaders

A proposed meeting between the president and the leaders of five political parties -- suggested to resolve the parliamentary deadlock -- has worsened the tug of war between the ruling and opposition blocs. On Tuesday, Cheong Wa Dae revealed plans for a meeting between President Moon Jae-in and the leaders of the five parties, to be followed by a one-on-one meeting with Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn. Cheong Wa Dae said it had suggested the meeting be held Friday, in a bid to fac

PoliticsJune 5, 2019

Labor, management differ starkly over next year’s minimum hourly wage

The Minimum Wage Commission under the Ministry of Employment and Labor held its first public hearing on next year’s minimum hourly wage, and representatives of labor and management put forward contrasting positions on the heated issue, the ministry said Wednesday.Tensions between the two groups erupted last month after the new head of the commission, Park Joon-sik, said there was a “social consensus” that the minimum wage hike over the past two years had been “too steep.&

Social AffairsJune 5, 2019

Schizophrenic man receives jail term for assault, public indecency

A schizophrenic man was sentenced to jail for assaulting civilians and police officers, according to Busan District Courts on Wednesday.The court’s criminal division said the man, 32, received 10 months in prison for violating laws on obstruction of official duties, public indecency and bodily injury.The convict assaulted pedestrians on two occasions, in December 2017 and February 2018. He was arrested onsite and was put on trial after verbally insulting and slapping police officers dispat

Social AffairsJune 5, 2019

[Newsmaker] Korea to change liquor tax system for first time in 50 years

South Korea has decided to change its liquor tax system for the first time in 50 years, shifting from a price-based to volume-based system, starting with domestically brewed beer and rice wine, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday. The tax revision bill for 2020 will state that liquor tax will be levied based on the amount of alcohol sold, rather than adopting ad valorem calculations, which is based on the retail base price. The government plans to submit the bill to the National A

IndustryJune 5, 2019

Drug safety minister apologizes for Invossa fiasco

The Minister for Food and Drug Safety on Wednesday apologized for authorizing the use of the gene therapy drug Invossa to treat arthritis. It has since revoked that approval. “I apologize for failing to thoroughly monitor the approval of Invossa and after-care (for patients),” Drug Safety Minister Lee Eui-kyung said at a press conference, adding that the ministry would do its best to prevent any recurrence and pass measures to keep patients safe.Earlier the same day, 10 South Korean

IndustryJune 5, 2019

Samsung further slashes mobile business in China, shifts to India

Samsung Electronics will further downsize its ailing smartphone business in China while seeking to expand growth in India, according to the industry on Wednesday. The world’s top smartphone vendor is reducing the workforce of its only mobile device factory in Huizhou, Guangdong province, reported Chinese English-language media outlet Caixin.The size of the reduction has not been confirmed, though the Chinese report said layoffs are being carried out on a voluntary basis, with employee

TechnologyJune 5, 2019

Bernard Werber visits with ‘Death’

Celebrated science-fiction writer Bernard Werber is currently visiting Korea to promote his new book, the Korean title of which translates to “Death.” The best-selling author is known for his unique style of writing that looks at society through the eyes of nonhuman entities. His novels have been successful in France, Korea and other parts of the world, including “The Ants” trilogy, “Les Micro-Humains (The Third Humanity)” and “Le Papillon des Etoiles (B

PeopleJune 5, 2019

Pyongyang has 27 diplomats dispatched to UN offices: report

North Korea has 27 diplomats dispatched as permanent representatives to three UN offices as of this year, a US-based media outlet reported Wednesday.　According to Radio Free Asia, Pyongyang has nine diplomats -- including Ambassador Kim Song -- stationed at the UN’s New York headquarters, and nine -- including Han Tae-song, the ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva -- dispatched to Switzerland.  Another nine are in Vienna, Austria, where international organizations, such as the I

North KoreaJune 5, 2019

South Korea to toughen sanctions on habitual tax delinquents

South Korea will toughen sanctions on habitual tax delinquents who owe huge sums, amid growing public criticism over the problem. “The government plans to toughen sanctions on taxpayers who habitually owe taxes despite being (financially) capable of paying, as public anger grows over the individuals who conceal their assets and live in luxury,” said a joint statement issued Wednesday by the ministries of finance, safety, health, law, justice, tax and customs. Beginning next year

IndustryJune 5, 2019

Seoul approves $8 million donation to Pyongyang

South Korea on Wednesday approved a plan to dispatch $8 million in humanitarian aid to North Korea via UN agencies and is considering additional donations of rice to alleviate hunger and illness in the impoverished country. The South and North Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council, a decision-making body under the Ministry of Unification that deals with inter-Korean policies, gave the green light to the use of funds from the government budget to support humanitarian programs for North Korea

North KoreaJune 5, 2019

Release date out for Netmarble's 'BTS World' mobile game

Korea’s second-biggest game company Netmarble will release its new mobile game “BTS World” globally on June 26, the company announced Wednesday. The worldwide release excludes China, where governmental approval is a prerequisite for foreign games to launch. China has been reluctant to grant approval for Korean game companies since a 2017 political rift involving the deployment of US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in Korea.Netmarble explained that “BTS World&rd

IndustryJune 5, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin collects 9th win in another scoreless start

This is getting to sound like a broken record: Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin has thrown another scoreless gem.The Arizona Diamondbacks were the victims this time, as the South Korean left-hander held them to three hits over seven shutout innings in the Dodgers' 9-0 rout at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tuesday (local time).Ryu improved to 9-1 and lowered his major league-best ERA from 1.48 to 1.35. He struck out two and walked none while retiring a dozen straight batters in one stretch. This was

BaseballJune 5, 2019

Man arrested for forcefully taking nude snaps of ex

Police are investigating a 24-year-old man for threatening his ex-girlfriend with nude photos he took without consent.Gwangju Nambu Police Station said Wednesday the man was arrested on charges of violating the law on sexual crimes.He is suspected of stripping his ex-girlfirend, 21, against her will and taking photos at a motel in Gwangju at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 23.The suspect then threatened to harass her family and circulate the photos if she didn’t date him again.The woman committed su

Social AffairsJune 5, 2019