Most Popular
-
1
Man arrested 16 years after murdering girlfriend, hiding body in cement
-
2
[Online Predators] Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate
-
3
Pikki Pikki dance: Korean cheerleader dance routine takes social media by storm
-
4
[Exclusive] Democratic Party of Korea forms US election task force
-
5
Middle East’s big AI push lures Korean tech firms
-
6
Seoul seeks to improve foreign nanny program after two abscond
-
7
[Grace Kao] NewJeans fights Hybe for their survival
-
8
Samsung, top banks to create W2tr green growth fund for SMEs
-
9
NK nuclear test 'possible' around US election in Nov., says Yoon aide
-
10
[News Focus] Ex-Moon aide slammed from both sides over remarks on leaving Koreas divided
-
Banks’ nonperforming loans reach 5-year high
[THE INVESTOR] South Korean banks’ nonperforming loan ratio has risen to the highest in five years, Bank of Korea data showed on June 30.The data showed that nonperforming loan ratio stood at 2.6 percent at the end of March, which is the highest level since March 2011, when the figure stood at 2.8 percent. The ratio for commercial banks was 1.8 percent, while special banks -- state-run banks set up according to specific laws -- had a ratio of 3.5 percent. Local banks have extended total of 1.061
June 30, 2016
-
Eating alone increases chance of depression: research
An international journal recently published a South Korean survey showing that people, especially men, who eat dinner alone have more than double the chance of suffering from depression. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry last week published an article discussing the odds of depression associated with one’s dinner companions, citing data from South Korea’s Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2014.(Yonhap)The survey on 4,181 adults showed those who ate dinner al
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
Suspects in Indian Ocean murder brought to Korea
Two Vietnamese sailors detained on charges of stabbing to death the Korean captain and the chief engineer of their fishing boat arrived in Korea late Thursday for questioning.The focus of the investigation is expected to uncover the motive behind the killing, which happened aboard fishing boat Kwang Hyun 803 last Monday in the Indian Ocean.The suspects, two 32-year-old men, were taken into custody at the Port of Victoria in Seychelles on Tuesday night. Seven officials from the Korea Coast Guard
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
Seo Jae-hwan named Kumho E&C president
Seo Jae-hwan, the president of Kumho Asiana Group’s strategic management unit, has been named president and CEO of the group’s construction arm Kumho Engineering and Construction, the group said Thursday.He is an expert in finance, said the group, adding that appointing him to the post was aimed at improving its competitiveness by seeking more profitability within its business.The group also assigned Park Hong-seok, the senior vice president of Kumho Tire, to replace Seo’s post at the group.By C
IndustryJune 30, 2016
-
Former Park aide pressured media during Sewol tragedy
The transcript of a phone conversation between Saenuri Party Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, the former senior presidential press secretary, and a local news director was revealed Thursday, showing that Lee had requested the revision of a news story related to the deadly ferry sinking in 2014. The coverage was critical of the coast guard and the government.According to the document made public by the Union of Media Workers, Lee told former KBS director Kim Shi-gon that the cited report appeared to have mali
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
Female breadwinners rise in stature in South Korea
South Koreans’ general views of breadwinning women have changed from pity to admiration since 2005, a government study showed Thursday.According to a study released by the Gender Ministry, 52.9 percent of Koreans said this year that they admire female breadwinners for their capabilities, a significant increase from 32 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, the number of those who said they doubted the women’s husbands – for possibly being financially incapable and making their wives support the family – dr
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
Rapist-extortionist gets 17 years
A man who raped and extorted money out of the women he dated was handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison Wednesday. Daejeon High Court said “our society cannot take the atrocious nature of the convict’s crimes more gravely.” (123RF)The court found the 36-year-old guilty of abusing and extorting money and valuables worth 76 million won ($66,000) from four women he concurrently dated between June 2012 and June 2015.One victim, who dated the convict up to February 2014 and was accused of aidi
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
[ANALYSIS] With new title, N.K. leader seen tightening grip, boosting diplomacy
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is forecast to tighten his grip with yet another title as chief of the new state affairs body and shore up diplomacy following a parliamentary assembly, Seoul officials and experts said Thursday. The Supreme People’s Assembly convened a session Wednesday introducing the creation of the State Affairs Commission and naming Kim its chairman, which is the “top position” in the country, according to state media. The rubber-stamp parliament also relaunched the Committee
North KoreaJune 30, 2016
-
Red Cross to grant support for foreign families staying on humanitarian grounds
Korea's Red Cross said Thursday that it has decided to grant financial support to 10 foreign families allowed to stay in the country on humanitarian grounds.Under the decision, the families will receive a combined 25 million won ($21,705) for three months along with basic foodstuffs for one year, according to the Red Cross. The families from Syria, Uganda and Liberia who have been given humanitarian status fled poverty and conflict-stricken homelands to come to Korea. Despite being allowed to st
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
[Achara Deboonme] Brexit offers lessons for policymakers
Type “Brexit lessons” in the Google search engine and you get 1.95 million results. This is as of Saturday night.The one that I liked the most was from the Huffington Post.“The decision to stay or leave the EU is a phenomenally complex mash-up of politics, geopolitics, economic and social entanglements with benefits from being part of a larger community (including retired Brits living in sunnier places). Voting made the decision look simple. It was anything but. Media failed to communicate what
ViewpointsJune 30, 2016
-
[Randy David] Brexit and globalization
The British vote to leave the European Union is likely to trigger a chain of complex reactions whose impact cannot be fully calculated. It has already caused a steep drop in the value of the pound sterling and of shares in the London stock market. That was expected. But the ripple effects in the rest of Europe’s markets have been just as bad, if not worse. This was not foreseen. In voting to leave, the British intended to “take back control” of their country from the Brussels-based EU bureaucrat
ViewpointsJune 30, 2016
-
[Anjum Altaf] Democracy’s woes call for reevaluation of process
Over 2,000 years ago, Plato was skeptical of democracy because he felt that voters, even though restricted to property-owning male citizens, were swayed easily by the rhetoric of politicians.Democracy disappeared for over 1,500 years following its demise in Athens and it was only then that its slow evolution began in England and spread to other parts of the world. Doubts regarding its efficacy persisted but were countered by arguments that it was the worst form of government except for all other
ViewpointsJune 30, 2016
-
[Robert B. Reich] Two types of patriotism in U.S.
We hear a lot about patriotism, especially around the Fourth of July. But in 2016 we’re hearing about two very different types of patriotism. One is an inclusive patriotism that binds us together. The other is an exclusive patriotism that keeps others out.Through most of our history we’ve understood patriotism the first way. We’ve celebrated the values and ideals we share in common: democracy, equal opportunity, freedom, tolerance and generosity.We’ve recognized these as aspirations to which we
ViewpointsJune 30, 2016
-
Korea, China to hold talks on illegal fishing
Korea and China will hold working-level talks next week to resolve the growing issue of illegal fishing by Chinese fishermen in Korean waters, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.It will be the ninth round of bilateral talks on fisheries issues led by deputy director-general level officials from the two countries' foreign ministries.This time, the meeting comes amid heightened tension over illegal fishing, which was prompted by the recent capture of Chinese fishing boats by Korean fishermen i
Social AffairsJune 30, 2016
-
Hyundai Motor share prices slip after HHI block deal
[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor shares fell on June 30 following the news of a block deal by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries on the previous day.On June 30, Hyundai Motor closed 2.52 percent lower at 135,500 won (US$ 117.5).Hyundai Motor’s automotive affiliates Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis also closed lower. Kia shares closed at 43,200 won, down 1.37 percent, while Hyundai Mobis closed at 252,000 won, down 2.51 percent. Hyundai Heavy and Hyundai Samho sold 1.24 million a
June 30, 2016
-
[Mohamed A. El-Erian] Imagining the year of 2019 after Brexit
It’s the summer of 2019, three years after British voters stunned the world by voting to leave the European Union. The U.K. has regained its economic and financial footing, as well as its national confidence. A smaller and more unified European Union now functions in a more coherent fashion.But the road has been bumpy and, as a result, the global economy came close to recession, financial instability and more isolationist policies. Meanwhile, the global standing and influence of both the EU and
ViewpointsJune 30, 2016