The Korea Herald

Korea's jobless rate falls to 3.9% in April

South Korea's jobless rate fell in April as more people were hired in the accommodation and retail sectors, but the unemployment rate for young people still remained high, a government report showed Wednesday.The unemployment rate sank to 3.9 percent in April, from 4.3 percent in March. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate also dropped to 3.7 percent from 3.8 percent over the cited period, according to the report by Statistics Korea. Job fair in Seoul (Yonhap)But job creation decreased from the

May 11, 2016

Korea's jobless rate falls to 3.9% in April

Trump's name brandishes South Korea's high-rise buildings

Presumptive U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump has his real estate footprints in South Korea as well, having lent his name to a construction company from the late 1990s to use on high-rise residential buildings in what was his first such arrangement with a foreign firm.Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C), then a builder unit of the larger Daewoo Group, first partnered with Trump in September 1997 to erect the Trump World Tower in Manhattan, close to the U.N. headquarters in New Yo

North KoreaMay 11, 2016

Trump book shows he had advocated surgical strike on N. Korea in 2000

Republican presidential presumptive nominee Donald Trump had advocated a surgical strike against North Korea's nuclear facility, according to a book the real-estate tycoon published when he first ran for president in 2000."What would I do in North Korea? Fair question. It's easy to point out the problem, but what should be done to solve it? Am I ready to bomb this reactor? You're damned right," Trump said in the book titled, "The America We Deserve."Trump said that Israel's 1981 strike on Iraq's

InternationalMay 11, 2016

N. Korea shows no indications of impending nuclear test: 38 North

Vehicles are no longer visible at the command center of North Korea's nuclear test site, a U.S. website monitoring the communist nation said Tuesday, brushing aside what was previously considered a possible sign of nuclear test preparations.Four vehicles were seen at the center in last week's satellite imagery of the North's Punggye-ri test site, sparking speculation it could be a sign that the North is preparing to conduct what would be its fifth nuclear test, just a few months after the fourth

North KoreaMay 11, 2016

No vehicles seen at command center of N.K. nuclear test site: 38 North

Vehicles are no longer visible at the command center of North Korea's nuclear test site, a U.S. website monitoring the communist nation said Tuesday, brushing aside what was previously considered a possible sign of nuclear test preparations.Four vehicles were seen at the center in last week's satellite imagery of the North's Punggye-ri test site, sparking speculation it could be a sign that the North is preparing to conduct what would be its fifth nuclear test, just a few months after the fourth

North KoreaMay 11, 2016

U.S. expert calls for serious consideration of N. Korea's dialogue offer

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's proposal to hold military talks with South Korea should be considered seriously as it offers a chance to keep tensions under control ahead of August's U.S.-South Korea military exercises, a U.S. expert said Tuesday.The North's leader made the dialogue offer during the Workers' Party Congress over the weekend, saying the two sides could use such talks to discuss ways to remove risks of clashes along the border and ease tensions as well as other issues of mutual c

North KoreaMay 11, 2016

Obama to become first U.S. president to visit Hiroshima

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima later this month, making him the first sitting American president to do so since the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb there to end World War II.Obama will make the "historic visit" with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to "highlight his continued commitment to pursuing the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.The visit will take place on May 27 after

InternationalMay 11, 2016

Kossen to buy 55% stake in ETH

Kossen, a Korean steel pipe manufacturer and renewable energy company, has decided to buy a 55.43 percent stake in electric car maker ETH for 5 billion won ($4.3 million), the company said Tuesday.In a regulatory filing, the company said it aims to make a foray into the electric car market by acquiring 1 million shares in ETH. Established in 2003, ETH is a venture firm that produces an electronic storage system and other testing equipment for secondary cell battery used in electric vehicles. The

IndustryMay 11, 2016

Chinese tourists feast on Korean food by Han River

Thousands of Chinese tourists feasted on Korean food by Seoul's signature river Tuesday, fighting off evening chills with warm bowls of ginseng chicken soup.Chinese healthcare company Joymain Science & Technology (Zhongmai Group) sent 4,000 employees to the banks of the Han River in Banpo area, southern Seoul, for a mass serving of "samgyetang" and 4,000 cans of beers.They were the second group of Joymain employees to enjoy the traditional chicken soup by the river. Last Friday, 4,000 of their c

Social AffairsMay 10, 2016

Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae completes gold medal sweep at Asian Championships

South Korean Son Yeon-jae completed a gold medal sweep at the eighth Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Uzbekistan on Tuesday, brightening hopes for her first Olympic medal this summer.Son was crowned the champion in four apparatuses in Tashkent, a day after capturing her third consecutive individual all-around title.She won the gold in ribbon with a new career-high 18.700 points. Sabina Ashirbayeva of Kazakhstan finished second with 18.300 points, followed by Elizaveta Nazarenkova of Uz

More SportsMay 10, 2016

Rising immigration pushes S. Korea toward diversity

With every passing year and a steady influx of foreigners chasing the "Korean dream," the number of people born abroad and those from multicultural families will grow and this change will invariably nudge South Korea to become a more diverse society, local observers said Tuesday.As of March, 1.94 million foreigners were living in South Korea, an increase of more than four-fold compared to 2000, data by the Ministry of Justice showed. The greatest jump was seen among long-term residents who accou

Social AffairsMay 10, 2016

[Newsmaker] Duterte wins Philippine presidential race

Incendiary Philippine politician Rodrigo Duterte vowed Tuesday a relentless crackdown on crime after securing a landslide presidential victory built on foul-mouthed populist tirades that exposed deep voter anger at the establishment. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gestures during his news conference in Davao in the southern Philippines on Monday. (AP-Yonhap)The 71-year-old firebrand's main rivals conceded defeat after an unofficial tally showed Duterte had an insurmountable lead in Monday's election of 6

World NewsMay 10, 2016

[Newsmaker] Duterte wins Philippine presidential race

Loopholes found in air quality management plan

The Environment Ministry’s current plan on air quality control lacks in accuracy and efficacy by overlooking a number of important factors and exaggerating numbers, the nation’s audit agency said Tuesday. (Yonhap)According to the Board of Audit and Inspection, the ministry failed to identify main pollutants causing air pollution and erroneously measured the amount of fine dust in the air. It also overestimated the amount of fine dust reduced through the plan. The assessment came as the audit age

Social AffairsMay 10, 2016

Loopholes found in air quality management plan

SK speeds up partnership with Middle East

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won met with the visiting prime minister of Kuwait in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss partnerships, with the aim of speeding up its business in the Middle East. Chey and Prime Minister Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah agreed on cooperating in diverse sectors including energy, chemistry, new energy and infrastructure, a company official said. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won (left) talks with Prime Minister of Kuwait Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Tuesday (SK Group)“SK Gr

IndustryMay 10, 2016

SK speeds up partnership with Middle East

Legacy of LS Group founders creates ‘cousinhood’ management

During the weekend, tributes were paid to a well-respected figure in the Korean business community. LS Group’s cofounder Koo Tai-hwoi, honorary chairman of LS Cable & System, had passed away at the age of 93. As the fourth brother of LG Group founder Koo In-hwoi, who had six brothers, he had founded LS Group, focusing on power equipment and energy sectors in 2003, with his two younger brothers -- Koo Pyong-hwoi and Koo Doo-hwoi. The four affiliates which formed the foundation of the group includ

IndustryMay 10, 2016

Legacy of LS Group founders creates ‘cousinhood’ management

[Editorial] Ethical standards

As expected, new allegations and accusations are coming up one after another as prosecutors dig into the case of the deadly humidifier sterilizers that killed more than 100 people. One of the allegations hit a seemingly unlikely group of people -- academics -- as at least two university professors have been implicated in the case that has generated a public outcry and forced government officials and politicians to take action. The two professors -- one from Seoul National University and the oth

EditorialMay 10, 2016

[Editorial] N.K. congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un clearly showed what was on his mind through the ruling Workers’ Party congress: He wanted to crown himself as the supreme leader of the country and use nuclear bombs to symbolize his ascension. As it turned out, the congress, which opened Friday in Pyongyang, did not result in any major decisions or policy blueprints befitting a high-profile political event held for the first time in 36 years. It is apparent that by holding an event that even his father skipped be

EditorialMay 10, 2016

[Graphic News] Temporary holiday causes surge in spending

The government’s decision to designate May 6 as a temporary holiday, which allowed people four days off in a row last week, led to boosts in spending on shopping, traveling and leisure. Sales in department stores increased 16 percent during May 5-8 this year compared to last year’s holiday from May 2-5. Meanwhile, the number of visitors to baseball parks also surged 43.9 percent over the same period.As part of efforts to spur domestic consumption, the government had waived highway tolls across t

May 10, 2016

[Graphic News] Temporary holiday causes surge in spending

Foreigner fined W7m for drunk driving

A foreign national who drove under the influence of alcohol was fined 7 million won ($6,000) on Tuesday for refusing to take a sobriety test. (123RF)According to the Jeonju District Court, the 48-year-old man hit a median strip in Gimje City, North Jeolla Province in October 2015. He created a disturbance by threatening to “kill anyone who touches him” while refusing to oblige a police officer’s request to take a breathalyzer test. Korea heightened regulations against drunk driving since April 2

Social AffairsMay 10, 2016

Park Tae-hwan needs motivation to compete: coach

Roh Min-sang, the coach of disgraced former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan, said Tuesday that his pupil is still training, but the lingering uncertainty surrounding the swimmer's status for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games is exerting a negative pull. Park, who recently served an 18-month doping suspension, remains ineligible to make the national team under a controversial rule by the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC). The national Olympic body says athletes who have been suspended for

More SportsMay 10, 2016