BPA in pregnant women might affect kids' behavior

CHICAGO (AP) — Exposure to BPA before birth could affect girls' behavior at age 3, according to the latest study on potential health effects of the widespread chemical.Preschool-aged girls whose mothers had relatively high urine levels of bisphenol-A during pregnancy scored worse but still wit

TechnologyOct. 24, 2011

GPS shoes for Alzheimer’s patients to hit US

The first shoes with built-in GPS devices -- to help track down dementia-suffering seniors who wander off and get lost -- are set to hit the US market this month, the manufacturer says.GTX Corp said the first batch of 3,000 pairs of shoes has been shipped to the footwear firm Aetrex Worldwide, two y

TechnologyOct. 24, 2011

Local franchise chains enjoy royalty sales abroad

Tous les Jours on Thursday signed a royalty deal with CBM Corporation Co., a Cambodia-based franchise company, to allow its brand name to be used in the Southeast Asian country. Following the first deal with a Philippine retailer in December, the local bakery chain, operated by CJ Foodville, aims to

IndustryOct. 23, 2011

Game curfew law one month away, still confuses industry

Range of games, government guideline still not finalizedThe online game industry is still confused about the government’s ban on teenagers accessing online games at night, with it set to take effect in less than a month.Beginning Nov. 20, those under 16 will be prohibited by law from logging onto on

IndustryOct. 23, 2011

GSK fined for colluding to block sale of generics

GlaxoSmithKline has been fined for colluding with a local drug maker to hinder the generic sale of its anti-emetic Zofran for the past 12 years, antitrust authorities said Sunday. It is the first time that a multinational drug company has been found to offer financial benefits in return for the with

IndustryOct. 23, 2011

Korea to strengthen fiscal health: minister

South Korea’s top economic policymaker said Saturday that the government should continue its efforts to strengthen fiscal health to prepare for any possible future crisis. “In preparation for another economic crisis and potential fiscal challenges stemming from the low birthrate and aging population

Oct. 23, 2011

Hyundai exports 2m cars to Latin America

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, said Sunday that total car exports to Latin America reached 2 million units, fueled by competitiveness in quality and successful marketing efforts.The company said the milestone, which was reached on Saturday with the loading of 800 Tucson ix sport

MobilityOct. 23, 2011

BOK chief hints at rate hike

South Korea’s central bank will resume its efforts to raise the interest rate if a set of external economic uncertainties are reduced, its chief has said.Bank of Korea policymakers face a dilemma in how to deal with lingering inflation concerns and heightened economic uncertainty sparked by dimmer g

Oct. 23, 2011

Korea to see price rises outpace economic growth

Korea’s economic growth rate is forecast at far below the estimated inflation gain this year, data showed on Sunday, raising fears that the country might be entering an era of a chronically slow growth. According to the data by the Korea Center of International Finance, 10 foreign investment banks p

Oct. 23, 2011

IMF sees Korea's debt will drop to pre-crisis level in 2012

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The International Monetary Fund (MF) predicts South Korea's national debt is expected to fall to the level of before the 2008 global financial crisis in 2012, the finance ministry said Sunday.The ratio of South Korea's national debt to its gross domestic product (GDP) will

Oct. 23, 2011

Imports of Japanese fisheries goods dip on radiation scare

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- South Korea's imports of Japanese fisheries products tumbled 37 percent on-year in the first nine months of this year in the wake of the March radiation leakage in the neighboring country, a report showed Sunday.South Korea imported 33,700 tons of fisheries goods from Japan in the

Oct. 23, 2011

S. Korea’s growth rate to hover below inflation gain this year

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea’s economic growth rate is expected to fall below its inflation gain this year due mainly to sluggish exports and rising consumer prices, data showed Sunday.The average forecast of South Korea’s 2011 growth by 10 foreign investment banks came to 3.7 percent as o

Oct. 23, 2011

Global population set to reach 7 billion this month

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The world's population is expected to hit 7 billion by the end of this month, more than quadrupling from 100 years earlier, a report showed Sunday.According to the report by insurance giant Allianz Group, the planet's population is set to reach the new milestone at the end

Oct. 23, 2011

EU summit likely to affect S. Korea's stock market direction next week

South Korean stocks stand to be affected by the outcome of next week's summit talks among European leaders as the fiscal debt crises in Greece and other eurozone countries still weigh on the overall market sentiment here, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)

Oct. 22, 2011

Korea soon to finalize currency swap expansion deal with China

The government will soon finalize the won-yuan swap expansion deal with Chinese authorities to boost the $26 billion currency swap currently in place, multiple sources at the Finance Ministry confirmed on Thursday. A senior ministry official said the expansion of the won-yuan swap was proposed by th

Oct. 21, 2011