South Korea postponed its launch of a space rocket Friday due to a problem that was detected only hours before its scheduled liftoff.   Cho Yul-rae, vice minister of education, science and technology, said the launch of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) will be delayed at least three days.    "A leak has been detected from a connection between the first-stage rocket of the KSLV-1 and the launch pad," Cho told a press briefing.   The problem was detected during a final inspection of the s

TechnologyOct. 26, 2012

Microsoft launched a radical redesign of its world-dominating Windows operating system Thursday, introducing a touch-enabled interface that attempts to bridge the gap between personal computers and fast-growing mobile devices powered by the company's fiercest competitors.The debut of Windows 8 heralded the biggest change to the system since 1995, when the company first offered built-in Internet support. And with so much riding on it, the overhaul could be Microsoft's most important product since

TechnologyOct. 26, 2012

South Korean consumers' confidence fell to the lowest level in nine months in October as the economic outlook remained bleak amid the eurozone debt crisis, the central bank said Friday.The consumer sentiment index -- a gauge of consumers' overall economic outlook, living conditions and future spending -- came in at 98 for October, down from 99 tallied for September, according to a survey by the Bank of Korea (BOK).The October figure marked the lowest level since the index hit an identical 98 in

Oct. 26, 2012

The South Korean economy grew at the slowest pace in nearly three years in the third quarter in the face of the global economic downturn, the central bank said Friday, giving weight to the bank‘s recent rate cut.Korea’s gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic performance, grew 0.2 percent in the July-September period from three months earlier, slowing from a 0.3 percent on-quarter gain tallied in the second quarter, according to an advance estimate by the Bank of Korea.The third

Oct. 26, 2012

 Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., South Korea's leading shipbuilder, said Thursday its third-quarter earnings soared almost 30 percent from a year earlier on a one-time factor.  Net profit reached 729 billion won ($666 million) on a consolidated basis in the July-September period, compared with a profit of 562 billion won a year earlier, the company said.  Sales edged up 0.8 percent on-year to reach 13.1 trillion won, while operating income dropped 35 percent to 594 billion won over the cited perio

Oct. 25, 2012

The U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision Thursday that Samsung infringed on four of Apple’s patents has led to accusations of protectionism.U.S. ITC Judge Thomas Pender said in a notice on the agency’s website that Samsung violated four patents, including a design patent and three other patents that include touch-screen technology.“We will immediately request a re-examination of the preliminary decision and we’re confident that our claim will be accepted in the final determination,” sa

Oct. 25, 2012

CHICAGO (AP) ― Parents who want to reduce their kids’ exposure to pesticides may seek out organic fruits and vegetables, but they aren’t necessarily safer or more nutritious than conventional foods, America’s leading pediatricians group says in its first advice on organics.Science hasn’t proven that eating pesticide-free food makes people any healthier, the American Academy of Pediatrics said.“Theoretically there could be negative effects, especially in young children with growing brains,’” but

TechnologyOct. 25, 2012

The South Korean currency on Thursday rose to the highest level against the U.S. dollar in more than one year amid foreign capital inflows, dealers said. The local currency ended at 1,098.20 won against the greenback, up 5.4 won from the previous session’s close. It marked the first time that the won appreciated to the 1,000-level since Sept. 9, 2011.So far this year, the Korean currency has appreciated 4.88 percent to the dollar amid sustained inflows of foreign capital and Korea’s relatively s

Oct. 25, 2012

Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea’s top air carrier, said Thursday it swung to a net profit in the third quarter of this year on increased air travel and cost-cutting efforts.The airline posted a net profit of 263.7 billion won ($239 million) in the three months ended Sept. 30, a drastic turnaround from a 544.4 billion won loss a year earlier, the carrier said in a regulatory filing.Sales gained 3.1 percent on-year to 3.28 trillion won in the third quarter, and operating profit jumped 43.1 perce

Oct. 25, 2012

Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s top smartphone maker, said it has started selling its Galaxy Note 2 devices in the United States after a local launching event.The mobile device is currently available via Sprint and T-Mobile, and is expected to be carried by three additional U.S. carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, according to Samsung.The Galaxy Note 2, unveiled ahead of this year’s IFA technology fair, carries a 5.5-inch display and comes with a complimentary electronic stylus.Meanwhile,

TechnologyOct. 25, 2012

A group of business leaders on Wednesday expressed strong opposition to tax increases for welfare expansion, claiming that it will hurt corporate capital spending and household consumption. The remarks came amid growing calls for “economic democratization” including an overhaul of local conglomerates’ governance structures and an expansion of the welfare system by the country’s three main presidential candidates. “Corporate taxes and income taxes should not be raised to secure finances in order

TechnologyOct. 25, 2012

Ustream Korea Inc., a live video streaming platform operator, vowed on Thursday to play a leading role in spreading the Korean Wave, or hallyu, globally by initiating a live broadcasting service. The former Korean operation of U.S.-based Ustream Inc. has become an affiliate of the country’s mobile carrier giant KT, which holds 51 percent of its total share.“We would like to open up a new age where people who had been unable to voice their opinion can speak up, experience live streaming and share

TechnologyOct. 25, 2012

The Korean government refused to accept search engine Google’s new map policy under which it changed the name of Dokdo to “Liancourt Rocks,” and questions are rising over whether there was a way to coordinate a better alternative.“We heard that Google conveyed its new policy to our embassy in the United States, but we instantly informed the company that we could not accept (it) as Dokdo is Korean territory,” said Cho Tai-young, a Foreign Ministry spokesman. Google, however, pushed ahead, explain

Oct. 25, 2012