[Newsmaker] Lippert: More than just Obama's friend

When U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert began his term here last October, local reports expressed hope that Lippert’s friendship with U.S. President Barack Obama would help strengthen the alliance between the two nations.Lippert, the youngest-ever Washington ambassador to Seoul at 42, lived up to the expectations of boosting ties, not through his relationship with Obama, but through what appeared to be his genuine urge to get to know the everyday people on the streets here.Lippert has b

PoliticsMarch 5, 2015

[Newsmaker] Ex-CIA chief admits leaking military secrets

RALEIGH, North Carolina ― Former CIA Director David Petraeus, whose once-bright political future was all but destroyed over an affair with his biographer, has agreed to plead guilty to charges he shared classified material with her for her book. The plea agreement ― which carries a possible sentence of up to a year in prison ― represents another blow to the reputation of the retired four-star Army general who led American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and was perhaps the most admired military l

World NewsMarch 4, 2015

[Newsmaker] Samsung mobile chief returns with new Galaxy

SEOUL/BARCELONA, Spain ― Samsung Electronics has fired its greatest shot against archrival Apple, with its new flagship smartphone the Galaxy S6 and its Edge variant being touted as the “most beautiful Samsung phone ever” during the unveiling event in Barcelona. The new phones use metal instead of plastic, are equipped with wireless charging and advanced camera technology, and feature Samsung’s new mobile payments system. The luxurious makeover is being led by the company’s co-CEO and mobile div

TechnologyMarch 3, 2015

[Newsmaker] Netanyahu brings Iran nuclear fight to U.S.

WASHINGTON ― Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ramps up his mission to foil an emerging White House-backed nuclear deal with Iran with a speech on Monday to the powerful pro-Israel AIPAC lobby.Netanyahu has infuriated the White House and Democratic lawmakers by accepting an invitation by President Barack Obama’s Republican foes to speak on Capitol Hill Tuesday.Also addressing the 16,000 AIPAC delegates are Washington’s United Nations envoy Samantha Power and National Security Adviser Sus

World NewsMarch 2, 2015

[Newsmaker] New chief of staff faces revival mission

Park Geun-hye on Sunday embarked on her strategic trip to four wealthy Muslim countries in a bid to attract “oil money” in her efforts to reinvigorate the economy, in particular the construction sector, which has been in the doldrums since the 2008-09 global financial crisis.Right before her departure for the Middle East, she replaced her chief of staff. The administration is seeking a turnaround in both political and economic credibility. Lee Byung-kee, who was named chief of staff Friday, is n

PoliticsMarch 1, 2015

[Newsmaker] 'China Valley' in Korea to boost trade

The reclaimed region of Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, is in the limelight after the government announced plans to create a Korea-China free trade agreement industrial complex in the area.The government announced the plan to attract investments from the world’s second-largest economy, following the preliminary signing of the Korea-China FTA on Wednesday. An aerial view of Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province. (Yonhap)“The Korea-China FTA Industrial Complex will be built in Saemangeum Free Eco

Feb. 26, 2015

[Newsmaker] Samsung gobbles up tech start-ups

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jay-young is making a big push to absorb young tech firms around the world as part of efforts to create new software and service offerings and finally secure new revenue sources. Since chairman Lee Kun-hee was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in May, the Korean tech giant, led by the son, has acquired or invested in 11 international start-ups. This compares with 18 acquisitions made between 2007 and 2013. For South Korea’s family-run conglomerates

TechnologyFeb. 25, 2015

[Newsmaker] An unlikely friendship forged by politics

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo on Tuesday stopped by the National Assembly for the first time since assuming office last week, to carry out what is often considered a ceremonial visit.His visit was an emotional one though, as he shed tears with his former counterpart Rep. Woo Yoon-keun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy. The two met for the first time since Lee’s tough confirmation hearing earlier this month.Woo and Lee began an unlikely friendship last year as the floor lead

PoliticsFeb. 24, 2015

[Newsmaker] ‘Birdman’: a satire about world of showbiz

HOLLYWOOD ― “Birdman,” which won the best picture Oscar on Sunday, is a quirky black comedy about the dark side of fame in the entertainment industry, starring Michael Keaton in the performance of his career.The film directed by Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was the big winner of the night, taking four Oscars out of nine nominations ― including best director and best original screenplay.Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for best director for “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ign

FilmFeb. 23, 2015

[Newsmaker] FSC chief nominee to face tough hearing

Yim Jong-ryong, the nominee for chairman of South Korea’s top financial regulator, is expected to face stiff criticism during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, as the Assembly is divided over his suitability.The opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy likened Yim to previous heads of the Financial Services Commission, calling the former vice finance minister a member of the “mofia” ― a portmanteau of the Ministry of Finance’s initials and the word “mafia.”The party questioned whethe

Feb. 22, 2015

[Newsmaker] New P.M. faces tough task of restoring trust

When new Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo takes office Tuesday, he will face the herculean task of winning back the public trust he lost through reports of conscription evasion, property speculation and intimidation of journalists.In South Korea, prime ministers are often limited to nominal roles, with executive power centered in the presidential office. But Lee faces daunting challenges as he is taking office at a critical time, with the Park Geun-hye government seeking a way out from a deepening pol

PoliticsFeb. 17, 2015

[Newsmaker] Would-be China envoy to face daunting task

Former top presidential security adviser Kim Jang-soo faces the daunting task of addressing lingering political distrust between South Korea and China, after he was tapped last week as Seoul’s new ambassador to Beijing. President Park Geun-hye’s decision to field the former defense minister illustrates her desire to cement her country’s strategic partnership with China, which has recently suffered a setback due to the possibility that Washington will deploy an advanced missile defense system to

Foreign AffairsFeb. 16, 2015

[Newsmaker] Assembly begins 'resource diplomacy' probe

Lawmakers from the ruling and main opposition parties began hearing from state-run energy companies Thursday, as part of their probe into former President Lee Myung-bak’s “resource diplomacy” initiative.The project spearheaded by Lee, President Park Geun-hye’s predecessor, aimed to reduce South Korea’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil by investing state money in foreign energy projects. Lawmakers agreed to launch the parliamentary probe amid escalating criticism that many of its investment decis

PoliticsFeb. 12, 2015

[Newsmaker] Can Ssangyong Motor regain its past glory?

 For Ssangyong Motor, spring appears to have arrived earlier than expected. The labor strife-marred automaker is poised to celebrate the high unexpected sales of its new compact sport utility vehicle Tivoli and select its new leader in six years.The automaker said on Wednesday it sold more than 8,000 Tivoli vehicles in the first month since its market debut on Jan. 13.“The morale of employees is riding high due to the sales,’’ a company official said. The Tivoli, rival to small SUVs like Renault

MobilityFeb. 11, 2015

[Newsmaker] Whistleblower’s tale worthy of a spy novel

PARIS ― Herve Falciani was once just an IT worker at a big bank, but since running off with hundreds of thousands of damaging documents from banking giant HSBC he has been alternately called a hero and a thief.“He is brave. We have the highest opinion of Mr. Falciani’s work, whatever his motivations may be. He has served the public interest,” said Eric Alt, vice president of the French antitax fraud group Anticor.Swiss authorities however have charged him with data theft for taking the documents

World NewsFeb. 10, 2015

[Newsmaker] Korea’s Formula 1 dream coming to an end?

The ambitious plan to make the southern part of the Korean Peninsula a stop on the global racing circuit may have come to a halt as the organizing committee of the Formula 1 race in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, on Monday was reported to be considering disbanding. According to local media reports, the organizing committee of the Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix recently decided to disband after the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile dropped the Korean race from its calendar. The reports note

More SportsFeb. 9, 2015

[Newsmaker] U.S. anchor accused over war ‘lie’

NEW YORK ― One of America’s most prominent TV anchors, Brian Williams, faced calls for his resignation Friday for embellishing an Iraq war story from 2003.Brian Williams. (AP)Williams, 55, who reportedly earns $10 million a year and is watched by an estimated 9 million Americans a night, admitted that a story he often repeated on air about coming under fire was not true.“I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” Williams said in an apology broadcast live Wednesday on the “NBC Ni

World NewsFeb. 8, 2015

[Newsmaker] Pilot’s murder boosts anti-IS sentiment

AMMAN― The burning alive of a Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State group has shocked and angered Jordanians, uniting them behind their government’s vow to intensify its military action against the jihadists.Activists carry posters with a portrait of the Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh. (AFP)Jordan is one of several Arab states to have joined the U.S.-led campaign against IS in Syria and Iraq, and has taken part in air strikes against jihadist positions since September.Concerns were raised at t

World NewsFeb. 5, 2015

[Newsmaker] Britain authorizes ‘three-parent’ babies

LONDON ― Britain on Tuesday became the first country in the world to allow the creation of babies with DNA from three people after MPs voted for the controversial procedure.The results of the vote is returned in the debating chamber at the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. (AP-Yonhap)Lawmakers at the House Commons voted by 382 to 128 in favor of allowing the creation of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) babies with DNA from three people, a move aimed at preventing serious inherited diseases bein

World NewsFeb. 4, 2015