Expressways to and from Seoul were packed with vehicles Sunday evening as residents continued to head for their hometowns on the second day of Chuseok, the traditional thanksgiving holiday.But the traffic jams on major expressways eased to some degree after peaking around 5 p.m., according to transportation authorities.Traffic congestion on major highways linking Seoul and other major regional cit

Social Affairs Oct. 1, 2012

The head of the Unification Church's joint automaking venture said Wednesday that he received North Korea's condolence message over the death of its founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, but did not confirm the North's dispatch of adelegation to the funeral."I received the message of condolence (over the death of Rev. Moon) from North Korea," said Pyeonghwa Motors President Park Sang-kwon, a U.S. national,

Social Affairs Sept. 5, 2012

South Korea's top sports governing body said Wednesday that it has further reduced penalties on badminton players involved in a match-throwing scandal at the London Olympics.The Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) said that the four female players -- Jung Kyung-eun, Kim Ha-na, Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung -- will be suspended from international play for one year, removing an additional six-month domesti

Olympic Games Sept. 5, 2012

A Seoul court on Wednesday gave a suspended one-year prison term to a South Korean man for ramming a truck into the Japanese embassy here in protest against a right-wing Japanese activist's nationalistic act.The 61-year-old local antique dealer, surnamed Kim, was charged with driving his cargo truck into the main gate of the embassy in central Seoul on July 9. No casualties or damage were reported

Foreign Affairs Sept. 5, 2012

South Korea's presidential office plans to penalize Japan's Kyodo News agency for carrying a report on President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the eastern islets of Dokdo earlier than allowed last week, the presidential spokesman said Thursday.News media accredited to the presidential office are banned from publishing specific reports on the president's schedule outside of the presidential compound in

Politics Aug. 16, 2012

A non-government organization dealing with Olympic broadcasting rights for North Korea said Thursday it will allow the North to air the international sports events across the country.The decision came after Kim In-kyu, the president of South Korea's public broadcaster KBS and chief of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), returned from a three-day visit to the North over the broadcasting issu

Olympic Games July 26, 2012

NHN Corp., South Korea's biggest Internet portal operator, aims to launch its social networking service in China this year, officials said Thursday. NHN Japan Corp., a subsidiary of NHN, hopes to introduce LINE to the world's fastest growing smartphone market, as the company targets 100 million users worldwide this year, the company officials said. In June 2011, The company released LINE, a free g

Industry July 26, 2012

Shin Jae-min, a former vice culture minister known as one of President Lee Myung-bak's trusted aides, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of receiving bribes from a Seoul businessman years ago, court officials said Monday.   The Seoul Central District Court ordered the 54-year-old Shin to serve a prison term of three years and six months, pay a fine of 54 million won ($47,000) and forfei

Politics June 4, 2012

South Korea's presidential office held a charity bazaar to raise money for underprivileged people, official sources said Saturday.   The event held in front of the main reception center attracted10,000 visitors including residents of nearby neighborhoods andfamily members of employees working at the executive office.   President Lee Myung-bak donated a briefcase and necktie, whilefirst lady Kim Yo

Politics May 19, 2012

National pavilions that highlight ongoing efforts by humanity to harmonize with the marine environment have drawn large crowds at the ongoing 2012 Yeosu Expo, organizers for the event said Saturday.   Organizers for the exposition that will run till Aug. 12 saidon average more than 10,000 visitors have toured South Korea'snational pavilion with it massive dome screen. The screen givesvisitors the

Social Affairs May 19, 2012

South Korea's envoy to China made a surprise appearance in a performance of the traditional Beijing opera, diplomatic sources said Saturday.   Ambassador Lee Kyu-hyung helped put on the Beijing opera piece"Wujia Po" in a performance held at the official residence ofSeoul's top diplomat in the Chinese capital.   The event was hosted by the Beijing opera federation, aninformal group within China's f

Foreign Affairs May 19, 2012

A number of Chinese fishermen kidnapped earlier this month by unidentified North Koreans have been freed, Chinese statemedia said, as diplomats worked to secure the release of the remainder.   The freed Chinese, whose number was not disclosed, were among a group of 29 fishermen working on three different boats who were reportedly captured at sea on May 8 by gunmen believed to be North Koreans.   "

North Korea May 19, 2012

South Korean stocks are expected to undergo further adjustments next week, weighed down by mounting eurozone uncertainties and their impact on the global economy,local analysts said Saturday.   The country's key stock index, the KOSPI, closed at 1,782.46 onFriday, a drop of 7.03 percent or 134.67 points from a weekearlier, mainly due to fears that Greece may exit the eurozone andconcerns that the

May 19, 2012