A painting depicting ruling Saenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye giving birth to a baby who looks like her late father has fueled fresh controversy about freedom of expression and political exploitation of art ahead of the December election.The painting by Hong Sung-dam, a member of the country's progressive Minjung art movement, shows Park reclining in a hospital delivery room with her legs in stirrups, and expressing joy at having given birth to a baby boy wearing sunglasses.The wo

Social Affairs Nov. 20, 2012

Spending by South Korean households on food and other groceries surged to the highest level in 11 years in the first half of this year amid a prolonged economic slump, data showed Tuesday.According to the data released by the Bank of Korea, the country's total household spending rose 4.7 percent from a year earlier to nearly 324 trillion won ($298 billion) in the January-June period.Of the total, the amount spent on food and non-alcoholic beverages came to 44 trillion won, up 6.3 percent from th

Nov. 20, 2012

Living in areas of high air pollution is an environmental risk to seniors' brain health and function, U.S. researchers found."The study shows the unexpectedly adverse effects of air pollutants on brain function in the elderly," Caleb Finch, the ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Professor in the Neurobiology of Aging at the University of Southern California at Davis, said in a statement.Jennifer Ailshire -- a sociologist, demographer and postdoctoral student at the USC Davis School of Gerontology -- sai

Technology Nov. 19, 2012

President Lee Myung-bak pledged Monday to expand South Korea's development assistance and other aid to Southeast Asia, an increasingly important region of vibrant economies with high growth potential.Lee made the commitment during an annual cooperation summit with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh, saying South Korea will work toward co-prosperity with the region, according to the presidential office.In particular, Lee said South Korea will take advantage

International Nov. 19, 2012

A Seoul National University panel determined Friday that independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo did not plagiarize his academic papers. The panel made the announcement at the end of a preliminary probe into allegations that Ahn used parts of others' work in his dissertations without attribution and disguised sections of his own papers as new material in later publications.Ahn graduated from the prestigious university with a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree in medicine. Five of

Politics Nov. 16, 2012

Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo urged the main opposition party to show its resolve on implementing sweeping reforms and called for talks to decide who will become the standard bearer for the liberal camp in the December election.In a press conference held at his campaign headquarters in Seoul, the entrepreneur-turned-politician claimed the Democratic United Party (DUP) and its presidential contender Moon Jea-in should break with outdated ways of thinking, and push forward measu

Politics Nov. 16, 2012

Police in Gyeonggi Province have sought an arrest warrant for a 24-year-old man who used a stun gun on a teenager in order to sexually abuse her on Friday.The man, who is only identified with his surname Kim, brought the electric shock device from his home in the morning and searched for a target around the Gangnam area in southern Seoul.According to the Suwon Seobu Police Station, Kim was attracted to a woman who had drinks with her boyfriend and stalked them.   As the couple went into a motel

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2012

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that it had nothing to do with South Korea's appointment of Jill Kelley, the Tampa socialite who helped expose CIA Director David Petraeus's career-ending affair, as an "honorary consul.""She has no formal affiliation with the State Department," deputy spokesman Mark Toner said at a daily press briefing.Kelley, 37, is a key figure in a growing sex scandal involving Petraeus and Afghanistan commander Gen. John Allen. She is known to have maintained close ti

International Nov. 16, 2012

President Barack Obama's national security adviser said Thursday North Korea can take lessons from Myanmar's move towards reform and democracy."It's an important example for them (the North Koreans) to contemplate," Thomas Donilon said at a forum on Obama's Asia policy, hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.He emphasized that the leadership of Myanmar, which Washington calls Burma, has adopted a path of reform with a focus on its economy.Just as with Myanmar earlier, North

North Korea Nov. 16, 2012

한국 프로야구를 대표하는 에이스 류현진(한화)에 약 280억원을 베팅한 팀은 LA다저스인 것으로 확인됐다.메이저리그 공식 홈페이지(mlb.com)는 10일(현지시간) LA 다저스 구단이 류현진을 가장 높은 가격으로 입찰, 교섭권을 확보했다고 보도했다.메이저리그 홈페이지는 류현진의 포스팅 관련 기사를 '다저스, 한국의 스타 류현진 입찰에서 승리(Dodgers win bid for Korean star Ryu)'라는 제목 아래  메인기 사 리스트 머리에 올려놓았다.  이로써 류현진에게 2천573만7천737달러 33센트(약 280억원)를 베팅한 구단이 LA 다저스인 것으로 확인됐다. mlb.com은 다저스가 류현진을 품음에 따라 클레이튼 커쇼, 채드 비링슬리, 조시 베켓, 애런 하랑, 크리스 카푸아노, 테드 릴리를 포함한 선발로테이션에 특급 투수 한 명을 더 추가할 수 있게 됐다고 밝혔다.mlb.com은 류현진의 국내 성적과 입찰비용을 자세히 소개하며, 특히 2천573만 7 천737달러

한국어판 Nov. 15, 2012