Samsung Electronics Co.'s average sales price for its flat-screen TVs fell 13 percent in the first half of 2014 from last year, apparently as the firm sought a bigger world market share over profit, data showed Thursday.The price of the company's flat TV lineup averaged US$646 in the January-June period, while the combined shipment advanced 16 percent, the data compiled by Strategy Analytics showed.The industry tracker said demands for Samsung products gained in Latin America due to the FIFA Wor

Technology Aug. 21, 2014

The bereaved families of the victims of April's deadly ferry sinking voted late Wednesday to reject a bipartisan deal that allows the ruling party to have a say in the choice of a special counsel to be tasked with uncovering the truth behind one of the country's deadliest maritime accidents.It is the second time the families have rejected a bipartisan deal on a special bill aimed at determining the truth behind the tragedy, dealing a blow to both the ruling and opposition parties.The 6,825-ton f

Social Affairs Aug. 21, 2014

Four sitting lawmakers suspected of taking bribes have decided to not appear at court hearings Thursday, prompting prosecutors to mull forcibly detaining them for further questioning.A Seoul court was scheduled to hold hearings later in the day to review the legality of the arrests of the four -- Reps. Cho Hyun-ryong of the ruling Saenuri Party, and Kim Jae-yun, Shin Hak-yong and Shin Geh-ryeun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Off

Social Affairs Aug. 21, 2014

US President Barack Obama demanded Wednesday the world take action against the "cancer" of jihadist extremism in Iraq, as Washington revealed it had failed in an operation to free US hostages in neighboring Syria.It came a day after the so-called "Islamic State," which has seized much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq, released a video showing a masked militant beheading US reporter James Foley, provoking worldwide revulsion and condemnation.As US jets continued to strike IS targets in Iraq, de

World News Aug. 21, 2014

United Nations Security Council members are rejecting North Korea's request for a meeting to protest joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.North Korea sent a letter to the council on July 21 requesting the meeting. British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters that China raised the letter at a meeting Wednesday and asked other members for their opinions. Lyall Grant said "there was no support for a council discussion on that issue." He said Britain, which holds the Security Council pre

World News Aug. 21, 2014

The armed wing of Hamas warned foreign airlines against flying into Tel Aviv on Wednesday and declared truce talks in Cairo over as a six-week war with Israel spirals into further bloodshed.Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of air strikes across Gaza again on Wednesday in response to multiple rocket attacks on southern Israel, as nine days of calm exploded into bloodshed.Several thousand furious mourners poured onto the streets of Jabaliya refugee camp to bury the wife and infant son of the t

World News Aug. 21, 2014

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan said Wednesday he felt "ashamed" of his son's detention on drug-related charges, adding he had "failed to educate" his child.Jaycee Chan, who like his father is a singer and actor, was detained last week after police found more than 100 grams of cannabis at his home in Beijing, according to Chinese state-run media.The charges were a potential embarrassment for kung fu star Jackie Chan, who has a high profile in China where he was appointed as a government-backed

World News Aug. 21, 2014

South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday it has decided to provide an additional US$1 million in humanitarian aid to help Iraqi refugees amid escalating violence in the country.The humanitarian crisis has heightened in northern Iraq since Sunni Muslim insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seized Iraq's second-biggest city of Mosul in June.The United States began to carry out air strikes on the Islamic extremist group on Aug. 8.Seoul's foreign ministry said it has d

Foreign Affairs Aug. 20, 2014

Thirty-seven people, many of them foreigners staying in South Korea as English teachers, have been arrested and booked on charges of smuggling, trading and taking marijuana, police said Wednesday.Those arrested included a South Korean national with U.S. residence, surnamed Shin, as well as a Korean American, surnamed Kim, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Both were working as English teachers.They brought 2 kilograms of hemp into South Korea earlier this year through the U.S. mi

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2014

South Korea's leading businesses said Wednesday they will make early payments to their subcontractors for the Chuseok holidays next month, not a rare move but more highlighted this year because of a serious sap in domestic consumption.The country's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, said it will pay 1.8 trillion won to its suppliers earlier than scheduled, with 18 of its affiliates, including Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung SDI Co., joining the move.Chuseok falls on Sept. 8 this year. The thre

Industry Aug. 20, 2014

Chinese tourists' spending in South Korea may exceed 30 trillion won (US$ 29 billion) six years from now on the back of a rapidly surging number of visitors from the neighboring country, a report said Wednesday.Spending by travelers from China is expected to reach 30.5 trillion won in 2020, nearly five times the 6.2 trillion won registered last year, according to the report by Hana Daetoo Securities Co.The figure is equivalent to 7.7 percent of the 398.2 trillion won forecast for that year's tot

Aug. 20, 2014

Investigations are under way into more than a dozen newly-reported cases of harassment, and physical and sexual abuse at barracks around the country, the Army said Wednesday, after a spate of such incidents marred the image of the military and sparked public ire.The cases were detected during surveys of service members and inspections into units in the wake of the series of gruesome cases, including the death of an Army private first class, surnamed Yoon, after being hit by his senior comrades.

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2014