South Korean stocks closed 0.19 percent higher Monday as investors' sentiment was boosted by the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep its current bond-purchasing program in place, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 3.83 points to finish at 2,009.41. Trading volume was moderate at 243.1 million shares worth 4.89 trillion won ($4.55 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 437 to 379.Analysts said Seoul s

Sept. 23, 2013

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) vowed Monday to go all-out in its campaign to reform the state intelligence agency, continuing their outdoor protests but launching a full-scale participation in parliamentary affairs.The move comes nearly two months after the DP took to the streets and set up a temporary office in tents outside Seoul City Hall, demanding President Park Geun-hye overhaul the National Intelligence Service (NIS) amid allegations that it tried to influence last year's presi

Politics Sept. 23, 2013

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday as investors continued to seek after profit-taking following the market's recent steep gain, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.97 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,002.61 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares lost ground across the board, with tech giant Samsung Electronics falling 1.37 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor losing 2.34 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO shed 0.46 percent.Logistics also traded lower,

Sept. 23, 2013

South Korea's statistics agency has fined companies for not responding to its surveys in a move to encourage public participation in government efforts to collect key policy-related data, agency officials said Monday.Statistics Korea fined four manufacturers a combined 400,000-500,000 won ($460) each late last year for not responding to its surveys on the mining and manufacturing industries, according to the officials.The penalties were the first of their kind. They also came amid the falling re

Defense Sept. 23, 2013

Woori Finance Holdings Co. is set to end Monday the preliminary bidding for its regional bank units, its officials said, as part of the privatization process to sell the No. 1 state-funded banking group. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. (KDIC), the state-run debt clearer that holds the controlling stake in Woori Finance, will close the preliminary bidding for Kyongnam Bank and Kwangju Bank later Monday as planned, according to KDIC officials. The bidding is the first part of the government's th

Sept. 23, 2013

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel recorded yet another start-to-finish win at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday to further extend his lead in the Formula One championship.The German was in a class of his own under the Marina Bay lights, winning by a massive 32.6 seconds over Fernando Alonso and boosting his championship lead on the Ferrari driver from 53 points to 60 with six races remaining.“We are in a very good position. To be honest I am not looking at the championship too much,” Vettel said

More Sports Sept. 23, 2013

The White House is under pressure to ramp up counterterrorism action against al-Shabab in Somalia following the al-Qaida-linked group's deadly attack on an upscale Kenyan shopping mall that has killed and injured dozens, including Americans.Republican lawmakers Sunday said the attack showed al-Qaida is growing in size and strength, belying the Obama administration's claims that it has grown weaker.“They're not on the decline,” said Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, the ranking Republican on the Homel

World News Sept. 23, 2013

Kenyan's military said late Sunday it had rescued “most” of the remaining hostages held by al-Qaida-linked militants in an upscale Nairobi mall after launching a major operation to end a two-day standoff that had already killed 68 people. The military assault, which began shortly before sundown, came as two helicopters circled the mall, with one skimming very close to the roof. A loud explosion rang out, far larger than any previous grenade blast or gunfire volley. Kenyan police said on Twitter

World News Sept. 23, 2013

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives triumphed in Germany's election Sunday and appeared likely to end up close to an absolute majority. While Merkel was headed for a third term, her center-right coalition partners faced ejection from parliament for the first time in post-World War II history.Depending on which parties end up in parliament, Merkel could find herself leading a “grand coalition” government with the left-leaning Social Democrats or _ less likely _ with the environmentalist Gree

World News Sept. 23, 2013

Authors of a controversial history textbook expressed their will Tuesday to revise content accused of ideological bias, but countered claims that it glorifies Japanese colonialism and South Korea's former dictatorships.The history textbook, authored by conservative historians, passed an education ministry screening in May along with seven other textbooks for use at high schools starting the 2014 academic year.However, opposition lawmakers, liberal historians and civic activists have claimed that

Social Affairs Sept. 17, 2013

An internal inspection into the nation's embattled top prosecutor, who offered to quit over allegations of having an illegitimate son, is expected to kick off sometime next month, legal sources said Tuesday.Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday ordered the ministry to "reveal the truth" about a media report that Prosecutor General Chae Dong-wook fathered a son through an extramarital affair in 2002.Minutes after the order, Chae tendered his resignation, saying that while he denies the allegat

Social Affairs Sept. 17, 2013

South Korean stocks declined 0.39 percent Tuesday dented by large-cap tech losses, while investors keep a wary eye ahead of a crucial U.S. monetary meeting and a long holiday in Seoul, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 7.79 points to 2,005.58. Trading volume was light at 256.6 million shares worth 4.19 trillion won (US$3.86 billion), but gainers outstripped losers 422 to 377. The main bourse snapped its gains from the previous session, moving in l

Sept. 17, 2013

일본 후쿠시마(福島) 제1원전 운영사인 도쿄전력은 16일 태풍이 상륙했을 때 원전 저장탱크 보(洑)에서 총1천130t의 물을 방출했다고 17일 발표했다.도쿄전력은 이날 임시 기자회견을 갖고 18호 태풍 `마니'의 영향으로 원전 저장 탱크들을 에워싼 누수방지용 보가 불어난 빗물로 넘칠 것으로 우려됨에 따라 방사성 물질 농도를 확인한 후 모두 7곳의 보 밸브 등을 열어 배수를 실시했다고 밝혔다.도쿄전력은 방출된 물의 방사성 물질 농도는 `스트론튬 90' 등 베타선을 방출하 는 물질이 리터당 최대 24베크렐로 법정기준인 30베크렐 미만이었다고 설명했다.배출된 물이 바다로 어느 정도 흘러들어갔는지에 대해서는 "바다로 이어지는 배 수구가 아니라 탱크 주위 지면에 방출했기 때문에 판단하기 어렵다"고 밝혔다.도교전력은 고인 물의 방사성 농도가 법정기준에 가깝거나 넘어선 곳에  대해서 서는 가설 펌프로 물을 퍼올려 탱크에 담았다고 말했다.<관련 영문 기사>Typhoon hits Japan as F

한국어판 Sept. 17, 2013