Get a “Green Card” and receive rewards every time you buy eco-friendly products or use public transportation. The Ministry of Environment announced Thursday the launch of Green Card which allows environmentally minded customers to receive up to 200,000 won ($191) a year in cash rewards for green consumption and energy-saving activities. It was developed in cooperation with local payment service pr

Social Affairs July 21, 2011

Two South Korean intelligence officials have been detained by Chinese authorities for 11 months for information-gathering activities related to North Korea, South Korean media reported Thursday. According to multiple news reports, citing unnamed diplomatic sources, two agents belonging to the National Intelligence Service were arrested by Chinese Ministry of State Security last August in Shenyang

Foreign Affairs July 21, 2011

Investigators say area D test results expected to come out by late JulyA joint Korea-U.S. team investigating the alleged burial of Agent Orange at one of the American army camps here detected no traces of drums underground at one of the alleged burial sites, a government source said Wednesday. The team said earlier this month that they found “anomalies” beneath the helipad at Camp Carroll located

Defense July 20, 2011

Park Geun-hye, a leading presidential hopeful of the ruling Grand National Party, said Tuesday that she will run in the general election next year in her constituency in Dalseong in the southeastern city of Daegu. “I made a promise to voters (that I will not abandon my constituency) and I intend to keep that,” she told a group of reporters in the city. She was visiting a sports stadium where an in

Politics July 19, 2011

The main opposition Democratic Party on Tuesday outlined 10 areas for renegotiation of the free trade agreement with the United States, ratcheting up its opposition to ratification of the pact. “We demand the government redo the negotiation and restore a balance of interests, which was tilted in favor of the U.S. in last year’s renegotiation,” Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, floor leader of the DP, said. The pa

Politics July 19, 2011

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday it would consider countermeasures if Japanese lawmakers land on Ulleungdo, a Korean-administered island located between the two countries near the disputed island of Dokdo. Ulleungdo is Korea’s administrative and military defense base for Dokdo, which the Japanese call Takeshima. “We’re closely monitoring the situation after learning from news media about

Foreign Affairs July 17, 2011

World News July 16, 2011

Korea-U.S. investigation team finds suspicious spots in Camp CarrollCHILGOK, North Gyeongsang Province ― A joint Korea-U.S. investigation team found signs that metallic objects, shaped like drums, may be buried underground at one of the U.S. military camps in Korea, team officials said Friday. The team will now take samples of soil from as far as 10 meters deep to verify a claim by U.S. veteran St

Social Affairs July 8, 2011