The Korea Herald

Tougher rules on ex-officials’ hiring to curb cronyism

Senior public officials banned from private-sector jobs upon retirementThe government announced Friday new measures aimed at rooting out the deep-rooted practice of government and judicial officials placing their former colleagues in senior positions at private firms.The so-called “jeon-gwan-ye-u” practice, which means giving “honorable treatment to retired colleagues,” is widespread in Korea, esp

Social Affairs June 3, 2011

Seoul City plans probe on U.S. bases in capital

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch its own inspection into environmental contamination near U.S. military bases in the city, officials said Thursday.In a meeting of senior officials, the city decided to carry out a special investigation into the underground water in the areas adjacent to U.S. camps from June 6 to the end of the month. A total of 12 U.S. military camps are based in Seoul

Social Affairs June 2, 2011

‘Why do you stick to eating meat?’

Vegan doctor says vegetarian diets can meet all nutrient needsWhen asked why he promotes vegetarianism, Yoon Sung-chul, professor of nephrology at Dankook University Medical College, responded in Kind: “Why do you stick to eating meat?” he asked.“I have numerous reasons why we should be vegetarians. How about you?” he said in a Korea Herald interview.On May 21, Yoon took part in the inauguration o

Technology June 2, 2011

Wine, wellness, not the best mix for boomers

DECATUR, Georgia ― As baby boomers approach their golden years, they are embracing wellness and wine ― two things that don’t always go together.While a glass of red wine a day may reduce the risk of heart disease, many boomers are drinking a lot more and not realizing they are increasing their potential risks for other serious health problems, ranging from alcohol abuse disorders to chronic diseas

Technology June 2, 2011

Wine, wellness, not the best mix for boomers

C40 to discuss Seoul’s green traffic policy

Seoul will be presented as a role-model in environment-friendly traffic policy during the fourth C40 Cities Climate Conference in Brazil, officials said Tuesday.During the three-day event, which begins Tuesday in Sao Paolo, Seoul officials will introduce the capital’s traffic policy, including the adoption of compressed natural gas buses and the bus rapid transit system. Officials said the organiz

Social Affairs May 31, 2011

Tobacco firms may have to put toxin level labels on packs

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering forcing cigarette companies to label toxic chemicals and their quantities on cigarette packets, news reports said Tuesday.If implemented, it would be the nation’s strongest-ever antismoking warning on cigarette packaging. A family walks past a no-smoking sign, warning smokers that starting this June, those caught smoking at Seoul, Gwanghwamun and C

Social Affairs May 31, 2011

Tobacco firms may have to put toxin level labels on packs

More than 110,000 Koreans suffer from defoliant ills

More than 110,000 Koreans have been suffering from the aftereffects of exposure to toxic defoliants, the Ministry of Veterans and Patriots Affairs said Sunday. The latest data, collected in March, has fanned public concern amid recent allegations that the U.S. Army buried a large amount of Agent Orange in one of its camps in southeastern Korea three decades ago. City officials take samples of und

Social Affairs May 30, 2011

More than 110,000 Koreans suffer from defoliant ills

Korean-American in Mexico meth case

Gang member arrested; first time Mexican drugs found on sale hereThe prosecution said Sunday they recently indicted a former Korean-American gang member for smuggling methamphetamine from Mexico and selling it here. It was the first time that the drugs from Mexico have been found to be traded in Korea where most illegal drugs come from China. According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Of

Social Affairs May 29, 2011

Former auditor questioned over graft payment

Snowballing savings bank allegations now involve politicians, bureaucratsFormer state auditor Eun Jin-soo appeared before the prosecution Sunday to face questioning over his alleged involvement in a snowballing savings bank scandal.Eun, a confidant of President Lee Myung-bak’s, is suspected of taking kickbacks including diamonds in return for lax auditing into the corruption-ridden Busan Mutual Sa

Social Affairs May 29, 2011

Former auditor questioned over graft payment

Woman dies from mystery virus

One of seven hospitalized with unknown virus dies 16 days after first deathAnother pregnant woman has died of acute pneumonia caused by an unidentified virus, the health authorities confirmed Thursday. She was the second death among the seven pregnant women who had been hospitalized at a Seoul hospital in April for infection with the unknown virus.The 36-year-old woman first visited the hospital o

Social Affairs May 26, 2011

Wunsch Award receives nominees

Boehringer Ingelheim Korea is receiving nominations for this year’s Wunsch Medical Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in Korean medicine. The German drug manufacturer established the award together with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences in 1990, naming it after Richard Wunsch, the first German physician in Korea. Wunsch also served as a personal physician to King Gojong from 1901 to 19

Technology May 26, 2011

Korea’s only women’s cancer center leaps forward

New director expects to attract breast cancer patients from Asian nationsRenowned breast cancer specialist Paik Nam-sun has never hesitated to try something new. Despite the doubts of his colleagues, he carried out Korea’s first breast-conserving cancer surgery in 1986. He is also among the Korean doctors to have treated the largest number of foreign patients at more than 15,000 cases. Paik, now 6

Technology May 26, 2011

Korea’s only women’s cancer center leaps forward

Match rigging scandal hits Korean soccer

A prosecution investigation is underway into a match rigging case in which brokers bribed some professional soccer players to deliberately lose games, local daily Munhwa Ilbo reported Wednesday. The two brokers, including a former midfielder from a local soccer club, made significant profits from a sports lottery by arranging game scores, the report said. According to Changwon Prosecutor’s Office,

Social Affairs May 25, 2011

Expats promote tourist jewels of Gangnam

District’s foreign publicity ambassadors share Seoul experiences through SNSFor Chinese student Yu Wenbo, who has been studying journalism in Korea for more than five years, Gangnam, in southeastern Seoul, is an area with many wonders yet to find.“I often hang out with my friends at COEX, which has a huge underground shopping center, a movie theater and restaurants. But I had never known the World

Social Affairs May 24, 2011

Expats promote tourist jewels of Gangnam

College tuition fees soar 30% in five years

Seoul considers paying interest on student loans for low-income familiesThe nation’s university fees saw a nearly 30 percent increase over the past five years, according to reports from central bank and the government Monday.The figure came a day after the ruling Grand National Party resumed the discussion on a “half-tuition” policy. According to the Bank of Korea and Statistics Korea on Monday, t

Social Affairs May 23, 2011

College tuition fees soar 30% in five years

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