A high-ranking prosecutor who has been indicted on charges of suspicious stock transactions and bribery was dismissed as of Thursday, the government said.The Ministry of Justice said the country's personnel ministry dismissed Jin Kyung-joon, making him the first incumbent prosecutor at a level comparable to a vice minister to ever be relieved from his or her post.The move comes a week after the ministry's disciplinary committee decided to fire the 49-year-old.In late July, prosecutors indicted J

Politics Aug. 18, 2016

North Korea has set up three new antiaircraft artillery bases in the outskirts of Pyongyang as part of its efforts to defend the North Korean capital and its military facilities, the U.S.-based Radio Free Asia said Thursday.Citing Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, the RFA said a satellite imagery analysis of the antiaircraft artillery bases suggests they are situated in eastern Pyongyang and an existing antiaircraft artillery base is reinforced

North Korea Aug. 18, 2016

Owners of several large companies in South Korea received handsome compensation in the first half of the year despite corporate troubles, data showed Thursday, sparking criticism over their high pay.According to the data compiled by market researcher Chaebul.com, 237 executives of local companies received 500 million won ($452,000) or more in compensation in the January-June period, an increase of 8 people from the same period a year earlier.Among the highly paid directors are several owners of

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

South Korean companies must focus more on individual Chinese consumers rather than Chinese producers to keep their exports growing as Chinese consumers' spending has nearly quadrupled in just 10 years and will continue to grow, a report said Thursday.According to the report from the Korea International Trade Association, China's per capita spending came to $7,924 in 2015, up about 380 percent from $2,083 in 2006.Also, China's consumer market has been growing at more than 10 percent over the past

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

Users of South Korea's public transportation system became less satisfied with overall services from a year earlier in 2015 with many pointing to overcrowding as a major problem, a survey showed Thursday.In the annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the country's public transportation system scored 4.78 points out of a possible 7 in terms of user satisfaction, compared with 4.84 points in the previous year.The outcome was based on points given by 83,600 pe

Social Affairs Aug. 18, 2016

안정적인 가정을 꾸리려면 가족 구성원에 대한 계획이 필요하다. 즉, 아이를 언제 가질 지 주의해야 한다는 말인데. 아무리 피임에 신경을 써 ‘안전 우선 (Safety First)’인 성관계를 가진다 해도 희소한 확률로 덜컥 계획에 없던 임신을 하게 될 수 있다. 　　예일 대학교 의학박사이자 산부인과 교수인 매리 제인 민킨은 아래와 같은 사례를 들며 피임에 실패하는 유형을 설명했다. 　　1. 생리 중 성관계  (123RF)　본래 월경이란 다달이 난자가 박리되어 몸 밖으로 배출되는 것이다. 때문에 월경 중엔 정자와 결합할 난자가 부재하기에 임신하지 않을 거라 생각하고 성관계를 가지는 커플들이 있다. 　　하지만 정자는 여성의 체내에서 최장 5일가량 생존할 수 있기 때문에 월경 끝자락에 피임기구 없이 성관계를 가지면 월경 후 새로이 생기는 난자가 수정돼 임신할 가능성이 있다. 　　2. ‘흥분된’ 목욕 (Fox)　성관계를 가지지 않고 목욕만 하더라도 수중에 정자가 떠다니다 여성 체내로 들어갈

한국어판 Aug. 18, 2016

State prosecutors on Thursday called in the managing director of Volkswagen Korea to question him over allegations the German carmaker fabricated emissions results here.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office summoned Volkswagen Korea Managing Director Thomas Kuehl to gather information on allegations the automaker illegally changed parts of the Golf 1.4 TSI to obtain approval from the local government between 2014 and 2015."I am very sorry for the situation, and I apologize to our custom

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

The volume of 50,000-won ($45.15) notes in circulation has exceeded 70 trillion won for the first time on growing demand and increased supply, the central bank's data showed Thursday.The outstanding balance of South Korea's highest-denominated banknote, came to 70.43 trillion won as of the end of July, up 0.8 percent from a month earlier, according to the Bank of Korea. Since the bill was introduced in June 2009, its supply has been on a rapid rise. The amount totaled 60 trillion won in Septembe

Aug. 18, 2016

Three vehicle models produced by South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. took the top three spots in terms of best-selling cars in Israel in the first half of the year, also making their manufacturers the two most preferred brands in the Middle Eastern country, the companies said Thursday.In the January-June period, Kia's Morning compact car, sold as the Picanto in some countries, took the top spot as the best-selling car in Israel.It was followed by the

Mobility Aug. 18, 2016

Five of Samsung Group subsidiaries have slashed about 5,700 jobs so far this year via voluntary retirement programs, according to the units' regulatory filings on Thursday. The five units -- Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung Engineering and Samsung C&T -- have offered early retirement or voluntary severance, as part of a drive to increase competitiveness and return to profitability. The five subsidiaries had a total of 49,259 employees as of June 30 this y

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

Lotte Homeshopping Inc., the TV channel of retail giant Lotte Group, is facing a staff exodus as many employees are poised to leave the company following a series of negative incidents, industry sources said Thursday.Major local headhunters have been flooded with resumes of Lotte Homeshopping employees wanting to change jobs since mid-June, when the prosecution launched a full-fledged probe into irregularities involving the renewal of its business license last year."It seems that Lotte Homeshopp

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

Exports by South Korean venture companies have fared relatively well this year, although the country's overall outbound shipments continued to suffer a setback, stung by the continued sluggishness of the global economy, data showed Thursday.Overseas shipments by local startups came to $9.99 billion in the first seven months of the year, up 0.8 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the data by the Korea International Trade Association.In July alone, their exports rose 1.7 perc

Industry Aug. 18, 2016

보건복지부는 자살 예방에 대한 관심을 높이고 생명 존중 문화를 확산하기 위해 '괜찮니 캠페인'을 추진한다고 18일 밝혔다.괜찮니 캠페인은 손글씨 엽서를 전달하는 '우체통 캠페인', 안부 인사를 동영상으로 전달하는 '에어 키스 캠페인', 자살문제에 대한 국민적 관심을 유도하는 전국 릴레이 '괜찮니 플래시몹' 등으로 진행된다. (123RF)에어 키스 캠페인은 영상으로 인사를 전하고 싶은 사람에게 메시지를 전달하는 것을 말하며 손봉호 기아대책 이사장, 강지원 변호사, 프로축구 2부리그 서울 이랜드 FC 최태욱 감독 등이 에어 키스 영상을 촬영해 이번 캠페인에 동참했다.괜찮니 플래시몹은 거리나 광장 등에서 자살을 상징하는 퍼포먼스와 서로에게 희망을 북돋우는 노래와 댄스로 구성되며 플래시몹에 사용되는 음악은 V.O.S 멤버인 박지헌씨와 탤런트 임성언씨 등의 재능 기부로 제작됐다.이번 캠페인은 19일 문을 여는 '괜찮니.com' 홈페이지를 통해 진행된다. 이 홈페이지는 별도의 회원가입 없이 페

한국어판 Aug. 18, 2016