분신자살 시도 끝에 숨진 40대 남성이 남긴 의문의 유서가 발견됐다. 1일 서울 남대문경찰서에 따르면 서울시 중구 서울역 부근 고가도로에서 이모씨(40)가 전날 오후 5시 35분께 온몸에 인화성 액체를 뿌리고 분신, 병원에서 치료를 받던 중 심한 화상을 입고 이튿날 아침 7시 55분께 숨졌다.시위 당일 경찰이 현장에서 수거한 이씨의 수첩에서는 이씨의 친필로 추정되는 유서 형식의 글이 발견됐다. “안녕하십니까”로 시작하는 이 유서에는, “여러분 안녕하십니까, 안부도 묻기 힘든 상황입니다”라는 약 17줄 가량의 의미 불명의 문구가 적혀있었다. 경찰은 이 글귀가 최근 대학가에 붙은 대자보와 유사하다는 점에 착안, 조사를 진행중이라고 밝혔다. 또한 이씨는 분신 시위 직전 “박근혜 사퇴, 특검 실시”라고 씌여진 플래카드 2장을 고가도로에 내걸고, 쇠사슬로 양 손을 묶은 채 시위를 한 것으로 밝혀져 이에 대해서도 추가조사중인 것으로 알려졌다. (코리아헤럴드 정주원 기자)<관련 영문 기사>Man

한국어판 Jan. 1, 2014

At least 14 people were killed and scores were wounded Sunday by a female suicide bomber at a railway station in southern Russia, officials said, heightening concern about terrorism ahead of February's Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack in Volgograd, but it came several months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov called for new attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including the Sochi Games.Volgograd, 900 kilometers sou

World News Dec. 29, 2013

  Seoul has confirmed Saturday the veracity of a recent North Korean media report about a redefector who expressed contempt for her life in South Korea.   The unification ministry, in charge of handling inter-Korean policies, said that judging by her name, age and other personal information provided by Pyongyang, Choi Kye-soon indeed had lived in the South for about two years as she said in the broadcast.   Immigration records show the 64-year-old Choi as having had arrived in South Korea in Dec

North Korea Dec. 21, 2013

South Korean naval ships carrying water, food and medicine left the southern port city of Busan for the Philippines to support relief operations ongoing at the typhoon-stricken island nation, authorities said Saturday.   The two-ship flotilla made up of amphibious landing ships -- the Sung In Bong and Bi Ro Bong -- left South Korea's largest port, carrying 260 crew members and various supplies, including 30 vehicles ranging from excavators, dump trucks and cranes.   The ships are also taking 30

Defense Dec. 21, 2013

 Former Tampa Bay outfielder and designated hitter Luke Scott has signed a one-year deal with SK Wyvern, the South Korean baseball team has announced.  The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization team said it signed the 35-year-old Scott for $300,000, including a signing bonus of $50,000. Scott joined the Houston Astros in 2005 and then the Baltimore Orioles, where he hit more than 20 homers in three consecutive seasons. Last season he played with Tampa Bay, where he batted .241 with nine home

Baseball Dec. 21, 2013

South Korea's capital city has issued its third ultrafine dust advisory this month on Saturday, advising people to stay indoors.   The measure was taken after Seoul's atmospheric concentration levels of "particulate matter-2.5" pollutants stood at 69 micrograms per cubic meter as of 10 a.m. after hitting 62 micrograms in 8 a.m.   Seoul issues an advisory if the pollutant levels stay above the 60 micrograms per cubic meter for more than two consecutive hours.The alert is lifted after concentratio

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2013

  North Korea is not likely to conduct another nuclear test anytime soon, a U.S. institute said Friday, citing recent satellite images that showed ongoing construction work at the only known nuclear test site in the reclusive country.   The assessment by 38 North, a website by the U.S. Korea Institute of Johns Hopkins University, comes as recent satellite images showed construction work underway to build new a tunnel at the nuclear test site that can be used to detonate another fissile device. T

North Korea Dec. 21, 2013

South Koreans living abroad in such places as Paris and Berlin have held candle light vigils this week to protest the meddling of last year's presidential election by government bodies, sources said Saturday.   Organizers of the rallies that took place in Paris and Berlin said dozens of protesters showed up on or near the one-year anniversary of the Dec. 19 election to denounce namely the National Intelligence Service, the country's spy agency, and the defense ministry's psychological warfare un

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2013

 A defunct pipeline near the Han ruptured early Saturday morning, causing a small oil leak in the river that flows through South Korea's capital city, fire department officials said, adding that the spill has been contained. Authorities estimated that likely 0.5 liters of oil have escaped into the water when workers from a local garbage disposal company accidentally damaged the pipe at around 4:20 a.m. while they were collecting trash at the southern end of Seongsu Bridge. The leak caused a one-

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2013

The two Koreas were unable to find middle ground in working-level talks Friday to set up Internet connectivity at the inter-Korean factory park in Gaeseong.The Ministry of Unification said representatives from the two sides met at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North Korean border city of the same name and discussed various technical issues that must be resolved to make the special economic zone more accessible to businesses."The two sides touched on technical details but could not reach

North Korea Dec. 6, 2013

The newly appointed top prosecutor pledged Friday to establish political neutrality within the prosecution as part of its reform measures, citing growing public distrust.Prosecutor General Kim Jin-tae made the remarks during a meeting attended by a group of senior prosecutors of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and district offices."(The prosecution) must reflect on itself and ask why it is constantly pointed out (by the public) for lacking political neutrality," Kim said, asking them perform the

Politics Dec. 6, 2013

South Korea's science ministry said Tuesday it has opened a probe against KT Corp. as a part of its move to review the legitimacy of the firm's sales of the country's retired satellites at a dirt cheap price.The move came after parliament's communication committee revealed last week that KT sold the Mugungwha 2 and 3, South Korea's retired satellites launched in 1996 and 1999, respectively, to a Hong Kong-based satellite operator for a combined 4.5 billion won ($4.24 million).According to the co

Technology Nov. 5, 2013