The chief of the ruling Grand National Party said Tuesday that his party’s move to withdraw additional tax cuts for conglomerates is aimed at strengthening policies for ordinary working households.The tax cuts for businesses and high-earning individuals, which form the backbone of President Lee Myun

Politics Aug. 2, 2011

The minimum wage for North Korean workers being hired by South Korean companies operating at the inter-Korean industrial park in the North’s border town of Kaesong rose by 5 percent this year, the same annual rate of increase since 2007, the Unification Ministry said Monday. Despite frequent cross-b

Social Affairs Aug. 1, 2011

A North Korean national visited South Korea for a regional conference of the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, officials said Monday.The North Korean, identified only by his family name Jang, arrived in Seoul last Monday in the capacity of a UNESCO official to attend the annual meeting by education coord

North Korea Aug. 1, 2011

Women’s rights advocates called for reform in the male-dominated political system on Tuesday to help more female candidates run for election, as part of efforts to expand their presence in politics.In a forum held by the state-run Korea Women’s Development Institute, panelists pointed out that a small fraction of the National Assembly and local legislatures were made up of women, suggesting variou

Politics July 26, 2011

The Cabinet authorized the implementation of a revised ethics code for government officials Tuesday that bans retired officials working for private firms from seeking favors from their former colleagues and handling issues they directly dealt with while in office.The revision, set to take effect after a three-month notification period, came after a series of former financial regulators were arrest

Politics July 26, 2011

South Korea’s ruling party leader urged the government Monday to ban a group of Japanese lawmakers from entering the country as they plan to visit an island near the country’s easternmost islets of Dokdo in an attempt to lay claims to the islets.Four lawmakers of Japan’s conservative opposition Liberal Democratic Party said last week they are planning to visit Ulleung Island in the East Sea, the c

Foreign Affairs July 25, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak called Monday for South Koreans to head to domestic destinations for vacation, saying it will contribute greatly to spurring domestic demand that is key to revitalizing the country’s economy.Lee made the appeal in a biweekly radio address, saying that sluggish domestic demand is to blame for economic difficulties felt by low-income people, though South Korea’s economy is fa

Politics July 25, 2011

Outside the classroom a hot summer day beckons, but fourth-grade teacher Yeon Eun-jung’s students are glued to their tablet PCs as they watch an animated boy and a girl squabble about whether water becomes heavier when frozen.The small scene in this rural town is part of something big: South Korea is taking a $2 billion gamble that its students are ready to ditch paper textbooks in favor of tablet

Social Affairs July 25, 2011

All officials in tribunal courts, both bar and bench, may now wear robes during trials, in an attempt to maintain a formal atmosphere and instill pride and esteem in attorneys, said the Seoul Bar Association on Sunday. In order to test the waters, the association plans to have its members wear the robes during opening ceremonies for law practice and other events, eventually leading to use by lawye

Social Affairs July 24, 2011

A top North Korean diplomat handling nuclear negotiations with the outside world plans to make a rare trip to New York later this week for talks with U.S. officials, multiple diplomatic sources said Sunday.First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan is expected to visit New York around July 28 on a trip that includes a meeting with Stephen Bosworth, the top U.S. envoy on Korean Peninsula affairs, the

North Korea July 24, 2011

North Koreans voted in local elections Sunday as state media stepped up calls for loyalty to the ruling Workers’ Party and leader Kim Jong-il as the totalitarian leader has been trying to hand power over to his youngest son.Kim cast his ballot at a polling station in Pyongyang, along with his heir-apparent son Kim Jong-un and a senior party official, according to the official Korean Central News A

North Korea July 24, 2011