The Korea Herald

S. Korea to hold 1st meeting to address U.S. military crimes

South Korea’s inter-government task force to better deal with crimes by American soldiers will hold its first meeting this week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The task force, consisting of senior officials from the foreign ministry, police, the defense ministry and the South Korea-U.S.Combined

Defense Oct. 18, 2011

‘Voting an innate right granted to all citizens’

The right to vote is a constitutional right granted to all citizens regardless of their location, a senior official of the National Election Commission said. “One does not have to perform taxpaying or military duties nor prove one’s qualification to exercise one’s constitutional rights,” said Jeong

Politics Oct. 17, 2011

‘Voting an innate right granted to all citizens’

Four Rivers Restoration Project and the future

Yoo Young-sookA member of the prestigious French Academy, Erik Orsenna, in his book ‘The Future of Water,’ describes the water crisis caused by climate change in Australia, China, Africa and Southeast Asia to demonstrate the stark reality of the water crises many countries are facing and their strug

Social Affairs Oct. 17, 2011

Four Rivers Restoration Project and the future

Air quality at theaters to be regulated by law

The air quality of movie theaters, exhibition halls, Internet cafes and private education institutes will be newly regulated, the government said Sunday, with fines to be issued for poor maintenance. The Ministry of Environment will add the four types of public facilities to its list of places where

Social Affairs Oct. 16, 2011

Nearly 9 out of 10 Koreans distrust politicians: poll

Nearly nine out of 10 South Koreans distrust domestic politics and politicians, a poll showed Sunday, illustrating a growing sense of crisis among rival political parties.According to a poll of 1,018 adults and 730 youths by the Office of the Minister of Special Affairs, 87.1 percent of adults and 8

Politics Oct. 16, 2011

Lee’s visit to U.S. strengthens alliance

President returns home from trip highlighted by ratification of free trade agreementPresident Lee Myung-bak’s state visit to the United States was a demonstration of their stronger alliance through the U.S. Congress ratification of the bilateral trade agreement.Lee returned home Sunday, wrapping up

Politics Oct. 16, 2011

Lee’s visit to U.S. strengthens alliance

English education at right time matters more than early start

Civic group against private education criticizes early foreign language learningEarly English education does not always guarantee proficiency in the language or a good school record. In fact, some believe it could disrupt a child’s balanced development.Their assertion runs counter to a widespread be

Social Affairs Oct. 13, 2011

English education at right time matters more than early start

FTA approval symbolizes new era in alliance

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The Barack Obama administration and Congress have demonstrated their commitment to a stronger alliance with South Korea, not just militarily but also economically, by completing the long-overdue process of endorsing a free trade agreement in time for President Lee Myung-ba

Foreign Affairs Oct. 13, 2011

FTA approval symbolizes new era in alliance

S. Korea raises issue of Japan’s wartime sex crimes at U.N.

South Korea demanded that Japan take “legal responsibility” for the aging Korean women forced into sexual slavery to serve Japan’s World War II soldiers, formally raising the issue at a U.N. meeting for the first time in 14 years, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday. “These systematic rapes a

Foreign Affairs Oct. 12, 2011

Korean diplomat in Germany probed for drunk driving

A senior South Korean diplomat in Germany has been investigated by local police on allegations of drunk driving, a foreign ministry official in Seoul said Tuesday. The diplomat rammed his vehicle into a cement wall near a restaurant last Friday in downtown Berlin and crashed into four parked cars, a

Foreign Affairs Oct. 11, 2011

Corrupt workers at state-run firms to get stronger punishment

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill that would punish corrupt employees at state-run firms the same as government officials, which the government said is a measure aimed at increasing transparency in the management of local public firms.The revised law on provincial public firms is subject to app

Social Affairs Oct. 11, 2011

S. Korea’s nuclear envoy to visit Japan this week

South Korea’s new chief envoy to the stalled six-nation talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs will travel to Japan this week to coordinate a joint strategy on efforts to revive the multilateral forum, officials said Tuesday. Lim Sung-nam, who was appointed to the post last week in a routin

North Korea Oct. 11, 2011

China releases S. Korean held for helping N.K. defectors

One of two South Koreans detained by Chinese authorities late last month with a group of North Korean defectors has been released and returned home, Seoul’s foreign ministry officials said Tuesday. The two men, who had also defected from North Korea before they settled in the South, were held by Chi

North Korea Oct. 11, 2011

Ex-vice minister denies bribery allegations

A former vice culture minister, during an overnight questioning, denied allegations that he received a huge amount of money from a local businessman in return for influence peddling, prosecution sources said Monday.Shin Jae-min, the ex-vice minister and close presidential confidant, returned home ea

Social Affairs Oct. 10, 2011

‘N.K., U.S. to hold more nuclear talks this month’

North Korea and the United States will hold a second bilateral meeting to discuss the stalled six-nation talks on the North’s nuclear weapons programs, a senior Seoul diplomat said Monday. The exact date for the meeting has not been set, but the two sides will meet sometime after this week’s planned

North Korea Oct. 10, 2011

Articles by Chun Sung-woo