Police have blacklisted and inspected 16 civilians simply because they are deemed threats to the President, an opposition lawmaker claimed Thursday."A police blacklist that I recently acquired had personal information such as specific people's names, dates of birth and whether they are members of certain organizations just because they pose threats to escorting the president," Rep. Kim Hyun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said during a news conference at the national assembly.The do

Social Affairs Oct. 31, 2013

A Seoul court ordered disgraced Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn Thursday to compensate the group's shareholders nearly 9 billion won ($8.49 million) for their massive losses.The 61-year-old tycoon was indicted on charges of ordering the group's executives to arrange the illicit sale of Hanwha S&C bonds to his eldest son in 2005 at a huge discount to help him take the largest stake in the group's IT arm. Chairman Kim and eight executives of the country's 10th largest family-controlled conglo

Industry Oct. 31, 2013

Two civic organizations are reviewing plans to sue for compensation as early as next week against YBM Korea TOEIC Commission for taking excessive cancellation fees and charging extra during a special application period.The Youth Community Union and the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy argued that YBM should refund all past English proficiency test applicants who were forced to pay too much due to these provisions. According to the YBM website, applicants who cancel their entrance

Social Affairs Oct. 30, 2013

North Korea has revised a law to help the isolated country expand railway cargo cooperation with foreign countries and attract investment, a report said Wednesday.According to the report by the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), Pyongyang changed its international railroad cargo law in December 2011 that regulates contracts, damage claims, fares, restrictions and dispute settlements. The North had created its first railway law in 1987, but this revision marks the first related to cooperation with

North Korea Oct. 30, 2013

The Imperial Japanese Army’s infamous medical research unit practiced secret human experiments with infected fleas, killing some 2,500 Chinese civilians during the second Japanese-Chinese War, a paper claimed Wednesday.Suh Yi-jong, a professor of sociology at Seoul National University, unveiled evidence of Unit 731’s new war crimes based on classified documents, including a record written by one of its members.The clandestine biological and chemical warfare research team unleashed about 10,000 f

World News Oct. 30, 2013

The world’s mobile market in the July to September period was led by two Korean electronics firms ― Samsung and LG ― according to a report. Samsung shipped 120 million units, the largest number of mobile phones in the third quarter, which accounts for 28.7 percent of the entire market, according to a report released by leading market research institute Strategy Analytics.The sales figure is twice that of mobile firm Nokia, which sold 65 million units, and four times larger than that of Californi

Technology Oct. 29, 2013

South Korean stocks gained marginally higher Tuesday as investors took a wary approach ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy-setting meeting, analysts said. The local currency edged up against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.62 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 2,051.76. Trading volume was light at 303.0 million shares worth 3.56 trillion won ($3.35 billion), but decliners outnumbered gainers 412 to 385. The KOSPI swerved in and out of posi

Oct. 29, 2013

ILSAN -- An international aerospace and defense exhibition kicked off here on Tuesday for a six-day run with global aerospace giants and defense contractors participating to showcase their latest weapons systems and technologies.The Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) underway at the Korea International Exhibition Center (Kintex) in Ilsan, just north of Seoul, brings together 361 exhibitors from 28 countries seeking marketing opportunities for defense contractors and dipl

Defense Oct. 29, 2013

More than 600,000 debtors in South Korea are expected to be bailed out via state debt relief programs this year on the back of government support, data showed Tuesday, amid criticism that such a policy has been encouraging people to increase borrowing regardless of their financial capabilities.The government has helped some 602,000 debtors reduce their financial liabilities so far this year through various state debt restructuring funds, according to related authorities, including the Financial

Politics Oct. 29, 2013

국내에서 유통되는 일부 청바지에 발암물질인 아릴아민이 기준치를 3배나 초과해 포함된 것으로 나타났다.리바이스와 빈폴은 청바지의 품질과 안정성이 비교적 우수한 것으로 조사됐다.한국소비자연맹은 28일 시중에서 판매되는 12개 브랜드(국내브랜드 7종, 외국브랜드 8종)의 남성용 청바지 15종을 대상으로 한 품질과 안정성 조사결과를 공개했다.시험대상이 된 브랜드는 유니클로, 베이직하우스[084870], 잠뱅이, TBJ, 에비수, 캘빈클라인, 타미힐피거데님, 리바이스, 빈폴, 버커루, 게스, 디젤 등이다.연맹은 각 브랜드 중에서 탈색 등 가공처리가 되고 폴리우레탄이 함유돼 신축성이 좋은 기본 일자형(32인치 사이즈) 청바지를 시험대상으로 골랐다.조사항목은 건•습 마찰에 대한 염색 견뢰도(안정도), 세탁에 대한 염색 견뢰도, 인장강도, 섬유혼용률, 산성도, 유해물질 검출 여부 등이다.조사결과 베이직하우스 제품(HNDP2121)에서 발암물질인 아릴아민이 기술표준원 고시 기준치(1㎏당 30㎎ 이하

한국어판 Oct. 28, 2013

서울대병원이 지난 5년여간 국립대 병원 중에서 병원 내 감염이 가장 많이 발생한 병원으로 나타났다. 국회 교육문화체육관광위원회 소속 민주당 안민석 의원은 28일 ‘2009~2013년 대학병원별 병원 내 감염현황’ 자료를 분석한 결과 2009년부터 올해 현재까지 국립대 병원 내에서 총 1천407건의 감염이 발생했는데 이중 서울대병원이 558건(39.7%)로 가장 많았다고 밝혔다. 이어 부산대병원 218건(15.5%), 경북대병원 113건(8.0%) 순으로 병원 내 감염이 많이 발생했다. 강원대병원, 제주대병원 등에서는 다제내성녹농균(MRPA), 다제내성아시네토박터바우마니균(MRAB), 메티실린내성황색포도알균(MRSA) 등 항생제에 내성을 가진 슈퍼바이러스를 병원 내 감염의 주요 원인으로 들었다. 병원 내 감염 발생 이유는 격리나 보호장구 착용 등 접촉에서의 부주의, 소독과 멸균 관리 부실 등이 원인이라고 안 의원은 지적했다. 안 의원은 “국내에서 가

한국어판 Oct. 28, 2013