한국의 가계•기업•정부 부채가 전체 경제 규모의 3배에 육박하는 것으로 파악됐다.22일 한국은행 자금순환표를 보면 올해 2분기 말 현재 가계 및 비영리단체•비 금융 기업•일반정부의 부채는 지난 1년간의 국내총생산(GDP)의 289.8%에 이르는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 해당 통계가 작성된 이래 가장 큰 수치다. 금융위기 당시 최고치였던 285. 2%(2009년2분기)보다도 더 높다.   GDP 대비 가계•기업•정부 부채의 비율은 2003년까지만 해도 220%대에 머물렀다.그러나 2006년 말 236.5%, 2007년 말 245.9%로 오르더니 금융위기를 맞은 2008년 말 273.7%로 훌쩍 뛰었다. 지난해엔 280% 선마저 돌파했다.주체별로 보면 민간기업의 GDP대비 부채비율이 2003년 2분기 131.4%에서 올해 2 분기 158.0%로 불어났다. 가계는 같은 기간 72.8%에서 91.6%가 됐다.정부의 부채비율은 18.2%에서 40.1%로 상승했다. 정부의 부채비율은 절댓값은 가

한국어판 Sept. 22, 2013

서울에 홀로 사는 노인 10명 중 7명은 여성이며 남성보다 어려운 형편 속에서 고독에 노출된 것으로 조사됐다.22일 서울시가 2011년 시행한 독거노인 전수조사 데이터베이스를 성별로 분석해 발표한 결과에 따르면 서울 거주 만 65세 이상 독거노인 5만 8천702명 중 77.6%인 4 만5천596명이 여성이었다.서울시 전체 노인 중 여성 비율이 55.6%인 것과 비교하면 홀로 사는 노인은 여성 비율이 훨씬 높았다.또 앓는 질병도 여성은 2.7 개, 남성은 1.6개로 건강 면에서 홀로 사는 여성 노인이 남성 노인보다 취약했다.연령이 높고 소득이 낮을수록 질병이 많았다. 이들이 가진 주요 질병은 관절염, 고혈압, 신경통, 골다공증, 당뇨병 순으로 조사됐다.여성 독거노인의 월평균 소득은 42만5천원으로 남성 독거노인 53만5천원의 79% 수준에 그쳤다.월평균 소득 45만원 이하는 여성이 72.3%, 남성이 62.2%로 조사됐다.경제활동 참가율도 여성은 7.7%로 남성 14.7%의 절반 수준

한국어판 Sept. 22, 2013

The number of female senior citizens living alone accounted for 77.6 percent of the total solitary elderly population in Seoul, a report from the city government showed on Sunday. According to the report, the average income of a woman over age 65 living alone was 425,000 won ($390) per month, 79 percent of what men of the corresponding status earned. Elderly women made up 7.7 percent of the economically active population, half that of men. In addition, the number of houseless women amounted to t

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2013

North Korea on Sunday blamed South Korea's confrontational policy for its abrupt decision to postpone the scheduled family reunions, further clouding the prospects for the highly anticipated event.The latest response comes one day after Pyongyang unilaterally put off the reunions of family members separated by the Korean War six decades ago, just four days before the planned event. Both sides had exchanged the final lists of about 200 candidates to be reunited at the North's mountain resort of K

North Korea Sept. 22, 2013

BERLIN -- She enjoys overwhelming popularity and leads an economy that's the envy of Europe. But Angela Merkel is in a fight to clinch a new term for her ruling coalition in Sunday's national election, with polls showing her center-right alliance on a knife-edge as her junior partner's support slumps. Merkel and her conservative Christian Democratic Union appear likely to fend off a challenge from center-left rival Peer Steinbrueck and emerge as the biggest party in parliament's lower house, who

World News Sept. 22, 2013

Terrified shoppers huddled in back hallways and prayed they would not be found by the Islamic extremist gunmen lobbing grenades and firing assault rifles inside Nairobi's top mall Saturday. When the way appeared clear, crying mothers clutching small children and blood-splattered men sprinted out of the four-story mall.At least 39 people were killed and more than 150 wounded in the assault, Kenya's president announced on national TV, while disclosing that his close family members were among the d

World News Sept. 22, 2013

South Korea will select the winner of its fighter jet project next week, with Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle deemed a favorite as it is the only candidate to meet the 8.3 trillion won (US$7.2 billion) budget, the state procurement agency said Tuesday.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has completed biddings and evaluations on three jets -- Boeing's F-15 SE, Lockheed Martin's F-35 and the EADS' Eurofighter -- and briefed President Park Geun-hye on the results last week.It is not ye

Social Affairs Sept. 17, 2013

Typhoon Man-yi hit Japan Monday, leaving three people dead and forcing the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to release rainwater with low levels of radiation into the ocean.The powerful typhoon made landfall in Toyohashi, Aichi prefecture, shortly before 8:00 am (2300 GMT Sunday), packing gusts of up to 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.Public broadcaster NHK said a 71-year-old woman was found dead as a landslide engulfed her house in Shiga

World News Sept. 17, 2013

FC Seoul will look to reach its first semifinals at the top annual Asian club football competition as it readies to host a Saudi Arabian side this week.The South Korean club will bring Al Ahli of the Saudi Professional League to Seoul World Cup Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Wednesday for the second leg of their quarterfinals series at the AFC Champions League.In the first leg played in Saudi Arabia last month, the teams played to a 1-1 draw.The aggregate score after two legs will determine

Soccer Sept. 17, 2013

The number of married couples has tumbled more than 30 percent over the past two decades, with the average age of first marriages soaring, a report showed Tuesday.According to the report by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city saw a total of 71,695 marriages last year, down a whopping 33.5 percent from 107,821 in 1992.Of them, 62,208 cases involved a husband in their 20s and 30s in 2012, a 40 percent plunge from 103,672 in 1992, the report showed.Seoul citizens were also found to wed late

Social Affairs Sept. 17, 2013