State prosecutors on Tuesday raided the residence of a former chief of the national tax agency and its Seoul regional office as part of their investigation into an alleged bribery exchange between CJ Group and former top tax officials.After indicting CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun of embezzlement and offshore tax evasion charges, prosecutors have been expanding their probe into suspicions that the local food and entertainment conglomerate provided bribes to former chief Jeon Gun-pyo and former d

Social Affairs July 30, 2013

Three of five missing South Korean climbers were found dead in the Central Alps in central Japan Tuesday, officials said.A 78-year-old man named Park Moon-soo was confirmed as one of the three dead, officials at the South Korean consulate general in Niigata said, adding that they are still waiting for the exact identities of the other two."Park's identity has been confirmed," a consulate general official said, adding that a passport in the name of Lee Soo-keun was found inside a backpack next to

Social Affairs July 30, 2013

CJ그룹의 세무조사 무마로비 의혹을 수사 중인 검찰이 월요일 전군표 전 국세청장에 대한 출국 금지 조치를 취했다.2006년 7월부터 2007년 11월까지 국세청장을 역임한 전 전 청장은 CJ의 국세청 조사를 무마해주는 대가로 이재현 CJ회장으로부터 돈과 고가의 시계를 받은 것으로 알려졌다.검찰은 이 회장과 CJ 관계자들로부터 세무조사 무마를 위해 전 전 청장과 허병익 전 국세청 차장에게 금품을 전달했다는 증언을 확보했다. 조만간 전 전 청장을 소환해 뇌물을 받은 명목에 대해 조사할 방침이다. 2006년 서울지방국세청은 CJ그룹의 3500억원이 넘는 세금을 부과할 수 있었지만 그 해 한푼도 추징하지 않은 것으로 알려졌다.현재 비자금 수사 중에 있는 이 회장은 횡령, 탈세 등 혐의로 구속된 상태다. 신동기 CJ 글로벌홀딩스 부사장도 이 회장과 비슷한 혐의로 기소됐다. 신 부사장은 이 회장의 비자금을 관리한것이 아니냐는 의혹을 받고 있다.  신 부사장은 서울 시내에 있는 사무실에서 허 전

한국어판 July 29, 2013

A former chief of the national tax agency on Monday denied charges that he took bribes from CJ Group in return for providing favors during a tax audit into the local food and entertainment conglomerate.Jeon Goon-pyo, who led the National Tax Service (NTS) from July 2006 to November 2007, has been accused by his former staff of receiving cash and expensive watches from CJ Group in late 2006."Accusations that I received US$300,000 in U.S. bills and a watch are absolutely not true," Jeon told Yonha

Social Affairs July 29, 2013

Mobile handsets sold in South Korea were more expensive than anywhere else last year as high-priced smartphones accounted for a larger portion of mobile devices sold in the country, data showed on Monday.The average selling price of a mobile phone stood at US$415 in the country last year, compared with the world average of $166, and marked the highest among countries surveyed, according to the data compiled by research firm Strategy Analytics.The average selling price of a mobile phone in Japan

Technology July 29, 2013

Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao reaffirmed his country's commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, media reports said Friday.The meeting took place while Li visited the isolationist country as head of a Chinese delegation to mark the 60th anniversary of the truce of the Korean War (1950-53). The signing of the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953 is celebrated as a holiday in the North as a day of victory in the "Fatherla

Social Affairs July 26, 2013

올 시즌 한국인 빅리거의 활약을 흥미롭게 지켜보는 야구팬이라면 누구나 기다리던 '꿈의 대결'이 성사됐다.류현진(26•로스앤젤레스 다저스)과 추신수(31•신시내티 레즈)의 첫  맞대결이다.다저스와 신시내티는 26∼29일(이하 한국시간) 로스앤젤레스 다저스타디움에서 4연전을 벌인다.다저스가 26∼27일 선발로 각각 잭 그레인키와 클레이튼 커쇼를 예고한 가운데 류현진은 28일 등판이 유력시된다.이날 팬들은 메이저리그에서 정상급의 '창과 방패'로 자리잡은 두 선수의  승부를 감상할 수 있을 전망이다.올해 처음 빅리그 무대에 도전장을 내민 류현진은 19경기에서 8승3패와  평균자 책점 3.25를 기록하며 다저스 마운드의 확실한 선발투수로 뿌리를 내렸다.특히 갓 데뷔한 신인이면서도 경기에 나설 때마다 5이닝 이상을 책임지고 대량 실점도 하지 않는 꾸준함으로 실력을 인정받고 연착륙했다.후반기 첫 경기에서 시즌 8승째를 거둔 류현진은 신인왕 자리를 두고 호세 페르난데스(마이애미 말린스), 셸비 밀

한국어판 July 26, 2013

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said Friday its second-quarter net profit jumped 7.7 percent from a year earlier due to increased profits from its equity investments.Net profit came to 1.18 trillion won (US$1 billion) in the April-June period, compared to 1.09 trillion won from a year earlier, the Seoul-based company said in a regulatory filing.Sales increased 4.5 percent on-year to reach 13.1 trillion won, but operating profit dropped 8.5 percent to 1.1 billion won.Kia

Industry July 26, 2013

SK Innovation Co., the holding company of South Korea's top refiner SK Energy Co., said Friday that it has returned to profit in the second quarter from a year earlier thanks to good performance by its refinery unit.Net income came to 271 billion won (US$243.6 million) in the April-June period, compared with a net loss of 238.4 billion won a year ago, SK Innovation said in a regulatory filing.Sales, however, fell 10.7 percent to 16.85 trillion won in the period, while the company posted an opera

Technology July 26, 2013

Seven celebrity soldiers who were caught on camera drinking and entering a massage parlor were sentenced to several days in a military prison for violating the military code of conduct, the defense ministry said Thursday.The soldiers faced unprecedented tough disciplinary actions after a local TV network last month secretly taped them. They included K-pop star Sangchu and Seven, drinking together in a private restaurant following a performance for a military event. Two of them were caught by a c

Social Affairs July 25, 2013

POSCO, South Korea's leading steelmaker, said Thursday that its second-quarter net profit sank 48 percent from a year earlier on weak demand and decreased prices.Net profit reached 241 billion won (US$216 million) on a consolidated basis in the April-June period, compared with a profit of 466 billion won a year earlier, the company said.Sales dipped 5.4 percent on-year to 15.6 trillion won, and operating income also dropped 30.5 percent to 903 billion won over the cited period, it said.Shares of

Industry July 25, 2013

Seven celebrity soldiers who were caught on camera drinking and entering a massage parlor were sentenced to several days in a military prison for violating the military code of conduct, the defense ministry said Thursday.The soldiers faced unprecedented tough disciplinary actions after a local TV network last month secretly taped them. They included K-pop star Rain and Seven, drinking together in a private restaurant following a performance for a military event. Two of them were caught by a came

July 25, 2013