South Korea's state-run think tank Sunday cut the nation's growth forecast for this year to 3.6 percent from 3.8 percent estimated in November, citing weakening demand amid a global slowdown.   The Korea Development Institute, in its twice-yearly economic forecast report, said however the global economy would likely pick up pace in 2013 to help Asia's fourth-largest economy to expand 4.1 percent

May 20, 2012

 South Korea's military is reviewing a plan to lease text-only mobile phones to soldiers, in a move to allow them to better communicate with their family members, friends and loved ones, a military source said Sunday.    Conscripts are banned from possessing mobile phones while on duty and on-base access to the Internet is strictly prohibited.Enlisted men currently only use public phones at their

Defense May 20, 2012

  South Korea's economic fundamentals remain strong despite global financial market uncertainty triggered by worries Greece will exit the eurozone, a government policymaker said Thursday.   Vice Finance Minister Shin Je-yoon said in an economic review meeting that political turmoil in Greece following anti-austerity election results have fueled overall market woes and affected global stock markets

May 17, 2012

 South Korea's jobless rate decelerated in April thanks mainly to more positions created in the service sector, a government report showed Wednesday.   The jobless rate stood at 3.5 percent last month, down from 3.7 percent a year earlier, according to the report by Statistics Korea. Last month's tally also represents a drop from a jobless rate of 3.7 percent reached in March.   A total of 455,000

May 16, 2012

   KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- A plane carrying 21 people crashed Monday while trying to land in Nepal's northern Himalayas, killing at least nine, authorities said. Eight survivors in critical condition were flown by helicopter to a hospital.   The plane hit a mountain while it was turning around to land at Jomsom Airport, said Laxmi Raj Sharma, chief government administrator in the area. The wrecked

World News May 14, 2012

South Korean stocks closed 1.43 percent lower Friday on lack of upward momentum and growing European debt concerns, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 27.80 points to 1,917.13, in its third straight session of decline.Trading volume was moderate at 522 million shares worth 4.32 trillion won (US$3.76 billion

May 11, 2012

 South Korea and Peru agreed to explore ways to expand industrial and energy cooperation that can benefit both countries, the government said Friday.   In a meeting between Knowledge Economy Minister Hong Suk-woo and Jose Luis Silva Martinot, Peru's minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, the two sides exchanged views on how best to achieve the "comprehensive strategic partnership" arrangement anno

May 11, 2012

The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group said Sunday it will provide 51 eco-friendly vehicles to the organizing committee of the Yeosu Expo 2012 to help facilitate logistics.   The Expo will run for three months from Saturday and is expected to attract more than 8 million visitors from across the globe with the emphasis being put on challenges posed by climate change and protecting the marine environment.

Mobility May 6, 2012

57세의 한 여성이 거리에서 즉각적인 최면을 당해 16만 달러 이상의 금품을 갈취 당하는 사건이 발생했다.피해자는 4월 15일 보스턴의 차이나타운에서 쇼핑을 하고 있던 중 세 명의 여성이 다가와 어깨를 치면서 질문을 하기 시작했고 이로 인해 최면에 걸려 금품을 빼앗겼다고 현지 경찰이 밝혔다.세 명 중의 한 명이 피해자에게 말을 거는 사이 다른 두 여성들은 그녀에게 비닐봉투를 건네주었고, 집에 돌아가 봉투 안에 귀금속 등을 담아 몇 시간 뒤 보스턴 커먼으로 다시 나오라는 지시를 최면으로 한 것으로 추정하고 있다.최면에 걸린 피해 여성은 집으로 돌아가 비닐봉투에 목걸이, 옥팔찌, 금반지 2개와 여권, 현금 등 16만 달러 가치의 물품을 넣은 뒤 지시받은 약속장소로 가서 비닐봉투를 세 명의 여성들에게 넘겨주었다.

Podcast May 6, 2012

South Korea's economic growth slowed in March due mainly to the mining and manufacturing industry showing lackluster growth affected by the eurozone debt crisis, a state-run think tank said Sunday.   The eurozone crisis has adversely affected South Korea's exports to slow economic growth of Asia's fourth largest economy, the Korea Development Institute report said, adding the U.S. and some other a

May 6, 2012

Boston's Chinatown has been on edge since a 57-year-old woman claimed three women used hypnosis to get her to fork over $160,000 in life savings, police say.Police say the victim was food shopping in Chinatown April 15 when the trio of women tapped her on the shoulder and began asking her questions. The victim says one of the suspects spoke and her henchwomen handed her a plastic bag. She was told

World News May 6, 2012

해경청, 화성 궁평항서 붙잡아 검찰에 넘겨금융당국에 의해 영업정지된 미래저축은행의 김찬경 회장이 지난 3일 밤 경기도 화성 궁평항을 통해 몰래 출국하려다 해양경찰청에 검거됐다.6일 해경청에 따르면 3일 오후 8시30분께 경기도 화성시 서신면 궁평항 선착장에서 배를 이용해 중국으로 밀항하려던 김 회장 일행 5명이 붙잡혔다. 일행은 김 회장, 밀항 알선책 3명, 방조자 1명 등이었다.해경은 5일 오후 김 회장 등의 신병을 부실저축은행 수사를 맡고 있는 검찰의 저축은행 합동비리수사팀에 넘겼다. 검찰은 김 회장을 포함해 영업정지 대상으로 거론되는 저축은행 주요 관련자들 에 대해 모두 출국 금지 조치한 상태다.김 회장은 금융당국으로부터 5일 오전 열릴 저축은행 경영평가위원회에 참석해 줄 것을 요청받은 상태였다.금융위

Podcast May 6, 2012

어린이날인 5일 오후 부산 부전동의 6층 건물 3층에 있는 S노래주점에서 화재가 발생해 9명이 숨지고 10명이 다치는 사고가 발생했다. 병원 이송환자 중 중환자가 많아 사망자가 더 늘어날 것으로 보인다.이날 불은 오후 8시50분께 S노래주점 가운데 룸에서 처음 발생한 것으로 파악되고 있으며 정확한 화재 원인을 밝혀지지 않은 가운데 화재는 완전 진화 됐다.처음 노래주점에서 불이나자 19명이 연기를 마시고 병원으로 옮겨졌으며 이중 김모(24)씨 등 9명이 숨졌고 10명이 부상했다. 불이 나자 건물 안에 있던 수십 명이 옥상과 외부로 대피하는 소동이 벌어졌다.불이나자 긴급 출동한 20여대의 소방차와 50여명의 소방인력이 동원돼 화재 진압에 나서면서 사고현장 주변 교통이 2~3시간 동안 마비되는 등 큰 혼란이 빚어

Podcast May 6, 2012