Prosecutors were set to question the daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's longtime friend Monday as part of a probe into a massive influence-peddling scandal that led to Park's removal from office.  Chung Yoo-ra has been summoned to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in the morning, the prosecution said.This file photo shows Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of former President Park Geun-hye`s longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, surrounded by reporters on June 9, 2017. (Yonhap)

Social Affairs June 12, 2017

President Moon Jae-in's approval rating increased slightly last week to nearly 80 percent, a survey showed Monday, despite unceasing disputes over his picks for top government and judicial officials.In a survey conducted from Monday through Friday by local pollster Realmeter, Moon's rating was tallied at 78.9 percent, up 0.8 percentage point from a week earlier.  President Moon Jae-in presides over a National Security Council meeting at the presidential compound`s crisis management center in Seo

Social Affairs June 12, 2017

LG Chem, one of South Korea top chemical companies, said Sunday it has secured an exclusive contract to provide reverse osmosis filters for desalination plants in Egypt.The agreement with plants being built by water treatment company Metito will allow fresh water to be used by 1 million people daily, the company said. The new plants capable of processing 300,000 tons of seawater will be the largest of its kind in the North African country and are being built in El Galalah and Port Said. (Yonhap)

Industry June 11, 2017

Labor minister nominee Cho Dae-yop is a veteran scholar who spent his whole life conducting studies on various labor issues and the promotion of democracy.Born in the southeastern city of Andong, the 60-year-old Cho graduated from Seoul's Korea University with a degree in sociology and earned a doctorate at the same school.Labor minister nominee Cho Dae-yopSince his professorship at his alma mater, he mainly studied various labor issues related to democracy and the public interest.He is credited

Politics June 11, 2017

Ahn Kyong-whan, the nominee for the new justice minister, is a liberal legal expert who has long advocated for human rights and worked at a policy advisory panel for reforming the prosecutors' office.His appointment by President Moon Jae-in is viewed as aimed at strengthening prosecutors' neutrality and pushing for overhauling the state prosecutor's office in a smooth manner. Ahn Kyong-whanAhn, 69, served as the chairman of the country's state human rights watchdog from 2006-2009. He resigned fr

Politics June 11, 2017

President Moon Jae-in's nominee for the environment minister is a female expert who is well-versed in the issue of sustainable development and preservation.Kim Eun-kyung currently sits on the Social Subcommittee of the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee, South Korea's presidential policy advisory panel, and heads a local sustainability center named JiWoo. Kim Eun-kyungShe is known as a figure who has considerable knowledge on environmental issues and sustainable development, as well as bo

Politics June 11, 2017

The nominee for deputy prime minister for social affairs and education minister, Kim Sang-gon, is a business professor who is known for implementing reform measures in the education sector.Born in the southern city of Gwangju, Kim graduated from the country's top Seoul National University with a degree in business and earned his doctorate from the same school. Kim Sang-gonSince his professorship at Hanshin University, he served two terms as school superintendent of Gyeonggi Province between 2009

Politics June 11, 2017

Song Young-moo, who was named the new defense minister, is well known for his expertise in defense strategy and has extensive experience in setting plans for reforming the military under a former liberal government.His appointment by President Moon Jae-in is widely seen as reflecting the president's resolve to reform the military, one of Moon's key campaign pledges. Song, 68, served as a co-chairman of the defense security committee under Moon's camp. Song Young-mooSong, a former chief of naval

Politics June 11, 2017

South Korean tech giant LG Electronics Inc. said Sunday it has reorganized its structure and established two research centers devoted to the development of technologies related to artificial intelligence.The new centers -- AI and robotics -- will be directly under control of the Chief Technology Officer's office, and will focus on the development and implementation of AI-related services, the company said. (Yonhap)The move is part of the company's efforts to revamp research and development, and

Companies June 11, 2017

A power substation malfunctioned Sunday, causing a massive blackout in some southwestern districts in Seoul and regions just south of the capital, South Korea's state-run electricity monopoly said.Yeongseo Substation, located in Gwangmyeong, near Seoul, suffered a partial breakdown around 12:53 p.m. causing a disruption in the electrical power supply, according to the Korea Electric Power Corp. and the city government.This provided photo on June 11, 2017, shows the dark interior at Techno Mart d

Social Affairs June 11, 2017

South Korea's state audit agency is expected to soon announce the launch of its probe into a controversial project ordered by a former president to refurbish the country's four main rivers, sources said Sunday.The move comes as President Moon Jae-in on May 22 ordered a "policy inspection" on the decision-making process of the 22 trillion-won ($20 billion) project. (Yonhap)In 2008, the project was launched under the Lee Myung-bak administration to clean up rivers, and mitigate seasonal floods and

Social Affairs June 11, 2017

North Korea on Sunday urged South Korea to shift its inter-Korean policy as it called on Seoul to reject the United States' drive for sanctions and seek national unity.South Korea has turned a deaf ear to North Korea's call for inter-Korean reconciliation and unity while jumping on the bandwagon of Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang, according to the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper. (Yonhap)"We should completely block the influence of outside forces, which have brought divisi

North Korea June 11, 2017

Hyundai Mobis Co., one of South Korea's largest auto component manufacturers, said Sunday that it has opened its first domestic proving ground that will allow it to better test parts and related technologies. The company, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, said it invested about 300 billion won ($266 million) to build the vast facility in Seosan, 151 kilometers south of Seoul. Work on the 1.12-million-square-meter facility began in the first half of 2014, it said, adding the proving ground has

Industry June 11, 2017

South Korea's import of camping gear increased nearly 20 percent on-year during the first four months of 2017 thanks to increasing interest in outdoor activities, government data showed Sunday.South Korea imported $27.73 million worth of camping gear during the January-April period, up 19 percent from a year earlier, according to the data by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  Beachgoers crowd Haeundae Beach in the southeastern port city of Busan with some pitching tents to avoid the h

Industry June 11, 2017

South Korea's exports plunged 12.2 percent in the first 10 days of June from a year earlier, the latest customs data showed Sunday, after posting seventh straight months of growth.Total outbound shipments reached $12.2 billion during the cited period, down 12.2 percent from the same period last year, according to the findings compiled by the Korea Customs Service. The decrease comes partly on the back of huge increases of ships exported in early June of last year, the agency said."The numbe

Economy June 11, 2017