China: Rebalancing or end of miracle?
High-rise buildings in the central business district are seen in the backdrop in Beijing, China. China lowers growth target to 7.5%. What does it say about the economy? China’s downgrade of its 2012 real GDP growth forecast to 7.5 percent from 8 percent, the target for the previous eight years, has increased global growth anxiety […]
NK says summit statement will be declaration of war
North Korea said Wednesday it would consider any statement against it during next week’s Seoul Nuclear Security Summit a declaration of war, as tensions mounted ahead of the gathering that will bring together leaders from 58 nations and international organizations. “In the event of a provocation such as a statement regarding the North Korean nuclear […]
I was like an animal living with animals: woman
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted at the third General Assembly session of the United Nations on Dec. 10, 1948. At the outset, it came as repentance for infringements on human rights during World War II, but included the official abolition of slavery. Now, there is no country with slavery on this planet […]
Discount stores face obligatory shutdowns on Sundays, holidays
Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) plans to force discount stores to close two days per month on either Sundays or holidays in line with the revision of a related law. The city government said Tuesday it had recommended its 25 district offices to designate these days to order large-sized discount chains and “super supermarkets (SSMs),” or […]
For Korean women, glass ceiling is more like concrete
“Glass ceiling” is a universal term for describing the barriers preventing more women reaching the top echelons of the corporate world. But to many working women in Korea, who have experienced the limitations to their opportunities as being blatant and often unbreakable, the ceiling has to be looking more like concrete. It’s almost too easy […]
20th anniversary of Seo Taiji and Boys
A photo taken in 1995 shows, from left, Lee Juno ,Yang Hyun-suk, and Seo Taij. Seo Taiji and Boys changed the history of Korean pop music when they debuted in 1992 with “I Know.” “Nan, arayo!” (I know! in English) With that musical declaration, the history of Korean pop music changed completely 20 years ago […]
No. of young part-time workers reaches all-time high
The number of part-time workers in their teens and 20s reached an all-time high of 440,000 last year, indicating the quality of youth employment deteriorated amid the prolonged sluggish job market. Those employed on an hourly-basis receive low wages and are mostly engaged in simple manual labor in restaurants, convenience stores and other services businesses. […]
NK rejects calls to stop satellite launch plan
North Korea is going ahead with its plan to launch what it has described as “an observation satellite” next month despite international condemnation. Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday the launch, announced Friday, was a “materialization of our sovereign right to peaceful development in space,” refuting accusations by South Korea, the United […]
FTC fines Samsung for obstructing probe
Korea’s anti-trust regulator has fined technology giant Samsung Electronics 400 million won (about $354,000) for obstructing an investigation into whether collusion took place between the company and wireless operators to fix prices of mobile-phones, thereby defrauding consumers. It marks the biggest fine ever levied by the watchdog for such charges. Security guards at a Samsung […]
‘Subway engineers vulnerable to panic disorder’
A subway engineer steers a train into a station in Seoul in this file photo. Subway engineers work in enclosed spaces for long hours and are under greater risk of developing panic disorders. The recent suicide by a subway engineer has shed light on the mental health of those who operate underground trains, as unions […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
