Gangnam’s non-smoking plan ignores foreigners
Banners to publicize a non-smoking policy hang on Gangnam Street in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Tuesday. The district started a public notification campaign on March 1 before introducing the policy, which imposes fines on smokers, from June 1. Gangnam and Seocho district offices in southern Seoul, which will start to fine people smoking in their […]
France, US, Chile wage wine war in Korea
The Korean love affair with wines has fluctuated wildly between highs and lows in recent years. Distributors now hope that the effects of relaxed retail regulations and free trade pacts with wine-making nations will put the relationship on firmer ground by making them more affordable. Wine consumption appeared to be hitting new peaks when Lehman […]
China risk
Korean economy should be in emergency mode China slashed its 2012 growth rate to 7.5 percent, a recession by the Chinese standard and the lowest in 13 years. The slowdown will also have a ripple effect on the Korean economy, which ships 29.8 percent of its exports to the neighboring country. Korea needs to diversify […]
Children more prone to Internet addiction
Young children were found to be more susceptible to becoming addicted to the Internet than adults, with 7.9 percent of children aged between five and nine addicted to the Internet using computers and other portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, a study said Monday. The study was conducted by the Ministry of Public Administration […]
KBS workers go on strike
Unionized workers of KBS, the nation’s largest broadcaster, have voted to go on strike from 5 a.m. Tuesday, joining journalists of MBC who walked out more than a month ago. Like the union of MBC, KBS journalists and other staff are calling for the resignation of the company president who has allegedly censored coverage critical […]
Korean drama, K-pop idols shine in Okinawa concert
The influence of Korean pop culture has reached the southernmost island of the Japanese archipelago, resulting in a concert that showcased not only just K-pop idol groups like KARA and 2PM but also the soundtracks of Korean dramas. “World Music Festival in Okinawa” took place Sunday in a two-part format at the Okinawa Cellular Stadium […]
Envoys show diverse nuke summit views
Four of the five official nuclear-weapons states met Tuesday at the 63 Convention Center in Seoul to discuss with foreign envoys and government officials the formal agenda of this month’s Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. The summit’s stated focus: To safeguard the world’s nuclear materials and keep them out of the hands of terrorists, criminals or […]
Korea set to disclose next-generation train
The preliminary design of Korea’s next-generation bullet train, named HEMU-400X. The government plans to take the wraps off its next-generation bullet train, which can run between the country’s two biggest cities of Seoul and Busan in one and a half hours, a substantial reduction from almost three hours today. The Ministry of Land, Transport and […]
Change ‘formula for success’
Everyone wants success in life. Since there is no single path to success, people pursue it in many different ways. However, only a few choose the right one, stay on it, and eventually reach their destinations. Ironically, even those who see success in their careers and businesses are not fully satisfied with what they have […]
Seoul urges China to stop repatriating NK defectors
Top diplomats welcome nuke deal President Lee Myung-bak called for Beijing’s cooperation over the issue of North Korean refugees in China during talks with the Chinese foreign minister in Seoul, Friday. Presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha said Lee expressed the hope that the issue could be solved “smoothly” during a meeting with Yang Jiechi, as Seoul […]