Akira, Rep. Chun exchange talks for helping those in plight
Freedom, ‘work’ paves for, happiness growing ripe with ‘work’ Rep. Chun Soon-ok has become a member of the National Assembly in the general election held earlier this year under the proportional representation of the opposition Democratic United Party. She met Akira, a noted peace activist of Camboida and a winner of Manhae Prize who came to Korea to receive […]
[ASEAN Report] Corruption fosters wildlife traffickers
South East Asian countries are homes for various endanger species that are target for poachers and traffickers. ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network reported on their website, experts estimate the illegal wildlife trade is up to US$10 – 20 billion dollar annually or ₩11,310 billion Korean Won. Associated Press published a report (Aug 15) on large-scale wildlife […]
Is North Korea becoming China’s satellite?
China has struck deals with North Korea this week to develop economic zones and foster investment in the impoverished country. The moves, analysts say, signals Beijing’s full support of fledgling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The promises boost the viability of Kim, who is in his late twenties, but also rekindle fears that Beijing is […]
‘Japan massacred Koreans on Sakhalin’
A recently released Soviet Union report suggests that a large-scale massacre of Koreans by Japanese soldiers took place on Sakhalin, off Russia’s east coast. It also sheds more light on the fate of victims of forcible conscription for wartime labor under Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945). The National Archives of Korea (NAK) made public a handwritten […]
‘Accidental death’ of activist may have been murder
Jang Jun-ha, an independence activist, journalist, lawmaker and democracy activist who died in 1975, may have been murdered and not killed after falling while mountain climbing as claimed by the Park Chung-hee administration, according to a new examination of Jang’s remains. The examination was conducted on Aug. 1 when the bereaved family moved them to […]
Luxury brands booming
Louis Vuitton, Gucci stingy in social contribution Sales of foreign luxury brands in Korea tripled in the last five years thanks to local consumers’ constant fever for Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, an online information provider said Wednesday. According to Chaebul.com, combined sales of top 10 foreign luxury brands reached 1.9 trillion won in 2011, […]
Foreigners rush to sell buildings
An increasing number of foreign landlords of office buildings in Seoul are selling their properties amid a prolonged slowdown in the market. According to market sources, during the first half of the year no foreign investors signed contracts to buy office buildings or mega-sized commercial buildings with total floor areas of 3,300 square meters or […]
Casinos return to limelight
Gov’t mulls easing rules to bolster economy Speaking of the positive sides to casinos has been a taboo subject in presidential meetings over the past four years. Though it was obvious that gambling business will help lure foreign investors and travelers, President Lee Myung-bak, a devoted Christian, had been opposed to casinos, expressing fears of […]
‘Philippines has much to learn from Korea’
The Philippines can learn a lot from Korea in terms of economic development, said Jose Mariano, president of the University of Asia and the Pacific. “The situation of the Philippines and Korea was not so different a couple of decades ago,” said Mariano. “But in a decade or two, Korea achieved great levels of economic […]
Wide awake on hazardous overdose of energy drinks
At around 7:15 a.m. every school day, Kim Kyu-dong, a 17-year-old high school senior at Gyeonggi Province, drops by a convenience store to buy two tins of Hot 6, an energy drink with high amounts of caffeine and taurine. Kim drinks one of them right before the first class starts in order not to doze […]