China, NK in deal on economic zones
China and North Korea have agreed to accelerate the development of economic zones in the North, Beijing said Tuesday amid signs that Pyongyang is seeking to boost its economy. Under the agreement, the two sides will establish committees to oversee the zones. It also deals with the supply of electricity and agricultural cooperation, the Chinese […]
Ahn Cheol-soo foundation to change name
A non-profit foundation, established with money donated by Ahn Cheol-soo last year, may undergo a name change as the election watchdog warned it not to use the founder’s name in its title for the time being. On Monday, the National Election Commission (NEC) said providing financial support or scholarships under the name of the Ahn […]
N. Korea slams Lee, Japan over Dokdo
North Korea on Monday criticized President Lee Myung-bak for his surprise visit to Dokdo last week ― the nation’s easternmost islets ― that ratcheted up tensions with Japan. In a dispatch, Pyongyang’s state media accused Lee of trying to stave off his status as a lame-duck president by politically exploiting the issue of the rocky […]
Independence Day of Ecuador Celebrated
“Peculiar Ecuador dances & music enthrall guests.” Amb. Nicola Fabian Trujillo Newlin of Ecuador hosted a reception Friday (Aug. 10) at Seoul Palace Hotel to celebrate the Independence Day of his country and congratulate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic establishing between South Korea and Ecuador. Envoys from the Middle and South American nations attended the reception including […]
Photo exhibition shows sorrow of comfort women
Tears started to run down faces as the photographs were finally unveiled in Seoul last week. Photographer Ahn Se-hong is showcasing a collection of his work that has stirred strong emotions in both Japan and Korea — pictures of Korean women in China who are former sex slaves of the Japanese Imperial army. The photographer […]
North Korean leader, military waging ‘money war’
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has set some lofty goals since taking power in December, calling for better living conditions for the hungry populace and issuing orders that may provide autonomy over agriculture and business. To deliver on these promises, analysts said Monday that Kim has some dirty work ahead of him: seizing control of […]
President Lee tells Japan to act like big nation
President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that his Friday visit to Dokdo was part of his duty as head of state, and he had planned the trip three years ago. President Lee also called on Japan to act like a big nation and take responsibility for its past misdeeds. Speaking at luncheon with a National Assembly […]
UN scretary general calls for dialogue on Dokdo
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a peaceful resolution of the controversy involving Japan’s challenge to Korea’s sovereignty over its easternmost islets of Dokdo, Monday. The comments came at a time when relations between South Korea and Japan hit rock bottom following President Lee Myung-bak’s unprecedented visit to the islets last week. “Besides […]
Hundreds of Korean students forced to work during WWII
Hundreds of Korean students who refused to serve in the Japanese military during World War II were instead forced to work at factories in Korea, an investigative panel of the government said Monday. Many of them were studying at prestigious universities in Korea and Japan, including Waseda and Keio, when they were drafted to fight […]
KT boss vows to beef up database security
Executives at KT have been taking turns expressing regret after hackers broke into the company’s computer network and stole the personal details of nearly 9 million of its subscribers. It is now the turn of company Chairman Lee Suk-chae, who in an emailed statement vowed to beef up security management systems and install more sophisticated […]