Russia-Japan territorial row flares up following Medvedev’s second visit to disputed islands
MOSCOW, July 3 (Xinhua) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has braved both unpredictable weather and quite predictable reactions from Tokyo by visiting for the second time the disputed Southern Kuril archipelago in the Far East. Analysts here say his trip on Tuesday to Kunashir (called Kunashiri in Japan) islet whipped up a new round […]
China vows to markedly improve food safety in three years
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — The State Council on Tuesday announced a decision to markedly improve food safety, aiming to effectively solve prominent problems in three years. According to a State Council statement posted online, the government also aims to establish a better regulation mechanism, legal and standard system as well as technical support for […]
President’s brother questioned
Lee’s political mentor may face arrest for bribery Prosecutors questioned President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother Lee Sang-deuk Tuesday over allegations that he accepted bribes from troubled savings banks. The former National Assembly vice speaker was grilled on whether the money was used for his younger brother’s 2007 presidential campaign. The prosecution also issued a summons […]
Can Yu-na repeat golden success?
Kim Yu-na’s announcement of a return to competitive skating after a nearly two-year hiatus has raised question of how she will fare this time around. However, experts say that the 21-year-old reigning Olympic champion is still capable of competing at the top level despite the time off. Kim said Monday that she will call it […]
SNU reform proposal faces backlash
The Democratic United Party (DUP)’s recent proposal for the merger of public universities has triggered a public backlash. The DUP said during a press conference Monday that the party was considering combining state-run universities and operating them by region. “We are considering grouping state-run universities such as Seoul National, Kyungbuk National and Jeonnam National universities […]
Park Geun-hye loyalists clash in power struggle
Two key supporters of Rep. Park Geun-hye traded barbs over the term “economic democracy” Tuesday for a second day in a row, following the first round of the debate a day ago. The clash of ideas between Kim Jong-in and Rep. Lee Hahn-koo took the form of an ideological divide over a set of measures […]
Myeong-dong street vendors face crackdown for fake goods
Seoul’s central Jung-gu district announced Monday that it will crackdown on street vendors selling fake goods in the popular shopping district of Myeong-dong. The district said inspections will start July 16 jointly with the Korea Intellectual Property Office. It will notify and warn street vendors of the enforced measure against the selling of fake goods […]
E-Mart under scrutiny
Fair Trade Commission (FTC) investigators raided the Seoul headquarters of E-Mart, the country’s largest grocery chain, Monday, on suspicions over whether the retail giant dishonored its promise to reduce sales commissions imposed on small suppliers. E-Mart officials confirmed Tuesday that 16 FTC inspectors visited the company’s offices a day earlier in search of documents and […]
Seoul apartment prices fall steepest in 10 years
No rebound in sight for loal housing market The real estate market entered a deep slump following the global economic crisis in 2008 and still shows no sign of an imminent rebound. Homeowners, who borrowed money to buy houses during the property boom period from 2005 through 2007, are experiencing severe financial pain because they […]
Kia Motors’ Rio wins major design award
Kia Motors has won the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), one of the world’s three biggest design awards. Sold under the different name of the Rio overseas, the automaker’s popular compact car Pride won a bronze in the transportation category at the 2012 IDEA organized by the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA). The IDSA […]