Pioneering ‘hallyu’ actor Song returns
Heartthrob Song Seung-heon is coming back to his fans through the small screen. Despite 16 years passing since his debut, Song, 35, remains as handsome and single as ever, coupled now with better acting ability. As one of the pioneers of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave, his popularity continues to the rise, both in Korea […]
Old habits die hard
New-look Nonghyup fails to impress marketsIn introducing a financial holding company built on its banking and insurance services in March, the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) declared it was opening a new era. In a lavish ceremony to mark the occasion, Nonghyup Chairman Choi Won-byung talked in length about how there was a grand future […]
Suprema comes back in big way
Korean biometrics company Suprema, which leads in fingerprint recognition technology, is angling for further growth. The firm can now see an end to worries over a patent lawsuit in the United States that has plagued it for the past few years. “The legal action is practically done. We do not think that the initial rules […]
Lee vows to help Myanmar’s democracy
Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday South Korea is ready to help Myanmar’s journey to democracy and prosperity after he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, a symbol of freedom in the reforming Southeast Asian country. “The Republic of Korea is a country that achieved both industrialization and more importantly, democratization together,” Lee said during a joint […]
Is taxing religion an act of blasphemy?
Gambling monks scandal raises old issue anew The gambling scandal shadowing the country’s largest Buddhist order has triggered debate on whether the government should collect taxes from temples, churches and religious organizations. For decades, there has been an argument over taxing monks and clergymen, but little progress has been made on the issue due to […]
Medvedev to make proposal on cabinet formation
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev MOSCOWㅡ Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will on Tuesday submit proposals on the structure and composition of a new government to President Vladimir Putin. Putin was sworn in as president for a third nonconsecutive term on May 7. His previous two terms had been in 2000-2008. Medvedev, who was Russia’s […]
Smartphone users make up 50% of mobile subscriptions
It is no longer news that smartphones are the current trend among mobile phone consumers but new statistics now back this up. According to data released by the three domestic mobile carriers smartphone users now account for over half of handset subscriptions in Korea. As one of the world’s most-wired societies, Korea has seen drastic […]
Korea pursues ‘hallyu’ initiatives
30 language institutes will be set up around world every year As part of efforts to boost the staying power of “hallyu” or the Korean wave, the government plans to set up language institutes around the world — 30 or more every year. Plus, the current Romanization system, already 10 years in existence, will be […]
President makes historic visit to Myanmar
The leaders of South Korea and Myanmar agreed to strengthen bilateral ties Monday, amid signs that the Southeast Asian country seeks democratic and economic reform. During a summit with President Thein Sein, President Lee Myung-bak noted positive progress made in bilateral relations over the past months and that a new era between the two nations […]
Mubarak Faking Bad Health at Court Appearances
Egypt’s former leader Hosni Mubarak has been exaggerating the extent of his medical problems at recent court appearances on charges of complicity in the killings of hundreds of protesters during the popular uprising that ousted him from power, Egyptian media said on Monday. “He sits in his chair and watches television, walks around with relatives […]