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Politics
If Rep. Park Geun-hye wants to be president
There is no question that Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party is the most viable presidential candidate at the moment as she consistently has the strongest showing in public opinion surveys. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Dec. 19 presidential poll is hers to win. The 60-year-old needs…
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Society
‘Se-ri kid’ clinches US Open
In 1998, at the height of a currency crisis gripping Korea, Pak Se-ri’s landmark victory at the U.S. Women’s Open inspired a nation to get back on its feet. Some girls were inspired to follow in her footsteps, and were given the moniker “Pak Se-ri kids.” One of them, Choi…
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Politics
Row erupts over lawmaker’s poetry
Textbook publishers instructed to remove Rep. Do’s poems A government-funded educational institute has recommended that textbook publishers remove poems written by a poet-turned-opposition lawmaker from middle school textbooks to be published next year. The move drew fierce protests from the lawmaker, Do Jong-hwan of the main opposition Democratic United Party…
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AMCHAM to face tax audit
After slapping the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea (EUCCK) with a huge fine over unpaid taxes, the National Tax Service (NTS) is highly likely to conduct a tax audit against commerce representatives of other countries, sources said Monday. While tax authorities are vague about their next actions, they…
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Society
Qualification of justice nominees questioned
Two of four justice nominees are under fire for religious inclination, abuse of authority or fake residence registration ahead of their National Assembly confirmation hearing. The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) denounced Kim Shin, 55, chief of the Ulsan District Court, for references to Christianity during trials he presided…
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People
Korean dance master Kong passes away at 80
Kong Ok-jin, known for her Korean folk dance called the “cripple’s dance” passed away at a hospital in South Jeolla Province on Monday at the age of 80. Kong had a long history of ill health and suffered a first stroke in 1998, needing continued hospital treatment afterwards, but her…
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Immigrants with vocational licenses soar
The number of immigrants with vocational licenses certified by the Korean government increased nearly threefold to 2,144 last year from 788 in 2010, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Monday. The ministry said it expects a record-high number this year as 26,308 foreigners have already applied to take the…
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Business
Celebrities’ shopping malls punished for false hype
Popular Internet shopping malls owned by entertainers were slapped with hefty fines for running fraudulent promotional campaigns to lure customers and for refusing to process legitimate refund claims, the fair trade regulator said Monday. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said six shopping malls were found guilty of violating the fair…
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IT-Science
Diablo 3 popularity waning fast
Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo 3 has seen its popularity plummet due to “poor content.” “Diablo 3’s place is shaky,” said Kim Min-kyu, a cultural content professor at Ajou University over the phone, Monday. “It is hard to believe that it was made by the people who created World of Warcraft and…
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Business
Smartphones intimidate elderly
Park Hyung-tae recently bought a Galaxy Note from Samsung Electronics, but it’s hard to imagine the 69-year-old using it without assistance from his children. “It’s very complicated to use. All I can do without the help of my children is make and receive calls and send text messages,” he complained…
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