The Korea Herald

S. Korea's trade terms hit near 3-year low in Q3

Nov 14, 2011

South Korea's terms of trade worsened to the lowest level in nearly three years in the third quarter as on-year gains in oil prices jacked up import costs, the central bank said Monday.The country's net terms-of-trade index for goods came in at 78.7 in the July-September period, down 9.9 percent fro
Power consortium to demand $1.89 billion from N. Korea over failed energy project

North KoreaNov 14, 2011

An international consortium once tasked with building two power-generating nuclear reactors in North Korea will soon demand that the communist country provide US$1.89 billion in compensation for the project's failure, a Seoul official said Monday.The demand comes after North Korea filed its own comp
S. Korea, U.S. push to implement automated immigration checks

InternationalNov 14, 2011

South Korea and the United States have agreed to step up preparations to provide travelers from each other's country with automated immigration checks instead of face-to-face interviews, an official said Sunday.In April, South Korea's Justice Ministry and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sig
Professionally cleaned teeth may be weapon against heart disease

HealthNov 14, 2011

Yearly teeth-cleaning at the dentist’s office may cut the risk of heart attack by as much as 24 percent compared with those who avoid the treatment, Taiwanese researchers found. Those who had their teeth scraped and polished by a dentist or dental hygienist also had a 13 percent lower risk of s
Orbital solar power plants touted for energy needs

ScienceNov 14, 2011
S. Korean tourist killed in boat crash in Philippines

TravelNov 14, 2011

A South Korean tourist was killed this week in a boat crash off the eastern coast of the Philippine island of Cebu, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.A banana boat carrying three South Korean tourists, including a 50-year-old woman identified only by her surname Ji, collided with an outrigger can
Galaxy S2 picked as top smartphone by Consumer Reports

IndustryNov 14, 2011

Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S2 smartphone was named as the best smartphone by a well-known U.S. magazine in its latest handset survey, industry sources said Monday.Consumer Reports recommended the Galaxy sequel as the best smartphone pick for subscribers of three major mobile carriers in the Un
S. Korea's adult obesity rate stands at 30.8 percent

Social affairsNov 14, 2011

South Korea's adult obesity rate stood at 30.8 percent of all people over 19 in 2010 as people consumed more food and exercised less, a government report showed Monday.The report by the Ministry of Health and Welfare said 36.3 percent of all men were overweight last year, compared to 24.8 percent of
Court rejects arrest warrant for 'tower crane' protester

Social affairsNov 14, 2011

A regional court refused to issue an arrest warrant for a female labor activist, whose marathon protest atop a tower crane helped settle an 11-month-long labor dispute at Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction's shipyard in Busan.The Busan District Court dismissed the police's request for the warran
S. Korea, Australia seek to crack down on prostitution

InternationalNov 14, 2011

South Korea and Australia will seek joint measures to crack down on prostitution by South Korean women in the latter country, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.Moon Ha-yong, ambassador for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, will meet with his Australian counterparts in Canberra later in the d
Jeju Island makes ‘New7Wonders’ list

TravelNov 13, 2011

The Jusangjeolli Cliff on Jeju Island. (Jeju Special Self Governing Province)Jeju Island has been named as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world on Saturday, 300 days after the nation launched an online voting campaign.Jeju Island was one of the final 28 global candidates for “New7Wonder
Pacific trade pact gains, but friction remains

World NewsNov 13, 2011

HONOLULU (AP) -- A further step toward a U.S.-backed free trade bloc handed Asia-Pacific leaders a rare tangible achievement from their annual summit, but highlighted growing competition with China for influence in the fast rising region.Asia's increasingly vital role as a driver of global growth ha
End of an era: Italy’s Berlusconi resigns

World NewsNov 13, 2011

ROME (AP) ― A chorus of Handel’s “Alleluia” rang out Saturday as Silvio Berlusconi resigned as Italian premier, ending a tumultuous 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing the country back from the brink of economic crisis.Berlusconi stepped down amid jeers, cheers and heckles of “Buffoon” from thousands of people who packed downtown Rome to witness his government’s downfall after a stunning week of market turmoil that upended his defiant hold on power and thre
S. Korea to build barracks for U.S. troops on border island

DefenseNov 13, 2011

South Korea plans to build barracks on Baengnyeongdo by 2013 for U.S. troops and others to be augmented in case of a North Korean provocation on the northwestern border island, a military source said Sunday.Budget bills on the construction of barracks for some 160 troops have been submitted to the National Assembly, according to the source.The plan was conceived as Seoul is striving to bolster its capabilities to safeguard the five frontline islands with the deployment of more high-tech weapons
‘N.K. proposes inter-Korean summit in Jan.’

North KoreaNov 13, 2011

Group of retired world leaders to send staff to Seoul on MondayA high-ranking North Korean official asked a group of retired world leaders to deliver to Seoul his government’s intention to hold an inter-Korean summit in January.The Elders, which includes former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and former-U.S. President Jimmy Carter, will send working-level staff to Seoul Monday to convey Pyongyang’s message and then to North Korea.The delegation will meet with South Korean offi