The Korea Herald

Tiny kingdom of Bhutan prepares for royal wedding

World NewsOct 12, 2011

THIMPHU, Bhutan (AP) - Children composed poems of joy, flight attendants and bank clerks practiced celebratory dances and the airwaves were flooded with wedding fever as the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan prepared for the marriage of its beloved fifth Dragon King.In this May 7, 2011 file photo pro
Tax breaks to boost electric car sales

IndustryOct 12, 2011

The government proposed on Wednesday tax cuts worth up to 4.2 million won ($3,600) for purchasers of electric vehicles, as part of its bid for next-generation transportation that is convenient, affordable and energy-efficient.Starting next year, all electric car buyers will receive a 5-percent reduc
Prosecutor, police investigation right dispute reignites

Social affairsOct 12, 2011

Justice Ministry officials and prosecutors here have sparked protests from police officers by submitting a draft of a presidential decree limiting the investigational rights of police to the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.The draft submitted by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the Ministry of
S. Korea raises issue of Japan’s wartime sex crimes at U.N.

Foreign affairsOct 12, 2011

South Korea demanded that Japan take “legal responsibility” for the aging Korean women forced into sexual slavery to serve Japan’s World War II soldiers, formally raising the issue at a U.N. meeting for the first time in 14 years, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday. “These systematic rapes a
Mayoral race becomes mud-slinging match

PoliticsOct 12, 2011

Major candidates tout policy blueprints on welfare, environment, child careParties stepped up their mud-slinging attacks against rival mayoral candidates Wednesday, a day before official by-election campaigning began.The ruling Grand National Party continued questioning the qualifications of the lib
Seoul strives to persuade Beijing to stop repatriating N.K. refugees

North KoreaOct 12, 2011

Seoul is still striving to persuade Beijing not to repatriate some 20 North Korean defectors arrested in China, a Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday, denying a news report that it has been notified of Beijing’s decision on their repatriation.“We are still in negotiations with Chinese authoriti
Bra auction for breast cancer support

Oct 12, 2011

Bras for a Cause logoA night of music, belly dancing, comedy and burlesque topped off with a novelty bra auction is set to raise cash for the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation. The event will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Dillinger’s Bar in Itaewon, Seoul. Belly dancers Eshe, Na
Spooky dance video to fight cancer

Oct 12, 2011

A Halloween-themed afternoon is to raise funds to fight cancer in Korea. Donating 10,000 won to attend the “Cancer Sucks” charity event will give participants the chance to don a set of vampire teeth and feature in a dance video to generate cash for the Korean Cancer Society. More than 1 million won
Donations help Korean bell toll again in U.S.

Oct 12, 2011

A traditional Korean bell gifted to America has been rung for the first time since a fund-raising effort started to save the cultural relic.The Korean Friendship Bell at the Angels Gate Park in San Pedro, California was rung on its 35th anniversary on Saturday, following recent restoration work paid
Opening door for broken children

Oct 12, 2011

Therapy centers help heal abused kids through music, art and natureMany of the children Hwang Chum-gon helps have been beaten until their bones broke, or starved until they took to the streets in search of food. But Rev. Hwang has made it his life’s work to help Korea’s neglected kids, who are hungr
Helping to heal

Oct 12, 2011

Expats in Korea have also been helping improve Open Door’s facilities for some of the country’s neediest kids. A play therapy room was opened at Open Door’s newly extended Yangpyeong center this week thanks to the British Association of Seoul’s 70 million won ($59,000) donation to the charity in 201
Ex-Lone Star Korea CEO appeals ruling

Oct 12, 2011

Paul Yoo, former CEO of Lone Star Korea, has appealed to the Supreme Court against Seoul High Court’s Oct. 6 verdict that he engaged in manipulation of Korean stocks in 2003.But the appeal is only related to his individual case and not the financial authorities’ ongoing probe into U.S.-based Lone St
Seoul shares end up 0.81% on brokerages, refiner gains

Oct 12, 2011

South Korean stocks finished 0.81 percent higher Wednesday as investors snapped up shares of brokerages and oil refiners, brushing off concerns over U.S. corporate earnings, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark KOSPI added 14.48 points to close at 1,809.5, ext
NPS grows banking industry clout

Oct 12, 2011

Pension fund holds major stake in 4 financial groupsThe National Pension Service has expand its presence financial industry after regulators paved the way for the fund to increase its stake in commercial banks earlier this year.Experts are divided over the national pension fund’s active buying of sh
Japan’s machinery orders rise 11%

World BusinessOct 12, 2011

Japan’s machinery orders rebounded in August on demand for electrical products, signaling that companies are willing to invest even as global economic growth slows and the yen stays near post-World War II highs. Bookings rose 11 percent in August from July, the fastest increase in a year, the Cabine