The Korea Herald

Lotte chairman hints at M&A of blue-chip companies

IndustryOct 3, 2011

Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin recently emphasized efforts to turn the current economic crisis into an opportunity, urging executives to look for blue-chip companies for mergers and acquisitions. “This time of economic downturn could be an opportunity. We need to be more active in the M&A of hea
Number of young Korean students abroad rebounds

Social affairsOct 3, 2011

The number of young Korean students being sent to study abroad is back on the rise, apparently buoyed by recently improved economic conditions, said a government report released on Monday.The report by the Education Ministry and the Korean Educational Development Institute showed that in the 2010 ac
27 pianists from 13 countries compete in Louisiana

MusicOct 3, 2011

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana (AP) -- A chance to perform in St. Petersburg, Russia and at Carnegie Hall is bringing 27 pianists from 13 countries to compete in Alexandria.The Louisiana International Piano Competition is also a chance for central Louisiana residents to meet and hear musicians from around th
Korean banks set for record Q3 profits

Oct 3, 2011

Bigger margins, troubles at savings banks a boon for major banksKorean banks are expected to post a record profit in the third quarter of this year, helped by wider margins as lenders hiked loan rates but lowered deposit rates. Margin in the banking sector refers to the percentage added to a market
Mexican film director Inarritu honored in Zurich

PeopleOct 3, 2011

ZURICH (AP) -- Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has picked up a special honor for a body of work that includes this year’s Oscar-nominated ``Biutiful,” the haunting tale of a cancer-stricken father.The director acclaimed for movies such as ``Babel” and ``Amores Perros” received a Golden
Daewoo International gears up for gas project in Myanmar

IndustryOct 3, 2011

Daewoo International Corp. said Sunday it has begun infrastructure work for a gas project in Myanmar after completing drilling and production tests.The Korean resources developer will establish seabed platforms, onshore terminals and pipelines at two offshore fields in the Southeast Asian country in
Disabled but tenacious designer wins skills contest

Social affairsOct 3, 2011

Life is always challenging and sometimes frustrating for wheelchair-user Woo Song-shik. But that could not stop him from pursuing his dream to design a better product.“New ideas never cease to spring up within me. I am eager all the time to learn more to make products of my own design,” the 37-year-
Hyun Bin to visit Indonesia to promote arms industry

PeopleOct 3, 2011

Actor Hyun Bin who is currently serving in the Marine Corps will visit Indonesia for three days this week to promote South Korea’s defense industry, according to the Ministry of National Defense on Monday. Hyun will visit Indonesia from Oct. 5-7. He will attend the Armed Forces Day ceremony in Indon
Samsung proposes deal to Apple in Australia

IndustryOct 3, 2011

Samsung Electronics Co. made a proposal to Apple Inc. to resolve their patent dispute in Australia regarding touch-screen technology, a Sydney court was told Sept. 30. Samsung lawyer David Catterns didn’t give details about the proposal, and Apple will need time to consider it, Apple lawyer Steven B
N.K. defectors in China face repatriation

North KoreaOct 3, 2011

Scores of North Korean defectors in China are facing repatriation back to their ironfisted homeland, a South Korean humanitarian group said Monday. According to the Commission to Help North Korean Refugees, a group of 20 North Koreans was rounded up in Shenyang, China, on Sept. 26, along with 10 oth
Domingo strikes back after scathing review

MusicOct 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- In Washington, the operatic drama is taking place offstage.Spanish tenor Placido Domingo has slammed a Washington Post music critic who said he had “sabotaged” a recent performance of “Tosca” with his conducting, calling her comments “unconscionable” and unleashing a war of words
N.K. expands travel routes for Chinese tourists: source

North KoreaOct 3, 2011

BEIJING (Yonhap News) ― North Korea is expanding travel routes between China and its scenic resort in Mount Geumgang, a source familiar with the North said Monday, indicating Pyongyang’s continued efforts to earn much-needed cash from Chinese tourists.The new routes will include extra flights from C
GM Korea launches Malibu midsized sedan

TransportOct 3, 2011

GM Chevrolet’s new model, the Malibu, will debut in Korea on Tuesday, GM Korea officials said Monday. A live stream for the launch will be available online, they added.The introduction of the Malibu comes six months after the company’s announcement that the new model will go into production at the B
Abuzz over Adonis for Nobel Literature Prize

BooksOct 3, 2011

STOCKHOLM (AFP) ― Predicting the Nobel Literature Prize winner is near-impossible as the Swedish Academy stays tight-lipped and often honours writers off the beaten path ― so could it be Syrian poet Adonis this year?Each year the names of popular authors are tossed about ― U.S. novelists Philip Roth
Top designers flock to Seoul for Herald forum

Arts&DesignOct 3, 2011

Herald Design Forum offers chance to see how design changes the worldIt seems almost too clich to talk about a design war, but that may the only way to define the cutthroat competition witnessed between companies hoping to set their brands apart with sleeker, more imaginative product designs. The iD