The Korea Herald

Global luxury brands stingy on donations in Korea: data

IndustrySept 8, 2011

Global luxury goods makers have raked in huge profits in South Korea over the past few years on the back of surging demand, but they have not been generous in making social contributions, data showed Thursday.The combined revenue of 15 global luxury makers in South Korea, including a local unit of t
San Francisco may pass public nudity restrictions

World NewsSept 8, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Nudists in San Francisco might soon lose the freedom to bare it all -- at least some of the time. Walking around naked is legal, but a city supervisor concerned about public health and sanitation introduced legislation Tuesday that would require nudists to put something unde
Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for Kwak

Social affairsSept 7, 2011

After two days of interrogation, prosecutors sought warrant to arrest Kwak No-hyun, Seoul’s education superintendent, Wednesday on allegations that he bought a rival candidate out of last year’s election. Investigators at the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office were said to have reached a conclusion t
Ruling, opposition parties in confusion over Seoul mayoral race

PoliticsSept 7, 2011

The Grand National Party was divided over who should be their mayoral candidate as opposition parties took a step closer to fielding a unified contender after respected entrepreneur Ahn Cheol-soo declared support for an opposition canidate.In a Gallup poll of some 1,000 Seoul citizens earlier this w
Korea scraps tax cut plans for firms, rich

Sept 7, 2011

Officials stress securing tax revenue, fiscal balance to ward off external risksThe government on Thursday decided to scrap plans to cut corporate tax rates for conglomerates, compromising following calls for fiscal balance and more spending on the poor.In a meeting to discuss tax revisions for the
Park Won-soon, lawyer turned leading activist

PoliticsSept 7, 2011

The public’s attention has turned to lawyer-turned-civil activist Park Won-soon, as professor. Ahn Cheol-soo declined to run in the upcoming Seoul mayoral by-election, throwing his support behind Park.“Park has long dedicated himself to promoting civil rights in Korea and is sufficiently qualified t
Foreign Ministry to buy bulletproof Equus limousine

Foreign affairsSept 7, 2011

The Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it will buy a domestic bulletproof limousine to serve visiting state leaders and high-ranking officials ahead of the 2012 Seoul nuclear security summit. The ministry will be purchasing a Hyundai Equus limousine in November as the first locally produced bulletproof
Colombian president to make state visit next week

PoliticsSept 7, 2011

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos will visit South Korea next week for summit talks with President Lee Myung-bak on economic cooperation and other issues, the presidential office announced Wednesday.Santos will arrive on Sept. 14 for a three-day state visit that will also include a visit to the
Smallpox vaccines against N.K. attack unusable

Social affairsSept 7, 2011

The majority of smallpox vaccines that Seoul has stockpiled in case of a biological attack by North Korea have either expired or failed to pass toxicity tests. According to a report by the Korea Food & Drug Administration released on Wednesday, Seoul stockpiled 7 million vaccines between 2002 and 20
Ahn’s popularity threatens Park’s lead

PoliticsSept 7, 2011

Ex-GNP leader loses No. 1 spot in poll on potential presidential candidatesAhn Cheol-soo topped a poll of potential presidential candidates just hours after announcing he would not run for Seoul mayor on Tuesday, causing new unease within the Grand National Party.In a snap poll by local news agency
Seismic study points to explosion as cause of Cheonan ship sinking

DefenseSept 7, 2011

An artificial seismic event that occurred at the time of the sinking of the Cheonan last year indicates that an explosion was the cause of the disaster, a study showed Wednesday.Hong Tae-kyung, a South Korean professor at Yonsei University, wrote in a recent paper that a tremor of 1.5 magnitude occu
Researchers search Japan for clues to patriot Ahn’s remains

Social affairsSept 7, 2011

A group of researchers are seeking clues in Japan as to the whereabouts of the remains of South Korean patriot Ahn Jung-geun, in the first trip of its kind, sources said Wednesday“A group of four researchers left for Japan yesterday as part of efforts by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Councilors slam posh residences amid public housing

Social affairsSept 7, 2011

The recent establishment of foreigner-only serviced apartments in the public housing district in Seocho, southern Seoul, has caused controversy, as it comes at the expense of low-income Korean residents. Foreigner-only serviced residences with golf practice facilities will be built inside a public h
Coffee chain accused of refusing holiday pay

Social affairsSept 7, 2011

Youth Community Union says 81% of cafes nationwide pay no allowancesA former part-time coffee shop worker filed a complaint with the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday that the nation’s largest coffee shop franchise, Caffe Bene, had refused to pay him and his coworkers with weekly holiday
Actions speak louder than words in nation-branding

IndustrySept 7, 2011

Following is the first in a series of interviews with world’s top designers and scholars who will participate in the Herald Design Forum in Seoul from Oct. 5 to Oct. 6. ― Ed.Korea must seek to improve its image through actions, and not words, nation-branding specialist Simon Anholt says. Anholt, who