The Korea Herald

Samsung, LG to flex muscle at IFA 2011

IndustrySept 1, 2011

Korean and foreign firms to show new TVs, smartphones, tablet PCs during 6-day global trade showBERLIN -- The global trade show IFA 2011 kicked off in Germany on Friday, unveiling a number of new wireless gadgets and smart home appliances.LG Electronics featured 3-D total solutions -- the 3D TV, 3D
Lottery sales in Korea up 10.2% in H1

Sept 1, 2011

People line up to buy lottery tickets at Kookmin Bank in Seoul on Thursday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Lottery sales in South Korea rose more than 10 percent in the first half of the year, data showed Thursday, raising expectations that full-year sales may reach a seven-year high.Lottery s
SK to hire 2,100 workers in second half

IndustrySept 1, 2011

SK Group plans to scout for 2,100 young and experienced talents in the latter half of the year, the country’s third-largest conglomerate said Thursday.With another 2,900 already hired in the first half, the figure will be added to mark a record number of 5,000 new employees for the year, up nearly 4
POSCO sponsors second multicultural wedding

IndustrySept 1, 2011

Six multicultural couples with financial difficulties were married in a joint ceremony sponsored by the steelmaker and Gangnam-gu office on Thursday.The couples were selected from the 1,010 multicultural families living in Gangnam-gu who are married but have not been able to hold a wedding ceremony
[Herald Interview] Thai convention and exhibition gateway to business in region

Sept 1, 2011

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau organized a road show in the Seoul and Busan this week to promote the country’s trade shows as a preferred business platform in Southeast Asia.To make it more attractive, the TCEB has put in place supporting policies for Korean businesses attending such trad
Loan delinquency rate reaches 11-month high

Sept 1, 2011

Price hikes weaken households’ ability to pay debts in JulyCommercial banks saw the ratio of overdue household loans reach the highest level in 11 months in July, despite financial regulators’ countermeasures to curb lending growth.The delinquency rate in banks’ household loans posted 0.77 percent i
Sarkozy warns G20 of need for growth above austerity

World BusinessSept 1, 2011

PARIS (AFP) ― The Group of 20 developed and developing economies must ensure growth first and avoid the risk of a fresh global recession even if budgets are tight, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday.Sarkozy, current head of the G20, said France wanted to see its Cannes summit in Novembe
Wen: China to focus on taming inflation

World BusinessSept 1, 2011

China’s top priority is stabilizing prices and the government doesn’t plan to alter the direction of economic policies, Premier Wen Jiabao said. The slowdown in the economy is “reasonable” and within government expectations, Wen wrote in an article in the ruling Communist Party’s Qiushi magazine. An
Navy Academy unveils bust of late Adm. Sohn Won-il

Social affairsSept 1, 2011

The Navy Academy held a ceremony unveiling a bronze bust of Sohn Won-il, Korea’s first chief of naval operations, in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday.Hong Eun-hye, the late admiral’s widow, and several top naval officials including Navy Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Won Tae-ho atten
SaKong to discuss Chinese economy in Beijing

IndustrySept 1, 2011

SaKong IlSaKong Il, head of the Korea International Trade Association, plans to discuss the Chinese economy at a forum in Beijing this weekend, the trade agency said Thursday.About 60 economists and experts around the world will take part in the High-level China 2030 Conference on Saturday hosted by
Kim Gi-ho becomes new CEO of Yes24

IndustrySept 1, 2011

Kim Gi-hoKim Gi-ho, former CEO of GS Digital TV, has been named as the new chief executive of Yes24, Korea’s largest Internet-based book retailer.“I feel heavy responsibility as the new president in a time when the publishing market is facing a paradigm shift,” he said in his inauguration speech. “I
Gana Art Center donates artifacts

TheaterSept 1, 2011

Lee Ho-jae, head of Gana Art Center, one of the most prominent art galleries in South Korea, donated 128 Korean artifacts to Seoul Arts Center last week. The donated items ― 74 rubbed copies of epigraphs from the ancient and medieval times and 54 calligraphy works done with Chinese black ink from th
[Editorial] Session in jeopardy

EditorialSept 1, 2011

The regular session of an outgoing National Assembly is the least productive as its members often shun debate on issues of concern to the public, deliberation on pending bills and participation in voting. Instead, they tend to make a final pitch in constituency work in their electoral districts in p
[Editorial] Change in N.K. policy?

EditorialSept 1, 2011

Signals are coming from those close to President Lee Myung-bak that he is considering changing his anti-North Korea policy in favor of improving relations with the communist state. If he is really considering such a shift in policy, he will have to think about a backlash from his conservative suppor
[Michael Smerconish] Some political gaffes really say something

ViewpointsSept 1, 2011

During his recent visit to China, U.S. Vice President Biden mistakenly said we own 85 percent of U.S. Treasury securities, while the number is actually 54 percent. But who am I to criticize?Sitting in front of a live microphone can be dangerous. I know because I do it for 20 hours each week for my n