The Korea Herald

Ministry to scrap direct election of public univ. heads

Social affairsAug 24, 2011

By Lee Woo-young The Education Ministry will ask public universities to phase out presidential elections and require presidents to specify school development goals. Under the university reform measures suggested by an experts’ panel formed amid rising calls for tuition fee cuts, national and public
Battle for Somali famine aid

Aug 24, 2011

A Feed Somalia Fundraiser is to see Seoul Emcees battle it out to raise funds to help starving people in Somalia this weekend. The 5,000 won cover fee and any other donations during the night to be held at Itaewon’s Rocks Mountain Tavern on Friday from 11 p.m. will go toward a Canadian aid agency he
Study N.K. books in Seoul

Aug 24, 2011

A club looking at literature on North Korea is to discuss two landmark books on the country until October. The JFNK Book Club will discuss each book on alternate Saturdays. The group started “North Korea Through the Looking Glass” by Oh Kong Dan and Ralph C. Hassig on Saturday, Aug. 20 and will cont
Giving laughs at Itaewon gig

Aug 24, 2011

A Seoul comedy group is inviting people to chuckle for charity at a gig in Itaewon this weekend. Seoul City Improv is to host a comedy night at Roofers Bar on Saturday, with all proceeds going to help underprivileged kids’ education in Korea. The comedy night to start at 9 p.m. includes “Whose Line
Ulsan party for abandoned pets

Aug 24, 2011

A fund-raising party is being held in Ulsan on Saturday Sept. 3. in aid of Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary. The event is to start at 7 p.m. at Cima Bar in Ulsan. There will be a BBQ from 8 p.m. with games and activities to raise cash for the organization’s new animal home. BAPS needs money for its rel
Mime cycles for orphans

Aug 24, 2011

A Korean man has cycled his way around the country dressed as a clown to buy bikes for underprivileged children. Woo Keun-chul made the circuit from Seoul to Busan and back again wearing pantomime makeup to raise cash from July 17 to Aug. 19. Woo Keun-chul on his trip around Korea. (Woo Keun-ch
Call to help homeless at Suwon

Aug 24, 2011

Volunteers are being sought for a new project to help homeless people in Suwon, following rough sleepers’ eviction from Seoul Station. PLUR volunteer group fears that more homeless people are beginning to sleep rough around the Suwon Station area following moves to clear them from the capital.
Tears replace fears on return to Korea

Aug 24, 2011

By Kirsty Taylor Overseas adoptees can often find returning to Korea an overwhelming journey full of mixed emotions. But American adoptee Liz Dewart could only beam as she told of a twist to her return to her motherland, as the woman she was unexpectedly reunited with struggled to hold back the tear
Homeplus ‘virtual store’ to open in subway station

IndustryAug 24, 2011

By Lee Ji-yoonHomeplus, a local supermarket chain, said Wednesday it will open a “virtual store” in a subway station in southern Seoul so that customers can buy products without visiting an outlet. The virtual store will start operation from Thursday at Seonreung Station in Yeoksam-dong. According t
POSCO puts UV-coating to commercial production

IndustryAug 24, 2011

By Choi He-suk POSCO began mass producing steel plates coated using ultraviolet rays on Wednesday, becoming the world’s first steelmaker to use the method on commercial scale. Named POSCOTE-UV, short for POSCO smart coating technology-ultraviolet, is more resistant to scratches and its surface is br
FSS to warn Hyundai Capital, Nonghyup

Aug 24, 2011

By Kim Yon-seRegulatory sanctions against Hyundai Capital and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, or Nonghyup, are imminent, officials of the Financial Supervisory Service said Wednesday.The two financial companies have come under intensive regulatory investigations for incurring a cri
‘Little chance of Korean rating cut’

Aug 24, 2011

By Cynthia J. Kim and news reports Korea’s Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan on Wednesday dismissed concerns over a possible cut in South Korea’s sovereign credit rating.“There is little chance that our nation’s ratings will be lowered,” Yonhap news agency quoted Bahk as telling reporters after attendin
KEPCO leads the way for shared-growth

IndustryAug 24, 2011

The country’s main electricity supplier Korea Electric Power Corp., which marked its 50th anniversary this year, is renewing its efforts to become a socially responsible company.In addition to drawing up plans for becoming one of the world’s top five energy and engineering firms by 2020, the c
Korean builders brace for post-Gadhafi boom

Aug 24, 2011

Korean engineering and construction firms are ratcheting up their ambitions in Libya as the waning days of a six-month civil war signal new business opportunities in the North African country. Colonel Moammar Gadhafi’s fate remains uncertain and rebel forces face a long slog to stabilize the country
Facebook to let users pre-approve photo tags

World BusinessAug 24, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Drunken revelers rejoice: Facebook will now let you decide whether your friends can attach your name to a photo before it is circulated.Currently, your friends can add your name to a photo on Facebook without your consent or knowledge. You can remove it later, but only after lot