The Korea Herald

Life tough for students returning home

Social affairsJul 20, 2011

Experts suggest parents prepare children for Korean school life before coming backFor Chung, a Korean student who came home after spending her elementary school years in England, the main problem in adapting to Korea was the language. Working now in Korea after graduating from a college in the U.K., Chung recalled her experiences here from the sixth grade in elementary school to her first year in
Readers’ VOICE

Jul 20, 2011

On English lectures ...Korean students have studied English very hard at school, educational institutes and even gone abroad to study the language. We have invested enormous time and money in English.Though the situation is such, when a foreigner asks us something, why are we embarrassed?When we are faced with English, why do we feel repulsion about it first?There are many reasons for this but I t
Should a law ban sexualizing of K-pop teens?

Jul 20, 2011

Following the FTC’s guidelines to protect young entertainers ... K-pop groups with underage members such as KARA have caused controversy with their provocative dress and dance routinesDrawing a line between sex and popOver the last 15 years, K-pop has grown from being entertainment for Koreans to being the subject of affection of fans across Asia, North America and Europe. Concerns over the incre
Samsung betting big on Galaxy Tab 10.1

IndustryJul 20, 2011

Samsung Electronics appeared to be full of confidence as it launched its second-generation tablet PC, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Korea on Wednesday at the company’s headquarters in southern Seoul. Shin Jong-kyun, chief of the global electronics company’s mobile business unit, pledged to sell more than five times more tablets than last year, despite the first Galaxy Tab not having sold as well as Samsu
SKT board members OK platform spin-off

IndustryJul 20, 2011

SK Telecom said Wednesday its board members agreed to spin off its platform unit, most likely headed by platform business president Seo Jin-woo, during a board meeting earlier on Tuesday. Seo Jin-wooCompany officials said the board members approved the spin off to boost the project expertise and strengthen the competitiveness of related projects through efficient distribution of the business reso
SK Communications releases new mobile messenger service

IndustryJul 20, 2011

SK Communications said Wednesday it launched a new mobile messenger service called “NateOn talk” for Android-powered smartphones, claiming it aims to garner up to 10 million users by the year end.SK Communications, operator of the country’s popular social networking site Cyworld, said the new mobile messenger will feature short messaging and mobile voice over Internet protocol services, along with
Miele to strengthen dominance in upscale household appliances

IndustryJul 20, 2011

Miele International, a German manufacturer of high-end home appliances, said Wednesday that it will keep its premium pricing strategy despite expectations that the company could lower product prices here following the Korea-EU free trade agreement. Markus Miele (Miele Korea)“We also do not consider any dramatic price increase for now, even though raw material costs have soared recently,” Markus M
Bahk promotes wet markets to spur domestic demand

Jul 20, 2011

Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan on Wednesday visited a wet market with representatives of business groups, making a timely move to coordinate with the private sector to revive sagging domestic demand. The visit to Sooyu Traditional Market in northern Seoul, along with ruling Grand National Party leader Hong Jun-pyo and Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, is aimed at promo
LG Chem logs high sales, Hana Financial profits up

IndustryJul 20, 2011

LG Chem, the nation’s leading chemical company, on Wednesday logged record-high quarterly sales of 5.69 trillion won ($5.3 billion) for the second quarter of this year to record a 13.4-percent increase from last year.Operating profit and net profit, however, declined on the back of sluggish market conditions and soaring material costs, the company said. Operating profit stood at 775.4 billion won,
Companies to sue Seoul over ...N.K. sanctions

Jul 20, 2011

About 10 South Korean companies are preparing to file a suit against the government over economic losses caused by Seoul’s sanctions on Pyongyang, a businessman said Wednesday.South Korea imposed sanctions on the North last year in retaliation to the communist country’s two deadly attacks on the South that killed 50 South Koreans.The punitive measures suspended all trade and exchange programs with
False public disclosures up on KOSDAQ: KRX

Jul 20, 2011

False public disclosures surged on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ stock market this year, the Korea Exchange said on Wednesday. As unfair and misleading disclosures by the listed firms tend to increase volatility and distort stock prices, the KRX had toughened its crackdown on such irregularities last year, resulting in a decrease of incidences. But the practice seems to be returning. In the first half of
FSC strives to boost savings banking

Jul 20, 2011

Financial regulators plan to allow savings banks which meet requirements for financial soundness to operate an installment financing business unit.The regulatory decision comes under the Financial Services Commission’s strong commitment to reviving the distressed savings banking industry.Savings banks are required to satisfy two requirements to open an installment financing unit: They should see t
Young women overtake men in job market

Jul 20, 2011

Overall job market still dominated by men, especially for workers in their 40s and 50sKorea’s overall job market is still dominated by male workers. But when it comes to new jobs for Koreans in their 20s, the opposite is true.The employment rate among women in their 20s hit 59.2 percent in the April-June period this year, slightly above men’s 58.5 percent, Statistics Korea said Wednesday. The late
Banks’ foreign exchange deposits rise in first half

Jul 20, 2011

Korean banks’ foreign currency deposits rose in the first half on solid exports and prospects that the local currency’s sharp ascent may ease soon, industry data showed Wednesday.Foreign currency-denominated deposits at five major banks amounted to $14.56 billion as of end-June, up $2.27 billion from the end of last year, according to industry data.The rise came even as the local currency apprecia
GS Group chief stresses innovation

IndustryJul 20, 2011

GS Group chairman Huh Chang-soo called on group executives to go beyond developing new products and services as the group aims to become an “ultra first-rate” corporation. Huh Chang-sooSpeaking at the executives meeting for the third quarter on Wednesday, Huh also said that corporations need to go beyond developing new products and services if they are to address current issues.“The aim of managem