The Korea Herald

Obama warns on debt at Merkel talks

IndustryJun 8, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. President Barack Obama warned Europe’s debt crisis must not destabilize the global economy, as he laid on an effusive White House welcome for German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Obama and Merkel had extensive talks about the plight of debt-stricken Greece, which needs a second huge financial bailout, despite some reluctance from some eurozone members to stump up fresh funds.“I
Charity concert for young N.K. defectors

Jun 8, 2011

A benefit concert for children of multicultural families and North Korean defectors will be held in Seoul on Saturday, with a range of big-name performances.The Love Garden Art Society will hold the 5th Annual Love Garden Charity Art Festival at the Samsung COEX center, in an effort to culturally enrich the lives of multicultural youths. JewelryComedian Seo Kyung-suk, pop group Jewelry, who releas
Softball match to help disabled in Busan

Jun 8, 2011

A softball match is to be held to raise money for disabled and disadvantaged kids in Busan. The annual event has raised more than 10 million won ($9,250) so far and organizers hope to raise around 1.5 million won with the 8th tournament on June 12 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. A softball team from a previous match (Michael Spiller)Around 100 people have taken part in previous years’ events, with the conte
Seminar on fair, ethical trade on Friday

Jun 8, 2011

A fair trade seminar is to be held in Seoul on Friday. The event will discuss the concepts of “fair trade” and “ethical trade” in depth, as well as analyzing the global Fairtrade movement. The Fairtrade movement aims to help consumers shop for products that provide a better deal to global producers. Speakers from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Ko
Talk on helping North Korean kids

Jun 8, 2011

Human rights activist Tim Peters was to give a talk on helping North Korean children on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize nominee was to give the talk “Breaking the Silence on Korea’s Forgotten Children” at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul from 12-1:30 p.m.Peters is the founder and managing director of Helping Hands Korea, a Christian mission which provides famine relief to the northeastern part of No
Striving to help Korean families thrive in all shapes and sizes

Jun 8, 2011

Less than 60 percent of families in South Korea now fit the model of a nuclear family, Statistics Korea research suggests. As a developed, democratic country, the country should embrace this difference, says Dr. Richard Boas of the Korean Unwed Mothers Support Network. “Confucian belief defines a family as a father, a mother and their children. Many believe a modern family consists of a married ma
‘Great Talent’ winner keeps donation promise

Jun 8, 2011

Baek Cheong-gang, winner of the MBC’s star search program “Great Talent,” kept his promise that he would donate the half of his prize money to a welfare center to help underprivileged people. The broadcaster said on Wednesday that Baek visited Sangrok Orphanage in Seoul and donated 50 million won worth of cash, clothes and socks.Baek and MBC discussed which organization would be the beneficiary, M
Movie night for cancer patient

Jun 8, 2011

An ’80s movie night is to be held to help an English professor battling cancer. The fund-raiser is being held to help Woosong University professor Mike McStay, who has been receiving cancer treatment in hospital. His friends have been organizing events to raise cash to contribute to his medical bills. The latest event is to be held at the Yellow Taxi bar in Daejon on June 11. Those coming to watch
Facelift for kids’ homes from home

Jun 8, 2011

Nationwide refurb program makes Korean afterschool centers sparkle againUntil this month, kids at Jun Jin-kyoung’s Ganghwado children’s center were always fighting over the bathroom. “There was no separate restroom for males and females. It could sometimes make conflict for the children as they grew up. They wanted the restroom separated,” said Jun, who is president of the care facility on the isl
[William Pesek] It’s bubble time as Asia braces for Fed’s QE3

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

Pretend you’re Darmin Nasution, Indonesia’s central bank governor, and inflation is running at about 6 percent. Do you raise interest rates or cut them? This isn’t a trick question, but one facing Asia’s monetary authorities as they brace for a possible third round of U.S. quantitative easing, an effort by the central bank to get more money into the economy. No matter what Federal Reserve official
[Editorial] Ban’s secondterm bid

EditorialJun 8, 2011

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced his bid for reelection. In a news conference held in New York on Monday, he disclosed that he had asked the 192 member countries of the world body to consider him for a second five-year term. His current term ends Dec. 31.Wire reports say Ban’s reelection is virtually assured, as he faces no opponents and has the backing of the five veto-wielding me
[Editorial] Prosecution reform

EditorialJun 8, 2011

The confrontation between lawmakers and prosecutors over the fate of the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has taken a new turn following the presidential office’s opposition to the parliamentary bid to scrap the powerful investigation unit.The presidential office advocated on Monday the continued existence of the CID, saying that the prosecution needs a strong in
[Graham E. Fuller] Saudi’s false reading of reality

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

A panicky Saudi Arabia has now openly seized the banner of outspoken opposition to Iran across the Muslim world, surpassing even Washington’s long and obsessive Iran-centered interpretation of Middle East events. Riyadh is perpetuating a false ― and hence dangerously misleading ― reading of key regional issues.The Saudi Kingdom grows understandably fearful as “stable” autocratic rule in the region
[Liu Shijin] China’s true status

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

Despite the remarkable economic and social development it has achieved since reform and opening-up in 1978, China is still a developing nation, as indicated by both its per capita economic indices and its economic and social structure.It is necessary to take into account a country’s economic aggregate and its per capita output to accurately measure its real economic and social development levels.
[Meghan Daum] David Mamet’s new herd

ViewpointsJun 8, 2011

David Mamet, the acclaimed playwright known for characters that drop the F-bomb at every opportunity, has dropped the ultimate bomb on his fans and the creative community: He is no longer a “brain-dead liberal” but rather a “newly minted conservative.”This revelation is spelled out in his new book, “The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture,” which hit stores last week. Accordin