The Korea Herald

Hana says will agree KEB deadline delay with Lone Star

May 20, 2011

Hana Fnancial Group chairman Kim Seung-yu said Friday that his company would be able to agree with the U.S. Lone Star Funds to extend the deadline for the takeover of Korea Exchange Bank. “We can draw a conclusion by next weekend,” Kim told The Herald Business, the sister paper of The Korea Herald.The two sides are in talks to extend their May 24 deadline. Kim reportedly flew to Tokyo on Wednesday
Europe, emerging powers face off over IMF job

World BusinessMay 20, 2011

BRUSSELS (AFP) ― Europe fought to retain leadership of the IMF on Thursday to help tackle its debt crisis as emerging nations launched a sharp counter-attack, saying it was time rising economies took the helm.With the ink barely dry on Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s letter of resignation from a New York jail cell, European nations staked their claim to the top job at the world’s lender of last resort on
[Editorial] Outside directors

EditorialMay 20, 2011

Chung Jin-suk, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, denies he did anything illegal when he was an outside director for Samhwa Savings Bank, which has recently slid into insolvency. He may not have breached the law but he may be criticized for negligence“Never did I attend a conference on bank management or engage in lobbying (on behalf of the savings bank),” says Chung, who took 2
[Editorial] Favors for draftees

EditorialMay 20, 2011

As a recent survey indicates, almost eight in 10 Koreans support the Ministry of National Defense’s idea of giving favors in written employment tests to those who have completed active duty. Given this high approval rate, the ministry may be tempted to believe all it needs to do is request the legislature to pass the relevant bill awaiting action.But it is not as simple as it looks. A similar law
TEPCO’s compensation plan for victims

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

The government on May 13 decided on the overall framework of a scheme to help Tokyo Electric Power Co. compensate people who have suffered losses from the accidents at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.Compensation will be paid to those who were evacuated from their homes as well as to farmers, fishermen and others who have suffered financial losses due to the accidents.The government plans
How do you close a state park in California?

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

Californians cannot expect state parks, as beloved as they are, to be spared from the budget ax. Not when the elderly are going without home health aides and schools are pink-slipping thousands of teachers. Whether it’s practical to close 70 of the state’s parks, as Gov. Jerry Brown proposes, is another matter.The state Department of Parks and Recreation has done a thoughtful job of targeting park
[Akira Fujino] China’s view of Japan brighter since quake

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

Whether the March 11 earthquake and tsunami could turn bilateral relations in a positive direction has been the subject of some discussion.Wang Lixiong, a Chinese writer from Beijing, was in Japan ― on his first visit to the nation ― on March 10, for meet-and-greet events with readers of his work.After the disaster hit the next day, Wang watched developments in Tokyo, the Kansai region and other p
[David Ignatius] Now for the Obama follow-through

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

WASHINGTON ― With his much-ballyhooed speech on the Middle East, President Obama set himself a challenge that can be summarized in two words: Follow through. Obama spoke with more clarity than some analysts had expected about the two most incendiary issues in the region right now: President Bashar al-Assad’s violent suppression of protests in Syria, and the risk of a new Palestinian explosion if a
Gender-selective abortions not forgivable

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

It’s understandable for would-be parents to have a preference for the sex of their child. All over the world, there are fathers who say they want a little boy who will one day play catch with them in the backyard. Likewise, there are dads who long for the sweetness a little girl brings to a family. Moms also either hope for a little girl to share in the experience of being female or wish for a boy
Normal military exchanges with the U.S.

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

Compared to the robust Sino-U.S. trade ties and the frequent exchanges at official and people-to-people level, Sino-U.S. military exchanges have remained dormant in recent years. But thanks to the efforts of both sides, Beijing and Washington are making headway in fixing this weak link in their bilateral relations. A group of high-ranking Chinese military officers, led by Chief of the General Staf
Poll to set new standard in spin tactics

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

Now that there are 47 days left before the election ― Thailand’s 26th and by far the most important at this political juncture ― just look at the ways various contesting parties are positioning themselves to win or cheat votes. They will be like the spaghetti-western movies ― the good, the bad and the ugly. There are plenty of the last two groups already.In the past few days, quite a few alarming
[Hiroaki Koide] Japan risks nuclear disaster for consumer convenience

ViewpointsMay 20, 2011

TOKYO ― I have been warning about the possibility of catastrophic nuclear power accidents for the past 40 years. That the very nightmare I always predicted has come true makes it no less alarming to watch the ongoing Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster unfold.Nuclear power plants are machines; machines can fail at times. Nuclear power plants are constructed and operated by people; people are no
Makeup trends start here

FashionMay 20, 2011

‘Korean chic’ gains attention overseas via YouTube and makeup brandsWith Girl’s Generation’s bubbly song “Snowy Wish” running in the background, a Thai girl with the YouTube ID onnbaby demonstrates how to pull off the “Korean flawless look.” “I have seen lots of people doing Korean makeup styles and yes, I am now doing one of them too!” she says. The basic steps she points out are ― one, clean and
Frankfurt discount card launched

TravelMay 20, 2011

The German National Tourist Office said it has launched Frankfurt card which offers up to 50 percent discount at some of the shops in the city. The card can be also used as public transportation card within Zone 50 of the city and Zone 5090 of the Frankfurt International Airport. The card, priced at 8.9 euro for one day, 12.9 euro for two days, can be purchased at the central train station, the in
Highlights

TheaterMay 20, 2011

Dance“2011 International Modern Dance Festival”: Organized by the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea, the 30th International Modern Dance Festival is held under the theme “Beauty Beyond Body.” 24 dance teams from seven different countries will showcase their works, including some which minors are not allowed to see. The dance festival runs through May 29 at Korea Performing Arts Center, Noel