The Korea Herald

Choo caught drunk driving

BaseballMay 4, 2011

Korean Major Leaguer Choo Shin-soo was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk near his home, police said Monday.The Cleveland Indians outfielder was arrested at 2:25 a.m. on Monday after failing a sobriety test, according to the police statement.A breathalyzer test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.201 percent, above Ohio’s legal limit of 0.08 percent, the statement added.According to polic
Jang debuts at No. 1 on Japan’s Oricon chart

PeopleMay 4, 2011

Korean actor and singer Jang Geun-suk topped Japan’s Oricon chart in his debut week. His single “Let Me Cry” sold 119,000 copies within a week of its April 27 release. Jang Geun-sukHe became the first foreign singer in Japan to rank No. 1 in the major weekly pop chart upon debut.In 2005, Korea’s Ryu Si-won reached No. 2 within a week.Jang’s record was also the first for a male singer since Masahi
Cho returns from military service

PeopleMay 4, 2011

Actor Cho In-sung was discharged from mandatory military service Wednesday after serving for 25 months.Cho was honorably discharged from Pyeongtaek’s Osan Air Base at 10 a.m.The popular actor who joined the Air Force in 2009 has been active as an honorary ambassador for the Military Manpower Administration. His last position as a serviceman was as sergeant in the military band. Cho In-sung. (Yonh
Yim becomes overnight sensation

PeopleMay 4, 2011

Korean rock singer Yim Jae-beom is enjoying a new phase in his career with his name topping the most-searched-word list at major Internet portals, thanks to blockbuster TV program “I am a Singer.” Yim was one of two new entrants on Sunday for MBC’s weekly singer survival program and his performance of “Neoreul yuihae (For You)” was so impressive that he ranked first in the audience’s vote. Korean
Bin Laden’s last wishes reported

World NewsMay 4, 2011

Osama Bin Laden wished his wives not to remarry and his children not to join Al-Qaeda in a document, which is thought to be his will, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Aabaa reported Tuesday.The four-page document, dated Dec. 14, 2001, three months after 9/11, was written on a computer and signed by Osama bin Laden himself as “your brother Abu Abdullah Osama Muhammad Bin Laden.”He feared he might be killed by
Myths and truths about Osama bin Laden

World NewsMay 4, 2011

Osama bin Laden’s mysterious life gave rise to a number of myths about him. The following are 10 myths about the notorious terrorist as summarized by the Guardian. Myth 1: Bin Laden was created by the CIA.Some say the U.S. funded bin Laden during the 1980s to fight the USSR,BUT bin Laden did not receive any funding or training from the U.S.Myth 2: Bin Laden is rich.Bin Laden is known to be from a
Cho In-sung returns from military service

PeopleMay 4, 2011

Actor Cho In-sung was discharged from mandatory military service Wednesday after serving for 25 months.Cho was honorably discharged from Pyeongtaek’s Osan Air Base at 10 a.m.The popular actor who joined the Air Force in 2009 has been active as an honorary ambassador for the Military Manpower Administration. His last position as a serviceman was as sergeant in the military band. Cho was awarded a c
Jang tops Japan’s Oricon on debut week

May 4, 2011

Korean actor and singer Jang Geun-suk topped Japan’s Oricon chart in his debut week. His single “Let Me Cry” sold 119,000 copies within a week of its April 27 release. He became the first foreign singer in Japan to rank No. 1 in the major weekly pop chart upon debut.In 2005, Korea’s Ryu Si-won reached No. 2 within a week.Jang’s record was also the first for a male singer since Masahiko Kondo toppe
Man dead in Easter ‘crucifixion’

Social affairsMay 4, 2011

This captured image from SBS News on Tuesday shows a computer simulated image of the men who died on a cross in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. (SBS)A taxi driver said to have had fanatical religious beliefs was found dead Sunday on a wooden cross in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, police said.In an apparent emulation of the crucifixion of Jesus, his hands and feet were found nailed to
How Paul Potts became international icon

TelevisionMay 4, 2011

Paul Potts (AP)The world famous opera tenor Paul Potts revealed his secret to outstanding auditions.The iconic singer, who touched fans with his beautiful voice and stories of challenge, made his official debut via “Britain’s Got Talent.” The program, where participants compete each other until the final, gave inspiration to several Korean programs such as “Superstar K.” Due to the frenzy of survi
Happiness index for Korean teenagers lowest among OECD states

Social affairsMay 4, 2011

The happiness index for Korean teenagers was the lowest among the 23 OECD member states for the third consecutive year, according to a survey released on Wednesday by two civilian institutes.The “subjective well-being index” for Korean students between the ages of 10 and 18 was 65.98, far lower than the OECD average of 100, the survey showed. The index for Spanish teenagers was the highest with 11
Lee chastises top financial regulator for complacency

PoliticsMay 4, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday chided the nation’s top financial watchdog for its failure to reform itself despite the 1997-98 financial crisis and to properly supervise mutual savings banks, eight of which had their operation suspended so far this year.Having championed efforts to seek a “fair society” through the second half of his term, Lee slammed the Financial Supervisory Service for no
For most, lunch time not just for a meal

May 4, 2011

One out of four workers prefers doing something more productive during lunch time than just eating, according to a survey.In a research conducted by Saramin, an online recruitment website in Korea, about quarter of participants said they were “lunch tourists.” The term refers to those who spend lunch break just for themselves, rather than having a long meal or interacting with colleagues.Out of th
No ‘five-star’ hotels without Korean restaurants: minister

CultureMay 4, 2011

Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug said on Tuesday local hotels should not be granted a “five-star” rank if they do not have a restaurant specializing in Korean cuisine. Korean hotels are rated differently from western ones, being rated by the number of mugunghwa, or Rose of Sharon they are awarded. Top hotels in Korea have five mugunghwa. Choung’s comments came several weeks after he vowed to tak
White House: Bin Laden unarmed during assault

WorldMay 4, 2011

Bin Laden's wife was not a human shield: reportsOsama bin Laden was unarmed when he was confronted by U.S. commandos at his Pakistani hideout but tried to resist the assault, the White House said Tuesday as new details emerged about the audacious raid that killed the world's most wanted terrorist.The White House said it was considering whether to release photos that were taken of bin Laden after