The Korea Herald

Knowing the facts on antibiotics

HealthApr 7, 2011

More than half of Koreans still believe penicillin can treat coldsThere was a time when antibiotics were used as “magic drugs” to cure any illness or disorder. From treatments for small inflammations to coughing, people wanted antibiotics.But antimicrobials are often associated with various side effects and invite resistance ― some diseases such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are now untreata
Man United, Barca nab wins

SoccerApr 7, 2011

Wayne Rooney scored in the 24th minute to give Manchester United a 1-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, and Barcelona routed visiting Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 Wednesday night to close in on a semifinal matchup with Real Madrid.Following his hat trick against West Ham last weekend, Rooney met Ryan Giggs’ pass in the penalty area and slotted past goalkeeper Petr Cec
SPO cements status with record deal

MusicApr 7, 2011

Seoul Philharmonic signs long-term license agreement with Deutsche GrammophonSeoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director Chung Myung-whun said on Thursday the orchestra had inked a long-term license contract with Deutsche Grammophon.“It’s been six years since I took the helm of the SPO. Signing a contract with the world’s top classical music record label Deutsche Grammophon is a big step,” Chung
Trade Ministry to review all FTA texts

Apr 7, 2011

The Trade Ministry said Thursday it will review the Korean-language texts of all free trade agreements the nation has signed after more than 200 mistakes were found in the pact with the European Union.The ministry is currently reviewing the texts of its pacts with the United States and Peru which have yet to be approved by the parliament. “In addition to the two FTAs, we will conduct rereading of
Samsung Electronics’ Q1 hit by LCD prices, tablet sales

IndustryApr 7, 2011

The first quarter operating profit of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of TVs and flat-screen monitors, stood at 2.9 trillion won ($2.66 billion) to mark its smallest quarterly revenue in seven quarters after falling 34 percent from a year earlier, the company said on Thursday.Sales were at 37 trillion won, up 6.8 percent year-on-year, according to Samsung during an earnings guidance
[Editorial] Pork barrel

EditorialApr 7, 2011

If a person wishes to succeed as a politician, one of the first things he needs to do is appeal to the concerns of those who have elected him into public office and convince them that he has their best interests at heart. Few can afford to ignore their concerns no matter how mundane or absurd they may appear.Thomas Phillip “Tip” O’Neill, Jr., a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
N.K. has 1 million tons of rice stockpiled for war: lawmaker

North KoreaApr 7, 2011

North Korea, which claims to be in dire need of outside food aid to feed its starving people, has some 1 million tons of rice stockpiled at its military warehouses to prepare for potential war or for release on the 100th anniversary of its founder, a ruling party lawmaker here said Thursday. Pyongyang has stored about 300,000 tons for its regular forces and another 700,000 tons for reserve forces,
Preventing blasts focus at Japan nuclear plant

World NewsApr 7, 2011

TOKYO (AP) ― After notching a rare victory by stopping highly radioactive water from flowing into the Pacific, workers at Japan’s flooded nuclear power complex turned to their next task Thursday: injecting nitrogen to prevent more hydrogen explosions.Nuclear officials said Wednesday there was no immediate threat of explosions like the three that rocked the Fukushima Daiichi plant not long after a
Seoul urged to press Japan on radiation

PoliticsApr 7, 2011

Legislators also rebuke government over Dokdo, translation of EU FTALawmakers Thursday lashed out at the government over measures to handle the inflow of radioactive material from Japan, Tokyo’s approval of history textbooks claiming sovereignty over Dokdo and the mistranslation of the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement.“Our government needs to stand firm on this issue of radioactive waste disposal,” R
Foreigners prefer teokbokki on streets

Social affairsApr 7, 2011

Teokbokki, a rice cake snack marinated with red pepper paste, was selected as the favorite street food among foreigners. According to a survey by Kyung Hee University’s Institute of International Education of 455 foreigners from 62 countries residing in Korea, teokbokki topped the list with 31.1 percent. It was followed by dakkochi, skewered chicken; sundae, blood sausage; and tempura, deep-fried
One-third under serious stress: study

Social affairsApr 7, 2011

One out of every three adults here is under a serious level of stress, a group of doctors said Thursday. Workplaces and financial issues were the main causes of stress, the Korean NeuroPsychiatric Association said. According to its survey conducted of 1,006 people over 19 years old nationwide, about 23.9 percent said they were under some level of stress while 26.2 percent said the pressure was sev
Candidates give way to big names in Bundang

PoliticsApr 7, 2011

The by-election race in the Bundang constituency has come down to a battle between the former and incumbent leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties, as two other candidates have stepped out of the way.Park Gye-dong, former lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party, held a press conference Thursday to announce his withdrawal from the by-election contest.“I shall accept the party’s decis
Politicians debate split-up of science belt

PoliticsApr 7, 2011

Panel starts reviewing where to locate multi-trillion-won facilitiesLawmakers engaged in a heated dispute over a proposal to divide up an envisioned multi-trillion-won science-business belt into two or three different regions as a panel assigned with selecting the location held its first meeting Thursday. The Lee Myung-bak administration last year sought to set up the science-business belt in Sout
LG Uplus introduces wireless N-Screen service

IndustryApr 7, 2011

LG Uplus said Thursday it introduced a wireless N-Screen service which enables sharing of data on multiple platforms for mobile phones, tablet PCs, televisions and personal computers.The company said people could easily use the service, dubbed “Uplus Shoot and Play,” by downloading the application on their devices without uploading content or making other inter-device connections.The service is cl
Top regulator pledges to increase inspectors

Apr 7, 2011

Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Kwon Hyouk-se reiterated Thursday that he would increase the manpower directing probes of financial companies by reshuffling the regulatory body.Kwon, who took office as the chief financial regulator a week ago, told reporters that he would prioritize increasing the ratio of inspectors among FSS staffers in coming months.He cited the slashed ratio of inspectors ―