The Korea Herald

Seoul mayor proposes holding citizen poll on disputed free school meals

North KoreaJan 10, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Monday proposed holding a citizen poll to settle an ongoing dispute with the opposition party over providing free lunches to all elementary, middle and high school students in the capital. The proposal comes four days after the opposition-controlled city council proclaimed an ordinance to provide free meals to all elementary school children under its jurisdiction from t
N. Korea proposes dialogue with Seoul in official letter

North KoreaJan 10, 2011

North Korea has proposed holding talks with South Korea in an official letter, a government official said Monday, after Seoul rejected earlier proposals offered in what officials here called a "unilateral announcement." In its letter to the Seoul government, Pyongyang again urged early resumption of government-level talks as well as Red Cross dialogue it earlier said will help resume suspended
'No Pants Subway Ride'

Jan 10, 2011

People ride the subway without trousers during an event "No Pants Subway Ride" in New York, the U.S., on Jan. 9, 2011. Participators who attend the event ride the subway without trousers in New York on Sunday. This event that started in 2002 in 50 cities around the world stresses that everybody should "keep a straight face about it". (Xinhua-Yonhap)
Feeding an owl

Jan 10, 2011

Police officers feed an owl before sending it back to nature in Nanping, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 10, 2011. The owl was found by the policemen on a patrol on Jan. 7. The owl belongs to wildlife under second class state protection. (Xinhua-Yonhap)
Stuntman-turned-actor spills the beans on real ‘Secret Garden’

TelevisionJan 10, 2011

Kwon tells about life of stunt performersLess than a week remains until the final episode of SBS’ smash hit series “Secret Garden” airs. For the past 18 episodes, the weekend drama has amassed a broad fan base and more buzz than it can handle. Everything from the sequin encrusted track suits worn by heartthrob Hyun Bin’s winsome hero to co-star Ha Ji-won’s enthralling portrayal of stuntwoman Gil R
‘Kids are a gift from God,’ says dad of 13

PeopleJan 10, 2011

Korea’s biggest family buck the growing one-child national stereotypeAmid a backdrop of a looming demographic crisis in South Korea, due to one of the lowest birthrates in the world and an aging population, the country’s largest nuclear family ― with 13 children ― makes a welcome change. Attempts to boost the current rate of around 1 child per family have proved unsuccessful, with worries over cos
Producer inflation hits 2-year high in December

Jan 10, 2011

Korea’s annual producer inflation hit a two-year high in December, central bank data showed on Monday, adding to evidence of rising consumer inflationary pressure around the region.The producer price index in December rose 5.3 percent from a year earlier, the Bank of Korea said in a statement.It marked the fastest growth since December 2008, led by food and raw material prices.The data comes after
Lee Kang-too heralds positives of sport

More sportsJan 10, 2011

Promoter of ‘Sport for All’ focuses on global cooperationMany people make exercising their top New Year’s resolution, but are often unable to follow through.For Lee Kang-too, exercising regularly doesn’t have to involve running or going to the gym. Instead, it can be a simple activity, such as walking or climbing the stairs.“I wear my work-out shoes all the time. So wherever I go I’m ready to go f
S. Korea, Japan agree to expand military ties after N.K. attacks

PoliticsJan 10, 2011

South Korean and Japanese defense ministers agreed to “expand and deepen” bilateral military cooperation during talks in Seoul on Monday, amid heightened tensions following a series of deadly North Korean attacks last year.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa also exchanged views on regional security issues including North Korean nuclear threats, the Ministry
Auditor nominee likely to resign under pressure

Social affairsJan 10, 2011

Ruling party demands Chung give up post over ethical issuesThe ruling Grand National Party on Monday called for Chung Tong-ki, nominee for chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection, to resign from his position. The GNP’s demand was an apparent bid to soothe public antipathy toward the former prosecutor, who has made 100 million won ($87,000) a month since stepping down as a prosecutor, alleged
Ex-police chief faces arrest in bribery case

Social affairsJan 10, 2011

A bribery scandal involving construction site catering contracts is spreading from police chiefs and executives of large construction firms to senior government officials, politicians and presidential aides.Prosecutors on Monday questioned former National Police Agency Commissioner Kang Hee-rak over suspicions that he received kickbacks from a canteen operator and broker surnamed Yoo. The Seoul Ea
Korea to establish grain firms in America, Asia

Jan 10, 2011

Korea plans to set up grain procurement companies in major countries such as the United States and Brazil to directly bring in agricultural products as part of its long-term effort to fend off consumer price inflation.After initially establishing a grain company in North America, the government plans to make active inroads into the markets, which include South America and Central Asia, by 2020.Acc
Army marks dispatch of UAE contingent

PoliticsJan 10, 2011

The Army held a ceremony Monday marking the creation and dispatch of a South Korean contingent to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday a two-year mission to help train the Middle East country’s special forces.The dispatch of the 130-strong contingent, named “Akh,” “brothers” in Arabic, follows the UAE’s request last August that South Korea help it nurture world-class special warfare troops.The Seou
S. Korea, Philippines agree to boost ties

PoliticsJan 10, 2011

Foreign ministers of South Korea and the Philippines agreed to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries at a meeting in Seoul. Philippine Foreign Minister Alberto G. Romulo met his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan in Seoul on Monday to discuss, among other issues, ways to promote ties in the fields of trade and investment, agriculture and energy. President Lee Myung-
Lee vows support for youths’ startups

PoliticsJan 10, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak vowed Monday to provide more institutional support for younger people here seeking to launch their own startups in the knowledge-based sector, saying he hopes that South Korea will produce world-renowned business leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, an American computer scientist who founded the social networking service Facebook.“Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook at the age of 20