The Korea Herald

NASA identifies 90% of largest near-Earth asteroids

ScienceSept 30, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- If you're worried about a killer asteroid wiping out Earth, NASA has some good news.The space agency said Thursday it has identified more than 90 percent of giant, potentially Earth-threatening asteroids, including ones as big as the one thought to have killed the dinosaurs eons
Man who pushed wife off cliff gets 10 years in jail

Social affairsSept 30, 2011

A lower court on Friday sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder of his wife in Goseong, Gangwon Province.The 56-year-old man was arrested in July after stabbing his wife repeatedly and pushing her off a 100-meter cliff. .Despite her injuries the 44-year-old woman survived the
Three medical students sentenced to prison for sexual abuse

ScienceSept 30, 2011

Three former medical students from one of South Korea's most prestigious universities were sentenced to jail on Friday for sexually harassing an inebriated female schoolmate during a trip. (Yonhap News)The Seoul Central District Court sentenced a 23-year-old male student surnamed Park, one of
'Alarm clock' gene identified

ScienceSept 30, 2011

The human body has a so-called alarm clock gene that wakes up even if one hasn’t set the bedside alarm, U.S. researchers say.Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., said they identified a new component of the biological clock, a gene responsible for starting the
Physical altercations highest in Navy: report

DefenseSept 30, 2011

Navy soldiers have been more exposed to physical abuse compared to other military forces over the past several years, a lawmaker said Friday, calling for measures to curb violence in the barracks.A total of 4,670 cases of violence took place in the Navy between January 2005 and June this year, Rep.
Ruling party chief visits joint industrial complex in N. Korea

PoliticsSept 30, 2011

South Korea's ruling party chief crossed the border into North Korea to tour a joint inter-Korean industrial complex on Friday, a move seen as an attempt by Seoul to improve strained ties with Pyongyang.Tensions still linger between the two divided Koreas over the North's two deadly attacks on the S
Air Force under probe for lost files on wartime operational plan

DefenseSept 30, 2011

South Korea's Air Force is under investigation for having lost classified documents on its aerial operational plan in case of war, a military official said Friday. (Yonhap News)Two secret military documents have been missing at the Air Force headquarters since late August, right after South Ko
China launches module for space station

ScienceSept 30, 2011

BEIJING (AP) — China launched an experimental module to lay the groundwork for a future space station on Thursday, underscoring its ambitions to become a major space power over the coming decade.The box car-sized Tiangong-1 module was shot into space from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge
GNP chases civic groups’ support

PoliticsSept 29, 2011

Ji Sang-wuk of Liberty Forward Party announces bid for mayoral by-electionIndependent candidate Lee Seog-yeon has officially withdrawn his candidacy in the upcoming Seoul mayoral by-election, but efforts to solidify support around a single conservative candidate continued.“I wish to withdraw my prev
Film rekindles rage over Inhwa School case

Social affairsSept 29, 2011

Public uproar over sexual assault against disabled leads police to reopen 2005 caseA local box office hit about the true story of sexual abuse of disabled students by teachers in a special school has reignited public outrage over lenient court rulings. It has prompted police to reopen th
GNP seeks civic groups’ support

PoliticsSept 29, 2011

Ji Sang-wuk of Liberty Forward Party announces run for mayorIndependent candidate Lee Seog-yeon has officially abandoned his candidacy in the upcoming Seoul mayoral by-election, but efforts to solidify support around a single conservative candidate continued.“I wish to withdraw my previous pledge to
Military needs more sailors, pilots

DefenseSept 29, 2011

Harassment and abuse by senior officers still rampant: lawmakersThere will be a serious shortage of military sailors and pilots as the country is stepping up efforts to secure scores of new high-tech warships and aircraft to enhance national defense, a lawmaker claimed Thursday
Civic groups fume at national cemetery burial of coup leaders

PoliticsSept 29, 2011

At least five people who took part in a 1979 military coup were found to have been buried at the national cemetery, rekindling a rumpus over who deserves to be laid to rest there.Civic groups in August had opposed the burial of Ahn Hyun-tae, a member of Hanahoe, a group of military officers led by e
Environment group chief convicted of bribery charge

Social affairsSept 29, 2011

The president of Korea Green Foundation was slapped with a fine and prison sentence for taking bribes in an appeal but was not put under court custody.In the ruling by the Seoul High Court, Choi Yul was found guilty for receiving 130 million won ($110,560) in bribes for helping a real estate firm wi
Korea to open world’s 11th super science computing hub

ScienceSept 29, 2011

South Korea will soon open a super science data computing hub capable of processing more than 20 petabytes of information, joining a select group of 10 countries that operate such a facility, the science ministry said Thursday.The new Global Science Experimental Data Hub Center (GSDC) will begin ser