The Korea Herald

Agency mulled to coordinate state projects

Social affairsSept 21, 2011

A presidential advisory panel is seeking to establish an independent state agency to handle regional and interclass conflicts over state projects.A slew of state projects pursued by the Lee Myung-bak administration engendered confusion and contention in different regions as their locations were undi
Seoul education chief indicted, suspended

Social affairsSept 21, 2011

Prosecutors on Wednesday indicted Kwak No-hyun, Seoul’s education superintendent, on charges of buying his rival candidate out of last year’s election. His job as Seoul education chief was immediately suspended in accordance with a provincial educational law. Lim Seung-bin, deputy chief, will serve
Divorce rate soars among baby boomers: data

Social affairsSept 21, 2011

Divorce among those in their 50s has increased rapidly, taking up to one-seventh of the total divorce cases last year. This contrasts with the overall decline in divorce in the country. According to the Supreme Court and the Statistics Korea, a total of 15,813 divorce cases involving husbands betwee
Parliament approves Yang as chief justice

PoliticsSept 21, 2011

The National Assembly approved the long-stalled bill confirming former Supreme Court justice Yang Sung-tae as chief justice, narrowly avoiding the possible vacuum in the top bench.In the parliament’s general meeting held on Wednesday, the bill was passed with consent of 227 of 245 lawmakers present.
Activists launch mayoral candidacy

PoliticsSept 21, 2011

Park vows to scrap Han River canal project; Lee hints at joining GNP raceTwo non-partisan civic leaders announced their candidacy for the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election on Wednesday, drawing attention to whether they will unite with the ruling or main opposition parties.“I am a candidate embracea
Seven religious leaders visit North Korea

North KoreaSept 21, 2011

Heads of South Korea’s seven key religious orders on Wednesday arrived in North Korea in an unprecedented trip aimed at helping bring the two Koreas back onto a path of reconciliation and cooperation.The 24-person delegation, including the seven leaders, flew to Pyongyang via China’s Shenyang. It pl
‘Reunification should be safe, gradual’

North KoreaSept 21, 2011

Chief of unification think tank stresses importance of two-track strategySouth Korea must pursue a safe, gradual reunification with North Korea in a process where the reclusive regime will feel enough time and room for change, the new chief of Seoul’s state-run think tank on unification said.“As a r
Fans donate with unusual birthday gifts

Sept 21, 2011

People traditionally receive gifts on their birthdays, not give them. But Korean celebrities and their fans are changing this practice by replacing birthday gifts with charity donations. The idea being that “to give is to receive.”Celebrities’ birthdays are big events for their loyal fans. Fan clubs
Bazaar for Korean Red Cross

Sept 21, 2011

The Korean Red Cross is to hold its annual bazaar in Seoul on Wednesday, Sept. 28. The event is to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the B Hall on the first floor of COEX. The charity is to sell traditional Korean foodstuffs including cooking pastes, fruits, and red ginseng as well as clothes, accessori
Kim Dong-wan and Ha Yu-mi top sharers

Sept 21, 2011

Pop star Kim Dong-wan of K-pop group Shinhwa, actress Ha Yu-mi and 20 other citizens were selected as “Nanumin (sharer) of the month” by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday. At the award ceremony held at the Press Center in central Seoul, Vice Minister Choi Won-young and 12 recipients shar
Woman travels to Angel House after KH article

Sept 21, 2011

A Filipina-American nurse scheduled her trip from California to South Korea to visit a disabled people’s home and its volunteers after reading about them in The Korea Herald. Tess Ramoso emailed regular Angel House visitor Kiki Fastino because she was “inspired” by Kiki and the center. She visited t
Abductees in North Korea must not be forgotten

Sept 21, 2011

The South Korean government has “not done much” to help citizens abducted in the North, ministry officials here have admitted, suggesting that Seoul may use food aid to push the issue with the communist state in future. Senior officials for the unification and foreign affairs ministries at a confere
‘Just some bozo who decided to run’

Sept 21, 2011

Runner tells how U.K. comic inspired his ‘4in4’ MS marathon challengeTwo years ago, an unfit but determined British comedian called Eddie Izzard set off on an epic quest to run 1,000 miles around the U.K. The journey took about seven weeks. He was 47 and by his own account “had only run a little bit
Gov't to single out universities with poor int'l student program

PoliticsSept 21, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- The education ministry will accredit universities that do well in attracting and educating foreign students and screen low-performing colleges to limit visa approvals and other benefits, officials said Wednesday.The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said it wi
Five accused of making fake designer goods worth 42 billion won

Social affairsSept 21, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Five suspected members of a South Korean smuggling ring have been arrested on suspicion of producing and selling counterfeit designer goods worth 42 billion won ($36.7 million), the country's customs office said Wednesday.One person was held in custody and four booked wit