The Korea Herald

Fire erupts on Jeju-bound ferry but no causalities reported

Social affairsSept 6, 2011

(Yonhap News)A passenger boat caught fire in waters off the country's southern coastal city of Yeosu early Tuesday, but all people on board were rescued, the Coast Guard said.The 4,000-ton ferry Seolbong, which departed from the port city of Busan late Monday for Jeju Island, was traveling along the
Ahn’s overwhelming popularity raises speculation of new party

PoliticsSept 5, 2011

With entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo tipped to enter the Seoul mayoral race, there is speculation that he might start a new political party.Yoon Yeo-joon, a former Grand National Party lawmaker and election strategist, offered Sunday to take charge of Ahn’s election campaign. He also pre
Kwak grilled over election corruption

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

Interrogation focuses on whether 200 million won was bribeKwak No-hyun, Seoul’s embattled education chief, faced interrogation from city prosecutors on allegations that he paid a rival candidate to quit last year’s election. An expressionless Kwak arrived at the lobby of the Seoul Central Prosecutor
Badly managed universities face fund, loan cuts

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

The Education Ministry listed 43 poorly managed private colleges and universities Monday after a two-month inquiry by an expert panel as part of a drive to weed out uncompetitive schools and address the rising tuition issue. The 43 universities will be subject to restrictions in government
Safety to top Seoul nuclear summit agenda

Foreign affairsSept 5, 2011

Some 50 state leaders will also deal with North Korea uranium issueFollowing Japan’s nuclear crisis at Fukushima, next year’s nuclear security summit in Seoul will focus on how to improve safety in atomic energy, organizers said Monday. Since the March Fukushima Daiichi plant disaster ― conside
Jeju seeks to host cluster of top foreign universities

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

Jeju Island has undertaken an ambitious project to build an international education city featuring a cluster of international schools, foreign universities, business centers and tourism.Modeled on Dubai’s Knowledge Village, the Jeju Global Education City will be home to prestigious foreign universit
Sanctions aimed at college reform

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

Ministry sets out on restructuring following dispute over tuitionThe government on Monday took the first step in a long-term drive to pressure poorly managed universities to shut down by naming 43 underperforming schools in terms of student enrollment and graduates’ employment.State financial aid wi
Three Korea Univ. medical students face expulsion for sex crime

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Yonhap) -- Three male students from South Korea's prestigious medical college will be expelled for sexually harassing their female colleague, school officials said Monday.The school's decision came after the three unidentified students at the medical college of Korea University had b
43 bottom-ranked universities to face cut in state subsidies next year

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

The education ministry selected 43 private universities Monday that will have their state subsidies partly cut or denied next year as part of a government drive to weed out poorly managed schools to address the problem of rising tuitions. The ministry said it has chosen the universities in consultat
Opinion polls show overwhelming support for Ahnlab founder as

PoliticsSept 5, 2011

Ahn Cheol-soo, a potential dark-horse candidate for Seoul mayor, is far ahead of other possible contenders from both the ruling and opposition parties, multiple surveys showed Monday.Ahn Cheol-soo (Yonhap News)Ahn, a former doctor, rose to fame in the 1990s after establishing Ahnlab Inc., one
S. Korea's 2009 suicide rate highest among OECD nations

Social affairsSept 5, 2011

South Korea's suicide rate was the highest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2009 with an average of over 42 people here taking their own lives daily, a government report said Monday.The number of people who committed suicide reached 15,413
Ahn’s hint at mayoral bid stirs up parties

PoliticsSept 4, 2011

By Kim So-hyunThe rise of venture entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo as a prospective independent candidate in the Seoul mayoral election has added to the disquiet in political parties struggling to keep support ratings from falling further.Ahn, who has long been wooed by both sides, said F
Panel to hold first audit of overseas offices

PoliticsSept 4, 2011

The parliamentary state affairs committee, which supervises key state financial bodies, is to audit the overseas branches of its affiliated organs for the first time in the upcoming state inspection.It is thus to be the first parliamentary committee, besides foreign affairs, to include overseas offi
Seoul seeks protection for Korean sailors on foreign ships

PoliticsSept 4, 2011

The Seoul government is striving to strengthen measures to ensure the safety of South Korean sailors aboard foreign ships as Somali piracy targeting its citizens continues, a government official said Sunday.Following a recent series of piracy cases involving its nationals, it has toughened security
Sohn struggles to overcome setbacks

PoliticsSept 4, 2011

DP leader’s handling of scandals and divisions seen as test of presidential potentialRep. Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is grappling with a spate of political setbacks including an bribery scandal involving Seoul’s liberal education superintendent.Observers said that