The Korea Herald

Korean, Indonesian education ministries sign tech MOU

Social affairsAug 18, 2011

The Indonesian education ministry and its South Korean counterpart agreed to cooperate in the establishment of a technologically advanced classroom, said the education ministry here on Thursday.The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s Mi
Civic groups take legal action against mayor

Social affairsAug 18, 2011

Petition filed to recall Seoul mayor for pushing ahead with vote on free school meals With six days left before Seoul’s first-ever referendum on free school lunches, opponents of the vote have taken legal measures against Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The Aug. 24 plebiscite on free school meal progra
Hanjin boss apologizes for dispute

PoliticsAug 18, 2011

Cho Nam-ho, chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., apologized multiple times during a parliamentary hearing Thursday over a prolonged labor dispute at the company’s shipyard in Busan. Cho Nam-ho (left), chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., reads prepared docu
Think tank unveils N. Korean court ruling ordering public execution

North KoreaAug 18, 2011

A South Korean state-run think tank on Thursday unveiled a North Korean court ruling sentencing a man to public execution, suggesting the totalitarian regime uses the punishment as part of its legal system.The Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) said it included images of the document in
Posthumous honor for ex-WHO chief Lee Jong-wook

Social affairsAug 18, 2011

The late former Director-General of the World Health Organization Lee Jong-wook received a posthumous honorary doctorate on Wednesday from Seoul National University for his contributions to the development of public health.“Lee made a tremendous contribution to the development of public health and m
Hyun Bin voted as conscription role model

DefenseAug 18, 2011

A popular TV actor who enlisted in the Marine Corps for his conscription has been voted as the defining symbol of military mandatory service by netizens, the military recruitment agency said on Thursday. Hyun Bin (The Korea Herald)According to the Military Manpower Administration, actor Hyun B
What's the age of the moon? It could be waning

ScienceAug 18, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) _ That old moon might not be as antique as once thought, some scientist think. They say it is possible that it is not a day over 4.4 billion years old. The full moon rises behind the ancient temple of Posseidon, in Sounio about 73 kilometers southeast of Athens. (AP-Yonhap News
N. Korean leader Kim Jong-il enjoys yacht holiday

North KoreaAug 18, 2011

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been enjoying sailing on his yacht along the east coast in recent weeks, a person familiar with the issue said Thursday, as his country is struggling to recover from devastating floods.Kim has been sailing in waters off a coastal villa, where he has been staying s
Notorious jail breaker attempts suicide in prison

Social affairsAug 18, 2011

Shin Chang-won, who stunned the nation with his jailbreak in 1997 and more than two years of life on the run, was in critical condition after attempting suicide in his prison cell on Thursday, prison officials said.The 44-year-old convict attempted suicide via strangulation using a rubber glove in h
Students decreasing amid low birthrate

Social affairsAug 17, 2011

The number of students in the school system decreased between 2010 and 2011, highlighting the government’s futile efforts to tackle the low birthrate here, said the education ministry on Wednesday.According to data by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korean Educational Devel
President Lee lauds Chung for donation

PoliticsAug 17, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak lauded ex-ruling party leader Chung Mong-joon’s donation of 200 billion won ($186 million) for charity, which came a day after Lee called for a compassionate market economy.Lee said Chung’s donation was “a very good thing” during a weekly meeting with his aides on Wednesday,
Hanjin chief wasn’t abroad during labor strife: data

Social affairsAug 17, 2011

Cho Nam-ho, chairman of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., was in Korea for two weeks in July when calls were mounting for him to settle months-long labor strife at his firm, contrary to previous claims by his company. According to Cho’s immigration data submitted to the National Assembly a
‘N.K. military receives most aid’

Social affairsAug 17, 2011

North Korean government, administrative, military and related industry officials receive priority in food rations, according to media sources in the country, as a U.N. aid agency claims ordinary citizens are given less than a third of the recommended nutritional diet.North Koreans were only given 20
GNP leader calls for family reunions ahead of Chuseok

PoliticsAug 17, 2011

The two Koreas should make cooperative efforts on holding another round of reunions of families separated by the Korean War ahead of next month’s Chuseok holiday, chairman of Seoul’s right wing ruling party said Wednesday. Considering the old age of most of these family members, there is a need for
Big firms pressed on social responsibility

PoliticsAug 17, 2011

Business lobbying group chief agrees some markets should be only for small firmsLawmakers on Wednesday chided business giants for taking advantage of their dominant status to squeeze out suppliers and muscling in on business that should be run by smaller firms such as coffee shops and restaurants.Th