The Korea Herald

Left-handers more likely to be fearful

ScienceMay 3, 2011

(MCT)Left-handed people feel more fear than right-handers, recent research revealed. In a test reported by the Telegraph Sunday, people were asked to watch an eight-minute video clip from “Silence of the Lambs” and recall scenes from the horror thriller. The left-handed participants remembered only fragments of the scenes and their descriptions about them were filled with more repetition, showing
Police raid Google Korea personal location data

Social affairsMay 3, 2011

Police raid Google Korea over personal location dataPolice on Tuesday raided the office of Google Korea in southern Seoul over allegations that its subsidiary collected personal location data without consent.Investigators from the cyber crime unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched the headquarters of Google Korea in Yeoksam-dong early in the morning and confiscated hard disks and ot
Parties to pass Korea-EU FTA bill

PoliticsMay 3, 2011

Parties to ratify Korea-EU FTA WednesdayParties will hold a provisional session on Wednesday to pass the disputed Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement bill, on which they failed to reach an agreement during the April plenary session.In a last-minute debate on Monday, parties agreed to ban the location of large supermarkets within the 1 kilometer radius of small traditional markets, instead of the previou
N. Korea rated worst in press freedom

North KoreaMay 3, 2011

N. Korea rated worst in press freedomNorth Korea was rated the worst country in terms of press freedom, according to a report by Freedom House, a U.S.-based non-governmental human rights body, on Monday.Among the 196 countries studied last year, North Korea’s ranking was the lowest. South Korea’s was 70th, a slight fall from last year’s 67th, according to the report.The organization also lowered i
iPad for take-out at Starbucks?

Foreign affairsMay 3, 2011

(Yonhap News)New York police announced that thieves seeking unattended electronic devices at Starbucks cafes are increasing. Due to increasing reports of larceny, NYPD is now even setting up sting operations, reported the New York Times. Decoy bags were applied to arrest a thief.The world famous coffee chain draws customers around the globe who want to enjoy comfortable seats, drinks, and especial
Which dreams are good for lottery?

Social affairsMay 3, 2011

Many Korean lottery winners dreamt of their ancestors before their purchase, according to a survey.Lottery Commission of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance conducted the research to analyze the luckiest people in Korea.Out of 291 winners last year, 147 participated. According to the survey, 43 percent said they bought lottery tickets just for fun. About 17 percent said they purchased tickets bec
Eagle has phantom pregnancy

ScienceMay 3, 2011

The eagle, thought to be having a phantom pregnancy, has sat on pebbles since last month at the shelter of a bird protection organization. (Yonhap News)An eagle, which never made it home due to a broken wing, is thought to be having a phantom pregnancy as it incubates pebbles instead of eggs, domestic reports said Monday. The eagle migrated to Korea 10 years ago from Mongolia to spend winter here
Lee applauds Obama for fighting terrorism

NationalMay 2, 2011

Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama to show his support for the U.S. fight against terrorism, after U.S. forces killed a long sought-after terrorist, the presidential office here said.In the letter, Lee said the killing of al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden was "an important accomplishment" in Obama's attempt to eradicate terrorism, according to C
Assembly to discuss ratifying FTA with EU this week

PoliticsMay 2, 2011

The Korean parliament will discuss the ratification of Seoul's free trade deal with the European Union (EU) at a plenary session this week, a lawmaker said Monday, after rival parties agreed on related issues.Rep. Lee Koon-hyon of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) said the National Assembly will discuss ratifying the free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU this Wednesday. Last week, a parliamen
GNP cliques clash after by-election shocks

PoliticsMay 2, 2011

The ruling Grand National Party, in the aftermath of its defeat in last week’s by-elections, held an intra party debate in which opposing factions clashed over how to start over.More than 110 lawmakers participated and 19 volunteered to speak in the hours-long debate on Monday, according to party officials.“We are on the verge of a major crisis,” said the party floor leader Kim Moo-sung in his ope
Bigger kindergarten grants promised for 5-year-olds

PoliticsMay 2, 2011

The Seoul government on Monday said it will pay 300,000 won per month for pre-school education of 5-year-olds from 2016, extending the state-funded compulsory education period by a year to 10 years.Currently, public elementary (six years) and middle school (three years) education in Korea is free, whereas the government provides 177,000 won per month for pre-school education or childcare of 5-year
‘Hijacked tanker expected to reach Somalia today’

Foreign affairsMay 2, 2011

A hijacked Singapore palm oil tanker was expected to reach Somalia Monday, where negotiations will begin with pirates over the release of its 25-member crew including four South Koreans, an official here said.Somali pirates seized the 21,000-ton MT Gemini as well as more than 28,000 tons of crude palm oil off the coast of Kenya the previous day, the vessel’s owner had announced in a statement. Acc
Senior diplomat suspected of smuggling ivory from Africa

Foreign affairsMay 2, 2011

A South Korean diplomat has been caught allegedly attempting to smuggle expensive elephant tusks into the country upon his return from a post in Africa, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. Some 16 pieces of ivory, which is among the nation’s contraband goods, were found in the shipment of the diplomat who returned to the country in March and currently holds a high-ranking post at the central governm
Lee aide warns of moral hazard amid savings bank probe

PoliticsMay 2, 2011

An aide to President Lee Myung-bak criticized a group of Busan lawmakers for pushing for legislation to make the government provide full compensation for lost savings at suspended mutual savings banks, saying it would bring about moral hazard.“Ignoring the existing law to guarantee full compensation for all savings when Busan Savings Bank is suspected of having told (its VIP customers) to withdraw
Yonsei offers scholarship to top foreign students

Social affairsMay 2, 2011

Yonsei University is to expand its scholarship program for outstanding foreign students in Korea.The new scholarship system, revamped last September, took effect from this year’s spring semester to offer a full four-year scholarship to a maximum of 10 foreign students, according to school officials.“Unlike many other schools in Korea, we have refrained from giving out scholarship benefits just to