The Korea Herald

Billions of won found at garlic farm

Social affairsApr 11, 2011

Police have dug out more than 8 billion won ($7.1 million) in cash from the soil of a garlic farm owned by an unemployed man in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, officials said Monday. The money is believed to be part of a slush fund raised by running an illegal gambling website, the officials said, adding the total amount of the illegal fund reached 11 billion won. According to the investigators, the
Opposition parties unite against GNP in by-elections

PoliticsApr 11, 2011

With the official campaigns for the April 27 by-elections to kick off Thursday after a two-day candidacy registration, opposition parties have successfully moved to form a united front against the ruling party.In the Bundang-B constituency in Seongnam, Lee Jin-hee of the minority New Progressive Party withdrew from the race Monday, making the contest a showdown between candidates from the ruling G
Lawmakers raised W47b in political funds in 2010

PoliticsApr 11, 2011

Ruling and opposition lawmakers raised a total of 47.7 billion won ($44 million) in political donations last year with the ruling party drawing more funds than the competition, the election watchdog said Monday.While the total amount increased by 16 percent from 41.1 billion won in 2009, it came short of the 63.4 billion won collected in 2008 when a nationwide general election was held, according
Seoul raps N.K. for scrapping exclusive tourism agreement

North KoreaApr 11, 2011

South Korea censured North Korea on Monday for terminating an exclusive tourism deal with a South Korean company that has been unable to operate in the communist state for years amid strained inter-Korean relations.North Korea said Friday it has terminated exclusive tourism rights for Hyundai Asan at Mount Geumgang, a resort on its east coast, voicing skepticism over the resumption of the joint ve
Seoul in dilemma over N.K. food aid

Foreign affairsApr 11, 2011

Officials delay food situation report as international calls grow for assistanceUnlike past springs, South Korea has not been making public its own assessment of the food situation in the North, indicating its dilemma as international charity groups are pressing for shipment of aid to the impoverished regime. Since the 1990s, the South Korean government has every February released its estimation o
Medical discount coupons ruled illegal

Social affairsApr 11, 2011

Downloading discount coupons from social commerce business websites for medical treatments is a violation of the Medical Law, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday. However, it is not illegal for hospitals or medical facilities to offer price cuts directly to patients on services not covered by insurance, it said. The conclusion was reached upon request from Seoul Metropolitan Government,
Assembly session focuses on science belt

PoliticsApr 11, 2011

Opposition urges Lee government to keep election pledgeLegislators on Monday continued to uphold their regional interests over the location of the envisioned multi-trillion-won science-business belt and pounded the government with questions on the safety of nuclear power plants.Opposition lawmakers called on the Lee Myung-bak administration to stick to the president’s campaign pledge to locate the
Seoul, Tokyo officials to discuss measures on radiation danger

Foreign affairsApr 11, 2011

Nuclear experts from South Korea and Japan will meet in Tokyo Tuesday to discuss countermeasures for the radiation leaks from a crippled nuclear plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan, officials here said. Concerns have been growing here since Japan discharged some 11,000 tons of radiation contaminated water into the ocean after using it to cool off reactors in its wrecked Fukushima Daiichi p
N.K. finishes new missile facility: reports

North KoreaApr 11, 2011

U.S. Pacific commander says no signs of N.K. preparing for missile tests in the near futureNorth Korea established a sophisticated missile launch site on its west coast near its border with China late last year, in apparent preparation to test-fire a ballistic missile that could threaten U.S. territory, reports said Friday.The site in Dongchang-ri in North Pyeongan Province is five times larger th
Korea may close old reactors

Social affairsApr 11, 2011

All nuclear power facilities to undergo safety inspectionThe Korean government will conduct a safety inspection on nuclear power plants in the country amid growing worries about the radiation leaks in Japan. Officials said they may shut down reactors if they fail to meet safety standards.In a nuclear power committee meeting Monday, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, participants decide
Professor of top science university found dead in apparent suicide

Social affairsApr 11, 2011

Police said Sunday a university professor was found hanged at his apartment, the latest suicide involving students and faculty of South Korea's top science university.The professor, identified only by his surname Park, hanged himself in the kitchen of his apartment in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, when he was discovered by his wife on Sunday afternoon, police said.The 54-year-old P
Guatemalan judge approves first lady's divorce

PoliticsApr 11, 2011

Sandra Torres de Colom (AP)GUATEMALA CITY (AP) _ A Guatemalan judge on Friday dismissed a suit seeking to block divorce proceedings by the wife of President Alvaro Colom, clearing the way for her to run for the presidency.A university group and others had sought to block the divorce because it would allow Colom's wife to get around a constitutional ban on a president's extended family from running
North Korea pushes Seoul on mountain tours

North KoreaApr 11, 2011

Hyundai urges Pyongyang to withdraw threat to strip rights to Mount Geumgang travelNorth Korea’s threat to strip a South Korean firm of exclusive rights in conducting tours to its scenic resort appears to be aimed at getting the Seoul government to resume doing it financial favors, officials and analysts here said Sunday. The communist North, suffering from deepening food shortages and internation
Indonesia plans to buy S. Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle fighters

DefenseApr 11, 2011

Indonesia's air force will purchase 16 T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jets next year from South Korea, Xinhua News reported on Sunday. The report, which quoted Seputar Indonesia, a local broadcaster, said the move is part of the military's effort to modernize its force. "There would be 16 jets, or one squadron," Chief of Indonesia's Air Force Staff Marshal Imam Sufaat told Seputar Indonesia, acc
Professor of top science university found dead in apparent suicide

NationalApr 11, 2011

DAEJEON (Yonhap) -- Police said Sunday a university professor was found hanged at his apartment, the latest suicide involving students and faculty of South Korea's top science university. The professor, identified only by his surname Park, was found by his wife on Sunday afternoon hanged in the kitchen of his apartment in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, police said. The 54-y