The Korea Herald

Na’s spokesman quits after drunk TV debate

Oct 9, 2011

A spokesman for the ruling Grand National Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate Na Kyung-won resigned over the weekend after being accused of appearing on a live TV debate show while intoxicated. “I offered to resign because I didn’t want to be a burden to Na,” Shin Ji-ho, a GNP lawmaker and chief press o
Lee to visit Detroit together with Obama

Oct 9, 2011

President invited to deliver speech to Congress during U.S. visit Friday Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit the Detroit area later this week with U.S. President Barack Obama, a presidential aide here said Saturday, in what appeared to be a trade-related visit.Lee and Obama are scheduled to vi
Boehner invites President Lee to address Congress next week

Oct 8, 2011

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner Friday extended a formal invitation for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to address a joint session of Congress next week, citing the importance of the time-honored alliance between the two nations.“The American and South Korean peoples share deep ties rooted in h
Candidates start Seoul mayoral campaigns

Oct 7, 2011

The by-election race for Seoul mayor gained steam Friday as the strongest presidential hopeful vowed to help campaign for the ruling party while the unified candidate of the opposition bloc registered candidacy.The Oct. 26 by-election pits Park Won-soon, a liberal lawyer-turned-activist with no part
Ex-GNP chief throws weight behind Na

Oct 6, 2011

Ruling party candidate gains crucial support in showdown with independentRep. Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the ruling Grand National Party, at last declared that she will back the party’s campaign for the upcoming Oct. 26 by-elections.In doing so, she added momentum to Na Kyung-won, who regis
Red Cross welcomes first female chief

Oct 6, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Red Cross said Thursday it named its No. 2 official as its first female head in a meeting earlier in the day.Vice President Yu Jung-keun will lead the relief organization after her designation is authorized by President Lee Myung-bak, honorary head of the R
Lee urges chaebol to do more for balanced growth

Oct 5, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday called for business conglomerates to make more efforts to help the government achieve balanced growth and address growing income inequality.Lee made the remark during a dinner meeting with the heads of family-owned conglomerates, or chaebol, marking the 50th anni
Support from popular figures key in Seoul race

Oct 5, 2011

Securing big-name backers is becoming increasingly important in the battle between the two main candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election.While Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party is yet to confirm her support for Na Kyung-won, entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Chul-soo is backi
Government increases welfare budget 6.4% to W92 trillion

Oct 5, 2011

The government has increased its welfare budget for next year by 6.4 percent from this year to 92 trillion won ($76.6 billion).Its welfare budget amounts to 28.2 percent of total expenditure, taking the largest portion for the second consecutive year. The increase stems from expanded benefits for th
Lee celebrates completion of KTX tracks to Yeosu

Oct 5, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday traveled to the southern coastal city of Yeosu to celebrate the opening of a double-track electric railway that will enable the high-speed KTX trains to reach the host city of next year’s World Expo.The 180-kilometer railway extended the electric tracks for KTX t
Parties urged to ratify FTA bill soon

Oct 5, 2011

GNP pledges to pass bill this month; DP keeps demanding renegotiationThe government and the ruling party are preparing to push ahead with the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill as early as within the month, despite backlash from opposition parties, as the U.S. Congress looks set to ratify its part
Park and Ahn become key factors in mayoral race

Oct 5, 2011

Securing big-name backers is becoming an increasing issue in the battle between the two main candidates for the Seoul mayoral by-election.While Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party is yet to confirm her support for Na, entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo is backing Park.Ahn
U.S. gov't hopes for ratification of FTA before S. Korean president's trip

Oct 5, 2011

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department expressed hope Tuesday that Congress will ratify a free trade pact with South Korea before South Korean President Lee Myung-bak makes a state visit here next week."That is the hope," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press brief
Frustrated civic activist jumps into politics

Oct 4, 2011

Legend in civic activism has yet to prove mettle in established politics and potential as an administratorPark Won-soon won a key battle in his quest to become Seoul mayor, securing the unified candidacy of all liberal opposition forces on Monday. The independent candidate is leading in polls agains
Ruling party lawmaker tries to shake off ‘elitist’ image

Oct 4, 2011

Seoul-born, SNU lawgraduate, former judge and No. 2 female figure in GNP faces formidable challenge from unified liberal frontGNP candidate for Seoul mayor Na Kyung-won, 47, is one of the most well-known female figures not only in the conservative bloc but in politics generally.Born in Seoul in 1963