President Lee Myung-bak on Monday said his government would invest nearly 100 billion won in stem cell research next year and establish a system compatible with international standards in an effort to facilitate clinical and licensing procedures.“The government has decided to foster the stem cell in

The amount spent on by-elections over the past three years totaled 61.6 billion won ($54.4 million) and is to exceed 100 billion won with the Oct. 26 elections.According to the state inspection data submitted by the National Election Commission to Rep. Yoon Sang-il of the minority Future Hope Allian

Few overseas missions have been properly secured, according to the data submitted by the Foreign Ministry to Rep. Jungwook Hong of the ruling Grand National Party.Among the 166 offices, 53 were classified as dangerous, lacking sensors or devices to respond to terrorist attacks.More than half have no basic metal detector, making it possible for people to enter the premises with weapons or explosives.Also, 24.6 percent of the offices lacked sensors to detect trespassers, according to the data.Blas

Na expected to announce bid around Thursday; DP starts nomination raceThe ruling Grand National Party is racking its brain over who would be its best shot at the forthcoming Seoul mayoral by-election, after a lawyer it wooed as its candidate against a powerful opposition contender turned out not so

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) - Parliament on Monday accused the government for false reports about the electricity reserve level that caused the recent nationwide blackouts that inconvenienced many businesses and private citizens, and its slow response to contain the fallouts.South Korea reported massiv

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's embassies, consulates and missions remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks because they have failed to meet security standards or be properly equipped with anti-terror devices, a lawmaker said Monday. In particular, none of the 53 diplomatic missions in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, which are considered to have higher terrorism risks than other posts, has been fully equipped to identify threats and prevent attacks, said Rep. Jungwook Hong of the rul

SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Monday the government will invest nearly 100 billion won ($90 million) in stem cell research next year and take other support steps to develop the industry as a “new growth engine” for South Korea’s economy.The pledge, made in Lee‘s biweekly r

N. Korea’s uranium enrichment program expected to top the agendaThe two Koreas agreed to hold a second round of denuclearization talks in China on Wednesday, where they will discuss the conditions for the resumption of the six-party negotiations, a Seoul official said Sunday.The Seoul delegation wil

Opposition parties hang onto hardline position on ratification billRuling and opposition parties are preparing to lock horns once again over the free trade agreement between Korea and the U.S. Main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers on the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and trade left

The government has launched an audit into the state power monopoly and distributor to find out the exact cause of this week's massive blackouts that left millions of homes without electricity for hours, officials said Saturday.Massive blackouts occurred on Thursday as unseasonal heat waves raised el