The Korea Herald

Full text of President Lee Myung-bak's address

Aug 15, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak's address for on the 66th anniversary of liberation(Yonhap News)Fellow citizens, decorated patriots who fought for the nation’s independence, distinguished guests from home and abroad, our brethren in the North and seven million compatriots residing overseas,I join all Korean
Lee calls for ethical, responsible market economy

Aug 15, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Monday urged Japan to teach history as it was to the young generation, while championing “ecosystemic” development as Korea’s new path for growth that creates jobs, reduces income gaps and preserves the environment. President Lee Myung-bak (Yonhap News)“Japan has a respons
Seoul mayor’s exit a twist in 2012 race

Aug 14, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s promise not to run for president to avoid political conflict over a controversial city plan is anticipated to bring about subtle changes in the political landscape ahead of next year’s elections, officials and analysts say.In an apparent attempt to end speculation he is push
GNP leader calls for Marines on Dokdo

Aug 14, 2011

Politicians, citizens call for stronger action on Japan’s territorial claimsThe leader of Korea’s ruling Grand National Party said Sunday that he has asked the government to station Marines on Dokdo to strengthen the country’s sovereignty of the set of rokcy islets claimed by Japan. Rep. Hong Joon-p
Ruling party leader asks gov't to station Marines on Dokdo

Aug 14, 2011

Grand National Party leader Hong Joon-pyo on Sunday asked the government to station Marines on Dokdo to reinforce Korea's sovereignty over the islets claimed by Japan.Korean politicians have raised a storm of protest over Tokyo's renewed claims to the East Sea islets. Earlier this month, three Japan
Top prosecutor vows to stamp out pro-North organizations

Aug 12, 2011

New Prosecutor-General Han Sang-dae on Friday vowed to stamp out corruption and pro-North Korea left-wingers as he took office at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seoul.He also stressed the need to fight against complacency and irresponsibility within the prosecution to shore up public trust that
Navy rescues 7 N. Koreans from three stray boats

Aug 12, 2011

The South Korean military on Thursday night rescued seven North Koreans from three boats that had apparently strayed into southern waters across the western inter-Korean sea border, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.Two of the vessels sank near Baengnyeongdo, one of the five northwestern border
Seoul pushes for 17% drug price cut

Aug 12, 2011

Ministry to reduce caps on prices of out-of-patent pharmaceuticalsThe government on Friday unveiled a set of plans to cut generic drug prices by up to 33 percent starting next year, prompting fierce protests from pharmaceutical companies.The new measures will bring down the prices of some 8,776 of t
Parliamentary probe of savings banks fizzles out

Aug 12, 2011

An ad-hoc parliamentary committee ended its 45-day probe on Friday into an influence-peddling scandal involving savings banks amid criticism that it failed to get to the bottom of the scandal.The rival parties launched the committee in late June amid a public outcry over corruption at a series of tr
U.N. chief vows to tackle climate change, economic crisis

Aug 12, 2011

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday renewed his pledge to “lead by example” with great determination to help the world body tackle a set of new global challenges from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics.Ban is in Seoul for a six-day official visit to his native South Korea, the first trip
Seoul mayor drops presidential bid to go all-in for free lunch vote

Aug 12, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Friday that he will not run in the next presidential race, rejecting speculation that he is using the upcoming referendum on the city's free school lunch program to boost his political fortunes ahead of next year's election."Debates over my political future have hampered
Committee backpedals on savings banks compensation

Aug 11, 2011

While seeking a tie-up regarding the state investigation on the collapse of savings banks, rival parties disputed the range of the compensation for victims.It was reported Tuesday that the parliamentary committee on the savings banks decided to fully compensate all losses within the maximum range of
Hacking sparks debate over online real-name system

Aug 11, 2011

In the wake of the recent massive leaks of personal information from major portals, attention has been focused on whether or not to abolish the real-name system on the Internet.In a government-ruling party meeting held on Thursday at the National Assembly, the Ministry of Public Administration and S
Think tank says unification could cost $229 billion

Aug 11, 2011

The initial costs for the integration of South and North Korea could vary from 55 trillion won ($50 billion) to 249 trillion won ($229 billion) if the two neighbors are unified two decades from now, a South Korean state-run institute estimated Thursday.The costs are projected to cover the first year
Oh may put his seat on line over free school meals vote

Aug 11, 2011

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon hinted Thursday that he may put his mayorship on the line in the upcoming plebiscite on a free school meal program. “It is projected that if I put my mayorship on the line, the voter turnout will go up by 5 percentage points. I am tempted,” Oh said in an interview with local m