The Korea Herald

Korea, Australia to ink FTA this year

Apr 25, 2011

Leaders agree to expedite negotiations, expand natural resources tiesPresident Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed during summit talks here Monday to conclude bilateral free trade deal negotiations this year, Lee’s office said.“The leaders agreed that negotiations on an Australia-Korea free trade agreement were now in their final stage and reaffirmed their joint goal t
Elite Air Force troops sharpen combat skills

Apr 25, 2011

Fearless Air Force special warfare troops hurled themselves out of a C-130 military plane at an altitude of about 500 meters as part of their five-day biannual exercise that began in Uiryeong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Monday.Wearing safety and combat equipment weighing more than 40 kilograms, 23 soldiers of the Combat Control Team belonging to the 5th Tactical Airlift Wing safely landed one b
Return of Lee’s top aide glimpse of next Cabinet reshuffle

Apr 24, 2011

The planned return of Yu Woo-ik, President Lee Myung-bak’s first chief of staff who has served as Korea’s top envoy to China for the past 16 months, is expected to coincide with a Cabinet reshuffle early next month, offering a glimpse of what Lee’s vision for the remainder of his term.As one of Lee’s closest confidants, Yu is likely to get a new top post at home along with a handful of others with
Candidates crisscross on Easter Sunday

Apr 24, 2011

The ruling and opposition camps went all out over the weekend, considered the last possible chance to gain more support before the by-election this Wednesday.Parties especially kept watch for foul play from opponents in the forms of illegal campaigning or slander.Candidates in the Bundang-B constituency, in which the most intense contest is expected between two big names, largely sought the favor
Parties argue over how to help EU-FTA transition

Apr 24, 2011

The government and the ruling Grand National Party are at odds over how to minimize the damage that the pending free trade deal with the European Union would inflict on the domestic livestock farm business.The GNP said Saturday that the party and the government failed to close the gap on tax exemptions for the stockbreeders who shift to another trade.The government explained that it was set to dis
Rivals feud over illegal campaign charges

Apr 24, 2011

Candidates go head-to-head on TV over illicit publicity in GangwonAmid recent suspicions of illicit campaigning, the Gangwon governor candidates of the ruling and opposition parties clashed in a heated televised debate on the issue late on Saturday night.“Though I have tried my best to keep this by-election clean and fair, I am sorry that some of the overenthusiastic volunteers of our camps have c
Seoul pledges $500,000 for anti-piracy fund

Apr 24, 2011

The Seoul government has pledged to contribute $500,000 to an international anti-piracy trust fund, further expanding its financial role in the fight against pirates off the Somali coast, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.South Korea’s envoy, Moon Ha-yong, announced the decision while attending a session of the U.N. Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia ― held in Dubai in the United Arab
University helps U.S. soldiers adjust to Korean life

Apr 24, 2011

PYEONGTAEK ― Pyeongtaek University is emerging as a major educational institution to help U.S. soldiers smoothly adjust to their new lives in Korea through a unique orientation program.Since 2006, the university in the western port city has run the Head Start Program for U.S. troops stationed at nearby Camp Humphreys, the 7th Air Force in Osan and other installations. Under the program, they learn
S. Korea, Commonwealth nations remember key Korean War battle

Apr 23, 2011

PAJU, South Korea, April 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Commonwealth nations on Saturday marked the 60th anniversary of a pivotal battle during the 1950-53 Korean War, in a stirring tribute to the sacrifices of their soldiers.The Battle of the Imjin River took place in April 1951 when Chinese troops attacked U.N.-led forces on the river, north of Seoul, in an attempt to recapture the capital. Brit
President Lee calls for fiscal stability

Apr 23, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Saturday urged officials to maintain the balance in budget spending policies, warning against populist welfare policies ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential elections."There are two main tasks of achieving sustainable growth and stabilizing consumer prices while maintaining fiscal soundness," Lee told officials at a meeting on fiscal strategy."I think that
Locke to lead delegation to Seoul to promote Korea FTA's passage: Commerce Dept.

Apr 23, 2011

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to Seoul next week to build support for the ratification of the pending free trade deal with South Korea, the Commerce Department said Friday.During the three-day visit from Wednesday, the delegation will meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan and other officials to "discuss t
Allegedly illegal campaign for GNP candidate exposed

Apr 22, 2011

Police and election authorities are investigating allegations about an illegal campaign for Ohm Ki-young, the ruling party candidate for Gangwon governor.The provincial election authorities said Friday that they received a report about 29 people making telephone calls in a pension in Gangneung to entreat voters to cast ballots for Ohm. According to various opinion polls, Ohm is currently leading
[April 27 By-elections] ‘Roh factor’ runs high in Gimhae race

Apr 22, 2011

Opposition candidate leading by small margin in ex-president’s birth placeThis is the third and last of a three-part series on the April 27 by-election campaigns in three major electoral districts, Bundang-B, Gimhae-B and Gangwon Province. ― Ed.Two people may be competing neck and neck for a legislative seat representing Gimhae, but a third person appears to be wielding the largest influence on th
[April 27 by-elections] Ex-MBC chiefs clash in Gangwon race

Apr 21, 2011

Ohm, Choi have much in common in birth place, school, path to politicsThis is the second of a three-part series on the April 27 by-election campaigns in three major electoral districts, Bundang-B, Gimhae-B and Gangwon Province. ― Ed.The northeastern province of Gangwon is the second-largest in the nation, taking up 16.8 percent of the total South Korean territory.Mention the mountainous province a
‘Carter to fly to Seoul after trip to N. Korea’

Apr 21, 2011

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is likely to fly directly to Seoul after visiting North Korea, sources said Thursday, a trip that could include a meeting with President Lee Myung-bak.Carter will be traveling to Pyongyang next week for discussions expected to focus on North Korea’s denuclearization, a peace treaty and humanitarian food aid to the impoverished communist nation. He will be accompa