The Korea Herald

Authorities open probe into possible bird flu in the wild

Jan 18, 2014

South Korea stepped up quarantine measures Saturday to stop the spread of bird flu and launched an investigation into the possibility that the deadly animal disease might have been caused by migratory birds, health authorities said.The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency on Friday found the flock of about 1,000 ducks dead in a reservoir in North Jeolla Province, and began an investigation to confirm a possible link to aviation influenza (AI), according to the provincial government. The investigat
AI outbreak confirmed at local farm

Jan 17, 2014

Quarantine officials confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza at a local poultry farm located some 300 kilometers south of Seoul on Friday. It is the first case of a bird flu in two years and eight months confirmed by authorities here.Quarantine authorities ordered a culling of more than 20,000 ducks in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province, as the waterfowl were detect to be infected with a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza. Officials said they have begun investigating the causes of the
Air pollution hits Seoul, major cities

Jan 17, 2014

Local governments lifted fine dust advisories Friday after high levels of particles disrupted daily activities nationwide.Municipal officials in Seoul closed a skating rink in front of City Hall while flights from Gimpo International Airport in Gyeonggi Province were delayed due to poor vision caused by rising dust levels.Seoul reported fine dust levels of 189 micrograms per cubic meter of air while Incheon and Suwon recorded more than 190 micrograms per cubic meter. Dust in Cheonan, South Chung
Park courts Indian IT firms

Jan 17, 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye met Indian information technology experts and business leaders on Friday, aiming to bolster business ties between the two Asian countries. In a meeting with two-dozen IT experts, Park stressed that the two countries, both strong in hardware and software technology, could generate synergy if they build cooperation in the sectors.Park is on her four-day state visit to India and leaves for Switzerland on Saturday.“South Korea and India have global competitive ed
4 rail union leaders held over strike

Jan 17, 2014

Four leaders of the state rail company‘s labor union were formally detained Friday to undergo further questioning for their alleged role in organizing what the government calls an illegal strike.The leaders of the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. union, including the head Kim Myung-hwan, were put under detention immediately after a district court approved the prosecution’s request for arrest warrants.“(Their) crimes have been ascertained enough, and there is a reasonable concern that they might tr
Seoul, Gyeonggi Province issue first ultrafine dust advisory this year

Jan 17, 2014

The governments of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province on Friday issued their first ultrafine dust advisories this year, urging people to stay indoors.In Seoul, the advisory was put in place at 11 a.m. after the city's atmospheric concentration levels of "particulate matter 2.5" pollutants stood around 95 micrograms per cubic meter for more than two hours. It was the year's first advisory of its kind issued by the Seoul metropolitan government.The Gyeonggi provincial government posted the same advisory
Statue unveiled to mark Korean victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery

Jan 17, 2014

A South Korean civic group dedicated a statue in the southern city of Geoje Friday to mark the suffering of Korean women forced into sexual slavery by colonial Japan during World War II.Up to 200,000 young women and girls, mostly Koreans, were coerced into providing sexual services at Japan's front-line military brothels during World War II, which remains an unresolved grievance between the two nations as Tokyo has refused to admit to its past wrongdoings.According to the committee in charge of
Korea takes quarantine measures for possible outbreak of AI

Jan 17, 2014

SEJONG (Yonhap News) -- Provincial quarantine authorities began culling more than 20,000 poultry Friday after a preliminary test indicated a possible outbreak of avian influenza, with the agriculture ministry saying it may be of a highly pathogenic strain.A suspected AI case was reported Thursday at a poultry farm in Gochang, located some 300 kilometers southwest of Seoul in North Jeolla Province.A DNA test is currently under way to confirm the outbreak and its exact strain, according to an offi
Four rail union leaders arrested for leading 'illegal strike'

Jan 17, 2014

Four leaders of the state rail company's labor union were formally detained Friday to undergo further questioning for their alleged role in organizing what the government calls an illegal strike.The leaders of the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. union, including the head Kim Myung-hwan, were put under detention immediately after a district court approved the prosecution's request for arrest warrants. "(Their) crimes have been ascertained enough, and there is a reasonable concern that they might t
NHIS ready to sue tobacco industry

Jan 16, 2014

Decision for suit to be made soon; chances of victory remain uncertain
Big firms face off against government

Jan 16, 2014

Business magnates may go down hard in legal battles over corruption
Seoul to set up more courts for sex crimes

Jan 16, 2014

The Seoul Central District Court is pushing plans to set up more courts that deal with sex offenses, according to court officials on Thursday. Under the plan, three divisions each consisting of three judges will handle sex crime cases, the court said. Currently, there are two divisions in charge of sex crimes. The measure is part of the court system’s efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system for sex offenders and bring them to justice.“The court has faced sweeping changes in the system
Alleged deals with celebrity raise questions about prosecution

Jan 16, 2014

A corruption scandal surrounding a prosecutor is putting a fresh spotlight on the problems facing South Korea’s prosecution. An arrest warrant was issued for a prosecutor identified by his last name Jeon on Wednesday for allegedly making unlawful deals with a defendant in a drug abuse case in 2011. The latest scandal marks another major setback for the powerful organization after its chief’s resignation over accusations he had a love child and a string of bribery cases damaged its public image.O
Three lawmakers lose seats as Supreme Court confirms prison terms

Jan 16, 2014

The nation's top court on Thursday confirmed prison terms and penalties for three sitting lawmakers for illegal electioneering ahead of the 2012 general elections, stripping them of their parliamentary seats.Lee Jae-young of the ruling Saenuri Party was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for embezzling money from a company he runs and using it to give money to party officials, in violation of the Public Official Election Act.In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court sentence
[Graphic News] Chinese visitors outnumber Japanese

Jan 15, 2014

The number of visitors to South Korea increased 5.4 percent on-year in 2013 according to government data released Monday. Last year marked the first time Chinese visitors outnumbered Japanese visitors. Justice Ministry officials cited the improved visa review process and a weaker Japanese yen as possible reasons.Over 82 percent of foreigners arriving in Korea said they came for tourism while 4.5 percent made job-related visits. About 2.6 percent identified themselves as foreigners of Korean desc