The Korea Herald

NGO awards children’s essay contest winners

Oct 23, 2013

A Seoul-based NGO dedicated to raising awareness of heritage among ethnic Koreans living abroad held an awards ceremony on Wednesday at the National Assembly for a recent international essay contest.Over 100 children from nine countries participated in the World Peace Sharing Foundation’s 2013 Global Children Festival writing contest, which had “Sharing and Peace” as this year’s essay theme. The grand prize was awarded to Sikkim Bichel, a student at The French School of Seoul, who wrote about Fr
Global business leaders to discuss Seoul tourism

Oct 23, 2013

The general meeting of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council will be held at City Hall on Friday to discuss ways to specialize Seoul’s entertainment and tourism businesses.Themed “Establishing Seoul as the Model of Tourism and Entertainment,” global experts will discuss ways to better promote Seoul’s entertainment and tourism industries and combine them with information technology.About 150 participants and 19 SIBAC members will join the 13th annual meeting, including Dominic Barton,
Macquarie pulls out of Seoul subway business

Oct 23, 2013

A South Korean affiliate of Australia's Macquarie Group has pulled its investment from a Seoul subway line after a controversial dispute over fares with the municipal government, city officials said Wednesday.Macquarie Korea Infrastructure Fund (MKIF), the second-largest shareholder of the Seoul Metro Line 9 Corp. with a 24.53 percent stake, sold its shares to three major local life insurance companies, they added. The three -- Kyobo Life, Hanwha Life and Shinhan bank -- bought the shares owned
Norway freezes aid to South Korean climate group

Oct 23, 2013

The Norwegian government said Tuesday it has frozen its donations to a South Korea-based environmental organization after reports emerged that its chairman spent huge sums on flights and food.The Global Green Growth Institute, which advises developing nations on low carbon growth policies, came under fire in Denmark last week after it was revealed its Danish chairman, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, spent more than $180,000 on first class flights and food during 15 trips. Lokke Rasmussen heads Denmark's l
Top university hospital workers go on strike

Oct 23, 2013

Unionized workers at three branches of Seoul National University Hospital went on strike early Wednesday morning, demanding a pay raise and better working conditions.The action came after the labor and management of the hospital failed to reach a deal on the demands. It is the first time in six years that the hospital's labor union has taken the collective action."With the minimum level of manpower remaining at work for critical services, including the emergency and intensive-care rooms, 350 to
KT offices, CEO’s home raided in corruption probe

Oct 22, 2013

The prosecution raided the offices and residences of telecom giant KT’s top executives, including chairman and CEO Lee Suk-chae, who are accused of a breach of trust that allegedly caused huge losses to investors.Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecution’s Office seized computer hard drives, accounting records and internal reports from the head office in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, its Seoul office in Seocho and other affiliates. The residences of Lee and other senior executives
Korea to strengthen protections for pregnant soldiers

Oct 22, 2013

Pregnant military officers will be relocated to units that are closer to maternity hospitals, the government said Tuesday.According to a joint plan proposed by the ministries of health and welfare, gender equality, and defense, female officers will be placed in camps where they can reach an obstetrician in less than 30 minutes. Also, all pregnant women in government offices and the military will be given two work-free hours per day to rest or go for medical check-ups. The joint plan was submitte
Childless couples, single-person households skyrocket in Seoul

Oct 22, 2013

The composition of Seoul households is diversifying, data showed on Tuesday. According to statistics released by Seoul City, the number of households composed of a couple with no kids quadrupled over three decades to about 420,000. The number of single-occupant households rose 10-fold to 850,000.The city and Seoul Foundation of Women & Family conducted a survey on 3.6 million households from July on family issues and perceptions of marriage as part of efforts to improve family policy. The number
Ministry to revise rules on ‘multicultural’ students

Oct 22, 2013

The Ministry of Education said Tuesday it would instruct education offices around the country to revise related school rules to support students from multicultural families.The decision came as a growing number of children are brought here from overseas following their parents’ divorce, remarriage and immigration.Under the current rules, migrant students require some type of certification or proof of attendance from a previous school to study here.The revised rule, however, will allow students w
Environmental groups sue Lee MB over river project

Oct 22, 2013

Environmental groups said Tuesday they have filed a complaint with the prosecution against former President Lee Myung-bak and dozens of his former officials over alleged irregularities found in his big-budget project to refurbish the country’s four major rivers.The 22.2 trillion won ($19.5 billion) project to refurbish the four rivers ― the Hangang, Nakdonggang, Geumgang and Yeongsangang ― was one of the former Lee Myung-bak administration’s trademark projects, aimed at preventing floods and enh
Silk Road city leaders gather in Yeosu

Oct 22, 2013

Mayors and experts from 30 countries along the Silk Road gathered in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, to expand cultural and economic partnerships at their eighth annual meeting. In the opening ceremony of the Silk Road Mayors Forum on Tuesday, Yeosu Mayor Kim Chung-seog said he hopes the event will pave the way for greater cooperation among the city networks and become a chance to assess Yeosu’s role as a major part of the ancient sea routes between Asia and Europe. The opening ceremony also saw c
Seoul education chief faces criticism over public lectures

Oct 22, 2013

Seoul’s education chief Moon Yong-lin has faced a wave of criticism on Tuesday for delivering lectures four times higher than average and securing total of 4 million won ($3,770) in fees.According to the data submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, he has given 16 lectures since his inauguration on Dec. 20, 2012, as of Sept. 12. A lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party questioned whether Moon put his private gains before his official duty, pointing out that some of his
Ranking prosecutor asks own internal inspection amid 'external pressure' controversies

Oct 22, 2013

A ranking Seoul prosecutor requested an internal inspection into himself Tuesday after allegations arose that he had ordered his subordinates to tone done their ongoing investigation into a high-profile election meddling scandal involving the state intelligence agency.The move comes a day after a senior prosecutor, who formerly headed the investigation team into the scandal, testified during a parliamentary audit that Cho Young-kon, the head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, has
Three S. Korean victims of Lao plane crash identified

Oct 22, 2013

An international forensic team has confirmed the identities of three South Korean nationals killed in last week's plane crash in Laos, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.The Lao airplane crashed into the Mekong River amid bad weather last week, killing all 49 passengers and crewmembers on board, including three South Korean businessmen. "According to the forensic team on the site, three bodies recovered from the river were found to be South Koreans," the foreign ministry said in a brief state
[Graphic News] Gender equality budget up 68%

Oct 21, 2013

The government plans to spend 22.4 trillion won ($21.1 billion) on gender-related policies next year, up 68 percent from this year, as it steps up efforts to improve women’s status, welfare and safety.