The Korea Herald

Seoul to ban smoking in all indoor facilities by 2020

Nov 13, 2012

The Seoul government aims to make the capital a smoke-free city by 2020 in line with the World Health Organization’s policy encouraging its members to reduce smoking.The Seoul office plans to ban smoking in all public and multi-purpose facilities, in addition to bus stops, and restaurants and bars whose size exceeds 150 square meters, officials said.Seoul made the announcement with Dr. Susan Mercado, team leader of the tobacco free initiative for WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, and Domilyn
Police-prosecution feud reignites over corruption case

Nov 12, 2012

The long-standing feud between the prosecution and the police has burst to the forefront again ahead of the December presidential election.The two law enforcement agencies have been at odds for years over their respective powers.The government responded by implementing a new ordinance in January that allows the prosecutors to take over cases when they deem a police investigation problematic.In the lead up to the presidential election, police have protested the rule, which they claim to be an inf
WHO chief calls for global action to fight tobacco industry

Nov 12, 2012

The chief of the World Health Organization denounced the tobacco industry Sunday for maneuvering to undermine global efforts to fight smoking and protect the public health. Director-general Margaret Chan called for action by governments, civil societies and individuals against tobacco companies which have been lobbying consumer groups and hiding the facts that their products have taken millions of lives. “This is the industry that you should never trust because it has been hiding scientific info
Special counsel team begins raid on presidential office at third-party place

Nov 12, 2012

A team led by special counsel Lee Kwang-bum raided Cheong Wa Dae's Presidential Security Service (PSS) at a third-party place in connection with the presidential retirement home deal that critics say misused taxpayer money, officials said Monday.At a training institute of the country's financial regulator located near the presidential office in central Seoul, five members of the special counsel team began at 2:00 p.m. to search and seize relevant data and proof randomly submitted by the PSS, the
Next president should prioritize economic stimulus: poll

Nov 12, 2012

More than a third of South Korean companies think that the country‘s next president should put the top priority of his or her economic policy on revitalizing the flagging economy, a poll showed Monday.The survey of 500 companies conducted by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) found that 35.6 percent of the respondents said that the next president should make “economic stimulus” a top priority.Economic stimulus was followed by price stabilization with 27.6 percent, job creation wi
Prosecutors, police clash over investigation rights

Nov 11, 2012

NPA says prosecution’s investigation of own officials infringes on police independence
Court rejects naturalization of ‘misbehaving’ Chinese woman

Nov 11, 2012

A Seoul court has rejected the naturalization of a Chinese woman, citing her record of “misbehavior,” court records showed Sunday.The Seoul High Court recently overturned a lower court’s ruling, which had ordered the Justice Ministry to cancel its decision to deny the 38-year-old Chinese woman a chance to become a naturalized South Korean citizen. She does not meet naturalization requirements, as her sham marriage and an illegal entry into the country are not in accordance with the naturalizatio
Dodgers bid $25.7m for Hanwha’s Ryu

Nov 11, 2012

The Los Angeles Dodgers submitted a $25.7 million bid to sign Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, Major League Baseball announced Saturday.Ryu, 25, is a seven-time All-Star for the Eagles and one of the most dominant starters in the Korean Baseball Organization, the country’s pro baseball league.The Eagles announced Saturday they had accepted the Dodgers’ bid. The Dodgers now have an exclusive 30-day window to negotiate a contract with the left-handed pitcher and his agent, Scott B
Parliament ups budget against Japan’s claim over Dokdo

Nov 11, 2012

South Korea’s parliament approved a sharply increased budget to be used to guard against Japan’s claims over Korea’s easternmost islets, the foreign ministry said Sunday.The decision came as diplomatic tensions with Japan remain high following Tokyo’s reinforced actions to lay claim to Dokdo, which lies closer to South Korea in the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the National Assembly’s committee for foreign affairs gave t
International community to adopt Seoul protocol on illegal tobacco trade

Nov 11, 2012

Nikogosian calls for higher cigarette prices, radical measures to cut smoking rate
Europe’s heads in a spin over urban cycling

Nov 11, 2012

COPENHAGEN (AP) ― Cycling through the heart of some European cities can be a terrifying experience as you jostle for space with cars, trucks and scooters that whizz by with only inches to spare. Thankfully for bicycle enthusiasts, a movement is afoot to create more room for cycling in the urban infrastructure. From London’s “cycle superhighways” to popular bike-sharing programs in Paris and Barcelona, growing numbers of European cities are embracing cycling as a safe, clean, healthy, inexpensive
Commerce that cares at Beautiful Store

Nov 9, 2012

Beautiful Store celebrates 10th anniversary as pioneer in promoting sharing culture, environmentalism and ethical consumerism in Korea
Rise of social enterprises

Nov 9, 2012

Aiming to provide jobs for the socially vulnerable and build a sustainable welfare system, social enterprises have been sprouting up in Korea in recent years.Around 720 such companies are running, a 20-fold increase from 36 in 2007 when the government started supporting their operations under the Social Enterprise Promotion Act. They currently hire around 17,410 people and made 521 billion won ($48 million) in revenue in 2011.The government is considering diversifying its support from next year
Financial independence, public trust key

Nov 9, 2012

Korea’s pioneer aims to expand overseas, develop new, reliable products and services
Special counsel seeks more time to investigate

Nov 9, 2012

The independent counsel probing President Lee Myung-bak’s retirement home scandal sought more time Friday, asking the president to allow them an extension to investigate the first family. “We plan to send the application to Cheong Wa Dae this afternoon for the extension of the investigation period,” assistant special counsel Lee Chang-hoon said during a press briefing. “Despite a month’s investigation, there are points that need to be made clear,” he said.A high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae official wa