The Korea Herald

11 children, bus driver hurt in crash

Mar 22, 2012

A school bus driver and 11 schoolchildren were injured in northeast China Wednesday when their bus overturned while heading to a kindergarten, authorities said.Two of the children and the driver of the bus suffered traumatic brain injuries and remained hospitalized after the crash in Harbin in China
International lawyers organization opens its Asia office in Seoul

Mar 21, 2012

The world’s leading organization of international lawyers is opening its Asia office in Seoul, city officials said Wednesday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the International Bar Association, an organization of legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies, held an opening ceremony in Seoul on Wednesday.IBA president Akira Kawamura, Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon and Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin were among the dignitaries attending the event.The association boasts more
Employers ask job seekers for Facebook passwords

Mar 21, 2012

When Justin Bassett interviewed for a new job, he expected the usual questions about experience and references. So he was astonished when the interviewer asked for something else: his Facebook username and password. (MCT image)Bassett, a New York City statistician, had just finished answering
Survey: Most Koreans unhappy with their lives

Mar 21, 2012

An alarming percentage of Korean people are unhappy with their lives, according to a survey by a market research company.The Ipsos survey of some 1,000 Koreans released Wednesday found that 81 percent considered themselves somewhat unhappy with their lives.The survey was part of a larger global study of 19,216 people in 24 different countries.When asked if they were happy with their current lives, only two percent of Koreans between 16 and 64 years of age answered “very much so,” while 17 percen
Korea launches drive to reduce salt intake

Mar 21, 2012

A nationwide campaign to curb salt intake kicked off Wednesday to improve public health and cut down on medical expenses. At the Seoul Plaza in central Seoul, about 200 representatives of consumer groups, food makers and the medical, media and academic circles gathered for a ceremony to establish the headquarters of a movement to reduce sodium consumption to 3 grams a day from the current 4.8 grams. “The government has been recommending that restaurateurs and food makers should reduce salt in th
Roh’s brother probed in corruption case

Mar 21, 2012

Prosecutors are investigating the elder brother of former President Roh Moo-hyun for influence peddling in winning a land development license in 2007 when Roh was in office. According to Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office, Roh Geon-pyeong allegedly bridged a broker surnamed Lee and local worthies to help a businessman gain permission to reclaim a total of 179,000 square meters of land in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, in 2007. Lee, then an agent for a local businessman surnamed Kim, me
Seoul City secures subway stations for nuclear summit

Mar 21, 2012

Seoul City is stepping up subway station security by closing up lockers and removing waste bins to ensure public safety and the smooth operation of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, officials said Tuesday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, starting Wednesday lockers, mailboxes and parcel storages in all stations will be closed through the gathering of leaders of 53 countries and four international organizations.The capital also added that it will remove all facilities that could be
45 national leaders to attend nuclear summit

Mar 20, 2012

The South Korean government said 45 leaders will attend the upcoming Seoul Nuclear Security Summit on March 26-27, with 53 countries and four international organizations participating in the event.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which is organizing the largest-ever diplomatic event for Korea, said the 45 leaders will include U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French Prime Minister Fran
Seoul City notifies districts of days off for big retailers

Mar 20, 2012

Seoul City officials advised district offices Tuesday to set days on which major discount retailers must close, as part of a measure to protect smaller businesses.According to Seoul Metropolitan Government, supermarkets, super supermarkets and discount outlets will now be forced to close for two days out of the month as directed by district officials.According to the newly revised Distribution Industry Development Law, retail giants are required to close two days monthly, on either a Sunday or a
Sookmyung foundation chief, five auditors face dismissal

Mar 20, 2012

The Education Ministry said Tuesday they had notified a foundation chairman and five auditors at one of the nation’s prestigious women’s universities of their potential terminations for misappropriation of school donations. The Sookmyung Women’s University foundation board was accused of placing donations addressed to the school administration in its account, and then sending the money to the school’s management as though it were the foundation’s required financial contribution to the university
Campaign to get 10m signatures kicks off to save N.K. defectors

Mar 20, 2012

Activists’ calls for the Chinese government to stop forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors are likely to build momentum as an association of 500 civic groups has launched a campaign to collect 10 million signatures for their cause. The Network for the Rescue of North Korean Defectors (www.safemynk.net) said it started its petition on Monday both online and offline, building on protests against Beijing’s policy to return North Korean defectors seeking freedom. They aim to collect 10 million
Herald Media, Yonsei sign MOU to nurture global-minded talent

Mar 20, 2012

Herald Media signed a memorandum of understanding with Yonsei Lifelong Learning Center on Monday on future cooperation on joint efforts to nurture global-minded individuals Hong Sung-A, director of English education business division of Herald Media and Lee Jong-soo, director of YLLC, signed the MOU at YLLC in Seoul on Monday.The two institutions is expected to develop curricula for nurturing global talent, conduct further research on methods for advanced education and find areas where they can
‘Room salon king’ bribery scandal spreads

Mar 20, 2012

Proprietor of hostess club suspected of bribing police, prosecutorsA so-called room salon king’s bribery and lobbying scheme may have included public prosecutors. “Room salons” refer to establishments that often facilitate prostitution. According to reports, the police had suspected Lee Kyung-baek, a room salon operator under arrest for tax evasion who claims to have paid off police officers, of treating court officials and public prosecutors.According to a local daily, the police team investiga
Women’s rise reshaping Korean society

Mar 20, 2012

More equal treatment, support broaden female presence in societyHis parents wish to have their first grandson.But he wants to become the father of a pretty, endearing and, above all, smart daughter.“I have always envied one of my superiors with two daughters, who he boasts are so sweet to him and perform well at school,” said a 34-year-old man surnamed Kim, whose wife is four months pregnant with their first child.Kim, an employee at a financial company in Seoul, is one of an increasing number o
Report slams foreign exchange student programs

Mar 20, 2012

State Department programs that bring foreign exchange students to the United States to work or attend school require urgent attention because students are being put at risk for abuse, according to a report from the federal Inspector General's office.That's because the State Department's programs are