The Korea Herald

Third labor group to launch next month

Oct 18, 2011

A third umbrella labor group is to launch next month, with nearly 70 trade unions and 30,000 workers as its members, a union activist leading the move said Tuesday. “We plan to hold an inaugural meeting early next month and submit the necessary documents to register with the Labor Ministry,” said Je
New state guideline to be finalized this week

Oct 18, 2011

The government on Tuesday decided to establish new guidelines to better compensate the families of those killed in action during the 1950-53 Korean War amid public criticism of the 5,000-won ($4.36) compensation for their loss.The Ministry of National Defense will finalize the guidelines sometime th
Outcry grows over W5,000 war compensation

Oct 18, 2011

Veterans Affairs Ministry, Defense Ministry under fire for ‘passing the buck’Kim Myung-bok, 63, is enraged when reminded of the havoc the Korean War wreaked on her family. Her brother and two sisters died during the 1950-53 conflict.To add to her agony, after years of struggling to receive proper co
HUFS cherishes memory of devoted president

Oct 18, 2011

The statue of Park Solemn, former president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, who made a great contribution to the foundation of the school, is unveiled on the school campus on Monday. (HUFS)Hundreds of students and professors of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies commemorated former presid
Seoul to fine smoking in city parks from December

Oct 18, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- Smokers who are caught lighting up in Seoul's major city parks will be fined 100,000 won (US$93) from December when a stricter anti-tobacco rule goes into effect, the municipal government said Tuesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government last month revised a city ordinance t
Hwang claims to have cloned coyotes

Oct 17, 2011

Hwang Woo-suk, a veterinary scientist who doctored his research data claiming to have cloned the world’s first human embryonic stem cells, claimed Sunday that he had become the first to succeed in cloning endangered coyotes. “We produced the cloned coyotes by extracting adult skin cells from coyotes
Seoul asks expats to make town meeting suggestions

Oct 17, 2011

Seoul city government is asking foreigners in the capital to voice their complaints and make suggestions for improving the city, officials said Monday. Foreign residents in Seoul can post complaints and suggestions about life in Seoul on the Seoul Global Center website (global.seoul.go.kr) from Oct.
Top colleges in East Asia to launch joint degree program

Oct 17, 2011

Top universities in South Korea, China, Japan and Vietnam have agreed to launch a joint degree program over the next couple of years as part of academic exchanges, officials said Monday. According to Seoul National University, presidents of Seoul National University in South Korea, Peking University
Effectiveness of USFK’s curfew questioned

Oct 17, 2011

Some find loopholes by enjoying nightlife in areas outside of MP patrolU.S. military personnel are getting around the recently reinstated curfew by deserting Itaewon at the weekend for areas such as Hongdae, Sinchon and Apgujeong, according to bar and restaurant owners.“The soldiers who used to part
Environmental budget tops 5 trillion won

Oct 17, 2011

Korea’s budget for environmental projects will exceed 5 trillion won next year for the first time, the Ministry of Environment said last week. The Ministry of Environment expects to receive 5.15 trillion won ($4.4 billion) for 2012.“The annual budget topping 5 trillion won is very meaningful for the
Four Rivers Restoration Project and the future

Oct 17, 2011

Yoo Young-sookA member of the prestigious French Academy, Erik Orsenna, in his book ‘The Future of Water,’ describes the water crisis caused by climate change in Australia, China, Africa and Southeast Asia to demonstrate the stark reality of the water crises many countries are facing and their strug
Rights watchdog runs multi-language petition system for foreigners

Oct 17, 2011

The state civil rights watchdog has been striving to listen not only to the voices of Korean citizens but also to those of foreign residents so as to help improve their lives here.Since June 2008, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has run a multi-language section on its petition-filing
Reaching out to ethnic Koreans in Central Asia

Oct 17, 2011

Kim Dai-sik visits Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan to launch ombudsman outreach program in Central AsiaThe Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, a leading governmental panel promoting citizens’ rights, plans to reach out to Korean firms and ethnic Koreans in Central Asia through a wide-ran
Air quality at theaters to be regulated by law

Oct 16, 2011

The air quality of movie theaters, exhibition halls, Internet cafes and private education institutes will be newly regulated, the government said Sunday, with fines to be issued for poor maintenance. The Ministry of Environment will add the four types of public facilities to its list of places where
Fiery Occupy Seoul peacefully fizzles out

Oct 16, 2011

Angry protests in Seoul joined an international demonstration with a grab bag of complaints centered on the super wealthy, but fizzled out ahead of schedule on account of rain on Saturday.An estimated 600 protesters gathered in front of Deoksu Palace for Occupy Seoul, organized by some 30 civic and