Samsung and LG swept global smart TV sales in 2014, according to DisplaySearch. The U.S.-based market information provider said Samsung Electronics was in the lead with 28.2 percent market share, followed by LG Electronics with 15.2 percent. Combined, the Korean companies dominated with a market share of 43.4 percent. Japanese company Sony followed behind with 7.6 percent, and Chinese companies Hisense and Skyworth were both placed fourth with 6.7 percent each. A smart TV is a digital television

Beijing reaffirmed its right to build on disputed islands in the South China Sea on Thursday after satellite imagery emerged of construction operations turning tropical reefs into concrete artificial islands. The Philippines ― one of the most vocal of China’s neighbors in defending its competing territorial claim ― reacted strongly, calling for the Asian giant to “dismantle” the reclaimed land. A series of satellite images posted on the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studi

Korea’s major conglomerates decreased their investments last year due to the nation’s protracted economic sluggishness, data showed Tuesday.The total amount of investments by the nation’s top 30 conglomerates in 2014 was 148.5 trillion won ($136 billion), a 10 trillion won (6.4 percent) decrease from 2013, according to market research firm CEO Score. In particular, the conglomerates’ facility investments dropped sharply by 11 percent from 113.8 trillion won in 2013 to 101.2 trillion won in 2014.

Pharmaceutical research firm Mezzion had the highest employee salary among listed Korean firms in 2014, according to data released Sunday.Mezzion’s average salary was 121 million won ($111,600), maintaining the top spot for the second straight year after hitting 135 million won in 2013.Korea Exchange came second with an average salary of 111 million won, followed by Shinhan Financial Group with 107 million won.NICE Holdings, which first entered the list of firms with salaries of more than 100 mi

A total of 6,400 infants and children from different parts of the world were adopted by U.S. citizens last year, according to the U.S. Department of State.This was the lowest number in 33 years, and a 9 percent decrease from the year before, when 7,094 children were adopted from overseas.Overseas adoption by American parents has declined steadily since 2004. By country, the largest number came from China, at 2,040, followed by Ethiopia, Ukraine and Haiti. South Korea came next with 370 children

More than 60 percent women in their 20s in Seoul consume alcohol more than once a month. Of those, 1 in 10 were classed as binge drinkers, according to the statistics released by Seoul Metropolitan Government.Alcohol consumption among women in their 20s increased to 64.8 percent in 2013, a 9.6 percentage point increase from 2008 and the biggest increase among age and gender groups. Of those, 1 in 10 indulge in binge drinking, defined as drinking more than five glasses of Soju, a popular Korean l

The number of foreign students in Korea has hit a record high this year, data from the Justice Ministry showed Tuesday. As of February, the number of foreign students reached 92,076, up 8 percent on-year, the ministry said.The figure has gradually increased since 2008 but started to decline from 2012. The number dropped to 85,230 last year, the lowest figure since 2011, officials said. It picked up drastically last year, following various measures taken by the government and schools, including l

Incheon International Airport has continued striking growth since it opened 14 years ago, data showed Monday. The airport, which launched service on March 29, 2001, has grown 6.7 percent on average in terms of the number of passengers; 3.4 percent in cargo; and 7.2 percent in flights every year, according to data released by the airport authority.The number of transfer passengers also increased from 2.46 million in 2001 to 7.71 million in 2013.The airport, which had 47 operating airlines in 2001

Arab League member states (11 countries ― Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, UAE) have agreed in principle to form a joint inter-Arab military peacekeeping force. While details of how such a force would actually operate remain thin, the agreement is a telling sign of a new determination among Saudi Arabia, Egypt and their allies to intervene aggressively in regional hotspots, whether against Islamic militants or spreading Iranian power. Senior

Korea’s 30 largest conglomerates acquired 203 companies at a total price surpassing 29 trillion won ($26.3 billion) in the past five years, according to data compiled on mergers and acquisitions released Wednesday. CJ Group led the pack in the number of deals with 36 acquisitions while Hyundai Motor Group topped spending on M&As, tallying nearly 5.2 trillion won, the business performance analysis site CEO Score said.The most expensive acquisition by far was Hyundai Engineering and Construction,