The Korea Herald

[Newsmaker] Lee Sang-hwa secures title with world record

More sportsNov 17, 2013

“Queen of speed skating” Lee Sang-hwa on Saturday proved she has what it takes to be on top of the world as she broke her own world record for the second time in two days at the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah.Her victory paints a rosy picture for the Winter Olympics next year, where she will vie for a second consecutive gold medal in a row following her first at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In Saturday’s second leg of the competition, Lee won the wome
[Newsmaker] Rajin-Khasan key project for Seoul, Moscow

Foreign affairsNov 14, 2013

The participation of South Korean firms in the development of a railway between North Korea and Russia and a North Korean port is poised to be the centerpiece of renewed cooperation between Seoul and Moscow. President Park Geun-hye and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to cooperate on the project during their summit Wednesday. Seoul’s support for the Rajin-Khasan project reflects President Park Geun-hye’s desire to rebuild relations with Moscow. The Russian-led initiative calls for the ref
[Newsmaker] Bigwig summoned as summit probe nears end

PoliticsNov 13, 2013

The prosecution on Wednesday questioned ruling party heavyweight Rep. Kim Moo-sung as its probe into the alleged illegal leaking of the 2007 inter-Korean summit records entered the final stretch. In the run up to the Dec. 19 presidential election, Kim, campaign chief and close aide to President Park Geun-hye, attacked the Democratic Party’s Rep. Moon Jae-in with claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun conceded the Northern Limit Line to Pyongyang with wording very close to that of the transcript
[Newsmaker] Parties clash over game addiction act

PoliticsNov 12, 2013

A widening dispute over a proposal to toughen regulations on online games has emerged as a hot political issue dragging party leaders into a harsh war of words. The ruling Saenuri Party’s Rep. Shin Yee-jin in April proposed a new law that would define Internet gaming and digital media content as one of the four major sources of addictions, along with alcohol, drugs and gambling, subject to tougher government controls. The bill sparked angry reactions from the industry, game lovers and liberal-mi
[Newsmaker] Celebs mired in illegal gambling allegations

Social affairsNov 11, 2013

Two A-list hosts of variety shows and a former K-pop singer are under investigation for illegal sports gambling in the latest in a long line of celebrities caught up in the illegal sport.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it summoned comedian Lee Soo-geun, 38, on Sunday for questioning on suspicions he wagered hundreds of millions of won on football teams in the English Premier League through a private gambling site. Under a related law, “Sportstoto” (www.sportstoto.co.kr), oper
[Newsmaker] Winter coal chokes millions of Chinese

InternationalNov 6, 2013

They came as a stark reminder of the seriousness of China’s pollution problem: grim reports of an 8-year-old girl with lung cancer, her disease attributed to the appalling state of the air she breathed.It was perhaps the most bleak in a flurry of recent reports that began when a network of coal-fired power stations was switched on in Harbin, a major city in China’s northeast, as temperatures dropped in the city.Smog days have led schools, roads and airports to close. Satellite pictures showed an
[Newsmaker] Far-left party threatened with ax

PoliticsNov 5, 2013

The oft-troubled Unified Progressive Party is facing its biggest crisis yet as the government moves to have the left-wing party disbanded, citing its links to North Korea. The unprecedented decision came in the wake of an investigation into UPP lawmaker Lee Seok-ki and other senior officials indicted on charges of plotting an armed revolt.The UPP represents the more radical end of Korea’s progressive bloc. As such its former and current members have resorted to extreme actions within the parliam
[Newsmaker] Ahn seen reviving presidential ambition

PoliticsNov 4, 2013

Independent Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate considered a “sleeping dragon” of Korean politics, appears to be speeding up the process of establishing his own party ahead of next year’s local elections.On Monday, Ahn took to the podium of the National Assembly’s briefing room for the first time since his election office in April to call for a special probe into alleged election meddling by government agencies.“I think that a comprehensive investigation conducted by a special co
[Newsmaker] Defense Security Command mired in politics

DefenseNov 3, 2013

The Defense Security Command is facing a sweeping reform after Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin reportedly directed it to abolish its practice of clandestinely reporting military intelligence to Cheong Wa Dae without his knowledge.Kim is said to have ordered the DSC to focus on supporting his leadership and carrying out its key missions to ensure security in the military and defense industry, and to prevent and investigate espionage and terrorism.Kim’s directives came after former DSC chief Jang Ky
[Newsmaker] Korea’s jury system: Is it working?

Social affairsOct 30, 2013

Korea introduced a jury system six years ago as part of reforms to make court proceedings fair, transparent and more in tune with common sense. But the system has come under scrutiny following the separate jury acquittals in less than a week of progressive political satirists Ju Jin-u and Kim Eo-jun, and poet Ahn Do-hyun.They all were accused of spreading false information about President Park Geun-hye and her family members and charged with defamation.The verdicts troubled conservatives includi
[Newsmaker] U.S. alienates world with spying

PoliticsOct 29, 2013

United States diplomacy appears to have been caught flat-footed this past week by an avalanche of anger from its closest allies, apoplectic over one report after another detailing vast American spying, including the tapping of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s personal cell phone and data on tens of millions of calls in Spain in a single month. The most recent revelations from classified documents provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden detail NSA snooping on the phone conversations of 35 world
[Newsmaker] Mongolian leader heads to Pyongyang

North KoreaOct 28, 2013

Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj arrived in Pyongyang on Monday as the first foreign head of state to enter the isolated country since Kim Jong-un took power in December 2011.The Rodong Sinmun, an official newspaper of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, expressed hopes that Elbegdorj’s trip would upgrade bilateral ties and boost cooperation in economy, culture and sports. He was officially invited not by Kim Jong-un, but by its titular head of state Kim Yong-nam, president of the Supreme Pe
[Newsmaker] Rocky road ahead of new chief prosecutor

PoliticsOct 27, 2013

Prosecutor-general nominee Kim Jin-tae is known inside the law enforcement agency by his piquant nickname: Bull Pen. He was an acting prosecutor general in late 2012 when then the prosecutor-general resigned, taking responsibility for a series of corruption and sex scandals involving some prosecutors, as well as a failed prosecution reform. Kim was the man who put immediate effort to settle the unprecedented crisis and quickly restore the tarnished image of corrupted prosecution. Kim is now give
[Newsmaker] Kimchi making for winter gets recognition

CultureOct 24, 2013

Kimjang, the traditional practice of making kimchi before winter, may soon be included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, government officials announced on Wednesday. Representatives of Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration submitted the recommendation for kimjang, categorized under the title “Kimjang; Making and Sharing Kimchi,” to be added to the UNESCO list. Kimjang refers to the process of preparing large vats of the spicy, fermented cabbage with a large gathering
[Newsmaker] KT CEO becomes yet another political target

IndustryOct 23, 2013

KT Corp. has long been cut from the strings of the government apron, but it seems the fate of its chief executives remains in the hands of the administration. KT chairman Lee Seok-chae has been plagued with rumors of his imminent departure from the moment President Park Geun-hye took office.The allegations about his mismanagement aside, the biggest strike against Lee is that he started his term under former president Lee Myung-bak. “We thought the chairman would be able to carry out his term, bu