South Korean commercial banks will kick off their debt restructuring programs for the so-called "house poor," who are unable to pay off their debts, including mortgages, starting on Monday. Under the plan named "pre-workout," the banks will extend the repayment period for borrowers with fewer than 90 days of delinquency to up to 35 years, industry sources said Sunday. However, borrowers whose properties are under legal dispute can not apply for the program. Borrowers who filed for a personal fin

정부가 중국•인도네시아•베트남과의 자유무역협 정(FTA), 역내 포괄적 경제동반자협정(RCEP) 타결을 적극적으로 추진해 오는 2017년 까지 FTA 무역비중을 69%로 끌어올릴 계획이다.국내산업과 통상의 연계를 강화하기 위해 제조업•서비스업•농수산업 등 전 산 업계가 참여하는 통상산업포럼을 구성하고 범부처 통상추진위원회도 신설했다.산업통상자원부는 정부조직 개편에 따라 통상교섭•이행•국내대책 기능이 단일 창구로 통합됨에 따라 범부처 차원에서 이 같은 내용의 '새 정부 통상정책 로드맵'을 마련, 대외경제장관회의 의결을 거쳐 14일 국회에 보고했다.정부는 개방형 통상정책 기조를 유지하면서 거대 경제권과의 FTA 완결을 위해 한-미, 한-유럽연합(EU) FTA에 이어 한-중 FTA 협상에 속도를 내고 한-중-일 FTA 발 판 마련에 나서기로 했다. 산업부 최경림 통상차관보는 "현재 중국과 5차 협상을 했고 상품관세 인하와 각 규범 수립 협상의 틀을 만들어가는 1단계 협상을 진행 중"이라며

South Korea's foreign minister held a meeting with diplomatic mission chiefs in Southeast Asia on Saturday and discussed ways to ensure the safety of North Korean asylum seekers passing through those countries, the foreign ministry said.The meeting in Singapore came after public outrage over revelations that nine young North Korean defectors were arrested in Laos and then sent back to their communist homeland where they could face harsh punishment. The foreign ministry came under fire for failin

South Korea's unification minister said Wednesday that the stalled inter-Korean talks represent growing pains that will help establish new inter-Korean relations vital for sustainable peace and cooperation.In a meeting with reporters at the Office of South-North Dialogue, a day after the eleventh-hour cancellation of the high-level meeting, Ryoo Kihl-jae claimed the setback is part of the difficult process of establishing cross-border ties.He also said that because no talks took place, the gover