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[Asian Games] China stripped of world record after shooter's disqualification

Olympic GamesSept 22, 2014

The Chinese women's shooting team was stripped of a world record in the 10-meter air rifle event at the Asian Games on Monday after the disqualification of one of its shooters. Initially, the Chinese trio of Yi Siling, Zhang Binbin and Wu Liuxi combined for 1253.8 points to win the team gold at Ongnyeon International Shooting Range, breaking the previous world record set by their own teammates last year by 0.1 point.But Zhang later got disqualified for using unauthorized equipment for the event,
Chaebol owners under probe for suspicious FX transactions

Sept 22, 2014

Some 20 wealthy people, mostly conglomerate owners, have been under investigation by the country's financial watchdog for their suspected illegal foreign exchange transactions, industry sources said Monday.According to the sources, they had received a combined $50 million in their bank accounts between 2011 and 2014, which they claimed were investment returns, proceeds from asset sales made overseas, and wage income.But some of them had not reported such cases to the concerned authorities before
Hur Mi-jung earns first LPGA win in five years

GolfSept 22, 2014

South Korean golfer Hur Mi-jung picked up her first LPGA Tour win in five years on Sunday in Alabama, taking the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic with a tournament record score.Hu shot a final round of 6-under 66 for a four-round total of 21-under 267 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, Alabama. Stacy Lewis, the world No. 1, was a distant second at 17-under.Hur had last won on the tour in 2009. She took home $195,000 in the winner's check.Hur began the final round tied at the top with
American detained in North Korea terminated from job: report

North KoreaSept 22, 2014

An American man detained in North Korea for nearly five months has recently been terminated from his job with a city government in Ohio because of his prolonged absence, local media reported.The Moraine city government made the decision about Jeffrey Edward Fowle, saying in a letter to him and his family that it had to "act in the best interests of the city of Moraine and its residents," according to the Dayton Daily News.But the decision includes more than $70,000 in severance pay and the abili
European Stocks Decline Amid Uncertainty Over Ukraine, Scotland

World BusinessSept 10, 2014

European stocks dropped for a fourth day, their longest streak of losses in five weeks, as the region’s governments weighed tougher sanctions on Russia and concern grew the U.K. may be heading for partition. U.S. index futures were little changed, while Asian shares fell.Sports Direct International Plc slid 3.3 percent after saying its performance in its first accounting quarter was hurt by England’s early exit from World Cup soccer tournament. Bilfinger SE lost 2.3 percent after announcing job
Samsung Electronics's market cap falls below W200t

TechnologySept 10, 2014

Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's leading tech giant, saw its market capitalization fall below the 200 trillion won ($195.1 billion) mark for the first time in two years, data showed Wednesday, as its mainstay mobile unit continued to suffer amid the rise of Chinese rivals.Samsung's market cap came to 198.34 trillion won on Sept. 2, falling below the 200 trillion won mark for the first time since Sept. 7, 2012. While it managed to return to 200.5 trillion won on Thursday, it slipped back to
LG Uplus to sell iPhones for first time

TechnologySept 10, 2014

LG Uplus Corp., South Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier, will sell Apple Inc.'s latest iPhones in South Korea along with its bigger rivals SK Telecom Co. and KT Corp., industry sources said Wednesday, marking the first time for LG Uplus to distribute Apple products here.Apple on Wednesday released the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, which are 6.9 mm and 7.1 mm thin, respectively.While the devices are set to be available starting Sept. 19, the launch schedule for the South Korean market
낙제생 천재들의 학창생활 ‘컨닝, 꾀병, 서류조작, 논문 테러’

Sept 6, 2014

　행복은 성적순이 아니라는 말보다, 학점 우수자가 “일류 대학”을 졸업하고 “일류 직장”에 취직해 고액 연봉을 받는다는 믿음이 뿌리 깊게 자리잡은 시대다. 　그러나 “천재들의 학창시절 (Genius in the School)”의 저자 게르하르트 프라우제에 따르면 수많은 천재들, 역사를 주도한 위인들 중에는 낙제생들도 많았다. 독일 출신의 저널리스트이자 철학자인 프라우제가 소개한 “낙제생 천재들”은 이르든 늦든 자신의 꿈과 재능을 깨닫고, 주위의 반대와 불리한 현실적 조건을 극복한 사람들이다. 　이들이 그처럼 학교에서 밑바닥 성적을 거두었던 이유는 여러 가지가 있지만, 그 중에서도 “일방적권위에 의한 부자유 또는 구속에 대한 반발”이라는 공통점이 두드러진다. 　학생들이 학교에서 필연적으로 겪게 되는 강제에 대해, 어떤 방향으로든 벗어나려고 한 시도는 얼마든지 찾을 수 있다. 예나 지금이나 학교가 싫은 학생들은 거짓말을 하거나, 꾀병을 부리거나, 대놓고 교권에 반항을 하거나, 혹은 학교
Kookmin Bank president offers to resign after watchdog toughens punishment

Sept 4, 2014

The president of Kookmin Bank stepped down on Thursday soon after the financial watchdog imposed heavier punishment against him and the chairman of the bank's parent, KB Financial Group, for management failures over an expensive computer system change."I've done what I have to do as a bank president. I believe that the watchdog has made the right decision on my conduct," said Lee Kun-ho, the bank's president.Just before his resignation, Financial Supervisory Service Gov. Choi Soo-hyun overturned
Park urges lifting barriers to electricity market

PoliticsSept 4, 2014

President Park Geun-hye called Thursday for a drastic easing of regulations to ensure private companies can produce and sell energy as the country seeks to better cope with challenges posed by climate change.Currently, private companies are restricted from participating in the electricity market virtually monopolized by state-run power provider Korea Electric Power Corp. "There is a need to lift barriers to entry for private companies," Park said in a debate on the energy industry. "We should dr
South Korea, U.S. to form wartime combined unit next year

DefenseSept 4, 2014

South Korea and the United States have agreed to establish a combined division of their troops next year that will be tasked with carrying out wartime operations, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday.The unit, slated to be organized in the first half of next year, will be comprised of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and a South Korean brigade-level unit, according to the ministry.The 2nd Division commander plans to head the newly-made joint staff of the combined unit, with South Korea's brigadi
Seoul city pushes to halve traffic deaths by 2018

Social affairsSept 4, 2014

The municipal government of Seoul said Thursday it plans to halve the number of traffic deaths over the next four years by taking more safety measures.Under the traffic accident prevention plan, the city will push to bring down the current traffic death rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people to 2.1 by 2018.To that end, the city plans to increase the number of special traffic zones to better protect children and elderly people.The plan was one of the 25 key policy goals the municipal government announced
Putin unveils Ukraine peace plan ahead of NATO summit

World NewsSept 4, 2014

NATO leaders aim Thursday to show unity against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin unveiled a broad peace plan.The Russian president's surprise announcement could take the wind out of the sails of a high-stakes NATO summit in Wales, where Western leaders led by US President Barack Obama plan to step up their defence of eastern Europe in the face of Russian "aggression".Putin appealed for both sides to lay down their weapons after nearly five months of fighting tha
LG executive questioned after damaging Samsung products

TechnologySept 4, 2014

An executive of LG Electronics Inc. was questioned by police in Germany for allegedly damaging products of rival Samsung Electronics Co. on purpose at a Berlin mall, corporate sources said Thursday.The executive, whose name was withheld, was reported to the local police by shop clerks at the SATURN Berlin Europa-Center after being spotted breaking the doors of four Samsung Crystal Blue washing machines. The police questioned him and other LG staff members at their hotel but closed the case afte
China OK'd NK defectors' travel to Seoul upon Xi visit

North KoreaSept 4, 2014

A "small number" of North Koreans who had taken refuge in South Korea's Embassy in Beijing for months since fleeing their impoverished country were allowed fly to Seoul around the time of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Korea in early July, Seoul officials said Thursday.The North Koreans, whose number is believed to be fewer than four, had been a thorn in Seoul-Beijing relations since they entered the South Korean Embassy in Beijing seeking political asylum.China, however, de