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[World Cup] Costa Rica survives 'Group of Death' with ease

SoccerJun 25, 2014

The beach ball being thrown around the stand by bored, cheering fans captured just how serene Costa Rica's progress has been at the World Cup.It should never have been this easy for the only team in Group D which isn't a past World Cup winner and doesn't feature in the top 10 of the FIFA rankings. But history and status proved no hindrance for the central American minnows, who turned the group on its head by progressing as winners. Costa Rica`s Celso Borges, right, controls the ball past England
[World Cup] Uruguay beats Italy to advance; Greece late winner

SoccerJun 25, 2014

Underscoring a power shift away from Europe, Uruguay fought _ and apparently even bit _ its way to a 1-0 victory over Italy Tuesday to move to the World Cup's next round with Costa Rica, which sent England home without a single victory after a goalless draw.South America's strength was further highlighted when Colombia capped its perfect record in Group C with a 4-1 win over Japan. Europe did get one team through when Greece converted an injury time penalty for a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast whi
SK Telecom forges ties with Nokia for 5G

TechnologyJun 25, 2014

South Korea's top mobile carrier SK Telecom Co. said Wednesday it has forged ties with Finland-based Nokia Corp. to exchange technologies and know-how to develop the fifth-generation (5G) network.Under a memorandum of understanding, the two firms will also make efforts to establish grounds for the standardization of 5G base stations, and test-run various solutions and applications that work under the latest network, SK Telecom said. SK Telecom said the two parties will be able to take the lead
North Korea on course to set up embassy in Venezuela

North KoreaJun 25, 2014

North Korea is set to establish a diplomatic mission in Venezuela after recently winning approval from the Latin American country, a U.S. radio report said Wednesday. The Venezuela government has recently approved the North's embassy plan, the Washington-based Voice of America reported, citing the official publication of the Venezuela foreign ministry.If successfully established, it will be North Korea's first embassy in the South American country since the two forged bilateral diplomatic relati
POSCO drops plan to buy 2 units of cash-strapped Dongbu: CEO

IndustryJun 24, 2014

POSCO, South Korea's largest steelmaker, has dropped its plan to acquire Dongbu Steel's Incheon plant and a power station in Dangjin under the wing of Dongbu Group, a cash-starved local conglomerate, due to associated financial burden, the company's chief executive said Tuesday.In a meeting with reporters, POSCO CEO Kwon Oh-joon said POSCO, which is trying to concentrate on core business areas and reduce unnecessary outlays, has decided not to pursue the "package deal" to buy the steel mill and
One more body retrieved from sunken ferry

Social affairsJun 24, 2014

One more body was recovered Tuesday from the sunken passenger ferry Sewol, after no progress was made over the past two weeks, officials said. The body, presumed to be a female high school student surnamed Yoon, was found on the fourth deck of the submerged ship, according to officials from the government's disaster response team.The finding raised the death toll to 293 and lowered the number of those missing to 11, the officials said.Yoon was one of 326 students from Danwon High School who were
Killer soldier apologizes to families of victims

DefenseJun 24, 2014

An enlisted soldier who killed five comrades apologized to the families of the victims and his own family in a note written before a suicide attempt, the defense ministry said Tuesday. He was in stable condition after surgery.But the note did not contain any details indicating what prompted him to commit such an act that also wounded seven others at a border outpost, the ministry said.The 22-year-old sergeant assigned to an eastern unit near the inter-Korean border town of Goseong was captured o
Students rescued from Sewol to testify at nearby court

Social affairsJun 24, 2014

High school students rescued from the sunken ferry Sewol will testify at a district court near their residence instead of a court in this southern city where the captain and crew members of the ship are on trial, court officials said Tuesday.Accepting a request from families of the students, the Gwangju District Court allowed surviving students of Danwon High School in Ansan, just south of Seoul, to provide testimony at the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Court."The examination of witnesses w
Korea ranks 13th in fund asset size in Q4

Jun 24, 2014

South Korea retained its 13th spot in the world in terms of the size of funds under management in the fourth quarter of 2013 in the face of market volatility stemming in part from the U.S. Fed tapering, data showed Tuesday. The combined net asset value of stock and bond funds managed by South Korean asset managers reached $28.52 billion at the end of December, up $3.3 billion from three months earlier, according to the data by the Korea Financial Investment Association. The net asset value refer
Korea's reconstruction team in Afghanistan ends 4-year mission

IndustryJun 24, 2014

A South Korean reconstruction team in Afghanistan has successfully completed its four-year-long mission, helping rebuild the war-torn nation, a pool report said Tuesday.South Korea's provincial reconstruction team, comprising some 150 civilian aid workers and police officers, has been stationed in the northern province of Parwan since mid-2010 to build and operate a hospital, a police training center and other aid facilities.At the U.S. military base at Bagram in Afghanistan, South Korea on Mond
Actor So Ji-sub releases hip-hop EP

Jun 24, 2014

Model and actor So Ji-sub is returning to the spotlight -- only this time it’s through his rhymes with the release of his new hip-hop album. The album jacket for hip-hop EP "18 years" by So Ji-sub. (51K)So Ji-sub and the collaborating artists in hip-hop EP "18 years." (15K)　On Tuesday the entertainer, best known for his roles in 2004 drama “I’m Sorry, I Love You” and last year’s “Master’s Sun,” released an EP titled “18 Years,” his first release since his “6 p.m. ... Ground” EP in January 2013.
Chinese investors buy up Korean stocks, become largest group of foreign investors

Jun 24, 2014

Chinese investors poured some 1.42 trillion won ($1.38 billion) into the South Korean stock market over the past six months, backed by ample liquidity and eased offshore investment regulations, to become the largest foreign net buyers of local shares, data showed Tuesday.According to Hana Daewoo Securities Co., net purchases by Chinese investors have steadily risen from 30 billion won in December to 36 billion won in January and 42 billion won in February. The amount soared to 339 billion won in
Gov't audit finds fabricated certificates for parts in nuclear plants

PoliticsJun 24, 2014

A recent inspection by the government has again found fake quality certificates for parts used in the country's nuclear power plants, the energy ministry said Tuesday.The inspection by its own auditor has found seven fabricated certificates for five different kinds of parts from four suppliers, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It said that the parts are directly related to the safety of nuclear reactors."They were not key parts under the tech-specification of the Nuclear
LG's G3 smartphone to hit Asia shelves this week

TechnologyJun 24, 2014

South Korea's No. 2 tech giant, LG Electronics Inc., said Tuesday it plans to release G3 smartphone, the latest in its flagship G lineup, in a handful of Asian countries starting this week, adding the full-fledged global sales are set to start in July. LG Electronics’ G3 smartphone (Android Beat)LG Electronics said the G3 will be available in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and other Asian countries starting Friday and sold in all areas through some 170 mobile carriers around the globe from next
Korea's third stock exchange remains tepid in first year

Jun 24, 2014

South Korea's third stock market for small companies has remained bearish since its launch nearly a year ago due in large part to thin trading and low investor confidence, said listed companies and market watchers on Tuesday, calling for eased entry rules to the market and greater incentive for trading to boost expansion. Korea New Exchange debuted on July 1 last year to provide a bourse where business start-ups and venture firms can raise funds easier via stock sales instead of having to borrow