South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will attend international conferences this week to speak out against North Korea's human rights abuses and shed light on Pyongyang's use of chemical weapons, government officials said Sunday.Yun plans to visit Geneva on Monday and Tuesday to attend a session of the UN Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The minister is set to leave for the Switzerland on Sunday.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se

South Korea has yet to launch a foundation to support civic groups' activities that aim to improve North Korea's human rights situation even though a relevant law took effect six months ago, government officials said Sunday.The law aimed at improving North Korea's dismal human rights situation came into force in September 2016, but the foundation has failed to start work as the main opposition party is delaying recommending candidates for board members, sources said.(Yonhap)The foundation to be

South Korea and the United States are moving to employ their latest detection equipment to prepare for North Korean chemical and biological weapons in the joint military drill planned for this year, sources said Sunday.The move is in response to Pyongyang being accused of using the lethal VX nerve agent to kill Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at a crowded airport in Malaysia on Feb. 13.(Yonhap)The allies have been conducting the Able Response chemical

South Korea's troop level would hover around 150,000-200,000 if the country abandons its conscription system for a volunteer force, a state-run think tank said Sunday.The findings by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses based on an assessment of other countries that maintain a volunteer military showed on average that 0.4 percent of the population serves in the armed forces, which is roughly half of the number for places that rely on mandatory conscription.(Yonhap)"In the United States, it s

중국이 한반도 고고도 미사일 방어체계(THAAD·사드) 배치 결정에 따른 보복으로 한류 연예인 출연과 프로그램 방영 등을 중지한 데 이어 최근에는 인터넷을 통해 유포되는 최신 한류 동영상까지 차단한 것으로 확인됐다. (사진=러브리즈 인스타그램)최근 '도깨비' 등 한국 드라마와 예능 프로그램이 중국 동영상 공유사이트 여우쿠(優酷·youku) 등을 통해 퍼지면서 폭발적인 인기를 끌고 있자 이마저도 막겠다는 의도인 것으로 보인다.26일 중국 소식통 등에 따르면 한국 드라마 팔로우가 많기로 유명한 '봉황천사 TSKS 한극사'라는 계정은 웨이보(微博·중국판 트위터)를 통해 지난 24일부터 한류 프로그램의 업데이트가 중단됐다는 사실을 공개했다.이 웨이보는 "각 동영상 웹사이트가 당분간 모든 한류 프로그램을 업데이트하는 것을 중단한다"면서 "그 이유는 모두 다 알고 있을 것"이라면서 사드에 따른 금한령(禁韓令·한류 금지령) 때문임을 내비쳤다.이어 "지난주부터 관련 소식을 받고 관련 준비를 했다"

The demand for imported beer continues to rise in South Korea amid the increasing number of people who wish to drink alone at home, industrial watchers said Sunday. According to the data by E-Mart, a major South Korean market chain, imported brands took up 51.7 percent of its beer sales this month through Thursday, beating domestic products for the first time. Models pose with various imported beer brands at a supermarket in Seoul in this file photo released by E-Mart on Jan. 2, 2017. (Yonhap)Im

South Korea's entertainment giant CJ Group is set to speed up investment and business projects starting in March, as its chief is set to begin full-fledged activities after being released from prison by a pardon last year, industrial watchers said Sunday.CJ Chairman Lee Jae-hyun was released by a special presidential pardon in August. He was indicted in 2013 on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion, and was given 2 1/2 years in jail last year. (Yonhap)In order to normalize its businesses, CJ G

Samsung Electronics Co., a major global tech giant that has been embroiled in allegations that its workers on its chip production line have suffered from serious diseases, including leukemia, said Sunday the company is devoted to providing diagnoses and compensation to victims.The company denies any link between the working environment and the diseases, citing scientific data. (Yonhap)Controversy over Samsung's responsibility for workers' illnesses has been growing since 2007 after Hwang Yu-mi,

Individual investors failed to enjoy profits despite the latest surge of the main bourse index, data showed Sunday, while foreigners and institutions raked in profits.According to the data compiled by market tracker FnGuide, the top 10 stocks purchased by retail investors have fallen 4.32 percent on average this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index hovered above the 2,100 mark for the first time in 19 months Tuesday, reflecting the robust performance of the main bourse. (Yonhap)

Top executives of SK Group, South Korea's third-largest conglomerate, have been granted stock options, the business group said Friday, a move seen as part of efforts to reinforce its corporate responsibility.Park Sung-wook, the vice president and chief executive of chipmaker SK hynix Inc., one of the group's key units, received the rights to buy a total of 298,800 shares, the company said in a statement. That is worth some 15 billion won ($13.2 million) based on the company's closing price on Th

The Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed reports that a new justice will be named to the bench next week, saying President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial will move forward within the set time frame.The court has shown a determination to rule on Park's impeachment by March 13, when acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi is set to complete her term and retire. The final hearing has been scheduled for Monday, after which justices are expected to take up to two weeks to write their opinions and del

A Seoul court on Friday held the first hearing on a compensation suit filed by hundreds of South Korean customers against German carmaker Volkswagen over vehicles with manipulated emissions data.During the hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court, a total of 259 plaintiffs demanded the cancellation of their purchases and full refunds. This file photo taken on June 1, 2016, shows Audi Volkswagen Korea's pre-delivery inspection center in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yon

A potential presidential candidate of the ruling Liberty Korea Party on Friday joined a growing crowd of right-wingers who warn of consequences if the Constitutional Court makes a "populist" decision to permanently remove President Park Geun-hye. Rhee In-je, formerly a six-term lawmaker and a Supreme Council member, held a news conference to defend Park against corruption charges and call on the court to resist the pressure from street protesters and reject the parliamentary impeachment.  Rhee I

Motors Corp. said Friday that they will showcase a new line of green cars at an annual motor show to be held in Switzerland early next month, as they strive to make inroads into the European market.Hyundai Motor said it will show off its latest hybrid technology while debuting a line of green cars ranging from the plug-in hybrid electronic vehicle to a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle at the Geneva International Motor Show scheduled to open March 7. Hyundai Motor Co.'s i30 (Hyundai Motor Group)Noticea

Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's tech giant, said Friday it has launched its mobile payment system in Malaysia, expanding its overseas foothold for the flagship mobile transaction platform.A launching event was attended by some 300 officials and media personnel in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, the company said in a statement. (Yonhap)The world's top maker of smartphones has joined hands with four major banking firms there, including Malaysia's Maybank and Citibank, to offer the mobile