More than half of married South Korean women said that having a child is not a must in their married lives, a survey showed Sunday, an indication that theimportance of children in marriage is fading in South Korean society.   The survey, released in a report by a researcher at the state-run Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, showed that 53.5 percent of some 4,500 married women responded that havinga child is not a must, though it's better to have one, while 46.3 percent think otherwi

Seoul has launched a government-wide effort to draw up plans for establishing an international park within the Demilitarized Zone, as suggested by President Park Geun-hye during her recent visit to the U.S.“The concerned ministries are discussing measures for implementing the plans to establish a peace park,” an official said.“Details regarding measures that will be proposed in talks with North Korea are being drawn up.” Seoul’s multi-ministry negotiation group is expected to include the Ministr

South Korean stocks rallied 1.18 percent Thursday as the central bank's decision to cut its key interest rate boosted investor sentiment here, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 23 points to finish at 1,975.45. Trading volume was moderate at 324.8 million shares worth 4.9 trillion won (US$4.56 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 521 to 291.   Analysts said the rise came as South Korea's central

South Korean stocks traded 0.93 percent higher late Thursday morning on the central bank's decision to cut its key interest rate, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 18.13 points to 1,974.58 as of 11:20 a.m.   Shares gathered ground across the board, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics rising 1.08 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix climbing 1.75 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO added 0.62 percent.   South Korea's central bank delivered the first in

South Korean stocks closed 0.36 percent lower Tuesday as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of the central bank's monetary policy meeting slated for Thursday, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 7.13 points to finish at 1,954.35. Trading volume was low at 295 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.2 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 437 to 368.   "Seoul shares traded lower as in

South Korean stocks traded 0.36 percent lower late Tuesday morning on losses in techs and foo producers, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved down 7.11 points to 1,954.37 as of 11:20 a.m.   Tech blue chips led the decline, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 1.06 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix moving down 1.21 percent. Leading flat panel manufacturer LG Display shed 1.53 percent.  Food companies also traded lower, with leading foodmaker

STX그룹 주요 계열사가 '준(準) 워크아웃'으로 불리는 채권단 자율협약에 들어갈 것이 유력시된다.    다만 지원 범위가 회사채 투자자까지 포함해야 하는지를 놓고 채권단 사이에서 이견이 제기됐다.    STX그룹의 채권단 소속 주요 은행들은 6일 주채권은행인 산업은행에서 회의를 열어 지난 3일 자율협약을 신청한 ㈜STX, STX중공업, STX엔진의 지원 방안을 논의했다.    채권단은 이날 회의에서 STX 측의 요청대로 자율협약을 맺어 긴급자금을 지원, 그룹의 주요 계열사를 살리는 쪽으로 방침을 정한 것으로 알려졌다.    한 채권은행 부행장은 "내부 여신심사회의를 열어 정해야 하지만, 자율협약에 동의하는 것 말고는 선택의 여지가 없다"고 밝혔다.    다른 채권은행의 담당 임원도 "(STX를) 살리는 쪽으로 가닥이 잡힌 만큼 은행들이 적극적으로 지원해야 할 것으로 본다"고 말했다.    또 다른 채권은행 관계자는 "일자리 문제나 국가 기간산업으로서의 중요성 등을 고려할 때 채권단

South Korean stocks closed 0.22 percent lower Monday despite the European Central Bank's (ECB) stimulus measure as investors were at odds over its impact on the global economy down the road, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 4.23 points to finish at 1,961.48. Trading volume was low at 291.7 million shares worth 3.9 trillion won (US$3.56 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 447 to 356.  "Seoul s

South Korean stocks traded 0.34 percent higher late Monday morning on gains in builders and logistics companies, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 6.7 points to 1,972.41 as of 11:20 a.m.   Builders led the market gain, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction adding 3.34 percent and Daewoo Engineering & Construction climbing 1.74 percent. GS Engineering & Construction moved up 2.57 percent.  Logistics firms also gathered ground, with CJ Korea Expres

Creditors of STX Group will likely pump at least 800 billion won (US$730 million) into the troubled shipbuilding conglomerate in a bid to keep it afloat, a source said Sunday.   On Friday, STX Group's troubled holding company, STX Corp., and two affiliates requested main creditor Korea Development Bank supply liquidity in return for its voluntary debt-relief and restructuring efforts.   "Creditor banks will discuss how much money will be extended to the group," said the source. "The figure is ex

South Korean stocks closed 0.34 percent lower Thursday, tracking its U.S. peers overnight as disappointing economic data in major countries dampened investor appetite, analysts said. The local currency edged down against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 6.74 points to finish at 1,957.21. Trading volume was moderate at 342.2 million shares worth 4.05 trillion won (US$3.67 billion) with decliners outpacing gainers 485 to 315.   "U.S. markets saw

 President Park Geun-hye named a former five-term lawmaker to head a state advisory council on national unification, her office announced Thursday.   Hyun Kyung-dae, 74, now chief of a law firm, was designated to lead the National Unification Advisory Council as its senior vice chairman. The president is the ex-officio chairman of the council.   Hyun, considered one of seven elder political mentors believed to be offering advice to Park, served as a lawmaker from 1981 to 2004. He also worked for