The Korea Herald

Kim Yon-se

안녕하세요 Kim Yon-se 기자입니다.

Articles by Kim Yon-se

[Herald Interview] Korea expands global presence in eco-friendly technology

Social affairsAug 19, 2014

The global demand for green products and services has sharply expanded in recent years as the world strives to meet its needs for economic growth and environmental protection.Korea’s environmental industry is stepping up a foray into the flourishing market, especially in developing countries, capitalizing on technology, knowledge and experience accumulated through the country’s rapid industrialization and fight against pollution.At the vanguard of the efforts is the state-run Korea Environmental
Unification can’t solve low birth rate

Social affairsAug 19, 2014

Unification is not the answer to South Korea’s problem of low birthrates because the event will rather bring down the fertility rate in North Korea than increase the South’s, a U.S. demographic scholar said Monday.Elizabeth Hervey Stephen, a Georgetown University professor, made the prediction during a presentation on South Korea’s demographic dividend at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, citing what happened to Germany after unification.South Korea is known for its low birthra
Fitch maintains sovereign ratings on S. Korea

Aug 19, 2014

Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Tuesday that it has affirmed its sovereign ratings on South Korea, citing its "resilient" growth, "moderate" government debt, and "sustained" budget surpluses.Fitch retained its ratings on South Korea at "AA-," the fourth-highest of its rating system, and also maintained its rating outlook at "stable.""Growth remains broadly resilient notwithstanding a slowdown in the second quarter of 2014 following a shock to consumer confidence from the Sewol ferry d
Bereaved families reject rival parties' deal on bill on ferry disaster

Social affairsAug 19, 2014

The bereaved families of the victims of April's deadly ferry sinking rejected a deal reached by rival parties Tuesday to pass a bill aimed at uncovering the truth behind one of the country's deadliest maritime accidents.The development is a new twist in efforts by President Park Geun-hye's government to put the tragedy behind and move on to address a host of pressing national issues, including rebuilding the sluggish economy.The 6,825-ton ferry Sewol capsized off South Korea's southwest coast on
Sankei head quizzed over report on president

Social affairsAug 18, 2014

Investigators have embarked on their probe into Sankei Shimbun over its Aug. 3 report on President Park Geun-hye, as the Japanese newspaper’s Seoul bureau chief appeared before the prosecution on Monday.Though the 48-year-old bureau head Tatsuya Katou had been summoned to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on Aug. 12, he appeared before the investigative authority on Aug. 18 due to scheduling difficulties.In the report, the Sankei raised questions about Park’s whereabouts on the day
Seoul to add consular affairs division for overseas Koreans

Foreign affairsAug 17, 2014

The Foreign Ministry will create one more consular affairs division to better protect South Koreans living overseas, a ministry official said Sunday.The new division will complement the current single consular affairs division at the Foreign Ministry, the official said. The launch of the new division will be included in the home affairs ministry’s government reorganization plan to be announced in the near future, he said.The Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Bureau is currently in charge of
[Newsmaker] Sankei investigated over report on Park

Social affairsAug 10, 2014

Korean prosecutors have opened an investigation into Sankei Shimbun over a report on President Park Geun-hye that raised questions about her whereabouts during the day of the ferry sinking.The Seoul bureau of the Japanese newspaper speculated in its Aug. 3 online edition that Park was not at Cheong Wa Dae when the ferry capsized on the morning of April 16.Citing rumors in the stock brokerage industry, Sankei Shimbun alleged that Park was staying outside the presidential office at the time with a
Army deserter injures four in traffic accident

Social affairsAug 10, 2014

A soldier who deserted his post after fearing disciplinary action for bullying his subordinates injured four civilians in two separate traffic accidents, authorities said Saturday.The incident comes after the death of an Army conscript who was repeatedly bullied and assaulted by senior comrades in April sent shockwaves across the nation and has led to calls for major reform of barracks life.The Army corporal, identified only by his family name Lee from the 6th Artillery Brigade, commandeered a 5
General-level judge to preside over trial on soldier’s death

Social affairsAug 10, 2014

A general will be named the presiding judge over a trial of soldiers indicted on charges of killing a fellow serviceman earlier in the year, reflecting the importance the military places on the case, an official source said Saturday.According to a senior insider, a general officer appointed by the commander of the 3rd Corps and two colonels from the judge advocate’s office will sit as judges in the court-martial for sergeant Lee and the five others implicated in the death of corporal Yoon.“Those
N.K. foreign minister remains tight-lipped at ASEAN forum

North KoreaAug 10, 2014

North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Myanmar Saturday for a regional security meeting where his country’s nuclear program is expected to be a major topic, while South Korea is moving to drum up international support for its plan to rein in its belligerent communist neighbor.Ri Su-yong, who became the North’s top diplomat in April, was tight-lipped upon arrival at the airport and declined to answer questions by dozens of waiting reporters. He then was whisked away by aides.North Korea is a m
Incheon Asiad committee to help N.K. delegation

North KoreaAug 10, 2014

The organizing committee of the Incheon Asian Games said Saturday that it will provide administrative and other support to North Korean delegates who will visit South Korea later this month for the draw that will group teams for competition at the at the quadrennial continental event.The committee said that if the North sends a list of its National Olympic Committee officials to be sent to Incheon for the draw, it will extend all possible administrative help, including issuing visitors’ cards to
Saenuri’s Rep. Park probed for slush funds

Social affairsAug 7, 2014

Investigators questioned Rep. Park Sang-eun of the Saenuri Party over bribery allegations at the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday.The second-term governing party lawmaker is under suspicion of taking illicit funds from either candidates who attempted to run in the June 4 local elections or from regional CEOs in the construction industry in Incheon.The prosecution has been striving to reveal the source of the 630 million won ($611,000) that was found in cash in Park’s sedan and at
Prosecution urged to continue probe into Yoo’s family

Social affairsAug 7, 2014

Pundits have expressed worries that law enforcement authorities might end their investigation into the family and aides of the late Yoo Byung-eun, the owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, without publicizing meaningful results. Among the key aspects of the probe have been Yoo’s business malfeasance and the undetermined cause of his death. Investigators say the 73-year-old was found dead on June 12. Political commentator Park Sang-byung said Thursday that the prosecution appears to be finalizing its
Prosecutor averts indictment despite kickback charges

Social affairsAug 7, 2014

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said Thursday that it has decided not to indict an incumbent prosecutor who was suspected of taking kickbacks from a businessman.The prosecutor was placed under internal inspection for allegedly receiving 17 million won ($16,500) in bribes from a businessman, who was reportedly murdered by an associate of a Seoul City councilor in a contract killing.The prosecution, however, said it is hard to pass down criminal punishment even though the authority found that the
Prosecutor general also pressured to resign

Social affairsAug 6, 2014

The post of national police chief has been replaced nearly four months after the April 16 ferry sinking disaster, which could also put pressure on the incumbent prosecutor general to resign.President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday named Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kang Sin-myeong, 50, as the nation’s 19th commissioner of the National Police Agency.The appointment came a day after Lee Sung-han, who had led the investigation into the Sewol ferry accident, offered to step down from the post.