Greenhouse gas emissions in Korea rose at the fastest rate in 17 years in 2010, prompting the government to rethink its goal of cutting emissions by 30 percent from projected levels by 2020.During his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Environmental Minister-nominee Yoon Seong-kyu said President Park Geun-hye recently called for a new road map to meet the goal. Greenhouse gases in 2010 marked 669 million tons of CO2 equivalent, a 9.8 percent increase from 609 million ton

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Tuesday it has launched an investigation into Gallery Seomi, one of the most prominent art galleries in Korea, and its director Hong Song-won on suspicion of evading billions of won in taxes. Much attention is being paid to the case as it could cause a ripple effect up to some of the chaebol families who have long been in close relations with the gallery and Hong. The gallery is suspected of avoiding taxes by omitting some of its profits from i

서울 중앙 지방 검찰청은 26일 탈루 혐의를 받고 있는 서미갤러리와 화랑계의 “큰손”으로 알려진 서미갤러리 대표 홍송원(60)씨에 대한 수사를 착수 했다고 밝혔다. 홍씨는 주로 재계의 거물들을 대상으로 미술품 거래를 해왔으며, 과거 대기업의 비자금 사건과 저축은행 비리 사건 등에 연루된 적이 있어 앞으로 검찰 수사가 불러 올 여파에 관심이 주목되고 있다. 서미갤러리는 거래 업체들에 고가의 미술품을 판매하면서 세금계산서를 발행하지 않거나 수입금액을 회계장부에서 빠뜨리는 수법 등으로 2007년부터 2010년 까지 법인세 등을 탈루한 혐의를 받고 있다.또 해외에서 고급가구를 수입ㆍ판매하면서 수입가를 누락하는 수법 등으로 부가가치세 수억원을 포탈한 혐의도 받고 있다.검찰 관계자는 “국세청이 제출한 고발장에는 대기업 측 인사가 포함돼 있지 않다”며 “우선 국세청 관계자를 불러 어떤 방법으로 탈세했는지, 금액은 어떻게 산정했는지 등을 조사할 것”이라며 밝혔다.앞서 서울 지방 국세청은 지난 9월

U.S. branding expert Patrick Hanlon said in his recent article in Forbes magazine that while Korea is exporting esteemed brands in businesses, it is “ best known for kimchee (pickled cabbage) and its annoying northern neighbor,” urging Korea to promote its national brand. His suggestion is not new at all to me even though it could be more or less embarrassing to many Koreans since they pride themselves on many successful stories to tell to the world, inter alia, in an economic aspect. In fact, m

In the frigid days of late December to the first week of this month, snow piled ankle high on the streets of Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, northwestern Seoul. Newly remodeled buildings of Indeokwon, a nursing home standing on a low hill, are where nurses and social workers take care of around 300 elderly people.In a room of the facility, a woman in bright clothing moves around singing “Gakseol-i Taryong,” a satirical and humorous song also known as “The Beggar’s Song,” with a rough but charming vo

Choi Yeol, 64, president of non-governmental environmental group Korea Green Foundation, was sentenced to a jail term for receiving bribes from real estate investors Friday. The Supreme Court turned down Choi’s appeal and upheld a lower court’s ruling of a one-year jail term and a fine of 130 million won ($123,000). Choi was indicted for receiving financial favors from a real estate investor who asked for help in an eco-friendly industrial park in Gyeonggi Province. Choi arranged a meeting with

Seoul Metropolitan City will likely be short more than 19,000 rooms per day for foreign tourists this year and the shortage will aggravate as the number of visitors is increasing, according to the city government on Thursday.The figure this year when multiplied by 2.4, the average number of people using one room, means that 47,232 travelers will not be able to find accommodation.The number of foreign visitors in Seoul was 11.4 million last year and is expected to be 12.6 million this year and 19