Korea has more diplomats in China than any other nation, followed by those from the U.S. and Japan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.If excluding diplomats working in defense-related areas at the Korean Embassy in the U.S., the number of Korean consuls, economic and state affairs diplomats is the largest in China, the ministry said.The figures come as China has become the world’s second-largest economy, surpassing Japan in 2010, and emerged as part of the “G-2” with the U.S

Lack of child care facilities another burden after their return to workA growing number of hospital workers including nurses, doctors and assistant medical staff are women, but their working environment is still difficult for balancing career and family.In a desperate bid to keep their career ongoing in the male-centered system, they take turns being pregnant, curtail their maternity leave “voluntarily,” and some even give up having children completely. According to a Korean Medical Women’s Asso

The defense ministry on Tuesday issued guidelines on the use of social media by soldiers, with an emphasis on protecting the military’s confidential information.The ministry said in a statement the increase in smartphone ownership and the subsequent rise in use of social networking services prompted the publication of the guidelines.“Our guidelines are designed to help troops in their use of SNS so that they won’t violate military security policies and adversely affect military discipline,” the

Dozens of South Korean non-commissioned officers (NCOs) will receive leadership training at a U.S. army base in South Korea this spring, officials said Tuesday.The South’s Army said 65 NCOs will enter a four-week program starting in April at the Eighth U.S. Army Wightman Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. The academy is based in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul.According to South Korean officials, 50 NCOs will enter the academy’s “Warrior Leader Course,” and 15 more will join the “In

The U.S. military will interview all Koreans who have been granted passes onto U.S. military bases here, amid an investigation by police into two men for illegal issuing of passes.The Stars and Stripes reports that the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command said it has made “internal changes” to how it issues passes through the U.S. Forces Korea’s Good Neighbor program.The 8th Army’s logistic support arm said all civilians who have required passes through the Good Neighbor Program will be interv

Clothes for homeless in Seoul A clothing and shoe drive is set to help homeless people in Seoul. Volunteer groups BEAN Seoul and PLUR are asking people to donate old-but-usable clothes, shoes, blankets and socks at the Presbyterian Church of the Lord in Songpa-gu, Jamsil, on Saturday from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The goods will then be distributed by the Korean Support Center for the Homeless. A movie on social justice and distribution of wealth will also be screened. The film, “Inside Job,” will start

A weekly magazine reported Tuesday that former Korea Communications Commission Chairman Choi See-joong attempted to bribe pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmakers in 2008.Choi denies all allegations, saying that he has no knowledge of the matter. Choi is a close confidant of the president and has been dubbed his political mentor.He served as the chief of the KCC since its launch in 2008 until this sudden resignation on Jan. 27. According to the report, Choi gave 35 million won ($31,000) to three pro-Lee lawm

Prosecutors raided the campaign office of a preliminary candidate of the Democratic United Party in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday, in connection with alleged vote-buying in a party leadership race.The accused, Kim Kyung-hyup, is alleged to have given envelopes containing cash to some of the central committee members of the party on Dec. 26 during a party leadership contest in Seoul.The prosecution summoned Kim for questioning.The investigators have secured CCTV footage showing a person s

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said its travel ban on South Koreans in Iraq and Syria will be extended for six months, as geopolitical risks and instability are likely to continue in the region.The ministry held a visa policy commission meeting on Monday and decided that travel ban on Iraq will be extended for six months from Feb. 6, and that on Syria, from Feb. 29. South Korea imposed the travel ban on Iraq on Aug. 7, 2007, and on Syria on Aug. 30, 2011.The ministry said its decision