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Readers’ voice

Jan 2, 2012

On the NSL ...In a democratic society, a government shouldn’t be in the business of patrolling people’s ideologies and belief systems. Isn’t that what free speech is all about?― Holly Hamilton, Gunpo, via Facebook On Internet censorship ...Teacher A: “How is the student in Class 6 when you teach class? He is not improving even though I’ve told him to pay better attention many times.”Teacher B: “It’s the same in my class, too.”If the above dialogue occurs on a Social Network Service like Twitter
[VOICE] Should the National Security Law be abolished?

Jan 2, 2012

With response to Kim Jong-il’s death reigniting the debate ...Should the National Security Law be abolished?Divisive debateThe National Security Law has divided Korean public opinion since its introduction in 1948. To its proponents, more often on the conservative side of politics, the law is a necessary safeguard against North Korea and communist subversion of the state. To its critics, generally on the political left, it is used a tool to stifle criticism of the government and economic status
Retailers hail Year of the Black Dragon

IndustryJan 2, 2012

Dragons all over from wine and leather bags to underwearThe Chinese zodiac is always the favorite sales promotion theme for local retailers and hotels at the beginning of each year.2012 is the Year of the Black Dragon, which makes the most auspicious animal of the zodiac and symbol of the emperor sound even more powerful and mystifying. In the Chinese zodiac, combinations of 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, or animal signs, create a sexagenary cycle which makes the Year of the Black Dr
Hyundai Heavy targets $30.6b orders this year

Jan 2, 2012

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., South Korea’s leading shipbuilder, said Monday that it is aiming to win $30.6 billion worth of orders this year, up nearly 20 percent from last year.The shipyard said it is also targeting sales of 27.54 trillion won this year, compared with last year’s 25.2 trillion won.Hyundai Heavy said its shipbuilding orders jumped 48 percent on-year to $25.5 billion in 2011, helped by growths of its shipbuilding and offshore plants businesses.The recent rise in vessel orders an
Tycoons lay out goals, plans for 2012

IndustryJan 2, 2012

Business leaders pledge to turn crisis into opportunityChiefs of major conglomerates laid out their New Year’s goals and plans for their businesses on the first day of work this year.Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee said the country’s biggest conglomerate should think outside the box and place more emphasis on new projects, new products and new technologies in his New Year’s message on Monday.Lee said the group’s competitiveness not only comes from its people and technologies but also from soc
Long-awaited Facebook IPO looms in 2012

World BusinessJan 2, 2012

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has deflected talk of going public for years but it looks like it is finally going to happen in 2012.“The Facebook IPO will be the biggest financial event in the tech industry for 2012,” Forrester Research analyst Josh Bernoff said, and one of the biggest initial public offerings ever in the United States.Nick Einhorn, an analyst at Renaissance Capital, said he expects Facebook to file its IPO paperwork with the U.S. Securi
H.K. set to retain global IPO crown

World BusinessJan 2, 2012

HONG KONG (AFP) ― Hong Kong looks set to retain its crown as the world’s biggest IPO market for the third year in a row, piping New York, but analysts warn of a tough 2012 as market volatility continues.The southern Chinese city overtook New York in 2009 to become the top venue for new listings, as a slew of companies turned to the Asian financial hub in a bid to tap mainland China’s explosive growth and cash-rich investors.Despite a choppy year, exacerbated by the eurozone debt crisis that saw
India opens stock market to foreign investors

World BusinessJan 2, 2012

NEW DELHI (AFP) ― India announced on Sunday that it would open up its stock market to individual foreign investors for the first time, in a major economic reform designed to boost overseas investment.The Indian economy has grown strongly over the last 15 years and many foreign investors have been keen to enter the market in a fast-developing country of 1.2 billion people.However recent financial data has been disappointing, with the main Sensex index for the Mumbai market recording a 25 percent
EU aim to buy time to save currency

World BusinessJan 2, 2012

European leaders return to work from Christmas holidays seeking to buy time for the Spanish and Italian governments to wrest control over their debt and rescue the single currency from fragmentation as the region’s crisis enters a new year. Some 157 billion euros ($203 billion) in debt will mature in the 17-member euro area in the first three months of 2012, according to UBS AG. By the end of that period, leaders have pledged to draft a stricter rulebook for controlling government spending. Germ
Japan faces many challenges in 2012

World NewsJan 2, 2012

The world is in a nearly continuous state of crisis.In Europe, a sovereign debt crisis has ballooned into a financial crisis that is shaking the world economy. The United States is beset by huge budget deficits. These problems have slowed down the economies of China and India.Despite warnings from economists that the value of government bonds could nosedive unless state finances are put on a surer footing, politicians have been unable to persuade their constituents to shoulder additional burdens
Luxury cars gearing up China business

World NewsJan 2, 2012

Wang Yubing, a marketing manager at a Fortune 500 multinational company in Shanghai, recently began thinking about quitting his respectable and secure job to start a business.The 34-year-old, who has a master’s degree in business administration from the United States, wants to become an entrepreneur in his hometown, Shenmu, a coal-rich county in Yulin, a city in Northwest China’s Shaanxi province.“When I went back to my home to visit my relatives during the National Day holiday in October, all o
K-pop fever grips youth in Singapore

World NewsJan 2, 2012

Young Singaporeans wanting to be K-pop stars now have more avenues to test their luck and talent.Alpha Entertainment Group, a Singapore-based talent management company, plans to hold more auditions here.Recently, an Alpha Entertainment audition saw more than 800 participants turn up at Management Development Institute of Singapore for the chance to become a K-pop star.Alpha Entertainment Group has fully owned subsidiaries in places such as South Korea and Hong Kong, and the company held a joint
[Editorial] Sign of weakness

EditorialJan 2, 2012

North Korea’s new leadership began showing raw bellicosity toward the South Korean government immediately after the mourning period for Kim Jong-il. Key state organizations issued statements attacking President Lee Myung-bak and the ruling group in Seoul for deterring South Koreans from paying tribute to the dead North Korean leader. A joint editorial of major official newspapers on the New Year’s Day also condemned the “traitors” in the South for their “inhuman and anti-national acts.”This was
[Editorial] Seoul mayor’s proposal

EditorialJan 2, 2012

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has officially proposed that the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Chung Myung-whun visit Pyongyang for performances and the top soccer teams of Seoul and Pyongyang hold regular games in the two cities. The liberal mayor, who was elected to the office in a by-election on Oct. 26, made the proposal to the Unification Ministry here and the North Korean authorities in his New Year address. His idea may sound a bit untimely considering the present state of affairs be
Israeli, Palestinian negotiators to meet

World NewsJan 2, 2012

JERUSALEM (AP) ― Israel and the Palestinians said Sunday that their chief peace negotiators would attend a gathering of international diplomats in neighboring Jordan this week, bringing the sides together for the first time in more than a year.Officials stressed that the meeting would not be a formal negotiating session. Nonetheless, it could mark an important step toward restarting peace talks, which broke down in September 2010.“The upcoming meeting is part of serious and continuous efforts to