This is the third in a series of interviews with first-term lawmakers. ― Ed.Rep. Lee Yong-sub of the newly formed main opposition Democratic Unified Party is a novice member of the current 18th National Assembly.The 60-year-old lawmaker from Gwangju, however, is more recognized for his decades-long career in a variety of government posts, including as public administration minister, land minister and national tax service director.“An administrator’s virtue is cool-headedness and discipline but a

Pyongyang says inter-Korean ties depend on Seoul’s attitude toward condolencesThe planned visit of South Korea’s former first lady Lee Hee-ho to North Korea to offer private condolences to the late leader Kim Jong-il is drawing attention to whether her delegation will be received by Kim’s heir apparent Jong-un. Her husband Kim Dae-jung, the late former president of South Korea, had the first inter-Korean summit with the late North Korean leader in 2000. When Kim Dae-jung died in 2009, a high-lev

Sales of robotic vacuum cleaners in Korea have more than tripled in three years, perking up the sluggish local market for home appliances, industry data showed Sunday.The market expanded at an average rate of 56 percent over the last three years, from a scant 36,000 units in 2008 to 130,000 this year, the data showed. That is expected to further grow to 170,000 units next year. The upbeat growth was driven by surging demand for easier, quicker and more fun solutions to household chores among Kor

Foreign luxury brands continue to increase prices despite economic slowdownLee, a 29-year-old office worker, breathed a sigh of relief recently after she passed through the arrival gate at the Incheon International Airport without any tussle with customs officials.Coming back from a business trip to Paris, she was carrying a 1,660 euro ($2,160) Chanel bag within her luggage. But she didn’t report to customs the luxury item in excess of the $400 duty free allowance. “Because it’s a random check-u