But doctors refuse to join campaign, criticize resolution as ‘shaming’Thirteen health industry interest groups on Wednesday vowed to stem the long-standing illegal rebate practice in drug trade and set the market order straight. However, the largest association of doctors, a key component of the health industry, refused to join their campaign, inviting public criticism and suspicion over the feasibility of the project. At the Press Center in downtown Seoul the groups announced their resolution t

DUP pushes for welfare projects; GNP wants to boost military funds amid N. Korea crisisThe National Assembly has resumed its long-stalled deliberation on next year’s budget but rival parties remained at odds over the detailed allocation.The new main opposition Democratic Unified Party set out to cut back on the defense budget, especially on the Jeju Gangjeong naval base which involved several government-resident conflicts earlier this year. It claimed that the corresponding amount should be conv

Some say they knew ‘special’ broadcast meant announcement of Kim Jong-il’s deathTo some North Koreans who fled their country to be treated as human beings are elsewhere, the news of their former leader Kim Jong-il’s death came as little surprise.Park Su-hyun, defector and an oriental medicine doctor, said that the moment he heard there was going to be a special broadcast from the North Korean state media he knew that something was off.“When I heard that they were going to hold a special broadca

Beijing’s influence on N.K. seen to grow with Washington playing a stronger check: analystsThe death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is expected to cause traditional alliances to grow stronger, but for now it is uncertain how Pyongyang’s next leadership will unfold, analysts said.In general, experts said that China’s influence on North Korea will be greater in the post-Kim Jong-il era, while the U.S., South Korea and Japan will close ranks to counter the impact from Beijing.Sarah McDowall, se

Global Fund photos show how treatment can beat worldwide epidemicA photographic exhibition in Seoul aims to demonstrate the value of HIV/AIDS treatment, and encourage more funding from the Korean government to fight the virus globally. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria has teamed up with Magnum Photos to focus on people living with HIV/AIDS around the world and to show how treatment programs can help them. Eight photographers followed HIV patients receiving treatment through Global

Expat volunteers from across the globe have shared the spirit of Christmas with Korean children by dressing up as Santa and handing out gifts.Mannam Volunteer Association brought together volunteers from 13 different countries to spend quality time at Gyeong Dong Won orphanage in Suwon on Saturday. People from South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Canada, Pakistan, England, Indonesia, the U.S. and the Czech Republic joined Korean Mannam members to enjoy the Christmas party

The Taiwanese anchor woman who created controversy by parodying North Korean announcer Ri Chun-hee has been replaced, announced the China Television System on Wednesday. Liang Fang-yu, host of CTS’ evening news program, delivered election information on Monday imitating Ri’s hair style, fashion and voice as was seen on the N.K. broadcaster on Monday when Ri announced the death of Kim Jong-il. Introduced as “Liang Chun-hee,” Liang appeared wearing a hanbok, or Korean traditional costume, and mimi