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EU fines Google a record 2.4 billion euros in antitrust case

World NewsJun 27, 2017

The European Union slapped a record 2.42 billion-euro ($2.72 billion) fine on internet giant Google on Tuesday for taking advantage of its dominance in online searches to direct customers to its own online shopping business.European regulators gave the company based in Mountain View, California, 90 days to stop or face more fines of up to 5 percent of the average daily worldwide revenue of parent company Alphabet. Google says it is considering an appeal.The European Commission, which polices EU
US partially reinstating travel ban 'regrettable': Iran FM

World NewsJun 27, 2017

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned on Tuesday the US Supreme Court's decision to partially reinstate President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban targeting citizens from six predominantly Muslim countries."It's regrettable that the citizens of the countries on the list have never participated in any act of terrorism against the US and yet they are being punished for acts of terrorism by citizens of other countries which are not on the list," said Zarif.The travel b
Lee Dae-hoon wins gold at taekwondo worlds

More sportsJun 27, 2017

MUJU -- South Korean Lee Dae-hoon captured gold at the ongoing taekwondo world championships at home on Tuesday.Lee easily defeated Huang Yu-Jen of Chinese Taipei 26-8 to claim the men's under-68kg title at the World Taekwondo Federation World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul.Lee now has three gold medals at the world championships. He previously won world titles in 2011 and 2013 in the under-63kg category. Lee Dae-hoon of South Korea
Korean in US minor leagues to opt out of contract without call-up

BaseballJun 27, 2017

South Korean minor leaguer Hwang Jae-gyun said Tuesday he will opt out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants if he doesn't make the big league club by the weekend.Hwang said in an interview carried on a South Korean portal site that he'll exercise his contractual right to opt out of his deal if he isn't called up by the Giants by July 1. He will then become a free agent, in which case he can either try to land with another major league club or return to the Korea Baseball Organization, w
[Graphic News] Korean women’s lives in numbers

Social affairsJun 27, 2017

In South Korea, 49.9 percent of the population of 51.4 million is female, standing at 25.6 million as of 2017. Among those aged 60 or over, women outnumber men. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released annual statistics Tuesday that give a glimpse into Korean women’s changing lives and perceptions, as well as the existing gender-based disparity in terms of income and social status. 　According to data mainly based on figures from 2016, women on average live longer than men. They are mo
Korea to issue housekeeping vouchers for working parents

Social affairsJun 26, 2017

The government said Monday that it will issue vouchers for housekeeping services to working parents starting in 2019, as part of efforts to ease the burden of child-rearing and housework. The Ministry of Employment and Labor on Monday released a public notice for the new legislation, which envisions the voucher system along with measures to better protect housekeepers and improve housekeeping services. (Yonhap)The ministry said it plans to encourage companies to adopt the voucher system for the
[From the scene] Trump, fury, misunderstanding drive THAAD protest

Social affairsJun 25, 2017

On Saturday afternoon, thousands of South Koreans took to the streets to protest against the deployment of a US anti-missile system here, struggling to penetrate thick lines of police and besiege the US Embassy in downtown Seoul. An estimated 3,000 people chanted in unison “Retract the deployment of THAAD” and “THAAD out. Peace in.” Some were carrying placards reading “Koreans Hate THAAD” or “No THAAD, No Trump.” They were accusing Washington of “forcing” Seoul to station a Terminal High Altitud
[Eye] An Ethiopian journalist's journey to find life in South Korea

Social affairsJun 23, 2017

In 2010, Surafel Assefa Hailesilassie, a young TV producer in Ethiopia, witnessed election observers rigging ballots in favor of the ruling party during a parliamentary vote in the nation’s capital Addis Ababa. “The cameraman who was with me filmed the scenes and I interviewed six people exposing the election fraud,” Hailesilassie, now living in South Korea as a refugee, told The Korea Herald. Just two years into his career, Hailesilassie was a fierce journalist, believing in his role as “the e
Global petition launched against alleged gay soldier crackdown

Social affairsJun 22, 2017

A global gay rights organization has launched an online petition campaign to call for an end to an alleged crackdown on gay soldiers in South Korea. “Authorities can scrap the ‘anti-gay hunt’ provision from South Korea’s military criminal code. But they won’t do it unless they see a massive global outcry,” the group, All Out, said on its campaign page. “Sign the petition and help stop the anti-gay hunt in South Korea.”Having opened Tuesday, the petition had collected over 23,000 signatures by Th
[Newsmaker] Bar exam fades into history

Social affairsJun 21, 2017

Hundreds of people, many with their eyes fixed on books, hurriedly walked past the main gate of Yeonsei University in Seoul on Wednesday morning to take the “exam of destiny” -- the nation’s very last state bar exam.If their efforts pay off, spanning several years, they will advance to the final round of the three-stage exam -- an interview -- to become a legal professional in the country. Only 50 people will pass this round. Following the exam, which will continue until Saturday, there will be
Court rejects arrest warrant for Chung Yoo-ra

Social affairsJun 20, 2017

A South Korean court again on Tuesday rejected an arrest warrant for the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of the corruption scandal that led to former President Park Geun-hye’s downfall. "It is hard to acknowledge the reason, necessity and appropriateness for her arrest at the current stage (of the investigation),” the Seoul Central District Court said, citing a lack of evidence.Chung Yoo-ra (Yonhap)It was a second attempt by the prosecution to arrest her. The same court rejected
1 in 9 female migrant workers subject to sexual abuse: report

Social affairsJun 20, 2017

One in 9 female migrant workers in the manufacturing sector in South Korea experience sexual abuse, a report showed Tuesday. According to a survey by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on 385 female migrants, 11.7 percent of the women said they had been sexually harassed or assaulted by their coworkers or managers while working in Korea. In the poll, which allowed multiple responses, they said they had been exposed to vulgar jokes, forced to pour drinks for coworkers at office meals,
Migrant victim of domestic violence eligible for citizenship: court

Social affairsJun 19, 2017

A migrant woman whose marriage ended in divorce due to spousal abuse is still eligible for Korean nationality, a court said Monday. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of a Chinese woman who asked the court to cancel the Justice Ministry’s decision not to allow her to become a naturalized Korean citizen. The ruling came after the Justice Ministry disapproved the 47-year-old woman’s application for Korean citizenship last October, citing that she was responsible for the divorce.(123RF)A
[Weekender] Korea turns corner on going meat-free

Social affairsJun 16, 2017

In South Korea, revealing that you are a vegetarian would often be met with blank looks, as the country is not exactly veggie-friendly -- at least until recently. 　There are signs that Koreans are beginning to take vegetarianism more seriously, as they are increasingly exposed to reports of the destructive impact that meat consumption can have on their health, on animals and on the planet. 　“When I was young, I wondered why human beings destroy the environment when trees, mountains and other ani
Justice minister nominee refuses to withdraw despite allegations

Social affairsJun 16, 2017

The nominee for South Korea’s justice minister on Friday apologized for a string of allegations but said he would not withdraw his nomination. “If given a chance, I will achieve the public’s aspirations -- overhaul of the prosecution and freeing the Justice Ministry from the prosecution,” Ahn Kyong-whan said, making clear his intension to go through a parliamentary confirmation hearing. Ahn Kyong-whan (Yonhap)Speaking at a press briefing, which he had asked for, Ahn sought to explain and defend