YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea back issues from September 2005:
(LEAD) Human rights committee urges Seoul to change method of NK aid.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Lee Dong-minWASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea must change the way it gives aid to North Korea to maximize effectiveness of international relief efforts, a human rights group said Thursday. Claiming that the communist state's chronic food shortage has as much to ...
S. Korea's foreign reserves rise to record high on weaker dollar.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign reserves rose to a record high in August as a weaker US dollar boosted the dollar conversion value of non-dollar assets, the nation's central bank said Friday. According to the Bank of Korea, the nation's foreign reserves came ...
Securities firms' Q1 earnings surge 76 pct.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Securities companies in South Korea saw their earnings increase sharply in the April-June period mainly thanks to their cost-cutting efforts, the nation's financial watchdog said Friday.The combined net profit of 55 securities firms amounted to 431 billion ...
(2nd LD) Former envoy to Russia named new US ambassador to Seoul.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Lee Dong-minWASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Former US envoy to Russia Alexander Vershbow will be nominated as new ambassador to South Korea, the White House announced Thursday.The ambassador-designate is a career diplomat and security expert.His nomination needs Senate ...
(LEAD) Seoul offers aid to Katrina-afflicted area, US to accept.
Sep 01, 2005 ... WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Seoul offered assistance to the United States for people and areas afflicted by Hurricane Katrina and negotiations are under way on the particulars, the South Korean Embassy said Thursday. "Upon instructions from Seoul, we have told the US ...
Seoul offers aid to Katrina-afflicted area, US to accept.
Sep 01, 2005 ... WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The United States has received offers of various assistance from foreign governments to help hurricane-afflicted areas, including from South Korea, the State Department said Thursday. Without going into specifics of what was offered, department ...
President Roh stresses role of education in social unity.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun stressed the importance of education on Thursday, saying it should serve as a cure for social inequality as well as a booster for social unity. "Education is a key factor in deciding the future competitiveness of the country, as well as a ...
(LEAD) S. Korea's state oil company finds new oil well off Vietnam.
Sep 01, 2005 ... HANOI, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A consortium led by Korea National Oil Corp., South Korea's state-run oil company, has found a new oil field in southern waters off Vietnam, the Korean company said Thursday. The group, which began drilling on July 26, extracted an average 9,197 barrels of crude ...
Japan's NEC sells off remaining stake in Samsung SDI.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Japan's struggling electronics maker NEC Corp. has sold off its remaining stake in Samsung SDI Co., the world's largest producer of plasma display panels (PDP), ending its 35-year-old partnership with the South Korean firm, an industry source said Thursday. ...
S. Korea's state oil company discovers oil off Vietnam.
Sep 01, 2005 ... HANOI, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A consortium involving Korea National Oil Corp., South Korea's state-run oil company, has struck oil in waters south of Vietnam, the company said Thursday.The group, which began drilling on July 26, extracted an average 9,197 barrels of crude a day from the ...
LG Electronics wins 3G handset order from Hutchison: source.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc., the world's fourth-largest mobile phone maker, has won an order to supply Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. of Hong Kong with 1.1 million mobile phones, an industry source said Thursday.The contract, signed last month, calls for LG Electronics to ...
Roh sends Iraqi premier condolences over tragic deaths of pilgrims.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun Thursday cabled Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari to express his condolences for the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims killed in a stampede the previous day, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Man-soo said."President Roh also wished Iraq ...
S. Korea has top-class e-commerce environment.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea boasts one of the best e-commerce environments among member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a local trade body said Thursday. South Korea, along with Hong Kong and Singapore, was selected as having a superior ...
Court rejects Indonesian appeal against antidumping duties.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A local court on Thursday turned down a request by three Indonesian paper companies for the repeal of anti-dumping duties South Korea levied on their products in 2003.The Seoul Administrative Court ruled that both the recommendation made by the Korean Trade ...
Hanjin Shipping to build terminal in Belgium.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Hanjin Shipping Co., South Korea's largest container shipping firm, plans to acquire a terminal for its exclusive use at Antwerp in Belgium, the company said Thursday.The company signed an agreement Wednesday on the deal with three foreign partners -- Port of ...
Voting right cap on conglomerates' financial firms legal: FTC.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it is not unconstitutional to limit the voting rights of shares owned by financial affiliates of family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebol,The statement by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) came in ...
Court rejects arrest warrants for border-violating captains.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SOKCHO, South Korea, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A local court on Thursday turned down a police request to issue arrest warrants against the captains of three fishing boats that crossed into North Korean waters, saying they had taken little from the illegal fishing.The police in this ...
Koreas change venue for high-level talks to Pyongyang.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea asked South Korea to change the venue for upcoming Cabinet-level talks from Mount Paektu to Pyongyang, citing poor preparations due to bad weather, South Korea's Unification Ministry said Thursday.In a telephone message on Tuesday, North Korea ...
S. Korea heralds breakthrough in optical chip technology.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean research team on Thursday unveiled an optical chip that can raise the integration level of the current generation of chips by more than 1,000 times.The team, led by Kwon O-dae, a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology ...
SK Telecom leads growth in South Korea's mobile market in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The total number of mobile phone users in South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, rose by 104,234 at the end of August, according to figures released Thursday by the nation's three mobile network operators.Market leader SK Telecom Co. gained a net 42,958 ...
(LEAD) Four S. Korean POWs return home after 50 years in NK captivity.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Kim Hyung-jinSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Four former South Korean soldiers returned home last month, about half a century after being taken prisoner by North Koreans during the Korean War, a civic group said Thursday.The former POWs, including former Army second lieutenant, named ...
Seoul reshuffles 10 ambassadorial posts.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced a reshuffle on Thursday of 10 ambassadorial posts.Former ambassador to the Philippines Son Sang-ha has been appointed ambassador to Malaysia, while former ambassador to Iraq Im Hong-jae is now Seoul's top envoy to ...
(LEAD) S. Korean employment forecast to grow 3.3 pct in H2.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Employment by major South Korean listed companies is expected to grow 3.3 percent in the latter half of the year despite a prolonged economic slump and high oil prices, a poll showed Thursday.According to the survey of 589 listed companies by an online job ...
Fitch upgrades KEPCO's rating to "A" from "A-".
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings said Thursday it has upgraded its rating for Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to "A" from "A-," citing consistent improvements in its credit quality over the past three years.The ratings agency also said it has raised the ...
(2nd LD) Roh, opposition leader to meet over coalition proposal.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Hwang Doo-hyong and Byun Duk-kunSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday proposed a meeting with opposition leader Park Geun-hye to discuss his offer for a coalition government and received a positive response from Park, Roh's aides said. Roh's message to Park, ...
(LEAD) Seoul shares end higher on bank, chemical gains.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Thursday, led by program and foreign buying, as strong investor sentiment boosted bank and chemical issues. The US dollar slipped against the Korean won.The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) zoomed up 23.04 ...
S. Korean Bond Yields on Thursday September 1, 2005.
Sep 01, 2005 ... Today (%) Previous Day (%) Change (%P) 1-year TB 3.92 3.92 0.00 3-year TB 4.16 4.16 0.00 10-year TB 4.84 4.83 ...
Contaminated Chinese fish imports spur health scare among Koreans.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Kim Hyung-jinSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The startling news of cancer-causing chemicals being detected in massive imports of Chinese freshwater fish has triggered a health scare here, prompting South Korean consumers to stay away from overall Chinese food imports, officials and ...
S. Korea asks for China's help in halting harmful fish exports.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has urged China to help halt exports of freshwater fisheries products contaminated with a cancer-causing substance, Maritime Minister Oh Keo-don said Thursday. "We have notified China that malachite green was not only found in freshwater fish, but ...
Seoul shares end higher on bank, chemical gains.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Thursday, led by program and foreign buying, as strong investor sentiment boosted bank and chemical issues. The US dollar slipped against the Korean won.The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) zoomed up 23.04 ...
(2nd LD) Carmaker sales up 17 pct on brisk exports in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Sales by South Korea's five major auto companies rose 16.8 percent from a year earlier in August, helped by brisk exports, the companies said Thursday.Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp. and three other carmakers saw their combined sales rise to 386,664 units ...
Kumho Tire plans third production plant in China.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kumho Tire Co., a major South Korean tiremaker, plans to set up its third production plant in China in a bid to expand its business in the world's fastest-growing economy, the company said Thursday.In affiliation with China's largest automaker, China FAW ...
S&P teams up with local appraiser to offer data on overseas funds.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Standard & Poor's, a global rating agency, said Thursday that it has teamed up with Korea Fund Ratings Co. to provide local investors with accurate research and rankings on more than 8,300 offshore funds.South Korea-based funds have investments overseas worth ...
Daewoo Shipbuilding seeks to buy local builder.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's second-largest shipbuilder, said Thursday it is seeking to acquire a local construction company to help construct its overseas shipbuilding facility.The shipbuilder is now conducting due diligence on ...
(LEAD) Roh, opposition leader to meet over coalition proposal.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Hwang Doo-hyong and Byun Duk-kunSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday proposed a meeting with opposition leader Park Geun-hye over his offer for a coalition government and received a positive response from Park, Roh's aides said. Roh's message to Park, ...
Defense minister leaves for Turkey.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Kim Hyung-jinSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense chief left for Turkey Thursday for talks on bilateral military cooperation and exchange programs.During his five-day trip, Yoon Kwang-ung is scheduled to meet top Turkish military officials, including Defense Minister ...
S. Korean companies more optimistic in September: survey.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies are more optimistic about their businesses in September than last month due to seasonal factors, a survey showed Thursday.The business survey index (BSI), compiled by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), posted 111.4 in September, ...
S. Korean manufacturers' business sentiment up in Q4.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment for the fourth quarter improved from a quarter earlier amid hope for a revival in private spending and resilient exports, a survey by a state-run bank said Thursday.According to the Korea Development Bank, the ...
Carmakers sales up 17 pct on brisk exports in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Sales by South Korean five major carmakers rose 16.8 percent from a year earlier in August, helped by brisk exports, the companies said Thursday.Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp. and three other ...
Woongjin eyes acquisition of domestic builders.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Woongjin Group is seeking to take over large domestic builders, the group said Thursday. "Though we have not specified any builder for acquisition yet, we are reviewing that," a Woongjin spokeswoman said.Woongjin is carrying out preparatory due ...
Seoul shares climb on oil fall, strong economic data.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose sharply Thursday afternoon as good economic data and an oil price fall helped boost chemical and finance shares.The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shot up 22.12 points, or 2.04 percent, to 1,105.45 as of 1:20 p.m. ...
S. Korea, Japan clash for 1st time at WTO over laver quota.
Sep 01, 2005 ... GENEVA, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Japan clashed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the first time this week over the two countries' trade dispute on edible seaweed, diplomatic sources said Thursday.During the closed hearing of a dispute settlement panel at the world's ...
Seoul to attend Tumen River development meeting in China.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will attend a meeting in China over the weekend on a U. N.-backed international economic cooperation program, the country's Finance Ministry said Thursday. Four other countries -- North Korea, China, Russia and Mongolia -- will also join the eighth ...
(LEAD) S. Korea's exports reach US$23.5 bln in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports reached $23.52 billion in August on the strength of greater overseas demand for information technology products and machinery, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said Thursday.Customs-cleared exports jumped 18.8 percent ...
S. Korean employment forecast to grow 3.3 pct in H2.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Employment by major South Korean listed companies is expected to grow 3.3 percent in the latter half of the year despite a prolonged economic slump and high oil prices, a poll showed Thursday.According to the survey of 589 listed companies by an online job ...
Five nations in six-way talks want N. K. to scrap nuclear arms: Ban.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Kim Kwang-taeSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The five countries involved in the nuclear talks with North Korea hope to see the communist country dismantle all nuclear weapons and programs in return for economic and security benefits, South Korea's foreign minister said Thursday. "This ...
Seoul shares soar on oil price fall.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks leaped Thursday morning as investor sentiment was lifted by an overnight fall in oil prices. The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 17.63 points, or 1.62 percent, at 1,100.96 as of 11:20 a.m.The 100-share, ...
Regular parliamentary session opens with bills, controversies.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean National Assembly was to open its regular session Thursday afternoon to deal with a number of pending issues, such as the government's budget for next year and the ratification of the country's rice import deals with nine exporting countries....
Presidential office denies Roh ordered constitutional revision.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sep. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun never ordered his aides to prepare a report on a possible constitutional revision for the introduction of a parliamentary government to replace the current presidential government, spokesman Kim Man-soo of the presidential office Cheong Wa ...
Iranian president willing to visit South Korea: Tehran official.
Sep 01, 2005 ... TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is willing to visit South Korea to expand exchanges in both economic and political areas, the spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. "Politically we have many similarities," Hamid Reza Asefi said, ...
(Movie Review) 'April Snow' lacks breath of fresh air on affairs.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Shim Sun-ahSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- There is an old Korean saying that there is nothing to eat at a party which is too noisy. The proverb means if the exterior of something is too impressive, it could be rather empty inside. Moviegoers would be wise to keep this in mind in the ...
Roh's chief of staff seeks partisan support for coalition.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Hwang Doo-hyongSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Lee Byung-wan visited Chairman Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Uri Party Thursday to seek parliamentary support for his duties as the chief presidential aide.Lee was appointed last Thursday to replace Kim Woo-sik ...
Government receives bids for nuclear waste repository.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government has received bids from four local administrations to build a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, Commerce and Industry Minister Lee Hee-beom said Thursday.The minister said detailed studies were under way ...
Korea Interbank Offered Rate (KORIBOR).
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR) as posted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news and information arm of Yonhap News Agency, at 11:00 a.m. Thursday September 1, 2005. Term Today (%) Previous Day (%) ...
Roh cables Bush to wish early recovery from hurricane damage.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun sent a telegram to US President George W. Bush to express his condolences for victims of hurricane Katrina in the southeastern part of the United States, Roh's spokesman Kim Man-soo said Thursday.Roh sent the telegram to ...
Koreas to discuss unified team for 2006 Asiad.
Sep 01, 2005 ... By Yang Te-samSEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Sports officials from the two Koreas will meet in China next week to discuss the formation of a unified team for the 2006 Asian Games, said officials at the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) on Thursday."Heads of the two Koreas' Olympic ...
Kookmin Bank to go all-out in expanding business, bank chief says.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The head of Kookmin Bank, South Korea's largest bank, said Thursday that it will go all-out in expanding its market share this year.In a monthly address to employees, Kang Chung-won said the bank "saw its businesses stagnate in the first half." "Helped ...
Korea First Bank to have new name in mid-September.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Korea First Bank, now controlled by Standard Chartered Bank in London, is to operate under a new name from mid-September, the bank said Thursday.According to the Seoul-based lender, the bank will be renamed Standard Chartered First Bank Korea Ltd. on Sept ....
Seoul shares start higher on rise in energy stocks.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday as SK Corp. and other energy companies got off to a strong start on recent runaway oil prices.The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 9.35 points, or 0.86 percent, to 1,092.68 in the first 15 ...
S. Korea to offer US info on its functional cosmetics system.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide the United States with information on the overall treatment process of functional cosmetics, the country's food watchdog said Thursday.The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has recently agreed with the US Food and Drug ...
Gov't willing to increase housing supply: finance minister.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top economic policymaker said Thursday that the government is willing to increase housing supply, if necessary, in order to stem excessive gains in property prices. "We are to supply more homes if necessary," Finance and Economy ...
SK Corp. to hold investor relations meetings in Japan, Hong Kong.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- SK Corp., South Korea's top refiner, said Thursday it will conduct overseas investor relations (IR) sessions in Japan and Hong Kong next week.The road show, to be held in Tokyo on Tuesday and Hong Kong on Wednesday and Friday, respectively, is to center on ...
(2nd LD) S. Korea's inflation rate slows in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean consumer prices logged slow growth in August as a fall in housing prices partially offset a rise in oil and food costs, a government report showed Thursday.The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3 percent to 118.2 last month from 117.8 in July, ...
(LEAD) S. Korea's inflation rate slows in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean consumer prices logged a slow growth in August as a fall in housing prices partially offset a rise in oil and food costs, a government report showed Thursday.The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3 percent to 118.2 last month from 117.8 in July, ...
S. Korea's inflation remains under control in August.
Sep 01, 2005 ... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) - South Korean consumer prices increased for a second consecutive month in August mainly due to a rise in oil costs and prices of agricultural products, but inflation in Asia's fourth-largest economy remained under control, a government report showed Thursday. ...