South Korea
Lee orders all-out recovery efforts for southwest hit by record rainfall
Yonhap, 11 August 2011
President Lee Myung-bak ordered the government Thursday to make all-out efforts to help South Korea's southwestern regions recover from devastating rainfall, his spokesman said.
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Gov't pushes to phase out online real-name policy
Yonhap, 11 August 2011
In the wake of the country's worst online security breach that compromised the personal information of over two-thirds of the population, the home affairs ministry said Thursday it will push to repeal in phases the online real-name verification rules. (Oh Seok-min)
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S. Korea must take the lead on sustainable development: U.N. chief
Yonhap, 11 August 2011
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on his native South Korea to take the lead in promoting sustainable development and finding solutions to global hunger, climate change and other pending challenges.
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Youth jobless rate improves in July
Joongang Daily, 11 August 2011
Korea’s labor market improved for young people in July, though their jobless rate remains relatively high, according to Statistics Korea yesterday.
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DP urges gov’t to accept blame for savings crisis
Joongang Daily, 11 August 2011
The National Assembly continued its tug of war with the government yesterday over lawmakers’ move to raise the ceiling on compensation payouts to depositors and investors of failed savings banks. (Ser Myo-ja)
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Lee calls on nation to resist populist policies
Yonhap, 11 August 2011
President Lee Myung-bak said Wednesday South Korea should guard against populist policies and maintain its fiscal health unless it wants to face Greece's fate, hit by a debt crisis caused by excessive welfare programs.
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Gov't, ruling party push to expand low-income subsidies
Yonhap News Agency, 03 August 2011
he government and the Grand National Party will push to expand the state subsidy program for low-income families by easing qualifications for various financial benefits from the government, officials said Wednesday. (Kim Eun-jung)
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Lee calls for thorough probe into savings bank scandal
Yonhap News Agency, 03 August 2011
President Lee Myung-bak called on law enforcement agencies and political parties to restore public trust by thoroughly getting to the bottom of an influence-peddling scandal involving a corruption-laden savings bank, his aides said Wednesday. (Kim Eun-jung)
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Financial reform task force comes up empty
Korea Joongang Daily, 03 August 2011
Few, if any, measures diluting the powers of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) were included in yesterday’s status report by the Prime Minister’s Office on plans to reform financial oversight, as the appointed task force tiptoed around contentious issues despite having three months to come up with answers. (Lee Jung-yoon)
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Government at growth-inflation crossroads
Korea Joongang Daily, 03 August 2011
The steep appreciation of the local currency against the greenback and rising consumer prices has left the Korean government at a crossroad having to choose between fostering economic growth or taming inflation.(Lee Eun-joo)
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Minimum wage set at W4,580 for next year
Chosun Ilbo, 02 August 2011
The minimum hourly wage has been set at W4,580 for next year, the Labor Ministry said in an official notice on Monday. The issue was reviewed by the Minimum Wage Council on July 13 and presented to various labor-management committees for approval.
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Lee calls for formation of natural disaster task force
Yonhap News Agency, 02 August 2011
President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday asked his government to organize a task force with civilian experts to revise the country's overall disaster prevention system to cope with unusual weather conditions. (Shim Sun-ah)
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Minimum wage at Kaesong complex rises 5%
Chosun Ilbo, 02 August 2011
The minimum wage for North Korean workers employed by South Korean companies at theKaesong Industrial Complex rose again by 5 percent this year.
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S. Korea mulls 'alternative gas stations' to curb fuel prices
Yonhap News Agency, 26 July 2011
South Korea is considering a plan to allow the setup of "alternative gas stations" that would sell fuel products at cheaper prices, in an effort to help curb rising energy costs, the government said Tuesday.
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Lawmakers head out in bank scandal probe
Korea Joongang Daily, 26 July 2011
A special committee of the National Assembly yesterday began an investigation into a series of corruption scandals at the nation’s savings banks with a site inspection and a meeting with customers to listen to their demands
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Five vice ministerial posts named by President Lee
Korea Joongang Daily, 22 July 2011
President Lee Myung-bak named technocrats as the new vice ministers for agriculture and environment yesterday in a minor reshuffle that also affected three other vice ministerial posts
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Govt seeks to stimulate spending by increasing holidays
Chosun Ilbo, 21 July 2011
In a bid to bolster consumer spending, the government is considering substituting holidays that fall on a weekend during the workweek, as well as ensuring that public holidays do not fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
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Govt to heighten customs clearance for overseas travelers
Chosun Ilbo, 18 July 2011
The Korea Customs Service is reinforcing inspections of overseas travelers' luggage during the vacation season, which runs until Aug. 31.
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Foreign workers can get employment certificates online
Chosun Ilbo, 14 July 2011
Foreign workers who are employed in Korea through the Employment Permit System can get work certificates on the Internet starting this Friday.
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Korea to cut 30% of greenhouse gas emission by 2020
Chosun Ilbo, 13 July 2011
The government finalized the target for greenhouse gas emissions at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.
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