YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from February 2005

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from February 2005

U.S. Military Expresses Concerns over Fraudulent Use of ID Cards.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. military expressed concerns over reports that South Korean cell phone dealers fraudulently used the identification cards of more than 10,000 service members, a U.S. military newspaper reported Wednesday. ...

N. Korean Tickets for Football Match against Japan Sold out.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Tickets allocated for North Koreans keen to attend Asian World Cup Qualifying football matches against Japan have been sold out thanks to the support of ethnic Koreans in Japan, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper reported on...

Activist Reveals Photo of Kidnapped S. Korean Sailors in N. Korea.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A human rights activist on Wednesday made public a photograph confirming the kidnapping of 36 South Korean sailors by North Korea decades ago. The black and white photo shows the sailors posing against the...

U.S. National Security Official Due in Seoul.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. national security official was to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for consultations on how to resume stalled six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear drive. Michael Green, senior director for Asia...

S. Korea Trying to Ensure Safety of Its Nationals in Nepal.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it was trying to ensure the safety of its nationals in Nepal after a state of emergency was declared in the Himalayan country. "Our government is taking necessary measures through our...

Korean Director to Receive Berlin's Highest Award.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Berlin Film Festival will award South Korean director Im Kwon-taek an Honorary Golden Bear during the Feb. 10-20 event for his outstanding contribution to cinematography, the Korea Film Council said Tuesday. ...

(LEAD) Gov't Receives Reports from Victims of Japan's Colonization.
February 1, 2005... (ATTN: REWRITES throughout) SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- More than 2,500 cases were filed across South Korea on Tuesday as the government began receiving petitions from those forcibly drafted to serve the Japanese military or companies...

Unification Minister Pays Call on Zaytun Unit in Iraq.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top security official made a surprise visit Tuesday to South Korean troops in northern Iraq, officials at the Unification Ministry said. Under tight security, Minister Chung Dong-young detoured via...

North Korea Issues Kim Il-sung Stamp.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday that it issued stamps featuring its founder Kim Il-sung depicted as the leader of the country's farmers. The stamps, issued by the North's postal authorities, show the statue of Kim with...

China Suggests Possibility of Working-level Six-Party Talks.
February 1, 2005... BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- China suggested Tuesday it may push for a working-level session of six-party talks aimed at resolving the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan proposed the idea,...

U.S. Aims to Draw Korean Tourists by Smoothing Visa Procedures.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) - By Lee Chi-dong - Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the United States has faced two daunting tasks - bolstering its border security and soothing disgruntled visa applicants around the world. This had made...

(LEAD) N. Korea to Hold Arirang Festival This Year.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea plans to hold a mass gymnastic and artistic performance this year to mark two major national anniversaries, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper in Japan said Tuesday. This year has special meaning for the...

Missing Korean Man Found Dead in Thai Resort.
February 1, 2005... BANGKOK/SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean man listed as missing in the tsunami-hit southern Thai resort of Kaorak has been confirmed dead, bringing the Korean death toll to 13, diplomats said Tuesday. The South Korean Embassy in...

(LEAD) Special Agents to Get State Compensation.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean agents who were dispatched to North Korea or took training to conduct such a special mission are allowed to apply for state financial compensation, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday. According...

(2nd LD) Ban: Six-way Talks Expected after Bush's Address.
February 1, 2005... (ATTN: CHANGES headline; LEADS with South Korean foreign minister's remarks; TIGHTENS) By Kim Hyung-jin SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is expected to rejoin six-way talks on ending its nuclear weapons program after U.S. President...

S. Korean Entrepreneur Receives N. Korean Driver's License.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean head of an automobile manufacturing plant in North Korea has acquired a North Korean driver's license, the company said Tuesday. Park Sang-kwon, president of the Seoul-based Pyeonghwa Motor, told...

(LEAD) U.S. Envoy Heads to Washington to Meet Secretary of State.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Christopher Hill, the top U.S. envoy to South Korea, left for Washington on Tuesday afternoon to discuss a range of issues related to the Korean Peninsula with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the...

South Korean TV Actor Rewarded for Tsunami Relief Efforts.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean TV actor was invited to a special event by the Thai government in recognition of his efforts to assist victims of the tsunami in southern Thailand, his aides said Tuesday. Jeong Dong-nam, 55, was...

Gov't Works Out Measures to Spread 'Korean Wave'.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The government on Tuesday released a package of measures to provide further momentum for the "Korean Wave," or the South Korean pop culture boom in neighboring Asian nations. The package included a plan to boost...

Civic Leaders of Two Koreas Meet on 2000 Summit.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Civic leaders of South and North Korea will meet this week to discuss reconciliation projects based on a joint declaration issued after the 2000 inter-Korean summit, Seoul officials said Tuesday. The sides will...

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by the Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday February 1, 2005.
February 1, 2005... ----------------------------- (LEAD) Roh to Fly to Moscow for World War II Anniversary By Hwang Doo-hyong SEOUL -- President Roh Moo-hyun will visit Moscow in May to attend a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War...

N. Korean Footballers to Wear Uniforms Made in S. Korea.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korean footballers may wear uniforms donated by a South Korean organization in the opening game of the Asia World Cup Qualifiers on Feb. 9 against Japan, a South Korean football official said. "We donated...

Roh Hosts Lunch in Honor of First Lady's Birthday.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday is to attend a luncheon with first lady Kwon Yang-sook, Cheong Wa Dae chief of staff Kim Woo-sik and other senior aides at the presidential residence to celebrate the first lady's...

Assembly Session Opens as Parties Prepare for Turbulent Road Ahead.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly kicked off a month-long extraordinary session Tuesday, with a speech by the ruling party chief calling for economic stimulus measures and the passage of controversial reform bills. Lim...

Gov't Receives Reports from Victims of Japanese Colonization.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government Tuesday began receiving applications for investigations into Japan's forceful mobilization of Koreans during World War II, officials said. Koreans forced to serve as wartime laborers,...

British Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of S. Korean Student.
February 1, 2005... LONDON, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A British man on trial in the city of Winchester for the murder of a South Korean university student was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday. The jury at Winchester criminal court found a Moroccan-British...

U.S. Lawmakers Press N.K. to Explain Fate of Kidnapped Pastor.
February 1, 2005... WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- A bipartisan group of 20 U.S. lawmakers called on North Korea to come clean on the fate of a Korean-American pastor kidnapped by North Korean agents in China five years ago. In a letter to North Korea's...

S. Korean, UAE Air Force Chiefs Discuss Export of Trainer Planes.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The air force chiefs of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held talks Tuesday on the export of Korea's trainer planes to the Arab country, officials said. The UAE's Khalid Bin Abdullah Mobarak Al...

(LEAD) Roh to Fly to Moscow for World War II Anniversary.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) - By Hwang Doo-hyong - President Roh Moo-hyun will fly to Moscow on May 9 to attend a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Jong-min said Tuesday. It remains...

S.Korean Magician to Appear on French TV.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Well known South Korean magician, Lee Eun-kyul, will perform his magic on a French television channel in March, his agent said Tuesday. "The French national broadcaster, France 2, asked Lee long ago to demonstrate...

Seoul, Washington Resume Visa Waiver Talks.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Ranking diplomats from South Korea and the United States will meet on Tuesday in Seoul to discuss ways of facilitating issuance of more U.S. nonimmigrant visas to South Koreans, officials said. The main topics...

Kia Motors President Apologies for Union Bribe Scandal.
February 1, 2005... GWANGJU, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. President Kim Ik-hwan offered an apology Tuesday for the company's union-related cash-for-jobs scandal. In a press conference held at the car manufacturer's Gwangju plant, the executive said he...

Senior U.S. Nat'l Security Official to Visit Seoul on Wednesday.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A senior U.S. official will visit South Korea this week for talks expected to cover the resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, South Korean officials said Tuesday. Michael Green,...

Buddhist Nun Risks Life for Sake of Mountain.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) - By Kim Hyun - Bulldozers dug and the noise of cracking rocks echoed Tuesday at the foot of Mount Cheonseong, South Gyeongsang Province, where a tunnel for high-speed trains will be completed in several months. In...

S. Korean Builders' Overseas Orders Triple in January.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Overseas construction orders for South Korean builders more than tripled in January from a year ago as they won large contracts to repair highways in India and Sri Lanka, an industry association said Tuesday. ...

Footballer Park Ji-sung to Play in Match for Tsunami Victims.
February 1, 2005... HAGUE, Netherlands, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Park Ji-sung, a midfielder for the professional football club PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, has been added to the list of the world's best players who will participate in a charity match for victims...

Seoul Stocks Open Weak on Program Selling.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started lower Tuesday on a program selling. Tech shares led the declines. In the first 15 minutes of trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 4.81 points, or 0.51...

Gov't Pushes for Legal Changes to Prepare for Agriculture Opening.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The government said Tuesday it will revise laws and regulation in preparation for further opening of the domestic market to imported agricultural goods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said the grain...

S. Korea Proposes Preparatory Group With Russia on Pipeline.
February 1, 2005... MOSCOW, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has proposed forming a working-level group with the Russian government for South Korean companies to join in a new pipeline project connecting Siberian oil fields with Japan, South Korean officials said....

(LEAD) S. Korea's Consumer Prices Rise 3.1 Pct in January.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer prices rose 3.1 percent year-on-year in January due to increased costs for agricultural products, cigarettes and transportation, the state statistics office said Tuesday. The consumer price...

EDITORIAL from the Hankyoreh on Tuesday Feb. 1, 2005.
February 1, 2005... Consider Alternative to Mt. Cheonseong Tunnel There is a growing social outcry in response to the hunger strike of Venerable Jiyul, whose life is extinguishing like a flame in the wind. People are unable to ignore the cries of someone...

EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Tuesday Feb. 1, 2005.
February 1, 2005... Iraq needs continued support An election in Iraq that will decide the future of the country and featured 60 percent voter turnout has just ended. This election is a meaningful event because Iraqi people had participated in practicing...

EDITORIAL from the Chosun Ilbo on Tuesday Feb. 1, 2005.
February 1, 2005... Roh Supporters Declare War on Chosun and DongA Ilbo President Roh Moo-hyun [macron]s claque of supporters Nosamo has announced a campaign to persuade subscribers to ditch the conservative Chosun and DongA Ilbo newspapers and take on the...

Top Headlines in Major Korean Newspapers Tuesday Feb. 1, 2005.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The following are top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Feb. 1. Vernacular dailies -- Seoul elementary schools revive academic evaluation (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- Seoul elementary schools revive academic...

Ban Holds Phone Conversation with Rice.
February 1, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign minister spoke by phone with his new U.S. counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, on Monday, pledging to work closely together to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program peacefully, the...

Data On One Million Students Leaked to Business Sector.
February 2, 2005... SUWON, South Korea, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The personal details of roughly one million primary and secondary school students in South Korea was leaked to interested companies by school administrators, police said Wednesday. Police said they...

(2nd LD) U.S. National Security Official Arrives in Seoul.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. national security official arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for consultations expected to focus on how to restart stalled six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear drive. Michael Green, senior...

Chung to Lead Seoul Philharmonic.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Chung Myung-whun, a world-famous South Korean pianist and conductor, has signed a three-year contract with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, officials here said Wednesday....

Film Sparks Controversy Over Freedom of Speech.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is locked in a heated debate on the issue of freedom of speech following a court decision to ban scenes from a movie about former president Park Chung-hee, one of the most controversial figures in South...

Seoul Issues Travel Warning for Nepal.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Wednesday issued a warning for people planning trips to Nepal until the emergency situation there is stabilized. The Foreign Ministry asked people to refrain from traveling to...

N. Korean Prime Minister Accuses U.S. of 'Hostile' Intentions.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea reiterated its claim of being on the receiving end of a "hostile" U.S. policy Wednesday, despite the international community's hope to resume six-way talks aimed at ending a protracted nuclear standoff....

Moody's Discusses S. Korea's Economic Policy With Lawmakers.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A three-member delegation from Moody's Investors Service met Wednesday with chief economic policy coordinators from the ruling Uri Party and the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), the National Assembly said....

Activists Plan Rallies to Save Buddhist Nun on Hunger Strike.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds will rally Thursday to save the life of a Buddhist nun who launched a 99-day hunger strike to stop the government digging a railroad tunnel through a southern mountain, the organizers said Wednesday. ...

(LEAD) Buddhist Nun in Critical Condition after Prolonged Fasting.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Buddhist nun Jiyul entered her 99th day of fasting on Wednesday in critical condition, as her fellows say she is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in her protest against a new tunnel construction. "Jiyul...

LG Card Creditors Must Be Given Priority in Takeover: Hana Chief.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of LG Card Co., South Korea's second-largest card issuer by billings, must be given the priority in a possible acquisition of the card firm, the chief of a creditor bank said Wednesday. "The creditors...

N. Korea Vows to Safeguard Kim Jong-il's Leadership.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea held a large-scale meeting of military and civilian leaders and anti-Japanese revolutionaries Wednesday with a call for loyalty to leader Kim Jong-il and a pledge to fight against U.S. "imperialists." ...

S. Korea to Hold FTA Talks with Five Partners in 2005.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will engage in free trade agreement (FTA) talks with five countries and economic blocs this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Wednesday. In a briefing with reporters, ministry trade...

Namhae Chemical to Export Fertilizer Component to China.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Namhae Chemical Corp., South Korea's leading fertilizer producer, said Wednesday it has signed a contract to supply a fertilizer component to a Chinese chemical company. The first shipment of 3,500 tons of...

Yonhap News Summary.
February 2, 2005... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by the Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday. -------------- (LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. to Open Military Talks on Redefinition of Alliance SEOUL -- South Korean and U.S. defense officials...

Committee to List Agenda of Probe into Spy Agency's Past.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A government-civilian committee set up to probe suspected wrongdoings of the nation's top spy agency will soon announce the primary targets of its investigation and unveil its future plans, the committee said...

S. Korean Travelers to be Allowed Exit and Entry Without Reporting.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean passport holders exiting and entering the country will be able to do so without filling out an immigration document from June, government officials said Wednesday. The decision came at a meeting of...

(LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. to Open Military Talks on Redefinition of Alliance.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. defense officials will meet this week for talks aimed at reshaping their half-century military alliance, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The one-day contact, slated for Thursday in...

Prosecutors Crack Down on Sales of Contaminated Chinese Ginseng.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean prosecutors arrested four ginseng traders on suspicion of selling Chinese ginseng contaminated with pesticide, the Seoul District Prosecutors Office said Wednesday. According to the office, a...

S. Korea to Push for 'Busan Roadmap' at APEC Summit Meeting.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is expected to push a roadmap that will support free trade and investment and build up a transparent business environment at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the government said...

(LEAD) Committee Launched for Projects Marking Liberation Anniversary.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The government Wednesday launched a committee to pursue various projects to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation from 36 years of Japanese colonial rule. The committee, led jointly by Prime...

S. Korea, U.S. to Open Military Talks on Redefinition of Alliance.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. defense officials will meet this week for talks aimed at reshaping their half-century military alliance, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The one-day contact, slated for Thursday in...

(2nd LD) LG Investment, Woori Securities Agree on Merger Deal.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's LG Investment & Securities Co. and Woori Securities Co. agreed Wednesday to launch a merged entity in April through a share-swap deal. The merger ratio was set at one LG Investment Securities share...

Leading Labor Umbrella Group Thrown into Crisis.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest and most influential labor umbrella group is reeling from a string of scandals and internal conflicts. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said on Wednesday its leaders have...

(LEAD) LG Homeshopping Set to Tap Into China.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- With South Korean TV shopping channels fast tapping into China, LG Homeshopping, South Korea's largest TV shopping channel, is preparing to follow suit, industry sources said Wednesday. According to the...

U.S. Diplomat Visits Seoul for Talks on Curbing Nuclear Material.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. nonproliferation official arrived in Seoul Wednesday to discuss an international treaty calling for banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Jackie Wolcott Sanders, ambassador to the...

Government Urged to Respond to Buddhist Nun's Appeal.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A group of lawmakers urged the government Wednesday to respond to an appeal from a Buddhist nun risking her life to stop construction of a tunnel through Mount Cheonseong. Jiyul, 48, entered her 99th day of fasting...

(LEAD) KOSPI Falls for 2nd Day Ahead of Options Expiration.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stock prices finished lower Wednesday as investors unloaded shares ahead of the expiration of options on Monday, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 2.25...

(LEAD) LG Investment, Woori Securities Agree on Merger Deal.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's LG Investment & Securities Co. and Woori Securities Co. agreed Wednesday to launch a merged entity in April through a share swap deal. The merger ratio was set at one LG Investment Securities share...

Doosan Group Set to Push for Overseas Mergers and Acquisitions.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Group, South Korea's ninth-largest conglomerate, said Wednesday it will actively seek overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&As) as part of efforts to go global. "As we pursue business globalization through...

S. Korean Bond Yields on Feb. 2, 2005.
February 2, 2005... Today (%) Previous Day (%) Change (%P) 1-year TB 3.76 3.75 + 0.01 3-year TB 4.02 4.03 - 0.01 10-year TB 4.80 4.80 -- 2-year MSB 4.03 4.03...

President Roh Pledges to Invest Heavily in Job Creation for the Poor.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun pledged Wednesday that the government will invest more in the creation of jobs for the impoverished. Speaking to a group of poor people in vocational training programs in Mapo, central...

Ex-S. Korean President Urges U.S. to Spell Out Incentives to N.K.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung urged the United States Wednesday to spell out specifically what it is prepared to give in return if North Korea abandons its nuclear ambitions. "North Korea is now in a...

Global Chip-Equipment Sales May Decline 5 Percent in 2005.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Worldwide sales of semiconductor equipment will likely fall 5 percent this year as global chip market growth is poised to edge down, a top executive of an industry association said Wednesday. But global sales of...

(LEAD) Shinhan Financial Group's Profit Almost Triples in 2004.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Shinhan Financial Group, South Korea's No. 2 financial services company, said Wednesday its consolidated net profit nearly tripled in 2004 from the previous year on strong results of its affiliates. Consolidated...

LG Investment, Woori Securities Agree on Merger Deal.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's LG Investment Securities Co. and Woori Securities agreed Wednesday to launch a merged entity in April through a share swap deal. The merger ratio was set at one LG Investment Securities share for...

(2nd LD) Woori Bank's 2004 Earnings Soar on Non-Interest Incomes.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Woori Bank, South Korea's second-largest lender, said Wednesday its annual net profit surged by nearly half in 2004 thanks to strong non-interest incomes. The bottom line came to 1.99 trillion won (US$1.95 billion)...

(LEAD) Former Japanese PM Calls for Reparations for Korean World War II Victims.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said on Wednesday that Japan needs to pay compensation for Koreans forcefully mobilized in World War II "in any way." "We cannot say the issue of compensation for...

Shinhan Financial Group's Profit Almost Triples in 2004.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Shinhan Financial Group, South Korea's No. 2 financial services company, said its consolidated net profit nearly tripled in 2004 from a year ago. Consolidated net profit soared 189.3 percent to 1.05 trillion won...

KOSPI Falls for 3rd Day Ahead of Options Expiration.
February 2, 2005... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stock prices finished lower Wednesday as investors unloaded shares ahead of the expiration of options on Monday, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 2.25...