YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from February 2009

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from February 2009

Local film industry struggling to cope with market share drop, profits.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The local film industry is struggling to deal with the drop in the market share and return on profits brought on by a diminishing number of moviegoers, an umbrella business group said Sunday. The Korea Chamber of...

Banks wary of lending to smaller firms amid slumping restructuring process.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Despite the central bank's aggressive efforts to ease its monetary policy, South Korea's major banks still remain wary of providing liquidity to cash-strapped companies for fear that their loans could go sour amid...

U.N. committee urges N. Korea to improve children's rights.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- A human rights monitoring agency under the United Nations recently urged North Korea to improve human rights conditions of its children and allow them better access to information through books and the Internet,...

Capacity utilization of SMEs falls to record low in Dec.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Capacity utilization levels of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fell to record low levels in December as economic woes ate into demand, a report by an industry umbrella group said Sunday. The survey by the...

Gov't to ease land, housing rules in free economic zones.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The government said Sunday that it will greatly ease land development and planning permission rules in the country's free economic zones (FEZs) to attract more overseas investment. The changes, outlined in a special...

S. Korea's growth outlook to be trimmed amid economic recession woes: sources.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea should slash its growth target for this year, reflecting the economic slowdown that is feared to accelerate amid deepening global recession woes, government and central bank officials said Sunday. The...

S. Korean exports may face uphill climb in 2009.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean exports may face an uphill climb in 2009 as the global economic slump bites into consumer demand and business investment, sources said Sunday. Government and industry sources said worldwide trade is...

(Yonhap Feature) Slowing economy makes big dent in Q4 bank earnings.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean banks' earnings probably plunged in the fourth quarter as the slowing economy and a subsequent corporate restructuring wave forced them to put aside more loan-loss reserves, analysts say. To make matters...

(News Focus) S. Korea, U.S. saddled with thorny alliance issues.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- As new U.S. President Barack Obama addresses pressing issues at home and abroad, highlighted by the closure of the Guantanamo prison and overt outreach to the Muslim world, South Korean officials are making their own...

S. Korea's consumer demand may not recover until 2010.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer demand may not pick up until the second half of 2010 as households move to reduce outstanding debt, a report by a local financial think tank said Sunday. The Korea Institute of Finance (KIF)...

Global LCD prices expected to rebound starting this month.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Global liquid crystal display (LCD) prices are expected to rebound starting this month after falling off sharply late last year, industry sources said Sunday. A rise in demand is likely since manufacturers of various...

Scientists discover mechanism that could help combat arteriosclerosis.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists on Sunday said they have discovered a mechanism that may help combat arteriosclerosis, a chronic illness that afflicts countless number of people around the world. The team led by Kim Bo-kyung,...

Foreigners' travel spending in S. Korea hit record high in 2008.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- Foreign tourists spent quite generously in South Korea last year as a weaker Korean currency eased their burden of visiting Asia's fourth-largest economy, central bank data showed Saturday. Foreigners' travel spending...

Lee calls for strategy to overcome economic crisis by next year.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called Saturday for concerted efforts to overcome the economic crisis, warning that people would not trust his government unless tangible results are produced before too long, his spokesman...

Seoul bourse to trade in thin range next week: analysts.
February 1, 2009... SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean stock market is expected to trade in a narrow range next week as concerns over the deepening economic slump and weak corporate earnings will continue to bear down on sentiment, analysts said Saturday....

Get back to basics.
February 2, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Feb. 2) -- The extraordinary session of the National Assembly that opens today is significant for many reasons. In the days ahead, the Lee Myung-bak administration will have to demonstrate the direction of...

Serial killer It's time to focus more on crime prevention.
February 2, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Feb. 2) -- "Appearances are often deceiving." This saying can be used no better to describe a serial killer suspected of murdering seven women. Many of his neighbors and co-workers said he was kind and...

Credit checks again.
February 2, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Feb. 2) -- Banks are starting a second round of credit risk assessments of their corporate clients as a prelude to what they say will be sweeping restructuring. But their promise is less than convincing,...

Foreign ownership of S. Korean stocks edges up in Jan.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Foreign ownership of South Korean shares inched up in January from the previous month on relieved investor sentiment over the local equity market, the bourse operator said Monday. As of Jan. 29, foreign investors held...

Mass street protest held against deadly squatter crackdown.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of government critics rallied in central Seoul Sunday, accusing President Lee Myung-bak of rolling back democracy and refusing to take responsibility for a deadly police crackdown on squatters that left six...

N. Korean leader named for parliamentary elections: report.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was nominated Sunday to run for a parliamentary seat in next month's elections, the country's media said, a legally required procedure to become the country's top commander. Voting for...

Hyundai, Kia report record car sales in China for January.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Sunday that they sold a record number of cars in China in January. The two largest South Korean carmakers said their Chinese affiliates -- Beijing Hyundai Motor...

N. Korea warns Seoul of military conflict amid tension.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) --North Korea warned Sunday that war could break out on the Korean Peninsula if South Korea continues to downplay a series of military and other actions it has recently taken against Seoul. In an unusual move on Jan. 17,...

Gov't to invest 34 trln won to build super Internet highway.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- The government said Sunday it will invest 34 trillion won (US$24.6 billion) over the next few years to build a nationwide super broadband infrastructure to allow for faster and higher-capacity data transmission through...

President calls for hope despite century's worst economic crisis.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said the country is now facing the century's worst economic crisis, but that hope and positive thinking will help the country recover, a spokesman for the presidential office said Sunday. "We...

Parliament to hold extra session for controversial bills, issues.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Parliament is scheduled to open an extraordinary session on Monday, with rival parties expected to lock horns again over contentious bills and approvals of new Cabinet members, including the newly appointed heads of...

S. Korea to allow cruise ship passengers to disembark at all ports.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will allow passengers on cruise ships to disembark at all ports in an effort to help fuel tourism, the government said Sunday. The revision to the current immigration rules will exempt passengers arriving...

S. Korea's 'misery index' rises sharply in 2008: think tank.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's "misery index" measured by inflationary prices and job market conditions rose sharply last year as the domestic economy suffered setbacks in the face of a worldwide slump, a private economic think tank...

Daewoo Electronics tops 1 mln front-loading washers.
February 2, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Electronics Co., South Korea's third-largest electronics manufacturer, said Sunday that its production of front-loading washing machines has topped the 1-million unit mark. The production landmark comes more...

S. Korean steelmakers to extend output cut amid downturn.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- POSCO and other South Korean steelmakers are planning to extend a production cut to cope with tapering demand, industry sources said Tuesday. Local industry leader POSCO, also the world's fourth-largest steelmaker,...

S. Korean researchers develop 'fast tracking' telescope-camera.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean researchers said Tuesday that they have developed a telescope-camera combination that can instantly track and film events that occur without prior warning. The Ewha Womans University team led by Park...

Samsung to supply advanced chips to Xilinx.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., said Tuesday it has signed a contract to supply advanced chips to Xilinx, a U.S.-based semiconductor company. Under the deal, Samsung, the world's largest computer memory chip maker, will...

Obama, Lee pledge increased support for 6-way N. Korea talks.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday his country will increase support for six-nation talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program, saying recent developments suggest the multilateral talks are the only way to...

Nintendo sells over 2 mln 'DS Lite' game consoles in S. Korea.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- Japanese game console giant Nintendo Co. has sold more than 2 million units of its "DS Lite" portable gaming device in South Korea, its local unit said Tuesday. Launched two years ago along with Nintendo's official...

N. Korea moving to fire long-range missile: Seoul officials.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is moving to test-launch a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, South Korean officials said Tuesday, amid rising tension on the divided peninsula. An intelligence source said a train...

(News Focus) Fury at serial killer rekindles debate on death penalty ahead of court ruling.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- The recent macabre crimes of a serial killer who victimized young women have rekindled an age-old debate in South Korea on whether to keep capital punishment legal ahead of what is expected to be a watershed ruling by...

IMF predicts S. Korean economy will shrink 4 pct this year.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted Tuesday the South Korean economy will shrink 4 percent this year, sharply downgrading its earlier projection, citing weak domestic demand and exports amid the global...

S. Korea launches bid for 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has declared its bid to host the World Cup finals in 2018 or 2022, joining fierce international competition to stage the world's biggest football event, the country's football governing body said on...

(Yonhap Feature) Korea's 'manhwa' turns to new page.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- They are books with pictures, hardly highbrow or educational enough to compete with the classics. But with an unusual flair and depth, Korean comic books hatched as their very own literary genre a century ago. In the...

Senate committee to hold hearing on N. Korea: sources.
February 3, 2009... WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Senate foreign relations committee will hold a closed-door hearing Wednesday on North Korea, the first since the launch of the Barack Obama administration last month, congressional sources said Monday....

Korean president should launch public campaign for FTA: expert.
February 3, 2009... WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. Korea expert Monday urged South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to launch a public campaign for ratification of a free trade deal with the U.S. and economic reform to cope with the economic crisis and...

Export shock.
February 3, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Feb. 3): Exports shrank by a whopping 32.8 percent in January, the steepest drop since monthly import and export statistics have been recorded. Key exports of semiconductors and vehicles halved, and exports...

Words of Hope: Time to Take Bolder Action to Tackle Crisis.
February 3, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Feb. 3): President Lee Myung-bak's top priority is to revive the slumping economy. But it is not easy to do so amid the global financial and economic crisis. He needs to overhaul his policy directions for this...

Water shortage.
February 3, 2009... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Feb. 3): A decade after environmental controversy halted a major dam project in the northeastern area, there are mounting calls for the construction of large reservoirs as the winter drought is causing a...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on Feb. 3 Korean-language dailies -- Ruling party split over passage of key reform bills (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- Record drop in exports in...

Korea's foreign reserves rise to US$201.7 bln in Jan.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign exchange reserves rose for the second straight month in January as investment profits gained and local banks' overseas funding squeeze eased, the central bank said Tuesday. The nation's foreign...

Clinton's Asian tour schedule not yet set: State Dept.
February 3, 2009... WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department said Monday the itinerary for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's imminent visit to South Korea, China and Japan has not yet been fixed. Reports said that Clinton is visiting the...

(News Focus) S. Korea reels from record export plunge.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade-oriented economy was rocked in January as exports plunged to record-low levels amid the ongoing global economic slump, which has sapped overseas demand for locally made goods, the government said...

N. Korea renews claim to nuclear arms amid little action from U.S.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea vowed Monday to hold onto its nuclear weapons until the United States removes "nuclear threats" against it, renewing its tough position after similar statements drew little action from the new U.S....

Festivals Calendar - February 2009.(Calendar)
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The following are the major cultural and tourist festivals to be held in South Korea in February. * Daeboreum Fire Festival When: Feb. 12-14 Where: Saebyeol Oreum, Bukjeju County, Jeju Province Daeboreum, the first...

Gov't to provide timely information on harmful food.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The government said Monday it will set up a public notification system to give consumers complete and timely information on harmful food, raising trust in products sold on the local market. The plan is part of a...

SK Telecom attracts more 3G service users than rival KTF.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's leading wireless carrier, gained more subscribers for its third-generation wireless service last month than its rival KTF, according to data released by mobile carriers on Monday. SK...

Shinhan Financial Group Q4 net rises 25.7 pct.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Shinhan Financial Group Co., South Korea's No. 2 financial services company, said Monday that its fourth-quarter earnings gained 25.7 percent on-year on higher interest income and one-off profits. Net income amounted...

Serial killer questioned about suspicious insurance fraud cases.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Suspected serial killer Kang Ho-sun, who has confessed to killing seven women, is now facing intensive questioning about several insurance fraud cases, after police revealed Monday he has collected at least 790 million...

S. Korean scientists find cause, possible treatment for rheumatoid-arthritis.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists said Monday they have discovered a protein that causes rheumatoid-arthritis (RA) and developed a drug that may help treat the debilitating disease. The Catholic Medical Center team led by Kim...

New unification minister's publications come back to haunt him.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Seoul's unification minister-designate appears to have hit a pitfall on the road to the Cabinet as allegations of self-plagiarism surfaced on Monday, an explosive issue that has derailed several high-level nominees in...

New bill to shake up Korea's brokerage sector sparks debate.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Controversy is brewing over South Korea's new capital market deregulation act as opponents raise doubts on the timing of the implementation amid the global financial turmoil, market watchers said Monday. The capital...

Seoul stocks end down 1.3 pct on banking losses.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed 1.3 percent lower Monday as banking shares lost substantial ground, tracking U.S. banking falls, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite...

President rallies party support for revived bills.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak reached out to ruling party legislators Monday to push forward his reform bills that have failed to pass the National Assembly due to strong protests by the opposition. Lee met with the...

KEB picks lead managers for Hyundai Corp. sale.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap)-- Creditors of Hyundai Corp. have named lead managers for the sale of their controlling stake in the South Korean trading company, Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) said Monday. The lead managers are NH Investment & Securities...

S. Korea downplays sinking ties with N. Korea as 'readjustment'.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea assesses its tumbling ties with North Korea as a product of "readjustment," an official booklet said Monday, amid increasing threats from Pyongyang of an armed clash. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak...

S. Korean carmakers' Jan. sales dip 35 pct.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Auto sales for five of South Korea's carmakers dropped 34.7 percent in January as a global recession sapped demand for vehicles and a weakened domestic economy drove consumers out of local showrooms, the carmakers said...

(Contributed Story) IMF predicts Korea's growth to be 'substantially negative'.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The following is the statement contributed exclusively to Yonhap News Agency by Anoop Singh, director of the IMF's Asia and Pacific Department. He predicted the South Korean economy will likely post "substantially...

IMF predicts Korea's growth to be 'substantially negative'.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted Monday the South Korean economy will likely post "substantially negative" growth this year as domestic demand and exports falter amid the global economic crisis. The...

S. Korea's consumer prices rise 3.7 pct in Jan.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer prices grew at a slower pace in January than in the previous month as falling crude oil prices cut import costs, a government report showed Monday. The consumer price index rose 3.7 percent last...

Top presidential aide to visit U.S. for talks on summit, alliance.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The top foreign policy secretary to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will likely visit Washington next week for discussions on a possible summit between Lee and his new U.S. counterpart and other issues that will...

Parliament opens extra session amid dispute over reform bills, nominations.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly opened an extraordinary session on Monday with lawmakers expected to once again lock horns over contentious bills and the vetting of new Cabinet minister nominees. The special session is scheduled...

Hyundai Motor's auto sales drop 27 pct amid global downturn.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said Monday its vehicle sales declined 26.7 percent last month as a deepening global economic downturn sapped demand for new cars. Hyundai sold a total of 179,044 units...

Six-way meeting on peace regime set for Feb. 19-20 in Moscow.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and its five dialogue partners in ongoing denuclearization talks will convene a meeting later this month as scheduled in Moscow on ways to establish a regional security mechanism, officials here said...

Activists to resume flying anti-Pyongyang leaflets despite escalating tension.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Defying the government's calls for restraint, South Korean activists said Monday they will send anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into North Korea this month, a move certain to provoke the communist regime amid...

Iraqi leader plans to visit S. Korea this month.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is planning to visit South Korea this month for a summit with his counterpart Lee Myung-bak to promote ties between the two nations, a government source said Monday. "South Korea and Iraq...

Renault Samsung's auto sales fall 9.2 pct in Jan.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motors Co., the South Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA, said Monday its vehicle sales fell 9.2 percent last month, hit by slumping demand at home and overseas. Renault Samsung sold 11,280...

Ssangyong Motor's auto sales plummet 82 pct in January.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., said Monday its vehicle sales plunged 82 percent last month as consumers shied away from the potentially bankrupt automaker....

Today in Korean History.
February 3, 2009... Feb. 3 1954 -- South Korea designates a 5-10 kilometer civilian-restricted area south of the Southern Limit Line (SLL). The SLL is just 2 kilometers south of the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas. 1989 -- Kim Hyun-hee, a...

Korea's 'Naked Kitchen' to hit Japanese theaters.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean film "The Naked Kitchen," a sugary romance by emerging director Hong Ji-young, is set for a spring release in Japan, local distributor said Monday. The film was picked up by Japan's Showgate during a film...

Hyundai Heavy starts work on wind power facility.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's largest shipbuilder, said Monday that it began work on a plant for the construction of wind-power generators as part of efforts to diversify its business portfolio. The plant,...

GM Daewoo's vehicle sales plunge 50.5 pct in Jan.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the South Korean unit of U.S. automaker General Motors Corp., said Monday its vehicle sales plunged 50.5 percent last month amid slumping demand at home and overseas. GM Daewoo sold...

S. Korea's Jan. exports plunge record 32.8 pct.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports plunged a record 32.8 percent in January from a year earlier as the worldwide economic slump cut into overseas demand for locally made goods, a government report showed Monday. The country's...

S. Korea's greenhouse gas emissions up slightly in 2006: report.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Construction of power plants and cars caused South Korea's greenhouse emission levels to edge up slightly in 2006 compared to the year before, a government report said Monday. The country's annual greenhouse gas...

Hyundai Mobis 2008 profit jumps 40 pct on weaker won.(Financial report)
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Mobis Co., South Korea's largest auto-parts maker, said Monday its net profit jumped 40.3 percent in 2008 thanks to a weaker local currency. Hyundai Mobis, an affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., earned a record...

Japanese critic of Tokyo's Dokdo stance to teach in Seoul.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- A senior Japanese scholar who has been demanding his government ditch its longtime-claim to the South Korean islets of Dokdo will be lecturing at a top Korean university beginning in March, school officials said...

Draw with Syria dims Korea's outlook for showdown with Iran.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national football squad played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly with Syria on Sunday, dimming the outlook for a key match against Iran in the regional qualifier for the World Cup in South Africa. The Korean...

Daewoo Shipbuilding Q4 net rises more than 5-fold.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipyard, said Monday its fourth-quarter earnings increased more than five-fold due to construction of more expensive vessels. Net profit reached...

Seoul stocks up 0.33 pct in late morning.
February 3, 2009... SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.33 percent higher late Monday morning, rebounding from an opening loss, on massive foreign buying, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 3.86 points...