YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from January 2007

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from January 2007

S. Korea's derivatives turnover rises 31.8 pct in first nine months.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Trading volume in South Korea's derivatives market increased 31.8 percent in the first nine months of last year from a year earlier mainly due to a surge in the trading of stock index options, the nation's top...

Pension reform can't wait.
January 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Jan. 3) The government's reform of the public employees' retirement pension fund is likely to be delayed. Park Myung-jae, the minister for government affairs, said, "I have never promised I would submit a...

Bizarre scenarios.
January 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Jan. 3) Only 26 percent of Americans believe their country will go to war with North Korea during 2007, much less than the 40 percent that consider a conflict likely with Iran, according to an AP-AOL opinion...

Message from Pyongyang.
January 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Jan. 3) There is little new in the joint editorial of North Koreas three official mouthpieces on Jan. 1 this year. As usual, it stressed the need for enhancing national defense and building a strong economy....

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Jan. 3. Vernacular dailies -- Temporary workers face layoffs (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- Seoul to sell public apartments at lower prices (Kukmin...

U.N. chief reaffirms priority agendas, says Hussein execution was Iraq's choice to make.
January 3, 2007... UNITED NATION, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon began his first work day on Tuesday with a reaffirmed commitment to address the Sudan crisis and North Korea and a call to respect the rule of law in the wake of Saddam...

S. Korea's foreign reserves surge in December.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign exchange reserves increased sharply in December from a month ago due mainly to a debt issue worth around US$1 billion, the central bank said Wednesday. The nation's foreign reserves amounted to...

Foreign minister attends funeral, begins his itinerary in Washington.
January 3, 2007... WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean foreign minister Song Min-soon attended the state funeral Tuesday of former U.S. President Gerald Ford which brought him to the United States a few days ahead of schedule on a trip focusing on the...

U.N. chief reaffirms his priority agendas, comments on Hussein execution.
January 3, 2007... UNITED NATION, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon began his first work day on Tuesday with a reaffirmed commitment to address the Sudan crisis and North Korea. In his first comments on the execution of Saddam Hussein, he...

Conservative opposition lambastes N. Korea for interfering in S. Korean presidential race.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- The conservative opposition Grand National Party (GNP) criticized North Korea Tuesday for meddling in South Korean politics, a day after the communist country affirmed its opposition to a possible GNP victory in the...

Brothel owners vow to evacuate if redevelopment is conducted.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan 2. (Yonhap) -- About 200 brothel owners pledged Tuesday to end their operations and discharge prostitutes if the government promises to redevelop their business areas. The owners, mostly from five dense red-light districts in...

Hyundai Heavy forecasts sales to reach record high this year.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's largest shipyard, said Tuesday that its sales are expected to rise to a record this year on rising demand. Sales are expected to surge 21 percent to 15.2 trillion won...

Yonhap News Summary.
January 3, 2007... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ------------------- (LEAD) Unification minister calls for increased assistance for N. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea's point man on North Korea...

(LEAD) S. Korean foreign minister arrives in U.S. for talks on N. Korea.
January 3, 2007... WASHINGTON, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon arrived in the United States on Monday for talks with various U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on North Korea's nuclear weapons program. ...

(LEAD) S. Korea's 2006 auto sales rise 11.5 pct; GM Daewoo beats Kia Motors.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's five automakers, led by Hyundai Motor Co., saw their sales gain 11.5 percent in 2006 from a year ago on strong exports, despite unfavorable factors such as the Korean currency's strength, labor strikes...

(LEAD) Unification minister calls for increased assistance for N. Korea.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea called Tuesday for increased economic assistance for the impoverished North, saying peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved when the North can feed its people by...

(LEAD) Seoul shares end marginally higher on tech blue-chip gains.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started the new year with a marginal gain Tuesday as tech blue-chip gains overshadowed construction company losses, analysts said. The South Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark...

S. Korea's prime minister vows fair management of presidential polls.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prime minister on Tuesday vowed to manage this year's presidential election in a fair and transparent manner. "I will make efforts to heal divisions and conflict and open a new era of reconciliation...

S. Korean auto sales rise 11.5 pct in 2006, driven by exports.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean automakers sold 11.5 percent more vehicles last year than the previous year, driven by robust exports, the companies said Tuesday. The nation's five automakers sold a combined 5.81 million units in...

(LEAD) Vice finance minister opposes revealing apartment construction costs.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Disclosing the costs for building private apartments is not desirable since it goes against market principles, South Korea's vice finance minister said Tuesday, standing by the government's firm stance against a tough...

Seoul shares end marginally higher on tech blue-chip gains.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started the new year with a marginal gain Tuesday as tech blue-chip gains overshadowed construction company losses, analysts said. The South Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark...

(LEAD) Former President Kim Dae-jung optimistic about inter-Korean summit in 2007.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean President and Nobel Peace laureate Kim Dae-jung said Tuesday an inter-Korean summit is more likely this year. "The possibility of an inter-Korean summit is higher than ever, as President Roh...

Hanjin Heavy expects orders to increase 12 pct this year.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., South Korea's seventh-largest shipyard, said Tuesday that it expects this year's shipbuilding and construction orders to reach 4 trillion won (US$4.32 billion). Its...

South Korea bans trips to Somalia amid renewed armed conflict.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has prohibited its citizens from traveling to Somalia due to increased dangers of terrorist attacks amid the continued armed conflict between the country's transitional government forces and Islamic...

Hyundai Motor's vehicle sales rise 5.1 pct in 2006.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said Tuesday its 2006 vehicle sales rose 5.1 percent from a year ago to 2,663,998 units. Domestic sales gained 1.8 percent to 581,092 units and exports rose 6.1...

(2nd LD) GM Daewoo beats Kia Motors as No. 2 automaker in S. Korea.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., run by U.S. automobile giant General Motors Corp., sold more vehicles than Kia Motors Corp. last year, unseating the affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co. as South Korea's second-largest...

Unification minister calls for increased assistance for N. Korea.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea called Tuesday for increased economic assistance for the impoverished North, saying peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved when the North can feed its people by...

Roh's information secretary to double as presidential spokesman.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday appointed Yoon Seung-yong, senior presidential secretary for public information, to double as his spokesman, Roh's office Cheong Wa Dae said. Yoon will succeed Yoon Tae-young, who...

SK Telecom outpaces rivals in luring customers in December.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile service provider, outpaced its two other rivals in attracting new customers last month, data released by each operator showed Tuesday. SK Telecom said in a statement that...

Kia Motors reports 6.4 pct rise in 2006 vehicle sales.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean automaker Kia Motors Corp. said Tuesday its vehicles sales rose 6.4 percent in 2006 from a year ago. Kia Motors sold a total of 1.34 million units last year. Domestic sales rose 1.5 percent to...

(LEAD) Renault Samsung overtakes Ssangyong Motor as South Korea's No. 4 automaker.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- French-controlled Renault Samsung Motor Co. overtook Chinese-owned Ssangyong Motor Co. as the fourth-largest automaker in South Korea by sales last year, according to the two companies Tuesday. Renault Samsung,...

Renault Samsung posts 34.8 percent jump in 2006 vehicle sales.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motor Co., controlled by French automaker Renault SA, said Tuesday its vehicle sales jumped 34.8 percent in 2006 from a year ago. Renault Samsung sold a total of 160,408 units last year. Domestic...

Yonhap News Summary.
January 3, 2007... The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ------------------- S. Korean foreign minister arrives in U.S. for talks on N. Korea WASHINGTON -- South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon...

S. Korea's 2004-06 consumer inflation falls below central bank target.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank said Tuesday the nation's consumer inflation from 2004 to 2006 fell below its medium-term target due to weak consumer demand and a stronger won. The Bank of Korea (BOK) said the nation's...

S. Korea to lift discriminatory rules against overseas investment: finance minister.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to remove discriminatory rules that have made it hard for local companies and funds to invest abroad, the nation's top economic policymaker said Tuesday. Finance Minister Kwon O-kyu told reporters...

(LEAD) Military set to draw up details of new conscription system.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top defense official emphasized Tuesday that the ongoing work to reduce the length of the country's compulsory military service should not affect the defense posture. Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo...

Gimpo Airport to gain more int'l routes: airport official.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Seoul's Gimpo Airport could be reborn as a regional hub specializing in short-distance flights to China, Japan and Southeast Asia, a top airport manager said Tuesday. "It is time to fully discuss expanding...

Ssangyong Motor's vehicles sales decline 14.2 percent in 2006.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co., controlled by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., said Tuesday its vehicle sales fell 14.2 percent in 2006 from a year ago. Ssangyong Motor sold a total of 121,196 units last year, the...

(LEAD) GM Daewoo's auto sales rise 12.7 percent in December.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., South Korea's third-largest automaker, said Tuesday its vehicle sales rose 12.7 percent from a year ago to 140,619 units in December. For all of 2006, GM Daewoo sold a record 1.52...

Seoul shares edge up on tech blue-chip gains.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded marginally higher late Tuesday morning after moving in and out of negative territory, as investors snapped up tech blue chips, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index...

GM Daewoo's auto sales rise 12.7 percent in December.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., South Korea's third-largest automaker, said Tuesday its vehicle sales rose 12.7 percent from a year ago to 140,619 units in December. For all of 2006, GM Daewoo sold a record 1.52...

Former President Kim Dae-jung optimistic about inter-Korean summit in 2007.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean President and Nobel Peace laureate Kim Dae-jung said Tuesday an inter-Korean summit is more likely this year. "The possibility of an inter-Korean summit is higher than ever, as President Roh...

S. Korean youth team to test waters of international football.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national under-17 youth football team will participate in an invitational tournament in Australia this month, the country's football governing body said Tuesday. The players will gather at Jeju World...

S. Korea to seek job growth, financial deregulation in 2007: finance minister.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to put its top economic policy priority on creating jobs, vitalizing corporate investment and deregulating the financial sector in 2007, the nation's top economic policymaker said Tuesday. "Despite...

Military set to draw up details of new conscription system.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top defense official on Tuesday confirmed the government's move to come up with details on revising the country's conscription system within the coming weeks. "We plan to report the details to the...

Air Force head to join in T-50 trainer jet exercise.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Air Force chief was to join this year's first midair interception exercise here later Tuesday in which he will pilot the country's domestically made air trainer jet himself, the Air Force said. Air...

Seoul shares inch down after strong start on Wall Street declines.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started higher Tuesday but soon lost ground as investor sentiment was hurt by falls in U.S. markets last week, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 3.15...

Industrial Bank targets 1.2 tln won profit this year.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- State-run Industrial Bank of Korea said Tuesday its net profit is expected to reach 1.2 trillion won (US$1.29 billion) this year, 20 percent more than last year's target of 1 trillion won, on a continued rise in...

(3rd LD) Hyundai Motor targets 9.4 pct rise in auto sales in 2007.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said Tuesday it aims to sell 9.4 percent more vehicles in 2007 than a year ago, as it steps up production at overseas plants, including in the United States and China. ...

Most S. Korean companies to boost investment in 2007, survey shows.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 60 percent of the major South Korean companies plan to raise their capital spending in 2007 compared to a year ago, a poll showed Tuesday. The Federation of Korean Industries, the nation's biggest business...

Vice finance minister opposes revealing apartment construction costs.
January 3, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Disclosing the costs for building private apartments is not desirable since it goes against market principles, South Korea's vice finance minister said Tuesday, standing by the government's firm stance against a tough...

Seoul warns Chinese diplomats against abuse of diplomatic immunity.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government has summoned a ranking official from the Chinese Embassy here to warn against what is believed to be abuse of diplomatic immunity by Chinese diplomats here, an official at the Foreign...

Seoul shares start lower on steel, construction losses.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks kicked off in negative terrain Thursday as institutions and foreign investors unloaded steel and construction blue chips. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 5.71 points,...

Ambiguity is deadly.
January 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Jan. 4) Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung has created a controversy. He argued that the affluent South should take care of impoverished North Korea, implying that he wants to provide massive aid to the...

Going green.
January 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Jan. 4)Thirty years ago, wintertime meant skating on the frozen Han River in blistering cold. That is now only a distant memory for the grownups as winters have grown warmer with increasingly fewer days when...

Year of Election -Voters Should Take Responsibility for Their Choice-.
January 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Jan. 4)One of Korea's chronic problems is too much politics _ not policies but politics and not even politics but politicking. This may explain why most people greet this years presidential election with heavy...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Jan. 4. Vernacular dailies -- Banks and other financial institutions to adopt stricter mortgage loan rules (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- N. Korean...

U.S. keeps comments short on N.K. foreign ministers' death.
January 4, 2007... WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Wednesday reacted dryly to the death of North Korea's foreign minister and declined to comment on its possible impact on nuclear talks. "We've seen the reports, obviously. And we send our...

Study finds plan to trim military service feasible.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- A 2004 study showed the current two years of mandatory military service can be shortened drastically if the alternative service system is abolished and the number of troops reduced, the state-invested research...

S. Korea may aid N. Korea in countering scarlet fever: officials.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering helping North Korea quarantine its people to help curb the spread of scarlet fever, a disease that has begun plaguing the reclusive state since November last year, South Korean officials said...

Roh pledges to tighten control of Cabinet.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- In an apparent declaration of his resolve to tighten his grip on the government in his last year in office, President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday he will preside over all weekly Cabinet meetings from now on. "I will...

(2nd LD) N. Korean foreign minister dies.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign minister, who was suffering from chronic disease, has died, the communist country's official media reported Wednesday. He was 78. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il sent a wreath of flowers to the...

Roh to announce commerce minister nominee Thursday.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun will announce his choice for the minister of commerce, industry and energy on Thursday with Kim Young-ju, head of the Government Policy Coordination Office, topping the list of potential...

FM's death will not effect N. Korea's nuclear diplomacy: experts.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is not expected to much change its stance in negotiations over its nuclear weapons program despite the death of Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun, a rare supporter of diplomacy over the use of force in the...

S. Korea's housing prices rose 11.6 pct in 2006: report.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Housing prices in South Korea rose an average 11.6 percent last year, fueled by price hikes in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, a report by Kookmin Bank showed Wednesday. The bank, which compiles nationwide housing...

Late N. Korean foreign minister was well-versed in inter-Korean affairs.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun, who died recently after battling a chronic illness, built a strong reputation in the 1990's for his role in inter-Korean affairs and became known by his alias Nam-jun at...

(2nd LD) N. Korean foreign minister dies.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign minister, who was suffering from chronic disease, has died, the communist country's official media reported Wednesday. He was 78. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il sent a wreath of flowers to the...

Opposition party's presidential hopeful supports inter-Korean summit.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- A presidential hopeful from a conservative opposition party said Wednesday that he supports the idea of holding an inter-Korean summit as soon as possible. "If North Korea is ready, an inter-Korean summit should be...

Yonhap News Summary.
January 4, 2007... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday. ------------------- N. Korean foreign minister dies SEOUL -- North Korea's highest diplomat has died, according to a report by the communist...

(LEAD) South Korea's opposition party urges unification minister to resign.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major opposition party on Wednesday called on the Unification Minister in charge of inter-Korean relations to resign, criticizing him as having a pro-North Korea view. The Grand National Party (GNP)...

N. Korean foreign minister dies.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's highest diplomat has died, according to a report by the communist state's official news agency Wednesday. The report by the Korean Central News Agency said the North's leader sent a wreath to the bier...

S. Korea, U.S. to hold 'technical' talks on beef row: official.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States will hold "technical" talks in Seoul next week to try to resolve a prolonged row over Seoul's repeated rejection of U.S. beef shipments, a government official said Wednesday. ...

S. Korean won hits new nine-year high against yen.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean won rose to a fresh nine-year high against the Japanese yen Wednesday as investors dumped the yen on speculation that Japan's economy is not strong enough for a key rate hike, dealers said. The...

(LEAD) Seoul shares end lower on electricity, construction falls.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed sharply lower Wednesday as institutions and foreign investors dumped electricity and construction shares due to their weak earnings outlooks, analysts said. The South Korean won fell against...

S. Korea to allow work visas for ethnic Koreans abroad.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Government officials said Wednesday that ethnic Koreans living in China and Russia will be allowed to enter and work in South Korea for up to three years. Some 50,000 ethnic Koreans are estimated to be living and...

LG.Philips faces delay in production of flat panels at new LCD plant.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- LG.Philips LCD Co., the world second-largest flat panel maker, said Wednesday it may face a delay in the production of flat panels at a new liquid crystal display (LCD) plant under construction due to a sluggish...

Kim could compete in the Asian Games: doctor.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Kim Yu-na, a South Korean female figure skater, could take part in the upcoming Winter Asian Games after a couple of weeks of rehabilitation, her doctor said Wednesday. The 17-year-old Kim injured her back during...

S. Korean builder Woolim wins approval for Kazakhstan housing project.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean builder Woolim C&C Co. said Wednesday that it has received approval to build a new multi-purpose town in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, from the municipal government. The mid-sized construction...

Seoul shares end lower on electricity, construction falls.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed sharply lower Wednesday as institutions and foreign investors dumped electricity and construction shares, analysts said. The South Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark...

Korea Zinc expects 369 bil. won in net profit this year.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Korea Zinc Co., the world's biggest zinc smelter by production, said Wednesday that its profit will amount to 369 billion won (US$399 million) this year. Operating income will reach 392 billion won on sales of 2.2...

Foreign Ministry opens new tourism portal for overseas travelers.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday opened a new Internet site to provide one-stop service for South Koreans planning overseas trips. The new tourism portal, www.visit.go.kr, comes belatedly amid some 10 million South...

S. Korea to send 168-member squad to Winter Asian Games.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will dispatch a 168-member squad to the upcoming Winter Asian Games slated for Changchun in northeastern China, the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) said Wednesday. The squad would consist of 126 athletes for...

Ssangyong Motor targets 27 pct rise in auto sales in 2007.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co., South Korea's smallest automaker, said Wednesday it is expecting 2007 sales to grow 26.7 percent annually to 153,000 units. Ssangyong Motor, controlled by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry...

(LEAD) FDI in S. Korea drops 2.9 pct to US$11.2 bln in 2006.
January 4, 2007... SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Korea fell 2.9 percent from a year ago to US$11.2 billion in 2006, the second straight annual decline, a government report said Wednesday. However, last year's decline was...