YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from June 2004

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from June 2004

Second Earthquake in Week Hits Korean Peninsula.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- An earthquake, measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale, struck South Korea Tuesday with its epicenter off the coast of Uljin, 330 km southeast of Seoul, according to the Korea Metrological Administration (KMA). The KMA...

N.K. Delegation Leaves for Brazil for U.N. Trade Conference.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Choe Su-hun left for Brazil for the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday. The North's...

N Korean Officials Due Mid-June for Summit Anniversary.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A senior North Korean official is to visit South Korea in the middle of this month for an international forum on Korean affairs and to discuss ways of promoting inter-Korean peace and reconciliation, organizers said...

Iran Disputes Claim it Got Nuclear Technology from N. Korea.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Iran has not cooperated with North Korea on developing its nuclear programs, the Iranian foreign minister said on Tuesday. "There is absolutely no cooperation between Iran and North Korea in terms of nuclear...

(LEAD) Air Force Jet Drops Training Bomb on Parking Lot.
June 1, 2004... BORYEONG, South Korea, June 1 (Yonhap) -- An Air Force jet accidentally dropped a training bomb at a parking lot near a train station here, but it did not cause any casualties, according to local police. The accident occurred around 4:07...

(LEAD) Int'l Meeting on Cultural Diversity Opens in Seoul.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of cultural experts from all over the world gathered in Seoul Tuesday for a four-day conference aimed at promoting cultural diversity. The Third International Meeting of Cultural Professional Organizations...

Ruling Party Lawmaker Arrested on Charges of Illegal Campaigning.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Kang Sung-jong from the ruling Uri Party was put in custody Tuesday on charges of illegal electioneering. A court in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, issued an arrest warrant requested by state prosecutors for...

Seoul Has Capacity to Play Bigger Defense Role: Envoy.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has grown enough to assume a bigger role in defending itself, the top U.S. envoy here said Tuesday, referring to a U.S. plan to slash its troop levels here. Amb. Thomas Hubbard assured, however, that...

KFA Makes Official Proposal for Metsu to Head National Team.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The Korean Football Association (KFA) has already made its official proposition to former Senegal head coach Bruno Metsu to take charge of South Korea's national team, the association said in a news conference...

Air Force Jet Drops Training Bomb on Parking Lot.
June 1, 2004... BORYEONG, South Korea, June 1 (Yonhap) -- An Air Force jet dropped a training bomb at a parking lot near a train station here, but it did not cause any casualties, according to the local police. The accident occurred around 4:47 p.m.,...

(4th LD) 'N. Korean' Ejected from Beijing German School.
June 1, 2004... BEIJING, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A self-proclaimed North Korean was ejected from a German school in Beijing Tuesday hours after he and five others also who claimed to be North Koreans took refuge there. The 34-year-old man, identified as Yoon...

S. Korea's Employers Group Official Selected as IOE Treasurer.
June 1, 2004... GENEVA, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Cho Nam-hong, vice chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, was selected as treasurer of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) on Monday. It is the first time for a South Korean national to assume...

Today in Korean History.
June 1, 2004... Wednesday, June 2, 2004 1592 -- Joseon Dynasty Admiral Yi Sun-shin and his combined fleet destroy 20 Japanese ships off the southeastern region of Dangpo. Yi's naval victory was partly thanks to his "Turtle Boats," constructed in the...

Won Ends Lower vs Dollar on Weak Yen.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean won nudged lower against the dollar on a weak yen Tuesday, while the country's key bond yield finished higher. The won fell 0.50 to the greenback to close at 1,160.60, with the return on three-year...

Yonhap News Summary.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ----------------------- S. Korea's Trade Surplus Tops US$3 Billion in May SEOUL -- South Korea's trade surplus exceeded...

(LEAD) Report on Non-regular Workers' Entry Into Labor Commission Denied.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday dismissed a report that the government will allow representatives of non-regular workers to join the future meeting of the tripartite labor-management-government...

S Korea's Mobile Phone Users Exceed 36 Million for First Time.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Korean mobile phone subscribers topped 36 million for the first time in May, according to wireless companies Tuesday. SK Telecom Co., the country's top cell-phone carrier, added a net 104,814...

Scholars of Two Koreas to Hold Academic Meeting.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Academic figures from South and North Korea will meet here Friday to discuss Korea's modern history, a South Korean organizer said on Tuesday. The Academy of Korean Studies said it will host the meeting along with...

Int'l Meeting on Cultural Diversity Opens in Seoul.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of cultural experts from all over the world gathered in Seoul Tuesday for a four-day conference aimed at promoting cultural diversity. The Third International Meeting of Cultural Professional Organizations...

President Roh Asks for Stable Provision of Crude Oil From Iran.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun met with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi Tuesday to ask for the Iranian government to provide crude oil in a stable manner. While receiving the top Iranian diplomat, Roh also...

Seoul Shares Rebound.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rebounded Tuesday as buying interest gained momentum on strong demand. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 1.48 percent, or 11.93 points, to 815.77. The index of the tech-heavy KOSDAQ...

President Roh's Chief Policymaker Hospitalized for Colon Cancer.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A senior aide to President Roh Moo-hyun was hospitalized for colon cancer last Saturday, according to Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, Tuesday. It is not clear at the moment whether Park Bong-heum, director...

Economy Not in Trouble, Growth Expected: Finance Ministry.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Finance and Economy stressed Tuesday that the economy is not in trouble but it will take time for the people to feel the full effects of a recovery. The head of the Government Information Ministry,...

S. Korean Science Minister Meets Salvadoran President-Elect.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Science Minister Oh Myung paid a courtesy call on El Salvador's president-elect Tony Saca and discussed ways to strengthen ties between their countries, Oh's ministry said Tuesday. Oh, who is heading...

(LEAD) Hynix Agrees to Sell Non-memory Business to Citigroup.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's fourth-largest memory chipmaker, has reached a deal to sell its non-memory chip unit to Citigroup, the largest financial institution in the United States, for 954.3 billion won...

(LEAD) Sales of South Korean Cars Rise in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Sales of South Korean automobiles rose year-on-year in May, as brisk exports outstripped sluggish domestic sales, according to industry reports Tuesday. However, sluggish domestic sales was prolonged, while the...

(LEAD) S. Korea's Trade Surplus Tops US$3 Billion in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade surplus exceeded US$3 billion in May, the largest monthly amount in more than five years, thanks to robust exports to the United States and China, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said...

Vietnamese Officials in S.K. to Study Public Personnel Programs.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A group of Vietnamese government officials is visiting South Korea to learn about training programs for public servants, Seoul officials said Tuesday. "Thirteen ranking Vietnamese officials are here for their...

Report on Non-regular Workers' Entry into Labor Commission Denied.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae Tuesday dismissed a report that the government will allow representatives of non-regular workers to join the future meeting of the tripartite labor-management-government...

Sales of South Korean Cars Rise in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Overall sales of South Korean automobiles rose year-on-year in May, as brisk exports outstripped sluggish domestic sales, according to industry reports Tuesday. Hyundai Motor Co., the nation's largest automaker, said...

N. Korean Nuke Talks to Proceed This Month: Chinese Daily.
June 1, 2004... BEIJING, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The talks to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear weapons program will be held at the end of this month as scheduled, a Chinese newspaper reported Tuesday. The China Youth Daily made the report,...

Hynix Agrees to Sell Non-memory Business to Citigroup.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's fourth-largest memory chipmaker, has reached a deal to sell its non-memory chip unit to Citigroup, the largest financial institution in the United States, for 954.3 billion won...

S. Korea's KTF Adds Net 250,000 Cell-phone Users in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- KTF Co., South Korea's second-largest mobile phone carrier, added 251,377 new customers in May as more people subscribed to flat-rate voice and data services, the company said Tuesday. In the January-May period,...

Media Union Says FTC Must Correct Newspaper Market 'Distortion'.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The National Union of Media Workers accused the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Tuesday for skirting its responsibility to correct distortion in South Korea's newspaper market. In an impromptu news conference in front...

Samsung Electronics in Tie-Up With EMC for Data Storage Computers.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest memory chip maker, and EMC Corp., the world's third-largest data storage equipment maker, unveiled a strategic partnership that will jointly develop and sell storage...

S. Korea's Trade Surplus Tops US$3 Billion in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade surplus exceeded US$3 billion in May, the largest monthly amount in more than five years, thanks to robust exports to the United States and China. Customs-cleared exports jumped 42.4 percent on...

APG Seoul Meeting to Strengthen Anti-money Laundering Cooperation.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) meeting in Seoul this month is expected to strengthen regional cooperation and set international standards to clamp down on money laundering practices, the Korea...

Roh Aide to Attend Int'l Labor Assembly to Promote Korea's Image.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A senior aide to President Roh Moo-hyun will fly to Geneva Monday to attend an annual assembly of the International Labor Organization (ILO), a Cheong Wa Dae official said Tuesday. Kwon Jae-chul, presidential...

Major Classical Concerts for June.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The following is a list of some key classical music concerts to be held in June. -- World Rising Star Series - Sergei Khachaturyan Violin Recital Date: June 11 (Fri.), 8:00 p.m. Venue: Kumho Art Hall ...

Primorskiy Governor to Visit South Korea.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The Governor of Russia's Primorskiy Territory, Sergey Mikhailovich Darkin, will arrive in South Korea Wednesday for a four-day visit, the Foreign Ministry said. Darkin will meet Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon Thursday...

U.S. Defense Secretary May Brief S. Korea on Global Troop Moves.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Cho Young-kil said Tuesday he expected U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to brief Seoul officials about the blueprint for realignment of U.S troops in South Korea and other U.S. ally nations in...

U.S. Requests More Land to Relocate Troops.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The United States has requested South Korea to grant more land in locations south of Seoul to relocate its troops currently based in the capital and near the border with North Korea, an official said Tuesday. ...

S. Korean Firms Tapping Into Russia's Construction Market.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Many South Korean construction firms are making inroads into Russia, whose booming economy in recent years has put it in need of more infrastructure, local industry sources said Tuesday. Russia, which has the...

Preliminary Contract Signed for Sale of Hanbo Iron.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A preliminary contract was signed Tuesday to sell Hanbo Iron & Steel Co., a troubled steelmaker which contributed partly to South Korea's 1997-98 foreign exchange crisis. Lead manager Samil PriceWaterhouseCoopers...

S. Korea, U.S. Kick Off Trade Talks.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States opened two days of quarterly consultative talks on pending bilateral trade issues in Washington, D.C., the foreign ministry said Tuesday. At the talks, the second such meeting this...

Gov't to Review Extra Budget to Stabilize Public Livelihood, SMEs.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- The government will review a supplementary budget option that is to focus on stabilizing the livelihood of ordinary people and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), sources at the Ministry of Finance and Economy said...

Japan on Verge of Passing Bill to Regulate Entry of N.K. Ferry.
June 1, 2004... TOKYO, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A committee of the Japanese Diet's lower house approved on Tuesday a bill that bans the arrival of certain vessels at its ports, a move widely interpreted as targeting a North Korean ferry that travels between the...

(3rd LD) One Self-Proclaimed N. Korean Ejected from Beijing German School.
June 1, 2004... BEIJING, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A self-proclaimed North Korean was ejected from a German school in Beijing Tuesday hours after he and five other alleged North Koreans took refuge there. The 34-year-old man, identified as Yoon Ung-joo, was...

President Turns Down Resignation of Intelligence Service Chief.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun recently returned the resignation submitted by the head of the nation's chief spy agency, paving the way for him to control his agency for a considerable time. Ko Young-koo, director of...

Merck to Increase Liquid Crystal Supplies to Asia.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Merck KGaA, the world's biggest liquid crystal manufacturer, plans to invest 30 million euros (US$36.61 million) in Asia to meet the burgeoning liquid crystal demand in the region, industry sources said Tuesday. ...

Gov't Policies Must Precede Red Cross Aid to N.K., Official Says.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- A high-ranking official at the Korean National Red Cross argued Tuesday that humanitarian aid for North Korea must be more carefully planned out to be in line with government policies to engage the North. ...

Steelmakers Implement First Price Cut This Year.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean steelmakers will implement their first price cut this year, following a string of recent price hikes in line with rising global prices for raw materials. POSCO said Tuesday it is to lower the...

Small & Medium Companies Increase Overseas Investment by 56 Pct.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Small and medium companies in South Korea increased overseas investment by 55.9 percent from the previous year to US$608 million as of the end of April this year, according to the state-run Export Import Bank...

(LEAD) May Consumer Prices Down 0.1 Pct on Month, Up 3.3 Pct on Year.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer prices dipped 0.1 percent in May compared to the previous month, while moving up 3.3 percent on the year, a government report said Tuesday. The National Statistical Office (NSO) said the...

Typical Summer Weather Expected Until Next Week.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will enjoy typical summer weather including warmer temperatures and fewer clouds in early June, with some regions experiencing temperatures above 30 C, meteorologists said Tuesday. "Daytime...

N.K. Claims U.S. Conducted 190 Scouting Missions in May.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea claimed Tuesday that U.S. spy planes conducted about 190 aerial reconnaissance missions last month as part of a plan to invade the communist state. "This shows there is no change in the U.S....

National Security Advisor Travels to U.S. for N.K., Security Talks.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean National Security Advisor Kwon Chin-ho embarked on a four-day tour of the United States Tuesday to discuss with U.S. officials international concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons programs and...

Tuesday's Weather Forecast.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, Jun. 1 (Yonhap) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea's 13 major cities at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Temperature (C) Condition Possibility High/Low of Rain (%) Seoul 28/14 Sunny ...

EDITORIALS FROM MAJOR S KOREAN DAILIES TUESDAY JUNE 1, 2004.
June 1, 2004... The Korea Times Foreign Head Expected to Change Academic Atmosphere The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's (KAIST) selection of Robert B. Laughlin as the president of the nation [macron]s top science and technology...

Consumer Prices Dip 0.1 Pct in May from April.
June 1, 2004... SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer prices dipped 0.1 percent in May compared to the previous month, a government report said Tuesday. The National Statistical Office said the drop was the first in six months, though...

6 N.K. Escapees Reportedly Enter German School in Beijing.
June 1, 2004... BEIJING, June 1 (Yonhap) - Six people claiming to be North Korean defectors made their way into a German government-run school in Beijing Tuesday and confronted Chinese police, one of the six people said. They entered the school by scaling its...

Top Headlines in Major Korean Newspapers - Tuesday, June 1, 2004.
June 1, 2004... Kyunghyang Shinmun - 3-way labor talks revived Kukmin Daily - Roh propose reviving 3-way labor talks Dong-A Ilbo - Public officials' financial irregularities uncovered Seoul Shinmun - 3-way labor talks to restart from next week ...

Six N. Korean Defectors Faces Off Against Chinese Police.
June 1, 2004... BEIJING, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Six North Korean defectors entered a Germany-operating school and confronted with Chinese police, a North Korean defector said Tuesday. (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

Omya to Invest US$30 Million in South Korean Plant by 2006.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Omya, a Swiss supplier of calcium carbonate for the paper, paint, and plastics industries, will invest US$30 million to build a plant in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, over the next three years as part of its effort...

Ssangyong Motor Creditors to Pick Prime Bidder This Month.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Ssangyong Motor Co., South Korea's fourth-largest carmaker, will choose a priority negotiator for the company this month, according to informed sources Wednesday. Chohung Bank, the automaker's main...

Two Koreas Open New Economic Talks.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea kicked off a new round of talks in Pyongyang Wednesday to discuss details of ongoing or planned cross-border economic projects, officials said. A 36-member South Korean delegation, including...

Seoul City Finalizes Plan on Bus, Subway Fares.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Public transportation fares for long-distance commuters will increase sharply starting July 1, the Seoul metropolitan government said Wednesday. The city government finalized its plan on changing bus and subway...

KDN to Provide Power Line Communication Service to Malaysia.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Korea Electric Power Data Network (KDN), a subsidiary of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), said Wednesday that it will provide high-speed Internet modems and applied solution programs for Malaysia's...

Hakan Strike Spoils South Korea's World Cup Party.
June 2, 2004... By Eoghan Sweeney SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Despite a desperate second-half onslaught, there was disappointment for South Korea as they went down 1-0 to Turkey at Seoul World Cup Stadium Wednesday evening. Hakan Sukur, who scored his only...

South Korea v Turkey friendly match final score:".
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea v Turkey friendly match final score: South Korea 0, Turkey 1 (Hakan 22) (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

Al Ain Executive Says Metsu May Have Violated Contract: Report.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A professional football team in the United Arab Emirates that Frenchman Bruno Metsu currently leads claimed Metsu violated his contract if he secretly signed one with another pro-league team, an Arab newspaper...

Deputy Foreign Minister to Attend Asia-Pacific Security Meeting.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck will leave for Singapore Thursday to participate in the third Asia-Pacific security meeting, officials said Wednesday. Lee will also attend a separate meeting...

OPEC's Output Hike Won't Rein in Runaway Market: KNOC.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A possible increase in output by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will not likely cause crude oil prices to dip below US$30, the state-run oil company said Wednesday. "OPEC is highly...

Samsung to Cooperate With Fuji Xerox in Printer Technology.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Group said Wednesday it will intensify its cooperation with Fuji Xerox Co., a Japanese document solution provider, in development of printers and multi-printers. Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee and Fuji...

Police Accused of Violating Rights in Security Law-related Cases.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A state-run human rights watchdog Wednesday accused law enforcement agencies of giving points for convictions in cases involving suspected violation of South Korea's controversial anti-communist law, resulting in...

Court Rules Against Conscientious Objector.
June 2, 2004... JEONJU, South Korea, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean court on Wednesday again found a conscientious objector of military service guilty of dodging the compulsory service and sentenced him to an 18-month jail term. The Jeonju District Court...

Gov't to Issue 3.8 Tril. Won Worth of Gov't Bonds in June.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- The government will issue 3.8 trillion won (US$3.26 billion) worth of government bonds and 2 trillion won of treasuries in June, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said Wednesday. The bonds have maturities of...

President's Aide Rebuffs Referendum Proposal on Capital Relocation.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A senior aide to President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday dismissed a proposal that the government hold a national referendum before pushing ahead with a project to build a new administrative capital. In a newsletter...

Cheong Wa Dae Dismisses Allegations Roh Focusing Overly on Politics.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun's office, Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday dismissed accusations that he was focusing too much on domestic political maneuvering rather than on reviving the sluggish economy. In a newsletter on its...

(3rd LD) FM Sees No Need to Change Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- Even if the United States expands the roles of its South Korea-based troops, their primary mission will remain the same: deterring war and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday....

(LEAD) South Korea to Lower Legal Age of Adulthood to 19.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government will push to lower the legal age of adulthood from the current 20 to 19 to reflect rapid social changes, the Ministry of Justice said Wednesday. For the purpose of changing the legal...

(LEAD)Seoul-Washington Alliance Should Remain Intact Despite Planned Troop Draw-down, Officials.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's ruling party chief said Wednesday that Seoul-Washington alliance should remain intact regardless of the planned withdrawal of some U.S. troops from his country. Shin Ki-nam, chairman of the Uri (Our)...

World Food Program Aid to Reach N. Korea This Week.
June 2, 2004... BUSAN, June 2 (Yonhap) -- A container ship carrying U.N. World Food Program aid for North Korea will arrive in this port city early Thursday, a local government official said Wednesday. Upon arrival, the ship's cargo of 1,800 tons of peas...

Seoul National University to Cut Undergraduate Students in 2005.
June 2, 2004... SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) - Seoul National University will accept 16.1 percent less students for its undergraduate programs in 2005 compared to the previous year, university officials said Wednesday. The state-run university in Seoul will accept a...