South Korean stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as the prolonged currency volatility and North Korea's threat for a nuclear test continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 0.1 percent, or 1.99 points, to 1,936.19. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 461 to 338."Despite the gains on Wall Street

Feb. 6, 2013

South Korean stocks traded 0.1 percent higher late Wednesday morning, buoyed by gains in mobile carriers and technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 1.94 points to 1,940.12 as of 11:20 a.m.Mobile carriers led the market gain, with leading SK Telecom increasing 3.44 percent and No. 2 player KT moving up 2.11 percent.No. 3 player LG Uplus climbed 2.87 percent.Tech blue chips also continued to trade higher, with market behemoth Samsung Elect

Feb. 6, 2013

South Korean stocks began higher Wednesday as investor sentiment got a boost from overnight gains on Wall Street, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.22 percent, or 4.28 points, to 1942.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech blue chips drove up the shares, with top chipmaker SK hynix increasing 0.84 percent and handset maker LG Electronics climbing 0.58 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display moved up 1.63 percent.Construction firms also traded higher, w

Feb. 6, 2013

South Korean stocks ended 0.77 percent lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concern over North Korea's nuclear test, analysts said Tuesday. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.03 points to 1,938.18. Trading volume was moderate at 361.3 million shares worth 3.7 trillion won (US$3.4 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 602 to 215."Rising geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea's pledge

Feb. 5, 2013

Eight foreign nationals have been arrested on suspicion of using forged credit cards to fund lavish shopping sprees in Seoul, police here said Tuesday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, six foreigners, including a Malaysian ringleader identified by the initial M, are accused of using 120 fake credit cards under other people's names to purchase 270 million won (US$248,000) worth of jewelry and electronic goods during their three visits to Seoul, with the first instance taking plac

Social Affairs Feb. 5, 2013

South Korean stocks traded 0.81 percent lower late Tuesday morning amid heightened political tension with North Korea, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.73 points to 1,937.48 as of 11:20 a.m.Tech blue chips led the decline, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 0.63 percent, and top chipmaker SK hynix losing 2.67 percent.Brokerage houses were also trading in negative territory, with Samsung Securities decreasing 2.66 percent and KDB Daewoo S

Feb. 5, 2013

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Tuesday as political uncertainties over the eurozone dented investor sentiment here, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 15.57 points, or 0.8 percent, to trade at 1937.64 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares lost ground across the board, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 1.18 percent and chipmaker SK hynix losing 1.23 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display shed 1.6 percent.Shipbuilders also tra

Feb. 5, 2013

South Korean stocks ended 0.23 percent lower on Monday as investors stepped to the sidelines due to prolonged currency volatility in the foreign exchange market, analysts said Monday. The local currency surged against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dipped 4.58 points to 1,953.21. Trading volume was moderate at 339.7 million shares worth 3.49 trillion won (US$3.22 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 475 to 337."Despite positive economic indicators f

Feb. 4, 2013

North Korea denounced the latest U.N. sanctions imposed for December's long-range rocket launch as a "grave obstacle" to its efforts to rebuild the tattered economy, saying such sanctions won't work and will only harden its resolve to further strengthen its self-defense power.Last month, the U.N. Security Council toughened sanctions on the communist nation for carrying out a long-range rocket launch in December in violation of U.N. resolutions over concern such a firing could be used to develop

North Korea Feb. 4, 2013

한국의 혼인 건 수는 느는 데 반해 출산율은 너무나 저조한 것으로 드러났다. 이는 생활비 및 자녀교육비에 대한 부담 때문인 것으로 분석된다.2009년 통계에 따르면 한국은 혼인율이 1,000명 당 7.13명으로 OECD 국가 중 세 번째다. 터키 9.04, 미국 7.31에 이은 수치다. 그러나 한국은 출산율에서 2010년 1.23명을 기록해 OECD 국가 중 가장 낮다.출산율의 감소 또한 멕시코 다음으로 가장 빠르게 이루어졌다. 1970년 한국은 출산율이 4.53명이었다.물가 상승의 압박과 함께 저조한 출산율은 결혼 평균 나이가 30대로 늦추어지는 결과를 낳고 있다. (코리아헤럴드)<관련 영문 기사>Newlyweds reluctant to have babies　By Park Hyong-ki　More and more Koreans are getting married, but they still seem reluctant to give birth to their first child d

한국어판 Feb. 4, 2013

South Korean stocks traded 0.27 percent higher late Monday morning as foreign investors scooped up local shares, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 5.25 points to 1,963.04 as of 11:20 a.m.Mobile carriers led the market gain, with leading SK Telecom increasing 2.94 percent and No. 2 player KT moving up 4.17 percent.No. 3 player LG Uplus climbed 3.91 percent.Shipbuilders also traded higher, with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering rising 0.17 percen

Feb. 4, 2013

South Korean stocks began higher Monday as investor sentiment got a boost from last week's gains on Wall Street, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.45 percent, or 8.84 points, to 1966.63 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares gathered ground across the board, with tech behemoth Samsung Electronics increasing 0.14 percent and top steelmaker POSCO adding 1.81 percent. Leading builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction moved up 1.46 percent.U.S. stocks e

Feb. 4, 2013

취업 스트레스에 시달리는 20대가 가장 결식률이 높은 것으로 드러났다고 일요일 통계청이 밝혔다.25세에서 29세에 이르는 20대 후반의 경우 한 달 평균 3.8끼를 거르며, 20대 초반, 중반의 경우 3.7끼를 거른다.20대 후반 여성이 가장 결식 횟수가 높다며, 한 달 평균 4.5끼를 거른다고 통계청이 전했다.“식사는 소득 수준과도 연관이 있습니다.” 한국보건사회연구원의 김미숙 씨가 전했다. 이어 20대가 복지 사각지대에 놓인 만큼 이들을 위한 정부 정책이 필요하다고 역설했다.“직업이 없는 20대의 경우 집값, 교통비, 통신비 등을 감당해내느라 식비를 줄이는 경향이 있습니다.”라고 말했다.한국의 청년실업률은 갈수록 악화되고 있다. 통계청에 따르면 20대의 일자리가 지난 12월 85,000개로 감소했다. 일자리 수는 8개월 연속 떨어졌다.반면 10세 이하의 아동이 가장 영양 상태가 좋은 것으로 드러났다. 다음은 40대로, 이들은 한 달 평균 1.8끼를 거른다고 통계청이 전했다. (코

한국어판 Feb. 3, 2013