Hong Joon-pyo, the presidential candidate of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, vowed Tuesday to reduce fine dust pollution by strengthening cooperation with China and expanding the use of environmentally friendly cars.Announcing his environmental election pledges, Hong's campaign said he would launch joint efforts with Beijing to study and curtail fine dust, and push to establish an international organization to improve air quality in Northeast Asia. Hong Joon-pyo, the presidential candidate

Politics April 18, 2017

South Korea's top financial regulator said Tuesday he expects holders of commercial papers issued by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. to agree to a debt-for-equity swap plan by the end of this week. If they accept the bailout plan, state-run creditor banks will begin injecting fresh funds into Daewoo Shipbuilding to keep the ailing shipbuilder afloat, Financial Services Commission Chairman Yim Jong-yong told reporters. (Yonhap)Yim made the remarks after Daewoo Shipbuilding received f

Industry April 18, 2017

The fate of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. will largely hinge on its implementation of bold self-rescue measures and a revival of new orders, even after bondholders of the world's largest shipyard by order backlog accepted the massive debt restructuring proposal, industry watchers said Tuesday.Over the past two days, investors who hold some 1.3 trillion won ($1.13 billion) worth of bonds sold by Daewoo Shipbuilding have overwhelmingly voted for the debt rescheduling proposal drawn

Industry April 18, 2017

Kia Motors Corp. on Tuesday launched the all-new turbo-charged Morning city car to offer more options to customers. Kia Motors has added two new choices to the carmaker's existing 1-liter gasoline-powered Morning: one with a powerful turbo direct-injection engine and the other that has a liquefied petroleum gas injection mill, the carmaker said in a statement.Kia's Morning mini car (Kia Motors)The car is sold as the Picanto in some overseas markets.The Morning with a less powerful turbo engine i

Mobility April 18, 2017

South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion Inc. said Tuesday that its biosimilar drug Truxima began selling in Britain following approval from a European regulator.Starting earlier this month, Britain-based Napp Pharmaceuticals began distributing Celltrion's biosimilar to Roche's Mabthera at 50 hospitals in the country, Celltrion said.(Yonhap)In February, the European Medicines Agency accepted Celltrion's application to sell the antibody biosimilar which is used in the treatment of a number o

Industry April 18, 2017

Embattled Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Tuesday got the nod from its investors who hold some 1.3 trillion won ($1.14 billion) worth of bonds, paving the way for the troubled shipyard to receive a fresh cash injection from its creditors.Earlier in the day, investors with some 410 billion won approved the debt rescheduling proposal drawn up by the shipyard's creditors. On Monday, holders of some 940 billion won worth of Daewoo Shipbuilding bonds also agreed to the debt rescheduli

Industry April 18, 2017

South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday called on Japan to refrain from fanning security concerns on the Korean Peninsula, one day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mentioned a contingency plan in the event of a conflict in Korea.In a parliamentary committee session on Monday, Abe said his government is working on contingency plans for a crisis situation on the peninsula, referring to a potential influx of Korean refugees into Japan. A Japanese newspaper's report on the possibility of U.S. attac

Foreign Affairs April 18, 2017

Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, vowed Tuesday to provide additional support for the elderly that will include increased monthly allowances and more jobs for people who are past the retirement age but still need to work.Moon said he will, if elected, provide 300,000 won ($263) in a monthly allowance to people aged 65 years or older.Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party (Yonhap)It will mark a great increase from the 100,000

Politics April 18, 2017

South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday warned that North Korea would face a "corresponding consequence" should it stage yet another provocation.His remarks came amid growing concerns that the communist regime may engage in provocative acts such as a nuclear test or an intercontinental ballistic missile test in time for the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People's Army next Tuesday.Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (left) preside

North Korea April 18, 2017

MOKPO -- Search parties entered the wreckage of the Sewol ferry Tuesday to find the remains of those still missing following the vessel's sinking three years ago.The government said a team of eight workers searched through the fourth floor of the bow on the portside from 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., recovering some 18 articles believed to have belonged to passengers.Among the items found were a few pairs of shoes, two suitcases, two back packs and trousers, making the total tally of recovered lost it

Social Affairs April 18, 2017

The number of subscribers of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) has hit the 7 million mark, the ICT ministry said Tuesday, maintaining stable growth since the service was launched in 2011.The mobile service providers that rent networks from the country's three carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- had over 7.01 million users as of the end of March, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said.MVNOs usually provide users with plans cheaper than those of the maj

Industry April 18, 2017

South Korea's exports of entertainment, sports and animation programs rose sharply in 2015 amid the total shipments of TV programs shrinking due to the historical row with Japan, South Korea's biggest content market, data showed Tuesday. (Yonhap)Exports of entertainment programs climbed to US$31.9 million in 2015 from $19.8 million in 2014 and $14.4 million in 2013, according to the data by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.Sports programs shipments skyrocketed to $5.2 million in

April 18, 2017

K-pop singer Gong Minzy has released her first solo debut album, tapping into her more approachable and feminine inner self as she navigates her post-2NE1 career. (Yonhap)"Whereas I had a 'tough sister' image from emphasizing the 'girl crush' concept in my 2NE1 days, I think I've taken on a more friendly image now," Gong told reporters at a recent media showcase for her new album "Minzy Work 01 Uno" held at the Shinhan Card FAN square in northern Seoul."Before, it was hard for people to approach

April 18, 2017

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela’s defense minister Monday declared the army’s loyalty to President Nicolas Maduro, who ordered troops into the streets ahead of a major protest by opponents trying to oust him.Venezuela is bracing for what Maduro’s opponents vow will be the “mother of all protests” Wednesday, after two weeks of clashes between police and demonstrators protesting against moves by the leftist leader and his allies to tighten their grip on power.The center-right opposition has called

World News April 18, 2017