Despite checkered history, not much known about Shin’s connectionsProsecutors are zeroing in on Shin Sam-kil, the arrested honorary chairman of Samhwa Mutual Savings Bank, as they deepen the probe into savings banks’ irregularities.Circumstantial evidence shows that Shin lobbied a number of politicians and senior government officials to save his troubled business, but very little is known about wh

Summoning of suspects in savings bank scandal delayed after parliamentary subpanel’s decisionProsecutors geared up for a dogfight with the assemblymen over the weekend after a parliamentary subcommittee agreed to push ahead with its legislation plan to remove a central investigation unit of the state prosecution.A six-member panel under the special legislative committee on judicial reform announce

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's second-largest mobile phone maker, said Thursday that its new Galaxy Tab tablet computer will hit U.S. shelves next week, mounting a challenge on Apple Inc.'s iPad 2.The wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be launched on June 8 through the U.S. retailer Best Buy Co., Samsung said in a statement.The upcoming Android-based tablet, which

President Lee Myung-bak should take moral responsibility for a snowballing influence-peddling scandal in which a troubled savings bank allegedly bribed influential government officials and politicians to avoid punishment for its irregularities, his prime minister said Thursday."President Lee, who appointed top officials in charge of supervising the bank, is morally responsible for the scandal, not

Prosecutors on Thursday questioned the chief of a state-run anti-money laundering agency over allegations that he accepted tens of millions of won in kickbacks from Busan Savings Bank. The interrogation came as they widened their probe into the bribery scandal involving savings banks. The ongoing investigation into who oversaw the savings banks’ corruption has already implicated an ex-governor of

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s recent visit to China indicated that the two countries’ communist alliance remains intact, but that it may be shifting toward a relationship based more on strategic and economic interests.The varying tones of state-run media reports from Pyongyang and Beijing on Kim’s summit meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao last week suggested that the two allies may not b

Lee faces criticism for secret move to set up meeting with Kim Jong-ilPyongyang’s official media announcement on Wednesday that Seoul proposed holding three rounds of summit meetings between their leaders have dashed prospects for a summit between President Lee Myung-bak and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and prolonged the inter-Korean stalemate.The Lee administration was also likely to face crit

Both sides say the other should take responsibility for savings bank problemsThe presidential office and opposition lawmakers are accusing each other of being associated with a corruption scandal involving savings banks that has led to the arrest of a former top state auditor for bribery.A senior Cheong Wa Dae official on Tuesday went on a counteroffensive against Park Jie-won, former floor leader

Meeting comes as GNP is embroiled in leadership crisisPresident Lee Myung-bak will meet with the ruling party’s factional leader and strongest presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye this Friday, Lee’s aide said Tuesday, 10 months after their previous meeting in August last year.During the luncheon meeting with Lee, the former chairwoman of the Grand National Party will discuss the outcome of her

Chief of staff Yim will likely stay to prepare for inter-Korean summit: observersPresident Lee Myung-bak is expected to replace some of his secretaries in early June as new minister nominees take office and oust several top aides if necessary after the Grand National Party’s national convention on July 4.The National Assembly wrapped up confirmation hearings for the five new minister nominees last

U.S. tested highly toxic defoliants in 5 countries including Korea in 1960sSouth Korean and U.S. officials on Friday began collecting groundwater samples near a U.S. army base in the south, a day after agreeing on a joint probe into the alleged burial of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange by American troops about three decades ago.The investigation began after former U.S. soldiers told a U.S. televi

Ruling party hints at parliamentary probeState prosecutors found that President Lee Myung-bak’s confidant and former state auditor Eun Jin-soo violated the law to take part in auditing savings banks last year as they investigated Eun’s alleged involvement in a snowballing savings bank corruption scandal.Eun stepped down as commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection Thursday after the prosec

Seoul and Tokyo are discussing whether President Lee Myung-bak should accept his Japanese counterpart’s invitation for a state visit this fall, Lee’s spokesperson said Thursday.Prime Minister Nato Kan extended the invitation during his summit talks with Lee held Sunday in Tokyo on the sidelines of the annual Korea-Japan-China summit.“President Lee said Seoul’s foreign ministry will hold working-le

U.S. analyst expects herald interview N.K. ‘apology,’ easing of Seoul’s sanctions in near futureNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s seventh official visit to China is once again drawing attention to whether the reclusive state will forge a major economic partnership with its main ally and provider of aid.In addition to revisiting China’s underdeveloped northeastern provinces last week, Kim traveled

President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday met with a senior Vatican official in charge of promoting dialogue with other religions and expressed his respect for such efforts, the presidential office said.French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, arrived in Seoul on Monday for a five-day trip that includes a visit to the headquarters

South Koreans who wish to send money to their families in North Korea will be required to get government approval in advance under a revised law, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Monday.All remittances between the South and North, including investments or aid to the North from an overseas corporation set up by a South Korean citizen, will require government approval, according to the revised law

Wen says Beijing invited N.K. leader to witness economic developmentLeaders of South Korea, Japan and China agreed Sunday to set up an early notification system for nuclear accidents during an annual tripartite summit in Tokyo which took place as North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was visiting China.Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao told President Lee Myung-bak that “Beijing invited Kim to give the N

Kim Jong-il, Hu Jintao will discuss economic cooperation, denuclearization efforts: expertsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-il was expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday to discuss bilateral economic cooperation as well as denuclearization efforts.The special train carrying Kim entered the Chinese border town of Tumen early Friday, passed through Shenyang Saturday evening and was

President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday hosted a dinner for the participants in the two-day G20 Seoul Speakers Consultation at the presidential office.About 110 people invited to the event at Cheong Wa Dae included parliamentary speakers and delegates from the G20 states, National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae, vice speakers Chung Eui-hwa, Hong Jae-hyung, Grand National Party floor leader Hwang Woo-ye

International coordination to fight terrorism was on top of the agenda at the meeting of parliamentary representatives from the Group of 20 major economies in Seoul Thursday.Assembly speakers and delegates from 26 countries gathered for the two-day G20 Seoul Speakers’ Consultation to seek parliamentary solutions to global issues such as terrorism and natural disasters.Sixteen of the participants w