Korean airlines are expected to jack up their fuel surcharges on international flights for July and August, but the increase rate will likely slow amid easing fuel prices, officials and industry sources said Sunday.The average price of jet fuel hovered at about $3.16 a gallon on the Singaporean spot market from April to May 28, compared with $3.02 per gallon between February and March, according t

North Korea’s trade volume soared 22 percent in 2010 from a year earlier as the communist state boosted exports of minerals to earn hard currency and increased imports of fuels, mostly oil, a local trade agency said Friday.North Korea’s imports and exports, excluding those with South Korea, jumped 22.3 percent on-year to $4.17 billion last year, according to the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Pr

BRUSSELS (AP) ― Japan and the European Union agreed at a summit meeting Saturday to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement that would deepen economic ties between two of the world’s largest economies. As a bloc, the EU is the world’s largest economy; Japan is number four.Negotiations will be preceded by what the leaders called a “scoping exercise” to ensure that both sides share the same goa

China eyes huge economic, business gains in S. American nationSAO PAULO (AP) ― Stocking shelves in a Chinese grocery store, Thiago warned that he didn’t want to be caught chatting during working hours. Within seconds, however, the Brazilian unleashed a pent-up flood of complaints about the owners, who lingered just beyond hearing distance.“My bosses have never heard of a day off,” said the 20-year

South Korea finally ended its 37-game losing streak against Cuba by defeating the world No. 4 side in the opening day of the World Volleyball league on Saturday. Playing in front of their home crowd at the Suwon Gymnasium, the young Korean side notched a straight set win (25-20, 29-27, 25-18) over the lackluster Cuban side, which missed some of their key players. Debutant Jeon Kwang-il scored 20 p

He never stopped running and showed tireless work rate, but it was not good enough to stop the world’s best player, Lionel Messi. Park Ji-sung of Manchester United played the full 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Spanish giant Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday, ending the 2010-2011 season with mixed feelings. The former Korean captain was determined to make up for the

The number of Korean travelers going overseas rose 4.7 percent in the first four months of 2011 from a year earlier despite a recent earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, the top destination for outbound tourists, data showed Friday.According to the data released by the Justice Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of Koreans going overseas came to 4.09 million in the January-Ap

The Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific Airways jointly launched two “DiscoverHongKong” mobile apps ― “DiscoverHongKong AR” app and “DiscoverHongKong City Walk” app ― which use augmented reality technology. The applications enable Hong Kong visitors to find tourist information near their location easily. The HKTB said it is collaborating with PCCW to provide Wi-Fi services at more than 8,00

Air Busan said it will open a Busan-Tokyo Narita flight on June 23, adding to existing flights bound for Fukuoka and Osaka. To celebrate the flight opening, the first 990 round-trip flights traveling between June 23 and July 20 will be offered for 99,000 won until the end of May, the air carrier said. But those who leave on Fridays and Saturdays will be paying 149,000 won. Air Busan will run the B

The Singapore Tourism Board said the country’s largest shopping event, “The Great Singapore Sale,” will run for eight weeks from May 27 to July 24. The shopping event offers up to 70 percent discount on items including clothes, accessories and even spa packages. The event will be held in shopping districts such as Orchard Road and Marina Bay as well as on the outskirts of the city. Singapore Arts

Bibimbap is a mixed dish of cooked white rice, vegetables, beef, garnishes and red pepper paste. The dish is known to have come from the customs of memorial services and rural villages. It is very easy to prepare by just mixing together cooked white rice with various vegetables and red pepper paste.  Bibimbap (KTO)Ingredients ● 450g (2½ cups) non-glutinous rice 600g (3 cups) water● 300g young pump

DALLAS (AP) ― After all the incredible shots Dirk Nowitzki has hit this postseason, it was his vintage stuff ― a straightaway 3-pointer and a pair of free throws ― that put the Dallas Mavericks back in the NBA finals.Nowitzki continued a tremendous roll for him and the Mavs by capping yet another fourth-quarter comeback with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:14 left, sending the Mavericks to a 100-96 vi

Korean likely in starting lineup for Champions League finalPark Ji-sung is known for never stopping on the pitch, his quick moves have earned him the nickname “Three Lung Park” in England. He is also proving to have an unquenchable thirst for collecting medals and trophies with Manchester United. The UEFA Champions League trophy, the biggest prize in club soccer is on offer on Saturday evening (3:

FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings of South Korea’s K-League advanced to the quarterfinals of an ongoing Asian club football competition Wednesday.In the round of 16 action at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, FC Seoul defeated Kashima Antlers of Japan 3-0 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. In Suwon, about 46 kilometers south of Seoul, the Bluewings blanked Nagoya Grampus, also of Japa

South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor Group will seek to significantly increase its sales of energy-efficient hybrid cars next week, group officials said Tuesday, amid increasing government efforts to promote the use of clean energy.Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automaker, has the country's two leading automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. under its wing."The g

A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the construction of a new world-class rowing venue took place Tuesday in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. Tangeum Lake in Chungju, located some 120 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is now being turned into a 133,500 square meter-large rowing competition venue, includi ng a grand stand and a finish tower with a 62.1 billion won in investment by 2012 for the champ

It’s been just over nine months since Cho Kwang-rae took over the national team, but the manager has acknowledged that he is having a tough time. Cho said Monday that he was having a difficult time cooperating with the Korea Football Association, saying there is too much intrusion by the governing body.National team manager Cho Kwang-rae (Yonhap News)The former Gyeongnam FC manger blamed Lee Hoi-t

Korean professional golfer Choi Kyung-ju will host his own tournament on his native land this fall, the country’s top PGA Tour player said this week.Better known as K.J. Choi in the U.S., the 41-year-old golfer said the tournament has been tentatively named the “KJ Choi Invitational” and will be held from Oct. 20 to 23 at the Ocean Course of the Sky 72 Golf Club in Incheon, about 40 kilometers wes

Korea famously had four teams in the last eight of the Asian Champions League in 2010 but that is not going to happen in 2011. Already, Jeju United has fallen by the wayside. Three other K-League clubs survived the group stage and have their round of 16 games this week. It is not a foregone conclusion that Jeonbuk Motors, FC Seoul and Suwon Bluewings will make the quarterfinal as they all have dif

The organizer of the Daegu World Championships said Monday that they are “confident” of hosting a successful athletics event this summer. More than 2,000 athletes, including thee-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, will be competing at Korea’s first ever IAAF World Championships in Daegu, some 300 km southeast of Seoul.“We’re striving to make it one of the greatest athletics games in history,”