최근 글로벌 기업들이 구글의 동영상 사이트인 유튜브 광고 계약 중단을 잇달아 발표한 가운데 국내에서도 유튜브 광고를 중단한 첫 대기업 사례가 나왔다.　　CJ제일제당은 구글과 유투브 광고 계약을 일부 해지했다고 3일 밝혔다. 중국 유저들이 유튜브에 올린 한국 제품 불매를 선동하거나 한국인과 한국 문화를 비하하는 혐한 동영상에 CJ제일제당 제품인 ‘흑삼 한뿌리’ 광고가 노출된 사실이 드러났기 때문이다.　  (연합뉴스)　국내에서 문제가 된 유튜브 동영상들은 중국에서 한국산 세탁기와 TV를 대형 해머로 부수는 장면 및 한국인과 한국 문화를 비하하는 내용을 포함한 것으로 알려졌다. 　　CJ제일제당 측은 ‘당초 4월 중순 만료될 예정이었던 유튜브와의 흑삼 한뿌리 관련 광고 계약을 중도 해지했다’며 '사측 의도와 상관없이 국민 정서에 반하는 콘텐츠가 임의로 노출된 점을 고려하여 중단 조치를 취했다'고 말했다. 　　또한 CJ에 따르면 ‘흑삼 한뿌리’를 제외한 CJ제일제당의 다른 제품에 대한 유튜브

South Korean athletes made a triumphant homecoming Monday following their record-setting performances at the Asian Winter Games in Japan.The main delegation of 72 athletes and officials in cross-country skiing, women‘s hockey and biathlon received a hero's welcome at Incheon International Airport. Athletes in sports that had concluded before Sunday‘s closing ceremony already returned home last week. Kim Sang-hang (R), head of the South Korean delegation to the Sapporo Asian Winter Games, and Kim

KB Securities Co., a major South Korean brokerage firm, is pushing for the sale of an asset management unit, industry sources said Monday.KB was born through a merger of Hyundai Securities Co. and KB Investment & Securities Co. early this year. KB also absorbed Hyundai Asset Management as an affiliate. (Yonhap)KB initially considered retaining the asset management company, which is known for real estate and special asset management, in tandem with KB Asset Management Co., according to the source

　Samsung BioLogics, a contract manufacturer of biologic drugs under Samsung Group, has denied accusations that it engaged in fraudulent accounting practices to boost its market valuation in seeking a public listing on South Korea’s main bourse Kospi last year.　　The move came after Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, chairwoman of the minor opposition Justice Party and local civic group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy questioned accounting methods that led to a sudden rise in Samsung BioLogics’

Facing its worst avian influenza outbreak, South Korea has culled more than 33 million poultry since the first reported case last November, officials said Saturday, while observers noted local resources to deal with the deadliest outbreak may have already been stretched too thin.   According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the country has culled 33.12 million animals as of Friday. The number is already more than double the previous record of 13.96 million destroyed in a 2

A South Korean missionary has been arrested in the Chinese border city of Yanji, a foreign ministry official here said Saturday, adding the ministry is moving to provide legal and diplomatic support to the South Korean.   The Korean man, identified only by his surname Kim, was detained Thursday in Yanji, Jilin Province, and was ordered to five days of detention on charges of violating immigration laws, according to the ministry.    "We have filed a request with the Chinese police for a consular

The Federation of Korean Industries, South Korea's largest business lobby, is now in a desperate search for a new chief, who will replace outgoing chairman Huh Chang-soo, but also keep the organization from falling apart, informed sources said Saturday.The search for a new chairman follows the withdrawal of membership by key conglomerates, including Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor Group. (Yonhap)The two and many others have quit the organization with over 50 years of history after they came unde

South Korea's outbound shipments have continued to expand so far this month, government data showed Saturday, suggesting a possible recovery in exports following a downturn over the past two years.In the first 10 days of February, outbound shipments amounted to $15.1 billion, up 72.8 percent from the same period last year, according to data from the customs office. (Yonhap)An on-year increase for the entire month of February will mark a fourth consecutive month of increase for the first time at

South Korea is projected to win six gold medals to rank eighth at next year's Winter Olympics on home soil, a U.S. sports data analysis firm said Saturday.   Gracenote said South Korea will grab six gold, three silver and one bronze medals in its latest Virtual Medal Table, updated with about a year to go until the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games to be held on South Korea's east coast.   The projected gold medal total would tie South Korea's previous record at a Winter Games. The country won half

Tax collected on wage income came to more than 30 trillion won for the first time in the country's history last year, the government said Saturday, apparently indicating a growing tax burden on waged workers.   In 2016, wage income tax came to 31 trillion won (US$26.96 billion), up 14.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the finance ministry.   The rate of increase outpaced an 11.3-percent on-year rise in overall tax revenue, which came to 242.6 trillion win last year.   The 2016 tally on

Rallies over President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial are expected to heat up again Saturday, with presidential contenders scheduled to attend pro- and anti-Park gatherings scheduled in Seoul.   Park's critics have organized mass rallies each Saturday to demand her immediate resignation over a corruption scandal centered on the president's long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil. Her supporters have countered by launching their own campaign to call for her reinstatement.   Park's critics, characte

South Korea completed the deployment of the latest upgraded model of Apache helicopters, a military official said Friday.The country had signed a $1.6 billion contract with the US in 2013 to buy 36 AH-64Es, an upgraded model of the AH-64D Longbow.An Apache helicopter (Yonhap)The AH-64E is a heavily armed helicopter featuring more powerful, fuel-efficient engines and enhanced rotor blades. It has improved aircraft handling compared to older models with superior performance and agility at higher a

South Korea's defense ministry said Friday the pledges made by presidential hopefuls to reduce the mandatory service period in the military and abolishing the conscription system lack viability.As South Korea is still technically at war with the North, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve in the military for about two years under the existing system.Moon Jae-in, a potential candidate from the main opposition, has been claiming the service period should be reduced, while G

Samsung Electronics Co. saw its earnings overwhelm other South Korean companies in 2016, data showed Friday, expanding its presence in the country's economy.The South Korean tech giant posted sales and operating profit of 201 trillion won ($172 billion) and 29.2 trillion won, respectively, in 2016, market data showed. (Yonhap)SK hynix Inc., the No. 2 player on the main bourse in terms of market capitalization, managed to post sales and operating profit of 17.1 trillion won and 3.2 trillion won,

North Korea aired a broadcast of encrypted numbers on Friday, apparently aiming at sending messages to spies operating in South Korea.The coded radio broadcast began at 1:15 a.m. by the North's propaganda radio station Radio Pyongyang. The broadcast lasted for approximately 5 minutes.The announcer then said, "On page 428 number 51, on page 192 number 33, on page 260 number 41," followed by more numbers.  (Yonhap)The latest batch of numbers were the same as the broadcast made on Jan. 13.It marked

North Korea is currently purging the descendants of prominent guerrillas who fought against Japanese colonialists, a former North Korean embassy minister in London who defected to Seoul last year said Friday.During a meeting with officials from the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho claimed Kim Jong-un is currently purging the descendants from key posts in Pyongyang.The remark is significant as the descendants played a crucial role in th

 Three officials from Seoul-based Ewha Womans University appeared before the independent counsel's office on Friday for allegedly providing favors to the daughter of Choi Soon-sil, the woman who is at the center of a South Korean presidential scandal.   Four officials from Ewha, including professors, have been detained on allegations that the university gave undue favors to Choi's daughter related to admissions procedures and grades.   Among the figures summoned on Friday are Kim Kyung-sook, for

Despite the rhetoric, the Trump administration is unlikely to make a drastic change to its relations with North Korea in the long term, as its deep economic ties with China, the North’s primary backer, would limit its policy options, said Choi Jong-kun, a renowned scholar on Northeast Asian security in Seoul. He stressed South Korea badly needs strategic thinking in its relations with allies and neighbors, and the country should avoid getting involved in unnecessary disputes to maintain peace an

South Korean investigators on Wednesday sought warrants to formally arrest the country‘s culture minister and a former presidential chief of staff over allegations the Park Geun-hye administration blacklisted cultural figures deemed critical of the government.Minister Cho Yoon-sun and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon are being charged for abusing their authority, said the probe team looking into an influence-peddling scandal that led to the president’s impeachment last month.Cho s

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday renewed his calls for political parties' support in normalizing state affairs that have been hamstrung by a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend.Hwang also reiterated his commitment to maintaining close communication with political circles during a dinner gathering with the leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party, where participants vowed to work together for party-government unity.The event marked Hw