The labor ministry said Monday it has begun looking into allegations that Samsung Group instructed its subsidiaries to foil any attempt by their workers to organize labor unions.The move comes after an opposition lawmaker unveiled the conglomerate's 2012 document on labor-management affairs strategy on Oct. 14, which carries an instruction that companies should lead employees to disorganize a trade union if one is established. Based on the document, the Korean Metal Workers' Union, Lawyers for a

South Korea's economic growth is expected to outperform Japan's growth for the 15th straight year in 2013 amid doubts whether Japan's Abenomics will pay off, data showed Monday.Abenomics refers to a mixture of aggressive monetary and fiscal policies preached by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.The world's third-largest economy may grow at an average of 1.8 percent this year, according to growth estimates compiled by the Japan Center for Economic Research. In 2012, the Japanese economy grew 1.9

President Park Geun-hye on Monday urged the rival parties to reconcile in her first speech at the National Assembly, putting the ball back in the court of the opposition, which immediately responded by stepping up its protest.“If the rival parties at the National Assembly seek out an agreement on many issues raised by the opposition, as well as on any other topic, I will respect and accept it,” Park said in her 28-minute-long speech urging parliamentary approval of the 2014 budget.“The governmen

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as investors continued to react with optimism over U.S.Federal Reserve Chair nominee Janet Yellen's remarks that the stimulus cut won't happen soon, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 5.58 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,011.22 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares gathered ground across the board, with food makers and chemical companies leading the climb. Leading confectioner Orion gained 1.5 percent, and LG Che

South Koreans grabbed two silver medals and one bronze to close out the fourth and the final World Cup Short Track competition of the season on Sunday in Russia, ending their prep event for the upcoming Winter Olympics on a mixed note.In Kolomna, Russia, the women's quartet of Shim Suk-hee, Park Seung-hi, Kim A-lang and Cho Ha-ri claimed the silver in the 3,000-meter relay in 4:09.794, finishing just behind China (4:09.410).In the semifinals on Sunday, South Koreans set a world record with a tim

South Korean baseball champion Samsung Lions defeated the Taiwanese champ Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions 5-4 in 10 innings at the Asia Series here on Sunday.Woo Dong-gyun delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th inning at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium, as the South Korean Lions moved on to the semifinals with two consecutive victories at the annual tournament among regional league winners.Last Friday, Samsung defeated Fortitudo Bologna of Italy 5-2.With two wins, Samsung clin

Visiting French President Francois Hollande vowed to maintain his country's tough stance in upcoming nuclear talks with Iran this week, earning praise from his Israeli hosts Sunday as he began a three-day visit to the Jewish state.Israel has repeatedly voiced concern that the emerging deal global powers are negotiating with Iran gives it too much, without guaranteeing that the Islamic Republic's ability to develop a nuclear weapon is eliminated.Hollande vowed to keep up pressure on Iran and not

Doris Lessing emerged from a black cab outside her home in London one day in 2007 and was confronted by a horde of reporters. When told she had won the Nobel Prize, she blinked and retorted Oh Christ! ... I couldn't care less.”That was typical of the independent _ and often irascible _ author who died Sunday after a long career that included The Golden Notebook,” a 1962 novel than made her an icon of the women's movement. Lessing's books reflected her own improbable journey across the former Bri

A Boeing 737 jetliner crashed and burst into flames Sunday night while trying to land at the airport in the Russian city of Kazan, killing all 50 people aboard in the latest in a string of deadly crashes across the country.The Tatarstan Airlines plane was trying to make a second landing attempt when it touched the surface of the runway near the control tower, and was destroyed and caught fire,” said Sergei Izvolky, the spokesman for the Russian aviation agency.The Emergencies Ministry said there

South Korea's producer prices declined for the 13th straight month in October as oil prices fell and the local currency strengthened against the U.S. dollar, the central bank said Monday.The producer price index, a barometer of future consumer inflation, slid 1.4 percent in October from a year earlier, compared with a 1.8 percent on-year decline in September, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).On an annual basis, the producer prices have fallen every month since October 2012, when such prices

Park In-bee has become the first South Korean to earn the LPGA Tour’s Player of the Year.Park won the award with a fourth-place finish at 11-under par 277 at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday. She fended off her closest rival, Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, who placed fifth, 1 stroke behind Park.Park led Petteren 290-252 in points before the tournament. Park added seven points and Pettersen six points after the event. Park has secured the most prestigious honor bestowed o

외교부는 초대형 태풍 하이옌으로 막대한 인명피해가 발생한 필리핀 타클로반 지역 한국인 체류자 56명의 안전을 모두 확인했다고 16일 밝혔다.외교부 관계자는 "타클로반 및 인근지역 우리 국민 체류자 56명 전원의 안전을 확인했다"며 "안전이 확인된 우리 국민에게 필요한 도움을 지속적으로 제공할 예정"이라고 말했다.정부는 태풍 하이옌이 필리핀을 강타한 이후 지역 거주자로 등록됐거나 추가 신 고 등으로 파악된 우리 국민의 안전을 확인해왔고 최근까지 3명의 체류자가 연락되지 않았다. 이 관계자는 "지금까지 알려진 체류자의 안전은 모두 확인했지만 우리 국민의 추가 체류 여부도 지속적으로 확인할 예정"이라고 설명했다.그는 "일부 체류자는 병원에서 치료를 받았지만 건강 상태는 심각한 수준이 아니며 신변에도 모두 이상이 없는 것으로 파악됐다"고 덧붙였다. 타클로반 현지로 급파된 정부의 신속대응팀은 전날 새벽 미군 수송기편으로 국민 9명을 마닐라로 후송했다.정부는 추가로 안전이 확인된 국민 체류자도

John Lajara peers under a slab of crumbled concrete, lifts a sodden white teddy bear then drops it back into the filth. He reaches again into the rubble and pulls out a boot, a treasured find in this typhoon-flattened village. But he's searching for something far more precious _ the body of his beloved brother, Winston.For all who lost loved ones in last week's storm, the overwhelming grief is centered around unanswerable questions -- what do you do when there is no body to bury? How do you move

The South Korean government said Saturday that it has located the whereabouts of the remaining three missing South Koreans in the typhoon-devastated Philippines, confirming the survival of all 56 Koreans there."We've confirmed the survival of all South Koreans who reside in the city of Tacloban and the neighboring areas," said an official at Seoul's foreign ministry, citing the area hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan."The government will continue to provide necessary support to them," he added.At lea

Human rights activists on Friday voiced caution over China's promises to loosen its one-child policy and shut down labor camps, fearing that abuses would still take place in different forms.Days after a key meeting, the Communist leadership announced that it would allow couples to have two children if one parent is an only child, widening the exemptions from a rule imposed in the late 1970s to control China's population.U.S. Representative Chris Smith, who has campaigned for years against China'

U.S. officials gearing up for new talks with Iran said Friday a deal could be struck next week in the decade-long bid to rein in its nuclear program, but warned tough issues and Congress could still scupper the negotiations."We are going to work very hard next week. I don't know if we'll reach an agreement. I think it is quite possible that we can. But there's still tough issues to negotiate," a senior administration official told reporters.The official also renewed pleas to skeptical U.S lawmak

Libyan militiamen opened fire Friday on white-flag-waving protesters demanding their disbandment, killing at least 31 people and wounding more than 200 in a barrage of heavy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire.Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan blamed the protesters and the militia alike for the violence, though witnesses said they saw no protesters carrying weapons ahead of the shooting Friday afternoon. By Friday night, however, some protesters joined by other militias had armed themsel

'고공폭격기' 김신욱(25•울산 현대)이 드디어 홍명보호(號)' 원톱으로 자리잡을 가능성을 보였다.김신욱은 15일 서울월드컵경기장에서 열린 스위스와의 평가전에 선발 출장해 82분간 그라운드를 누비며 2-1 역전승의 밑바탕이 됐다.최전방 원톱 공격수 자리에 선 그는 수시로 2선을 넘나들고 때로는 좌우 측면까지 빠지며 공격의 중심축 역할을 했다.비록 골은 넣지 못했지만 다른 공격수들과 유기적인 플레이로 골 찬스를 만드는 데 여러 차례 가담하며 '헤딩만 잘하는 반쪽짜리 공격수'라는 편견을 부수는 데 성공했다. 김신욱은 0-1로 뒤지던 전반 13분 위력적인 헤딩으로 상대 문전을 위협했다.     자신이 얻어낸 프리킥 찬스에서 기성용이 키커로 나서 공을 문전으로 띄우자 장기인 헤딩 슈팅으로 골문을 갈랐다. 그러나 간발의 차이로 오프사이드 판정을 받아 땅을 쳤다.그는 이후 가슴, 어깨 등 온몸을 활용한 공중볼 확보는 물론 손흥민, 김보경, 이청용 등 2선 공격수에게 정확한 리턴 패스를 뿌려주며

존 케리 미국 국무장관은 "미국과 일본은 모두 한국과 관련해서 아직 끝내지 못한 일(still some unfinished business)이 있음을 잘 알고 있다"고 밝혔다. 케리 장관은 14일(현지시간) 워싱턴DC 윌러드 호텔에서 제50회 미•일 기업컨퍼런스 만찬에 참석한 자리에서 이같이 밝히고 "또 과거에 발목잡히지 말고 미래로 나아갈 필요성이 있음도 잘 알고 있다"고 말했다. 미국 국무장관이 과거사 문제와 관련해 한•일간에 '미완의 과제'가 있다는 점을 공개적으로 언급하고 미래지향적 관점에서 해결이 필요하다는 점을 강조한 것은 매우 이례적이다. 케리 장관은 이어 "우리는 북한이 매우 특별한 도전을 주고 있음을 알고 있고 이런 맥락에서 중국과의 협력이 긴요하다는 것을 잘 안다"며 "중국은 북한의 선택에 가장 큰 영향을 줄 수 있는 능력을 갖고 있기 때문"이라고 말했다. 그는 이어 "중국과 이 문제에 대해 매우 직접적으로 대화하고 있으며 정책은 계 속 움직이고 있다"며 "나는 한

소치로 가는 '빙속 여제' 이상화(24•서울시청) 의 속도에 불이 붙었다.이상화는 16일(한국시간) 미국 솔트레이크시티에서 열린 월드컵 2차 대회 여자 500ｍ 1차 레이스에서 36초57의 세계신기록을 작성했다.여자 500ｍ 세계기록은 올해에만 벌써 이상화가 세 번이나 바꿨다. 1월 36초80으로 첫 세계기록을 세운 이상화는 이달 10일 시즌 첫 월드컵에서 36 초74로 다시 신기록을 쓰더니 이날 자신의 기록을 한 번 더 갈아치웠다.여자 500ｍ에서 세 차례 이상 세계기록을 작성한 선수는 이상화까지 9명에 불과 하다.이 가운데서도 한 해에만 세 번의 세계신기록을 만들어낸 선수는 이 종목에서 통산 7차례나 기록을 갈아치운 카트리오나 르메이돈(캐나다) 외엔 이상화뿐이다.르메이돈은 1997년에만 네 차례 신기록을 냈고 2001년에 다시 세 차례 세계기록을 수립했다.이상화와 르메이돈보다 앞서서는 앤 헤닝(미국)이 1971년 2월 42초91의 기록을 세우고 이듬해 1월 42초50으로 앞당기기