More South Korean firms filed lawsuits against the country's fair trade watchdog in 2012 from five years earlier, data showed Friday, in an apparent bid to slash imposed fines amid tightening rules.The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) faced 60 rows last year involving its corrective measures levied on local firms, accounting for 13.3 percent of 448 cases of such orders, its report submitted to parliament showed.The number marks a near two-fold growth from the 6.8 percent tallied in 2007, the data als

The World Bank Group and Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance agreed to push ahead with plans to set up World Bank offices in Korea by the end of this year, the two agencies said Friday.World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hyun Oh-seok signed an agreement that “covers the arrangements” to set up the World Bank’s main Korean office in Songdo District of the Incheon Free Economic Zone, and its liaison office in Seoul in December this year.The two met

In one of the most highly anticipated football matches here this year, South Korea will host Brazil in the nation's capital on Saturday.The match will take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m.According to the Korea Football Association (KFA), it is expected to draw a near-sellout crowd at the 66,000-seat venue and set a new attendance record for a football friendly there.The record for the largest turnout at Seoul World Cup Stadium is 62,884, when South Korea took on the Netherlands in Jun

Washington's decision to withhold millions of dollars in mostly military aid to Egypt is fueling anti-U.S. sentiment and the perception that Washington supports Mohammed Morsi, the Islamist president the military ousted in a July coup. That could boost the popularity of the military chief, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, whom the U.S. is trying to pressure to ensure a transition to democracy and ease the fierce crackdown on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.The aid freeze could also embolden Morsi's suppor

Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit the Earth, was guided by two instincts: overcoming fear and quenching his insatiable curiosity. He pioneered his way into the heights of space and the depths of the ocean floor.“Conquering of fear is one of life's greatest pleasures and it can be done a lot of different places,” he said.His wife, Patty Barrett, said Carpenter died Thursday in a Denver hospice of complications from a September stroke. He lived in Vail.Carpenter followed John Glenn int

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans struggled inconclusively Thursday to find common ground that could avert an economy-tanking default and possibly end the 10-day-old partial government shutdown that has idled 350,000 federal workers.“We expect further conversations tonight,” Majority Leader Eric Cantor said cryptically, after he, Speaker John Boehner and a delegation of House Republicans had met for an hour or so with Obama at the White House.He spoke at dusk, long after Boehn

Prosecutors raided Hyosung Group and its chairman’s residence on Friday in a widening probe into the group and the owner family suspected of evading taxes for more than 15 years.Hyosung chairman Cho Suck-rai and the group’s senior executives are suspected of fabricating accounting records to dodge tax and amass slush funds overseas. Residences of the chairman’s three sons have also been raided, according to prosecutors at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.Investigators have confiscated

‘스턴 건’ 김동현이 통쾌한 KO로 UFC에서 9승을 거뒀다.김동현은 10일 오전 10시 10분(한국시간) 브라질 상파울루의 조제 코레아 아레나에서 열린 ‘UFC 파이트 나이트 29’ 웰터급 매치에서 에릭 실바(29)를 상대로 2라운드 KO승을 거뒀다.초반부터 장기인 적극적인 클린치로 상대를 강하게 밀어붙인 김동현은 2라운드에 다소 지친듯, 상대에게 밀리는 듯한 모습을 잠시 보였지만, 2분여를 남겨두고 강력한 레프트 훅으로 실바의 안면을 강타하며 그를 KO시켰다. 이와 같은 결과에 폭스 스포츠는 “김동현이 실바를 짓밟았다Kim crushes Silva in Brazil)”고 전하면서 실바를 “파괴적인(devastating)“ 형태로 제압했다고 표현했다.이날 승리로 김동현은 UFC에서 한국 선수 가운데 최다승 기록(9승2패 1무효)을 이어갔다. 김동현은 MMA 무대에서 통산 18승을 거두고 있다.<관련 영문 기사>MMA fighter Kim Dong-hyun knocks out Sil

한국은행은 내년 경제성장률 전망치를 3.8%로 하향 조정했다.이는 한은이 지난 7월 발표한 전망치 4.0%보다 0.2%포인트 낮아진 수준이다. 전 년동기대비로 상반기에 3.9%, 하반기에 3.7% 성장할 것으로 예상했다.김중수 한은 총재는 10일 금융통화위원회(금통위) 회의 직후 기자회견에서 이같은 2013~2014년 경제 전망을 발표했다.김 총재는 "3.8%는 성장잠재율(잠재성장률)에 거의 상응하는 수준이라  (성장률이) 낮다고 보는 건 적절치 않다"고 강조했다.한은은 내년 전망치를 낮춘 배경으로 7월 이후 본격화한 신흥시장국의 위기와 중동의 지정학적 위험에 따른 국제유가 상승 등을 꼽았다.김 총재는 이와 관련해 "내부 요인보다 글로벌 경제 (변화에) 상응해 수정한 것"이라며 "한국경제 활력이 떨어진 것으로 단정하는 건 적절치 않다"고 강조했다.그는 지난 8일 국제통화기금(IMF)이 한국의 성장률 전망치를 기존의 3.9%에서 3 .7%로 낮춰 잡은 것도 예상해 이번 발표에 고려했다

아세안(ASEAN) 관련  정 상회의 참석차 브루나이를 방문 중인 박근혜 대통령은 10일 존 케리 미국  국무장관 과 만나 한반도 정세 등 한미간 현안에 대해 논의했다. 박 대통령은 이날 오후 아세안 관련 정상회의장인 브루나이 반다르스리브가완의 국제컨벤션센터 양자회담장에서 케리 장관을 면담했다. 두 사람의 만남은 지난 4월 방한 중이던 케리 장관이 청와대를 찾아 박 대통령을 예방한 이후 6개월여 만이다. 이날 면담은 동아시아정상회의(EAS)와 EAS 정상오찬에 박 대통령과 케리 장관이 나란히 참석한 직후 이뤄졌다. 케리 장관은 미국 연방정부의 셧다운(부분 업무정지) 영향으로 버락 오바마 미국 대통령이 아시아 순방 일정을 취소하면서 대통령 대행 자격으로 지난 7∼8일 인도네시아 발리에서 열린 아시아태평양경제협력체(APEC) 정상회의에 이어 EAS에 참석 했다. 박 대통령과 케리 장관의 대화 내용은 공개되지 않았지만 우선 한미간 당면 현안인 북핵 문제 등 북한 및 한반도를 둘러싼 정세와

 프로야구 SK와이번즈의 이만수 감독이 다음 시즌에도 지휘봉을 잡을 것으로 보인다.복수의 언론매체가 10일 프로야구 SK와이번즈의 관계자를 인용해 보도한 바에 따르면, SK는 다음 시즌 감독 교체를 하지 않는다고 한다.6시즌 한국시리즈에 진출한 강호 SK는 올시즌 62승 3무 63패로 6위에 그치며 포스스시즌 진출에 실패했다. 이는 김성근 감독 부임전인 2006시즌 이후 최악의 성적이다. 일부 팬들 사이에서는 불만의 목소리와 함께 “이만수 경질설”이 떠돌았고, 이날 오전 한 언론 매체가 “SK 고위 관계자가 ‘경질을 언급했다”고 보도하면서 경질설이 수면 위로 떠올랐다.그러나 SK가 보도자료를 통해 구단 마무리 캠프 소식을 전하며 “신규 코치 영입을 포함한 내년도 코칭스태프 개편은 추후 확정할 예정이다”고 전하며 팀 관계자들이 이만수 감독과 내년에도 함께 할 것이라고 밝힘에 따라 이 감독의 유임이 유력해 보인다.이 감독은 2011시즌 종료 후 감독으로 정식 취임하며 3년 계약을 맺었고

North Korea on Thursday warned it could disclose comments made by South Korean politicians during their visits to the communist country if Seoul continues to make an issue out of the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript.The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) said the ongoing dispute in South Korea over alleged comments made by late President Roh Moo-hyun is an insult to its "highest dignity" and can only be viewed as an unacceptable provocation.In the North, the term "highes

Hundreds of documents meant to ensure the safety of South Korea's nuclear reactors have been forged, a top official said Thursday.Kim Dong-yeon, a minister at the Prime Minister's Office, said government officials combed through about 22,000 test results for parts used in 20 reactors that are currently online. Among the test results, 277 documents or 1.2 percent were fabricated, said Kim.A separate probe of 218,000 out of 275,000 test results for eight other reactors also showed that 2,010 docum

The prosecution summoned the former records secretary during the Roh Moo-hyun administration as part of its probe into the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript, as new allegations emerged of the existence of a video of the former president ordering the deletion of the transcript.Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office summoned Kim Jeong-ho on Thursday as a witness who served as the last records secretary under Roh and was involved in the transfer of presidential archives to the National Archiv

The recidivism rate for juvenile offenders has been on a steady rise in recent years, police said Thursday.The second conviction rate for juvenile offenders arrested over the past four years rose from 32.4 percent in 2009 to 35.5 percent in 2010, 36.9 percent in 2011 and 37.3 percent in 2012, the National Police Agency said in a report submitted to a ruling party lawmaker.The share went up to 41.9 percent in the first eight months of this year alone.The number of youth convicted for more than ni

South Korean stocks closed almost flat Thursday as concerns over a possible default of the United States government dented investor sentiment, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 1.36 points, or 0.07 percent, to finish at 2,001.40. Trading volume was low at 218.7 million shares worth 3.85 trillion won ($3.58 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 459 to 324.Analysts said Seoul shares closed flat as the cong

In the words of their own manager, the Doosan Bears have beat themselves with sloppy play to fall behind the Nexen Heroes two games to none in their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) first-round playoff series.The Heroes walked off on the Bears twice to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. They can eliminate the Bears with a win in Game 3 Friday at the Bears' home, Jamsil Stadium.While the finishes of the two games were surely dramatic -- the first was won on a ninth-inning sin

The Bank of Korea on Thursday revised its 2014 growth outlook for the Korean economy down to 3.8 percent from its initial forecast of 4.0 percent after its monetary policy committee unanimously decided to keep its key base rate unchanged at 2.5 percent for October.Growing external uncertainties stemming from a government shutdown and debt-ceiling woes in the U.S. as well as the U.S. quantitative easing tapering in the near term far outweighed Korea’s expectations of a solid recovery next year.Ko

The amount of outstanding state bonds issued by South Korea has exceeded 450 trillion won ($418.2 billion) as the government is raising money to make up for tax revenue shortfalls caused by the prolonged economic slump, data showed Thursday.According to the data provided by the finance ministry, the outstanding state bonds, including Treasurys and currency stabilization bonds, stood at 457.3 trillion won as of August. This marked the first time that the amount has topped the 450 trillion won mar

North Korean media on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Ri Yong-gil as the Korean People's Army (KPA) chief of general staff.Ri's appointment to the senior post had been suspected since August when he was seen making public appearances as a four-star general and was consistently mentioned ahead of Jang Jong-nam, the minister of People's Armed Forces, in various public announcements.The confirmation was made when the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader