State prosecutors on Monday raided a real estate company, run by the wife of a presidential aide, and a branch of the Seoul police as part of their probe into a corruption and info leak scandal involving the presidential secretary and a special inspector who investigated him.The prosecutors raided the office of the firm in southern Seoul and confiscated computer hard disks and various documents as they accelerated their investigation into Woo Byung-woo, senior presidential secretary for civil af

South Korea's top 10 builders have paid more than 1 trillion won ($890 million) in fines for unfair practices over the past three years, government data showed Monday, casting doubt on the effectiveness of government penalties.A combined fine of 1.12 trillion won has been imposed on the leading construction companies for a total of 102 collusion and other "collusive unfair acts" between 2014 and 2016, according to the data that the Fair Trade Commission submitted to the office of Rep. Park Yong-

Renault Samsung Motors Co., the local unit of French automaker Renault S.A., plans to ship its new sports utility vehicle to Latin America and Australia this year, and to Europe next year, company officials said Monday.Renault Samsung is set to sell the QM6 SUV, a new version of its QM5 SUV, in the country next month, with preorders for the vehicle topping 2,000 units a day. (Renault Samsung Motors)Renault Samsung unveiled an all-new version of its QM5 SUV at the Beijing auto show in April. The

Outbound shipments of food, beauty, fashion and personal care products soared in the first half of the year on the back of the growing popularity of the Korean wave, or hallyu, industry data showed on Monday.According to the data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association, exports of such goods amounted to $6.79 billion in the January-June period, up 15.2 percent from a year earlier.Industry watchers said the growth is attributable to the cultural wave of "hallyu" in China and other A

Choo Mi-ae, the new head of South Korea's main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, started her official duties by paying tribute to late presidents, and vowing to put full-fledged efforts into revitalizing the national economy.During her visit to the Seoul National Cemetery, Choo paid tribute not only to liberal president Kim Dae-jung, but also to Park Chung-hee, the father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye.The five-term lawmaker said she will put the top priority on the livelihood of the peopl

The net profits of 54 securities firms in South Korea rose 1.5 percent on-quarter to 621.4 billion won ($557.8 million) in the second quarter of the year, government data showed Monday.Revenue from brokerage commissions came to 1.99 trillion won during the period, up 13.5 percent from a quarter earlier, on an increase in the stock trade following the Bank of Korea's interest rate cut and Britain's decision to leave the European Union, according to the data compiled by the Financial Supervisory S

A group of lawmakers from South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party said Monday the country should consider building nuclear-powered submarines, amid escalating provocations by Pyongyang.The remark came as North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast. The South Korean military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers toward Japan, making the longest flight by such a missile launched by the communist country."South Korea's military shou

추석을 전후해 9월 한 달 동안 서울 잠실 석촌 호수에 초대형 보름달 조형물이 전시된다.서울 송파구는 다음 달 1∼30일 세계적인 공공미술작가 그룹인 '프렌즈위드유’(Friendswithyou)가 석촌호수에 지름 20ｍ, 높이 18ｍ의 초대형 보름달 조형물을 띄우는 '슈퍼문 프로젝트'(Super Moon Project)를 한다고 밝혔다.행사 기간 중 매일 해가 지기 1시간 전부터 오후 10시까지 슈퍼문을 비롯해 함께 석촌호수에 설치한 다양한 별 전시작품이 시민을 맞는다. (송파구청)한가위에는 '골드문 나이트'(Gold Moon Night), 대학수학능력시험 50여일 전에는 '핑크 문 나이트'(Pink Moon Night) 등 특별 이벤트를 열어 시민·수험생을 위로 하고 응원한다.롯데월드몰 아트홀에서 이번 프로젝트 준비 과정을 소개하고 프랜즈위드유의 작품세계를 이해할 수 있도록 전시도 함께한다.이 프로젝트는 풍요의 상징인 달이 주는 기운과 긍정의 메시지를 전파하려 송파구와 롯데월드타워

태국 여성들의 여권을 담보로 잡은 채 성매매를 강요하고 수익까지 가로챈 일당이 경찰에 붙잡혔다.서울지방경찰청 국제범죄수사대는 태국 여성들에게 강제로 성매매를 시킨 혐의(성매매알선 등 처벌법 위반 등)로 마사지업소 사장 김모(47)씨, 바지사장 임모(42) 씨 등 2명을 구속했다고 29일 밝혔다.마사지업소 알선브로커 A(41)씨 등 6명은 불구속 입건했다.  (서울지방경찰청 국제범죄수사대)경찰에 따르면 김씨 등은 성북구에서 마사지업소를 운영하며 올해 2월부터 7월까지 태국 여성들을 고용해 업소를 찾은 불특정 남성과의 성매매를 알선했다.태국 여성들은 브로커 A씨에게 1인당 300만원을 주고 소개받았다. A씨는 태국에 체류하는 입국 알선브로커 B씨로부터 1명당 400만원을 주고 여성들을 인계 받았다.태국 여성들은 성매매 대금으로 1회 11만∼13만원을 받았다. 대금은 업주가 5만 원 이상, 태국 여성이 4만원, A씨가 2만원씩 나눠 가졌다.하지만 태국 여성들은 사장이 A씨에게 지급한 30

 North Korea has renamed a major youth association founded by the country's late founder, the North's state media said Monday, a move seen aimed at strengthening internal solidarity.North Korea announced that the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League was renamed the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League in accordance with the decision made at a youth congress.Pyongyang on Friday opened the congress of the youth congress, the ninth of its kind, for the first time in 23 years as North Korean leader

The entry of Tesla Motors Inc.'s more affordable electric vehicle into South Korea next year is expected to boost domestic demand for EVs considerably in light of sharp consumer interest in the envisioned model, an expert said Monday.US electric car maker Tesla is slated to unveil the Model 3 in late 2017, which is capable of traveling more than 340 kilometers before being recharged and is estimated to have a price tag of $35,000, nearly half the price of its flagship and luxury Model S. (Tesla)

South Korea's insurance policyholders can receive coverage worth 47.5 million won ($42,600) on average through their life insurance contracts, industry data showed Monday.According to the Korea Life Insurance Association, last year's figure represents a sharp rise from 5.44 million won in 1993, when related data began to be compiled. (KLIA)The comparable figures were 21 million won in 2001, 31.6 million won in 2006 and 40 million won in 2012, the data showed.The average coverage is obtained by d

Despite last week's successful test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), North Korea appears to be still at least two years away from possible deployment of the weapon, a U.S. expert said.The North conducted the latest in a series of SLBM test-firings Wednesday, sending the missile some 500 kilometers over the East Sea, the greatest distance the communist nation has achieved since it began SLBM tests last year.Moreover, the missile was launched at a high angle, officials said, meani

여성도 남성만큼이나 가슴 사이즈에 집착한다는 외신 보도가 눈길을 끌고 있다. 　영국 온라인 매체 데일리메일은 27일 (현지시간) 여성도 남성만큼이나 가슴에 신경을 쓴다고 보도하며 일약 주목을 받았다. 　해당 기사는 질의응답 사이트 쿼라 (Quora)에 올라온 한 게시글이 촉발한 거대한 대화를 인용했다.　쿼라의 게시글은 “남성이 여성 가슴을 신경 쓰는 만큼 여성이 남성의 ‘그곳’ 사이즈를 신경 쓰지 않는다”며 “남성이 가슴 사이즈에 집착하는 이유가 무엇인지” 물었다.　이에 쿼라 이용자들은 여러가지 반응을 보였는데, 개중엔 학자들의 이론을 인용하며 제법 설득력 있는 해답을 제시했다. 　한 이용자는 성 연구가 알프레드 킹이 ‘엉덩이야말로 인류의 가장 본능적인 성적 매력을 나타내는 곳’이라고 말한 것을 예로 들며 가슴 모양이 엉덩이를 닮은 동시에 인체의 전면에 있음을 지적했다.　또 다른 이용자는 사이언스 데일리 글을 인용하며 “여성 또한 여성의 성적 대상화에 한 몫 한다”고 나섰다. 　남성

영화에서나 나올 법한 사건이 현실에서 일어났다. 　　미국 해안 경비대는 28일 (현지시간) 태평양 외딴 섬에 일주일간 표류 후 구조된 한 커플의 소식을 전했다. 　　미국인 커플 라이너스 잭(Linus Jack)과 사비나 잭(Sabina Jack)은 지난 17일 5미터가량 되는 배를 타고 미크로네시아 위노 섬(Weno Island)에서 탐탐 섬(Tamtam Island)을 향해 항해하던 중 실종되었다.  (AFP-Yonhap)　　이들을 찾기 위해 일주일간의 수색이 펼쳐졌고 인근의 무인도 동 파유 섬 (East Fayu Island)에서 손전등을 이용한 조난신호를 보았다는 제보에 파견된 수색기가 마침내 구조에 성공했다.　　일주일간 이들을 구하기 위해 15척의 배와 2대의 항공기가 43,000 평방 킬로미터 해역을 탐색했다. 구조대는 이들이 모래 위에 써 놓은 “SOS”표시를 보고 그들을 찾아낼 수 있었다.　　미크로네시아 콜로니아에 위치한 미 대사관은 페이스북 페이지를 통해 자국민의 안전

North Korea on Sunday rejected the statement by the United Nations Security Council condemning its recent ballistic missile launches, threatening to take "eventful action steps" in retaliation.In a foreign ministry spokesman's statement, Pyongyang accused the United States and its "followers" of posing threats to its dignity and right to existence at the UNSC."The US and its followers committed a serious hostile act of finding fault with the DPRK's measures for bolstering nuclear deterrence for

Cultural ministers of South Korea, China and Japan agreed Sunday to push for co-hosting various academic and cultural events timed for the Summer and Winter Olympics to be held in the three countries, Seoul officials said.South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jong-deok and his Chinese and Japanese counterparts reached the agreement at the end of a two-day meeting in this South Korean resort island of Jeju, they said.South Korea is the host nation of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter

여자친구의 입맞춤으로 사망에 이른 한 17세 멕시코 소년의 웃지 못할 사연이 온라인을 떠돌고 있다.　　지난 24일 (현지시간) 멕시코 매체 ‘오이에스타도 데 멕시코 (Hoy Estado de Mexico)’의 보도에 따르면 소년은 여자친구(25)와의 데이트 후 귀가해 식사를 하다 돌연 경련을 일으키며 쓰려졌다. 　 사망 당시 소년의 목에 남은 키스 마크 / Cronica, Minutouno　놀란 가족은 응급 의료를 신고했지만 구급대원들이 도착했을 때 소년은 이미 급사한 후였다.　　이후 밝혀진 놀라운 사인은 바로 강력한 키스에 의한 ‘응혈’이었다. 　　소년은 사망 전 여자친구(25)와 진한 키스를 나누었고, 여자친구가 목에 남긴 강한 키스가 혈액을 응고시켰다는 것이다. 　　이 응혈이 정맥을 타고 뇌로 올라간 게 사인인 것으로 밝혀졌다. 　　다소 황당한 이유로 그를 떠나 보낸 가족과 여자친구는 비통해 하며 애도하고 있다고 전해졌다.　　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)　

 A South Korean civic organization on Sunday said it has set up a memorial stone in Japan to remember Korean victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule.Steppingstone for Peace said it installed several "stepping stones for peace" at three locations on Japan's Hokkaido, where Korean workers suffered from forced labor and many of them died, in cooperation with a Japanese private organization on Aug. 21-22.The Korean nongovernmental organization has sought to heal the "historical sca

South Koreans spent 2.03 trillion won ($1.82 billion) on a daily basis with their credit cards in the first half of the year, as they opted for a convenient payment tool, data showed Sunday.According to the data compiled by the Bank of Korea, the first-half tally marks the first time that credit card spending on a daily basis exceeded 2 trillion won, and represents a 12 percent rise from a year earlier.The figure includes spending by credit cards, debit cards and prepaid ones.By type, credit car