Korean prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a retired Army brigadier general on charges of taking kickbacks from a defense contractor for peddling influence in a 2014 military procurement deal.The investigators at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said that they indicted and arrested the former official of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), surnamed Hong, for pocketing 54 million won ($45,477) from a local defense firm in 2014.Hong is alleged to have used his influenc

아일랜드 출신의 특별한 자매의 사연이 외신에 소개되며 화제를 모으고 있다. 영국 일간지 미러는 24일 인터넷판에 제이미 오헐리히와 클로이 오헐리히 자매의 사연을 소개했다. 각각 23세와 20세인 제이미와 클로이는 겉보기에는 여느 20대 자매와 다름없다. (페이스북)하지만, 이들은 사실 자매가 아닌 형제로 태어난 것. 보도에 따르면, 제이미와 클로이(본명 다니엘)는 남자로 태어났으며, 아직 의학적으로는 남성이지만 여성처럼 꾸미고 여성으로 살아가고 있지만, 곧 성전환수술을 통해 여성으로 다시 태어날 계획이라고 한다. 오헐리히 형제는 아주 어렸을 적부터 성정체성에 대한 혼란을 겪었고, 몸은 남성이지만 자신들이 여성이라고 믿은 것으로 전해졌다. 어렸을 적 이들은 자신의 성정체성이 탄로 날 것이 두려워 이런 사실을 철저히 비밀로 유지했고, 동생 클로이의 고등학교졸업을 축하하는 자리에서 오랫동안 숨겨온 비밀을 공개했다고 한다. 제이미는 외신과의 인터뷰에서 “난 처음부터 (성정체성을) 알고 있었

인터넷 방송 아프리카에서 ‘베이글녀’로 인기몰이를 하는 여성 BJ 임지금이 방송에서 선보인 요가 자세가 화제가 되고 있다. (유튜브)청순한 외모와 글래머 몸매로 아프리카 시청자들에게 큰 인기를 끄는 BJ 임지금은 누적 시청자수가 3,000만 명을 넘길 만큼 여성 BJ계 여신으로서의 입지를 단단하게 구축하고 있다. 　한편, 과거 방송에서 임지금이 선보인 요가 방송 역시 지금까지 꾸준히 유튜브 등으로 입소문을 타고 있다. 　당시 임지금은 “허리에 좋은 자세”라며 고양이 자세 요가를 선보이며 우월한 골반을 뽐낸 바 있다. 　과감한 요가 자세에 남성 시청자들은 댓글로 “섹시하다” “한 번 더 보여주세요” 등의 반응을 보였다. 　(khnews@heraldcorp.com)　

Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. saw their combined shares in China surpass 9 percent for the first time this year in April, the companies said Monday.The two Korean carmakers sold a combined 146,378 cars in April in China, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data provided by the companies.The combined share by Hyundai and Kia in the world's largest auto market stood at 9.2 percent in April, compared with 8.2 percent in March, the data showed.The data

Korea's central bank appears to be fast running out of options for its key rate with a looming U.S. rate hike and the country's sluggish economy crippling its move in either direction, experts noted Monday.The Bank of Korea (BOK) has stood pat on its key rate after sending it to a record low of 1.5 percent in June 2015. Bank of Korea (Yonhap)The experts said the bank might be forced to again extend its wait-and-see mode for another month in June, not by necessity but by its lack of options. The

Hyundai Motor Co., Korea's top automaker, said Monday that it plans to unveil a total of 50 cars at a motor show to be held in Korea's second-largest city of Busan next month.Among cars to be unveiled at the motor show include the G80, which will be renamed from the Genesis DH, and the RM16, an upgraded version of the RM15 coupe concept.The RM16, a midship-engined car based on Hyundai's Veloster, has a lighter and stronger frame using aluminum and carbon fiber.Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis is s

Prosecutors said Monday they have indicted a local journalist on charges of defaming a ruling party lawmaker by filing a "false" report that her daughter received a favor in the college entrance process.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said the journalist, identified only by his surname Hwang, is accused of reporting that Sungshin Women's University overlooked irregularities related to Rep. Na Kyung-won's daughter in return for favors. The lawmakers is a member of the Saenuri Party

Korea on Monday unveiled their 20-man squad for upcoming friendly matches against Spain and the Czech Republic, as some players who have been struggling with their European clubs were left out. Korea, 54th in FIFA world rankings, will take on No. 6 Spain on June 1 in Salzburg, Austria, and face the No. 29 Czech Republic on June 5 in Prague. They will be Korea's first matches against European nations since Uli Stielike became head coach in September 2014. They're also designed to help Korea prepa

Slowing economic growth in China and growing household debt in South Korea are two major risks facing the country's financial system, the outcome of a recent survey showed Monday.In a poll conducted by the Bank of Korea (BOK), 73 percent of respondents cited China's slowing growth as a potential threat that could cause havoc in South Korea's financial market. Apartment complex in Seoul (Yonhap)The semiannual survey was conducted April 6-20 on 78 economists that included bank officials and foreig

Korea on Monday announced their under-23 men's football roster for an Olympic prep tournament.Salzburg striker Hwang Hee-chan was one of 23 players named to the squad, as Korea are readying to host Nigeria, Honduras and Denmark early next month.Korea will be making their eighth straight Olympic appearance in Rio de Janeiro in August. Korea beat rival Japan to take the bronze medal at the previous Summer Games in London, the country's first Olympic medal in football.Hwang, who played an integral

Korea is seeking to get its main stock market back on the global index provider MSCI's review list of developed market index candidates next month, government officials said Monday.From 2008 and 2014, Korea advanced to the review list stage each year but failed to obtain development market status. The failures were due to the country's inability to satisfy a series of requirements made by the MSCI. The MSCI has long cited Korea's identification-related regulations for foreign investors as a majo

Korea said Monday it will hold a government-civilian meeting this week intended to explore business partnerships with Japan on information, communication and technology (ICT).The Korea-Japan ICT Plaza is scheduled to be held in Tokyo and Osaka from Tuesday through Friday, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.It would involve 40 Korean firms, mostly small and medium-sized ones, and more than 100 Japanese companies including Sony Corp., Fujitsu Ltd. and NEC Corp., said the

Korea's medicine exports hit an all-time high of $2.3 billion last year despite a continued drop in the nation's overall outbound shipments of goods, data showed Monday.The amount marks a 28.5-percent increase from a year earlier, according to a report by the Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.  (123RF)Asia's fourth-largest economy suffered an 8-percent fall in its total exports in 2015.Imports of medicine also shrank 1.8 percent on-year to $5.1 billion last year, helping improve the

South Korea's defense ministry said Monday it has responded to North Korea's latest offer for military talks by saying that the North's denuclearization steps should be a top priority.The government said it sent its reply to Pyongyang earlier in the day as North Korea on Saturday proposed holding a working-level meeting with South Korea in late May or early June in preparation for military talks. Seoul has rejected it as a proposal without sincerity."We expressed regret that North Korea had prop

Top officials from ruling and opposition parties plan to visit the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Monday, amid rising concerns over the prolonged industrywide slump in one of Korea's key growth sectors.Chung Jin-suk, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, will visit a South Gyeongsang Province-based shipyard to receive input from workers and the company. The party also aims to continue discussions with the management on restructuring programs that may emerge a

North Korea held a state funeral for Kang Sok-ju, a top North Korean diplomat who had negotiated the now-collapsed 1994 nuclear deal with the United States, the North's state media said Monday.On Sunday, the North carried out the funeral of Kang, a former party secretary in charge of international affairs, who died of esophagus cancer at the age of 77, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."The death of Kang Sok-ju, genuine revolutionary and able political activist, was a great loss

Two Korean clubs will be chasing quarterfinals berths at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League this week after failing to pick up victories in the opening legs of the round of 16.Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will host Melbourne Victory at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. The two played to a 1-1 draw last week in Australia.With an away goal in the bag, Jeonbuk can advance to the quarters for the second straight year with at least a scoreless

Hyundai Motor Co., Korea's top automaker, saw its combined shares in Brazil and three other emerging countries hit an all-time high last month despite overall weak demand, industry data showed Monday.According to the data by automotive associations in each nation, Hyundai Motor's sales in those markets, which also include Russia, India and Mexico, came to 74,058 units in April, up 4.2 percent from the same period last year.Hyundai sold 16,453 cars in Brazil, 12,201 in Russia, 42,351 in India and

Korean politicians from ruling and opposition parties are set to gather in Gimhae on Monday to mark the seventh anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun's death.Officials from the ruling Saenuri Party, as well as the main opposition Minjoo Party and the minor People's Party, will visit Roh's home in Bongha Village, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.Roh, who led the country from 2003 to 2008, killed himself at a mountainside precipice above his provincial hometown in May 2009, expressin

Encouraging South Korea to develop nuclear weapons could undermine American influence in Asia, unravel the U.S. alliance system and spark a nuclear arms race in the region, a congressional report said in apparent criticism of Donald Trump's suggestion to do so."Presidential candidate Donald Trump in spring 2016 stated that he was open to South Korea's developing its own nuclear arsenal to counter the North Korean nuclear threat," the Congressional Research Service said in the recent report on So