South Korea's unification ministry has approved an application by the EugeneBell Foundation Korea to send medication for tuberculosis to North Korea, a government official said Wednesday.The government on Tuesday gave the green light to the foundation's request to deliver medical aid to North Korea, but it rejected the agency's move to send materials needed to build hospital wards in the new year, according to a ministry official.The ministry previously said that it was considering the group's p

South Korea's tax agency said Wednesday it will allow people to pay taxes through smartphones starting this month in a bid to increase convenience for taxpayers.The National Tax Service  said the payment of value added taxes declared in January will be available through the agency's mobile tax payment service, which was opened in November last year. The headquarters of the National Tax Service in Sejong (Yonhap file photo)It will work on expanding the mobile service to Kakao Pay, the mobile paym

Samsung Group’s heir apparent Lee Jae-yong has been placed behind bars while awaiting a court decision on whether he should remain there or walk free. The Samsung Electronics vice chairman was transferred to a detention facility in the southwestern suburb of Seoul, after attending a court hearing on his arrest warrant. He is accused of bribing President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil as part of the widening investigation into the scandal that led to the president’s impeachment on

South Korea will establish a 3.5 trillion won ($2.9 billion) fund to nurture startups and venture firms in the science and technology sectors to secure new growth engines, the science ministry said Wednesday.Under the comprehensive plan announced by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the fund will be floated to help young jobseekers launch 50,000 new startups. The ministry said it will partner with the Small and Medium Business Administration to nurture the fund that is aimed at b

A former president of a local university was questioned by investigators Wednesday over allegations the school gave undue favors to the daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close friend, who is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal rocking the country.Choi Kyung-hee, who led Ewha Womans University in Seoul from2014 to 2016, appeared before the office of the special prosecutor to undergo questioning as a suspect.Choi is accused of giving unlawful favors to Choi Soon-sil's daughter Chung

Labor Minister Lee Ki-kweon urged big businesses on Wednesday to employ more youth in the first half of the year as the sluggish economy is expected to further worsen youth unemployment.Lee made the call during a meeting with leaders of the country's top 30 conglomerates after the jobless rate for youth climbed to a record 9.8 percent last year. Labor Minister Lee Ki-kweon (R) speaks during a meeting with leaders of the country's top 30 conglomerates at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on Jan. 18

A Seoul court held a hearing Wednesday to decide whether to issue a writ to formally arrest Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, over allegations he bribed President Park Geun-hye's close friend in return for business favors. A team of special investigators looking into the scandal sought the warrant against Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., on Monday on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury.The Seoul Central District Court began the hearing at 10:30 a.m. The result

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's aide on Wednesday denied reports that Ban's brother had inappropriately used the international organization's name to engage in mining projects in Myanmar.The aide called the reports groundless and warned that Ban would consider taking legal action against them."We will seek all legal measures, both civil and criminal, against false reports," the aide said, declining to be named.The reports, initially published by Inner City Press, an online media outlet

The average sales price of LG Electronics Inc.'s smartphones is about one-fifth that of Apple Inc.'s iPhones, industry data showed Wednesday, underlining LG's difficulty in reviving its loss-making smartphone business. According to a survey of 12 LG smartphones sold at KT Corp.'s online store, the average sales price of LG smartphones stood at about 137,000 won ($117.60). LG's smartphone line-up consists of mid- and low-range devices, including the LG Stylus 2 and X Screen, with sales prices ran

South Korea has signed an agreement with Botswana to promote bilateral military cooperation as it strives to expand military ties amid growing North Korean threats, the defense ministry said Wednesday. Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his Botswana counterpart Shaw Kgathi discussed ways to promote meetings of high-ranking military officials and defense industry deals, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement. "Han explained the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula, citin

Public housing that is intended to help low-income families is partly benefiting the wrong people because of loose state inspections, a report said Wednesday.The report, authored by researcher Choi Sung-eun of the Korea Institute of Public Finance, analyzed residence data from 2014 and compared them with tenants' income. The findings showed that 1 out of 5 public housing units were occupied by middle-class income tenants, and in some cases by people whose yearly earnings are in the top bracket.S

South Korea is considering easing an anti-corruption law by raising the cap on the values of free meals, sources said Wednesday, amid criticism that it adversely impacts consumer spending.The law currently bans those working in government, media and schools from receiving free meals priced higher than 30,000 won ($25), gifts exceeding 50,000 won, and congratulatory and condolence money over 100,000 won.  An image of gift boxes of fishery goods sold at a local department store (Yonhap)The governm

A Chinese SUV, the Kenbo 600, made its debut in South Korea on Wednesday, becoming the first Chinese passenger vehicle to be marketed here.China-Korea Motor Co., the local importer and distributor of the Chinese vehicle, unveiled the Kenbo 600 in a ceremony held at its Incheon headquarters, just west of Seoul.The Kenbo 600, marketed as the S6 in China, is an SUV produced by BAIC Motor Corp., the passenger car making unit of China's state-owned BAIC Group, the fourth-largest automotive group in C

Egg prices that have been jumping for over a month from the avian influenza epidemic in the country are showing signs of calming down after imports started arriving, officials said Wednesday.The price for a set of 30 eggs fell for the first time in 37 days Friday, and again Tuesday. Discount supermarket chains, including E-mart, Homeplus and Lotte Mart, have not raised their prices for days. The last price increase at E-mart was Jan. 6. At Homeplus, the last increase was on Jan. 7. Lotte last ma

South Korea's top financial regulator on Wednesday stressed the need for all-out efforts to secure financial stability this year, citing a host of risk factors including rises in the US interest rate."It's the time when solidifying the stability of the financial market is more important than any other year," Yim Jong-yong, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, said at a government-civilian meeting on financial policy. It marked the first plenary session in 2017 of the Committee for Sout

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen walking with a limp during his inspections last month in footage aired by the state broadcaster Wednesday, in what could be a possible relapse of a past ankle problem.The North's leader was seen limping on his left leg during his so-called field guidance to several locations including a shoe factory conducted in December, according to a documentary released by the Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station.The footage showed Kim noticeably limping when he wen

South Korea's finance minister said Wednesday that he will put more policy priority on creating more jobs in the new year to reinvigorate the economy."The government will accelerate its drive to focus on job creation," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a minister-level meeting held in Seoul. "The public sector will hire 30,000 in the first half." South Korea's Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho (2nd from L) speaks at a minister-level meeting in Seoul on Jan. 18, 2017. (Yonhap)He said more than one-thir

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. are recalling about 150,000 Tucson and Sportage SUVs to fix faulty shock absorbers in their rear wheels, the government said Wednesday. Subject to the recall in South Korea are 88,514 Tucson vehicles, which were produced between March 3, 2015, and July 25, 2016, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. Kia is recalling 61,662 Sportage vehicles, which were produced between Aug. 1, 2015, and July 27, 2016, accordin

Gyeonggi Gov. Nam Kyung-pil, a potential presidential contender from the conservative Bareun Party, said Wednesday that Moon Jae-in, former head of the Democratic Party, is a dogmatic candidate with similar traits to the impeached president."Just as President Park Geun-hye's politics were based on her father's glory, Moon is also influenced by late President Roh Moo-hyun," Nam said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency. Nam said the father's legacy led to a lack of verification of Park's c

Shinsegae, a retail conglomerate, joined the list of the country's top 10 business groups in terms of assets last year, while logistics group Hanjin suffered a sharp drop on the conglomerate ranking chart as its affiliate Hanjin Shipping Co. was put under court receivership, industry data showed Wednesday.According to the data compiled by industry tracker CEO Score, a total of 1,183 companies were affiliated with the country's top 30 conglomerates as of September last year, whose combined assets