Kakao Corp., the operator of namesake mobile messenger Kakao Talk, said Wednesday it will unveil the PC version of its popular messenger application in June, a move that could dramatically change the landscape of South Korea's instant messaging market.   Kakao Talk is a free messenger application that runs on the Android and iOS operating systems. Launched in 2010, it now has more than 90 million users worldwide, rivaling similar apps such as NHN Corp.'s LINE and California-based messenger Whats

배우 한혜진이 기성용과 결혼식을 올린 후 7월께 영국으로 갈 예정이다.한혜진은 28일 자신의 트위터에 “7월 1일 결혼한다. 우리는 부부의 연을 맺고 하나가 되기로 약속했다”고 밝혔다.이어 “신랑은 결혼식 다음날 전지훈련을 위해 팀으로 돌아가고, 나는 영화 ‘남자가 사랑할 때’와 ‘힐링캠프’를 촬영한 후 신랑 곁에 가기로 했다”고 설명했다.이어 “결혼을 결정한 것은 최근의 일이다. 기성용 선수의 휴가 때문에 올해를 넘기면 내년을 기약할 수 밖에 없었고 중요한 다음 시즌을 위해서라도 이번이 가장 좋을 것 같다고 서로 판단해 서두르게 됐다”고 밝혔다.결혼식은 7월 1일 오후 7시 인터콘티넨탈 호텔에서 비공개로 열린다.한편, 한혜진이 영국으로 가겠다는 의사를 밝히면서 SBS TV 토크쇼 ‘힐링캠프’에서 하차할 가능성이 높은 것으로 보인다. 이에 대해 한혜진의 소속사는 “현재 하차 여부와 시기를 두고 신중하게 논의 중”이라고 설명했다.(코리아 헤럴드)<관련 영문 기사>Han Hye-jin

The education ministry said Tuesday it will initiate a pilot test-free semester program for middle school students this year to provide them with chances toexperience a wide range of learning activities for their future career.   In March, the Ministry of Education announced its plan to implement the so-called free semester system for middle school students, where schools shift the focus away from test scores and teach students through such diverse engaging methods as discussion, experiments, ou

South Korean stocks inched up 0.32 percent Tuesday, as concerns over the negative impact of the Japanese yen's fast descent on local exporters eased, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.25 points to finish at 1,986.22. Trading volume was light at 297.4 million shares worth 3.17 trillion won (US$2.82 billion) with gainers far outstripping losers 514 to 301.  "It's a tight session as there are no vents thi

A South Korean progressive group on Tuesday urged the government not to block an opportunity to engage North Korea in talks aimed at allowing a joint event to mark the 13th anniversary of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration.   The Committee for the Joint Implementation of the June 15 Summit Declaration in South Korea criticized the government for banning the joint celebration at a press conference in downtown Seoul.   The historic declaration reached at the 2000 summit meeting between late

신고리 1·2·3·4호기와 신월성 1·2호기 원자로에 시험성적표가 위조된 부품이 사용된 사실이 드러나 가동·재가동 일정 연기가 불가피해졌다.    이에 따라 문제의 부품이 공급된 원자로의 가동 혹은 재가동이 약 6개월 늦어지게 돼 전력 수요가 늘어나는 여름철을 앞두고 전력 수급에 비상이 걸렸다.    이은철 원자력안전위원장과 박윤원 한국원자력안전기술원장은 28일 서울 종로구 원자력안전위원회 대회의실에서 대언론 브리핑을 열어 이렇게 밝혔다.    이번 사건으로 신고리2호기와 신월성1호기의 가동이 예정보다 이르게 중단됨에따라, 전국 원전 23기 중 신고리 1호기, 고리 1·2호기, 한빛(옛 영광) 3호기, 월성 1·2호기, 한울(옛 울진) 4·5호기를 포함해 10기가 운전 중단 상태가 됐다. 설비용량으로 따지면 원전 2천71만6㎾ 중 771만6천㎾를 가동할 수 없는 상황이다.    박근혜 대통령은 이날 국무회의에서 이번 사건에 관한 보고를 받고 "확실한  원인을 규명하고 책임소재를 분명

South Korean stocks traded 0.3 percent higher late Tuesday morning, buoyed by gains in builders and IT services companies, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6 points to 1,985.97 as of 11:20 a.m.  Daelim Industrial, a leading construction firm, climbed 2.6 percent and NHN Corp., the No. 1 Internet portal service provider, gained 1.6 percent.  In contrast, utilities and brokerages lost ground. State-run Korea Electric Power Corp. sank more than 2 percent

South Korean stocks traded 0.3 percent higher late Monday morning, buoyed by blue-chip exporters, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 5.93 points to 1,979.38 as of 11:20 a.m.  LG Electronics, the country's leading home appliance maker, jumped 3.25 percent and No. 1 automaker Hyundai Motor gained nearly 1.5 percent.  In contrast, steelmakers lost ground. POSCO dropped 0.8 percent. Large-cap zinc smelter Korea Zinc also shed 1.8 percent.   The local curren

 South Korea's large businesses are found to hold some 5.7 trillion won (US$5.1 billion) worth of assets through their corporate entities in tax haven regions, data showed Sunday.   According to the data by market researcher Chaebol.com, 24 local conglomerates were found to run corporate entities in nine tax havens, including the Cayman Islands, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Samoa and Cyprus.   The businesses cited in the data are private conglomerates holding 1 trillion won or larger in total a

걸그룹 티아라의 유닛 그룹 티아라엔포가 해외활동을 위해 미국으로 출국했다.티아라엔포는 5월 23일 오후 3시 15분 인천국제공항을 통해 미국길에 올랐다.이날 티아라엔포는 개성강한 힙합스타일의 옷차림으로 등장, 취재진의 플래시 세례를 받았다. 이들은 밝은 표정으로 팬들에게 인사를 한 뒤 공항으로 들어섰다.티아라엔포는 당초 크리스브라운과의 합동무대를 위해 25일 출국할 예정이었으나 24일 힙합가수 워즈칼리파 콘서트 무대에 올라달라는 초청을 받고 스케줄을 긴급 조율해 출국일정을 변경했다.티아라엔포는 위즈칼리파 콘서트에서는 그가 직접 피처링한 '전원일기'로 합동 무대를 펼칠 예정이다.또 예정됐던 크리스브라운 콘서트에서는 크리스브라운이 지원해 준 자넷잭슨-비욘세-어셔의 안무를 맡았던 세계적인 안무팀이자, 자신의 전속 안무팀인 플라이 스타일즈(FLII STLYZ)와 새로운 퍼포먼스를 꾸민다.한편 티아라엔포를 제외한 소연, 큐리, 보람은 일본에서 유닛활동을 나설 예정이며 티아라는 오는 7월 7

South Korean stocks closed 0.22 percent lower Monday as the weak yen continued to weigh down on investors' sentiment here, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved down 4.38 points to finish at 1,982.43. Trading volume was low at 266.3 million shares worth 4.22 trillion won (US$3.78 billion) with losers outstripping gainers 434 to 383.   "While Wall Street gathered ground in the previous trading session on imp

South Korean stocks traded 0.13 percent higher late Monday morning, led by gains in carmakers and construction companies, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.51 points to 1,989.32 as of 11:20 a.m.   Carmakers led the market gain, with No. 1 player Hyundai Motor rising 1.02 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors adding 0.73 percent. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis also climbed 1.29 percent.   Builders also traded higher, with industry leader H

잉글랜드 축구 스타 데이비드 베컴(38•파리 생 제르맹)이 은퇴 경기에서 끝내 눈물을 터뜨렸다.  베컴은 19일(이하 한국시간) 프랑스 파리의 파르크데프랑스 경기장에서 열린 20　12-2013 프랑스 프로축구 리그1 37라운드 브레스트와의 경기에 선발출전했다.　이날 경기는 베컴의 마지막 경기였다. 파리 생제르맹은 아직 한 경기를 더 남겨 뒀지만 나세르 알켈라이피 구단주는 이날 경기가 베컴의 마지막 경기가 될 것이라고 밝힌 바 있다. 　베컴은 주장 완장을 차고 선발로 그라운드를 밟았다.　그는 전반 31분 날카로운 코너킥으로 블레이즈 마투이디의 득점에 도움을  기록 하는 등 시종 활발한 움직임을 선보이다 후반 37분 에세키엘 라베치와 교체됐다.　그가 그라운드를 떠날 때가 되자 파리 생제르맹 동료는 베컴을 둘러싸고 박수를 보냈다.　동료의 박수 세례에 베컴은 끝내 뜨거운 눈물을 터뜨렸다. 그는 동료와 일일이 포옹을 나누고서 벤치로 들어갔다.　경기장을 채운 4만3천여명의 팬들도 기립박수로 축

 David Beckham hugged his teammates with tears in his eyes, then walked off the pitch to a standing ovation  for the last time in front of a home crowd at a football game. 　 A clearly emotional Beckham was mobbed by his teammates on the field when coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to substitute him in the 81st minute of a 3-1 win over Brest on Saturday, giving him a customary sendoff in his last home game before retiring. Even goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu ran out to congratulate the former England ca

North Korea slammed South Korea on Saturday for making critical comments on a Japanese official’s recent visit to Pyongyang, calling it an “unprecedented precipitancy.”　Isao Lijima, an adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, returned to Tokyo Friday after a surprise four-day visit to North Korea. In Pyongyang, he met with high-ranking officials, including Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People‘s Assembly. 　Little has been known about the purpose of Lijima’s trip, b

France will see its first gay weddings within days, after French President Francois Hollande signed a law Saturday authorizing marriage and adoption by same-sex couples and ending months of nationwide protests and wrenching debate.　 Hollande‘s office said he signed the bill Saturday morning, a day after the Constitutional Council struck down a challenge to the law and ruled it in line with France’s constitution.　 Hollande, a Socialist, had made legalizing gay marriage one of his campaign pledges

South Korean stocks closed 0.12 percent higher on Wednesday, as investors stayed on the sidelines amid a lack of market momentum and concerns over the weak yen, analysts said. The local currency lost ground against the U.S.dollar.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.43 points to finish at 1,971.26. Trading volume was light at 238.6 million shares worth 3.63 trillion won (US$3.25 billion) with gainers outpacing decliners 510 to 301.  "The market showed little movemen

 South Korean stocks traded 0.12 percent lower late Wednesday morning, paring earlier gains as large-cap exporters widened losses, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 2.36 points to 1,966.47 as of 11:20 a.m.    Top-cap Samsung Electronics dropped nearly 1 percent and POSCO, a leading steelmaker, dipped 1.3 percent.   Domestic-oriented stocks extended their gains, with state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. rising 0.16 percent and NHN Corp., the No. 1 Inter

South Korean stocks traded 0.86 percent higher late Tuesday morning, as blue-chip domestic shares led the gains in resistance to the weakening yen, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) soared 16.76 points to 1,965.46 as of 11:20 a.m.   State-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power jumped 1.5 percent and smallest mobile carrier LG Uplus hiked 2.5 percent.   But financial issues fell, with No. 3 banking firm Hana Financial Group slipping 0.5 percent and Sa

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se abruptly delayed his first press conference with domestic and foreign journalists, an official said Tuesday, amid a damaging scandal involving a now-fired presidential spokesman overallegations of sexual misconduct in the United States.   Yun had been scheduled to hold the press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday to brief about the results of President Park Geun-hye's visit to the U.S., but it was postponed until next Monday, the senior ministry officia