The average annual income of new college graduates at big firms reached 37.12 million won ($34,000) this year, according to data by online recruiting agency JobKorea.The starting pay for entry-level workers at 167 large Korean firms grew by 7.3 percent from 34.59 million won last year, the biggest increase since the 2007-2010 global financial crisis, the statistics showed.By industry, workers in the shipbuilding sector were the highest earners, receiving an average annual pay of 41.32 million wo

The Korea National Park Service is planning to introduce a gene analysis system as part of its wildlife management support for Asiatic black bears on Mount Jirisan, the Ministry of Environment said Sunday.The authorities will set up security cameras and fur traps that could pluck hair bulbs for identifying the population and tracking down their routes. The officials explained the new system was adopted due to the habitat expansion and to relieve the bears’ stress when being captured to attach tr

Central government and municipal organizations will introduce flexible part-time jobs from next year as part of efforts to achieve a 70 percent employment rate by 2017, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Sunday. The ministry released an interim report on key plans and policy directions of its major employment task envisioned by President Park Geun-hye, which focuses on the “flexible part-time job system.”In addition to an 8-hour flexible job system, the new measure allows two people

Major retailers are joining a campaign to reduce gift wrapping and adornments to save costs and protect the environment ahead of the the Sept. 18-20 Chuseok holidays, according to the Ministry of Environment.Major department stores, large supermarkets and online shopping malls promised to replace expensive ribbons and packaging with environmentally friendly materials for food gift packages.The new practice aims to reduce the environmental impact and cut production costs for retailers. Getting ri

More than 600 children aged between 10 and 13 were found to have been investigated for rape, arson or robbery in 2011 to 2012, according to the National Police Agency.The number of early teens booked for the three kinds of violent crimes was 322 in 2011 and 304 in 2012. Rape was the most common serious crime, accounting for 58 percent of cases, followed by arson and robbery at 32 percent and 10 percent, respectively. More than 21,800 other cases of teenage crimes, including theft and violence, w

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has called on the government to take measures to address Koreans’ growing anxiety over a series of leaks of highly radioactive water from the crippled nuclear reactor in Japan. Concerns are growing here after the operator of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant confirmed fresh leaks in addition to its announcement of a leak of 300 tons of contaminated water earlier this week.In an emergency meeting with related ministers on Thursday Chung directed the government to enhan

The Seoul government said Thursday it is lifting a 35-year development ban on Insa-dong, a popular tourist destination and a focal point of traditional culture in the northern part of Seoul.The metropolitan government held a city planning commission meeting on Wednesday to pass a bill on redeveloping the area in increments, according to its report. Cafes, karaoke rooms and cosmetic shops are prohibited from the approval to prevent reckless development in the historical place, while antique store

Local conglomerates, manufacturers, a hospital and a bank are adopting the so-called “flexible part-time job system,” as part of measures to realize President Park Geun-hye’s goal of 70 percent job employment by 2017. Up to 269 firms will hire 2,118 part-time workers within the next nine months with subsidies from the Labor Korea Foundation for the labor cost, the foundation’s officials said. The system is aimed at removing employment practices that could become barriers to the employment rate i

Debate is brewing over the authorities’ monitoring of seafood imported from Japan due to radiation fears as a far stricter watch is being applied on agricultural products.Seafood contaminated by radiation leaks from the Fukushima nuclear plant has been found in the local market recently, adding to public fears about the after effects of the 2011 disaster.About 3,010 tons of fish requested for import declaration has been found to contain radioactive cesium since March 11, 2011, according to the M

The land and environment ministries pledged to jointly respond to algal blooms, including emergency releases of water from upstream dams.The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport have been at odds over the cause of green tides, which began to spread in major rivers late last month.In a press release Wednesday, the two authorities said they agreed to jointly take measures to protect drinking water, including opening the Nakdonggang dam gates, should gr

The state-run Korea Environment Corp. has been at the vanguard of the nation’s drive for sustainable growth by connecting the public and private sectors in projects for water improvement, waste management and greenhouse gas reduction. The company also aims to harness the nation’s strength in environmental technology and know-how to explore overseas markets and boost domestic growth and jobs. The company plans to push for 89 contracts this year worth 760.9 billion won ($684.2 million), which is m

The first state-run qualification test for medical tour coordinators will be held in September, a government agency said Thursday.Human Resources Development of Korea will hold the preliminary qualification exam on Sept. 28 for medical tour coordinators who provide foreign patients with transportation, accommodations and general information on their treatments. Along with the new plan, the Ministry of Justice will simplify the process for medical tourists to receive electronic visas, officials s

A local wedding company owner has been accused of illegally using historical sites in Jongno, Seoul, for traditional wedding ceremonies, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Friday.The Jongno District Office filed a complaint against the owner, identified by his surname Lee, in June for allegedly attracting customers to hold weddings in Munmyo and Sungkyunkwan without the Cultural Heritage Administration‘s approval for more than two years, officials said. The two properties are together des

In what has become an annual summer scourge in South Korea, millions of dead fish have been washed ashore and rivers have been fouled with bright green beds of algae for the past two weeks.Residents of South Gyeongsang Province are voicing concerns over a record level of green tides in Nakdonggang River, the source of drinking water to some 3 million people in Daegu and in adjacent areas. According to the Ministry of Environment, the population of microorganisms sharply increased to dangerous le

MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province ― Tensions are rising between electricity authorities and residents in Miryang over a plan to build a high-voltage transmission line in the region. The Korea Electric Power Corporation plans to build a 765-kilovolt transmission line from Ulsan’s Shin-Kori nuclear power plant to the plant’s substation in Changnyeong. But the 8-year-old project is on hold due to residents’ opposition, with 52 out of 161 towers yet to be erected. “When you poke a bee hive, bees fl

During the rainy season, the decreased amount of sunlight can cause people to feel depressed. This is similar in mechanism to the development of seasonal depression during autumn and winter when there is a decreased amount of sunlight. However, the duration of the rainy season is shorter, which means that this type of depression is not as severe.Decreased sunlight leads to decreased production of melatonin, a neurotransmitter, which disrupts the circadian rhythm and causes depression. Melatonin

The tripartite consultative body of labor, management and government expanded its organization by inviting representatives from small and medium-sized companies, as well as youth and women. The expansion of the Economic and Social Development Commission comes as it takes on a broader role and seeks to provide a platform for dialogue among more diverse economic players to solve labor-related problems, including the government’s goal to achieve 70 percent employment by 2017.The overhaul will incre

The government plans to hire North Korean defectors with career experience and certificates as formal staff in the second half of the year, the Ministry of Security and Public Administration said.Eleven low-level positions will be open for the refugees at some offices including those in charge of labor, culture, health, fair trade and food and drug safety. More details about the application process and qualifications will be announced between July and November on each ministry website. (monicasu

Labor authorities on Monday cleared Shinsegae Group vice chairman Chung Yong-jin of suspicions of illegal surveillance and other abuses of employees at the group’s discount store arm E-mart.The Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office referred to the prosecution 14 E-mart officials, including former chief executive Choi Byung-ryul, wrapping up a six-month investigation into allegations that the management interfered with union activities last year.Chung and incumbent CEO Heo In-cheol were not

The deaths of five students at a private seaside boot camp Thursday have ignited debate over lax safety and flawed operations of military-style boot camps for young people. Police were widening their probe into the accident in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, in which the high-school students drowned after they followed trainers’ orders to take off their life jackets and go into the sea. Police said only six out of 12 instructors had lifeguard licenses, and eight had sea sports licenses. Some