The monthly data consumption of South Koreans using the fourth-evolution network surpassed 6 gigabytes for the first time in April, reflecting the rising demand for video streaming and other services in the mobile environment, industry data showed Friday.According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, local smartphone users subscribing to LTE services used 6.06 GB of data in April on average, up 2.2 percent on-month.Industry watchers said the increase is attr

The combined net profit of South Korea's 79 savings banks rose 13.6 percent on-year for the first quarter of this year, thanks to higher interest income, data showed Friday. Preliminary net profit of savings banks stood at 249.6 billion won ($222 million) for the January-March period, according to the data by the Financial Supervisory Service. During the quarter, their interest income jumped by 135.5 billion won, while loan-loss provisions increased by 52.9 billion won, the data showed. The

The National Assembly was set to hold a confirmation hearing for Fair Trade Committee chairman-designate Kim Sang-jo Friday over his policy orientations, ethical qualifications and other credentials.Kim, seen as a pivotal figure to lead President Moon Jae-in's efforts to reform major conglomerates, is expected to face an intense vetting process at the parliament due to a series of allegations involving himself and his family. This photo, taken on June 1, 2017, shows Fair Trade Committee chairman

PARIS/SEOUL -- The daughter of a late businessman who was blamed for the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014 will be sent back to South Korea as a French court has dismissed her appeal, the authorities said Friday. Yoo Sum-na, the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, has been on the Interpol's wanted list at the South Korean prosecution's request. She faces embezzlement charges. (Yonhap)"The French justice ministry notified us on Tuesday that Yoo Sum-na's appeal on the extradition order was dismissed at its high

A fire that broke out on Mount Surak in northern Seoul was mostly put out Friday morning, firefighters said, with no casualties having been reported so far. The fire, which started around 9:10 p.m. Thursday, was almost extinguished around 2:25 a.m., they said. More than 2,330 officials and 64 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. Mount Surak in northern Seoul is ablaze on June 1, 2017. The fire was mostly contained by early morning the following day after burning some 39,600 square meters, a

WASHINGTON -- The engine for North Korea's newly developed intermediate range ballistic missile is suspected to have been sourced from foreign countries like Ukraine or Russia, a US missile expert said Thursday.The North successfully test-fired the Hwasong 12 missile on May 14, demonstrating a big stride in its pursuit of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the continental US. (Yonhap)The North said that it fired the missile at the highest angle and the missile reached the

NEW YORK -- The United States and China are expected to seek a new UN Security Council resolution blacklisting more North Korean people and entities in an effort to increase pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs, a news report said Thursday.US and Chinese diplomats have negotiated new sanctions on Pyongyang for the past five weeks, and the 15-nation Security Council could hold a vote on a draft resolution as early as Friday, Reuters reported, citing unidentified diplomats.T

Prosecutors on Friday sought a court warrant to formally arrest the daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's friend who was extradited from Denmark this week.The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. to decide whether to issue the warrant for Chung Yoo-ra.  Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's close associate, is brought to the prosecution in Seoul on June 1, 2017, for a second day of questioning on various allegations ranging from illegal unive

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 15.33 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,359.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Large-cap stocks were mixed across the board.Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 1.34 percent, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 1.24 percent and leading cosmetics company AmorePacific was up 0.44 percent.Among losers, top carmaker Hyundai Motor declined 3.02 percent on profit-

China on Thursday welcomed South Korea's decision the previous day to permit a civic group to contact North Koreans to prepare for a joint event to mark an inter-Korean summit anniversary slated for next month. Responding to a question at a regular press briefing on China's stance towards the Unification Ministry's decision, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "This is a positive signal coming out of North Korea polices under the new administration of South Korea," adding China welco

President Moon Jae-in's nominee for foreign minister said Thursday that the government needs to consider resuming humanitarian assistance to North Korea which had been suspended amid inter-Korean tensions.Kang Kyung-wha, who awaits a confirmation hearing next week, made the remarks during a meeting with officials of nonprofit organizations devoted to making humanitarian aid to countries in need. (Yonhap)"While taking stern action against the North's provocations, my opinion is that the humanitar

South Korea's new vice unification minister on Thursday raised the need to push for inter-Korean dialogue in a prudent manner by taking into account North Korea's changes in its attitude.Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said that any rush for inter-Korean talks can give the wrong message to the North at a time when Pyongyang is not giving up its nuclear and missile development programs. This photo taken on June 1, 2017, shows new vice unification minister Chun Hae-sung. (Yonhap)"The direc

New National Intelligence Service director Suh Hoon on Thursday ordered the abolition of domestic intelligence operations, setting in motion a campaign to reform the spy agency long suspected of meddling in politics to support ruling elites.Suh issued the order shortly after President Moon Jae-in conferred an appointment certificate on him and called for "thoroughly" banning the NIS from engaging in politics. President Moon Jae-in (left) speaks with new National Intelligence Service Director Suh

A new vice foreign minister of South Korea on Thursday denounced a 2015 deal over Japan's wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women, calling it a "highly wrong" decision. Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who returned from India where he served as the country's ambassador, made the remarks during a meeting with reporters. He was chosen to be a second vice foreign minister late last month.Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (Yonhap)Asked what diplomatic decisions made under the previous government fell

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday appointed three deputy directors of the National Intelligence Service, completing the leadership lineup of the spy agency.Moon appointed Seoul's Ambassador to Pakistan Suh Dong-gu as the first deputy director, while choosing Kim Joon-hwan, a former head of a regional NIS office, as the second deputy director. Kim Sang-gyun, a former chief of the NIS's North Korea strategy, was named the third deputy director.Seoul`s Ambassador to Pakistan Suh Dong-gu (Yonhap)On

President Moon Jae-in has withdrawn his nomination of a senior aide handling job creation amid opposition from labor circles, a presidential official said Thursday.Ahn Hyun-ho, a former vice minister of what is now the Ministry of TradeAhn Hyun-ho, a former vice minister of what is now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was tapped last month to serve as the new president's chief secretary for job creation.But labor circles expressed opposition to his appointment, claiming he was biased

JEJU ISLAND -- Climate crisis-induced food shortages were behind the Arab revolutions in 2010 known as the Arab Spring, former United States Vice President Al Gore said Thursday, making the case for action to counter climate change as a growing cause of social instability.Gore, vice president from 1993-2001 under former President Bill Clinton, was giving a speech on "Challenges and Opportunities of Climate Change" at the on-going Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on this resort island.Recallin

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump’s cryptic tweet of a non-existent word -- “covfefe” -- sparked a flood of humor and ridicule on the internet, but it also highlighted the inability of his communications team to control White House messaging.It may have been a simple keyboard slip, or a “senior moment” -- the soon to be 71-year-old Trump’s huge catalog of Twitter bloopers regularly offer evidence that a spelling-challenged speed-tweeter occupies the Oval Office.It also shows that four m

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide attacker struck the fortified heart of the Afghan capital with a massive truck bomb Wednesday, killing 90 people, wounding 400 and raising new fears about the government’s ability to protect its citizens nearly 16 years into a war with insurgents.The bomber drove into Kabul’s heavily guarded diplomatic quarter during the morning rush hour, leaving behind a bloody scene of chaos and destruction in one of the worst attacks since the draw-down of foreign forces

CHEONGJU -- A task force of the state-run Korea Tourism Organization's branch in Cheongju, central South Korea, said Thursday it plans to complete a project aimed at turning a plaza that is known for its flagpole from Korea's medieval dynasty into one of the top tourist spots by creating a dazzling night view there by the end of this month.According to the business group, which has focused its efforts on revitalizing traditional markets, the project involves illuminating the plaza and the Iron F