SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday launched its first promotional
body dedicated to promoting recognition and popularity of its foods abroad, the
culture ministry said.

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Elementary school students in Seoul will take
anti-smoking classes this year for the first time as part of efforts by

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean banks' bad loan ratio rose in the first
quarter as defaults among smaller firms increased amid the slowing economy and a

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 1.48 percent higher late
Monday morning as investors snapped up financial shares amid hopes for better
earnings, analysts said.

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR) as posted by
Yonhap Infomax, the financial news and information arm of Yonhap News Agency, at
11:00 a.m.

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks climbed 2.09 percent Monday as investors scooped up bank shares amid prospects for an economic recovery and their better earnings, analysts said.

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motor Co., the South Korean unit of
French automaker Renault SA, said Monday that its vehicle sales dived 38.3

By Sam Kim

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KOSDAQ 507.01 UP 6.03 points (close)
(END)

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Monday a "healthy" family
is the centerpiece of government policies, pledging to help reduce divorces and