ID :
75341
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 17:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/75341
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Yonhap News Summary
Yonhap News Summary
The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Friday.
-----------------
N. Korea condemns Lee for freezing inter-Korean ties
SEOUL -- North Korea on Friday renewed its rhetorical offensive against South
Korean President Lee Myung-bak, one day after releasing a South Korean worker
after more than four months of detention in what appeared to be a reconciliatory
gesture.
In a commentary issued one day ahead of the anniversary of Korea's independence
from Japanese rule, the Minju Joson, North Korea's Cabinet newspaper, slammed the
Lee administration for the current state of inter-Korean relations.
-----------------
Seoul draws fire for snubbing compensation for colonial-era laborers
SEOUL -- Seoul is unwilling to ask Tokyo for overdue payments owed to Korean
workers forcibly drafted to serve Japan's colonial regime, court documents showed
Friday, saying the issue was settled more than 40 years ago.
Historical records have shown that Japan drafted hundreds of thousands of Koreans
to work at coal mines and military facilities or to serve as sex slaves in and
outside of Japan in the later years of its 1910-45 colonial occupation of the
peninsula.
-----------------
Gov't to keep tax benefits for low, middle-income earners
SEOUL -- The government will focus on offering tax benefits for low and
middle-income earners in its annual tax reform measures to be unveiled later this
month as part of efforts to help its citizens tide over a protracted economic
slowdown, officials said Friday.
The move comes as concerns are growing that the government might be scaling back
diverse tax benefits provided to individuals and companies in order to broaden
its tax income base.
-----------------
Former President Roh's aide convicted in bribery case
SEOUL -- A top aide to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun has drawn a heavy
prison term for pocketing bribes from one of Roh's financial supporters years
ago, officials at the Seoul Central District Court said Friday.
The court sentenced Park Jung-gyu, who served as senior presidential secretary
for civil affairs from 2004 to 2005, to a three-and-a-half-year jail term. It
also ordered him to forfeit 94 million won (US$76,000) out of some 100 million
won in gift certificates he received from former Taekwang Industry Chairman Park
Yeon-cha, who is currently under arrest on bribery charges.
-----------------
Citibank Korea's Q2 net gains 13.8 pct
SEOUL -- Citibank Korea Inc., the local unit of Citibank Inc., said Friday its
second-quarter net surged 13.8 percent from a year earlier, driven by rising
non-interest income.
Net income stood at 121.9 billion won (US$98.4 million) in the April-June period,
compared with 107.1 billion won for the same period last year, Citibank Korea
said in an e-mailed statement.
-----------------
STX Pan Ocean swings to loss in Q2
SEOUL -- STX Pan Ocean Co., South Korea's largest bulk-shipping line, said Friday
that it swung to a loss in the second quarter of the year on falling freight
rates.
The company posted a loss of 39.4 billion won (US$36 million) in the April-June
period, compared with a profit of 179 billion won a year earlier, it said in a
regulatory filing.
-----------------
Youths begin global tour to promote Korean ownership of Dokdo
SEOUL -- Six Korean youths have embarked on a year-long global tour to promote
South Korea's historic ownership of the Dokdo islets in the East Sea.
The group, operating under the title "Dokdo-racer" will tour 30 countries and 50
cities, beginning with the San Francisco in the United States.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul shares close up 1.71 pct on bank, tech gains
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks finished 1.71 percent higher Friday as large-capped
bank and tech issues rose on solid foreign buying, analysts said. The local
currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korean Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shot up 26.78 points to
1,591.42, the highest since July 31, 2008. Volume was moderate at 591 million
shares worth 6.71 trillion won (US$5.42 billion) with gainers outnumbering losers
454 to 354.
(END)
The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Friday.
-----------------
N. Korea condemns Lee for freezing inter-Korean ties
SEOUL -- North Korea on Friday renewed its rhetorical offensive against South
Korean President Lee Myung-bak, one day after releasing a South Korean worker
after more than four months of detention in what appeared to be a reconciliatory
gesture.
In a commentary issued one day ahead of the anniversary of Korea's independence
from Japanese rule, the Minju Joson, North Korea's Cabinet newspaper, slammed the
Lee administration for the current state of inter-Korean relations.
-----------------
Seoul draws fire for snubbing compensation for colonial-era laborers
SEOUL -- Seoul is unwilling to ask Tokyo for overdue payments owed to Korean
workers forcibly drafted to serve Japan's colonial regime, court documents showed
Friday, saying the issue was settled more than 40 years ago.
Historical records have shown that Japan drafted hundreds of thousands of Koreans
to work at coal mines and military facilities or to serve as sex slaves in and
outside of Japan in the later years of its 1910-45 colonial occupation of the
peninsula.
-----------------
Gov't to keep tax benefits for low, middle-income earners
SEOUL -- The government will focus on offering tax benefits for low and
middle-income earners in its annual tax reform measures to be unveiled later this
month as part of efforts to help its citizens tide over a protracted economic
slowdown, officials said Friday.
The move comes as concerns are growing that the government might be scaling back
diverse tax benefits provided to individuals and companies in order to broaden
its tax income base.
-----------------
Former President Roh's aide convicted in bribery case
SEOUL -- A top aide to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun has drawn a heavy
prison term for pocketing bribes from one of Roh's financial supporters years
ago, officials at the Seoul Central District Court said Friday.
The court sentenced Park Jung-gyu, who served as senior presidential secretary
for civil affairs from 2004 to 2005, to a three-and-a-half-year jail term. It
also ordered him to forfeit 94 million won (US$76,000) out of some 100 million
won in gift certificates he received from former Taekwang Industry Chairman Park
Yeon-cha, who is currently under arrest on bribery charges.
-----------------
Citibank Korea's Q2 net gains 13.8 pct
SEOUL -- Citibank Korea Inc., the local unit of Citibank Inc., said Friday its
second-quarter net surged 13.8 percent from a year earlier, driven by rising
non-interest income.
Net income stood at 121.9 billion won (US$98.4 million) in the April-June period,
compared with 107.1 billion won for the same period last year, Citibank Korea
said in an e-mailed statement.
-----------------
STX Pan Ocean swings to loss in Q2
SEOUL -- STX Pan Ocean Co., South Korea's largest bulk-shipping line, said Friday
that it swung to a loss in the second quarter of the year on falling freight
rates.
The company posted a loss of 39.4 billion won (US$36 million) in the April-June
period, compared with a profit of 179 billion won a year earlier, it said in a
regulatory filing.
-----------------
Youths begin global tour to promote Korean ownership of Dokdo
SEOUL -- Six Korean youths have embarked on a year-long global tour to promote
South Korea's historic ownership of the Dokdo islets in the East Sea.
The group, operating under the title "Dokdo-racer" will tour 30 countries and 50
cities, beginning with the San Francisco in the United States.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul shares close up 1.71 pct on bank, tech gains
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks finished 1.71 percent higher Friday as large-capped
bank and tech issues rose on solid foreign buying, analysts said. The local
currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korean Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shot up 26.78 points to
1,591.42, the highest since July 31, 2008. Volume was moderate at 591 million
shares worth 6.71 trillion won (US$5.42 billion) with gainers outnumbering losers
454 to 354.
(END)
