ID :
97626
Thu, 12/31/2009 - 21:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/97626
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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 Thursday.
-------
President Lee calls for efforts to make greater South Korea
SEOUL -- President Lee Myung-bak called for efforts to further develop the
country in his New Year's message, noting the country is facing the chance to
become a great nation. The message was released in advance by the presidential
office Thursday.
"We created a new chance amid the crisis last year in order to move into the
future. The path we must take in the year 2010 is one that will take us to a
greater South Korea," the message said. The New Year's message is to be broadcast
nationwide on Friday.
--------
(LEAD) S. Korea mulls offering aid for release of POWs in North
SEOUL -- South Korea may offer economic aid to North Korea in exchange for the
release of its citizens allegedly held in the communist country, the unification
minister said Thursday, an approach reminiscent of a past German program.
The idea, officially laid out for the first time by Minister Hyun In-taek in his
New Year press briefing, came amid signs of improving ties between the two Koreas
after a year of tension. But its viability is in question, with North Korea
denying the existence of any South Korean detainees.
--------
(LEAD) KB Financial's new head signals intent to resign
SEOUL -- The newly nominated chief of KB Financial Group Inc. expressed on
Thursday his intent to step down amid the financial regulator's intense scrutiny
into alleged wrongdoings by the group's outside directors.
Kang Chung-won, president of the group's banking unit, Kookmin Bank, was
nominated Dec. 3 to lead South Korea's top financial services company. Final
approval for the chairman was supposed to be made at a shareholders' meeting Jan.
7.
--------
(2nd LD) Hyundai Heavy misses order target this year
SEOUL -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's biggest shipbuilder, said
Thursday it won orders valued at US$10.6 billion this year, vastly undershooting
its full-year target of $21.1 billion as the global credit crisis and decreased
trade reduced demand for new ships.
Hyundai Heavy's new contracts were also down 61 percent from a year earlier, the
company said in a regulatory filing. Its full-year sales rose 6.9 percent to 21.3
trillion won ($18 billion), but fell short of its yearly target of 23 trillion
won.
--------
Creditors let Kumho keep managerial rights for up to 5 yrs
SEOUL -- Creditors of the cash-strapped Kumho Asiana Group have allowed the
country's ninth-largest family-run conglomerate to maintain managerial rights
over its units for up to five years, even after debt-for-equity swaps, industry
sources said Thursday.
On Wednesday, two key units of the group -- Kumho Industrial Co. and Kumho Tire
Co. -- were put under creditor-led debt restructuring as the group faced a cash
shortage after a series of mergers and acquisitions.
---------
N. Korea's internal changes may pose new threat to S. Korea: defense head
SEOUL -- North Korea's recent currency reforms and ongoing power succession
deepen uncertainties surrounding the communist state and may pose a new threat to
South Korea in the coming year, Seoul's top defense official said Thursday.
"It is difficult to estimate the threat to us that will arise in the aftermath of
the currency reform and from the regime instabilities as leader Kim Jong-il goes
ahead with a hereditary power handover," Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a
New Year's message to South Korea's 655,000 troops.
(END)
The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Thursday.
-------
President Lee calls for efforts to make greater South Korea
SEOUL -- President Lee Myung-bak called for efforts to further develop the
country in his New Year's message, noting the country is facing the chance to
become a great nation. The message was released in advance by the presidential
office Thursday.
"We created a new chance amid the crisis last year in order to move into the
future. The path we must take in the year 2010 is one that will take us to a
greater South Korea," the message said. The New Year's message is to be broadcast
nationwide on Friday.
--------
(LEAD) S. Korea mulls offering aid for release of POWs in North
SEOUL -- South Korea may offer economic aid to North Korea in exchange for the
release of its citizens allegedly held in the communist country, the unification
minister said Thursday, an approach reminiscent of a past German program.
The idea, officially laid out for the first time by Minister Hyun In-taek in his
New Year press briefing, came amid signs of improving ties between the two Koreas
after a year of tension. But its viability is in question, with North Korea
denying the existence of any South Korean detainees.
--------
(LEAD) KB Financial's new head signals intent to resign
SEOUL -- The newly nominated chief of KB Financial Group Inc. expressed on
Thursday his intent to step down amid the financial regulator's intense scrutiny
into alleged wrongdoings by the group's outside directors.
Kang Chung-won, president of the group's banking unit, Kookmin Bank, was
nominated Dec. 3 to lead South Korea's top financial services company. Final
approval for the chairman was supposed to be made at a shareholders' meeting Jan.
7.
--------
(2nd LD) Hyundai Heavy misses order target this year
SEOUL -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the world's biggest shipbuilder, said
Thursday it won orders valued at US$10.6 billion this year, vastly undershooting
its full-year target of $21.1 billion as the global credit crisis and decreased
trade reduced demand for new ships.
Hyundai Heavy's new contracts were also down 61 percent from a year earlier, the
company said in a regulatory filing. Its full-year sales rose 6.9 percent to 21.3
trillion won ($18 billion), but fell short of its yearly target of 23 trillion
won.
--------
Creditors let Kumho keep managerial rights for up to 5 yrs
SEOUL -- Creditors of the cash-strapped Kumho Asiana Group have allowed the
country's ninth-largest family-run conglomerate to maintain managerial rights
over its units for up to five years, even after debt-for-equity swaps, industry
sources said Thursday.
On Wednesday, two key units of the group -- Kumho Industrial Co. and Kumho Tire
Co. -- were put under creditor-led debt restructuring as the group faced a cash
shortage after a series of mergers and acquisitions.
---------
N. Korea's internal changes may pose new threat to S. Korea: defense head
SEOUL -- North Korea's recent currency reforms and ongoing power succession
deepen uncertainties surrounding the communist state and may pose a new threat to
South Korea in the coming year, Seoul's top defense official said Thursday.
"It is difficult to estimate the threat to us that will arise in the aftermath of
the currency reform and from the regime instabilities as leader Kim Jong-il goes
ahead with a hereditary power handover," Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a
New Year's message to South Korea's 655,000 troops.
(END)
