Entering the Year of the Dragon..

Happy Lunar New Year!

on 26 Jan. 2012, right after the holiday...

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[120127] ‘Completely remodeled?’ Voters are no fools anymore!

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‘Completely remodeled?’ Voters are no fools anymore! It is an easy last resort for a failing restaurant to put up a banner outside that reads “Completely remodeled – Reopening soon.” Seldom does it succeed in luring people, however, unless the business had really gone through a genuine change – because they simply know it. South Korea’s government party is said to have opted for the ‘ Shin-jang-gae-eop ’ method in the end, a well predicted move in the run-up to this year’s two major polls – the April general elections and the December presidential election. We may have to acknowledge that it has taken rather long indeed before the Grand National Party (GNP) decided to change its official party name in 15 years – in a country where a myriad of parties have risen and fallen endlessly – though without fundamental changes – over past several decades. It goes back to 1997, just ahead of a presidential poll, when the major conservative party altered its official nam...
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[120131] Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Fri-Fri?

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Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Fri-Fri? Chaebol companies ruining life-and-work balance of S. Korean workers More than 1.43 million people, or about 13 percent of all South Korean laborers, were found to be working over 52 hours a week, the legal working time limit, according to a report by the daily Hankyoreh Jan. 30 . Working hours of OECD countries In fact, the laws permit a maximum of 40 hours per week for regular work (5-day workweek system; 8 hours each from Monday to Friday) and an extended overtime work of up to 12 hours. So it means not a few people are working even over weekends, sacrificing their time for a more enjoyable life. Raising concerns is the fact that such illicit overtime practices tend much more likely in workplaces of chaebol companies than those in mid- and small-sized ones. In particular, the rate of employees working over 52 hours goes beyond 50 percent in the automobile industry, dominated by one giant player - Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group. Critics ...
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[120201] Struggles for free press

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Struggles for free press Restoring independence of media environment distorted under Lee Myung-bak administration Union members of the MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation) including some famous anchors and producers participate in a get-together starting their strike at the lobby of the broadcasting company in Yeouido, Seoul, Jan. 30, 2012. (Source: OhmyNews ) It is the fifth time under the Lee Myung-bak administration that the union of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has decided to go on strike. During the 10-year-period of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations, there has not been a single walkout by the major broadcaster. In May 2010, MBC unionized workers staged a walkout (regrettably without any big trophies in the end) for 39 days in protest against the “unjust” appointment of Kim Jae-chul, a loyalist to President Lee Myunb-bak, as the new MBC president. Union representatives say that this time their fight would be totally different from previou...
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