other interesting headlines

- It is reported that heavy rainfalls left 700 North Koreans missing in Yang-duk in Pyung-an-nam-do. A source familiar with the incident said flush downpour of 495 mm for 12 hours from 6am July 14 caused severe landslide which hit the area, leaving 300 people dead and 400 missing.

- President Roh has spent W46.6bn for his overseas visit since his inauguration in 2003. According to a source from the MOFAT, an average of W423m is spent a day on the president’s visit to other country and 68 aides, except security guards, accompany him.

- According to Hyundai Asan, Hyundai Group has spent W600 bn (Hyundai Merchant spent about W260 bn and Hyundai Asan spent W340 bn ) for its business with North Korea since the inter-Korean business began. Hyundai Asan gained net profit of W5.6bn for the first time last year. But the business prospect is bleak since a series of business with North Korea is now being halted, which casts a dark cloud over the future of Hyundai Asan.

- The Fair Trade Commission is investigating into four oil companies including SK, GS Carltex, S-oil, and Hyundai Oil Bank for possible oil price collusion.

- "We will stage a retaliatory strike if the company pays salary to union workers who don’t participate in the sit-in and work instead,” warned the Hyundai’s infamous labor union. They are not just bluffing. The labor union has already launched retaliatory strikes five times this month for this or that reason.