Other interesting headlines August 31

- It is reported that the government is positively reviewing Zaytun Division’s extended staying in Iraq. The division is supposed to end its mission this December. Many point out that there is no justification or benefits coming from extended staying, especially at a time when other countries are withdrawing their soldiers from Iraq after the establishment of independent Iraqi government.

- One year after government’s 8.31 policy to cool down the property market, it seems that the government failed to achieve its intended goal; to pull down house prices in Kangnam area. Some apartment prices in the region even go up. While speculative moves died down a little bit, the overall construction market is sluggish especially in non-Seoul area and not much transaction is taking place.

- Government’s plan to enter US Visa Waiver Program by 2008 doesn’t seem to be easy since the rate of Korean visa application rejected by the US amounts to 3.5 per cent, higher than 3 per cent, a requirement to enter the program.

- The government and the Uri party agreed to offer a comprehensive health examine for all soldiers from 2008.

- ‘Light alcohol war’ will be spread into the beer market as well. The country’s two biggest beer companies, Hite and OB, will launch the end of next month new products with lighter alcohol proportion. .

- In-house couples are most widely seen in the financial sectors and IT industry. 160 employees of LG card, 7 per cent of the workforce, are dating co-workers while there are 100 couples in LG CNS and 90 couples in Samsung SDS. Shin Kyoung-soo, CEO of a human resources company, says “in a company with higher salary and more stable employment environment, there are more in-house couples.”

- It is reported that 5 TV, France national TV, was strongly complained by the Japanese government about broadcasting a documentary including the content that Dokdo belongs to Korean territory. But the documentary was on air on August 18 as scheduled.

- Samsung Electronics unveiled its new ultra-slim cell phone editions in Paris Louvre Museum in France, for the first time in the museum’s history to allow a company to have a commercial event.

- According to a report by BoK, company sentiment is on the continuous decline, reaching its lowest point in 20 months. The sentiment is an indicator showing how local companies feel about the market environ0ment.