Other important headlines_September 11

- President Roh and US President Bush agreed not to adopt any type of statement in the upcoming summit which is slated to be held in Washington on September 14. The two countries have adopted two joint statements and one joint press release during their five summit meeting since the current Roh administration came to power.

- Yoo Ho-yeol, professor of Korea University, argued that the continuing US financial sanctions and international sanctions according to the UN resolution are expected to make situation on the Korean peninsula more dangerous in which it becomes more likely for North Korea to test its underground nuclear experiment. He said “the North regards ‘Pakistan’s way,’ rather than ‘Libya’s way’ as a more viable solution for its survival.”

- From next year, people can have access to internet anywhere in the country. The Ministry of Information and Communication announced that 99 per cent of rural areas can have internet infrastructure by the year-end as part of government projects to narrow information gap between rural and urban areas.

- The Fair Trade Commission launched an investigation into alleged unfair internal trade practices among affiliates of Hyundai Motors, including Hyundai Motors, Hyundai Mobis, Glovis, Innocean, Amco, Rotem, Hisco, and Hyundai Steel. The industrial experts see the investigation might focus on Hyundai Group’s illegal assistance of Glovis.

- According to Korea National Statistical Office, 50 per cent of population aged from 20 to 39 is single. Six out of ten women at the age of marriage from 25 to 29 are single, up a whopping 20 per cent from five years ago and 38.2 per cent of them are reported to live in Kangnam area.

- Kang Jung-won, President of Kookmin Bank, said “I understand the consultation with Lone Star about the prolonged KEB sale is well underway.” “Though it has been quite a while since we signed the contract, I don’t see any major problem because nothing much has changed from then,” he said.

- Foreigner-holding shares in Samsung Electronics have been below 50 per cent since last April. The share amounted to 53.82 per cent in the early this year but the percentage dropped amid foreign investors’ selling spree.