Other important headlines_September 19

[Dong-A Ilbo] It is confirmed that North Korea has asked to open a bank account at Woori Bank’s Kaesung branch last December in a desperate attempt to find a way out of US-led financial sanctions. The bank rejected the demand at that time and North Korean authorities pressed to shut down the branch. The government has not yet allowed the opening for fear of angering the US.

[Yonhap] Cheong Wa Dae rejected the rumor that President Roh had asked US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to close down the investigation into BDA’s business with North Korea. Presidential Press Secretary Yoon Tae-young said “the president mentioned it would be desirable to match US law execution with the efforts to resume the stalled six party talks but not talked about early winding up of the investigation.”

[Kookmin Ilbo] Despite the government measure to give fathers paid-vacation for childcare aimed at driving up low birth rate, only 1.8 per cent of fathers have taken some time off to raise children since paternity leave was introduced.

[Chosun Ilbo] Many top-class hotels are reported to turn down people over 60 who applied for lifetime fitness membership. Hotels say the age limit is due to health concerns for the elderly. But one hotel manager admitted that young club members don’t like exercising with old people.

[E-Daily] WiBro business hasn’t taken off yet. KT and SK Telecom revealed they have altogether attracted only 1,000 subscribers since the service launch in June. The number is much lower than expected as the industry aimed to lure as many as 2m users by 2009. The lackluster performance is blamed on delayed launch of handsets, lack of aggressive marketing strategies, and expensive price of WiBro cards.

[Chosun Ilbo] Lee Tae-shik, South Korean ambassador to the United States, said Korea, the US, and Japan will have a high-ranking official meeting as early as next week to discuss North Korean nuclear problem. Six party chief negotiators of Korea and the US also will meet this week in New York.

[Yonhap] The employment rate of graduates in university in Seoul turned out to be highest in Korea University with 82.1 per cent, followed by Sungkyunkwan University with 81 per cent, and Ewha Woman’s University with 78.2 per cent. Seoul National University showed a disappointing result with 54 per cent of job finding rate. The university said “the reason for the comparatively low hiring rate is because many students advance to graduate school, prepare national exams, or go overseas to study.”

[CBS Radio] 90 per cent of divorcees regret their marriage break-up and even after they remarry, in many cases they go through the same problem all over again. The divorce rate of remarried couples is four times higher than that of first-married couples.