Today's headlines_Dec 22

- The number of new-born babies increased this year by 8,000 from a year before, after a continuing low birth rate since 2001.

- Labor Union at Kolon Industries Inc. decided to break away from the KCTU as a result of a 95 per cent of approval vote from its unionists to withdraw from the militant labor group, which marks the second in its kind this year when Daelim Industrial Co. did the same thing.

- Ahn Churl-soo, former CEO of Ahn Lab and now studying MBA in the Whatton School in the US, said he would set up a venture capital when he comes back next year.

- E-land will sell 10 among 32 branches of Carrefour to pay back half of the W800 bn debt and enhance the company competitiveness.

- Deputy Finance Minister Lim Young-rok told reporters yesterday that the government is positively reviewing the issuance of high-denomination notes, which will take 2-3 years to do so.

- Former Kyunggi governor Sohn Hak-kyu stressed on the government’s role in softening various regulations and making a business-friendly environment.

- Construction Minister Lee Yong-seop made it clear the government would not lessen reconstruction regulations for apartment in Kangnam region.

- Goh Kun lashed back at president’s yesterday remark and said what he said is ‘self-contradiction’ and ‘self-denial.’

- Japanese Kypto news agency and BBC reported that North Korean army is providing Karaoke machines to barracks in order to boost soldiers’ morale. Rodong Sinmun was quoted as reporting that Kim Jong-il couldn’t hide his joyful feelings to see how the machine changed the mood of his soldiers.

- Korean automobile and tire companies set their eyes on the up-market.

- Women made up 40.1 per cent, or 122 out of 304 of people who passed the national administration exam this year, the highest rate in the exam history.