Today's headlines_Jan. 10

- A poll conducted by Chsoun Ilbo and Gallup on 703 people aged more than 19 shows 63.3 per cent of respondents think it would be better for the next government to take care of constitution revision on the presidential term.

- The MOFE objects the plan by financial authorities to put a restriction on giving out loans according to the DTI ratio nationwide. A high-ranking official at the MOFE said “it is not desirable to expand the restriction throughout the country given possible side effects.”

- Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee stressed yesterday that the company should be ready for any critical situation from unstable economic conditions this year. Yoon Jong-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, also said “considering the fact that 80 per cent Samsung earnings come from exports, a won appreciation is the biggest concern….The company has set its exchange rate at W910 down from W925.”

- Samsung Electronics revealed that it will produce a ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’ phone on which users can use search engines, email, and map services provided by the two companies.

- 780 Hyundai Motor unionists this morning left Ulsan for the company headquarters as planned to stage a massive strike in front of the company in protest against thinner year-end bonus than expected.

- North Korean defectors living in the South can legally divorce as the Unification Ministry passed a revised law to allow them to divorce when it is unclear to figure out the whereabouts of their partners.

- Kookmin Bank agreed with its union to change temporary workers’ status into regular one from the second quarter this year and Shinhan Bank also is in talks with its unions on that matter. YTN 2007-01-10 06:45]

- North Korea’s foreign minister Paek Nam-soon died of lung cancer, not kidney problems as believed before.