Today's headlines_Jan. 17

- In association with the Kim Heung-ju lobbying scandal, prosecutors are tracking down bank accounts records of 5-6 people including former prosecutors, a senior official at the BAI, an official at the Prime Minister’s office, and a politician.

- As early as the later half of the year, a taxi coupon will be introduced, which can be used like a gift certificate.

- In the cabinet meeting presided by President Roh yesterday, there was no discussion on the matter of Hyundai Motor’s unionized workers’ strike which is believed to deal a serious blow to the national economy.

- Samsung announced new personnel reshuffle yesterday including three new presidents and nine replacements at its affiliates.

- Goh Kun announced yesterday not to run for the next presidential election.

- Hyundai Motor’s management is said to have agreed with its union yesterday on the payment of the remaining year-end bonus on condition that workers do extra works to recover lost production due to recent strikes, but the two sides don’t see eye to eye on when the payment will be made and whether the company will withdraw its lawsuit against union.

- Amid controversy surrounding President’s criticism towards reporters yesterday, the meeting between President Roh and chief editors of major local presses will be held today as scheduled.

- The Seoul District Court criticized prosecutors in a roundabout way when delivering a verdict on Kim Jae-rok by saying “it is very shameful that Kim became known as a ‘malignant broker’ during the prosecutor’s investigation…..His personal rights had been severely trampled upon during the investigation even before he had a fair trial ”

- Nonghyup achieved a record net profit of W1.3 tr last year, for the first time in its history to pass the W1 tr mark, while Industrial Bank of Korea has also recently revealed that the bank’s last year net profit will be around W1 tr.

- A foreign fund with more than 25 per cent of local company share should pay tax on capital earnings from share sell-off, according to the 2007 revised new tax regulation.

- The BOK hired two men in their late 30s as entry-level employees among 38 new hiring, which bucks the usual Korean trend of employing people mostly just fresh out of university. The Bank had age limitation for employment but scrapped it three years ago.

- E-Mart decided to turn its contract workers into regular ones before July.