- The incoming government released the list of government cabinet nominees last night. LMB made last-minute change and named Kim Doh-yeon, not Euh Yoon-dae, as education minister. Other nominees are all the same as the list released to the public before.

- The number of unsold apartment nationwide reached a record high with over 120,783. The number is the highest in the Kyunggi province with 20,170, followed by Daegu with 17,295, and Pusan with 12,170.

- The economic team of the incoming government consists of officials who think of economic growth first, among other things. The LMB government puts priority on growth by reinvigorating investment through deregulation and tax cut.

- North Korea’s weekly magazine Tongil Shinbo lambasted, for the first time since LMB was elected, the remarks made by the president-elect when he said in his new year press briefing that the new government would implement the agreements between the two Koreas after considering feasibility, budget conditions, and public sentiment. The North seems to believe LMB intends to review the October 4 agreement.

- National Human Rights Commission includes improving North Korean human rights conditions in its list of six main projects this year in its firs move to be more aggressive in tackling human rights abuse in the North. The commission has been under fire for its lack of attention on the issue since its inception.

- National Tax Service ordered Hana Bank to pay tax of more than W1 trillion for breaking law when Hana bank took over Seoul Bank in 1998. The agency found out the problem in its regular audit last year that Hana Bank forged a document in order to evade paying tax.

- Special investigation team said they are thoroughly reviewing the tax history of Lee kun-hee family received from NTS.