South Korea

S. Korean union protests change in law

SEOUL, Nov. 30 -- Thousands of people rallied Saturday to protest a South Korean plan to double the time irregular employees must work before they must be made full-time workers.

Under current law, employers are required to offer full-time employment to part-time and temporary workers after two years on the payroll. The proposed change would increase the period to four years.

About 33,000 demonstrators turned out for the rally in a Seoul park, the Yonhap news agency reported. About 2,500 riot police were deployed, but there were no reports of violence.

"The government and employers are forcing laborers to stand on the edge of a cliff," the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which organized the rally, said in a statement.

South Korea prepares to halt train service, tours to North Korea

South Korea FlagSeoul - A South Korean train headed to North Korea Friday for its last r

South Korea sees record current account surplus in October

South KoreaSeoul- South Korea on Thursday reported a record current account surplus of 4.9 billion dollars for October as imports shrank faster than exports, thanks to falling prices for oil and raw materials.

The surplus came after the central bank reported a deficit of 1.4 billion dollars in September. The Bank of Korea expected another surplus of 1 billion dollars for November.

The current account is the broadest measure of a country's trade with measures of its goods, services and investment income.

Shares gain 3.3 per cent in Seoul

seoul stock exchangeSeoul - Shares surged 3.3 per cent Thursday on the Seoul s

Seoul not ruling out North Korea closing industrial complex

South Korea FlagSeoul - The South Korean government has not ruled out the possibility

Shares surge 4.7 per cent in Seoul

Seoul - Shares closed 4.7 per cent higher Wednesday on the Seoul stock exchange as the US government's rescue plan for Citigroup Inc helped boost investor confidence.

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