The Korea Times

Number of schools accepting TOEFL scores soars

More than 7,500 colleges and universities in more than 130 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K. accept TOEFL test scores, the most widely recognized English-language assessment worldwide, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) said Monday. "We are pleased that so many prestigious colleges and universities globally recognize the TOEFL test as a reliable English-language assessment," said Teresa Sanchez-Lazer, executive director of TOEFL product management. "As significant numbers of international students continue to study abroad, the demand for a high-quality, objective English-language proficiency assessment will continue to grow." The TOEFL test is the only English-language assessment that incorporates both human and automated scoring to provide a fair and valid measure of an applicant's ability to communicate in English. To date, more than 24 million students globally have taken the TOEFL test and the number continues to rise. Convenient for students, the TOEFL test is the most accessible English-language assessment, available at more than 4,500 test adminis

Jun 1, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Dokdo valued at W1 bil.

What’s the land value of Dokdo of which sovereignty is fiercely disputed between Korea and Japan? The set of islets in the East Sea is estimated to be worth 1.09 billion won ($920,000), according to government data Sunday. It marks a 6.3 percent gain from a year earlier, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said. It compares with a 3 percent average gain across the nation. “The rise reflects the discovery of natural resources there and increased public interest following Japan’s territorial claim,” it said. The number of tourists visiting the islets also rose thanks to eased access restrictions as part of the government’s move to reinforce the nation’s sovereignty over them. The group of islets, which has been under effective control by South Korea since 1954, saw its land value rise following a recent discovery of methane hydrate deposits in nearby waters. Methane hydrate is seen as an alternative to fossil fuels. Dokdo is not available for real estate transactions, but the government has been releasing its estimated value since 2002, when it was

May 30, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Evidence scooped up by fishing trawler

By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter The parts of a torpedo, the "conclusive evidence" indicating that North Korea was responsible for the sinking of the warship Cheonan, were recovered by a pair of fishing trawlers. Yoon Deok-yong, the chief of the joint civilian-military investigation team, said trawlers were mobilized to contribute to the search efforts, taking into consideration the water currents around the site of the sinking. "A pair of propellers, propeller motor and steering gear which were scattered on the seabed near Baekryeong Island were collected by a pair of fishing trawlers," Yoon said at a press conference. The trawlers ― the 135-ton Daepyeong 11 and 12 ― were mobilized from May 10 and succeeded in recovering the propellers and other parts at 9.00 a.m., on May 15, Yoon said. Kim Cheol-an, 51, the caption of one of the trawlers, said that some navy and investigation team members, were aboard the trawler when they found the evidence. "Initially, I was skeptical about finding any decisive evidence. But the moment we lifted the parts, we were sure that they

May 20, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

Opinion

Lawmakers or lawbreakers?

By Cho Jae-hyon City Editor Rep. Cho Jeon-hyeok is a brave man. He did something none of his colleagues in the ruling Grand National Party have ever done: exposed the sensitive list of unionized teachers on his homepage. The lawmaker had the guts to look down on a court decision that outlawed the disclosure of their names. He made public the teachers' names, their schools and other information on April 19 on his homepage. At the end of April, a Seoul district court told him that the teachers' information should not be revealed, obliging the lawmaker to pay 30 million won ($27,000) to the teachers' union for each day he did not remove the data. Even after the court warning, Cho didn't budge. He braved his wife's opposition to the exposure of the list. In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo, he proudly made public a text message his wife sent him. He had his cell phone display showing the message photographed and printed in the paper. In the message, his wife called on him ― in somewhat resolute tone ― to delete the list, saying that her right to live is more important

May 12, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Hallym-Uppsala int’l symposium due on Tuesday

Hallym University Medical Center (HUMC) of Korea and Uppsala University of Sweden will jointly host a 3rd international symposium under the theme of “Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine,” in the Grand Ballroom at COEX in Seoul, Tuesday. Medical experts from both institutions will share thoughts on biological artificial skin for burns, artificial bone and cartilage, and dental implants, HUMC said in a statement. Among the Uppsala dignitaries who will participate in the symposium are Uppsala President Anders Hallberg; Dr. Kjell Oberg, former dean of the faculty of medicine; and Dr. Bengt G. Gerdin, professor and head consultant of the Burn Center, Dept. of Plastic Surgery. President Hallberg will speak on “Fast Chemistry to Peptidomimetics.” The Uppsala president who is also professor in medicinal chemistry has been playing a crucial role in orchestrating the two-way relationship with Hallym over the last three years. During his Korean visit this year, he also plans to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Chung Un-chan. Dr. Lee Hae-ran, HUMC president sai

May 2, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Protest Victim Gets State Compensation

A Seoul district court delivered a mediation decision that the nations pay 9 million won ($7,600) in compensation to a female university student who was assaulted by riot police during a candlelit protest against the import of American beef in 2008. ``Taking into consideration all the circumstances, the court came up with a decision to recommend reconciliation for fair resolution of the case for both sides,'' the Seoul Central District Court said in the ruling. Its reconciliatory recommendation has the same legal binding force as a verdict. Both the state and the plaintiff accepted the court's decision. The plaintiff, identified only as Lee, filed a suit against the state, claiming that the riot police stepped on her head and assaulted her during the rally in June 2008. She demanded the nation pay 53 million won in compensation. In the first round of mediation, the court had ruled that the state pay 10 million won to the plaintiff but the government refused to accept it.

Apr 27, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Pension Rules Eased for Students, Housewives

The government said it will make it easier for housewives and students, who are categorized as voluntary subscribers, to subscribe to the national pension, a move expected to restructure the pension pool. Under the revised national pension decrees, which will be made public from April 27 to May 17 before implementation, the minimum monthly pension will go down to 89,000 won from 126,000 won for those who are exempt from the obligatory subscription, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. Among those exempted are housewives, and students aged 27 or younger. (They can subscribe to the pension fund if they so choose.) The number of these voluntary subscribers has steadily been rising ― to 36,000 at the end of 2009 from 28,000 the previous year. The easier entry is expected to help boost the number of subscribers among those currently exempt and those who are potential subscribers, the ministry said. Under the revised rules, they can extend the subscription period even after they turn 60 years old, the current age ceiling for the pension. At the end of 2009, 41,000 citize

Apr 27, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

Informant on Sponsored Prosecutors Rearrested

By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter A district court in Busan ruled Monday that the businessman who provided the list of prosecutors whom he allegedly bribed with gifts, meals and sexual services be rearrested for violating the legal representation law. The prosecution has sought to detain the owner of a construction firm based in Busan, identified only as Chung, who handed a list of prosecutors he has "sponsored" over the last two decades to MBC TV's investigative journal "PD Notebook." The ruling came after he attempted to take his own life by swallowing sleeping pills, Friday, over fears of being detained. He is not in critical condition, according to doctors. However, the court said his health problems are not serious enough to justify the suspension. Chung was arrested in August, 2009 for the violation of legal representation laws but was not taken into custody due to a knee injury that needed an operation. The court allowed the prosecution to detain him, by shortening the suspension of his arrest to 6 p.m., Monday. He was originally granted a stay until May 16.

Apr 26, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

Opinion

Truth Submerged Under Secrecy

By Cho Jae-hyon City Editor While I worked the night shift last Friday, I received a phone call from a woman just 20 minutes from deadline. The woman, who sounded as if she was in her 40s, asked me why even ranking government officials of the United States, led by liberal President Barack Obama, are making remarks indicating that North Korea is behind the sinking of the Naval ship Cheonan, shifting its previous stance of being quite doubtful of the North's involvement. She also inquired why KBS and other media companies, without presenting any concrete evidence, are reporting that a North Korean torpedo is the cause of the mysterious blast that broke the ship in two in waters near the disputed inter-Korean border on March 26. The housewife seemed frustrated by the clumsy handling of the tragic incident by the government and the way it has been covered by the press. She talked for more than five minutes and yet seemed to have a lot more to say. She sounded fairly logical in her own way and seemed to have closely followed the news. She knew the names of ranking U.S. of

Apr 21, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

South Korea

5 Mil. Won Meant for Respect of Ex-President

The person who deliberately left 5 million won in cash beside the late former President Park Chung-hee (1917-1979) earlier this month was found to be a 54-year-old man who respected the leader, police said Tuesday. The man, identified as Lee, told the police that he left the money because he admires the late president who led the country's industrialization efforts in the 1960-1970s despite his dictatorial streak, according to the Dongjak Police Station. Police searched for the owner of the money after the bundle of 10,000 won notes was found by guards beside the tomb at the Seoul National Cemetery on April 9. Police succeeded in tracking him down after investigating video clips from a surveillance camera installed at the tomb. The man was quoted as saying, ``After withdrawing the money from a bank near the cemetery, I left it at the tomb because I have greatly respected and admired former President Park Chung-hee.'' Police also secured another video tape of a surveillance camera at the bank where the man said he withdrew the cash. Police said the money will be re

Apr 20, 2010By Cho Jae-hyon

Cho Jae-hyon

Read more

Number of schools accepting TOEFL scores soars

Dokdo valued at W1 bil.

Evidence scooped up by fishing trawler

Lawmakers or lawbreakers?

Hallym-Uppsala int’l symposium due on Tuesday

Protest Victim Gets State Compensation

Pension Rules Eased for Students, Housewives

Informant on Sponsored Prosecutors Rearrested

Truth Submerged Under Secrecy

5 Mil. Won Meant for Respect of Ex-President

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