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PM honors fallen soldiers

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, left, lays a wreath Friday at a memorial altar on Yeonpyeong Island, which commemorates the six sailors killed in a skirmish on the western inter-Korean sea border in 2002. Hwang visited a Marine unit on the island — his first visit to troops since taking office on June 18. / Yonhap

Scorching weather

The air shimmers with heat on the street in Yeouido, central Seoul, Friday, when the midday high rose to 33 degrees Celsius, and the weather agency issued this year’s first heat wave advisory for Seoul. / Yonhap

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Talks on THAAD?

Frank Rose, U.S. assistant secretary for arms control, verification and compliance, arrives at the Incheon International Airport for a two-day visit to Korea, Thursday. He met foreign ministry officials to discuss Seoul-Washington cooperation on various security issues, such as nuclear non-proliferation and outer space activities./ Yonhap

Guilty in bribe-for-influence

Rep. Park Jie-won of the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy enters the Seoul High Court in southern Seoul, Thursday. The court sentenced him to a one-year prison term suspended for two years for accepting 30 million won as a kickback from a former Bohae Savings Bank head in 2010 in return for helping the bank avoid a prosecution investigation, overturning a lower court ruling that found him not guilty./ Yonhap

Man finds wallet stuffed with billion won in cash, checks

A man returned a wallet full of cash and checks of about a billion won ($882,000) after finding it near an intersection in the nation's largest port city of Busan, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungA man has returned a wallet full of cash and checks of about a billion won ($882,000) after finding it near an intersection in Sajik-dong in the southeastern port city of Busan.Sajik police said the man, surnamed, Yoon, 50, found the wallet Wednesday morning and immediately reported it to police.After finding a business card inside, a police officer sent a text to the wallet’s owner.The owner, surnamed Han, 60, said: “I guess I lost it after taking off my shirt, in which I put the wallet.”Han said he wanted to reward them, but they refused.“The wallet was not mine, so I took it for granted to return it to the owner,” Yoon said. “Something good happened on my birthday.”Police said the law stipulates the owner of lost property can reward up to 20 percent of the lost cash and checks to the finder, though it is not compulsory.

'Audi girl' investigated over alleged porn distribution

A woman dubbed "Audi girl" stages a protest in a bikini at Gwanghwamun Square, central Seoul, on April 13. She holds a sign that said “I would rather take off (clothes) than wearing fur.” / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Lee Min-hyungA woman dubbed “Audi girl” is under police investigation for allegedly selling pornographic videos of herself online, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency said Wednesday.The woman, surnamed Lee, allegedly received 100,000 won ($88) from Internet users in return for a “full version” of video clips of her having sex. She is also alleged to have uploaded nude photos of herself on her social network service channels.“We found some evidence of her spreading pornographic photos and footage,” an officer at the agency said.Earlier this week, she also said online that she would organize a photo shooting event. The online post said: “The event will be held for three hours, starting from 2 p.m. on July 11. I’ll receive 12 participants and the entry fee is 250,000 won. The concept for the shooting

'Kidult' tribe gains momentum

/ YonhapBy Rachel LeeThe "Kidult" tribe is not just toying around, its membership is growing.Kidult, a combination of kid and adult, indicates people who are nostalgic about their childhood and have made a habit of collecting vintage toys.According to online retailer Auction, sales of film-character toys and plastic models were up 156 percent in the first six months of this year from the same period last year.The 40-something group was the biggest buyer, taking up 43 percent, followed by those in their 30s and 20s with 42 and 7 percent, respectively. Consumers in their 30s and 40s made up 85 percent of total sales, the company said.Sales of drone toys were up 911 percent in the past month from last year.“The ‘Kidult’ tribe has gone a step further,” a company spokesperson said. “They’ve organized clubs where collectors meet up regularly and enjoy playing with drone toys together instead of staying home assembling robots themselves.”  

Consumers dump imports for local fruit

/ Courtesy of Gmarket By Rachel LeeKorean-produced fruits have gained the upper hand on imports, thanks to faster shipping and earlier ripening because of the hot spell.According to retailer Gmarket, sales of domestic fruit between June 8 and July 7 were up 35 percent on the same time last year.Tangerine sales grew sixfold, while sales of peaches, oriental melons and watermelon increased 53, 45 and 20 percent, respectively.“Demand for domestic fruits was lower than imports over the last few years, but the situation is reversed now,” Park Young-geun, a company spokesman said. “This comes from online stores’ upgraded packaging and delivery service, which makes it easier for consumers to enjoy fresh fruits.”As of Wednesday, peaches topped the retailer’s best-selling fresh foods list, followed by oriental melons (third) and tangerines (fifth). 

New IMO secretary-general

President Park Geun-hye shakes hands with Busan Port Authority chief Lim Ki-tack, who has been elected as the new secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) during the latter’s visit to Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. Lim will lead the London-based global body for four years beginning in January./ Yonhap