Lim Chang-Won
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/ 30 April 2008

South Korea aims to boost medical tourism

After building its economy on semiconductors, ships and steel, South Korea is touting its surgeons’ skills in the beauty business to carve out a new niche. Helped by active government support, a boom in cosmetic surgery and a pool of experienced surgeons, the country wants to surpass Singapore, Thailand and India to become Asia’s new medical-tourism hub.

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/ 22 April 2008

Samsung chief steps down after indictment

South Korea’s most powerful businessman announced on Tuesday he is stepping down after 20 years at the helm of the Samsung group, following his indictment for tax evasion and breach of trust. A sombre Lee Kun-hee made the shock announcement at a press conference called to announce reforms to the scandal-tainted group.

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/ 5 January 2008

N Korea nuclear talks stalled amid disputes

International efforts to put an end to North Korea’s nuclear programme appeared to hit a snag on Saturday after Pyongyang defiantly insisted it had lived up to its end of a six-party disarmament deal. North Korea agreed last February to give up its nuclear-weapons programmes in return for one million tonnes of fuel oil or equivalent energy aid.