Drink model in provocative pictorial

A girl who is sweet by day and sexy by night is every man's dream, and a new online pictorial seeks to fulfill that fantasy.

Actress Im So-yeong Wednesday revealed her provocative photographs at a press meet-and-greet. The pictorial, titled 'Day and Night,' showcases two different images of the 26-year-old actress.

In the first part, Im shows an innocent and cheerful side of her personality. The latter part is more provocative, featuring images of Im in revealing swimwear and lingerie.

"She was very proactive, experimented with different outfits and poses," an on-set source revealed. "Her professional work ethic wowed everyone on the set."

Im is famous for her role in the popular 2006 TV drama series 'Jumong.' She recently emerged on the public's radar again for her recent TV commercial for energy drink Bacchus-F, earning her the nickname 'Bacchus Girl.'

The pictorial is available online at the Starhwabo website (www.starhwabo.com) as well as on major mobile phone networks.

Apple defies Korean regulators on iPhone after-sales service

People who have made advanced orders for Apple’s iPhones line up at an official launch show for the devices, last year. / Korea Times

Korean telecom and fair trade regulators are considering whether or not to take action to address complaints from iPhone users about what they say is Apple's poor after-sales service.

"We are closely monitoring consumer complaints about Apple. Independent investigations are already under way. We will take action if needed," a senior official at the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), said, Monday.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is also looking to see if there are grounds for action against the U.S. consumer electronics company.

"We are aware of such complaints," a senior KCC official said. 

Consumer complaints of iPhones are on the rise, according to the KCC. Over 700,000 have been sold since its debut in November.

Sony Ericsson aims to dethrone Apple

Models pose with Sony Ericsson's new high-end smartphone ― Xperia X10 ― during a photo session ahead of a news conference in downtown Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Sony Ericsson Korea

Sony Ericsson has just joined the ranks of leading South Korean mobile companies seeking to depose Apple's iconic handset device ― iPhone ― in the world's most wired country.

The head of the venture's South Korean branch said its new high-end smartphone ― Xperia X10 ― that runs on the Google-powered Android mobile platform will help it compete with iPhones and its added enhanced after-sales policies will also appeal to highly-sensitive local consumers.

'Size is not necessarily evil'

Michael Hellbeck

'Size is not necessarily evil'Chairman, Foreign Bankers Group Korea

We warmly welcome the G-20 central bank governors and finance ministers to Korea and appreciate the gargantuan efforts that the G-20 has made to stabilize the financial system and promote financial regulatory reform in an internationally consistent and globally coordinated fashion. 

We all understand the public pressures on politicians to act to stabilize domestic conditions after the use of taxpayers' funds on a large scale to support financial institutions. However, we must continue to resist the temptation of national solutions outside an agreed G20 framework. 

A re-fragmentation of financial markets, whether by intent or as an unintended consequence, is in nobody's interest as it will inevitably lead to "regulatory arbitrage," as business activity moves to the lesser regulated markets. 

Shinhan seeks sustainable growth on balanced portfolio

Shinhan Financial Group President and CEO Shin Sang-hoon, third from left, plants vegetables with Shinhan executives and employees during a volunteer activity at the Hongeun Social Welfare Center in Seodaemun, Seoul, on April 22. / Courtesy of Shinhan Financial Group

The financial industry is expecting new competition this year, amid the strengthening of regulations, and convergence between sectors. Shinhan Financial Group, dubbed by some as the most successful financial business model in the country, is focusing on achieving sustainable growth.

Shinhan Financial Group marked 1.3 trillion won net profit in 2009, with 256.2 billion won of that being in the fourth quarter. Its net interest margin stood at 3.34 percent, recovering to its 2008 level. Shihan explained that good performances by non-banking subsidiaries helped it most.

20 nations push for 20 differing agendas

The G-20 meeting is finding it increasingly difficult to come up with a universal solution to reform the financial sector, and to agree on how to prioritize issues they must deal with. National interests are often poles apart,

Strategy and Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun makes a face during a news conference at the end of the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors’ meeting in Busan, Saturday. Yoon hosted the event as a precursor to the Toronto summit later this month and the summit to be held in Seoul in November. Yoon found his job tough, saying that each member economy is competing for its own interest. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

and it is becoming a daunting task for the representatives to meet the deadline by November's Seoul summit. 

"Each country has its own issues. There is no secret about it," said George Osborne, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer said during his press conference at the G-20 meeting in Busan, Saturday. 

For Britain and some other G-20 European members, it is the problem of their respective national debt that they want to tackle first. 
The United States aims to use the G-20 to fix its finance industry, while the objective of Canada is to keep its finance industry intact. South Korea and other emerging nations are using the gathering in Busan as an opportunity to increase their roles on the global economic and political stage. China and Japan are keeping others guessing on their priorities. 

In that respect, there is a possibility that the outcome of the Busan ministerial meeting will be mired in futility amid conflicting interests despite a collective effort. The series of meetings is inundated with ever-increasing, wide-ranging, equally pressing topics that only a few that will actually get addressed.

Samsung Group accounts for a quarter of Korea Inc. profit

Samsung Group and Hyundai Motor account for two fifths of Korea Inc. corporate profits. / Korea Times

What if the Samsung Group, the foremost conglomerate by any measure, were to move out of Korea? Then a fourth of the country's overall corporate profits made by listed companies would be taken with it. 

According to data of the Korea Exchange (KRX) on Sunday, Samsung Group's 12 affiliates listed to the Seoul bourse netted a total of 12 trillion won ($10.3 billion) in net profits last year. 

This amounts to 25.1 percent of 47.7 trillion won, the combined net income from 565 corporations listed on the main bourse, up by 7.4 percentage points from 17.7 percent in 2007. 

The proportion of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the No. 2 player, almost doubled in the aftermath of the global financial crisis from a mere 6.4 percent in 2007 to 12.2 percent last year. 

The nation's five largest chaebol, including SK, LG and Lotte on top of Samsung and Hyundai, carved out 60.9 percent of corporate profits last year, up 21.5 percentage points from 39.4 percent in 2007. 

``The proportion of sales and market capitalizations of the conglomerates have not risen so fast over the past two years in the wake of the economic downturn,'' said an official at the KRX. 

``However, the portion of their profits rocketed as profitability in the info-tech and automobile industries dramatically improved thanks to the demise of some of their rivals over the recession.''