Sex tops the happiness list

Sex and partying give us the most pleasure but partying is less meaningful, research suggests, a New Zealand media reported. A University of Canterbury study has found pleasure, meaning and engagement are vital components of overall happiness. While sex came out on top on all three scales, drinking alcohol or partying was ranked 10th in meaning and fifth in engagement, stuff.co.nz reported. Postgraduate psychology researcher Carsten Grimm asked 173 people to rank 30 common activities. He found washing, dressing and grooming ranked last in terms of engagement, while feeling sick was lowest rated in terms of overall happiness. Facebook rated last in meaning, while texting was 26th in happiness and 18th in meaning. The ''recent boom'' in happiness research has seen everyone from academics to governments take an interest in ways to measure and track it, Grimm said. ''Treasury is now including well-being measures, or life satisfaction, in its higher living standards framework so governments are into this well-being stuff,'' he said. He said the focus had mainly been on life satisfaction but happiness was ''far more complicated.'' Grimm's research looked into ''orientations to happiness,'' including pleasure, engagement and meaning. ''Endorsing pleasure as a way to happiness means you enjoy eating dessert first or you focus on feeling good and enjoying sensory pleasures. Engagement is what you experience when you're totally absorbed in what you're doing.'' He said having meaning meant pursuing happiness by feeling part of something bigger and contributing to the greater good . ''Having sex is, no surprise, highest on all measures of happiness. Being sick is, again no surprise, relatively low on all measures,'' he said. ''Going to lectures, or studying, is low on pleasure and happiness but ranks relatively high on meaning.'' He said people who enjoyed a mixture of pleasure, meaning and engagement not only scored highly on life satisfaction but were happier in daily life. Paid work ranked 24th on the happiness chart on the list of 30 activities, while shopping or running errands came in ninth. The director of Christchurch-based Life Coach Associates Clem McGrath said employers were starting to ''pay a bit more attention'' to job satisfaction and the effect on an employee's life. ''But New Zealand is nowhere near catching up to the likes of Australia and the United States,'' he said. ''I have clients who tell me their bosses take the stance that if you can't take the heat then get out of the kitchen, and that is very 19th-century thinking.'' McGrath said people needed a balance of activities to contribute to their happiness, but ''ultimately it doesn't depend on external factors.''

Obama names Korean-American banker for key post

WASHINGTON  (Yonhap) -- President Barack Obama has nominated Audrey Choi, a Korean-American investment banker, as a member of the Community Development Advisory Board, the White House said Friday. Choi, 44, was the only Korean-American member of Obama's transition team to prepare for his presidency four years ago. Nominating her to the position on the board, which advises on policies regarding the activities of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Obama cited she brings "a depth of experience and tremendous dedication" to the new role. The fund aims to promote access to capital and local economic growth in urban and rural low-income communities across the nation. Choi, who grew up in New York and graduated from Harvard University, has served as managing director and head of Morgan Stanley Global Sustainable Finance, since 2007. She is known for a successful career even from when she was relatively young. Choi worked in the Clinton administration in various policy positions at the White House, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Communications Commission from 1996 to 2001, including chief of staff for the Council of Economic Advisers from 1999-2001 and domestic policy advisor to Vice President Al Gore for two years till 1999. She also worked as a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Germany from 1991-1995. Her mother, Choi Sook-nyul, is also famous in Korea for her novel "Year of Impossible Goodbyes" on Japan's atrocities during its colonization of Korea from 1910-45. She authored it in response to a book by a Japanese-American writer Yoko Kawashima Watkins that portrays the Japanese as victims of the colonial rule.

The staying power of 'Gangnam Style'

President Obama, the mayor of London, China's top dissident artist and Madonna -- every time someone signals the death of "Gangnam Style" up pops another high-profile figure to keep the phenomenon alive.

   In the four months since the music video by South Korean rapper Psy went viral on YouTube, it has been name-checked and imitated by an impressive roster of global notables from world leaders to sports stars and business tycoons.

   And the public has joined in with tens of thousands turning out for giant flashmob performances of Psy's horse-riding dance in cities like Paris and Rome.

   While many believe Gangnam Style will ultimately prove to be a one-hit wonder, the song has shown surprising staying power and an unlikely ability to penetrate international corridors of power.

   UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a force for world peace. On the morning of the US presidential election, Barack Obama told a local radio station that he was confident he could match Psy's dance moves.

   "But I'm not sure that the inauguration ball is the appropriate time to break that out. Maybe do it privately for Michelle," he said.

   British Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson performed a joint Gangnam Style dance spectacular for their wives in September during a private gathering in the premier's country retreat Chequers.

   Johnson went on to reference the event in his keynote speech to the ruling conservative party's annual conference.

   If politicians have appropriated the song in an effort to boost their populist credentials, others have used it to drive home an anti-establishment message -- most notably renowned Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.

   Banned from traveling abroad, Ai posted a Gangnam Style dance parody on YouTube, during which he brandished a set of handcuffs in a clear reference to Beijing's efforts to silence his outspoken views.

   The video was removed by China's Internet censors, prompting the Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor to gather 250 art world luminaries at his London studio this week to film their own Gangnam video in support of Ai.

   "Yes, it is desperately silly, but what is the paradigm of the artist? The artist does stupid things with serious intent," Kapoor said.

   Silly or not, Psy's influence has spread to some of the world's most famous academic institutions.

   Earlier this month, the 34-year-old rapper was invited to follow the likes of Ronald Reagan and the Dalai Lama in addressing the 189-year-old Oxford Union club at Oxford University.

   And a Gangnam Style video parody made by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, featured cameos by Eric Lander, one of the principle leaders of the Human Genome Project, and Noam Chomsky.

   "Oppan Chomsky Style," the 83-year-old father of modern linguistics deadpanned into the camera while sipping a cup of coffee.

   For some commentators, it has all become a bit too much.

   "Can anyone kill Gangnam Style?" Britain's Guardian newspaper asked recently.

   After Google chairman Eric Schmidt gave a rather awkward horse-riding performance during a visit to Seoul, Time magazine declared the Gangnam Style craze "officially over" -- but that was way back in September.

   If anything, Psy has since gone from strength to strength -- gaining the ultimate showbiz accolade this week by performing a mash-up of Gangnam Style with pop icon Madonna during her concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. (AFP)

Higher won dents smaller exporters' business sentiment

Almost nine out of 10 of the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe the rising local currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a weaker bottom line, data showed Saturday.

According to a survey of 112 local SMEs by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, 88.2 percent replied the higher won will have an adverse impact on their earnings.

The local currency closed at 1,092.20 won against the greenback on Friday, remaining below the 1,100 won mark since Oct. 25, when the won breached the level for the first time since Sept. 9, 2011.

A stronger won inflicts foreign exchange losses on exporters, making South Korean goods more expensive overseas, which damages local firms' export earnings.

Market watchers said the break-even point of the won-dollar rate is 1,070.49 won, while the appropriate level stands at 1,138.21 won for SMEs.

"A certain level of measure is needed to be taken against the appreciation of the local currency to the extent it does not hurt the free market system," an official from the federation said.

Meanwhile, 45.5 percent of the companies responded that the government should focus on stabilizing the volatile foreign exchange market in order to beef up the country's exports.

In addition, 37.1 percent said South Korea should support exporters' overseas push to new markets around the globe. (Yonhap News)

Google's Android is eating Apple's lunch

Smartphones and tablets powered by Google's Android software are devouring the mobile gadget market, eating into Apple's turf by feeding appetites for innovation and low prices, analysts say.

  The Android operating system powered nearly three out of four smartphones shipped worldwide in the recently ended quarter as the mobile platform dominated the market, according to industry trackers at IDC.

  
"Android has been one of the primary growth engines of the smartphone market since it was launched in 2008," said IDC's mobile phones research manager Ramon Llamas.

   "In every year since then, Android has effectively outpaced the market and taken market share from the competition."

   In tablets, Apple's market share has fallen to just over 50 percent from 65 percent in the second quarter as Android devices gain ground, according to IDC figures.

   "Having a lot of people building a lot of things covering a lot of price points with multiple brands in multiple places makes a big difference," said NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker.

   "Variety is strength when it comes to moving units."

   Android smartphones shipments surged to 136 million, topping those in the same three-month period last year by slightly more than 90 percent, IDC reported.

   Samsung's Galaxy S3 overtook Apple's iPhone 4S in the third quarter to give the South Korean firm the world's best-selling smartphone model for the first time ever, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

   "The pace of innovation in Android is faster than Apple," said Gartner vice president of mobile computing Ken Dulaney. "They are just trying harder; Apple is way behind in that area."

   Android is benefiting from being an "open-source" platform that gadget makers use free of charge and improve as they deem fit, providing Google with insights along the way.

   Apple tightly controls its products from the software to the hardware and even the online shop for music, books, games or other content.

   "What you get with Android is this incredible feedback loop with developers, equipment makers, customers, and designers," Dulaney said.

   "At Apple, as long as they have a great vision internally it is fine but they don't have the feedback Android does."

   Having thousands of different Android devices vying for consumers' cash is a strength when it comes to market share but puts hardware makers into a fiercely competitive arena, Baker noted.

   "Other than Samsung, I don't know if other Android guys are making money,"

the analyst said.

   Google gives Android away free, but the platform is crafted to make it easy for people to use the California Internet titan's money-making services such as search and maps, and get content at its online Google Play shop.

   Forrester analyst Charles Golvin said that forces powering Android momentum include changing demographics of smartphone buyers.

   Early adopters of smartphones focused more on new technology than on price, but the devices have gone mainstream with cost increasingly important to shoppers, according to Golvin.

   "People are more inclined toward the Android platform because there is more choice and most of that choice is low price," Golvin said.

   The open nature of Android and the myriad models offered by gadget makers serve as a "double-edged sword," warned the analyst.

   Apple pushes annual updates of iOS mobile operating system out to its devices, while new versions of Android hit more often but must get through hardware makers and telecom services to get onto people's handsets.

   "You have this lengthy chain of intermediaries who are delaying the delivery of that new software and its innovations to existing devices in the market," Golvin said.

   He backed his point by noting that many Android devices in use still run on generations-old versions of the operating system.

   Android gadget variety can also make it tough to design accessories or even "apps" that can be used across the array of devices.

   For its part, Google has done an excellent job of improving the "ecosystem"

of music, films, apps, books and more available for Android-powered devices, according to analysts.

   In the red-hot tablet market effectively created by the iPad, strong growth is being seen by Android rivals including Amazon's popular Kindle Fire and Nook devices from Barnes & Noble, which run custom versions of the software.

   Analysts believe that the Google-backed operating system is likely to spread to typically "dumb" gizmos like appliances.

   "These platforms are becoming the molecule elements for building all kinds of hybrid devices," Dulaney said. (AFP)

Xi takes helm amid reform calls

Chinese Vice president Xi Jinping emerges as the head of the newly reshuffled seven member Communist Party of China Politburo Standing Committee, the nation's top decision making body at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 15, 2012. (AFP-Yonhap News)

BEIJING (AP) ― Xi Jinping succeeded Hu Jintao as China’s leader Thursday, assuming the top posts in the Communist Party and the powerful military in a once-a-decade political transition unbowed by scandals, a slower economy and public demands for reforms.

Xi was formally appointed as general secretary after a morning meeting of senior communists that capped a weeklong congress, events that underlined the party’s determination to remain firmly in power. Xi also was appointed chairman of the military commission after Hu stepped down, breaking with the recent tradition in which departing party leaders hung on to the military post to exert influence over their successors. 

The moves give Xi a freer hand to consolidate his authority as first among equals in the Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power. Immediately after the announcements, Xi strode onto a stage in the Great Hall of the People, leading the six other newly appointed committee members, all conservative technocrats dressed in dark suits.

“We shall do everything we can to live up to your trust and fulfill our mission,” the 59-year-old, pudgy Xi said in remarks that were broadcast on state television and worldwide. 

Standing beside him were Li Keqiang, the presumptive premier and chief economic official; Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang; Shanghai party secretary Yu Zhengsheng; propaganda chief Liu Yunshan; Tianjin party secretary Zhang Gaoli; and Vice Premier Wang Qishan, once the leadership’s top troubleshooter, who was named Thursday to head the party’s internal watchdog panel.

The ascent of Xi and Li became all but inevitable when they were inducted into the leadership five years ago, and they represent a generational change in leading the world’s No. 2 economy and newest diplomatic and military power. It comes as China’s investment-charged juggernaut economy is slowing, and as a more prosperous Chinese public expects improvements in living standards, government and social fairness. 

“There are also many pressing problems within the party that need to be resolved, particularly corruption,” Xi said, reiterating a theme of the recent congress. “We must make every effort to solve these problems. The whole party must stay on full alert.”

Xi is the son of a hero of the revolution and noted reformer. In all, at least four of the new leaders have solid communist pedigrees, a sign that 63 years after the revolution that brought the party to power, a new class of “red nobility” is entrenched. 

Power-brokers have placed the party into their loyal hands as it confronts public outrage over a wide rich-poor gap and the corruption and privileges that have enriched the elite.

The new lineup is heavy on conservatives and leaves out reform-minded politicians who are allies of Hu, suggesting the leadership is unlikely to significantly liberalize the authoritarian government. 

Except for Xi and Li, who are both in their 50s, the rest of the leaders are in their 60s and will reach the party’s unofficial retirement age by the time of the next congress in five years, likely leading to continued political infighting.

“Political reform will be put on the back burner,” said Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “Politically it will be frozen. It will be totally frozen.” 

Xi has a chance to cut a more open and international figure than the ultra-reserved Hu. His wife is a popular singer, and his daughter studies at Harvard University.

Xi spent part of his youth toiling on a farm in the countryside when Mao Zedong’s radical reign shut universities and targeted elite families like his. His university years and early career came as China embarked on reforms and began turning to the outside world for solutions to its chronic poverty. 

On his rise to the top, Xi served as a secretary to a noted general, spent time as a low-level administrator in a rural area and then took successive postings in rapidly developing coastal provinces that placed him at forefront of market-oriented reforms. There, Xi gained a reputation as a can-do administrator, though one careful not to antagonize colleagues in China’s consensus-bound politics. 

Xi’s promotion Thursday marked only the second smooth transition under communist rule, despite a turbulent political year in which politicking for leadership spots was buffeted by the messiest political scandal in decades. 

Bo Xilai, a member of the elite like Xi and a contender for the Standing Committee, was purged months after an aide disclosed that his wife murdered a British businessman.

Speaking to the media Thursday, Xi traced China’s ancient civilization and its struggles to regain its leading role in the world, culminating in a communist revolution that he promised to lead on to the benefit of the Chinese people. 

“Our responsibility now is to rally and lead the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups in China in taking up this historic baton and in making continued efforts to achieve the great renewal of the Chinese nation, make the Chinese nation stand rock-firm in the family of nations, and make even greater contribution to mankind,” Xi said.

He then ran through a list of deliverables to the Chinese people: better education, higher incomes, a bigger social safety net, environmental protection. 

“To meet their desire for a happy life is our mission,” Xi said in his pleasing baritone, in remarks that were relatively free of the jargon Chinese leaders usually employ. 

Xi faces significant obstacles in meeting those goals. Leadership decisions are made by consensus. His colleagues in the leadership owe their positions not to him, but to other political patrons. 

Li, who is in line to become premier, counts Hu as his mentor. Though Xi and several others in the new team share a patron in Jiang Zemin, the 86-year-old former party chief who retired a decade ago, they are not aligned in policies. That will force Xi to forge coalitions to get things done. 

Getting their team in place will take the better part of a year. Hu still holds the largely ceremonial role of state president, which he is not expected to relinquish until the party-controlled legislature meets in March and appoints leading officials in the State Council, the Cabinet.


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Profiles of China's new Communist Party leaders

Mayor may adopt 'coop' system

By Yun Suh-young Park Won-soon Seoul mayor Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is currently on a trip to Bologna, Italy, to observe how cooperatives are run successfully and what support activities they needed. Park plans to adopt the cooperative system in Seoul to help small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs survive in a market dominated by conglomerates. “The cooperatives can be an alternative solution in our polarized society. They can create sustainable jobs and resolve unemployment problems,” said Park. Park made a visit to the northern Italian city Thursday to visit famous cooperatives and learn how they operated. Bologna is a city known for this well-established system that incorporates consumers, producers and even housing and childcare cooperatives. He visited Coop Adriatica and Lega Coop Bologna and met with the Mayor of Bologna Virginio Merola. The two discussed ways to invigorate cooperatives and measures for the two cities to exchange experience and know-how. Park was briefed on how the city succeeded in setting up so many cooperatives as well as about the importance of the support to back them up. He also met with Stefano Zamagni, a professor at the University of Bologna, and was briefed on cases of failure. They discussed the importance of local government support to maintain cooperative’s autonomy and independence. On Friday, Park visited a care cooperative called Cadiai and a childcare facility run by the government and a private cooperative. Park’s efforts come as he is striving to benchmark the Italian city and make Seoul a city of cooperatives. In July, the city announced its vision to create a “cooperative city” and a law on cooperatives is also due to take effect starting Dec. 1. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is currently running a consultation center providing information and consultation on creating cooperatives. At the moment, all Seoul citizens are free to create their own, however, the concept is rather new to people and they may need further advice. “If we discover niche services that have been overlooked in our society, we can create many jobs for the unemployed, retired and young people. To do this, cooperatives are the best answer,” Park said. This is because every member becomes an owner and they learn to run the organization with ownership. This creates passion, efficiency and creativeness. Park paid special attention to the Karabak Project which is a cooperative supported by the government that provides childcare services. The facilities are built by the government but run by cooperative members. He also visited the factory of A. Testoni, a hand-made shoe brand. Park announced in October that he would support shoemakers in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, to invigorate the hand-made shoe industry.

Will Judge Koh rule on flawed Apple verdict?

Samsung targets foreman Hogan   U.S. Judge Koh By Kim Yoo-chul Can U.S. Federal Judge Luch Koh go ahead and rule on a verdict by a “flawed jury” on Dec. 6? Legal experts argue against Judge Koh belatedly calling the jury’s decision flawed. It would be tantamount to admitting to a mistake. This is not about the content of the $1 billion verdict against Samsung but more about the procedure. The judge has promised she will reexamine alleged misconduct by jury foreman Velvin Hogan. In an interesting twist, Samsung submitted to Koh a request to have the ruling nullified, citing the foreman’s failure to come clean about himself during the jury selection process. The request was filed on Nov. 9 and the copy of the 27-page document was obtained by The Korea Times. ``As post-trial developments have made clear, jury foreman Velvin Hogan deliberately concealed information about his prior litigation experience in response to this Court’s direct questioning about that subject. Had he answered truthfully, Samsung could have stricken him and prevented his introduction of extraneous information into the jury’s deliberations,’’ the document states. The document continues; ``Apple does not dispute that Samsung learned the key facts that Mr. Hogan withheld only after the verdict was reached. In suggesting that Samsung should have investigated the truthfulness of Hogan’s answer earlier, Apple invites unprecedented intrusion into juror’s affairs. While juror misconduct is a rare basis to void a jury verdict, this is the rare case in which this Court should grant such remedy.’’ Just a day after Samsung submitted the legal documents to the California court, the company’s mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun confirmed that his company has no plan to sign a peace treaty with Apple. ``Regardless of HTC’s decision to settle all of its patent disputes with Apple, Samsung has no plan to follow the HTC case,’’ Shin told local reporters, Thursday. ``Apple’s opposition cannot defeat the grounds Samsung has established for a new trial. This is the rare case where juror misconduct requires a new trial because the jury foreman withheld crucial information at the very moment it was most important that he reveal it,’’ Samsung chief attorney Charles Verhoeven was quoted as saying in the legal paper. Apple has condemned Samsung’s attempt for a new trial based on jury misconduct, issuing a statement saying, ``Samsung’s legal attacks are baseless, and its jury misconduct motion, frivolous.’’ While the possibility is extremely low that the original verdict will be overturned, patent experts believe that there could be changes to the August ruling. ``Adjustments are likely, and we may actually see adjustments in favor of both parties. On the bottom line, Apple obviously has more to lose at this stage. If Apple could just accept the jury verdict as the final outcome and avoid adjustments and an appeal, it would take it any day of the week without hesitation,’’ said German patent expert Florian Mueller, via e-mail. ``I’m now more skeptical than I was a couple of months ago about Apple’s entitlement to damages enhancements. I now believe that Judge Koh will take the damages amount below $1 billion because the jury made at least one very obvious mistake, awarding Apple a disgorgement of Galaxy Prevail profits, which is contrary to law because that particular device was not held to infringe any design patent and disgorgement is available only for design patents, not for software patents.’’

Psy-loving Nuland hopes for closer Korea-US-Japan ties WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The spirit of Psy's "Gangnam Style" has spilled over into the U.S. State Department, a mecca for international diplomacy. Victoria Nuland, the face and voice of the department, is a newfound fan of the Style. "It's fantastic," Nuland said about the global hit song and music video by Korean rapper Psy. "I can completely understand why it has caught fire all over the world." "The spirit is great. We all love the 'Gangnam Style,'" she added, showing a "perfect" horse-riding dance she learned by watching YouTube clip "for weeks and weeks." In an interview with Yonhap News Agency at her office in Washington, Nuland also talked about the Seoul-Washington alliance, North Korea and other serious diplomatic issues as she does every day behind a lectern. Nuland's teenage daughter was the first in the family to go crazy about Korean music and dance, dubbed K-pop, and now even her husband, Bob Kagan, a Washington Post columnist, likes "Gangnam Style." Nuland's love of the Korean song relates in part to her belief that diplomacy is "about people." Taking dozens of questions in front of television cameras every day on what's happening around the world, Nuland is said to have maintained her calm and control relatively well. Of course, it may mean she has skirted tough questions, to the disappointment of reporters. "I've particularly enjoyed the fact that I get to think about and talk about all of the world's policies that we are trying to pursue," said Nuland, in the job since the summer of 2011. She also gives credit to the "fantastic press team throughout the building" and at U.S. embassies worldwide. Nuland, a career diplomat, worked as top U.S. envoy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 2005 until 2008. She also crossed over some ideological divides, working as senior foreign policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney. Nuland has won praise for professionalism that transcends politics. Meeting with a Korean news outlet outside the press briefing room, Nuland did not forget to mention her Korean-American colleagues. "Some of our best diplomats are Korean Americans. We are really proud of them," she said. "I am not gonna name names because I will leave somebody out and then I will be in trouble. I am proud of the work that they do and the bridge they build." Shifting to diplomatic issues, she adopted a bit more formal tone, similar to her press briefings. She said the U.S. is looking forward to working closely with South Korea's new president, whoever is elected in December. "Also, it's gonna be important to have continued strong Japan-Korea relations and Japan-Korea-U.S. relations," she said. The final months of the first Obama administration have suffered a setback in the push to strengthen tripartite cooperation amid renewed territorial and history disputes between Tokyo and Seoul. On China's once-in-a-decade power change, Nuland reiterated her department's stance to work "cooperatively" with Beijing on regional and global security, "particularly trying to encourage the new leader in the DPRK (North Korea) to change course." Nuland emphasized the Kim Jong-un regime has a clear choice between a path towards better relations with the U.S. and continued isolation. On the future of her boss, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Nuland strongly indicated that she will quit soon. Clinton has openly expressed her intention of leaving the department after the first term of the Obama administration. "She would like to have a chance to step back, think a little, read, rest, and decide what she wants to do in the next chapter of her life," Nuland said. "it will be sad and difficult for us." Clinton has contributed to Washington's connections with people worldwide and "humanized American diplomacy" with her "special gifts" such as warmth and an open mind, said Nuland. Nuland, a political appointee, was guarded about her own future. If she is assigned to a new post, she will definitely need some time before taking office to enjoy K-pop with her daughter without care for a press briefing the next day.

Special prosecutor files no charge against Lee's son

Special prosecutor Lee Kwang-bum said Wednesday his team decided against indicting the son of President Lee Myung-bak as he wrapped up a month-long investigation into a controversial land deal for Lee's now-scrapped retirement home project.

The team, however, referred tax records of the president's 34-year-old son, Lee Si-hyung, to the National Tax Service (NTS) for possible donation tax imposition, and indicted three former and incumbent officials of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) without detention on breach of trust and other charges.

The team was given 30 days to investigate allegations that the president's only son and the PSS used public funds and violated real estate laws when they jointly bought a plot of land last year for the retirement residence, which was to be built in Naegok-dong on the southern edge of Seoul. The cost was allegedly not shared evenly, with the PSS paying too high a price for the site for security facilities, at the expense of taxpayers.

"Lee Si-hyung has been cleared of suspicion of violating the real estate laws by using the wrong name in the real estate transaction," special prosecutor Lee said in a press interview.

"The team has referred investigation records to the NTS due to suspicions of his gift tax evasion in the purchase of the 1.2 billion won ($1.1 million) land," he said. 

The younger Lee claimed he took out a loan of 600 million won from the Cheong Wa Dae branch of Nonghyup Bank, using a stake his mother owns in the president's private house in Nonhyeon-dong in southern Seoul as collateral. He allegedly supplemented that with another 600 million won from his uncle, Lee Sang-eun.

By law, the prosecution has no authority to indict a person of evading tax unless the NTS reports to the prosecution beforehand.

The team has brought charges against Kim In-jong, who served as chief of the PSS until October of last year, and a PSS official named Kim Tae-hwan, on breach of trust charges by letting Si-hyung buy the site at a below-market price and make a profit.

The site for security facilities was estimated to be worth 3.37 billion won in market value but the two allegedly purchased the site for 4.28 billion won, it added. The two incurred losses worth

972 million won to public funds.

Another official of the PSS, only identified by his family name of Shim, was also indicted without detention on charges of doctoring an official document, he added. Shim allegedly handed in the falsified document to the team after omitting crucial information.

Meanwhile, first lady Kim Yoon-ok, who handed in a written statement over her alleged role in the scandal, has also been cleared of all charges, it said. The team concluded that there was insufficient proof she was involved in the purchasing process.

The team failed to verify the source of the 600 million won Lee Sang-eun, chief of automotive seat maker DAS, loaned to his nephew, the team said.

Since the allegations were raised by the opposition parties, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has flatly rejected suspicions it was an illicit scheme to help the president's son profit. Prosecutors who initially investigated the case also cleared everyone involved in the deal.

Facing mounting public criticism, however, Lee later scrapped the project and decided to move into his existing private house in southern Seoul after he leaves office in February of next year. (Yonhap News)

Park, broadcasters in dispute By Jun Ji-hye The Saenuri Party and three major broadcasters were on a collision course, Tuesday, over presidential election coverage after the ruling party raised a fairness issue regarding reporting hours. The party accused three broadcasting stations, namely MBC, KBS and SBS, of lopsided reporting on the presidential poll, saying their coverage of Rep. Park Geun-hye in terms of reporting hours was smaller compared with that of her two rivals. In response, the TV stations countered the allegation. Kwon Young-se, an aide to Rep. Park, claimed on Monday that "The amount of news coverage on Park is markedly smaller compared to two oppositions, the opposition Democratic United Party's (DUP) Moon Jae-in and independent Ahn Cheol-soo." In a meeting with a group of journalists at party's headquarters in Seoul, the former lawmaker said the ruling party found this after analyzing reporting hours of candidates from Oct. 5 when Ahn suggested a meeting to discuss the opposition's single candidate to Moon on Oct. 10." Kwon claimed that the total reporting hours on Moon and Ahn, respectively, were more than double than that on Park. "Considering that two opposition candidates can be unified, this issue has become much more serious than before," he said. "This is because a standard bearer-to-be of the opposition camp, if chosen, will be exposed to three or four times more to the media than Rep. Park will be." Reporters from three broadcasting companies quickly fired back at the ruling party. "If you compare the reporting hours from August, there had been more news coverage on Park. Is it fair to compare coverage of three candidates during a particular time period?" a KBS reporter asked back to Kwon. A SBS reporter also denied allegation, saying their news coverage is fair. Prior to this, the Saenuri had criticized KBS in a statement last week that it has applied especially strict standards to examine Park's credentials compared to two oppositions. The conservative party's criticism on KBS is rare, given that it has been widely regarded as a broadcaster having released pro-government news items. Seven out of 11 members of the board of directors, who have a right to nominate the chief of the station, are appointed for the position after recommendations from the ruling party. Outgoing President Kim In-kyu faced opposition from labor unions when he was appointed for the position years earlier. His successor, incoming chief Gil Hwan-young, is faced with a similar fate as unions claimed that the new leadership will be a setback to fair journalism. Kim was the former aide to President Lee Myung-bak and was in charge of broadcasting strategies when President was running for the election in 2007. Meanwhile, the opposition side viewed Saenuri's criticism on broadcasting stations as an intention to prevent spreading of controversies toward the ruling party regarding the broadcasting issue. The Park camp has been blamed for the failure of leading candidates to have debate on television. Park has made clarification of the opposition merger a condition for its participation in any debate. Also, the ruling party and Cheong Wa dae were criticized by the opposition who said Saenuri is intentionally attempting to dominate the broadcasting station to be helped. Such allegation was raised after the suggestion to sack MBC President Kim Jae-chul had been rejected by the Foundation for Broadcast Culture. Ahn Do-hyun, who represents Moon's election camp, claimed last week that "Saenuri and Cheong Wa Dae are protecting Kim."

S. Korea's Ulsan crowned Asian club football champion

South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai Tigers were crowned the Asian football club champion Saturday after beating Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 3-0.

Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Hyundai players and coaching staff celebrate after clinching the AFC Champions League title in Ulsan, Saturday. The K-League outfit defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli 3-0. / Yonhap

The new champion rejoiced after the victory at home in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers south of Seoul. It was the Korean club's first AFC Champions League triumph in its third try.

The victory also qualified Ulsan for the FIFA Club World Cup next month in Japan, where champions of six continental football confederations plus the league winner of the host nation will collide.

Ulsan didn't lose any of the 12 games it played in the AFC Champions League this year, with 10 victories and two draws dating back to the group stage that began in March. Winger Lee Keun-ho was named the most valuable player of the tournament

Captain Kwak Tae-hwi headed in the first goal early in the match, and Rafinha and midfielder Kim Seung-yong added a goal apiece in the second half, as Ulsan became the third AFC champion from the K-League in the last four years.

Kwak set the tone in the 12th minute, jumping over two Al Ahli defenders to head in a free kick by Kim Seung-yong.

Following Kwak's goal, Ulsan players grew a bit careless on their own end and botched a few clearing attempts near the penalty area.

In the 37th, Victor Simoes had his shot from the top of the box blocked by Ulsan defenders. Two minutes later, Motaz Al Musa stole the ball from Kwak at the top of the arc but struck the ball wide right off the goalmouth.

Ulsan was put on the back of its heels to open the second half as the Saudi side tried to draw even. Then in the 67th, Rafinha put the home team up by two with a header. The Brazilian forward put his head on a Kim Shin-wook cross by diving between two Al Ahli defenders.

Kim Seung-yong put the match out of reach in the 74th, pouncing on a loose ball from the left side of the box and striking it past Abdullah Al Muaiouf in net.

Kim Shin-wook almost made it a four-goal victory with three minutes remaining, but the 196-centimeter striker headed the ball off the crossbar. He put one in the back of the net in injury time but the play was called offside.

The K-League has now produced 10 Asian club football champions -- more than any other on the continent -- dating back to the days of the Asian Champion Club Tournament in 1967. (Yonhap News)