hankyoreh

Incheon Int’l Airport Cargo Terminal

Travel between Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport will become faster and more convenient, as the Phase 2 section (20.4-kilometer section linking Seoul Station to Gimpo Airport) of the Korail Airport Railroad opens on Dec. 29. This construction follows the Phase 1 section (37.6-kilometer section linking Gimpo and Incheon airports) that opened previously. It has been almost 10 years since the project started in April 2001.

Travelers can also check in luggage at Seoul Station before leaving for the airport, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said Wednesday. They will pay 5,300 Won ($5) for regular trains traveling from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport in 53 minutes, and 13,300 Won ($12) for express trains in 43 minutes.

It currently takes just over 1 hour to travel from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport by limousine bus, an estimate that can increase greatly depending on traffic conditions.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense has decided on Wednesday not to criminally punish four of its commanders who were indicted regarding the sinking of the Cheonan.

The surviving captain of the Cheonan Choi Won-il, former commander of the second squadron Kim Dong-shik, former commander of naval operations Park Jeong-hwa and former top officer of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hwang Jung-sun will be either cleared of charges or given suspended indictments, prosecutors within the ministry in charge of the investigation said in a press release. But, disciplinary punishment has been sought for the four, including Choi, Kim and Park were found guilty of charges of negligence in preparation for the battle, prosecutors added.

The decision was to reflect concerns that the military‘s morale could be adversely affected if the commanders are criminally charged, the ministry explained,

More than 40 percent of South Korean households have completed the ongoing population and housing census using the Internet, the highest rate in the world, the Statistics Korea announced on Wednesday.

“Some regions such as several districts in Daejeon reached 80 percent,” said Yi In-sill, commissioner of the statistical office. As of 2 p.m. yesterday, Daejeon recorded the highest percentage among major cities and provinces at 50.4 percent, followed by South Gyeongsang (47.4 percent), Ulsan (44.6 percent), Seoul (42.0 percent).

The statistical office’s initial target was 30 percent Internet participation, but it has already achieved 40 percent. Overall, it expects 50 percent participation to save more than 20 billion Won in conducting the census, Yi said.

The previous record was set by Canada, where the percentage reached 18.5 percent in 2006.

International residents in South Korea can also participate via Internet (www.census.go.kr/hcensus/intro.html) as the statistical office offers instructions in nine different languages. The call center (080-200-1345) provides interpretation to help non-Koreans take part in the survey.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]