Loose change for December 11, 2009

 Economic news 

• Yonhap gives the gist of economic outlook for 2009 and 2010. 
• The Korean government, the Korea Times reports, is looking for ways to strengthen the domestic market so as to be less reliant on exports to increasingly volatile markets.
• IBM announces the launch of the "IBM Business Park," billed as a green data center, in Songdo International City.
• Street vendors in Seoul forced to use standardized cart sizes or quit.
• At 29.44 million won per pyong [평, p'yŏng], Kangnam-gu Ward has the most expensive apartments in Seoul, while Yŏnch'ŏn-gun County in Kyŏnggi-do Province [경기도 연천군] has the cheapest at 3.27 million won per pyong. Seoul is 25.49 million won/pyong. It's interesting to note that the Chosun Ilbo article went out of its way not to mention the word "pyong," which was outlawed along with other traditional but common measures. Instead, the prices were listed as "per 3.3 square meters."

 North Korea news and stuff 

•  A group of prominent American scientists, including one Nobel laureate, are in Pyongyang for discussions with DPRK officials on ways to foster bilateral cooperation in various fields of research.
• Deforestation is bad in North Korea.
• One expert predicts North Korea will offer its own "Grand Bargain."
• North Korea appears to be in a fresh attempt at luring foreign investment.

 Other Korea-related stuff 

• Police beef up security around the country following threats from Taliban over Afghanistan troop deployment. 
• A survey by Dankook University says South Koreans in their thirties are turning politically neutral or moderate.
• LG Household and Healthcare Ltd is suing Procter & Gamble over patent infringement related to Crest Whitestrips. 
• The Wall Street Journal notes changes made to the Google Korea page, follows up with op-ed giving Hawaii to Japan and Alaska to Russia. 
• Scientists working for the National Research Foundation of Korea have discovered microRNA in fruit flies that directly controls a gene that affects the insulin signal delivery mechanism. They believe that the finding may lead to new ways to fight diabetes and cancer. 
• The Constitutional Court hears debate on free speech in relation to Minerva case. 

 Miscellany 

• South Korean soccer team determined not to crumble against Argentina. 
• China kicking butt at East Asian Games in Hong Kong.