Seoul - South Korea's central bank on Friday lowered its key interest rate to 2.5 per cent, the fifth cut in three months, to help kick-start the country's economy.

The Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee lowered the benchmark seven-day repurchase rate by 0.5 per cent, its lowest level on record.

"Domestic economic activity is slackening at a rapid pace," the bank said.

Seoul  - North Koreans are watching South Korean-made film and TV drama DVDs in growing numbers, challenging the iron-fisted media control that has effectively isolated 23 million North Koreans from the outside world.

North Korea observers in Seoul estimate that a trickle of the media influx into the otherwise isolated North Koreans has become a stream, despite harsh penalties for those who violate censorship rules.

Seoul - South Korea's opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Tuesday ended 12 days of sit-ins at Seoul's parliament triggered by policy disagreements.

Party chairman Chung Sye Kyun promised to allow work at the assembly to normalize after parliament Speaker Kum Hyong agreed Sunday to delay votes on controversial legislation.

Kim urged the DP and the ruling conservative Grand National Party (GNP) to negotiate their differences.

Seoul - Ailing South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor Co is to receive 45 million dollars from its Chinese top shareholder Shanghai Automotive Industry (SAIC) Motor Corp, the company said Monday.

The measure showed SAIC's determination to keep the SUV maker going, SsangYong said. Also the company received an order for 2,000 cars and minivans from SAIC.

SAIC holds a 51-per-cent stake in cash-strapped SsangYong, which had been hit hard as car sales dropped at home and abroad. In 2008, sales of the smallest of South Korea's five automakers dropped by 29.9 per cent to 92,665 units.

Seoul  - Opposition lawmakers and security guards clashed in South Korea's parliament on Saturday during a sit-in by the members of parliament (MPs) and their supporters, according to media reports.

A scuffle erupted as more than 150 guards tried to clear the main meeting room of the National Assembly in Seoul of several lawmakers and their supporters.

The official Yonhap news agency said one MP and about 20 aides and guards were lightly injured.

Seoul  - Shares surged 2.9 per ce