PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Oct 24

SEOUL Oct 24 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Friday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.

DONG-A ILBO

Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong told parliament that economic cooperation plans South Korea and North Korea laid out at a summit last year could be carried out if North Korean nuclear disablement shows progress. It was the first time for the current government to comment on the implementation of inter-Korean projects conceived by the previous administration.

President Lee Myung-bak is set to give a speech at parliament regarding the national budget, according to a Blue House official.

CHOSUN ILBO

The Defence Ministry is looking into whether seven military lawyers who filed a constitutional petition against the ministry's decision to ban books deemed "pro-North Korea and anti-capitalism" had violated military rules.

Power monopoly Korea Electric Power Corp (015760.KS) told parliament that electricity charges would have to be raised by as much as 30 percent this year or next year.

Internet portal operator Daum Communications (035720.KQ) said it had given up on participating in the Internet protocol television (IPTV) business due to lack of finances.

THE KOREA TIMES

The National Assembly will establish a committee to strengthen a network of Korean businessmen abroad and sharpen the competitiveness of Korean companies worldwide, a lawmaker told parliament.