Fortunes of this year by astrology

"An unexpected and grave situation concerning the unification of South and North Korea may take place after July."

"If the nation tides over the unstable May and June period, it will enter a stable phase. Otherwise, there is a high possibility it may meet with a great misfortune," predicted Dr. Kim Young-Joon, researcher of astrology.

Kim made the prediction for the New Year by analyzing the year's moving line of the asterism of 10 a.m., Feb. 25 of 1998, when President Kim Dae-Jung took office.

"We cannot set our hearts at ease during the first half for each six of 12 constellations are in a situation of engaging in a war, but beginning in summer, the shapes of the will be absorbed into a big frame," he said.

Kim explained that depending on the interpretation of his prediction, one can think of a possibility for the birth of a giant ruling party after the changing alignments of political parties or another possibility is that a unified group of Asian countries will confront the United States and Europe.

After July when the constellations are transformed into a frame, there may occur a grave situation that affects the unification between South and North Korea, he predicted.

He also had a pessimistic view for the economy. The constellations related to water like Aquarius and Pisces will be shaken particularly badly. So, the ill effects from the areas swept by water, like corporate restructuring and labor disputes, are expected to be serious. It may take a considerable amount time for the stock market to return to a stable state, he added.

Astrology is a method of forecasting the future by watching the star constellations. The basis for the predictions are the 12 zodiac star formations like Scorpio and Leo (the lion).

Dr. Kim graduated from the department of French language and literature of Seoul National University and its Graduate School. He studied at Brutani University in France from 1994 to 1998 and won his doctorate in western astrology.