An indicator of the economic doldrums in South Korea: Seoul’s obsession with plastic surgery is waning, and once-crowded clinics are closing.

Microsoft already has a deal with Ford to put its Sync system, which uses voice activation technology to operate cellphones and play digital music, in some of its vehicles.

Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, indicted on tax evasion charges, announced Tuesday that he would step down after 20 years of leadership.