Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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S. Korean military to set up cyber operations team
The South Korean military plans to establish a new team in charge of cyber operations under the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as part of efforts to boost its cyber warfare capabilities, officers said Tuesday.The new department "will set sail in January to take charge of the country's military operations online," a JCS officer said, requesting anonymity. It is in accordance with the government's recent decision to entitle the JCS chairman to fully control the Military Cyber Command in an effort to
Dec. 23, 2014
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Ruling-party lawmaker fined for leaking classified documents
A Seoul court imposed a 10 million won (US$9,600) fine on a ruling-party lawmaker Tuesday for illegally obtaining and leaking a classified transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit.The transcript of the summit talks between late South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il triggered a political firestorm after the Saenuri Party claimed ahead of the 2012 presidential election that Roh had offered to surrender the western sea border, commonly called the Northern Li
Dec. 23, 2014
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Ministry backtracks on reform of military, teachers' pensions
South Korea's finance ministry on Tuesday backtracked on its ambitious pension reform plan for next year by claiming it is not reviewing changes to military and teachers' pensions.On Monday, the ministry said in its 2015 economic policy directive that it would strive to get the government employee pension reform bill through parliament in the New Year. It also said plans to reform teachers' and military pensions would be examined in 2015.But deputy finance minister Jeong Eun-bo told reporters th
Dec. 23, 2014
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Park calls for increased cyber security for infrastructure
President Park Geun-hye called on officials Tuesday to beef up the cyber security of the country's nuclear reactors and other key infrastructure facilities following cyber-attacks in South Korea and the United States.The call comes as South Korea is struggling to find those responsible for a series of leaks of information related to two nuclear reactors. Officials said the Gori and Wolsong nuclear power plants, both located more than 400 kilometers from the capital Seoul, remain safe as their in
Dec. 23, 2014
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Maritime minister resigns after handling ferry disaster
Maritime Minister Lee Ju-young resigned Tuesday after handling the aftermath of April's deadly ferry sinking that claimed more than 300 lives.President Park Geun-hye announced the minister's resignation during a Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in Sejong, saying Lee's dedication to the recovery efforts deeply moved the victims' families and the general public."When the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was going through the most difficult time following the Sewol accident, the victi
Dec. 23, 2014
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S. Korea to reduce number of products on flexible tariff list in 2015
South Korea will reduce the number of products on its flexible tariff list in 2015 to reflect a general drop in commodities prices and local consumer price targets, the government said Tuesday.Flexible tariffs, which cover both tariff quotas and adjustment duties, are used by the government to temporarily raise and lowers basic tariff rates on particular products to stabilize prices, protect local producers and ensure steady supply. The finance ministry said the number of products put under tari
Dec. 23, 2014
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S. Korea, Israel discuss greater cooperation
South Korea's foreign minister and his Israeli counterpart have discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in the economic and high-tech areas, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held talks with Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's top diplomat, in Jerusalem Monday, the third leg of Yun's seven-day tour of the Middle East, according to the ministry.Seoul's foreign minister embarked on a trip to the region Thursday to discuss cooperation in the field of the so-called "
Dec. 23, 2014
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UPP members removed from local assemblies
The National Election Commission on Monday revoked the status of six local assembly members who were elected on the now-disbanded Unified Progressive Party’s proportional representative list.Although the Public Official Election Act states that proportional representatives may maintain their status if a party is dissolved, the NEC ruled that the clause does not apply as the UPP was disbanded involuntarily. The 31 members of local assemblies who were elected directly, however, will maintain their
Dec. 22, 2014
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Minister admits to unfair probe of Korean Air ‘nut rage’ case
South Korea’s top transportation official said on Monday that government investigations into the Korean Air “nut rage” scandal had been unfair, as a large portion of the ministry’s probe team consisted of former employees of the carrier.Transport Minister Suh Seoung-hwan’s comment came after the ministry launched an internal audit last Thursday into allegations that former Korean Air officials investigating the incident tried to acquit ex-Korean Air vice president Cho Hyun-ah, accused of violati
Dec. 22, 2014
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Park’s popularity rating rebounds over far-left party disbandment
President Park Geun-hye’s approval ratings rebounded after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of disbanding the minor opposition party Friday, a poll showed Monday.Park’s endorsement rating on Friday rose to 42.6 percent, a 4.8 percentage point increase from 37.8 percent surveyed on Wednesday, according to Realmeter, a local pollster. The survey asked 2,500 voters between Dec. 15 and 19 with a 2 percent margin of error and a 95 percent confidence level. The percentage of respondents who had
Dec. 22, 2014
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Six councilors of disbanded party lose seats
The national election watchdog said Monday it has revoked the seats of six councilors of the now-disbanded Unified Progressive Party (UPP), a follow-up measure to the party's dissolution last week.On Friday, the Constitutional Court outlawed the UPP, a minor left-leaning opposition party, for disrupting the country's basic democratic order through its pursuit of North Korean socialism. The court also revoked the UPP's five seats in the National Assembly.By-elections will be held in April to elec
Dec. 22, 2014
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Vice minister says leaked information does not undermine safety of nulcear reactors
South Korea's vice energy minister on Monday maintained that the country's nuclear reactors remain safe from serious harm, despite a series of information leaks online by a hacker suspect, arguing that what has become public so far is not sensitive material.Lee Kwan-sup, vice minister of trade, industry and energy, acknowledged the leaked documents appeared to be from Gori and Wolsong nuclear power plants, both more than 400 kilometers from capital Seoul, but include only general and unclassifie
Dec. 22, 2014
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Ruling party seeks to amend election law
Ruling party lawmakers called Monday for amending a law to stop members of a disbanded party from standing for election.Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Saenuri Party made the proposal three days after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of disbanding the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP) for disrupting the country's basic democratic order through its pursuit of North Korean socialism.The ruling also stripped the UPP's five lawmakers of their seats in parliament. By-elections will be
Dec. 22, 2014
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S. Korea to ease visa rules to attract foreign talent
South Korea will improve its visa issuance system to attract more talented foreign workers as part of efforts to tackle its declining labor force, the labor ministry said Monday.The government said it will relax the current points-based system to allow more talented foreign workers to emigrate to the country.Under the present system, high-scoring foreign talent are granted the F2 visa, which removes all restrictions on work, if they stay for one year and the F5 visa for permanent stay if they st
Dec. 22, 2014
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Venice Commission requests verdict records on UPP disbandment
The Venice Commission, an advisory board to the Council of Europe, asked South Korea’s Constitutional Court for an English version of its ruling to dissolve the minor leftist Unified Progressive Party last week, officials said Sunday.On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of disbanding the minor opposition party, concluding that it aimed to overthrow the South Korean government and create a communist country like North Korea.The request by the commission, of which South Korea is a me
Dec. 21, 2014
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Court orders disclosure of papers on U.S. soldiers’ criminal cases
A local court said Sunday it would order the government to disclose papers explaining why some courts had waived jurisdiction on U.S. troops here suspected of criminal charges.The Seoul Administrative Court’s ruling will force the South Korean Justice Ministry to publicize formerly classified papers related to some of these cases, following a suit against the government by Minbyun, a lobby for a group of liberal lawyers.Local supporters of the ruling hope it will lead to more transparency in cri
Dec. 21, 2014
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S. Korean delegation requests visit to N. Korea
A South Korean delegation, including former aides to the late President Kim Dae-jung, has asked the government for permission to visit North Korea following an invitation from the country, a government official said Sunday.On Friday, North Korea's point man on South Korea, Kim Yang-gon, asked that former aides to the late president and officials of South Korea's Hyundai Asan Co. visit the North's border city of Kaesong this week.In a message sent to the South's Ministry of Unification, which han
Dec. 21, 2014
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Park calls UPP dissolution 'historical decision'
President Park Geun-hye on Saturday hailed as "historic" the Constitutional Court's order to dissolve the minor leftist Unified Progressive Party (UPP) for being pro-North Korean in a ruling that is expected to deepen an ideological divide in South Korea."(The Constitutional Court's ruling) is a historical decision that strongly protects liberal democracy in the country," Park said, commenting on the Friday ruling, according to her chief spokesman, Yoon Doo-hyun.The top court ordered disbandment
Dec. 20, 2014
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Park invited to Russia for Victory Day celebration: source
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been invited to Russia for its 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany next year, a source here said Saturday, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also received the invitation."It's right that we've received an invitation from Russia, but we have to check (Park's) schedule for next year," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "Whether she will attend the ceremony or not is not yet decided."Russia commemorates the Victory Day on May 9 every y
Dec. 20, 2014
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Park's approval rating hits record low: poll
President Park Geun-hye's approval rating has hit a record low amid a high-profile influence-peddling scandal involving some key presidential officials, a poll showed Friday. The survey of 1,006 adults nationwide by Gallup Korea showed only 37 percent approved of Park's job performance. In a similar poll by Realmaster, released earlier this week, Park's approval rating stood at 39.7 percent. It was the first time that her approval rating dipped below 40 percent in a major poll since she too
Dec. 19, 2014