Most Popular
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Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
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Doctors' group picks new leader amid tense standoff over increased enrollment quota
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Dialogue hopes fade as doctors pick hard-liner as new head
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Coupang pledges W3tr to expand Rocket Delivery nationwide by 2027
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[Election Battlefield] Political novice to face off star politician in ‘swing district’
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[Kim Seong-kon] The April 2024 election will decide our future
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul’s bus union prepares for strike
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Parties agree on Sewol bill and Coast Guard reforms
South Korea’s main parties wrapped up talks Friday on the special Sewol bill and proposals to dismantle the Coast Guard, ending months of prolonged negotiations.The Sewol bill will authorize an investigation into the government’s alleged failure to rescue more passengers during the April ferry disaster. Investigators will be nominated by lawmakers, legal experts, and the families of those killed in the Sewol accident. A state prosecutor, nominated by lawmakers and ultimately approved by the pres
Oct. 31, 2014
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Parties to attempt last-minute compromise on Sewol bill
South Korea’s major parties will attempt to finish up negotiations over the special Sewol bill and other key proposals including the overhaul of the Coast Guard on Friday. National Assembly sources say the parties have almost reached an agreement on the special Sewol bill, but they continue to hold different views on reorganizing the Coast Guard and the nation’s emergency response infrastructure. With parties eager to finish talks, however, a final agreement appears likely by Friday or, if de
Oct. 31, 2014
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Constitutional Court ruling to change voting districts
South Korea’s highest court ruled against a regulation on the population size of voting districts Thursday, after citizens mostly from a populous district in Seoul claimed they were underrepresented in the national legislature. Justices at the Constitutional Court agreed, and ordered the National Assembly to amend the Public Official Election Act by at least the end of next year. The plaintiffs claimed various constituencies throughout Korea deserved more representatives in parliament. They dema
Oct. 30, 2014
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(Photo News) Thumbs up!
President Park Geun-hye gives a thumbs up during a ceremony marking the first operational deployment of the indigenous light attack fighter FA-50 at the Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Thursday. (Yonhap)
Oct. 30, 2014
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Saenuri presidential hopeful opposes constitutional change
Former Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo on Thursday expressed his opposition to constitutional reform, intensifying a national debate over proposals to dilute the president’s powers.Kim, considered a contender for the next presidential election, said there was nothing wrong with the Constitution itself. Rather, he said, many things would be better if legislators did their jobs according to the rules more often.The comments are expected to add fire to a much publicized feud over possible const
Oct. 30, 2014
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NPAD calls for constitutional revision before 2016 elections
Leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties made their parliamentary addresses Thursday, each emphasizing his party’s own agenda. Although the two leaders spoke on the same day, their focus fell on widely different issues.As with President Park Geun-hye’s policy address on Wednesday, Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung concentrated on the economy, reiterating that it was the “golden time” for economic recovery. Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung (top) and New Politics Alliance f
Oct. 30, 2014
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Growth to top Park’s agenda
President Park Geun-hye urged the rival parties Wednesday to support her government’s economic stimulus plan for next year. “Now is the last golden time for the country to rebuild its economy (as we are standing) at the crossroads between achieving another leap forward and falling into stagnation,” Park said in her 42-minute-long speech at the National Assembly, urging parliamentary approval of the 2015 budget.“If we fail to deal with both external and internal challenges, we will face a long-te
Oct. 29, 2014
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S. Korean, Rwandan presidents exchange views on expanding ties at summit
The presidents of South Korea and Rwanda exchanged views on expanding political and economic ties at a summit meeting held in Seoul on Wednesday. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Park Geun-hye expressed hope that the two countries will move forward to strengthen ties that have benefited both countries in recent years. Park cited Paul Kagame's two previous visits to the country as playing a part in expanding ties, particularly among senior policymakers. The chief executive also sa
Oct. 29, 2014
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Economy takes center stage in Park’s cross-party meeting
President Park Geun-hye focused on the economic theme of her policy address in a meeting with the ruling and opposition parties Wednesday, stressing the need for interparty cooperation to revive the economy. Park dedicated much of the 40-minute meeting, with leaders of both political parties, to the economy and related bills, only briefly touching on sensitive political issues. “The parties exist for the people, and I think that there is nothing that cannot be done (if the parties) put their hea
Oct. 29, 2014
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Sewol families stage protest at Assembly
Families of those killed in the April ferry disaster staged a rally in front of the legislature on Wednesday, shouting aloud their grievances at President Park Geun-hye. The president was visiting the parliament to make an annual policy speech.But Park, who has been known to be “frosty” to her critics, appeared to continue her policy of staying quiet on the Sewol accident, as she walked into the National Assembly building without acknowledging the protesters.The families were lined up next to th
Oct. 29, 2014
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Constitutional argument erupts over public-sector pension reform
The drive to reform the Government Employees Pension program may face more obstacles with opposition lawmakers calling for more time, while others claim it may violate the Constitution. According to the civil servants’ union, levying a fee on retired government employees to contribute to stabilizing the system’s finances would infringe on their right to hold property through a revision that will be applied retroactively to them, which is specifically ruled out by the Constitution. Article 13 of
Oct. 29, 2014
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Park to prioritize economic recovery next year
President Park Geun-hye urged the National Assembly on Wednesday to support her government’s economic stimulus plan for next year, stressing that it is “the last golden time” for the country to revitalize its economy. “This is the time for the National Assembly, the government, the people and businesses to join forces to revitalize the economy,” Park said in her 35-minute-long speech urging parliamentary approval of the 2015 budget. “The government will put priority on the economy and has expand
Oct. 29, 2014
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North Korea widening purge: NIS
Pyongyang is engaged in a widening purge of government and military officials, including those linked to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle Jang Song-thaek who was executed in 2013, Seoul’s spy agency revealed Tuesday. At the parliamentary audit, the National Intelligence Service revealed that a purge of government officials was underway in North Korea, and that several of Jang’s associates have recently been gunned down in public executions.Last December, the North Korean ruler executed Ja
Oct. 28, 2014
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Park calls for swift passage of public pension reform bill
President Park Geun-hye called on officials Monday to put utmost efforts to complete the passage of the public pension reform bill within this year, despite the strong opposition from civil servants.“I understand that the public pension reform is a difficult and painful task and that it requires sacrifice once again for public servants who have been making commitments to the country,” said Park during a weekly meeting with Cabinet members. “But the (financial) burden would grow more if we delay
Oct. 28, 2014
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President accused of back-door appointment
An opposition lawmaker has charged that a former sports instructor appointed as an administrative staff member at Cheong Wa Dae is secretly a personal trainer to the president.Rep. Choi Min-hee of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy claimed Tuesday that the presidential office hired Yoon Jeon-choo, a famous personal trainer, for a director-level post at the presidential office early last year. Choi said that Cheong Wa Dae had been lying about her actual role, adding that she
Oct. 28, 2014
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Saenuri to pursue pension reform despite opposition
The ruling Saenuri Party is to push ahead with the public sector pension reform plans amid concerns of limited impact and opposition from even within the party. On Tuesday, the ruling party held a general meeting of its lawmakers in the hopes of bringing the party fully behind the plans. The plans are said to have fallen short of receiving the party’s full support, but Saenuri Party leader Rep. Kim Moo-sung hopes to convince individual lawmakers in person. At the meeting, Kim called for lawmaker
Oct. 28, 2014
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Park calls for passage of public pension reform bill within this year
President Park Geun-hye called on officials Monday to put utmost efforts to complete the passage of the public pension reform bill within this year, despite the strong opposition from civil servants.“I understand that the public pension reform is a difficult and painful task and that it requires sacrifice once again for public servants who have been making commitments to the country,” said Park during a weekly meeting with Cabinet members. “But the (financial) burden would grow more if we delay
Oct. 28, 2014
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Saenuri pushes to delay pension for public sector
The ruling Saenuri Party on Monday announced its public sector pension reform plan, which centers on increasing the age that payments can be received to 65 from the current 60.“The plans are based on the government’s draft, but improvements have been made to the three facets of reducing (government) spending, payout according to rank and fairness compared to the National Pension,” said Rep. Lee Han-koo, the chief of the Saenuri Party’s task force on the issue. At present, retired public sector e
Oct. 27, 2014
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KRC head apologizes for absence at Assembly audit
Korean Red Cross chief Kim Sung-joo apologized Monday for failing to appear at a National Assembly audit last week, taking off to China instead to attend a meeting of Red Cross officials.Meanwhile, unionized workers of the Red Cross called for Kim’s resignation, claiming their leader is ill-qualified for her post on the same day ― which also marks the humanitarian body’s 109th anniversary.“I offer my apologies to the National Assembly as well as the citizens,” Kim said at the National Assembly i
Oct. 27, 2014
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Park to seek bipartisan support for delayed economic reform
President Park Geun-hye will request bipartisan support for a package of economic stimulus bills during her parliamentary address on Wednesday, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. It will be her second budget speech at the National Assembly since taking office in early 2013. Most of her predecessors had their prime ministers, technically the No. 2 government position, deliver the speech on their behalf, her spokesman Min Kyung-wook told reporters. Her gesture will be a means of showing respect as the hea
Oct. 27, 2014