Most Popular
-
1
Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
-
2
Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
-
3
[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
-
4
Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
-
5
Hybe's multilabel system tested amid conflict with Ador
-
6
Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
-
7
SNU profs to suspend treatment for one day
-
8
SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home
-
9
Over-50s, men, single-person households take up majority of those filing for bankruptcy
-
10
Pianist Cho Seong-Jin named Berlin Philharmonic's artist-in-residence
-
Lawmakers grilled over art school graft
Two more opposition lawmakers were grilled by the prosecution on Thursday on suspicion of taking bribes from a local art college in return for making regulation changes to benefit the institution. The New Politics Alliance for Democracy lawmakers ― Reps. Kim Jae-yun and Shin Hak-yong ― are suspected of taking bribes from Seoul Art College, or SAC, in exchange for making a law revision at the request of the school’s chairman of the board Kim Min-seong. Kim Jae-yun is accused of receiving 50 milli
Aug. 14, 2014
-
Leftist lawmaker, prosecution challenge high court ruling
A left-leaning lawmaker on Thursday filed an appeal against an appellate court conviction that he had instigated an anti-state armed revolt against the government.On Monday, the Seoul High Court, partly overturning a lower court ruling, handed down a reduced jail sentence of nine years to Lee Seok-ki, a member of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party.Lawyers representing the 53-year-old lawmaker said they have lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court against the conviction. Prosecutors a
Aug. 14, 2014
-
Seoul open to dialog on ‘peace regime’ with N.K.
South Korea said Wednesday it can discuss with North Korea how to create a “peace regime” on the divided Korean Peninsula amid lingering tensions over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.Still, South Korea said certain conditions must be put in place before holding discussions on the issue, an apparent reference to military confidence-building of the two rival Koreas that are still technically at war.“South Korea can discuss the establishment of a peace regime in case conditions mature,”
Aug. 13, 2014
-
Assembly fails to pass Sewol investigation bill
The ruling and main opposition parties failed to kick off a planned plenary session Wednesday morning, casting a cloud over the prospect to work on the “special Sewol bill” drawn up to investigate the April 16 ferry disaster that left more than 300 people dead or missing. The National Assembly was set to hold a plenary session at 10 a.m. to process the bill along with a host of other bills and issues, but the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy refuse
Aug. 13, 2014
-
Park 'inside presidential compound' on day of deadly ferry sinking: lawmaker
President Park Geun-hye stayed at her office on the day of April's deadly ferry sinking and received multiple reports on the accident, a ruling party lawmaker said on Wednesday, countering allegations that she'd been away from the presidential compound when the tragedy occurred.Rep. Cho Won-jin of the Saenuri Party said he'd asked the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae for details on Park's whereabouts on April 16, when the ferry Sewol capsized, leaving 300 people dead or missing.According to Cho
Aug. 13, 2014
-
Plenary session fails to open over Sewol bill
The ruling and main opposition parties failed to kick off the planned plenary session Wednesday morning, casting a cloud over the prospect to work on the “special Sewol bill” drawn up to investigate the April 16 ferry disaster that left more than 300 people dead or missing. The National Assembly was set to hold a plenary session at 10 a.m. to process the bill along with a host of other bills and issues, but the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy refu
Aug. 13, 2014
-
Three-pronged effort to investigate Sewol
The South Korean public is questioning the validity of three separate investigations into the April ferry disaster, close to four months after the maritime accident. The investigations have led to arrests and indictments. But the efforts have also raised fresh allegations that require, critics of the government say, further examination. Prosecutors and police launched the first official probe into the ferry accident on April 18, only two days after the Sewol ferry had sunk in waters off th
Aug. 12, 2014
-
NPAD chief pulled in two directions
New Politics Alliance for Democracy interim chief Rep. Park Young-sun is facing a crisis that could break her political career less than week since taking the helm of the main opposition party. The crisis came three short days after she was named the party’s interim leader on Aug. 4 when she reached an agreement over the special bill concerning the April 16 Sewol ferry tragedy with her Saenuri Party counterpart Rep. Lee Wan-koo.On Aug. 7, Park and Lee drew up an agreement regarding the so-called
Aug. 12, 2014
-
Parties deadlocked over Sewol bill again
Negotiations over the so-called “special Sewol bill” continued Monday at the National Assembly after strong public opinion compelled the main opposition party to nullify an earlier bipartisan agreement on the legislation.Party leaders last week reached a breakthrough in negotiations over the bill. Ruling Saenuri Party Rep. Lee Wan-koo and New Politics Alliance for Democracy Rep. Park Young-sun subsequently agreed to pass the bill at a full parliamentary session Wednesday.But after the deal spark
Aug. 11, 2014
-
Park’s ratings rally in wake of elections
Despite the public outrage at deadly abuse cases in the military and the protracted Sewol ferry disaster, President Park Geun-hye’s approval ratings recently firmed up for the first time in two months.The Gallup Korea poll, which surveyed 1,004 adults between Aug. 4 and 6, had Park’s favorability at 46 percent positive and 43 percent negative. The positive evaluation of Park’s performance went up 6 percentage points from the previous week, surpassing her negative assessment for the first time in
Aug. 11, 2014
-
Opposition party hints at further negotiations over Sewol bill
Main opposition leader Rep. Park Young-sun on Sunday hinted at further negotiations over the “Special Sewol Bill” that has raised ire among relatives of victims.“There is room for negotiation regarding the method for selecting the special counsel,” Park, the New Politics Alliance for Democracy emergency committee chair, said at the National Assembly. She added that making the probe committee as advantageous as possible for the families was her priority, and stressed that the negotiations are not
Aug. 10, 2014
-
Families outraged by Sewol bill
Families of those killed in the April ferry disaster continued to express outrage Friday after the main political parties in Seoul agreed to legislate a compromise version of the so-called special Sewol bill.After weeks of partisan deadlock over important details of the much-demanded special bill, the ruling Saenuri Party and opposition lawmakers made a breakthrough in negotiations Thursday.But families and some opposition lawmakers reacted in anger at the bill’s contents only hours after the ag
Aug. 8, 2014
-
S. Korea issues travel warning for Ebola-hit Nigeria
South Korea on Friday issued a special travel advisory for Nigeria's Ebola-hit capital Lagos as part of efforts to control the spread of the virus, the health ministry said.During an emergency meeting of relevant ministries on how to deal with the outbreak in West Africa, the government decided to issue the special travel advisory effective immediately, advising its citizens to leave the region and cancel non-essential trips there, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.The move came ho
Aug. 8, 2014
-
Presidential aide denies Park absent when ferry sank
A senior South Korean official on Friday rejected allegations by a Japanese newspaper that President Park Geun-hye had a secret meeting with an unidentified person at an undisclosed location on the day of April's deadly ferry sinking, saying she stayed in her office.Park's whereabouts on April 16 have emerged as a sensitive political issue in South Korea since Japan's conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported on an alleged secret meeting between the president and a man that day, citing rumo
Aug. 8, 2014
-
Park praises U.S. alliance
South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday praised the country's decades-old alliance with the United States during a meeting with a senior U.S. lawmaker who voiced concerns over North Korea's threats to conduct another nuclear test and alleged progress in its nuclear and missile programs."The South Korea-U.S. alliance is referred to as one of the most successful alliances around the world and the state of our alliance has never been better," Park said in a meeting with a U.S. delegation led
Aug. 8, 2014
-
Parliament endorses ex-ruling party chief as education minister
The National Assembly on Friday endorsed a former ruling party chief as education minister in one of the last steps to forming President Park Geun-hye's new Cabinet.The parliamentary education and culture committee adopted a report endorsing Hwang Woo-yea, a five-term lawmaker and former chief of the ruling Saenuri Party, as the new education minister following a confirmation hearing Thursday.Park tapped Hwang last month immediately after she withdrew her first nominee, Kim Myung-soo, amid contr
Aug. 8, 2014
-
Cabinet OKs nomination of new Army chief
The government approved the nomination of Gen. Kim Yo-hwan as the country's new Army chief on Friday, an official said.The decision reached at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Chung Hong-won came a day after Kim was tapped to lead the Army, which is under mounting public fire over the beating death of a soldier.Kim's formal appointment requires the approval of President Park Geun-hye.Kim's predecessor quit earlier this week over the latest incident that illustrated a deep-rooted
Aug. 8, 2014
-
Park’s office to sue Japanese newspaper
South Korea’s presidential office said on Thursday that it would consider taking legal actions against the Sankei Shimbun, a Japanese conservative newspaper, for allegedly running an offensive story about President Park Geun-hye.“(The newspaper) published a story that even (makes one feel) ashamed to talk about,” said Yoon Doo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public relations, at a meeting with reporters. “They might have attracted one more reader based on a lie, but we will follow throug
Aug. 7, 2014
-
Park calls for humanitarian approach to reduce N.K. tension
President Park Geun-hye urged officials, politicians and civilian experts on Thursday to seek ways to reduce tension on the Korean peninsula and boost humanitarian aid, calling unification the ultimate goal to heal the decades-long pain of the divided Koreas.Park also called for joint efforts to build social infrastructure in North Korea to improve the quality of life there and to narrow differences between the two Koreas, which have been divided for more than 60 years following the 1950-53 Kore
Aug. 7, 2014
-
Parties break deadlock over Sewol bill
The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy agreed to process the Special Sewol Act on Aug. 13 at a weekly floor leaders’ meeting on Thursday. The two sides also agreed to establish a special parliamentary committee on human rights issues and general service conditions in the military in the wake of the death of Army Pfc. Yoon. Yoon, a 23-year-old draftee, died in early April from injuries inflicted by senior soldiers. The Sewol bill, designed to address
Aug. 7, 2014