Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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[Graphic News] Number of coffee franchises in S. Korea rises 13%
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S. Korean children, teens grow taller, mature faster than before: study
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Some junior doctors are returning: Health Ministry
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Public backlash against division of Gyeonggi Province under 'corny' name
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[Robert J. Fouser] AI changes rationale for learning languages
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[Reporter's Column] Summertime blues for Park
In recent weeks, not only officials but also journalists at Cheong Wa Dae have all been asking the same question: When will President Park Geun-hye leave for summer vacation?It may seem like an easy question to answer. But Cheong Wa Dae has been hesitating to talk about her vacation plans this year, due to the unresolved Sewol crisis.“We have two subjects under consideration in regard to the president’s vacation plans,” said presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook on Wednesday.“I understand that s
July 24, 2014
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Prosecutor quits over failed manhunt
A senior prosecutor who led a massive investigation into the alleged corruption involving businessman Yoo Byung-eun offered to resign Thursday, taking responsibility for the failed manhunt for the de facto owner of the Sewol ferry.Choi Jae-kyung, chief of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, submitted a letter of resignation to the top prosecution office, ending his 26-year career as a public prosecutor.The announcement came two days after the authorities confirmed the death of Yoo on Tuesd
July 24, 2014
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Opposition candidates unite in Seoul and Suwon
Opposition candidates in two strategically important constituencies for the coming July by-elections on Thursday stepped down from their candidacy as part of efforts to prevent the ruling party from gaining more seats in the National Assembly. Ki Dong-min of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said earlier Thursday that he would quit his candidacy in Seoul’s Dongjak-B constituency. Later in the day, minor opposition Justice Party chairman Cheon Ho-sun bowed out of the race in
July 24, 2014
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Justice minister apologizes over botched manhunt for ferry owner
The justice minister apologized Thursday for a botched national manhunt for the fugitive owner of the ferry Sewol that sank off the southwestern coast in April, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.The body of Yoo Byung-eun, a 73-year-old billionaire who owned Sewol operator Chonghaejin Marine Co., was found last month at a plum farm on the south coast. But police identified it as that of Yoo only on Monday, drawing sharp criticism over the belated confirmation. "I express my sincere apo
July 24, 2014
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Two opposition candidates to unite in Dongjak race
Opposition party contenders for Seoul’s Dongjak-B constituency Ki Dong-min and Roh Hoe-chan are to merge their campaigns to go up against the favorite Na Kyung-won of the ruling Saenuri Party. On Wednesday, New Politics Alliance for Democracy candidate Ki announced that he had accepted Roh’s suggestion from the previous day. “(Campaign) unification is a process of cooperation for a new future,” Ki said. On Tuesday, Roh, former leader of the minor opposition Justice Party, suggested that he and K
July 23, 2014
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Navy sacks officer for sexual abuse of female comrade
The Navy has decided to dismiss a captain for sexually molesting a female colleague on a patrol ship, a Navy source said Wednesday.The captain, whose identity was withheld, is accused of groping the shoulder of the female officer and breaking into her room on the patrol ship in March. Last week, a military court sentenced him to two years and six months in jail.“The Navy’s disciplinary committee decided to dismiss the captain for harassing his subordinate,” the source said, requesting anonymity.
July 23, 2014
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Park to take summer vacation next week
President Park Geun-hye will take a five-day summer vacation next week at a location yet to be decided, officials said Wednesday.Park's main concern in choosing a location for the holiday starting Monday is the message it will send to the public following April's deadly ferry sinking, the officials said."I understand that she is contemplating the situation surrounding the (ferry) Sewol, a return to everyday life and the vitalization of the public's livelihoods," presidential spokesman Min Kyung-
July 23, 2014
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Row over opposition candidate Kwon grows
The row over would-be lawmaker Kwon Eun-hee expanded Tuesday over the National Election Commission’s ruling that a Saenuri Party tweet concerning Kwon should be removed. Kwon, a former police officer, is running for Gwangju’s Gwangsan-B constituency as a main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy candidate. Former police officer Kwon Eun-hee gives a speech. (Yonhap)On Monday, the NEC found that a tweet by the Saenuri Party was in violation of Public Official Election Act clauses regardi
July 22, 2014
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Parties at odds over panel’s inquiry powers
The ruling and opposition parties continued to butt heads over the “special Sewol bill” Tuesday with neither side backing down on key issues.Despite the resumption of negotiations, a quick resolution appears unlikely with the parties clashing over whether to give prosecutorial powers to the inquiry panel.Although the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy have both promised swift action regarding the sunken ferry, the two have locked horns over the issue
July 22, 2014
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Policy coordination minister offers to resign
Kim Dong-yeon, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination at the Prime Minister’s Office, offered to resign on Tuesday afternoon, citing personal reasons.The announcement came as a surprise as he demonstrated operation of a portal site developed by the government to cut red tape in front of President Park Geun-hye during a weekly Cabinet meeting earlier in the day. Kim has served as the minister in charge of coordinating government policies with ministries. He was expected to play
July 22, 2014
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Ex-lawmaker named new envoy to Japan
President Park Geun-hye has tapped a former four-term lawmaker with close ties to Japan as her new top envoy to Tokyo, officials said Tuesday.Yoo Heung-soo, the head of the Korea-Japan Friendship Association, was chosen for his wide network of personal relationships with members of the Japanese government and public, which is expected to help mend frayed ties between Seoul and Tokyo, the officials said.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as Yoo’s appointment is subject to formal approv
July 22, 2014
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Kerry didn't mean to downplay N.K. provocations: State Department
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is clearly concerned about North Korea's provocative actions and did not mean to downplay the seriousness of the issue when he said Pyongyang is "quieter" than before, a government official said Monday. "The secretary and we all have been very clear in condemning North Korea's aggressive actions when they occur. We've talked recently about the ballistic missiles and how those were in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions," State Department deputy spoke
July 22, 2014
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U.S. bans commercial flights over N. Korean airspace
The United States on Monday restricted its commercial aircraft from flying over North Korea and adjacent waters, citing the risk that the communist nation could launch ballistic missiles without warning.North Korea was one of six countries that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration designated as dangerous regions in the wake of the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 last week. The five other countries with dangerous regions are Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Ukraine. "FAA prohi
July 22, 2014
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Korea, Portugal to boost business ties
The leaders of South Korea and Portugal agreed Monday to forge strategic partnerships and seek ways together to enter markets in Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America and Africa.Presidents Park Geun-hye and Anibal Cavaco Silva also agreed during a summit held at Cheong Wa Dae to expand cooperation in the development of renewable energy and tourism. They also agreed to cooperate in a wide range of fields including politics, information and communications technology, and shipping and avia
July 21, 2014
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Assembly restarts ferry bill task force
An extraordinary parliamentary session started Monday but rival political parties failed to work out their differences over a special bill aimed at identifying the causes of April’s ferry disaster.The new session, which will run through Aug. 19, comes after both ruling and opposition parties failed to reconcile their conflicting views on the bill, missing the agreed-upon deadline of Thursday, the last day of the previous extra session.The “special Sewol bill” proposes setting up an inquiry panel
July 21, 2014
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Parties clash over asset reports by opposition candidate
The controversy surrounding former police officer Kwon Eun-hee is growing into a full-blown row between the ruling and opposition parties. Kwon, who is running for Gwangju’s Gwangsan-B constituency in the July 30 by-elections, has been linked to a string of wrongdoings ranging from plagiarism to perjury. The latest allegation was raised by the Korea Center for Investigative Journalism, or Newstapa, on July 18, when it claimed that Kwon undervalued her husband’s assets when reporting them to the
July 21, 2014
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Opposition party struggles to shore up support for by-elections
The opposition on Sunday said it faced a difficult fight in the July 30 by-elections as ominous opinion surveys and allegations against a key candidate threatened to damage its public image.“It will be hard for our candidates to score big against the Saenuri Party (in the elections),” main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Rep. Joo Seung-yong said Sunday.Many of the constituencies up for grabs in the coming polls are regions where Saenuri candidates have won many times, Joo added.Fr
July 20, 2014
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[Newsmaker] P.M. vows key role in state reform
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won vowed to continue to play a pivotal role in Korea’s reform drive, despite widespread concerns that the designation of ruling party bigwigs as deputy premiers will reduce his clout.Chung, who unexpectedly retained his post after two potential successors withdrew their nominations, told reporters Friday that he is planning to work in tandem with the newly appointed finance minister, Choi Kyung-hwan. Choi will double as the deputy prime minister for economy. “Some seem
July 20, 2014
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‘Princess’ and ‘bossman’ in decadelong battle of wills
As an idealistic “princess” and a realistic “bossman,” President Park Geun-hye and Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung are an odd couple with a long-but-complicated relationship. Their relationship has lasted a decade; however, the two were strange bedfellows from the start. As suggested by Kim’s nickname “Moo-Dae,” short for Moo-sung Daejang, which means “boss Moo-sung,” the new Saenuri Party chairman is known for his drive and tendency to speak his mind. Kim is also deemed a “Busan man,”
July 20, 2014
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Opposition party demands adoption of special law on ferry tragedy
The main opposition party on Sunday stepped up its demand for an adoption of a special law aimed at determining the cause of April's deadly ferry sinking amid partisan wrangling over whether to give investigative power to a parliamentary inspection team.The proposed law calls for the creation of an inspection team to look into the cause of the April 16 disaster that left more than300 people dead or missing, mostly high school students. The law would also outline measures to provide compensation
July 20, 2014