Most Popular
-
1
Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
-
2
Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
-
3
S. Korean children, teens grow taller, mature faster than before: study
-
4
[Graphic News] Number of coffee franchises in S. Korea rises 13%
-
5
Army takes group action against Hybe for neglecting BTS
-
6
Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
-
7
Some junior doctors are returning: Health Ministry
-
8
[Robert J. Fouser] AI changes rationale for learning languages
-
9
Ador CEO's request for exclusive right to terminate NewJeans' contract with Hybe refused in February
-
10
Woman dangling from power lines rescued by residents holding blanket
-
Parliamentary committee adopts anti-Japan resolution
The South Korean parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a resolution Friday denouncing Japan’s moves to expand the role of its military.Earlier this month, Tokyo adopted a new interpretation of its constitution to exercise the right to collective self-defense, empowering Japan to fight alongside an ally even if the country itself is not attacked.The move has caused concern in South Korea as it could lead to Japanese troops moving on to Korea in the name of helping its ally, the United St
July 11, 2014
-
Parliamentary committee adopts anti-Japan resolution
The South Korean parliament's foreign affairs committee adopted a resolution Friday denouncing Japan's moves to apparently expand the role of its military.Earlier this month, Tokyo adopted a new interpretation of its constitution to exercise the right to collective self-defense, empowering Japan to fight alongside an ally even if the country itself is not attacked.The move has caused concern in South Korea because it could even lead to Japanese troops moving on to Korea in the name of helping it
July 11, 2014
-
Education, culture minister nominees unlikely to win parliamentary approval
The nominees for education and culture ministers appeared unlikely to win parliamentary approval Friday amid the opposition party's refusal to adopt reports on their confirmation hearings.Kim Myung-soo, the nominee for education minister, and Chung Sung-keun, the nominee for culture minister, have been accused of plagiarism of theses and drunken driving, respectively, among other things.Amid growing calls for their resignation, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) forma
July 11, 2014
-
NPAD steps up pressure on Park to cancel nominations
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy raised pressure on President Park Geun-hye Thursday to cancel her ministerial nominations for education and culture, reiterating that the two were unfit for Cabinet posts given the allegations against them.“I urged President Park to think twice about the two nominees ― Kim Myung-soo and Chung Sung-keun ― while explaining to her our position in detail,” NPAD floor leader Park Young-sun told reporters after meeting with the president at Cheon
July 10, 2014
-
[Newsmaker] Police whistle-blower takes center stage
Former police officer Kwon Eun-hee has returned to the spotlight with her nomination as a New Politics Alliance for Democracy candidate fueling heated debate within and outside the progressive bloc.Kwon was nominated for Gwangju’s Gwangsan-B constituency on Wednesday, about a month after she left the police force. Kwon shot to fame last year when she claimed that former Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan suppressed the investigation into National Intelligence Service’s alleged attempt to influence
July 10, 2014
-
Education nominee on shaky ground
Education Minister-designate Kim Myung-soo found his hopes of landing the post slipping away Thursday as the conservative bloc started to withdraw its support for the controversial former professor.Kim, a 66-year-old former professor, faced tough questioning from opposition lawmakers during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing over multiple allegations of wrongdoing such as plagiarism, falsified credentials and shady stock transactions. Education Minister-designate Kim Myung-soo (Lee Gil-dong/The K
July 10, 2014
-
Parties name lineups for July by-elections
The parties have finished candidate selection for the July 30 by-elections, with major players to compete in strategic constituencies. In the upcoming elections, 15 parliamentary seats will be contested for, making it the largest set of by-elections to be held to date. For the ruling Saenuri Party, success in the by-elections is needed to ensure it keeps its majority in the National Assembly. At present, the ruling party holds 147 of the 300 assembly seats. The main opposition New Politics Allia
July 10, 2014
-
Assembly panel queries Park’s chief aide about ferry disaster
The chief presidential secretary said Thursday that the primary reason so few people were rescued in the Sewol ferry disaster was because the crew abandoned ship with all passengers still onboard.Kim Ki-choon, the presidential chief of staff, answered questions from lawmakers probing the government’s botched rescue attempt on the day the ferry Sewol sank. More than 300 are presumed dead.“I come here with a heavy heart and offer my sincere apologies to the victims and their families,” Kim said at
July 10, 2014
-
Park urged to reconsider education, culture minister nominees
The main opposition party asked President Park Geun-hye on Thursday to reconsider her nominees for ministers of education and culture, the party's floor leader said, putting more pressure on the embattled nominees to withdraw their names from consideration.Park Young-sun, floor leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, made the request in a rare meeting with Park along with ruling party officials at the presidential office.The president replied that she fully understands and will consid
July 10, 2014
-
S. Korea bans rescue group's visit to N. Korea
South Korea has turned down a local rescue group's request to visit North Korea to help the communist country manage a deadly collapse of an apartment building in May, a unification ministry official said Thursday.The 23-story apartment building collapsed in Pyongyang on May 13, according to the North's state media. Improper construction and irresponsible supervision of the high-rise construction were to blame for the disaster, though the North did not elaborate on the death toll.Last month, the
July 10, 2014
-
Education chief nominee grilled over plagiarism
Opposition lawmakers grilled Education Minister-designate Kim Myung-soo during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Monday, questioning his alleged wrongdoings, including plagiarism. Unfazed, Kim defied calls to withdraw from nomination and vowed to become the country’s top education official.The controversial pick by President Park Geun-hye has been the primary target of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy since former Prime Minister nominee Moon Chang-keuk p
July 9, 2014
-
[Graphic News] China’s trade with Seoul dwarfs that with Pyongyang
Seoul-Beijing trade volume came in at $209.6 billion in 2012, making South Korea a far more important partner for China than North Korea, the Chinese online portal Wang Yi claimed Monday.Citing U.N. trade data, Wang Yi argued that the huge disparity in trade with the two Koreas shows that improving relations with Seoul would be more beneficial for Beijing. The data showed that South Korea-China trade underwent a 33-fold increase from 1992 to stand at $209.6 billion in 2012. In comparison the fig
July 9, 2014
-
Education minister nominee grilled over alleged plagiarism
The nominee for education minister came under intense scrutiny Wednesday as opposition lawmakers grilled him over allegations of plagiarism and other ethical issues.Kim Myung-soo, a professor at Korea National University of Education, was tapped by President Park Geun-hye last month to double as education minister and deputy prime minister for educational, social and cultural affairs.The nominee has since come under growing pressure from opposition parties to withdraw his name amid allegations h
July 9, 2014
-
P.M. vows state reform
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said Tuesday that the government would push ahead with reform measures to “renovate” both the public and private sectors in the aftermath of the Sewol disaster.In a nationally televised speech, Chung vowed to launch a national committee under the Prime Minister’s Office to devise measures to eradicate wrongdoings and improve safety standards in the public and private sectors. The committee will include both public officials and civilian experts, he said.“The journey
July 8, 2014
-
NPAD targets public security minister nominee
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy continued its attack on ministerial nominees Tuesday, concentrating the fire on Public Administration Minister nominee Jeong Jong-seop.Citing various wrongdoings allegedly committed by Jeong, NPAD lawmakers pressed him and called for his withdrawal. “Jeong Jong-seop is a department store of corruption. (He) is not fit to be the security and public administration minister,” said Rep. Jung Cheong-rae.Allegations against Jeong include real est
July 8, 2014
-
Opposition dispute escalates as ex-vice mayor accepts nomination
A former Seoul metropolitan vice mayor on Tuesday accepted a controversial offer to run as an opposition candidate in the July 30 by-elections.Ki Dong-min’s decision to run for parliament in the Seoul Dongjak-B constituency intensified the ongoing in-house feud in the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy over whom to select as the party’s Dongjak candidate.Senior NPAD officials have picked Ki over Heo Dong-jun, a veteran local party official who fiercely contests the decision.The
July 8, 2014
-
S. Korea to create committee to improve safety across society
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said Tuesday he will create a committee meant to ensure accidents that threaten people's lives do not recur, the latest in a series of efforts to make South Korea a safer country.The committee, which is to include government officials and civilian experts, will be tasked with carrying out agenda to remodel the country from square one.The case for radical reform has gained urgency since the sinking of a ferry in April that left more than 300 people dead or missing.Ch
July 8, 2014
-
P. M. vows to initiate state reform
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said Tuesday that the government would push ahead with reform measures to “renovate” both the public and private sectors in the aftermath of the Sewol disaster.In a speech, Chung vowed to launch a pan-national committee under the Prime Minister’s Office to devise measures to eradicate wrongdoings and improve safety standards in the public and private sectors. The envisioned committee would draw up a master plan to enhance the country’s safety standards by February,
July 8, 2014
-
Gov't negligence, corruption behind tragic ferry accident in April: state audit
A flurry of governmental negligence and corruption was found to have contributed to the tragic ferry accident in April that left more than 300 people dead or missing, the national audit agency said Tuesday, announcing its decision to take legal action against 11 corrupt officials.Releasing its interim probe result on the deadly ferry sinking, the Board of Audit and Inspection said that lax government regulation, disaster control failure and corruption by some government officials have contribute
July 8, 2014
-
NIS nominee battered over political funding scandal
The confirmation hearings on the Park Geun-hye administration’s second batch of Cabinet members got off to a shaky start Monday with the main opposition concentrating fire on Lee Byung-kee.Lee, a career diplomat tapped to lead the National Intelligence Service, has been one of the main targets of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s attack on President Park Geun-hye’s latest personnel selections.NIS nominee Lee Byung-kee (Lee Gil-dong/The Korea Herald)As Lee came under scrutiny, Presidentia
July 7, 2014