Most Popular
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Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Korea enters full election mode
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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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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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[Herald Interview] Son Suk-ku chooses to be swayed by others in navigating life
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Seoul’s bus union prepares for strike
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Opposition divided over Seoul mayorship
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo’s anticipated political party is expected to present an independent candidate in the 2014 Seoul mayoral race, escalating concerns over a divided opposition bloc.With the independent lawmaker and the main opposition Democratic Party likely to support different candidates in the June local elections, a split between Rep. Ahn and the DP seems increasingly inevitable, according to analysts.The expected split, sources said, would weaken the opposition bloc in the political landscap
Jan. 12, 2014
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Ex-president's office threatens legal action against weekly for libel
The office of former President Lee Myung-bak threatened to take legal action Sunday against a weekly over an article that alleged Lee laundered prize money he received from the United Arab Emirates.The office expressed deep regret and demanded Weekly Hankook take "appropriate steps" over its report uploaded on its website Saturday that said Lee laundered $500,000 through Nonghyup Bank, a local banking unit of state-run Nonghyup Financial Inc."We have no choice but to take legal action unless rea
Jan. 12, 2014
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DP vows to block medical commercialization
The gloves came off between the two rival political parties on Friday in a tussle over the government’s plan to deregulate the medical sector, which the opposition claims would be a step toward privatizing health services.The political debate is likely to escalate over the weekend as the Korea Medical Association, the nation’s largest group of doctors, aims to finalize its walkout plan on Sunday in protest of the government’s push to deregulate the sector.The main opposition Democratic Party vow
Jan. 10, 2014
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Education Ministry draws more fire over history text
The main opposition Democratic Party intensified its attack on the government over a controversial history textbook on Friday, riled by Minister of Education Seo Nam-soo’s plans to involve the ministry in editing school books.On Thursday, Seo announced that the ministry’s capabilities in editing textbooks will be “significantly bolstered” as part of the efforts to avoid controversies regarding textbooks, further fueling the controversy over its direct involvement.While the ministry’s plan is an
Jan. 10, 2014
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Park calls for ceaseless efforts for technological innovation
President Park Geun-hye urged scientists and information-communication technology experts Friday to work harder to develop new technologies and innovate, saying South Korea can’t afford any stalling in such efforts in a fast-moving global economy.“New technologies and industries are now moving forward at a dazzling pace in many parts of the world,” Park said in a speech at a New Year’s meeting with leaders of the science-technology and ICT sectors. “We don’t have any time to hesitate.”The scienc
Jan. 10, 2014
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Gov't to invest big in alpine Olympics city of PyeongChang
The government said Friday it will designate the 2018 Winter Games host city of PyeongChang as a special district and launch a large-scale development project for the successful international event and for sustainable regional growth. During a meeting of the commission in charge of supporting the 2018 Olympics in South Korea's alpine city of PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul, the government unveiled a comprehensive plan to develop the city and the surrounding areas in Gangwon Provin
Jan. 10, 2014
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Rival parties spar over medical sector deregulation
Rival political parties wrangled Friday over the government's push to deregulate the medical industry amid growing opposition criticism that the move is a scheme to privatize health services.The criticism has grown following President Park Geun-hye's press conference on Monday, in which she stressed her resolve to revive the economy by deregulating the medical industry and other services sectors, among other measures.The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has vowed to block the move, claiming
Jan. 10, 2014
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Lawyer accuses spy agency of psychologically torturing suspect
The National Intelligence Service on Thursday was accused of psychological torture, adding a human rights violation to the growing list of its alleged wrongdoings.Since December, the NIS has been under fire from the opposition bloc, which accused it of meddling in the 2012 presidential election to bolster President Park Geun-hye’s campaign. According to lawyer Oh Young-joong, NIS officials honed in on the fact that his client has a disabled son when he refused to answer questions on Dec. 30.Oh c
Jan. 9, 2014
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Prime minister’s move to reshuffle officials causes confusion
Concerns over a massive reshuffle are spreading among the country’s 1-million-strong civil service following Wednesday’s reshuffle of top officials at the Prime Minister’s Office. Five of the 10 Grade-I civil servants at the PMO who submitted their resignations eight days ago have had to step aside to help accelerate the government’s operations. The remaining five officials were either promoted or transferred to other sectors. While the move is not unusual in its scale, its timing appears to hav
Jan. 9, 2014
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Koreans become more conservative
The number of Koreans describing themselves as politically liberal has decreased in the past three years, according to data released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on Wednesday. The study also found that the number identifying as conservative or moderate had increased since 2010. Of the 597 people who responded to the survey in 2010, 29 percent said they were political liberals. In 2013, the tally shrank to 24 percent, while moderates and conservatives had risen from 34 per
Jan. 8, 2014
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Prime Minister’s Office sacks senior officials
The Prime Minister’s Office carried out a major reshuffle on Wednesday that saw five of its top officials removed from office. “The reshuffle was carried out based on the strict assessment of their performances, and by applying a personnel selection (method based on) professionalism and capability while maintaining the stability of the organization,” the PMO said. The measure, which takes effect on Thursday, follows less than two weeks after 10 top officials submitted their resignations on Dec.
Jan. 8, 2014
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DP figures test waters ahead of local elections
The two main political parties began the year with a war cry for the June 4 local elections, but their members approached the issue with different attitudes.The ruling Saenuri Party has already seen a number of its lawmakers and members declare their intentions to run in the upcoming elections, including three for Incheon mayor. In addition, Rep. Park Min-shik declared that he will run for Busan mayor, while Saenuri Party supreme council member Lee Hye-hoon is so far the only one to announce int
Jan. 8, 2014
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Ruling party mulls reinstating state history textbook
Leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday called for debate on the issue of reinstating state history textbooks as an alternative to the private sector textbooks that have caused controversy over their alleged biased content.Controversy over the textbooks has grown in recent weeks as a number of high schools across the country have canceled their choice of a new history textbook under pressure from students, alumni and left-leaning civic groups.Opposition lawmakers and other critics have
Jan. 8, 2014
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China hails Park's remarks calling for enhanced bilateral ties
China on Tuesday praised remarks by South Korean President Park Geun-hye that Seoul is committed to enhancing bilateral relations with Beijing, saying it would help promote peace and stability in the region. In her New Year's press conference on Monday, Park urged China to further improve bilateral ties. Park held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last June during her state visit. "China highly commends the relevant statement by President Park Geun-hye," China's foreign ministry spo
Jan. 7, 2014
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Prosecution seeks arrest warrants for Tong Yang chairman for fraud
The prosecution is seeking warrants to arrest Tong Yang Group chairman Hyun Jae-hyun and three former executives accused of fraud and neglect. Hyun and the three former Tong Yang Group executives are suspected of orchestrating illegal dealings that caused damages estimated at nearly 2 trillion won ($1.87 billion). Last month, Hyun was questioned on three occasions, but each time denied the allegations that he was involved in fraudulent dealings.According to reports, the Seoul Central District Pr
Jan. 7, 2014
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Ahn calls for end of party nominations in local elections
Independent Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo on Tuesday joined the growing criticism against the ruling Saenuri Party’s move to retain the controversial party-led candidate selection method for local elections, calling for its removal.Ahn’s panel, widely considered to be a preparatory committee for a new political party, said that the current method should be replaced with a more transparent system to prevent alleged deep-rooted practices associated with the nomination process.The panel’s statement came after
Jan. 7, 2014
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Park urges public firms to join reform drive
President Park Geun-hye called on heavily-indebted public firms Tuesday to take an active part in efforts to improve their efficiency, renewing her commitment to public sector reform."Public organizations take on an important role of providing public services directly linked to the everyday lives of the people. We can say that the competitiveness of public organizations translates directly into national competitiveness," Park said during a Cabinet meeting."Without the reduction of excessive debt
Jan. 7, 2014
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Parties scrap over local governance
Political bickering over the ruling Saenuri Party’s proposals for reforms in provincial governance escalated on Monday as the main opposition Democratic Party stepped up its criticism that the suggestions would undermine grassroots democracy. On Sunday, the Saenuri Party put forward a set of reform plans, which it argues are aimed at increasing efficiency and transparency in provincial governance mechanisms. Among them was to dissolve legislative bodies of low-level administrative units such as
Jan. 6, 2014
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Park struggles to shed aloof image
President Park Geun-hye on Monday struggled to ease growing criticism over her lack of communication with the public, which observers said contributed to recent social and political problems including the recent railway workers’ strike.Park only reiterated her stance that genuine communication can take place based on the premise that each side upholds the shared values and rules of the community ― an allusion to what her government calls an “illegal” walkout by railway service workers.“We need t
Jan. 6, 2014
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Controversy grows over NIS’ alleged involvement in love child scandal
Disputes intensified on Monday over the spy agency’s alleged role in illegally collecting personal information of a boy suspected to be the illegitimate son of former prosecution chief Chae Dong-wook.The prosecution investigating the case said it has secured testimony from an education officer that he was requested by a National Intelligence Service agent to check the name of the boy’s father.It is the first time that the NIS is speculated to be involved in the illegal access of personal informa
Jan. 6, 2014