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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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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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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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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Cabinet approves basic pension bill for seniors
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a controversial bill on basic pension for senior citizens, one of President Park Geun-hye's major election pledges.The bill calls for paying a monthly pension of up to 200,000 won (US$190) to people aged 65 or older who are in the bottom 70 percent of income earners. The proposed legislation also requires the government to review pension winners' eligibility every five years based on inflation and their income, according to the government. The pension program for
Nov. 19, 2013
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Power rates rise 5.4%
The government said Tuesday that it would increase the average price of electricity by 5.4 percent to curb heavy electricity use that might lead to a blackout at peak seasons. It was the first rate hike since January.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said that it approved the Korea Electric Power Corp.’s revised provision on electricity supply to increase the power rate by 5.4 percent from Thursday this week.According to the revised system, the price of power will increase by 6.4 percen
Nov. 19, 2013
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Seoul, Beijing hold first strategic security dialogue
Top South Korean and Chinese officials in charge of foreign affairs and security held their first strategic talks on Monday on an array of bilateral and regional issues including the North Korean nuclear conundrum.South Korea’s National Security Office chief Kim Jang-soo and China’s State Councilor Yang Jiechi met at Cheong Wa Dae for the talks designed to enhance bilateral high-level communication on security and diplomacy.Their meeting was arranged after Presidents Park Geun-hye of South Korea
Nov. 18, 2013
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Parties divided over Park’s address
Rival political parties on Monday remained divided over President Park Geun-hye’s speech to the National Assembly. The ruling Saenuri Party hailed her position to “unconditionally respect the decision” of both parties as a gesture of goodwill to break the political deadlock, as her initial stance had been more adamant against discussing the opposition’s demands relevant to the on-going prosecutorial probes.“President Park clarified that she would respect and accept all issues upon agreement by t
Nov. 18, 2013
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DP lawmakers clash with presidential security staff
Scores of opposition lawmakers and presidential security guards briefly scuffled inside the National Assembly complex Monday just after President Park Geun-hye made her parliamentary address. The incident started when several Democratic Party legislators demanded the presidential staff move their vehicles parked in front of the main hall, where they were planning to hold a rally against the government.According to witnesses, Rep. Kang Gi-jung kicked the door of a bus blocking the entrance and wa
Nov. 18, 2013
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DP to file for dismissal of justice minister and NIS chief
The main opposition Democratic Party will file for the dismissal of three top government officials including Minister of Justice Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday over their alleged involvement in developments surrounding last year’s presidential election.The proposals will be submitted after Tuesday’s interpellation session. The move, aimed at pressuring the government and the ruling Saenuri Party, follows the “regretful” parliamentary address from President Park Geun-hye, in which she avoided commentin
Nov. 18, 2013
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Park’s speech riles opposition
President Park Geun-hye on Monday urged the rival parties to reconcile in her first speech at the National Assembly, putting the ball back in the court of the opposition, which immediately responded by stepping up its protest.“If the rival parties at the National Assembly seek out an agreement on many issues raised by the opposition, as well as on any other topic, I will respect and accept it,” Park said in her 28-minute-long speech urging parliamentary approval of the 2014 budget.“The governmen
Nov. 18, 2013
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Park’s first Assembly speech to focus on policy, not politics
President Park Geun-hye is set to deliver her speech on next year’s budget at the National Assembly Monday as rival parties head for heightened collision over controversy surrounding several prosecutorial probes, delayed appointment for key posts, and upcoming government interpellation this week.What is to be Park’s first parliamentary address since her inauguration is likely to impact the atmosphere of the tense Assembly locking horns over the prosecutorial investigation into the former Roh Moo
Nov. 17, 2013
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Ahn to announce creation of new party on Sunday
Independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo plans to formally announce the formation of a new political party in the coming week, a close aide said Sunday, in a move expected to upend the landscape of the nation’s opposition camp.Ahn, a former anti-virus software mogul, was elected to parliament in April’s by-election after he dropped out of last year’s presidential race to boost the chances of the main opposition candidate.He has long been a focus of media attention as he enjoyed huge popularity among y
Nov. 17, 2013
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Roh aides reject results of probe into summit records
Aides to former President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday countered the prosecution’s investigation results that found the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript was erased deliberately from the presidential data system.Former security secretary Cho Myung-kyun, who, along with former chief presidential security advisor Baek Jong-chun, was indicted by the prosecution on Friday, held a press conference and claimed the prosecution based its probe on inaccurate testimonies.“I have no recollection of having rece
Nov. 17, 2013
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Maverick lawmaker Ahn to announce creation of new party next week
Independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo plans to formally announce the formation of a new political party next week, a close aide said Sunday, in a move expected to upend the landscape of the nation's opposition camp.Ahn, a former anti-virus software mogul, was elected to parliament in April's by-election after he dropped out of last year's presidential race to boost the chances of the main opposition candidate.He has long been a focus of media attention as he enjoyed huge popularity among young and
Nov. 17, 2013
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President Park to give budget speech on Monday
President Park Geun-hye plans to give her first budget speech at the National Assembly this week, outlining her government's spending plan for fiscal 2014, the presidential office said Sunday.In the address scheduled for Monday, Park will also enlist bipartisan cooperation in passing bread-and-butter legislation bills and unveil her future plans to run the country, it said.The speech is expected to be watched closely as the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has stepped up its demand that Par
Nov. 17, 2013
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Seoul's deputy foreign minister to travel to Iran for release of S. Korean national: source
A high-ranking diplomat from Seoul will soon travel to Iran to gain the release of a South Korean national in prison on espionage charges, a government source here said Sunday."Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Kyung-soo will visit Iran at the end of this month," the source said on the condition of anonymity."He's expected to put in efforts to free the South Korean there, which is one of the outstanding bilateral issues between the countries."This will be the first visit to Iran by a South Korean depu
Nov. 17, 2013
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Prosecutors probe public servants’ union over election meddling
The prosecution is accelerating its probe into a progressive public servants’ union on suspicion that its members illegally intervened in last year’s presidential election. Investigators from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday raided the offices of a computer server provider to the Korean Government Employees’ Union to search for evidence of election law violations.The prosecution’s sortie was the second following an unannounced visit by state investigators on Nov. 8 to
Nov. 15, 2013
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Speaker hints at pushing vote for confirmation of BAI nominee
National Assembly Speaker Rep. Kang Chang-hee on Friday warned political parties that he would put Board of Audit and Inspection chief nominee Hwang Chan-hyon’s confirmation to a vote on his authority as the speaker. According to Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, Kang called on the ruling party to reach an agreement with the main opposition Democratic Party on the issue, saying he has the power to push the issue through should there be further delays. The DP has been holding out o
Nov. 15, 2013
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Roh ordered deletion of transcript: prosecution
The prosecution on Friday indicted two former aides of late President Roh Moo-hyun, concluding that the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript was erased deliberately from the presidential data system. Former chief presidential security advisor Baek Jong-chun and former security sectary Cho Myung-kyun were charged for playing active roles in destroying the transcript under orders from Roh.The prosecution did not file charges against the Democratic Party’s Rep. Moon Jae-in, who served as Roh’s chief
Nov. 15, 2013
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Saenuri moves to revise National Assembly Act
The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party are readying for a new round of battles over next year’s government budget and the so-called National Assembly advancement act.The National Assembly advancement act, introduced last year, stipulates that tightly contested issues require the agreement of more than 60 percent of lawmakers. The clause, which was supported by Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and President Park Geun-hye, prevents the ruling party from pushing
Nov. 14, 2013
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Park proposes joint history textbook for Northeast Asia
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday proposed publishing a history textbook with Northeast Asian neighbors to reduce the differences in historical perceptions and create a peaceful and cooperative environment similar to that of Europe.“As Germany and France, and Germany and Poland did, we can build up practices of cooperation and dialogue by publishing a joint history textbook of Northeast Asia,” Park said in a speech at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Korea National Diplomatic A
Nov. 14, 2013
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Saenuri moves to revise National Assembly Act
The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party are readying for a new round of battles over next year’s government budget and the so-called National Assembly advancement act.The National Assembly advancement act, introduced last year, stipulates that tightly contested issues require the agreement of more than 60 percent of lawmakers. The clause, which was supported by Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea and President Park Geun-hye, prevents the ruling party from pushing
Nov. 14, 2013
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[Photo News] On the grill
Nov. 13, 2013