Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Conservative groups push to dissolve UPP
The minority Unified Progressive Party is facing growing calls for dissolution as its members including a lawmaker are under investigation on charges of plotting a pro-North Korea rebellion. Conservatives demand the government forcefully disband the left-wing party, which would be the first such case since 1958, stoking a heated debate over democracy, freedom of political views and national security. Rep. Lee Seok-ki and other ranking members of the UPP were arrested last week on suspicion of pl
Sept. 12, 2013
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President offers 3-way talks with ruling, opposition leaders
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday offered three-way talks with ruling and opposition party leaders to end a parliamentary impasse over the National Intelligence Service’s alleged interference in last year’s election. The opposition Democratic Party, whose chairman has been requesting a one-on-one meeting with Park since early August, withheld its answer, raising doubts about the president’s sincerity. At a press briefing about the results of Park’s recent overseas trip, senior presidential pre
Sept. 12, 2013
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Labor group decides to boycott ‘ordinary wage’ talks
One of Korea’s two major umbrella union groups decided to boycott talks with the government and management over the so-called ordinary wage system, dampening the Park Geun-hye administration’s hopes of settling the controversy through social compromise within the year. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions said on Wednesday that it will not attend the dialogue panel being hosted by the Labor Ministry’s advisory committee on wage. The decision is expected to further aggravate the already wide cha
Sept. 11, 2013
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Child care program ignites political bickering
Political fighting is escalating over Seoul City’s troubled free child care program in what is seen as a prelude to next year’s local elections.The ruling Saenuri Party and the opposition Democratic Party have been trading barbs since Mayor Park Won-soon offered a debt financing plan last Thursday.Park and the DP denounced the central government for neglecting its share of responsibility in funding. The ruling Saenuri Party accused him of trying to politicize the issue ahead of the mayoral elect
Sept. 11, 2013
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Maximum work hours likely to be cut in 2016
Consensus is building among government officials and lawmakers in support of a proposal to slash the maximum working hours from 68 to 52 a week starting in 2016, a move that is expected to improve quality of life and create more part-time jobs, the Labor Ministry said Wednesday. Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Sung-tae has proposed an amendment to the Labor Standards Act which would adopt a revised definition of a week, and in effect reduce maximum work hours by 16 hours. “Chances are high that the law w
Sept. 11, 2013
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Park plays role of troubleshooter for Korean firms in Vietnam
Stepping up her "sales diplomacy" drive, President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday sought to troubleshoot problems and difficulties South Korean companies face in doing business in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic capital.Park made a one-day visit to the bustling southern city and met with top officials there, including the city's party secretary Le Thanh Hai and its Mayor Le Hoang Quan. She asked for their support for South Korean companies, including relaxing regulations that are hindering their
Sept. 10, 2013
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Will Park step in to heal political rift?
President Park Geun-hye returns from her “sales diplomacy” trip Wednesday to an aggravated political standoff over the National Intelligence Service. Observers are pinning hopes on her agreeing to meet with the opposition leadership ― regardless of the format ― once she is back, to quash the months-long deadlock that has been hampering urgent social and economic tasks.Since assuming office in February, Park has been averse to breaking bread with the opposition, with her aides stressing her job w
Sept. 10, 2013
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Korea, Vietnam vow to seal FTA
President Park Geun-hye and her Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang agreed Monday to complete a bilateral free trade agreement by next year and continue to boost cooperation in the nuclear power and energy industries. The two leaders held summit talks in Hanoi and adopted a joint statement that also promises to strengthen the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership forged in 2009 and to closely work together on bilateral and international issues.They agreed to speed up negotiations t
Sept. 9, 2013
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Probe of Lee, associates focuses on suspected links with N. Korea
The investigation into the Unified Progressive Party’s Rep. Lee Seok-ki is picking up pace with the country’s spy agency focusing on a possible connection between Lee’s organization and North Korea. Lee is accused of plotting a revolt and forming the anti-government group Revolutionary Organization. Since Lee was detained on Thursday, the NIS has added “siding with the enemy” to the UPP lawmaker’s charges. Article 93 of the Criminal Act stipulates that fighting against Korea by joining an enemy
Sept. 9, 2013
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Saenuri-DP feud deepens
The feud between the Saenuri Party and Democratic Party is deepening over the intelligence agency’s alleged meddling in the election after the two parties ended a brief union to consent to the arrest of a leftist lawmaker charged with plotting a rebellion. Amid escalating wrangling between the two sides, the National Assembly has remained idle, though the 100-day regular session began on Sept. 2.As the DP continues the campaign to pressure President Park Geun-hye into meeting with its chairman R
Sept. 9, 2013
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NIS seeks to charge Lee with siding with enemy
The National Intelligence Service is seeking another charge against far-left lawmaker Lee Seok-ki of taking sides with an enemy state against the government.On Sunday, the NIS questioned Lee for the third day on his charges including plotting and instigating a rebellion, and praising an anti-state entity, but he refused to speak, investigators said. He was detained Thursday after parliamentary approval.For the fresh charge stipulated under Article 93 of the Constitution, which can carry a maximu
Sept. 8, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Ex-president’s elder brother released
Lee Sang-deuk, 78, former six-term lawmaker and elder brother to ex-President Lee Myung-bak, will be released from prison Monday. He has been serving time since July last year for taking illegal funds from failing savings banks.The political bigwig was considered the most influential figure in the previous administration after the president.Lee was frequently described by pundits as the “Regent King” for exercising enormous political power through having his younger brother at the nation’s top p
Sept. 8, 2013
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Korea to introduce flexible part-time jobs in public sector
Central government and municipal organizations will introduce flexible part-time jobs from next year as part of efforts to achieve a 70 percent employment rate by 2017, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Sunday. The ministry released an interim report on key plans and policy directions of its major employment task envisioned by President Park Geun-hye, which focuses on the “flexible part-time job system.”In addition to an 8-hour flexible job system, the new measure allows two people
Sept. 8, 2013
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Park departs from Russia after G20 summit
South Korean President Park Geun-hye left for Vietnam on Saturday after attending a summit of the Group of 20 major economies and a series of bilateral meetings in Russia's second-largest city of Saint Petersburg. The G20 summit wrapped up two days of discussions Friday with a joint communique in which the leaders pledged closer policy coordination to help spur a still-weak recovery of the global economy, tackle high unemployment and address imbalanced growth. In particular, the leaders agre
Sept. 7, 2013
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Park urges inclusive growth, creative economy at G20
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Yonhap News) ― President Park Geun-hye on Friday championed her “creative economy” vision and fair market competition as solutions to high unemployment and widening inequalities facing the global economy as she delivered a lead speech at a Group of 20 summit in Russia. “Creative economy” refers to Park’s trademark growth strategy that calls for boosting the economy by creating new business opportunities, industries and jobs through the fusion of information and communicat
Sept. 6, 2013
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Park pledges to further expand economic ties with Kazakhstan
South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev agreed Friday to build on massive construction projects already underway between the two countries to further expand economic cooperation, an official said. South Korean companies are working on large-scale projects worth a combined $8 billion. They include building a coal-fired power plant in the southern Kazakh city of Balkhash and a petrochemical complex in Atyrau on the northern banks of the Caspian Sea.During t
Sept. 6, 2013
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Calls grow to expel Lee, dissolve UPP
Calls are growing among the conservatives to have leftist lawmaker Rep. Lee Seok-ki expelled from the National Assembly and his Unified Progressive Party dissolved, as the authorities zero in on the alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government.The ruling Saenuri Party is reportedly moving to submit a request to strip Lee off his lawmaker status with the Assembly’s Ethics Committee. The committee is separately slated to review Lee’s qualification along with those of his colleague Rep. Kim Jae-y
Sept. 5, 2013
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Park promises to help N.K. if it gives up nukes
President Park Geun-hye said South Korea is prepared to help North Korea rebuild its tattered infrastructure and join international organizations if the isolated communist nation makes progress in ending its nuclear programs and enough trust is built with Seoul.Park held out the prospective of massive economic aid to the impoverished North during an interview with Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency and Russia TV 24 news channel, according to the presidential office. The interview was held in Seoul o
Sept. 5, 2013
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Koreas at odds over lodging arrangements for family reunions
South and North Korea are at odds over lodging arrangements for families planning to visit the Mount Geumgangsan resort during the upcoming family reunions event, the government said Thursday.The reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War was agreed upon at talks held on Aug. 23, with 100 people from each side to meet long-lost relatives on Sept. 25-30. The gathering marks the first time in nearly three years that people will be able to meet loved ones they have not seen in six dec
Sept. 5, 2013
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Court issues warrant for Lee’s arrest
Suwon District Court on Thursday issued a warrant for lawmaker Rep. Lee Seok-ki’s arrest for alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government.Following the arrest, the National Intelligence Service will be questioning the Unified Progressive Party lawmaker over the next 10 days. Once their investigation is completed, Lee will be handed over to the prosecution which will then have up to 20 days for investigation before deciding on indictment.This is the first time for an incumbent lawmaker to be de
Sept. 5, 2013