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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Opposition party offers talks to President Park over political deadlock
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) proposed talks with President Park Geun-hye on Saturday as part of efforts to resolve the political stalemate over a parliamentary probe into the spy agency's alleged meddling in last year's presidential election. "In order to make a breakthrough in the political deadlock, the president and the chief of the main opposition party should get together," Rep. Kim Han-gil, the DP chairman, told Yonhap News Agency. "Who will be able to resolve the current si
Aug. 4, 2013
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Rival parties denounce Japan over Dokdo survey
South Korea's rival political parties lashed out at the Japanese government Friday for releasing a public opinion poll backing Tokyo's claims to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. On Thursday, Japan's Cabinet Office published a survey showing that 60.7 percent of all Japanese regard Dokdo as their territory historically and under international law. It was the first survey of its kind by the Japanese government. "We cannot help but be angry at the Japanese government for trying to
Aug. 4, 2013
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DP’s Park asks for N.K. visit permit
Democratic Party’s Rep. Park Jie-won who chairs the National Assembly’s special committee on inter-Korean relations requested the government on Friday to permit his visit to North Korea to deliver Seoul’s position to break through the frozen relations.“Allow me the opportunity to meet with such figures as North Korea’s Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, and Kim Ki-nam, Workers’ Party of Korea secretary, to explain the views of our government and President P
Aug. 2, 2013
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Political battle intensifies outside National Assembly
The rival parties on Friday slammed each other for impeding parliamentary operations as the main opposition Democratic Party continued its street protest, which the ruling Saenuri Party defined as a “denial of election outcome.”The two sides further clashed over some Saenuri Party lawmakers’ visit to Seoul Metropolitan Office to condemn the latest safety accidents, which the DP denounced as a ploy to overshadow their protest. The parties’ leadership, meanwhile, continued their behind-closed-doo
Aug. 2, 2013
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[Graphic News] University student numbers fall
The Ministry of Education will roll out a series of measures to strengthen provincial universities and address a decrease in the number of students. As part of the plans, the government will increase financial support for provincial universities, and introduce regulations that allow such institutions to set aside a portion of available places for students from nearby areas.
Aug. 1, 2013
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Park maintains over 60 percent approval
President Park Geun-hye’s approval ratings have stabilized at more than 60 percent this week, indicating a successful first six months in office.The latest survey conducted by Realmeter on July 29 showed 62.4 percent of respondents approve of Park’s administration, a 3.1 percentage point rise from a week before.Park’s approval started around the low 40 percent level upon her inauguration due to consecutive personnel appointment debacles, but slowly picked up mainly because of her consistency in
Aug. 1, 2013
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Saenuri-DP discord deepens as opposition takes to streets
Conflict between the Saenuri Party and Democratic Party escalated Thursday as the DP’s street campaign to increase pressure on the ruling party over the parliamentary investigation into the National Intelligence Service got underway. The two main parties have been at loggerheads over who will be called as witnesses for the hearing on the NIS’ actions during last year’s presidential election, with each accusing the other of causing delays. The parliamentary investigation is scheduled to end on Au
Aug. 1, 2013
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Park to visit Britain in November
President Park Geun-hye will make a state visit to Britain from Nov. 5 to 7 upon the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.The formal announcement was made simultaneously by the two countries, one month after Park’s plan was initially released in June. Park’s detailed schedule is currently under discussion, the presidential office said.The visit coincides with the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Britain, and will be the second state visit made by a
July 31, 2013
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DP takes feud over NIS to the public
Democratic Party chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil announced Wednesday that he would personally take charge of the party’s efforts to reform the National Intelligence Service and to shed light on its part in last year’s presidential election. Saying that his party had run out of patience and that the public was angered by the NIS’ actions, he vowed the DP would no longer stand by while the ruling Saenuri Party held back the parliamentary investigation into the case. The ruling party and the DP have been
July 31, 2013
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Bumpy road for free high school education
The government plans to make all high school education free by 2017 as pledged by President Park Geun-hye on the campaign trail, but the biggest hurdle remains how to appropriate the mammoth budget for the plan.Cheong Wa Dae, the ruling Saenuri Party and the Education Ministry agreed Tuesday to gradually increase the number of high schools providing free education starting next year. This is in line with Park’s promise to raise the number of free schools from 2014 by 25 percent through subsidizi
July 31, 2013
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[Photo News] Mayor against mayor
July 31, 2013
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Allies face tough talks over wartime control transfer
Seoul and Washington face a tough reassessment of the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control as U.S. military leaders appeared cautious over another delay in the handover slated for December 2015.The allies began their consultations over the possible delay this week at their high-level defense dialogue in Seoul after the South’s request in May for a review of the timeline in light of North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats.During the two-day Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue
July 31, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Tax service chiefs: A barrel of bad apples
The former heads of the National Tax Service collectively have one of the worst track records among high-level government officials for corruption. Of the 20 individuals to head the NTS since 1966, six have been penalized for it. Jeon Goon-pyo, who was the country’s top tax official from July 2006 to November 2007, served a prison term for taking 70 million won ($63,000) and $10,000 in cash from a subordinate in return for favorable treatment in a personnel reshuffle. Jeon is once again under th
July 30, 2013
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Lawmakers line up NIS reform bills
Lawmakers are queuing to submit bills to reform the National Intelligence Service, an issue that has see little progress over decades due to persistent ideological divides.Many of the latest calls for reform are a repeat of previous measures that generally were put on the back burner, as neither the agency nor political circles were bold enough to let go of their vested interests.The resurgent reform drive is expected to continue for the time being as the NIS has announced it will prepare its ow
July 30, 2013
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Tripartite labor panel plans major overhaul
The tripartite consultative body of labor, management and government expanded its organization by inviting representatives from small and medium-sized companies, as well as youth and women. The expansion of the Economic and Social Development Commission comes as it takes on a broader role and seeks to provide a platform for dialogue among more diverse economic players to solve labor-related problems, including the government’s goal to achieve 70 percent employment by 2017.The overhaul will incre
July 29, 2013
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Saenuri, DP chairmen unlikely to hold talks before August
A meeting of the chairs of the ruling and the main opposition parties appears likely to be put off until next month because of differences over the agenda. On Saturday, Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Hwang Woo-yea suggested a meeting with his Democratic Party counterpart Rep. Kim Han-gil to discuss “all political issues” to end their disputes. While both parties are in agreement over the need to resolve outstanding issues, mainly those regarding the missing 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript, the
July 29, 2013
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Park takes first break since inauguration
President Park Geun-hye and most of the presidential secretaries began their five-day summer vacation Monday, their first break since Park’s inauguration in February.The destination and plans for Park during her break were not released for security reasons.Park reportedly prepared five books, including “A European Education” by Romain Gary, to take on her vacation, although the reports were never confirmed.“During my vacation, I will read books, look back at the administration so far and calmly
July 29, 2013
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Allies mark armistice’s 60th year
South Korea and the U.S. honored the sacrifices of those who fought in the Korean War during ceremonies to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice Saturday, underscoring the idea that “freedom is not free.”North Korea held a separate ceremony to celebrate what it calls a victory day ― an event analysts say was designed to demonstrate its leader Kim Jong-un’s stable grip on power and its military might, and strengthen internal unity.During the ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, Pr
July 28, 2013
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Prosecutors move fast in summit record investigation
The prosecution’s investigation into the missing 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript is getting off to a speedy start, as the two main political parties seek to close their differences.On Saturday, the prosecutors’ office issued a travel ban on former government officials who were in a position to tamper with presidential records during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.The transcript was found to be missing as lawmakers searched for the document to settle the controversy surrounding allegations t
July 28, 2013
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Ruling party boycotts hearing on spy agency scandal
The ruling Saenuri Party on Friday boycotted a hearing on the state spy agency's alleged meddling in last year's presidential election as it wrangled with opposition parties over whether the meeting should be open to the public.The ruling party has argued that the hearing should be held behind closed doors because it is likely to touch on sensitive intelligence issues as lawmakers question National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Nam Jae-joon and other officials of the spy agency in connection
July 26, 2013