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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Korea, France agree to enhance partnership
The prime ministers of Korea and France agreed to enhance the bilateral partnership in trade, investment and high-tech businesses on Thursday. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault visited Seoul as part of an Asian tour and met with President Park Geun-Hye and his counterpart Chung Hong-won. Jung and Ayrault promised to harness the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement to boost economic ties and further cooperate in the future growth sectors of information technology, robotics, medicine and pharmaceut
July 25, 2013
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Court commutes prison term of ex-President Lee's brother
A Seoul appellate court on Thursday commuted the sentence of an elder brother of former President Lee Myung-bak to one year and two months from two years on bribery charges. Lee Sang-deuk, the former six-term lawmaker, was indicted on charges of receiving a total of 750 million won (US$654,165) in kickbacks from a local company and two troubled savings banks from 2007 to 2011. Clearing the elder Lee of charges that he received 300 million in bribes from Kim Chan-kyong, the former chief of Mir
July 25, 2013
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Saenuri, DP figures call for end to summit bickering
A growing number of politicians are voicing the need to move on from the controversy over the missing 2007 inter-Korean summit minutes as the rival parties continue to bicker over their whereabouts.Viewing the transcript of the summit was chosen as the means to verify claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun conceded the Northern Limit Line to deceased North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the 2007 summit.When the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers searched for t
July 24, 2013
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Park backs Gangwon rail project
President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday backed a controversial express railway project linking Seoul with the eastern coast. During a visit to Gangwon Province, she said the new train corridor would not only help boost the local economy but also strategically benefit the country.“I believe this project is not only to stimulate the local economy, such as through attracting tourists, but it is also in consideration of eventually being connected to Eurasia over the long term,” Park said during a brief
July 24, 2013
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Parliamentary probe into spy agency scandal kicks off
A parliamentary probe into the state spy agency's alleged meddling in last year's presidential election began Wednesday with a hearing attended by justice ministry officials as rival parties questioned the legitimacy of a now-complete prosecution investigation into the scandal.The parliamentary probe aims to uncover the truth behind allegations that former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon ordered an online smear campaign to sway public opinion in favor of the ruling Saenuri
July 24, 2013
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S. Korea extends travel ban on four nations
South Korea on Tuesday decided to extend its travel ban on four nations -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia -- for another six months to one year, the foreign ministry said, citing worsening unrest in the countries.Under the decision, South Korean citizens are prohibited from traveling to Iraq until Jan. 31; Syria until July 31, 2014; and Afghanistan and Somalia until Aug. 6, 2014, the ministry said in a statement.The Seoul government currently bans the four countries, along with Yemen, for
July 23, 2013
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Park calls for support for S. Korea's participation in Vietnam's nuclear power plant project
South Korean President Park Geun-hye asked Tuesday for Vietnam's support for South Korea's participation in the Southeast Asian nation's nuclear power plant construction project, her office said.Park made the remark in a meeting with Vietnam's National Assembly Speaker Nguyen Sinh Hung, saying South Korea can be a good partner for the country's nuclear power industry, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing.Vietnam is seeking to build 10 atomic power plants by 2030."I understand that Vie
July 23, 2013
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Saenuri urges prosecution to act on missing summit transcript
The two main political parties are continuing to clash over the missing 2007 inter-Korean summit minutes, with the ruling Saenuri Party calling for an investigation by the prosecutors’ office.The Saenuri Party is calling for a prosecutors’ investigation to determine how the transcript disappeared, and has pointed the finger of blame at the Roh Moo-hyun administration. The transcript of the summit became a hot political issue following claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun had denied the legiti
July 23, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Moon enmeshed in summit records controversy
The missing 2007 inter-Korean summit records have driven the main opposition Democratic Party on the defensive as the debate has shifted to how the transcript went missing.At the core of the dispute is Rep. Moon Jae-in, the former right-hand man to late President Roh Moo-hyun, who is alleged by the ruling camp of having ordered the transcript in question be deleted upon leaving office.Moon, supported by the pro-Roh forces against the current party leadership, had spearheaded the calls to view th
July 23, 2013
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No trace of 2007 inter-Korean summit minutes: lawmakers
The 2007 inter-Korean summit looked likely to cause further controversy after lawmakers searching for the transcript of the meeting concluded that the records could not be found.On Monday, ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers concluded that the National Archives was not in possession of the transcript. The transcript of the summit became a hot political issue following claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun had denied the legitimacy of the Northern Limit Line ― th
July 22, 2013
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Abe may focus on economy for the time being: analysts
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may not revert to his nationalist agenda immediately as his ruling coalition’s electoral triumph on Sunday reaffirmed his economic drive as a top policy priority, analysts said Monday.But Abe is expected to continue his push for the agenda, such as a full-fledged military, historical revisionism and constitutional amendments during his stint expected to continue for three years until the next parliamentary elections in 2016.Concerns had persisted that buoyed by
July 22, 2013
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‘Golf ban’ lifted for Cheong Wa Dae officials
It seems presidential secretaries and officials may be able to get their golf fix, at least during their summer vacation.Sources said presidential chief of staff Huh Tae-yeol recently remarked during a meeting that “those who really want to play golf should have no reason not to if they are playing with their own money.” He also reportedly suggested perhaps they should play “screen golf,” an indoor simulation golf game, instead.The halfhearted permission comes months after President Park Geun-hy
July 22, 2013
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Authorities close in on Chun’s assets
The authorities searching for former President Chun Doo-hwan’s hidden assets on Monday raided three additional locations belonging to his associate who allegedly managed the family’s wealth.The prosecutors stormed the home and office of the individual identified by the surname Chun, who is said to have purchased artwork on behalf of the former president’s family over an extended period of time. The latest raid came a day after the authorities froze a 3-billion won ($2.7 million) annuity account
July 22, 2013
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2007 inter-Korean summit minutes missing: lawmakers
The 2007 inter-Korean summit looked likely to cause further controversy after lawmakers searching for the transcript of the meeting concluded that the records could not be found.On Monday, ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers concluded that the National Archives was not in possession of the transcript. The transcript of the summit became a hot political issue following claims that late President Roh Moo-hyun had denied the legitimacy of the Northern Limit Line ― th
July 22, 2013
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Parties brace for all-out battle over missing summit records
Political confrontation is escalating over the missing minutes of the 2007 inter-Korean summit as the ruling party is set to take legal action against those responsible should the transcript not be found by the deadline of Monday. The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party continued to search for the documents at the National Archives for a third day on Sunday. The committee set up to view and analyze related records is to conclude whether or not the transcript exists, and
July 21, 2013
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Gov't revokes financial support for Gwangju int'l swimming championships
The central government has retracted its plan to render financial support for the Gwangju world swimming championships after the local government was found to have forged a bid document to host the event, officials said Sunday, a move that could cause much trouble in running the event."We define the Gwangju city government's forgery of a document guaranteeing the central government's financial support as a case in which a municipal government deceived a state organization, disrupting the discipl
July 21, 2013
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Park names film guru to lead culture panel
President Park Geun-hye named a former director of Asia’s largest film festival to lead a presidential advisory panel on cultural prosperity, her office announced Friday.Kim Dong-ho, 75, dean of the Graduate School of Cinematic Content at Dankook University, will lead the newly established committee responsible for drawing up national strategies and policies on cultural prosperity as well as promoting public-private partnerships in the cultural sector, senior presidential press secretary Lee Jun
July 19, 2013
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Parties begin search for summit transcript again
The rivaling parties on Friday set out to search again for the missing 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript at the National Archives of Korea amid wild speculations over what happened to the confidential records.Two lawmakers each from the ruling Saenuri Party and the Democratic Party were chosen for the search over the weekend, to be accompanied by relevant experts. All 10 members of the viewing team will be making the final confirmation on Monday of the search for the transcript containing rema
July 19, 2013
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Opposition lawmaker faces discipline over sexual remarks
The ruling Saenuri Party on Friday submitted a proposal calling for disciplinary action against an opposition lawmaker accused of making inappropriate sexual remarks.Rep. Lim Nae-hyun of the main opposition Democratic Party has come under fire for making a crude joke with sexual nuance during a meeting with a group of male and female reporters earlier this week."Rep. Lim has seriously damaged not only his dignity as a lawmaker but also the honor and authority of the National Assembly," said the
July 19, 2013
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Summit transcript goes missing
The National Archives of Korea has confirmed that it does not possess the transcript of the 2007 inter-Korean summit talks, igniting intense controversy over the whereabouts of the contentious records sought by the rival parties.The mysterious misplacement of the original transcript effectively shifted the attention away from whether former President Roh Moo-hyun insinuated a willingness to nullify the de facto West Sea border to which former government is responsible for the transcript if it is
July 18, 2013