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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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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KT launches new mobile plans for foreign residents
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[Newsmaker] Jinju Medical Center dispute continues
The controversy surrounding the planned closure of Jinju Medical Center showed no signs of letting up, with the proposal pending at the provincial assembly.Members of the medical trade union and the police clashed as the workers attempted to prevent Saenuri Party councilors from attending a plenary session of the local assembly in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, while lawmakers of opposition parties were blocked by the authorities from entering the building. South Gyeongsang Province’s decisi
April 18, 2013
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Saenuri to review recall elections for lawmakers
The ruling Saenuri Party’s political reform committee said Wednesday it was considering introducing recall elections for members of the National Assembly. “To establish politics that is led by the people, (the party) plans to seriously consider introducing the recall system,” said committee chief Park Jae-chang. At present, chiefs of provincial governments and members of provincial and municipal councils deemed unfit for office can be recalled by their electorates, but there are no laws allowing
April 17, 2013
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Officials, parties agree to boost spending
The amount of the government’s 17.3 trillion won ($15.5 billion) supplementary budget to be used for public spending may be boosted by as much as 2 trillion won.With the tentative change, the amount of the supplementary budget allocated to spending will rise to about 7.3 trillion won. The measure, which will be further discussed by the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, follows criticism from the main opposition Democratic United Party that the budget supplementation plans fail to meet th
April 17, 2013
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Park names controversial maritime minister
President Park Geun-hye went ahead with the appointment of controversial maritime minister Yoon Jin-sook on Wednesday, quashing the reconciliatory mood with the opposition party that called it the “ultimate appointment debacle.”Park brushed aside the Democratic United Party’s demand that she reconsider her unpopular choice, despite Cheong Wa Dae’s increased contacts with opposing lawmakers for their cooperation in getting major government bills passed.Along with Yoon, Science Minister Choi Mun-k
April 17, 2013
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Annual summit between S. Korea, China, Japan unlikely for May: officials
An annual summit between South Korea, China and Japan is unlikely to take place in May, a senior official said Wednesday, amid claims that Beijing has been noncommittal about Seoul's proposal to hold the meeting next month.The three countries have held a cooperation summit every year, and it is South Korea's turn to host this year's session. But the sides have yet to reach agreement on when to meet due reportedly to China's reluctance over a territorial dispute with Japan over a group of islands
April 17, 2013
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Park installs unpopular nominee as maritime minister
President Park Geun-hye installed an unpopular nominee as maritime minister Wednesday, a move that will likely spark opposition protests at a time when she needs its cooperation on an extra budget proposal and other matters.Yoon Jin-sook, an oceanographer, was formally appointed as minister of oceans and fisheries, along with three other minister-level officials. The others were Choi Mun-kee as scienceminister, Chae Dong-wook as prosecutor-general and Lee Kyeong-jae as head of the Korea Communic
April 17, 2013
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Park to appoint unpopular nominee as maritime minister
President Park Geun-hye plans to appoint an unpopular nominee as maritime minister Wednesday, a move that will spark opposition protests at a time when she needs its cooperation on an extra budget proposal and other matters.Nominee Yoon Jin-sook, an oceanographer, will be formally appointed as minister of oceans and fisheries, along with three other minister-level candidates, the presidential office said. The others are Choi Mun-kee as science minister, Chae Dong-wook as prosecutor-general and L
April 17, 2013
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President’s chaebol law criticism riles opposition
President Park Geun-hye’s criticism of parliamentary moves to tighten the reins on conglomerates is fueling new political disputes. On Monday, Park voiced concerns that a series of measures under discussion at the National Assembly overstepped the goal of her flagship economic democratization policy and could worsen investor sentiment.Opposition politicians chided her for reversing course on her campaign pledges and infringing upon the National Assembly’s legislative authority. “It seems to have
April 16, 2013
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Park set to meet Obama on May 7
Presidents Park Geun-hye and Barack Obama will hold their first summit in Washington, D.C. on May 7 with North Korea’s nuclear threat, Seoul’s demand for the right to reprocess used atomic fuel and the future development of their bilateral alliance topping the agenda.The talks will take place during Park’s six-day visit to the U.S. that coincides with the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ alliance.The two leaders face the security challenge of North Korea, the task of evaluating their partn
April 16, 2013
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Diplomatic practice or careless faux-pas?
Cheong Wa Dae has been sensitively protective of when to release the schedule of President Park Geun-hye’s first overseas trip to the U.S., its biggest ally.The exact date and destinations were withheld until Tuesday morning ― even despite the supposed slip-of-tongue by visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who blurted out during a joint press conference in Seoul last Friday that Park will be holding summit talks with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on May 6.The media here cooperated, refra
April 16, 2013
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Parties agree to cut property taxes
The government and major parties on Tuesday reached an agreement on a set of tax breaks for home transactions to stimulate the real estate market.Negotiators from the government, the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party agreed to exempt the acquisition tax for homes costing less than 600 million won ($538,000) when properties are purchased by new homeowners. The measure, however, does not apply to buyers whose annual income combined with that of their spouse excee
April 16, 2013
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Obama set for May 7 summit with S. Korean leader
The White House announced Monday that South Korean President Park Geun-hye will visit the United States in early May for talks with President Barack Obama."President Obama will welcome President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea to the White House on May 7," it said in a press release, using the official name of the Northeast Asian nation.It would be their first face-to-face talks since Park took office in February. Their meeting is widely expected to focus on discussing ways to deal with N
April 16, 2013
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Parties push for tougher laws to rein in big firms
The political parties’ push for tougher regulations on misdeeds by large companies and executives is ruffling feathers in the business community. Lawmakers from both the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party are proposing revisions stipulating tougher punishments for corporate crimes and illegal trades among group affiliates.Rep. Won Hye-young of the DUP and Rep. Min Hyun-joo of Saenuri Party are leading a revision bill for the Act on the Aggravated Punishment etc.
April 15, 2013
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N.K. could collapse unless it changes: Minister Yun
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Monday that the North Korean regime could be in danger of collapse “without change,” prodding the North’s young leader to end his brazen threats of provocations and reform. “We must press upon North Korea to realize that without change, there is no hope for economic development; without change, the mere survival of the regime may be in question,” Yun told a global conference of journalists in Seoul. It was rare for South Korea’s top diplomat to talk about the f
April 15, 2013
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Park likely to stick with her controversial minister choice
As President Park Geun-hye’s final appointment of controversial oceans minister-nominee Yoon Jin-sook appeared imminent Monday, the opposition Democratic United Party upped their voice of disapproval, citing Yoon’s incompetence.Calling on Park once again to reconsider her choice, the DUP warned it would boycott the presidential dinner scheduled for Tuesday if Park goes ahead with the designation, indicating an extended attack against the president’s “obstinate” appointment style.The ruling Saenu
April 15, 2013
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Mayor to seek reelection on DUP ticket
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said Monday he would seek reelection as the opposition Democratic United Party’s candidate, dispelling rumors that he may form a coalition with former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo.Asked on a radio show whether he would join a party which Ahn plans to create, he said, “Whether I like it or not, I am already a member of the Democratic United Party and will be running for mayor again as a DUP member.” He said, however, he “accepts Ahn’s political philosophy and pri
April 15, 2013
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Man indicted for slandering Park
A 60-year-old realtor was indicted without detention on the charge of slander against President Park Geun-hye prior to the presidential election last year, Seoul prosecutors said Monday.According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, the suspect, identified by his surname Kim, allegedly posted “malignant” online comments about Park and her family members from September to November. Kim reportedly depicted Park’s father, late military strongman Park Chung-hee, as a dictator and wrote
April 15, 2013
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Ahn Cheol-soo lauds Park's handling of N.K. issue
National Assembly candidate and former anti-virus software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo said Monday he approves of the way President Park Geun-hye is handling the security tensions between the Koreas."So far, I think President Park has properly managed the North Korea crisis," Ahn said on a local radio program ahead of this month's parliamentary by-elections. "I also want to highly assess the way she has tried to explain (the issue) to opposition parties."The independent's remarks come days after the pre
April 15, 2013
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Parties split over budget expansion
Rival parties face tough negotiations this week over plans to raise a supplementary budget to boost the economy and finance welfare measures. The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party have agreed on the need to arrange an extra spending plan with the economic outlook worsening and a large drop in tax revenues expected.Although the government has yet to announce details of the plans including the scale of the supplementation, more than 17 trillion won ($15 billion)
April 14, 2013
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Parties to set up body on Constitutional amendment
Rival parties agreed Friday to set up a parliamentary body to discuss amending the Constitution. The proposed changes include a change to the current presidential system as they had pledged last year ahead of the presidential election.The agreement was made in the first round of six-member consultative talks held at the National Assembly that brought together policymakers of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party.“We decided to set up the discussion organization
April 12, 2013