Most Popular
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Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
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Medical reform committee kicks off despite boycott from doctors
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10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
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Hybe-Ador feud should have limited effect on Hybe's overall performance: analysts
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DP leader says he will meet Yoon without conditions
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Over 9,000 hotline calls made by stalking victims in 2023
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Second Gimpo civil servant found dead, after apologizing for not finishing work
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[Hello India] Hyundai Motor vows to boost 'clean mobility' in India
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Monthly users on local streaming platforms outpace Netflix, Disney+
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US will take steps for three-way engagement on nuclear deterrence with S. Korea, Japan: Campbell
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Dossier: U.S. found N. Korea behind 1987 KAL bombing
The United States government conducted its own investigation into the mid-air bombing of a South Korean jet in 1987 and concluded it was an act by North Korea, a set of declassified State Department documents show.U.S. government officials interrogated Kim Hyun-hui, a self-confessed North Korean terrorist responsible for the bombing of Korean Air 858, which killed 115 people, according to the doss
July 19, 2012
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Sohn touts balanced diplomacy with neighbors
Equipped with an extensive and debate-worthy political portfolio, Sohn Hak-kyu is one of the most intriguing presidential hopefuls in the Democratic United Party.The former democratic activist was a four-term lawmaker ― three of which were on the ticket of a right-wing party ― a health and welfare minister, a Gyeonggi Province governor and twice a chairman of the progressive Democratic Party.His generally successful exploit zigzagging across party affiliations and local and state administrations
July 18, 2012
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DUP outlines nomination rules, opens possibility of four-step selection
The Democratic United Party presidential hopefuls may have to go through as many as four rounds of preliminaries to win the candidacy, including a final vote between the two top candidates.According to the rules submitted to the party’s administration committee on Wednesday, the party will survey party members and the public to select candidates for the preliminaries. Seven DUP politicians ― Moon Jae-in, Sohn Hak-kyu, Chung Se-kyun, Kim Yong-hwan, Cho Kyung-tae, Kim Doo-kwan and Park Jun-yeong ―
July 18, 2012
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Prosecution, DUP clash over bribery probe
The main opposition Democratic United Party on Wednesday lambasted the prosecution for what it called a politically-motivated investigation targeting its floor leader Park Jie-won. It said the prosecution, while not acting on suspected irregularities involving President Lee Myung-bak and his associates, was clamping down on the opposition in consideration of the presidential election in December. The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday demanded that Rep. Park present himself on Thursday for q
July 18, 2012
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Former student activist and veteran lawmaker targets presidency
Sohn Hak-kyu is most famous, or infamous, for his change of party affiliation from then-Grand National Party (now the Saenuri Party) to create the United New Democratic Party of progressives in 2007 upon an in-house conflict over the presidential candidate primary.But in both parties, Sohn has been considered a moderate, and middle-of-the-road, not shying from supporting an opponent’s policy, such as former President Kim Dae-jung’s Sunshine Policy for North Korea.Born in 1947 in Siheung, Gyeongg
July 18, 2012
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Think tanks provide clue to presidential hopefuls’ platforms
Riding the trend of establishing “think tanks” in preparation to run for the presidency, candidates have mobilized their policy research institutes to the fullest in the run up to the December race.The size of each think tank seems to correspond to the prominence of the candidate it supports. Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party boasts one of the most extravagant lineups of experts in her think tanks.“Compared to several years back, there are increasing number of think tanks in Korea that tend to
July 17, 2012
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Liberal parties move to mend alliance
The liberal opposition parties on Tuesday hinted at reestablishing a left-wing alliance ahead of the December presidential election by calling for unified opposition against the ruling camp on pending issues.The main opposition Democratic United Party, led by floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, submitted a motion demanding that Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik be dismissed over the disputed Korea-Japan intelligence pact. The minority Unified Progressive Party pledged to support the motion in the upcomin
July 17, 2012
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Park blasted for defending late father
Assertion that ex-president made ‘best choice available’ sparks rage from liberals, conservativesSaenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye is drawing fire from all corners for her comments defending her father’s 1961 coup and his 16-year dictatorial rule.Speaking at a forum organized by the Korea News Editors Association on Monday, Park said that her father was forced to “make the best choice” available to him at the time. She also said that the coup played an essential role in national d
July 17, 2012
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DUP opposes rights chief’s 2nd term
Lawmakers cite plagiarism, forgery allegations against NHRC headThe main opposition Democratic United Party on Tuesday stepped up its opposition to the reappointment of National Human Rights Commission chief Hyun Byung-chul, who is under fire for alleged irregularities and abuse of authority.The DUP members of Hyun’s confirmation hearing committee held a joint press conference on Tuesday, the day after the disputed chief faced parliamentary questioning. They called for the reversal of Hyun’s nom
July 17, 2012
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DUP floor leader Park Jie-won to be summoned
Prosecutors have summoned the Democratic United Party floor leader for interrogation on Thursday regarding his involvement in a high-profile bribery case.According to the Central Investigation Bureau of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Rep. Park Jie-won of the main opposition party was notified on Tuesday to appear for questioning regarding a savings bank scandal involving several politicians.Howe
July 17, 2012
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Park: Always open to summit with N.K.
The ruling Saenuri Party’s leading presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye said Monday she was open to holding inter-Korean summit talks with North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un as part of her confidence-building policy for Pyongyang.“I am open to holding the summit talks if I should get a chance (as president). I deem that it is always positive to hold dialogue with the North,” Park said during a debate hosted by the Korea News Editors’ Association at Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul.“Nobo
July 16, 2012
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Lee names ex-prosecutor as legislation minister
President Lee Myung-bak named a law expert with decades of experience as a prosecutor to head the agency that handles the government’s legislative affairs, the presidential office said Monday.Lee Jae-won, currently deputy chief of the state-run Judicial Research and Training Institute, will replace Jeong Sun-tae as head of the Ministry of Government Legislation in a routine reshuffle, presidential press secretary Lee Jong-hyun said.Lee, 54, passed the bar exam in 1982 and worked as a prosecutor
July 16, 2012
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Human rights activist slams NHRC chief Hyun
When Kim Hyung-wan left the National Human Rights Commission in protest in 2010, it cost him financially and in terms of status. But despite being only four months away from 20 years of service and a corresponding lifetime pension at the time of his resignation, he doesn’t regret his decision. Kim’s departure was largely in opposition to the leadership of Hyun Byung-chul, whose appointment by President Lee Myung-bak in 2009 met with fierce criticism from within the commission and from most of th
July 16, 2012
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Park Geun-hye defends her father's 1961 military coup
Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential contender of the ruling Saenuri Party, on Monday defended her father Park Chung-hee's military coup in 1961, but offered an apology for victims of his authoritarian rule.The senior Park seized power in the coup and ruled the country as president until 1979 when he was assassinated by his top intelligence aide. Assessment of him is divided, with conservatives
July 16, 2012
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Reformist Kang takes UPP helm
Kang Ki-kab, the reformist interim chief of the embattled Unified Progressive Party, was elected Sunday as the new chairman with the task of hauling the party out of its months-long factional disputes.His election is expected to turn around the party’s broken relations with the main opposition Democratic United Party and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.In a nationwide in-party vote that continued late into Saturday night, Kang won 55.8 percent, or 20,861 votes, beating his rival Kang By
July 15, 2012
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South Jeolla governor declares presidential bid
Park Joon-yung, governor of South Jeolla Province, on Sunday declared that he would join the Democratic United Party’s presidential nomination race, bringing the number of contenders to seven.The journalist-turned-politician expressed confidence is his chance of winning based on his expectation that he could garner much support from the main opposition party’s stronghold.Park pledged to focus on enhancing the livelihood of ordinary citizens, promoting social integration and mapping out viable me
July 15, 2012
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Saenuri suffers fallout of immunity vote
Reformative lawmakers accuse leadership of sidestepping democracyThe fallout from last week’s rejection of an arrest motion for the Saenuri Party’s Rep. Chung Doo-un continued as reformative Saenuri lawmakers accused the party leadership of sidestepping democracy for the sake of Rep. Park Geun-hye’s presidential bid. While the party leadership tried to contain the backlash, growing in-house discontent with the pro-Park leadership reflected the widening gulf between party factions.“Yes, we need t
July 15, 2012
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Saenuri to submit tougher bills for corrupt chaebols
A group of ruling party lawmakers committed to reform of large family-run conglomerates, or chaebol, said Sunday they will table a bill to parliament that calls for toughening legal punishment of chaebol owners convicted of corruption.A revision of the Act of Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes, to be introduced Monday by Rep. Min Hyun-ju and 22 other Saenuri Party lawmakers, is intended to prohibit chaebol owners accused of embezzlement and breach of trust from avoiding prison se
July 15, 2012
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Reformist Kang Ki-kab elected new leader of embattled progressive party
The embattled Unified Progressive Party (UPP) on Sunday elected reformist interim leader Kang Ki-kab as its new chairman in a nationwide vote, hoping that it would end months of factional infighting that has thrown the minor left-wing party into chaos.Party officials said Kang, who has served as the interim leader of the UPP since late April, was elected to the top leadership over Kang Byung-gee w
July 15, 2012
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Park tells lawmaker to accept justice
Leading candidate expresses regret over parliamentary rejection of Chung’s arrestPark Geun-hye, top presidential candidate of the Saenuri Party, apologized to the public on Friday for the parliamentary rejection of an arrest motion for ruling party lawmaker Chung Doo-un who faces corruption charges.She urged Chung to bear responsibility and face the prosecutorial probe, as the incident is casting a cloud over her campaign for the December presidential election.“I am sincerely sorry that the arre
July 13, 2012