Most Popular
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Korean labor force to shrink by 10 million by 2044: report
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[AtoZ Korean Mind] Does your job define who you are? Should it?
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Allegations surrounding BTS resurface, enraged fans demand apology
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Students with history of violence will be barred from becoming teachers
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Top prosecutor pledges 'speedy, strict' probe into first lady's luxury bag allegations
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Medical feud leaves hospitals in financial crisis
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'Super Rich in Korea' will leave viewers appreciating Korea more: producers
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'Queen of Tears' riding high on Netflix chart
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Samsung mocks Apple over iPhone alarm glitch
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Chip up cycle won’t stay long: SK chief
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Mayor Park plans to visit Bologna in November
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has chosen Bologna, Italy, as his next business destination to benchmark the successful model for cooperatives that involves one-third of Bologna citizens.“On the way to visit Spain to attend the ‘World e-Governments Organization of Cities and Local Governments’ summit as a chairman country in November, I would like to look around Bologna, where Korean civil servants can learn many things,” Park said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. Bologna is one of the richest
July 2, 2012
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Saenuri seeks to delay disputed projects
The ruling Saenuri Party is moving to put the brakes on contentious projects pushed by the Lee Myung-bak administration to prevent criticism of them hurting its chances in the presidential election.The attempt comes as the government faced escalating criticism against its plan to sign a controversial military pact with Japan last week without public consensus.The government is also under fire for its rushed plan to sell Incheon International Airport and privatize the KTX, in addition to controve
July 2, 2012
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Gap emerges in Park’s camp over economic policy
Key aide to Park GH attacks floor leader for being pro-businessKim Chong-in, tapped to head the campaign for the Saenuri Party’s presidential frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye, on Monday reproached prominent figures in the pro-Park ranks for distorting the meaning of economic democratization, one of Park’s key election slogans.The economist-turned-politician also denounced the Federation of Korean Industries, the largest association of conglomerates, for its opposition to her policies to increase w
July 2, 2012
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Governor Kim to join DUP race Sunday
South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Doo-kwan of the main opposition Democratic United Party said Monday he will declare his presidential candidacy on the following Sunday.“I will make my announcement on July 8 in Haenam (South Jeolla Province) and resign from the governor position on July 6,” Kim said Monday.He also expressed his appreciation for those who urged him to maintain his post, but said that the presidential race requires his undivided attention.This was the first time that Kim officially co
July 2, 2012
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Korea to tighten criminal, health checks on foreigners
South Korea will strengthen criminal and health background checks on foreigners, the Justice Ministry said Monday, as anxiety increases about crimes by foreign visitors following a brutal murder earlier in the year.Starting from Aug. 1, the Ministry of Justice will require the submission of overseas criminal histories by foreigners who apply for non-professional work visas, crewmen’s visas or working visit visas, the ministry said. Currently, criminal backgrounds are only required from foreigner
July 2, 2012
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Lee calls for cooperation as Assembly opens
The National Assembly opened its inaugural session on Monday and elected a six-term lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party as the new parliamentary speaker. In a secret ballot held during the plenary session, Rep. Kang Chang-hee earned 195 votes among 283 eligible voters to serve as the chief of the 19th National Assembly for the first half of its four-year term.The 66-year-old Kang had served in the military in the 1970s and entered politics in 1980. He is known as the key aide to Rep. Park Geun-
July 2, 2012
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Cancelation of Japan pact reflects Park’s rise
President Lee scolds government over failing to gain public consensusKorea’s abrupt cancelation of a military pact with Japan last week indicates an ongoing shift of political power to the Saenuri Party’s presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye. Her close associate said Monday that she expressed concerns about the government’s handling of the sensitive issue without public consensus, hours before the two countries were scheduled to sign the intelligence-sharing agreement in Tokyo. “She showed con
July 2, 2012
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[Photo] Black Eagles in U.K. skies
July 2, 2012
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Cheong Wa Dae behind approval of military deal with Japan
Cheong Wa Dae, South Korean presidential office, was responsible for the Cabinet's behind closed doors approval of a controversial military pact between Seoul and Tokyo, a government official here said Sunday.The claim comes two days after South Korea delayed signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan. The government has been under fire for its procedural la
July 1, 2012
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Park prepares to join presidential race this week
The ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye is expected to declare her presidential bid this week as the party tries to assuage her potential rivals disgruntled by her refusal to change the primary rules. Her announcement will signal the start of a full-fledged race toward the Dec. 19 election which is likely to center on “economic democratization.”The Saenuri leadership set the stage late last month by fixing on Aug. 19-20 for the party’s primary election date, effectively
July 1, 2012
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Savings banks scandal rattles parties
Chung DU, Park JW deny allegations they took bribes for business favorsThe rival parties are anxiously watching the development of a bank-lobbying scandal as prosecutors zero in on three high-profile politicians with the presidential election less than six months away.Investigators plan to call in Lee Sang-deuk, President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother and former lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party, on Tuesday on suspicion of taking hundreds of millions of won in kickbacks from two savings banks
July 1, 2012
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Lee SD in disgraceful fall from power
Latest, yet most prominent member of Lee’s inner circle involved in corruptionThe prosecutors investigating the savings bank corruption scandal announced on Thursday that they will summon Lee Sang-deuk, President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother and the most influential figure of the current administration, on July 3.Although Lee will be summoned as a witness, observers speculate that the prosecutors are likely to have found evidence linking Lee to criminal activities in order to make the decision.
June 29, 2012
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Parties put seal on parliament opening
Rival parties at last agreed to open the new parliamentary term next week, ending the month-long standoff over the allocation of key parliamentary committees and the investigation of government irregularities.The floor leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party met on Friday and consented to open an initial parliamentary session on July 2 to elect a speaker and two vice speakers.Under the current law, the corresponding session was to be held on June 5 but
June 29, 2012
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Parties near agreement on Assembly opening
Rival parties were close to an agreement Thursday to convene the first session of the 19th National Assembly early next week, after weeks of squabbling over the formation of the standing committees.The new parliament was originally set to open June 5.The vice floor leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party met later in the evening to draw up a final agreement.The Saenuri earlier in the day held an emergency Supreme Council meeting and decided to accept t
June 28, 2012
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Parties close to agreement on Assembly opening
Rival parties were close to an agreement Thursday to convene the first session of the 19th National Assembly early next week, after weeks of squabbling over the formation of the standing committees.The new parliament was originally set to open June 5.The ruling Saenuri Party and the opposition Democratic United Party also agreed to open a parliamentary investigation in the contentious government surveillance of civilians. Lawmakers of both parties are to decide on the agreement at their respecti
June 28, 2012
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NEC braces for overseas voting for president
As overseas Koreans will participate in the nation’s presidential election for the first time in 40 years this December, the National Election Commission is determined to make it free of violations.From the 180-day mark until the Dec. 19 election day, which is June 22, eligible Korean voters residing anywhere in the world are banned from forming private organizations to campaign for a certain candidate.If a private group ― be it a forum, fan club, or even an alpine club ― already supports a cert
June 28, 2012
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Kim Chong-in to co-lead Park GH’s campaign team
Kim Chong-in, an economist-turned-politician and member of the ruling Saenuri Party’s emergency committee for the April general elections, has reportedly been tapped to head the campaign for presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye.Kim will be appointed co-chairman of the campaign committee alongside former lawmaker and key pro-Park member Hong Sa-duck, local news reports said.Kim is the drafter of the “economic democratization” provision of the Constitution in 1987. Economic democratization has b
June 28, 2012
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UPP online voting system breaks down
Ballots may be annulled as database for leadership election damagedThe leadership election of the minority Unified Progressive Party was halted Wednesday after online voting system broke down.The party’s online voting system started to fail sporadically late Tuesday night and the interim decision-making body decided at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to temporarily halt the vote, according to party officials.The election database was irreparably damaged. Some 17,000 ballots or 30 percent of the total eligib
June 27, 2012
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Divided progressive party's leadership election marred by server error
The ongoing leadership election of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) has been suspended due to errors in its server for online voting, party officials said Wednesday, amplifying uncertainties for the left-wing party beleaguered by an escalating factional conflict over alleged primary rigging earlier this year.The minor party with 13 seats in the 300-member National Assembly is set to elect its n
June 27, 2012
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Underdogs line up for presidential race
Overheated match may drown out policy debate, prompt negative campaigningA myriad of fringe candidates are joining the race toward the December presidential election in the hope of reshaping politics despite being overshadowed by high profile figures and having minimal public support.The peripheral candidates may be overestimating their chances, laying the groundwork for a distant bid, or even simply trying to spruce up their political resume, observers said.“Whatever their intention may be, an
June 26, 2012