Most Popular
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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
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Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
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On May Day, labor unions blast Yoon's foreign nanny proposal
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[KH Explains] Will alternative trading platform shake up Korean stock market?
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‘Save My Friend’ campaign seeks global support
Activist group hopes to collect 1 million online signaturesAlong the cold, rough streets of Seoul, some 40 solemn-looking people marched barefoot for an hour-and-a-half this week, chanting their desperate plea ― “Save my friends! Don’t send them back to North Korea.”Their march that ended at the Chinese Embassy after having passed the Japanese Embassy and Seoul’s Foreign Ministry came amid mounting public criticism here of Beijing for forcibly repatriating North Korean refugees.“Our friends cau
Feb. 29, 2012
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President Lee's elder brother denies suspicion of bribery
Prosecutors said Wednesday they have found evidence of bribe taking by an elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak or associates of the brother, and plan to launch an investigation into allegations he took money in exchange for helping salvage a troubled savings bank.Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, 77, who is a
Feb. 29, 2012
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Lee’s private home to be rebuilt for use as retirement residence
President Lee Myung-bak plans to have his private house reconstructed to strengthen security features of the building so that it can be used as his residence after he leaves office early next year, an official said Wednesday.Lee has said he will use his Nonhyun-dong home in southern Seoul as his retirement residence, after a project to build a new house on the outskirts of the city fell apart last year following revelations of irregularities, including the use of Lee’s son’s name to purchase the
Feb. 29, 2012
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Gerrymandering charges mar mobile ballot
The mobile balloting method the main opposition Democratic United Party has employed to pick its candidates for the April general elections has been marred by allegations that campaigners have solicited mobile votes through unlawful means.Amid heated competition among campaigners, some have allegedly hired local residents or minor part-timers to register more voters favoring their would-be candidates as part of the “mobile electoral college” that will cast ballots via cellular phones in the nomi
Feb. 28, 2012
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Assembly blasted over extra seat
Lawmakers under fire for acting quickly on their own interests while idling on other billsPublic criticism mounted Tuesday against lawmakers after they voted through a deal to increase the number of parliamentary seats to 300 from the current 299. On Monday, the National Assembly passed a revision of electoral district plans that called for creating three new constituencies while eliminating an existing two only for the next parliament. With the one-seat increase, the number of lawmakers to be s
Feb. 28, 2012
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Park expresses hope for improved inter-Korean ties
Rep. Park Geun-hye, the leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, on Tuesday expressed her hopes for improved inter-Korean ties, stressing that her party is willing to support efforts for a change in the North for peace and co-development on the Korean Peninsula.During a security forum in Seoul, she also underscored that a nuclear-armed North Korea is not acceptable, saying that the vision of a “nuclear-free” world should begin here.Her remarks came on the day the North issued an unusual criticism aga
Feb. 28, 2012
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Kim hints at resignation in Saenuri row
A key member of Saenuri Party’s leadership council Tuesday hinted at his resignation in a row over the party’s selection of candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election. “This will be the last (party) meeting I attend,” Kim Jong-in said during a meeting on party reforms. He had joined the ruling party’s emergency leadership council late last year, handpicked by party leader Park Geun-hye. The former minister, while expressing frustration at the party’s reluctance to change, also criticized
Feb. 28, 2012
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Time to redress economic imbalance
Politicians’ renewed focus on curbing chaebol yet to be tested foreffectiveness, sincerityA heavy silence hung over the meeting of board members of the Federation of Korean Industries, the country’s main business lobby, early this month.There was no objection or applause when FKI chairman Huh Chang-soo proposed to adopt a resolution pledging to add stability to people’s livelihoods.After the adoption of the resolution, an FKI official said it reflected an “opinion shared by large corporations th
Feb. 28, 2012
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Two figures at forefront
They work for rival political parties but share a sense of camaraderie in their crusade to curb the nation’s chaebol or family-owned conglomerates.Former four-term lawmaker Kim Jong-in and You Jong-il, professor at the Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management, may now be two of the figures shunned the most by chaebol owners, commentators say.Kim, 71, is in charge of policy reforms on the interim emergency council tasked with overhauling the conservative ruling Saenuri P
Feb. 28, 2012
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Parties agree on additional Assembly seat
Increase in number of parliamentary seats draws fire from votersThe number of seats in the National Assembly is to increase to 300 from the current 299, according to a bill passed through the legislature Monday. The hike, the first since 2000, was met with public criticism as it defied the widespread public demand for a cut in the number of representatives. The Assembly approved the new electoral district plan, which calls for increasing the number of constituencies from the current 245 to 246.
Feb. 27, 2012
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new-Saenuri in row over nomination of president‘s ally
Saenuri Party rows over nomination of president’s ally Some party leaders demand reconsideration on selection of Lee Jae-oh By Lee Sun-youngThe ruling Saenuri Party’s leadership became embroiled in conflict on Monday over the selection of Rep. Lee Jae-oh, a close ally of President Lee Myung-bak, as a candidate for a forthcoming parliamentary race. The party’s candidate selection committee announced the nomination of Lee, but immediately faced opposition from some party leaders who had openly c
Feb. 27, 2012
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Lee calls for concerted efforts to make Nuclear Security Summit a success
President Lee Myung-bak called Monday for concerted efforts to prepare for the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit, saying support from citizens is key to successfully hosting one of the biggest international events South Korea has ever hosted.Lee made the remark during a visit to the organizing committee of the March 26-27 summit expected to draw dozens of world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss how to make
Feb. 27, 2012
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N.K. issues may derail Seoul’s ties with Beijing
U.S. appears concerned about growing conflict over repatriation of N. Korean defectorsAs Seoul has raised pressure on Beijing to stop repatriating North Korean defectors, concerns are growing that the conflict could damage ties between the two countries and hamper efforts to enhance economic and security ties.The U.S. appears concerned the brewing rift between its key Asian ally and the rising global power could cause regional tension when it wants all stakeholders to cooperate to deal with the
Feb. 26, 2012
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Saenuri may give ticket to Lee’s key ally
The ruling Saenuri Party is likely to give its ticket to Rep. Lee Jae-oh, a close confidant of President Lee Myung-bak, to run in the upcoming parliamentary election, local reports said Sunday. The party has finalized the first batch of candidates, numbering about 40, who will run in the April 11 parliamentary election under the party’s banner. Four-time lawmaker Lee is included in the list, the Yonhap news agency and other media outlets reported. “The list, including Lee, will be reported to th
Feb. 26, 2012
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Opposition party steps up attack on Park
Liberal opposition parties stepped up attacks against Park Geun-hye, chief of the ruling Saenuri Party, over an education foundation previously run by her family after a local court said last week that it was established with assets that her father, military strongman Park Chung-hee, took by force. The main opposition Democratic United Party renewed demand Sunday that Park should end her “clandestine” control of the Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation and return it to the rightful owner. “It is very
Feb. 26, 2012
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DUP pledges more taxes on rich, big firms
Main opposition stresses fair taxation, vows to ease economic polarizationThe main opposition Democratic United Party on Sunday confirmed its election platform on tax reforms which seeks to apply the highest income tax rate to more rich people and increase corporate taxes on the country’s top conglomerates.The move comes as the party is stepping up efforts to court voters ahead of the April 11 general elections, claiming that the gap between the haves and have-nots has widened due to incumbent g
Feb. 26, 2012
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Disgraced Kang slammed for reckless accusations
Though Rep. Kang Yong-seok offered to resign as a lawmaker shortly after his draft-dodging allegations against Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s son were proved false, he may find it difficult to put things behind him.Kang’s case also rekindled controversies over lawmakers’ immunity and information access.Park Ju-sin, son of the Seoul mayor, disproved on Wednesday Kang’s month-long allegations of draft-dodging. Doctors at Severance Hospital who took a fresh magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) film of his
Feb. 24, 2012
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Lee enters final year with mixed record
Diplomatic, economic achievements marred by strained N.K. ties, corruption scandalsPresident Lee Myung-bak enters the final year of his five-year term on Saturday with mixed evaluations on his state management ― positive for his economic and diplomatic feats, but negative for policies allegedly lacking democratic, egalitarian values.Experts largely agree that his success in plucking the country from the economic doldrums after the 2008 global financial crisis, hosting global events such as the 2
Feb. 24, 2012
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Court rules against return of Jeongsu Foundation assets
(Yonhap News)Court rules against return of extorted scholarship assets Acknowledges foundation snatched by the Park Chung-hee regime By Bae Ji-sook A local court ruled on Friday that the assets of a scholarship foundation extorted by the late President Park Chung-hee government in the early 1960s
Feb. 24, 2012
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Lee to have dialogue with 150 college council leaders
President Lee Myung-bak will invite 150 college student council leaders to the presidential office to hear their opinions about education, jobs and other issues so he can reflect them in policy making processes, his office said Friday.Students from about 80 universities across the nation will visit Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday to talk with Lee in a free and open atmosphere where they are invited to raise any issue, from college tuition fees to jobs, his office said.“The meeting was prepared to figu
Feb. 24, 2012