Most Popular
-
1
Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
-
2
Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
-
3
Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
-
4
Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
-
5
Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
-
6
[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
-
7
North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
-
8
Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
-
9
Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
-
10
S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
-
Saenuri confirms new logo, party colors
Council remains firm on new name, despite opposition from some membersThe ruling Saenuri Party confirmed its new logo and name, and changed the party’s color from blue to red and white.The party’s emergency leadership council, led by Rep. Park Geun-hye, agreed on the new set of symbols in its general meeting on Tuesday, according to officials.“The red and white motif is derived from the traditional Taegeuk pattern drawn on the Korean national flag,” said a party official.“The white stands for th
Feb. 7, 2012
-
Seoul to end free lease to Chun’s staff
City’s decision comes as former president has yet to pay provincial taxesSeoul City has notified the police that it will stop lending the land used for the staff guarding the Seoul home of former President Chun Doo-hwan, citing reasons including his unpaid provincial taxes.Since the notification to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday, criticism has surfaced over his failure to pay taxes and the amount of state money spent on protecting his residence.The police security staff for Chun,
Feb. 7, 2012
-
Park Geun-hye says will not run for April's general elections
(Yonhap News)Rep. Park Geun-hye, chairwoman of the ruling Saenuri Party’s emergency leadership council, declared on Tuesday that she will not run in the upcoming general elections.The decision by the presidential hopeful is expected to further press other senior lawmakers to give up their candidacy
Feb. 7, 2012
-
Korea, Turkey agree to resume nuke plant talks
Leaders also agree on Seoul’s participation in $2b thermal power projectSouth Korea and Turkey on Sunday agreed to resume stalled negotiations on Ankara’s project to construct a nuclear power plant and seek an early conclusion of bilateral free trade negotiations, possibly in the first half of this year.The agreement was made during talks between President Lee Myung-bak and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, Turkey ― the first leg of Lee’s eight-day tour that includes visit
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Ahn mentions role in social change
Popular professor outlines charity foundation plan; ‘Politics could be one of the means of contribution’Software entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo, said at a press conference to introduce his new charity that his essential goal was to contribute to society, but that politics could also be one way of doing that.“Throughout my entire life, I have sought ways to contribute to the qualitative growth of our society and politics could be one of them,” Ahn said on Monday.His words came in res
Feb. 6, 2012
-
DUP to use mobile vote in nominations
The main opposition Democratic United Party once again decided to introduce a mobile voting system in selecting its candidates for the upcoming April general elections.The decision was made by the party’s Supreme Council and executive committee on Monday, according to officials.The left-wing’s mobile voting has so far proved to be influential, especially in the candidate unification for last year’s Seoul mayoral by-election and the recent party leadership election.Over 640,000 citizens unaffilia
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Saenuri starts candidate selection
Tough vetting could drive former veterans to run as independentsThe ruling Saenuri Party on Monday began its candidate nomination process for the April 11 parliamentary election, hoping to find new faces who can help the party turn its flagging fortunes around. For five days until Friday, it will accept applications from those wishing to run in 245 district constituencies under its banner. Vetting of the applicants will begin on Feb. 16, party officials said. Formerly the Grand National Party, i
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Foreign ministry to set up deliberation committee for press statements
In the latest effort to restore its tarnished image following a stock manipulation scandal involving diplomats, the foreign ministry said Monday that it will set up a committee to deliberate press statements before their release. Wrapping up a months-long probe, state auditors concluded late last month that Kim Eun-seok, the ministry‘s ambassador for energy and resources, had played a role in inflating the stock prices of CNK International by deliberately exaggerating the volume of diamond reser
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Ahn leaves room for political debut
SNU professor outlines charity foundation plan, says politics could be one way of contributing to society Software entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo, said at a press conference to introduce his new charity that his essential goal was to contribute to society, but that politics could a
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Korea, Turkey agree to work for early conclusion of FTA
Lee calls for support for Korean firms trying to expand investment, presence in TurkeyISTANBUL (Yonhap News) -- South Korea and Turkey agreed Sunday to work together to conclude their free trade negotiations at an early date, possibly in the first half of the year, and resume stalled negotiations on
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Ruling party considers free breakfast at schools
The ruling party, having changed its name to Saenuri, is now considering free breakfast at public schools as one of the party’s campaign pledges in the upcoming April general elections.Reform-minded members of the party also suggested raising the monthly salary of soldiers as part of the social welfare program.“Up to 36.9 percent of teenage students reportedly skip breakfast because of their tight academic timetable or the lack of parental care at home,” said Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, a leading reform
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Parties seek public say in candidate selection
Skeptics raise concerns about exacerbating ‘digital divide,’ succumbing to populismThe following is the sixth of a series of articles on Korean politics of 2012, an election year when general and presidential elections are taking place in the same year for the first time since 1992. ― Ed.Rival parties are poised to introduce a set of new methods in their candidate nomination process for the April 11 general elections as they are struggling to woo voters disenchanted with partisan politics.The me
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Additional cold snaps expected this month
Though the recent freeze faltered over the weekend, another cold snap is expected to sweep over the peninsula in the latter part of the month, according to the state weather agency Sunday.Temperatures will drop below zero this week and once again fall drastically during the last few days of the month, due to the combination of the continental high pressure and the Arctic influence.“The cold continental high pressure remained in a lull until last month but has recently taken an upturn,” said an o
Feb. 6, 2012
-
Ruling party considers free breakfast at schools
Reformer Nam suggests meal plan as election pledge; observers call it inconsistent with its past policiesThe ruling party, having changed its name to Saenuri is now considering the changed policy of offering free breakfast at public schools as one of the party’s campaign pledges in the upcoming Apri
Feb. 5, 2012
-
NK developing unmanned attack aircraft from U.S. drones: source
North Korea is developing unmanned attack aircraft using U.S. target drones purchased from the Middle East, a military source in Seoul said Sunday, indicating the aircraft will likely target the South."North Korea recently bought several U.S. MQM-107D Streakers from a Middle Eastern nation that appe
Feb. 5, 2012
-
Parties herald tough process for selecting election candidates
GNP, DUP to apply stricter ethical standards to court disenchanted votersRival parties on Friday set in motion their candidate screening process for general elections slated for April 11 after finishing organizing their respective committees to lead the crucial nomination procedures.The ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party are poised to apply stricter ethical standards to put forth competitive candidates as they step up efforts to appeal to disenchanted vot
Feb. 3, 2012
-
Lee taps N.K. scholar as secretary general of his reunification panel
President Lee Myung-bak on Friday tapped Nam Sung-wook, head of the Institute for National Security Strategy, as secretary general of a presidential advisory panel on reunification.The secretary-general at the National Unification Advisory Council is a vice-ministerial post. Nam, 52, is noted for his extensive research and lectures on North Korea. He had served as professor of North Korean studies at Korea University from 2002 to 2008.“Nam is well-versed in North Korean affairs and viewed as hav
Feb. 3, 2012
-
Lee on energy-focused tour of Middle East
President Lee Myung-bak embarks on an eight-day tour of Turkey and three oil-rich Middle East countries on Saturday. The trip is a bid to cement ties with the countries amid uncertainties in the global energy market caused by U.S.-led sanctions against Iran.During summit talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Lee is expected to discuss issues concerning Iran’s controversial nuclear development and oil embargos on the country.“What the three nations have in co
Feb. 3, 2012
-
DUP to ask Obama to halt Korea FTA
Leader Han says she will send a letter to U.S. president to delay FTA implementationThe chief of the main opposition Democratic United Party said Friday that she will write a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, asking him to delay the implementation of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. “We have asked (the Korean government) to stop preparations for the treaty’s implementation, but haven’t received any reply from it,” Han Myeong-sook said during a meeting with party leaders at the National
Feb. 3, 2012
-
Brains of addicts are inherently abnormal: study
Drug addicts have inherited abnormalities in some parts of the brain which interfere with impulse control, said a British study published in the United States on Thursday. Previous research has pointed to these differences, but it was unclear if they resulted from the ravages of addiction
Feb. 3, 2012