Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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Parliament may take legal action against tear gas-spraying lawmaker
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's parliamentary secretariat said Wednesday it may take legal action against an opposition lawmaker who set off a tear gas canister in the chamber to block the ratification of a free trade deal with the United States.South Korea's ruling party lawmakers on Tuesd
Nov. 24, 2011
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Ruling, opposition leaders suffer from FTA side effects
The National Assembly’s passage of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill on Tuesday left leaders of the Grand National Party and Democratic Party facing challenges in their leadership ahead of big elections next year.GNP chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo masterminded the party’s blitz FTA vote. Though the bill was expected to be put to vote on Thursday, he met with floor leader Rep. Hwang Woo-yea late on Monday and persuaded him that further discussions would be of no use, according to party offici
Nov. 23, 2011
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Opposition boycotts parliament, plans outdoor protests
Political paralysis gripped the nation Wednesday, with liberal opposition parties planning an all-out campaign against the conservatives who rammed through the contentious Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement in a snap parliamentary session. The deepened partisan standoff is likely to delay the parliamentary handling of next year’s budget, confirmation of two Supreme Court justices and scores of other pending bills. The Democratic Party and other liberal opposition parties started a boycott of all pa
Nov. 23, 2011
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Ethiopian P.M. to visit Korea
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will come here next week for a four-day official visit at the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.The two leaders will hold summit talks next Monday to discuss a wide range of issues including development cooperation, trade, education, cultural exchanges and peninsular security, the presidential office said.The Ethiopian leader is to arrive here on Monday and leave on Thursday. Lee’s invitation was made when he traveled to Eth
Nov. 23, 2011
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Lee to sign bill Tuesday, pledges review of all concerns
President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday pledged to “exhaustively review” all issues regarding the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement raised during parliamentary discussions.He also said that the government will pay particular attention to addressing concerns of farmers and mid- and small-sized business operators the expected to be affected by the pact.He made the remarks during a meeting with related ministers, a day after the National Assembly approved the long-pending agreement with the ruling Grand
Nov. 23, 2011
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Lee orders thorough follow-up measures after FTA approval
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak instructed the government on Wednesday to take thorough follow-up measures to make the best use of the just-ratified free trade agreement with the United States to boost the economy and minimize any damage to local small businesses.It was Lee's firs
Nov. 23, 2011
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GNP occupies National Assembly for FTA vote
Opposition parties berate the unilateral move, vowing to take strong actionRuling Grand National Party lawmakers on Tuesday occupied the main chamber of the National Assembly, setting the stage for a floor vote on the contentious Korea-U.S. free trade pact.All GNP members attended the plenary session with opposition party lawmakers upbraiding them for moving to railroad the pact, part of which they argue should be renegotiated to protect national interests.The GNP holds 169 seats out of a total
Nov. 22, 2011
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Korea-U.S. FTA chronology
Korea-U.S. FTA chronology2011 Nov. 22 -- The National Assembly ratifies the Korea-U.S. FTA June 3 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade resubmits the Korea-U.S. FTA bill to the National Assembly for ratification May 4 -- MOFAT withdraws the Korea-U.S. FTA bill from the Foreign Affairs, Trade & Unification Committee of the National Assembly Feb. 10 -- The signing and exchange of the agreed documents from the Dec. 3 renegotiation takes place 2010 Nov. 30~Dec. 3 -- Trade Ministers’ meeting i
Nov. 22, 2011
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Parliament passes Korea-U.S. FTA
GNP railroads ratification bill; opposition declares approval invalid, vows struggleThe National Assembly on Tuesday passed the long-pending Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, with the ruling Grand National Party pressing ahead with the ratification process despite vehement objection from opposition parties.Upbraiding the majority GNP and the government for “unilateral action,” the main opposition Democratic Party pledged to stage an “all-out struggle” to invalidate the pact, part of which it clai
Nov. 22, 2011
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DLP lawmarker fills chamber with tear gas in protest against FTA
The National Assembly passed the free trade agreement with the U.S. Tuesday as the main hall descended into chaos reminiscent of a protest movement, complete with tear gas. The long and tumultuous journey for the Korea-U.S. FTA came to an end after the ruling Grand National Party spearheaded the pact through parliament despite inhaling tear gas released when an opposition lawmaker detonated a grenade. At 4:05 p.m., roughly five minutes after an abrupt plenary session by ruling party members bega
Nov. 22, 2011
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‘Poison pills’ linger despite FTA passage
Despite the National Assembly’s approval of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, controversy over so-called “poison pills” in the FTA is expected to linger, observers said.Opposition party members, civic groups and critics have repeatedly demanded the Korean government renegotiate with the U.S. to remove the Investor-State Dispute settlement system from the FTA, but the deal passed without any change.ISD systemCritics say the ISD system allows a large-sized, multinational investment capital or c
Nov. 22, 2011
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Korea-U.S. FTA reaches end of convoluted road
The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was approved by Korea’s National Assembly on Tuesday, putting an end to a tumultuous process that dragged on for more than four years.The path leading to Tuesday’s development began in 2003, when the government drew up an FTA roadmap that included forming such pacts with mega-economies like the U.S.In the following year the concept became a working process with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative expressing interest in forming a free trade pact with Ko
Nov. 22, 2011
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FTA passage heightens political tension
DP decides to boycott all parliamentary sessions, fight back ratificationThe inter-party conflicts over the long-pending free trade pact peaked as the ruling Grand National Party enforced the trade bill in a surprise plenary session Tuesday, triggering heated backlash from the opposition camp and also from some of its own members.“From now on, the DP shall suspend all of its parliamentary schedules and focus on fighting back the GNP’s violence and expediency,” said Rep. Kim Yoo-jung, floor spoke
Nov. 22, 2011
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Presidential office welcomes approval of U.S. FTA
South Korea's presidential office welcomed the parliamentary approval of the free trade agreement with the United States, saying the government will continue to come up with support measures for farmers and others."Though it went through a difficult process, it is fortunate that the Korea-U.S. FTA h
Nov. 22, 2011
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Parties to push welfare budget boost
DP to cut on MB-led construction plans; GNP to back Park Geun-hye’s welfare policiesWith next year’s general and presidential elections in mind, parties all set out to boost the budget allocation for welfare projects, though their directions and amounts varied.The main opposition Democratic Party focused on slashing the budgets for construction projects pushed by the Lee Myung-bak government, such as follow-up works on the four-river restoration project and the Jeju naval base construction.“We w
Nov. 22, 2011
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Shares in Ahn’s company riding roller-coaster
The stock price of the antivirus software company founded by Ahn Cheol-soo in 1995 has surged since he was first touted as a potential presidential candidate in early September, leading to fortunes for early investors and shareholder-employees.But analysts have warned of continuing fluctuation in AhnLab’s share price, which they say has far exceeded its proper value.Shares in the company, which was listed in 2001, averaged slightly higher than 20,000 won in the first eight months of the year bef
Nov. 22, 2011
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Donations now part of political discourse
Public not so enthusiastic about presidential hopefuls’ ‘calculated’ acts of givingOn Nov. 15, a throng of reporters waited in front of a graduate school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, armed with questions for a man who had returned to the political limelight after pledging to donate a chunk of his wealth to society.As soon as he got out of his car, Ahn Cheol-soo, dean of Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, was surrounded by journalists asking about t
Nov. 22, 2011
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Panel recommends inter-Korean talks over Geumgang tours
Advises government to address North’s confiscation of assets at mountain resort A presidential advisory panel on national reunification has recommended to President Lee Myung-bak inter-Korean talks for the resumption of tours to the Mount Geumgang resort in North Korea.The recommendation by the National Unification Advisory Council came as Seoul has softened its hard-line stance toward Pyongyang in efforts to improve ties that turned sour following two deadly attacks last year.“Although the Nort
Nov. 22, 2011
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DLP lawmarker fills chamber with tear gas in protest against FTA
Rep. Kim Sun-dong (center at the podium) of the Democratic Labor Party stands in silent protest after detonating a tear gas grenade and dousing himself with the powder to block the approval of the free trade agreement with the U.S. in the National Assembly on Tuesday (Park Hyun-ku/The Korea Herald)
Nov. 22, 2011
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Assembly ratifies US FTA as GNP rams through motion
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the long-pending Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, with the ruling Grand National Party pressing ahead with the ratification process despite vehement objection from opposition parties.Upbraiding the majority GNP and the government for “unilateral action,” the m
Nov. 22, 2011