Most Popular
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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S. Korean children, teens grow taller, mature faster than before: study
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Army takes group action against Hybe for neglecting BTS
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[Graphic News] Number of coffee franchises in S. Korea rises 13%
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Some junior doctors are returning: Health Ministry
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[Robert J. Fouser] AI changes rationale for learning languages
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Ador CEO's request for exclusive right to terminate NewJeans' contract with Hybe refused in February
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Woman dangling from power lines rescued by residents holding blanket
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Top court backs sacking of stem cell scientist Hwang
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Seoul National University’s dismissal of Hwang Woo-suk was justifiable, marking an end to a nine-year legal battle for the scientist whose fabrication of his stem cell research had tarnished his reputation.The top court upended its original ruling in 2014 that the SNU ruling was fair as Hwang’s actions “eroded people’s trust in SNU and the entire science circle.”In 2006, the SNU dismissed the veterinarian and cloning expert after he was found to have fak
Dec. 23, 2015
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Hailing cab late at night a challenge in winter
A line of people, intoxicated and weary from the festivities of year-end parties, shiver outside Itaewon Station in central Seoul on a cold December night, trying to hail taxis. The seemingly insignificant task proves to be daunting, as a parade of cabs rush past them in search of passengers looking to travel long distance. “Where are you headed?” a driver asks a potential passenger, before speeding away at his mention of a destination 20 minutes away. Local taxi drivers’ tendency to cherry-pick
Dec. 23, 2015
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South Korea to monitor absent students for possible domestic abuse
Following a high profile child abuse case this week reported in Incheon, where a father confined his 11-year-old daughter at home and continually abused her for more than two years, the South Korean government is launching a special investigation nationwide next month on all schoolchildren absent from school for more than a week. “Normally, when a child is absent for no specific reason for more than a week, a teacher is required to call his or her parents,” said Kim Il-yeol from the Division of
Dec. 23, 2015
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Petition against Japan normalization treaty dismissed
The Constitutional Court refused Wednesday to review a petition by a Korean woman who challenged the constitutionality of a 1965 treaty to normalize ties between Seoul and Tokyo on the grounds that the treaty limited individual rights to seek compensation for colonial-era forced labor. The Constitutional Court delivers a ruling over the constitutionality of a 1965 treaty to normalize relations between Seoul and Tokyo on Wednesday. (Yonhap)Under the treaty, Tokyo offered Seoul $5 million in free
Dec. 23, 2015
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Court allows changes to national IDs
The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that a law barring South Koreans from changing their resident registration numbers was unconstitutional.The court said the current law on resident registration numbers excessively violates citizens’ basic rights to make decisions about their own personal information, ordering the government to present a revision by the end of 2017. “It is an excessive violation of rights that the government does not allow Koreans to change their resident numbers regardles
Dec. 23, 2015
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Korea’s first-ever multicultural library faces shutdown over budget shortfall
On the second floor of an old building in Dongdaemun-gu, eastern Seoul, children sit scattered around the floor of a small library, reading. Behind them are walls of bookshelves filled with colorful books. In the next room, others play board games, while in the third room a small group of children intently watch volunteer teachers instructing them how to make creative objects out of large board papers using scissors and glue.“I come here every day after school. I usually read books or play with
Dec. 23, 2015
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Korea unveils 2nd phase of climate change measures
The Seoul government on Wednesday released the second phase of its climate change adaptation measures for the next five years, aimed to reduce potential climate change risks and better protect the public health.The Environment Ministry released the measures set up in four categories -- technology, public health, industry and nature. The measures will be implemented starting from next year. Fine dust adds to the smog in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, Wednesday. (Yonhap)The first long-term plan was la
Dec. 23, 2015
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English Village classes beef up public education
With only about 80 million native Korean speakers worldwide, South Korea’s current potential to interact globally is limited. It’s no surprise then that the nation has taken an active interest in providing English education programs for its students. Public schools currently offer a standardized English curriculum. Parents, however, do not feel that it is substantial. They recognize the benefits associated with having their child study English and they seek additional resources. Casondra KoufosA
Dec. 23, 2015
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Top court confirms dismissal of SNU cloning scientist
The dismissal of disgraced stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk by Seoul National University is legal, the top court ruled Wednesday, putting the final nail in the coffin of a scandal that rattled the nation in the late 2000s.In articles published in the journal Science between 2004 and 2005, Hwang claimed to have succeeded at creating the world's first cloned human embryo, a breakthrough extolled by the nation and the scientific community.Hwang, however, did not provide any verifiable data to bac
Dec. 23, 2015
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2 injured soldiers awarded medals for response to North Korea's mine attacks
Two South Korean soldiers severely injured in North Korea's land-mine attack in August were awarded national orders Wednesday for their "bravery and contributions" to national security, the Army said. Army Staff Sgt. Kim Jung-won, 23, lost his right leg on Aug. 4 after stepping on a land mine buried by North Korea on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone.Following surgery and rehabilitation, Kim returned to the Army with a prosthetic leg in early December.The other injured soldier, 21-
Dec. 23, 2015
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Refugees from Myanmar arrive in Korea for resettlement
A total of 22 ethnic Karen refugees from Myanmar arrived in South Korea, officials said Wednesday, becoming the first beneficiaries of Seouls new resettlement program for refugees.The refugees, four different families, had been staying at refugee camps in Thailand to avoid suppression in Myanmar before being allowed to fly to South Korea. The refugees will be provided with F-2 residency visas, Justice Ministry officials said.Education, among other reasons, led them to choose South Korea as their
Dec. 23, 2015
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Korea's childbirths edge up in Oct.
The number of childbirths in South Korea rose in October after falling for two straight months, a government report showed Wednesday, a positive development for a country struggling with an aging population.In October, some 36,900 babies were born, up 1.1 percent from the same month last year, according to the report from Statistics Korea.The rebound follows newborn numbers falling 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent in August and September, respectively. South Korea, whose population is expected to pea
Dec. 23, 2015
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Korea to declare end to MERS threat 7 months after first outbreak
South Korea is to formally declare an end to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome health threat at midnight Wednesday, more than seven months after the first case was confirmed in the country, the government said.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the decision follows guidelines set by the World Health Organization that states an "end of transmission" can be declared 28 days after the death of the last MERS-infected patient.The 28 days takes into account the maximum incubation period for ME
Dec. 23, 2015
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Cause of collective pneumonia outbreak identified in South Korea
Health authorities on Tuesday identified the bacteria that may have caused the collective pneumonia outbreak that took place at Konkuk University in Seoul and affected 55 students beginning from October. According to the Health Ministry, the bacteria was identified as Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, which causes hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammation of the alveoli within the lung triggered by inhaled organic dust. The sufferers are known to have been commonly exposed to the dust during t
Dec. 23, 2015
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Textbook row taken to Constitutional Court
South Korean civic groups on Tuesday filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court against the government for “infringing upon the impartiality of education” by taking over the publication rights for secondary education history textbooks.Minbyun, or Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said it made the appeal against the Education Ministry’s recent plan to reinstate government-issued textbooks from 2017, a contentious plan that has stoked opposition from mainly the progressive faction and much of the
Dec. 22, 2015
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Nearly 70% survive 5 years after cancer diagnosis in South Korea
Almost 70 percent of Korean patients who were diagnosed with cancer from 2009-2013 have survived or are expected to survive at least five years after their initial diagnosis, a newly released government report showed Tuesday. The survival rate, 69.4 percent, is an increase of 15.6 percentage points over the rate for patients who were diagnosed from 2001-2005, which was 53.8 percent. The increased number of Koreans engaged in regular health checkups and healthier lifestyles, as well as a decrease
Dec. 22, 2015
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Seoul to simplify pollution controls
The central government will simplify the system for controlling pollution-generating facilities starting from 2017 as part of its efforts to reduce unnecessary procedural issues and lessen the burdens of businesses, officials said Tuesday. For this, the Environment Ministry said it would integrate polution permit systems. Currently, up to 10 types of separate permissions are required to run one pollution-generating facility. The permissions range from air pollution to water quality.The new syste
Dec. 22, 2015
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Nigerian falsely accused, denied right to legal defense: watchdog
South Korea’s human rights watchdog said Tuesday that police and prosecutors were recently cautioned for denying foreign suspects’ rights to self-defense by detaining an African man for 12 days without contacting his embassy. According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, police and prosecutors arrested a Nigerian and detained him for 12 days, ignoring his multiple requests to contact the Nigerian Embassy. Police arrested the man, who was at the time on the wanted list, on a theft
Dec. 22, 2015
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Korea revives Universal Studio theme park project
South Korea on Tuesday announced a consortium involving Chinese investors as a preferred bidder to build a theme park in partnership with U.S.-based Universal Parks and Resorts, reviving the project after a three-year hiatus.The state-run Korea Water Resources Corporation said it chose the multinational consortium consisting of Daewoo Engineering & Construction and Dohwa Engineering of Korea as well as China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China's largest construction company, and Ho
Dec. 22, 2015
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Pastor faces trial over security law breach
Prosecutors said Tuesday that they have indicted a progressive pastor on charges of violating South Korea's National Security Law.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said the 51-year-old, identified only by his surname Kim, is suspected of making reports to a North Korean agent on domestic situations in return for money.He is also accused of meeting with the agent in China three times and of pledging allegiance to the North.The pastor also allegedly read North Korean books and studied
Dec. 22, 2015