Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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KT launches new mobile plans for foreign residents
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[Newsmaker] Court approves arrest warrant for ex-conglomerate chairman over sexual assault charges
A Seoul court on Saturday approved an arrest warrant for Kim Jun-ki, former chairman of DB Group, over alleged sexual assaults. The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant, saying among other things that the charges are significant and there is a possibility of Kim attempting to destroy evidence.Kim, 74, is suspected of sexually assaulting his personal secretary multiple times between February and July in 2017. She filed a complaint later that year. He was also accused in early
Oct. 26, 2019
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Samsung heir’s bribery retrial begins
Samsung Group’s de facto chief Lee Jae-yong’s retrial began Friday at a high court, after the top court ordered a review of his bribery sentence in connection with a corruption scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. Grim-faced, Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, appeared before the appeals court at 9:29 a.m. to attend the first hearing, 627 days after he was released from prison when an appeals court suspended his sentence. In August, t
Oct. 25, 2019
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Prosecutors probe former liberal politician Rhyu Si-min
The prosecution embarked on an investigation into writer and YouTuber Rhyu Si-min for allegedly spreading false information during his YouTube show.According to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday, a civic group filed a complaint with the prosecution on Tuesday against the former lawmaker on several charges, including libel and obstruction of official duties.The group -- its name roughly translatable to the committee on the measures for the people’s livelihood --
Oct. 25, 2019
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Prosecution to reinvestigate 'burger patty' scandal involving McDonald's
The prosecution has decided to reinvestigate the local unit of McDonald's over allegations that undercooked burgers sold at its restaurants caused illness among some customers, officials said Friday. Reversing its 2018 decision to drop the related charges, state prosecutors said they will resume the probe into the so-called burger patty scandal over a complaint filed by groups of consumer rights activists in January.Public uproar over the scandal began in July 2017, when the mother of a 5-year-o
Oct. 25, 2019
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Fire kills man in 30s in Yeongdeungpo
A man died from a fire at an apartment-and-store complex in the western Seoul on Friday morning.At 5:15 a.m. Friday, Yeongdeungpo Fire Station responded to a fire at the basement floor of a five-story building in Dangsan-dong, according to the fire authorities. The fire was completely extinguished at around 6 a.m.A man in his 30s was discovered unconscious by the fire fighters near the back door on the first basement floor, but he died on his way to the hospital, the fire agency said. No other i
Oct. 25, 2019
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Suncheon Peace Declaration adopted at Suncheon Peace Forum
International peace experts gathered in Suncheon, a South Jeolla Province city about 415 kilometers south of Seoul, this week to attend the 2019 Suncheon Peace Forum, municipal officials said Friday. After wrapping up the forum at the Suncheon Bay International Wetland Center on Thursday, Suncheon Mayor Heo Seok announced the Suncheon Peace Declaration calling for the world to support a peace process under way on the Korean Peninsula, they said. Key forum participants incl
Oct. 25, 2019
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Bus crash into passenger car kills 1 high school student in Seoul
A school bus carrying 12 high school students crashed into a passenger car at an intersection in Seoul's Songpa Ward on Friday, killing at least one and leaving 11 others injured, police said. In the accident that occurred around 7:26 a.m., the bus traveled in the opposite lane before colliding into a sport utility vehicle that was waiting for a traffic signal.The injured students, including two in serious condition, were transferred to a nearby hospital. One of the critically injured students,
Oct. 25, 2019
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Farmers protest Seoul's decision to abandon developing country status
South Korean farmers held a rally in Seoul on Friday demanding the government withdraw the decision to abandon its developing country status in the World Trade Organization (WTO).Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki announced the plan earlier in the day, which farmers fear will force the country to scrap subsidies and tariffs that protect its agricultural industry in future negotiations."If we give up the developing country status, we will have to cut the agricultural subsidies by half, and the Uni
Oct. 25, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Samsung heir appears before court in bribery case
Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong appeared before a court Friday for a Supreme Court-ordered reconsideration of his bribery case that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye in 2017. Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone and chip maker, said he "feels very sorry for causing concern to many people" before entering the Seoul High Court to attend the first hearing. The grim-faced Lee arrived at the court compound in a black suit at 9:29 a.m.Lee
Oct. 25, 2019
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[Eye Plus] Gingko season
Gingko trees that line streets and parks in South Korea have many benefits. They are easy to grow, require virtually no maintenance once established and are tolerant of pollution. The seeds, harvested in fall, are believed to be good for the brain and for blood circulation. On top of that, the leaves turn a spectacular fall color, providing a chance to enjoy the season’s beauty right in the middle of a busy city. The treat, however, comes at a cost. Female gingko trees produ
Oct. 25, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Several wild boars sighted in southeastern Seoul
Several sightings of wild boars were reported in the Gangdong and Songpa districts of Seoul between Wednesday and Thursday morning, the local fire station said.Songpa Fire Station said it received the first call around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday about two baby boars near Asan Medical Center. The boars could not be found when firefighters arrived on the scene. Five more boar sightings were reported over the night within the vicinity of Gangdong and Songpa through 7:20 a.m. Thursday. At around mi
Oct. 24, 2019
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[Newsmaker] CJ scion gets suspended sentence for drug charges
The heir apparent to South Korean food and entertainment conglomerate CJ was released Thursday after receiving a suspended sentence on drug charges.The Incheon District Court handed Lee Sun-ho, the eldest son of group chairman Lee Jay-hyun, a three-year prison term, suspended for four years. The court did not sentence Lee to probation or drug treatment."Drugs, including marijuana, pose severe harm to society due to their addictive and hallucinogenic nature," Judge Song Hyun-kyung said.
Oct. 24, 2019
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Seoul becomes dog slaughter-free
Seoul is to become completely free from dog slaughter this month after all dog-butchering businesses in the city agreed to stop the practice, the city government said Thursday. A total of eight remaining dog slaughter facilities at Gyeongdong Market and Jungang Market halted their dog slaughter operations and three more agreed to stop it within the month, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Their promises, however, are not legally binding, as there are no laws to ban dog meat o
Oct. 24, 2019
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George Mason University launches peace studies center in Incheon
George Mason University Korea launched the Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia and hosted an annual symposium on peace on the Korean Peninsula at its Incheon Global Campus, the university said Thursday.Sponsored by the UniKorea Foundation, the Incheon Free Economic Zone and the Korea Association of Military Studies, the annual international symposium brought together some 200 scholars, experts and government officials.Titled “The Korean Peninsula and the Vision of Peace: From Division t
Oct. 24, 2019
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S. Korea confirms 14th outbreak of ASF from wild boars near border with N. Korea
South Korea's quarantine authorities on Thursday confirmed two more outbreaks of African swine fever from wild boars near the border with North Korea, increasing the total number of cases to 14.The latest confirmed cases were reported within a civilian control line near the border, according to the Ministry of Environment. In contrast, no additional ASF infections from local pig farms have been reported since the 14th case was confirmed on Oct. 9. So far, all confirmed cases from wild and
Oct. 24, 2019
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Ex-justice minister's wife arrested, prosecution emboldened amid reform pressure
The wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk was arrested Thursday in a court decision that is expected to add traction to the prosecution's probe into charges over her daughter's college admission and a financial investment.It will likely give additional ammunition to state prosecutors apparently zeroing in on Cho, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in and an architect of far-reaching prosecution reform plans.Following a hourslong hearing a day earlier, a Seoul court approved an arrest warrant f
Oct. 24, 2019
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Police to bolster security following US envoy residence break-in
South Korean police on Wednesday announced measures to step up security at foreign ambassador residences here following a break-in of the US ambassador's home.The move by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency includes providing clubs and capsaicin sprays to officers guarding embassies and ambassador residences.The police also affirmed that officers have been given orders to swiftly arrest people attempting to break into diplomatic compounds regardless of their sex. Regarding the US ambassador res
Oct. 23, 2019
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Taxi drivers call for ban on Tada ride-hailing service
Seoul's taxi drivers urged parliament to make a new law to ban a rapidly growing ride-hailing service called Tada during a massive rally in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido Wednesday.According to the Seoul Taxi Association, about 15,000 taxi drivers attended the outdoor rally to protest against the business expansion plan of Tada, an app-based van-hailing service operated by mobility startup Value Creators & Company, and to call for parliamentary efforts to block the service.The tax
Oct. 23, 2019
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Former conglomerate chairman arrested on suspicion of sexual assaults
A South Korean business tycoon accused of sexually assaulting two women was arrested early Wednesday upon his return from the United States two years after the probe began. Kim Jun-ki, 74, former chairman of DB Group, is suspected of sexually assaulting his personal secretary multiple times between February and July in 2017. She filed a complaint later in the year.He was also accused in early 2018 of raping a housemaid in his vacation home multiple times between February 2016 and January 2
Oct. 23, 2019
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Lotte founder spared jail
The prosecution announced its decision Wednesday to permit a stay of execution on health grounds for ailing Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho, who would otherwise have had to serve time in prison. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling sentencing him to three years in prison and a fine of 3 billion won ($2.55 million) for dereliction of duty and embezzlement. After the court’s decision, Shin’s lawyer requested the stay of execution, citing the 97-year-old&rsqu
Oct. 23, 2019