Most Popular
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1 in 3 Koreans live alone, family types becoming diverse
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Korea, Japan finance chiefs vow to tame rampant FX market volatility
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US 'incredibly concerned' about suspected NK-Iran military ties
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K-pop group's manager dismissed for setting up spycam in theater dressing room
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K-pop singer lost consciousness after being hit by foul ball, cancels show
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Korean Muslim YouTuber's plan to build mosque in Incheon goes viral
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[Kim Seong-kon] Democracy and the future of South Korea
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Yoon's office denies considering liberal figures for key posts
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Why is Apple Pay struggling to get purchase in Korea?
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Seoul says Fu Bao loan 'not going to happen'
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Korea-Sri Lanka ties near 40th anniversary
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Korea, Sri Lanka is enhancing its partnership with Korea and promoting itself as an attractive investment destination in the Indian Ocean. The island country has registered annual growth of 6 percent over the last 10 years, and presents itself as a logistics hub linking East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. As the nation aims to shore up foreign investment, boost international trade and switch to a
Jan. 31, 2016
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Taekwondo bridges ASEAN, Korean youths
The ASEAN-Korea Center and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation held a training camp for the youths of Southeast Asia and Korea in late January. The event at Taekwondowon in Muju, North Jeolla Province, from Jan. 25-30 gathered 55 students from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who partnered with Korean young people. Sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, the venue aimed at fostering friendship and education. Participants learned the martial art’s basic postures, stretching techn
Jan. 31, 2016
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‘TPP membership would synergize Korean, Japanese economies’
Korea’s prospective membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership would go beyond eliminating tariffs, closely linking its economy with Japan and shoring up its competitiveness within an interconnected global value chain, an influential economist has said. As a “platinum standard” agreement instantly abolishing 87.4 percent of tariffs on items and 81.3 percent on export volume, the accord was reached on Oct. 5 last year between 12 Pacific Rim countries ― the U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico,
Jan. 31, 2016
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[Photo News] Lunar New Year coming
A traditional market in Busan is crowded with shoppers Sunday ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. (Yonhap)
Jan. 31, 2016
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Despite apology, Japan denies mobilizing WWII sex slaves
Despite a much-touted deal with Seoul and an apology to the “comfort women,” Tokyo was found Sunday to have once again denied the forcible nature of its mobilization of sex slaves during World War II in a formal U.N. document. The Japanese government on Jan. 29 submitted a response to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, a group of 23 independent experts which has posed a list of questions on its handling of women’s rights issues including the conscription of sex sla
Jan. 31, 2016
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Japan formally denies coercion of wartime sex slaves in U.N.
Japan has submitted its official position denying the forced nature of the Japanese military's sex slavery of Asian women during World War II to a U.N.organization after signing a deal with South Korea on the issue last month, according to a U.N. Website monitored Sunday.The move prompted speculation that Tokyo may have begun efforts to spread its position against the forced nature of the wartime sex slavery throughout the international community. Japan has emphasized that the deal settled the d
Jan. 31, 2016
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Park boasts of birthday gifts from Chinese fans
President Park Geun-hye unveiled a set of birthday presents from Chinese fans via Facebook on Saturday, expressing gratitude for their support. The package from GH-League was to celebrate her Feb. 2 birthday and included a picture calendar and 64-page photo book also containing a letter, poem and caricatures of her, Cheong Wa Dae said.Launched in July 2013 and with some 23,000 members, the group sent similar items last year. “I sincerely appreciate that many Chinese have been conveying much inte
Jan. 31, 2016
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[HERALD INTERVIEW] New United States administration likely to end strategic patience on North Korea: scholar
The next U.S. government may shift from its North Korea policy called “strategic patience,” which has so far failed to curb the communist regime’s nuclear program and lacked a grand vision, said a U.S. scholar.John Ikenberry, a political scientist at Princeton University, also noted that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan need to move forward with tougher sanctions against North Korea despite China’s apparent reluctance. John Ikenberry (Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald)“Now that we (U.S.) will have a new
Jan. 31, 2016
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Park receives photo book, calendar from Chinese fans
President Park Geun-hye has received a photo book and a desk calendar from her Chinese fans ahead of her birthday, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday.The 64-page photo book features Park's photos taken last year, poems and congratulatory letters for Park's birthday that falls on Feb. 2.The desk calendar also features Park's photos, the presidential office said."I will always keep you in my mind," Park said in a Facebook post.Park wished her Chinese fans blessings and joy on the Lunar New Year and expre
Jan. 31, 2016
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In diplomatic flurry, Park mulls Iran visit
President Park Geun-hye (second from left) YonhapPresident Park Geun-hye is considering visiting Iran amid growing concerns that South Korea is lagging behind its neighbors and other countries in courting the Islamic republic for economic cooperation after international sanctions were scrapped earlier this month.“I understand that President Park is considering a visit to Iran,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk told reporters. “I will gi
Jan. 27, 2016
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In diplomatic flurry, Park considers Iran visit
President Park Geun-hye is considering visiting Iran amid growing concerns that South Korea is lagging behind its neighbors and other countries in courting the Islamic republic for economic cooperation after international sanctions were scrapped earlier this month.“I understand that President Park is considering a visit to Iran,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk told reporters. “I will give you details (about her potential visit) when everything is finalized.”Should Park decide to go to
Jan. 27, 2016
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Beauty of Budapest, Seoul captured through foreign lenses
A photographic exhibition featuring the cultural idiosyncrasies and vibrant lifestyles of Budapest and Seoul is running at the Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul until Feb. 20. The venue ― “A Tale of Two Cities: Budapest and Seoul” ― is a collaboration between Hungarian photographer Gergely Szatmari and Korean photographer Kim Jin-seok. They traveled to each other’s capital in spring last year for over a month, from which they produced and selected 100 photographs for the exhibition. In trying to
Jan. 24, 2016
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EU, Korea up engagement for sustainable future
On the back of the European Union-Korea free trade agreement that entered into full force last year, the two sides are deepening engagement as important parties in regional and global issues, the EU Ambassador to Korea said last week. The bilateral accord has gradually come into effect since July 1, 2011, and fully entered into force on Dec. 13. It eliminates 99 percent of duties on both sides within five years and covers non-tariff barriers. More than 35 bilateral consultation channels run thro
Jan. 24, 2016
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AUSTRALIAN CHERRIES
AUSTRALIAN CHERRIES -- Fresh Australian cherries imported from Tasmania are available in Korea until early February. The cherries are grown organically free from pesticides, and have a rich flavor from its long harvest. Imports of Australian cherries have surged sharply from 9 tons in 2013 to 232 tons last year, after the Korea-Australia free trade agreement entered into force in December 2014. In the picture (from left to right) are Australian Senior Trade Commissioner Brett Cooper, Australian
Jan. 24, 2016
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Lawmakers, EU envoys discuss N.K. at National Assembly
Twenty-two ambassadors and diplomats of the European Union based in Seoul spoke with the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee last week to discuss the ongoing North Korean nuclear threats, inter-Korean relations and foreign policy. In a luncheon meeting Thursday organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won, chairwoman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, the envoys stressed the EU’s united stance in condemning Pyongyang for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, and its commitment to pressu
Jan. 24, 2016
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Azerbaijan remembers ‘Black January’ massacre
The Azerbaijani Embassy held a memorial last week to commemorate the massacre that eventually sparked the country’s independence from the Soviet Union.Known as Black January, the event annually marks the martyrdom of 137 Azeri citizens, who were killed by Soviet troops from Jan. 20-21, 1990. Armed with rifles and tanks, some 26,000 soldiers stormed the capital Baku to murder, torture and imprison demonstrators who demanded national freedom.The bloody crackdown, enforced under a martial law decre
Jan. 24, 2016
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FM Yun, Kerry reaffirm strong response to N. Korea's nuke test
SEOUL (Yonhap) – South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday discussed "specific ways" to enact a strong punishment against North Korea for its recent nuclear test, Yun's ministry said.They spoke on the phone for about 20 minutes, as Kerry plans to visit Beijing later this week.Yun and Kerry "discussed specific ways to push for the strongest and most comprehensive sanctions on North Korea at the U.N. Security Council" to make it pay a price for the
Jan. 24, 2016
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Korea urges Japan to resolve history issues for regional cooperation
South Korea has urged Japan to work toward resolving historical disputes to further regional cooperation in Asia, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan of the ruling Saenuri Party, a special envoy of President Park Geun-hye, made the remarks at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos that ran through Saturday. Choi said the historical disputes with Japan must be resolved to establish the economic cooperation system of East Asian countries.Choi also called for gl
Jan. 24, 2016
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Korea denounces Japan for Dokdo claim
South Korea called on Japan Friday to drop its reckless claim to sovereignty over a pair of rocky islets in the East Sea.It was responding to a Tokyo speech by Japan's top diplomat Fumio Kishida. He reiterated that Dokdo belong to Japan and said his government will deliver the position constantly.In a statement, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said it can't help deploring Kishida's repeat of such an "unfair claim.""(We) urge the Japanese government to immediately abandon its reckless claim to Dokdo, wh
Jan. 22, 2016
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Abe says South Korea, Japan share 'strategic interests'
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described South Korea on Friday as his country's "most important neighbor that shares strategic interests," an expression reflecting the mood of improved bilateral ties.In his annual policy speech in parliament, Abe pointed out that Seoul and Tokyo have put an end to a longstanding source of conflict with a deal on the "comfort women" issue late last month.Under the agreement, Japan admitted that it's responsible for the sexual enslavement of many Korean women
Jan. 22, 2016