Most Popular
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[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
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[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
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Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
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Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
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[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
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[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
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Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
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S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
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North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
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Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
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[Editorial] East Sea campaign
Korea has lodged a formal protest with the U.S. government for ignoring its request that it use both “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan” in calling the body of water between Korea and Japan. The East Sea is Korea’s preferred name for the maritime area.According to reports, the U.S. government has confirme
Aug. 10, 2011
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[Editorial] Irrational politicians
To leaders of the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, the twin sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the United States is a fire on the other side of the river. They are watching the flames without bothering to find out what caused it or learn its lessons.The main cau
Aug. 10, 2011
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[Editorial] Tolerance and leniency
The Republic of Korea proves to have one of the loosest systems regarding military secrets among nations with strong armed forces. Its court also deserves note for its leniency on cases involving leak of military secrets, quite discomforting fact in a country that faces constant threats from a most
Aug. 9, 2011
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[Editorial] Free lunch referendum
Two weeks are left until the referendum on free school lunch in Seoul. The capital city will now be engulfed in raging campaigns that will force every resident to define their ideological orientation in the heated contest between the left and right.The referendum is a costly affair; citizens feel so
Aug. 9, 2011
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[Editorial] Ahn Chul-soo syndrome
Ahn Chul-soo, 49, a medical doctor-turned-software businessman, is the Korean version of Bill Gates plus Michael Sandel. Currently the dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, he runs the Ahn Chul-soo Research Institute, the largest software enter
Aug. 8, 2011
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[Editorial] North in transition?
Amid the general bleakness in inter-Korean relations, there are reports of some signs of change in the North. For one, Pyongyang has refrained from verbally attacking President Lee Myung-bak from the beginning of this month. Since the summer of 2008, North Korea’s official mouthpieces had called Pre
Aug. 8, 2011
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[Editorial] U.S. rating downgrade
In a surprise move, Standard & Poor’s has lowered the credit rating of the United States by one notch from the highest “AAA” level to “AA+.” The unprecedented rating downgrade is expected to have far-reaching effects on Korea and the global economy as it could hinder the U.S. economic recovery and a
Aug. 7, 2011
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[Editorial] Auditing universities
The Board of Audit and Inspection starts a three-week audit of 31 private junior colleges and universities throughout the nation next week. All private higher education institutions will be called on to use the outcome of the audit as a reference when they are setting tuition fees. It should also se
Aug. 5, 2011
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[Editorial] Tolerance wearing out
A labor dispute that must be settled by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction has now evolved into a major political conflict. It has become a rallying point for scattered opposition parties as well as dissident groups, imposing a heavy burden on the ruling party and its pro-business lawmakers in
Aug. 5, 2011
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[Editorial] Wrong traditions
Even before the National Assembly’s confirmation hearing started for the appointment of the new prosecutor-general, some top-ranked prosecutors retired ― just to follow the tradition that has persisted not only in the prosecution but in most other organizations with hierarchical structures in Korea.
Aug. 4, 2011
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[Editorial] Illegal immigrants
Korea is heading to a multicultural society. The nation needs the influx of foreigners to maintain industries and homes. Migrant workers are active in growing areas of manufacturing and service businesses, including high-tech ones. One out of every 10 marriages has a foreign-born bride. However, acc
Aug. 4, 2011
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[Editorial] Privatizing airport
Management, be it of an airport or a utility, is generally more efficient in the hands of private enterprises aiming at minimizing waste and maximizing profits. In this regard, it is better to privatize Incheon International Airport, as the government plans to do in the near future, than to keep it
Aug. 3, 2011
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[Editorial] Leave companies alone
Minister of Knowledge and Economy Choi Joong-kyung invited legitimate complaints from the business community again when he called on large corporations on Saturday to cut executive pay and use the savings to create jobs. His remarks were received as an unwarranted act of government intervention in t
Aug. 3, 2011
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[Editorial] A disturbing comedy
The three Japanese Diet members who were turned back from Gimpo Airport nine hours after arriving in Korea Monday morning may still feel their airport-to-airport trip was politically rewarding. But they will be only remembered here for having performed a comedy, a very disturbing one at that, disapp
Aug. 2, 2011
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[Editorial] Jeju naval project
As the Navy is about to resume the work to build a major naval base on the southern coast of Jeju Island near Seogwipo Port, tension rises between the authorities and residents. In the four years since the project took shape, the resentment of residents and the patience of government authorities hav
Aug. 2, 2011
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[Editorial] Espionage investigation
Reports of the ongoing investigation into an alleged espionage network for North Korea brings us to a dj vu of the 1960s or 70s when the authorities occasionally, or rather frequently, exposed subversive groups maneuvering to collect information here and topple the government on orders from Pyongyan
Aug. 1, 2011
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[Editorial] ‘Hope Bus’ protests
The “Hope Bus” demonstrations near a shipyard of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction in Busan last weekend ended without serious disturbances. But turmoil can resume any time as a coalition of leftist groups has chosen the labor trouble at the midsized shipbuilding company as a rallying poi
Aug. 1, 2011
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[Editorial] Cyber attacks again
Korean businesses, financial institutions and government agencies have been frequently targets of hacking in the past. It is like an epidemic. The latest case involves SK Communications, which runs the Cyworld social networking website and the Nate online portal.The hackers, whose attacks reportedly originated in China, stole personal information of 35 million clients of Cyworld and Nate last week
July 31, 2011
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[Editorial] No extra session?
August, a sultry month for holidaymaking, may not be amenable to engaging in heated political deals. But that is what lawmakers are required to do, with the National Assembly statutorily required to open a special session on each even-numbered month prior to September when a 100-day regular session starts.Moreover, the National Assembly needs to act on as many pending bills as possible during the
July 31, 2011
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[Editorial] Folly or posturing?
Savings banks’ depositors are protected by deposit insurance, not in full but in part, from losses caused by the inability of the non-banking institutions to pay their liabilities when they are due. Deposit insurance is designed to promote financial stability by protecting depositors and, by doing so, forestalling bank runs.But the downside is the moral hazard it causes. It encourages depositors a
July 29, 2011