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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[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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S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
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[Weekender] Universiade pursues eco, peace, IT, culture
Universiade Gwangju 2015 pursues four visions: eco, peace, information technology and culture. Organizers have named the 2015 Universiade Ecoversiade, Peaceversiade, ITversiade and Cultureversiade, summing them up with the acronym EPIC.Guided by the vision of Ecoversiade, Gwangju has tried to preserve the environment by using as many existing sports facilities as possible. The host city has refurbished 97 percent of the 73 competition venues, while constructing a swimming pool and a few other fa
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Athletes from 148 countries to vie for glory
Some 14,000 athletes and officials from about 170 countries will participate in the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju, July 3-14.They will compete for 272 gold medals at stake in 21 sports ― 13 compulsory and eight optional.The compulsory sports are athletics, artistic gymnastics, baseball, basketball, fencing, football, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. The organizers chose archery, badminton, baseball, golf, handball, rowing, shooting and ta
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] World-renowned competitors vie for gold
World-renowned athletes have gathered in Gwangju for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the biennial university sports competition organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).As some 13,000 athletes from about 150 countries are competing for 272 gold medals in 21 sports disciplines at Universiade Gwangju 2015, a number of world champions are expected to take the lead in their respective sports.From artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and archery to basketball, di
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Korean stars to watch at Universiade
There are quite a few must-watch Korean athletes at the 28th Universiade 2015 in Gwangju. Some of them are already familiar to sports fans, while others have kept a relatively low-profile. Here are some notable athletes to watch out for.Son Yon-jae in rhythmic gymnasticsSon Yon-jae, the darling of Korean gymnastics fans, has been the face of Korean women’s rhythmic gymnastics since age 15, when she won bronze in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Since then, the 20-year
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Let the games begin
The Gwangju Universiade opened with a bang at its main stadium Friday.Under the event’s slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow,” traditional Korean percussion musicians and a Western marching band celebrated the opening of the games with thrilling performances. Dancers then took to the stage to perform a traditional mock battle.The opening ceremony of the Gwangju Universiade is under way on Friday. (Yonhap)The performances depicted the beauty of the host city and the historical significance of Mount Mudeu
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Universiade all about uniting young people: ceremony director
The Gwangju Universiade opening ceremony was designed to unite young people from all over the world and encourage them to work for peace and harmony, according to Park Myung-sung, chief director of the event’s opening ceremony. Attended by more than 13,000 university students from 148 countries, the event was held under the slogan of “U are Shining.” The official theme of the opening ceremony epitomizes the spirit of youth and brings hopes and passion to young people. “(Through the theme) I want
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Chef helped turn quiet street into dining mecca
Just a short stroll away from the bustling multicultural neighborhood of Seoul’s Itaewon lies the lesser-known, yet trend-setting street of Gyeongnidan-gil.A short walk from Noksapyeong Station, this stretch of road is filled with craft breweries, terrace cafes, unique restaurants and quaint shops steeped in culture and creativity. Located two blocks away from the main streets of this up-and-coming neighborhood is a narrow alley, nestled away in a residential district that is even further off th
FoodJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Charms and concerns of artistic districts
In recent years, Seoul’s Yeonnam-dong and Mullae-dong areas have risen as havens for struggling artists and free-spirited entrepreneurs. Located near enough the bustling Hongdae district to attract visitors but far enough to be removed from the noise of the area’s wild nightlife and expensive real estate prices, the neighborhoods have been seeing a growing number of artistic tenants and tourists for the past five years or so. According to Song Hye-jung, Yeonnam-dong’s charm lies not only in its
CultureJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Jejudo, Songdo, Busan beckon with romantic youth hangouts
You may get a glimpse of taste of the latest trends in Korea if you travel Jejudo Island, Busan or Songdo in Incheon. Challenging the old beach vacation formula, with tons of almost-identical seafood restaurants, Woljeong-ri Beach in Jejudo is accompanies by a boulevard of cafes, boasting unique interior designs and localized menus. “I dropped by to spend a few relaxing hours at the beach, to feel the ocean breeze and have fun in a comfortable way,” a soldier in his 20s said at a cafe on the bea
June 26, 2015
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[Weekender] The rise of ‘ordinary places’ as hot spots
On Wednesday afternoon, 23-year-old university student Kim Eun-young and her friend Lee Ha-young strolled the narrow alleys of Chebu-dong in Jongno-gu of Seoul. They had a meal at the Tongin traditional market and sipped coffee while looking around the neighborhood, busily taking pictures. Instead of high-rises, the neighborhood is crammed with one- or two-story buildings, many in an early 20th century-style. The interior is decorated in European styles, with mostly bare wood or white and pastel
CultureJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Hidden hot spots in Seoul
While places like Myeong-dong, Garosu-gil and Hongdae are still popular meeting spots where both Seoulites and tourists flock, in recent years, a slew of new hot spots have sprung up, grabbing attention of those wanting something different. These lesser-known districts are smaller than the mainstream hangouts. Yet, they boast unique, chic and sometimes kitsch ambiences that are not easily found at the usual nightspots saturated with big name chains. These up-and-coming neighborhoods can be diffi
TravelJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Drones glide into life, homes and businesses
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are penetrating everyday life, bringing with them changes and challenges. Although they have only recently become widely used, the basic technology that goes into creating a drone was first developed in the early 20th century.Through decades of research, the U.S. military was able to deploy drones during the Vietnam War and increasingly advanced and deadlier versions have carried out precision bombings in recent years, if with mixed results. However, the days
Social AffairsJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Korea’s high-flying ‘helicam’ business
The Lily camera, once thrown into the air, chases after the person wearing its GPS tracking device. (Lily)In 2013, a team of robotics engineering students from the University of California, Berkeley set out to create the world’s first throw-and-shoot camera.Lily, a GPS-oriented flying camera about to go on sale, can hover once thrown into the air, and chase whoever is wearing its tracking device while filming aerial shots in high-definition. Lily is an advanced version of what has already been w
IndustryJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] How drones do and don’t deliver
Koreans are known for their impatient temperament and cutting-edge innovations, but not even Korea has developed the idea of deliveries to your door by drone.That is the crux of U.S. retail giant Amazon’s Prime Air 30 Minute Delivery service, which was first unveiled in December 2013.Amazon plans to deliver packages weighing less than 2.2 kg to anywhere within 16 km of a servicing warehouse in less than half an hour.The hurdle is not that the technology is in the realm of science fiction ― it is
World NewsJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Leisure drones gaining popularity among hobbyists
Drones are becoming a common sight at city parks in South Korea, with the small aircraft emerging as a new toy for “kidults” ― adults enjoying hobbies considered better suited to children. Korea’s largest online shopping mall 11st said it saw drone sales rise 560 percent from January to April this year compared to the same period in 2014. Park Seung-wook, 29, a researcher at a chemistry company, is one of the many “kidults” enjoying the luxury hobby. “I like the sound of the propellers, which ma
CultureJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Regulations, privacy pose dilemma
With the latest revolutionary technology taking off, a growing number of entrepreneurs are paving the way in Korea for a wider use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones.Even President Park Geun-hye last month stressed the need for an industry-specific development strategy at a national level concerning unmanned vehicles, including drones. However, industry insiders agree that the existing legal landscape for drones remains relatively restrictive in comparison to other developed c
IndustryJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Corporate Korea falls in love with drones
Corporations in South Korea from a wide variety of industry sectors are turning their eyes toward drone technology, which is expected to create a great number of new business opportunities down the road.South Korea’s 10th-largest conglomerate, Hanwha, is one of those firms aiming to make headway into the unmanned aircraft industry.The company, which has placed importance on the defense and military businesses since its foundation in 1952, recently acquired Samsung Techwin, the defense business a
CultureJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Life’s a lottery for Korea’s dogs
It is the epitome of polarization to live as a dog in Korea.For more fortunate canines life is sweet. They are fed, groomed and catered to at a degree many less fortunate humans would envy.Dog hotels and a variety of beauty services from hair salons to nail shops are flourishing here. Some pooches are considered to be more than companions, becoming partners in fighting crime and assistants to the blind. Dogs today even have their own TV programs. Smart gadgets are designed to monitor their healt
Social AffairsJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Burgeoning Korean pet industry going ever more premium
Every day, Lee-seul, Byul and Dal-rae get dropped off at a kindergarten in Seoul by their mom. Throughout the day, they play with their friends under the supervision of their teacher, who instructs them on how to properly behave at home. When evening approaches soon after snack time, the three wrap up their day and head home. This may sound like a typical trio of youngsters, but unlike other kindergartners they are all schanuzers, which Kim Mee-hyun, 57, says are “basically like her children.” A
IndustryJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Dogs are colleagues to emergency rescue workers
Moran, a black Labrador retriever, can do more than just sit and roll over. She has special skills that no human and most pet dogs lack.With a keen sense of smell, the 30-kilogram Lab can track down missing persons miles away who are trapped in natural disaster areas or deep in the mountainous woods. She can help firemen and police solve mysteries on whether the missing victims are alive or dead.Moran is a rescue dog for the Special Rescue Team in Dobong-gu. The team, which works closely with th
CultureJune 12, 2015