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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Why is Apple Pay struggling to get purchase in Korea?
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Yoon's office denies considering liberal figures for key posts
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Seoul says Fu Bao loan 'not going to happen'
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[Newsmaker] Beijing rebukes U.S. over islands row
BEIJING ― China’s foreign minister told top U.S. diplomat John Kerry on Saturday that Beijing was “unshakeable” in its defense of sovereignty, as tensions between the powers mount over Chinese island-building in strategic but disputed waters.The United States is weighing sending warships and surveillance aircraft within 12 nautical miles ― the normal territorial zone around natural land ― of artificial islands that Beijing is building in the South China Sea.Such a move could lead to a standoff o
World NewsMay 17, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Modi's China trip marks warming ties
BEIJING ― They are the strongest leaders to emerge in years from the world’s two most populous nations ― and appear to be trying to forge a strong working relationship.In a rare personal touch, Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the Indian prime minister in his hometown of Xi’an for Thursday’s start of Narendra’s Modi’s three-day visit, highlighting warming ties between the Asian giants despite their continued rivalry and contrasting political systems.The move returns the favor after Modi ho
World NewsMay 14, 2015
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[Newsmaker] North Korean general meets grisly end
Hyon Yong-chol, a once-high-flying North Korean general, ended his dramatic life after he was executed late last month for “dozing off at a military event and talking back” to Kim Jong-un, the leader of the dictatorial regime.Until his execution on April 30, the 66-year-old official served as the chief of the People’s Armed Forces ― equivalent to South Korea’s defense minister. His position was the second highest in the North’s 1.19 million-strong military after Hwang Pyong-so, the director of t
North KoreaMay 13, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Picasso’s ‘Women of Algiers’ sets record
NEW YORK ― A Picasso masterpiece fetched more than $179 million in New York on Monday, smashing the world record for the most expensive art sold at auction in what was dubbed the “sale of the century.”A bronze statue by Alberto Giacometti also broke the record for most expensive sculpture sold at auction, fetching more than $141 million at the same sale in a packed auction room at Christie’s.The Pablo Picasso oil painting, “The Women of Algiers (Version 0),” sold for $179,365,000 after 11 and a
World NewsMay 12, 2015
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[Newsmaker] N.K. submarine missile serious threat
North Korea’s push to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile is posing a daunting security challenge to South Korea and the U.S. as the allies would have almost no means to counter the emerging threat should it become fully operational. The allies have so far been focusing on countering missile threats from land-based launchers as they believed Pyongyang was far from developing an SLBM given the small size of its submarines and outdated technology.But the North’s test-firing last week sh
DefenseMay 11, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Im wins highest honor for Korean in Venice
Im Heung-soon, the winner of the Silver Lion award at this year’s Venice Biennale for his documentary “Factory Complex,” has gained recognition for entwining art and film in his documentaries that reflect on society, its people and their histories.The artist goes by a number of titles ― cinematographer, director and scriptwriter. With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in painting from Kyungwon University (now Gachon University), Im has straddled the boundaries of art, photography and media while
FilmMay 10, 2015
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[Newsmaker] KT unveils phone plans based on data
KT, the nation’s second-largest telecom carrier, on Thursday launched new service plans that charge users based on their data use while offering almost unlimited voice call and messaging services. This is an unprecedented phone plan in Korea where Internet-based communications are fast replacing traditional voice calls and text messages. Under the new scheme, the lowest-priced plan, 300 megabytes per month, is 29,900 won ($27.45) with free mobile calls. Those who pay more than 54,900 won per mon
TechnologyMay 7, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Prosecutor-turned-politician at nadir over graft scandal
South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Hong Joon-pyo’s stellar legal and political career is facing uncertainty as he faces a prosecutorial summons Friday as a key suspect in a burgeoning graft scandal.The prosecution said Wednesday that it would summon Hong on Friday morning at 10 a.m. to question him over allegations that he received 100 million won ($93,000) from late Keangnam chairman Sung Woan-jong in 2011. Hong is the the first of the eight political heavyweights involved in the high-profile bribe
PoliticsMay 6, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Obama picks Marine general as military chief
WASHINGTON ― President Barack Obama will nominate Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as the next chairman of the joint chiefs, choosing an officer with battlefield experience in Iraq and Afghanistan for the U.S. military’s top job.If confirmed by the Senate for the post, Dunford will be drawing on his years fighting insurgents over the past decade when he advises Obama on the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State group.The next chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff will also have to contend with a
World NewsMay 5, 2015
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[Newsmaker] NPAD leader pledges drastic reforms
South Korea’s main opposition leader Monday vowed to “do anything” to win next year’s parliamentary elections in response to growing criticism from within his party for its crushing defeat in last week’s parliamentary by-elections.Rep. Moon Jae-in, chair of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, pledged to consider changing “everything from the party’s people to the party’s day-to-day functioning” to achieve victory in the 2016 general election. Next year’s nationwide polls will decide if the
PoliticsMay 4, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Royal baby belies aging problems
LONDON ― The birth of a princess on Saturday demonstrated the enduring strength of Britain’s rulers, consolidating four generations of a family now more popular than ever, but cannot hide the weaknesses of an aging institution.Queen Elizabeth II turned 89 just weeks ago and shows no sign of abdicating, even if she has stepped back a little from public duties in favor of her 66-year-old son and heir Charles, the Prince of Wales.Prince William and his wife Kate’s second child will be fourth in lin
World NewsMay 3, 2015
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[Newsmaker] NPAD defector pushes new opposition bloc
The election win of Chun Jung-bae in Gwangju indicated that South Korea’s biggest opposition party is losing support in its main stronghold, and heralded the rise of a new political faction in the already-troubled liberal camp.Chun, formerly of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, won a landslide victory over NPAD candidate Cho Young-taek in Wednesday’s by-election. The following morning, he vowed to rally politicians in Gwangju and Jeolla Province that can rival the NPAD in
PoliticsApril 30, 2015
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[Newsmaker] New NH chief takes office amid doubts
NH Financial Group welcomed Kim Yong-hwan as the new chairman on Wednesday, but it appeared to have done so with a rather heavy heart.The new chief not only has to prove himself a capable successor to Yim Jong-yong ― who became chairman of the Financial Services Commission ― but is also facing allegations that he had illicit ties with the disputed Keangnam Enterprises.Hit by the sudden exit of its much-reputed leader, NH Financial initially welcomed the nomination of Kim, who had served in key f
April 29, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Victim at forefront of sex slavery crusade
Young and cheerful albeit poor, 16-year-old Lee Yong-soo was taken to a Kamikaze unit in Taiwan by a Japanese man in what appeared to be a military uniform during World War II. She did not know she would be raped, repeatedly, and face electric torture if she disobeyed. Now frail, diminutive and wheelchair-bound, the 86-year-old Korean flew to Cambridge, the U.S., to stage a silent vigil against Tokyo’s unbridled attempts to whitewash the appalling chapter of history at Harvard University, where
Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Samsung, LG wage new smartphone battle
South Korea’s leading tech giants are set for fierce competition in the global smartphone sector, as LG Electronics is set to unveil its new flagship smartphone the G4 in six global markets on Wednesday, just weeks after Samsung released the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.Both Samsung and LG have been pinning high hopes on their latest smartphone models, each equipped with unique cutting-edge features and all-new designs.The upcoming LG G4 is expected to be equipped with the industry’s most advanced tech
TechnologyApril 27, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Will Apple Watch spell doom for Samsung?
The smart watch hype is at its peak as two of the world’s largest tech giants and archrivals ― Samsung Electronics and Apple ― step up their efforts to gain the upper-hand in a new round in a battle for the wrist.The first wearable device by Cupertino-based Apple landed in stores in nine global markets including the U.S. Australia, and Hong Kong on Friday.Even though South Korea was not included in the first group of the launch nations, the news of the Apple smart watch made headlines on many lo
TechnologyApril 26, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Dongkuk Steel Mill hit by chairman scandal
Dongkuk Steel Mill chairman Chang Sae-joo’s alleged wrongdoings are poised to deal a fatal blow to the company, raising questions about the transparency of the country’s steel industry. Dongkuk is the second steelmaker to be mired in allegations of irregular practices after POSCO this year. It is the nation’s third-largest steelmaker after POSCO and Hyundai Steel. Chang is suspected of embezzling about 20 billion won ($18.4 million) from the company, and of habitually gambling illegally. The pro
IndustryApril 23, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Gaffes, abuse shame Doosan Heavy chairman
“It is not good manners to not strike one’s neck when one has asked for it. I will strike in the most bloody and painful way possible.”The graphic comments are not threats by IS terrorists on YouTube videos. Instead, they are from Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction chairman Park Yong-sung, a business tycoon, in an email he sent to professors at Chung-Ang University in Seoul where he was serving as the board chairman. Park on Tuesday stepped down from all three posts after sparking controve
IndustryApril 22, 2015
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[Newsmaker] "Sleaze-buster" felled by corruption
Yet another of President Park Geun-hye’s picks for her top deputy bit the dust Monday, as Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo submitted his resignation, succumbing to mounting pressure from his alleged involvement in a recent graft scandal.Lee’s demise came a little more than a month after he vowed all-out government effort against corruption on March 12. Deceased businessman Sung Woan-jong ― who died in an apparent suicide on April 9 amid a corruption probe ― suspected that Lee initiated the investigati
PoliticsApril 21, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Opposition wins Finnish election, ousts P.M.
HELSINKI ― Finland’s opposition Center Party won Sunday’s general election, ousting Prime Minister Alexander Stubb’s left-right coalition after a campaign dominated by the country’s economic woes.Center Party leader Juha Sipila, a 53-year-old IT millionaire and newcomer to politics, is set to become Finland’s next prime minister.“It seems as though the Center has won. Congratulations,” Stubb told Finnish public radio and television YLE after around 70 percent of votes had been counted. Sipila’s
World NewsApril 20, 2015