Mudslinging between the rival parties is in full swing over the ruling Saenuri Party’s public accusation that the country’s two major Internet portals are politically biased.　The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy has slammed the ruling party attack as an attempt at censorship ahead of the parliamentary elections next year.　At the center of the dispute is Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who has been unleashing remarks daily targeting Naver and Daum Kakao. 　The Saenuri

National Sept. 10, 2015

South Korea’s late President Roh Moo-hyun is the epitome of the nation’s rags-to-riches story: a poor farmer’s son with a high school diploma who rose to the presidency after racking up a reputation as a prominent human rights lawyer.Without passing the bar exam -- known as “sasi” in Korean -- in 1975, he wouldn’t have been able to begin the legal career that transformed his life. So it was ironic that Roh pushed to abolish sasi, the nationwide test open to anyone regardless of educational backg

Politics Sept. 8, 2015

Main opposition party chief Rep. Moon Jae-in on Tuesday met with representatives of the country’s large businesses, praising their commitment to inter-Korean exchanges in a rare visit seemingly aimed at underscoring his security initiatives and assuaging the business community.　In his first-ever visit to the Federation of Korea Industry, South Korea’s biggest business lobby group, the chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy expressed his endorsement to the FKI’s recent initiative to

Politics Sept. 8, 2015

Tension mounted between the rival parties over the scope of their witness lists, as each sought to call in high-profile business leaders in a trial of strength that will unfold during the 22-day audit session kicking off Thursday.　The ruling Saenuri Party urged the chiefs of the nation’s two major Internet giants, Naver and Daum Kakao, to take to the stand during the audit, while the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy sought to grill the owners of Korea’s family-controlled congl

Politics Sept. 7, 2015

　Former presidential candidate and member of the main opposition Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo on Sunday called for sweeping changes to keep the party afloat amid faltering public support against its vapid reform moves.　Ahn, a software mogul-turned-politican, urged the NPAD reform committee to overhaul the party in a way to break away from what he described as “outdated” liberal values that he said resonate little with the general public. 　The former cochairman of the NPAD suggested that addressing burgeon

Politics Sept. 6, 2015

Two students lit a match to a pile of firewood on the playground and hesitated over who would put the butane inside. A boy with an anxious face finally placed the butane in the middle of the firewood and ran away. Then, the two kept an eye on their concoction. In less than five seconds, the firewood exploded -- called a “butane rocket.”　This is one of the bomb-making videos that can be easily found on video websites. The video shows how to make a butane bomb with simple materials -- wood, paper

Social Affairs Sept. 6, 2015

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said Friday it has decided to seek for an impeachment of the home affairs minister for his controversial comment criticized for violating political neutrality.　Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup reportedly chanted “must win general election” while delivering a toast during the ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers’ meeting earlier this week. Chong on Friday apologized for his remark and described it as a simple plea

Politics Aug. 28, 2015

The main opposition party leader Rep. Moon Jae-in on Wednesday urged the government to broaden the scope of reunions for separated families following the two Koreas’ agreement to resume the event.　The New Politics Alliance for Democracy chairman said during a party meeting that the reunion list should include more than 1,000 members of separated families, as more of them are passing away without having the opportunity to see their loved ones. 　His proposal came a day after the two Koreas’ agreem

Politics Aug. 26, 2015

South Korea’s rival parties Tuesday welcomed the two Koreas’ agreement that effectively ended the latest military standoff, urging Seoul to build on the momentum and take concrete steps to ease cross-border tensions.  　The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy hailed the government’s efforts to elicit North Korea’s regret over the land mine explosion that wounded South Korean soldiers this month. 　Urging the need to turn the crisis into an opportunity f

National Aug. 25, 2015

Health and Welfare Minister nominee Chung Chin-youb on Monday revealed his support for the government’s plan to allow doctors to remotely provide health care to patients, a policy that opposition lawmakers and a doctors’ representative body have strongly opposed. 　Chung, an orthopedics doctor who had served as a head of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, testified before lawmakers at a National Assembly hearing that telemedicine would expand medical services to those living in remote ar

Politics Aug. 24, 2015

Concerns sharply escalated Friday over the safety of South Korean residents living in the frontline and adjacent areas as Pyongyang threatened to take military actions unless Seoul withdrew its propaganda loudspeaker installed across the border.The South Korean military has evacuated and moved hundreds of residents from towns along the border to shelters nearby since Thursday to secure their safety amid growing fear about additional provocations from North Korea.  The list includes about 200 res

Politics Aug. 21, 2015

Concerns sharply escalated Friday over the safety of South Korean residents living in the frontline and adjacent areas as Pyongyang threatened to take military actions unless Seoul withdrew its propaganda loudspeaker installed across the border.　The South Korean military has evacuated and moved hundreds of residents from towns along the border to shelters nearby since Thursday to secure their safety amid growing fear about additional provocations from North Korea. 　The list includes about 200 re

North Korea Aug. 21, 2015

 North Korea’s rocket provocation Thursday sharply raised cross-border tensions and further dimmed the prospects of bilateral reconciliation, posing a tougher challenge to Seoul’s hitherto unfruitful efforts to build trust with the communist regime.Pyongyang’s firing of a rocket toward Seoul’s propaganda loudspeakers appeared intended to stop the South Korean military from expanding its anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along the tense border, which could potentially awaken North Koreans to the dictator

North Korea Aug. 20, 2015