Articles by Yonhap
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Traffic building up on highways as people travel on Lunar New Year
Traffic on major highways began to build up across South Korea on Saturday morning as millions of people hit the road on the Lunar New Year. This year's holiday began Friday, marked by the traditional exodus of people from Seoul and its surrounding areas to their hometowns. On the second day of the long weekend Saturday, more people headed out of the capital region, while others were making their way back to Seoul. According to the state-run Korea Expressway Corp., a drive from Seoul to the
Social Affairs Feb. 10, 2024
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Smaller political powers agree to merge into new party ahead of general elections
Four political parties and factions led by politicians who have left the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) have agreed to merge into one new party ahead of the April general elections, officials said Friday. The envisioned party, named the Reform Party, will be jointly led by former Prime Minister and DP leader Lee Nak-yon and former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, according to the officials. Lee, the former DP leader, will lead the new party's election
Politics Feb. 9, 2024
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5.2m cars to hit the road on 1st day of Lunar New Year holiday
Some 5.2 million cars were expected to hit the road nationwide Friday, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, as people head to their hometowns. Among such cars, some 490,000 vehicles were expected to leave the greater Seoul area for provincial regions, while 370,000 cars were forecast to travel into the city, according to the Korea Expressway Corp. The agency expected traffic congestion on roads heading to provincial regions to have peaked between 11 a.m. and noon and to ease around 8 p.m
Social Affairs Feb. 9, 2024
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Yoon meets with street sweepers on Lunar New Year holiday
President Yoon Suk Yeol held a breakfast meeting with sanitation workers of a Seoul ward Friday to wish them a happy Lunar New Year and thank them for their hard work, his office said. During his meeting with street sweepers of Dongjak Ward in southern Seoul, Yoon asked them about their working conditions over bowls of "tteokguk," a soup made with rice cakes, often eaten on the holiday. Yoon thanked them for starting work in the early morning hours, even on holidays, and stressed that
Politics Feb. 9, 2024
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Industry ministry launches support group ahead of S. Korea-Africa summit in June
The industry ministry has launched a support group ahead of a summit between South Korea and African nations slated for June, aiming to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, according to officials Friday. The Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Public-Private Support Group will make efforts to prepare for the upcoming summit that will pave the way for South Korea's deeper cooperation with the continent with a 1.4 billion population, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. &
Industry Feb. 9, 2024
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NK leader calls S. Korea 'primary foe,' vows to protect country with power
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has again called South Korea the North's "primary foe" and vowed to guard the country through power rather than negotiations, state media said Friday. Kim's remarks came as the North has recently abandoned its decadeslong policy of seeking reunification with the South and called for codifying the commitment to "completely occupying" the South Korean territory in the event of war. "Defining the South Korean puppets as the most harmful prima
North Korea Feb. 9, 2024
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US expresses deep concern over Russia's reported move to release frozen NK assets
WASHINGTON -- A US State Department spokesperson expressed deep concern Thursday over a media report that Russia has allowed the release of millions of dollars in frozen North Korean assets and may be helping the North with access to international banking networks. The New York Times published the report this week, noting that Moscow's such assistance has come after the North's transfer of weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. "Of course, it is something that we're deeply con
North Korea Feb. 9, 2024
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S. Korea joins elephant walk during US-led multinational air exercise
South Korea has been conducting a US-led multinational air exercise, along with four other nations, in Guam since earlier this month to enhance joint operability, the Air Force said Friday. The annual Cope North exercise has been taking place at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam since Monday, involving more than 80 military aircraft and some 3,000 troops from six countries, including Japan, Australia, France and Canada. On the first day, a coalition of 33 aircraft, involving South Korea's
Defense Feb. 9, 2024
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Govt. mandates 'holdback period' for govt.-funded films
The culture ministry has recently mandated films receiving government funding must wait a certain period after their silver screen debut before becoming available on IPTVs and streaming platforms. The so-called holdback period was specified as a condition for new Korean films receiving government funding in a public notice posted on Jan. 31 for the funding program, ministry officials said Friday. Details of the holdback period have yet to be disclosed. However, officials said the ministry intend
Culture Feb. 9, 2024
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Seoul opens lounge promoting city's 'Seoul, My Soul' slogan in hanok village
The Seoul city government on Friday opened a welcome lounge promoting the city's new slogan, "Seoul, My Soul," in a popular tourist destination in central Seoul, known for its preservation of traditional Korean houses called hanok. The promotion set up in Bukchon Lounge, a sample hanok house the city government runs in the Bukchon Hanok Village, will receive visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Mondays and Lunar New Year, which falls on Saturday, city officials said. T
Social Affairs Feb. 9, 2024
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No plan to raise cigarette prices: govt.
The government is not considering increasing cigarette prices despite falling tax revenue, according to officials Friday. Some media reports have raised the possibility of the government increasing cigarette prices after the April election as it has experienced a shortfall in tax revenue amid an economic slowdown. Last year, South Korea's total revenue, including tax gains, fell 77 trillion won ($57.9 billion), as tax gains fell 51.9 trillion won from a year earlier due mainly to weak corpo
Economy Feb. 9, 2024
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S. Korea to provide $500,000 in humanitarian aid to Chile over massive wildfires
South Korea will provide $500,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to Chile to help people struggling with devastating wildfires, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. More than 120 people have been killed and hundreds of others remained missing as the wildfires have razed thousands of homes in Chile's Valparaiso region since earlier this month, according to foreign media reports. The South Korean government voiced hope that the aid would help with the South American nation's re
Foreign Affairs Feb. 8, 2024
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S. Korea voices regret over Russian envoy's remarks blaming allies for possible NK nuclear test
South Korea expressed strong regret Thursday over the remarks by Russia's top envoy to North Korea that the likelihood of another nuclear test by Pyongyang will depend on how far Seoul and Washington will go in taking their deterrence measures against the North. Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora said in an interview with the TASS news agency the previous day that North Korea may decide to conduct its seventh nuclear test if Washington continues to take "provocative
Foreign Affairs Feb. 8, 2024
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Prosecution appeals court acquittal of Samsung chief Lee
Prosecutors on Thursday appealed a recent court acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong in a controversial Samsung affiliate merger case, sources said. On Monday, the Seoul Central District Court delivered a not-guilty sentence for Lee, who was charged over alleged engagement in market irregularities over the course of the controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T Corp., in 2015. In response, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Of
Industry Feb. 8, 2024
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S. Korean shares close higher on hopes of US rate cuts
South Korean stocks closed higher for a second consecutive session Thursday amid growing hopes of US rate cuts. The local currency slightly lost ground against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 10.74 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 2,620.32. Trade volume was heavy at 422.7 million shares worth 12.2 trillion won ($9.18 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers 451 to 436. Foreign investors remained net buyers for a seventh consecutive session, net
Market Feb. 8, 2024
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