Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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Woman falls to death from acquaintance's home after exhibiting ‘unexplained' behaviors
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N. Korea slams planned S. Korea-US military drills, warns of 'catastrophic aftermath'
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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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[Robert J. Fouser] Social attitudes toward language proficiency
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[Graphic News] How much do Korean adults read?
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Ahn’s bloc expands with another NPAD defection
Another opposition lawmaker on Wednesday left the New Politics Alliance for Democracy to follow Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, foreshadowing the division of the main opposition party ahead of next year’s general elections. Rep. Lim Nae-hyun announced that he defecting from the NPAD to join a new political group spearheaded by Ahn. His split brings the number of defectors from the embattled party to five since Ahn left the party on Dec. 13. Lim Nae-hyun. (Yonhap)“Together with Ahn’s new party, I will clear
PoliticsDec. 23, 2015
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Petition against Japan normalization treaty dismissed
The Constitutional Court refused Wednesday to review a petition by a Korean woman who challenged the constitutionality of a 1965 treaty to normalize ties between Seoul and Tokyo on the grounds that the treaty limited individual rights to seek compensation for colonial-era forced labor. The Constitutional Court delivers a ruling over the constitutionality of a 1965 treaty to normalize relations between Seoul and Tokyo on Wednesday. (Yonhap)Under the treaty, Tokyo offered Seoul $5 million in free
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Court allows changes to national IDs
The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that a law barring South Koreans from changing their resident registration numbers was unconstitutional.The court said the current law on resident registration numbers excessively violates citizens’ basic rights to make decisions about their own personal information, ordering the government to present a revision by the end of 2017. “It is an excessive violation of rights that the government does not allow Koreans to change their resident numbers regardles
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Korea's civilian inter-Korean exchanges double this year
South Korea's civilian exchanges with North Korea more than doubled this year from a year earlier following an inter-Korean deal in August to ease tension, the Unification Ministry said Wednesday.The value of humanitarian aid from local civic groups to North Korea reached 11.2 billion won ($9.55 million) from Jan. 1 to Dec. 17, up 107 percent from a year earlier, according to the ministry handling inter-Korean affairs.The two Koreas reached a rare deal on Aug. 25 to defuse military tension and p
North KoreaDec. 23, 2015
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Korea’s first-ever multicultural library faces shutdown over budget shortfall
On the second floor of an old building in Dongdaemun-gu, eastern Seoul, children sit scattered around the floor of a small library, reading. Behind them are walls of bookshelves filled with colorful books. In the next room, others play board games, while in the third room a small group of children intently watch volunteer teachers instructing them how to make creative objects out of large board papers using scissors and glue.“I come here every day after school. I usually read books or play with
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Korea unveils 2nd phase of climate change measures
The Seoul government on Wednesday released the second phase of its climate change adaptation measures for the next five years, aimed to reduce potential climate change risks and better protect the public health.The Environment Ministry released the measures set up in four categories -- technology, public health, industry and nature. The measures will be implemented starting from next year. Fine dust adds to the smog in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, Wednesday. (Yonhap)The first long-term plan was la
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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English Village classes beef up public education
With only about 80 million native Korean speakers worldwide, South Korea’s current potential to interact globally is limited. It’s no surprise then that the nation has taken an active interest in providing English education programs for its students. Public schools currently offer a standardized English curriculum. Parents, however, do not feel that it is substantial. They recognize the benefits associated with having their child study English and they seek additional resources. Casondra KoufosA
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Gov't to push for labor reform bills to create more jobs: PM
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said Wednesday that the government will put all-out efforts into parliamentary approval of labor reform bills to create more jobs.Hwang described job creation as a major government task at the moment.In September, labor, management and the government reached a landmark deal to ease labor restrictions and allow companies to dismiss workers who are either negligent or underperforming.However, no follow-up measures have been taken as the related bills are pending in the
PoliticsDec. 23, 2015
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Pyongyang may seek summit talks with Seoul next year: report
North Korea may seek a package deal with South Korea, including a push for summit talks, ahead of its key party congress next year, a report showed Wednesday.The Workers' Party of Korea plans to hold its first congress in more than three decades in May next year when the North's leader Kim Jong-un is likely to unveil a new line of policies and conduct a major reshuffle."The possibility cannot be ruled out that the North may seek a package settlement, even including 'inter-Korean summit talks,' e
North KoreaDec. 23, 2015
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Korea to offer $1.5 million to 3 African nations
South Korea has decided to provide three African countries with $1.5 million in humanitarian assistance, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, as Seoul is aggressively pushing for "humanitarian diplomacy."South Korea plans to offer $500,000 each to the Central African Republic, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The three have long suffered severe humanitarian crises due to civil war, poor security and governance and climate change, said the ministry.There are more than 6 million r
Foreign AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Top court confirms dismissal of SNU cloning scientist
The dismissal of disgraced stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk by Seoul National University is legal, the top court ruled Wednesday, putting the final nail in the coffin of a scandal that rattled the nation in the late 2000s.In articles published in the journal Science between 2004 and 2005, Hwang claimed to have succeeded at creating the world's first cloned human embryo, a breakthrough extolled by the nation and the scientific community.Hwang, however, did not provide any verifiable data to bac
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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2 injured soldiers awarded medals for response to North Korea's mine attacks
Two South Korean soldiers severely injured in North Korea's land-mine attack in August were awarded national orders Wednesday for their "bravery and contributions" to national security, the Army said. Army Staff Sgt. Kim Jung-won, 23, lost his right leg on Aug. 4 after stepping on a land mine buried by North Korea on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone.Following surgery and rehabilitation, Kim returned to the Army with a prosthetic leg in early December.The other injured soldier, 21-
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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S. Korea to intensify efforts on N. Korean nuke
South Korea will make various types of efforts in the coming year to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se stressed the need to revive the six-party talks, which have been suspended for seven years, and use the mechanism in a "creative" way to change the course of the North. He cited "various formats or methods" including trilateral meetings between South Korea and other regional powers such as the U.S., China, and Japan."I thin
North KoreaDec. 23, 2015
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Gov't to cut tax breaks on company cars next year
The government will cut tax breaks on company-owned cars that are effectively used for personal transportation and give more deductions to businesses that raise wages for workers in the new year, the finance ministry said Wednesday.In the follow-up to the tax code revision plan announced in August, the ministry said that starting in the new year tighter rules on corporate-registered vehicles can help bring in 550 billion won (US$469.7 million) in extra revenue.Many registered company cars are ac
PoliticsDec. 23, 2015
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Refugees from Myanmar arrive in Korea for resettlement
A total of 22 ethnic Karen refugees from Myanmar arrived in South Korea, officials said Wednesday, becoming the first beneficiaries of Seouls new resettlement program for refugees.The refugees, four different families, had been staying at refugee camps in Thailand to avoid suppression in Myanmar before being allowed to fly to South Korea. The refugees will be provided with F-2 residency visas, Justice Ministry officials said.Education, among other reasons, led them to choose South Korea as their
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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FM Yun expects 'wise' court ruling on Korea-Japan ties
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se expressed hope Wednesday for a "wise" verdict by the Constitutional Court, just hours before its ruling on a 1965 deal between South Korea and Japan.The court is scheduled to deliver a verdict later in the day on whether or not the bilateral Claims Settlement Agreement is constitutional.Japan claims that the deal, signed to normalize their diplomatic relations, settled all issues of compensation to victims of forced labor during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1
Foreign AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Park urges parliamentary approval of labor reform bill
President Park Geun-hye renewed her calls on Wednesday for parliamentary approval of a labor reform bill, strongly voicing concern over the deadlock."I think (lawmakers) will not be able to deviate from the judgment of history if labor reform fails due to the National Assembly's noncooperation," Park said in a meeting meant to review progress in major policies this year. In September, labor, management and the government reached a landmark deal to ease labor restrictions and allow companies to d
PoliticsDec. 23, 2015
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Korea's childbirths edge up in Oct.
The number of childbirths in South Korea rose in October after falling for two straight months, a government report showed Wednesday, a positive development for a country struggling with an aging population.In October, some 36,900 babies were born, up 1.1 percent from the same month last year, according to the report from Statistics Korea.The rebound follows newborn numbers falling 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent in August and September, respectively. South Korea, whose population is expected to pea
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015
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Top court orders gov't to disclose reports on Korea-China free trade deal
The nation's top court on Wednesday ordered the government to go public with reports and research results it created in the process of negotiating a free trade agreement with China.The Supreme Court, ruling in favor of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, accepted the demand for the nullification of the non-disclosure decision on the reports, including content on the two countries' economic capabilities.The government had denied the claim of information disclosure in 2012, citing a possible imp
PoliticsDec. 23, 2015
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Korea to declare end to MERS threat 7 months after first outbreak
South Korea is to formally declare an end to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome health threat at midnight Wednesday, more than seven months after the first case was confirmed in the country, the government said.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the decision follows guidelines set by the World Health Organization that states an "end of transmission" can be declared 28 days after the death of the last MERS-infected patient.The 28 days takes into account the maximum incubation period for ME
Social AffairsDec. 23, 2015