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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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New celebrity-endorsed therapy for face contouring requires only a pair of rubber bands
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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[Weekender] How DDP emerged as an icon of Seoul
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[Newsmaker] Security, prosperity key to happiness: Park
National security, public safety and economic prosperity will be central to President Park Geun-hye’s plans for “opening a new era of hope.”In her inauguration speech, Korea’s first female president presented “economic revival,” “happiness of the people” and “flourishing culture” as key themes for her five-year term.Regarding her plans for the economy, Park did not stray far from past statements stressing the importance of creating a science and technology-based “creative economy,” the efforts f
Feb. 25, 2013
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Cheers and high expectations for new leader
Even before sunrise, citizens began to gather around the private residence of the nation’s first female president in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. When President Park Geun-hye emerged from her two-story house shortly past 10 a.m. to go to the inauguration ceremony, she was greeted by hundreds of flag-waving well-wishers.A citizen representative gave Park the gift of two white Jindo puppies, South Korea’s popular native breed of hunting dogs. Park is a well-known lover of dogs. “There must have
Feb. 25, 2013
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Key points of address: prosperity, happiness, peace
Following are excerpts from the English version of President Park Geun-hye’s inaugural address ― Ed. As President of the Republic of Korea, I will live up to the will of the people by achieving economic rejuvenation, the happiness of the people, and the flourishing of our culture. I will do my utmost to building a Republic of Korea that is prosperous and where happiness is felt by all Koreans.Throughout the vortex of our turbulent contemporary history we always prevailed over countless hardships
Feb. 25, 2013
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[Photo News] Inauguration
President Park Geun-hye took office on Monday promising a second ‘Miracle on the Han,’ more inclusive economic and social systems, and peace efforts with North Korea. A record 70,000 people, half of them ordinary citizens, participated in the two-and-a-half-hour inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly. Later in the day she attended an informal celebration with citizens in downtown Gwanghwamun and moved in to Cheong Wa Dae, welcomed by hundreds of waving residents near the presidential man
Feb. 25, 2013
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Park names secretaries for foreign affairs, international cooperation
A career diplomat well versed in relations with the United States will be named as President Park Geun-hye's foreign affairs secretary, presidential sources said Monday.The selection of Kim Hyoung-zhin, who served as director general at the foreign ministry's North American affairs bureau in 2010, is seen as a move by Park to reaffirm her commitment to strengthening the alliance with Washington, they said.Kim, 52, will work under senior foreign affairs and security secretary Ju Chul-ki.The presi
Feb. 25, 2013
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Park names Yoon as presidential spokesman
President-elect Park Geun-hye on Sunday tapped her transition team spokesman Yoon Chang-jung and Wikitree Vice Chairwoman Kim Haing as the spokespeople for her administration.The nominations come a day ahead of Park’s inauguration ceremony on Monday when the 61-year-old will be sworn in as South Korea’s first female president.Yoon, 57, a former journalist-turned-political columnist, joined the transition team as senior spokesman in December.Kim, 54, is a founding member of social network news se
Feb. 25, 2013
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Former President Lee to serve as adviser to developing countries
After his retirement on Sunday, former President Lee Myung-bak is expected to serve as an advisor to developing countries and others in need of his experience in leading economic advancement and global initiatives such as green growth.According to Lee Dong-kwan, his former presidential secretary for public relations, Lee, 71, is expected to establish a private foundation and open its office in southern Seoul for his work to contribute to the international community. “(Former) President Lee is a
Feb. 25, 2013
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Ex-confidant of Park Chung-hee quits as head of controversial scholarship foundation
Choi Phil-lip, a confidant of former President Park Chung-hee, resigned Monday as head of a controversial scholarship foundation set up by the late head of state.Choi had been under pressure to leave his post at the Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation, after local media reports last October alleged the foundation of trying to sell its stakes in media companies to use the proceeds to woo voters in a region considered a stronghold for the ruling Saenuri Party during the presidential campaign.President
Feb. 25, 2013
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The full text of Park’s inaugural speech
Following is the full text of President Park Geun-hye's inauguration address - Ed. “Opening a New Era of Hope”My fellow Koreans and seven million fellow compatriots overseas, As I take office as the 18th-term President of the Republic of Korea, I stand before you today determined to open a new era of hope. I am profoundly grateful to the Korean people for entrusting this historic mission to me. I also thank President Lee Myung-bak, former Presidents, dignitaries who have come from abroad to cel
Feb. 25, 2013
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Park Geun-hye sworn in as South Korea’s new president.
Park Geun-hye took the oath of office as South Korea's new president Monday, pledging to revitalize the slumping economy and warning North Korea that the communist nation will be the "biggest victim" of its own nuclear programs."As president of the Republic of Korea, I will live up to the will of the people by achieving economic rejuvenation, the happiness of the people, and the flourishing of our culture," Park said in her inauguration address at the National Assembly plaza."I will do my utmost
Feb. 25, 2013
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First female S. Korean president faces N. Korea crisis
Park Geun-hye became South Korea’s first female president Monday, returning to the presidential mansion where she grew up with her dictator father.Park’s last stint in the Blue House was bookended by tragedy: At 22, she cut short her studies in Paris to return to Seoul and act as President Park Chung-hee’s first lady after an assassin targeting her father instead killed her mother; she left five years later after her father was shot and killed by his spy chief during a drinking party.As presiden
Feb. 25, 2013
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Yoon Chang-jung picked as Cheong Wa Dae spokesman
President-elect Park Geun-hye on Sunday named transition team spokesman Yoon Chang-jung as a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman.According to news reports, vice chairman of the social network news service Wikitree Kim Haing was also named as a presidential spokesperson. Kim had served as the spokesperson for the party established by Rep. Chung Mong-joon of the Saenuri Party in 2002. Chung was then an independent lawmaker, and the party was dissolved in 2004. The main opposition Democratic United Party immed
Feb. 24, 2013
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Lee says he is proud of working for great people
Outgoing President Lee Myung-bak said Sunday that he is proud that he had to opportunity to work for the great people of South Korea, as he ended his five-year term and arrived at his retirement home in southern Seoul."There were difficult times, but I was a happy worker," Lee told the roughly 1,300 people who greeted his arrival at his retirement home in Nonhyeon-dong after he left the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae for the last time as its executive chief."Thanks to you, I worked happily. I
Feb. 24, 2013
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Park takes helm
The Park Geun-hye administration launches Monday to steer the country through a critical juncture at home and abroad. It is tasked with realigning diplomacy and security in the face of North Korea’s volatile nuclear threat and achieving the new national paradigm of balancing growth and welfare, all in the midst of acute ideological division domestically.Park took over power from former President Lee Myung-bak as of midnight Sunday in accordance with the Constitution, assuming all the legal power
Feb. 24, 2013
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Park’s swearing-in draws record 70,000 participants
Park Geun-hye will be sworn in Monday in Korea’s largest-ever presidential inauguration with about 70,000 participants. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso are among 22 high-level foreign delegates.A record number of 35,000 citizens were invited in a move to stress the new leader’s wish for unity and happiness of the people, the organizer said. The inauguration will be an occasion of lively diplomatic exc
Feb. 24, 2013
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Father’s legacy looms large over Park presidency
President Park Geun-hye will return to Cheong Wa Dae Monday, more than 30 years after she left the presidential house following the violent death of her father Park Chung-hee.The controversial former president from 1963 to 1979 was both the biggest asset and hurdle on her path to the pinnacle of power in Korea. Many of her supporters have fond memories of the nation’s rapid economic growth during the Park era. But the dictatorship of the former general who seized power through a coup in 1961 mar
Feb. 24, 2013
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Discord in parliament delays launch of Park government
The ruling Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party continued to wrangle over President Park Geun-hye’s government reorganization plans on Sunday, the day before the presidential inauguration.With the two sides failing to reach an agreement, Park becomes the first president to be sworn in before receiving parliamentary approval for government reorganization. Despite last minute efforts, parties stumbled on the matter of which body would be put in charge of broadcasting-related issues.The Sa
Feb. 24, 2013
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Military beefs up security ahead of presidential inauguration
South Korea’s military on Sunday beefed up security ahead of President-elect Park Geun-hye’s inauguration to deal with any possible provocations from North Korea.Monitoring of activities taking place in North Korea have been stepped up with all commanders having been ordered to remain on standby and be ready to return to their posts within an hour if any alarm is sounded, military sources said.Without going into details, defense ministry insiders said tactical reconnaissance and surveillance air
Feb. 24, 2013
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Lee awards medal to GGGI director
President Lee Myung-bak awarded the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit to Lars Rasmussen, the chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute, on his last day in office on Sunday.Rasmussen, who also served as the prime minister of Denmark from 2009 to 2011, received the award for strengthening the relationship between South Korea and the newly created international organization dedicated to environmentally sustainable economic growth. “Lee asked Rasmussen to play a greater role in promoting the cau
Feb. 24, 2013
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Ruling party urges opposition to accept gov't reorganization plan
The ruling Saenuri Party on Sunday called on the main opposition party to accept the new government reorganization plan with less than a day remaining before President-elect Park Geun-hye takes office.Party chief Hwang Woo-yea and floor leader Lee Hahn-koo convened a meeting of senior officials and deliberated on how best to get the Democratic United Party (DUP) to pass the bill."We have tried our best to respect the wishes of the opposition party by accepting many of their requests, but they ha
Feb. 24, 2013