Most Popular
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Court refuses injunction on medical school expansion
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Why Korean crime stories typically feature nameless, faceless perpetrators
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Debate on 'no-seniors zones' heats up
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Rare mid-May heavy snow warning issued over mountainous areas of Gangwon
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S. Korea, Cambodia forge strategic partnership
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Is NewJeans headed for a long 'break'?
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[KH Explains] Hyundai-backed Motional’s struggles deepen as Tesla eyes August robotaxi debut
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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New Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office chief vows full-fledged probe into first lady
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Parties on collision course over government organization changes
The ruling and main opposition parties appear to be on a collision course over the Government Organization Act despite their earlier agreement to process the revision by the end of October. In the wake of the April 16 ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people, the Park Geun-hye administration drew up a revised draft of the Government Organization Act. Central to the revision is the reorganization of government agencies concerned with safety issues. Under the revision, government agencies c
Oct. 13, 2014
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Politicians least trusted among college students: poll
South Korean college students regard politicians as the most untrustworthy of all occupational groups in the country, a poll showed Monday.The survey on 1,906 students attending two- to four-year colleges nationwide showed 85.3 percent of those surveyed view politicians as the least trustworthy group.More than 7 percent of the respondents said they have no confidence in journalists while 2 percent, 1.9 percent, and 0.7 percent selected soldiers, businessmen and lawyers as the most unreliable gro
Oct. 13, 2014
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S. Korea's ruling party chief departs for China
The chief of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party on Monday departed for China, where he is scheduled to hold policy talks with China's ruling Communist Party and possibly meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.Kim Moo-sung's four-day visit comes at the invitation of the Communist Party, which last month requested his attendance at the first policy talks between the two parties to be held in Beijing on Tuesday.South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi agreed during their
Oct. 13, 2014
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Parties set Sewol bill deadline
The country’s main parties vowed on Sunday to conclude negotiations over the special Sewol bill by October, amid concerns lawmakers could run into another political standstill over the legislation.“We will do our best to pass the special bill in a timely manner,” an official with the governing Saeuri Party said. An opposition official agreed to do the same, echoing comments by the floor leaders of the main parties, Reps. Lee Wan-koo and Woo Yoon-keun, on Friday.Earlier this month, the Saenuri Pa
Oct. 12, 2014
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Moderate picked as NPAD whip
Three-term lawmaker Rep. Woo Yoon-keun was elected as the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s new floor leader on Thursday as the party seeks to normalize operations.Woo, who is considered to be loosely associated with the hard-line pro-Roh Moo-hyun faction, ran against two-term Rep. Rhee Mok-hee and four-term Rep. Lee Jong-kul.“I will not lean to one side and achieve balance to make a rational and refined opposition party. I will make an opposition party that communicates with
Oct. 9, 2014
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Nuke graft bill delayed for 10 months
No progress is being made on the anticorruption bill aimed at high-ranking energy industry officials, despite repeated calls for tougher measures from lawmakers themselves. The bill has been waiting for review by the National Assembly for almost 10 months since last year.The situation is creating an ironic twist during the ongoing parliamentary audit period, as many lawmakers are criticizing the poor maintenance of the country’s nuclear reactors ― while the standing committee has been sitting on
Oct. 9, 2014
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Transport Ministry under fire for excessive debt
Transport Minister Suh Seoung-hwanThe combined debt held by nine major public firms affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reached 201 trillion won, over 40 percent of the current state-held debt, data from the ministry showed this week. Due to the vast debts, the agencies made combined daily interest payments of up to 18.4 billion won, according to a recent ministry report submitted to the regular parliamentary audit. “The enormous amount of debt owed by the public o
Oct. 9, 2014
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Three-term lawmaker elected as main opposition's new floor leader
A three-term moderate lawmaker was elected as the new floor leader of the main opposition party New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Thursday.Rep. Woo Yoon-keun replaced Rep. Park Young-sun who resigned last week following a recurring internal feud over a law bill aimed at determining the truthbehind April's deadly ferry sinking. He will serve out the remaining seven-month term left by his predecessor.The new floor leader beat rival Rep. Lee Jong-guil in a run-off vote, earning 65 of the t
Oct. 9, 2014
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NPAD slams Park over constitutional revision
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy lashed out at President Park Geun-hye’s objection to starting discussions on constitutional change to introduce a two-term, four-year presidency, calling her remarks “inappropriate.”During her presidential campaign in 2012, Park pledged to push for revision of the Constitution, a decades-old issue which could put an end to the country’s “imperialistic” presidential system.Korea currently has a single-term, five-year presidency. The system h
Oct. 8, 2014
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Park to attend Asia-EU summit next week
President Park Geun-hye will travel to Europe next week to attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting to be held in Milan, Italy, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.After the ASEM summit, Park will meet Pope Francis to reciprocate his visit to South Korea in August, her spokesman Min Kyung-wook said. At ASEM summit, leaders are expected to open dialogues to enhance “connectivity” between Asia and Europe on economic cooperation and global matters, he said.President Park will also hold a summit with her counte
Oct. 8, 2014
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Candidates for opposition floor leader seek deal
Candidates running for floor leader of the main opposition party were in talks over possible compromise deals on Wednesday over who will serve as the party captain in the National Assembly, as the party’s in-house floor leader primaries draw nearer.New Politics Alliance for Democracy Reps. Joo Seung-yong, Woo Yoon-keun, Lee Jong-kul and Rhee Mok-hee are contending for the spot, but the four have been attempting to iron out a deal that would put only one candidate on the nominee list.The sole can
Oct. 8, 2014
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Speculation grows over NIS reform
The abrupt resignation of a high-ranking official at the National Intelligence Service raised speculation Wednesday that the spy agency could soon face sweeping reform.According to reports, Lee Heon-soo, head of the NIS’ strategic planning office, has recently offered to resign without giving a clear reason. Some in the ruling Saenuri Party and at the agency said that he left the post simply because he had reached the age of retirement ― 60. But some other Saenuri members claimed that he had bee
Oct. 8, 2014
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Think-tanks blasted for fund misuse
State research organizations’ indiscriminate use of corporate credit cards and funds has once again come under scrutiny with large scale illegal use coming to light in the parliamentary audit. At the parliamentary audit of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences on Wednesday, lawmakers honed in on the credit card use. “Incomprehensible use of corporate credit cards such as paying for movies during working hours, using them for leisure activities and drinking,
Oct. 8, 2014
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Korea, Ivory Coast agree to boost economic cooperation
The leaders of South Korea and Ivory Coast on Tuesday agreed to expand cooperation on the economy, infrastructure, energy and agriculture, as part of Seoul government’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic and business ties with Africa.Presidents Park Geun-hye and Alassane Ouattara discussed ways to boost ties on a wide range of fields including trade, investment, education and development programs at a summit held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, officials said.Ivory Coast was the first Af
Oct. 7, 2014
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NPAD chief apologizes for assault case
Rep. Moon Hee-sang, the interim chief of the main opposition party, apologized on Monday for the alleged involvement of an opposition lawmaker in an assault case. New Politics Alliance for Democracy proportional representative Kim Hyun is alleged to have been involved in the assault of a substitute driver and two passersby by family members of Sewol victims. Substitute drivers provide driving services to those under the influence of alcohol. After drinking with Kim near the National Assembly bui
Oct. 6, 2014
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Election watchdog sets limit on fund-raising at book launches
The nation’s election watchdog proposed Monday creating regulations on book launching ceremonies held by lawmakers, amid public criticism the events are being used as opportunities to gather illicit political funds.The National Election Commission is likely to petition the National Assembly to enact laws limiting the size of monetary donations lawmakers can receive at book launches by next week, an NEC official said.Lawmakers hold publication events to advertise their books. Legislators customar
Oct. 6, 2014
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Sewol, tax hikes likely to top parliamentary audit agenda
The parliamentary audit of state agencies will begin Tuesday with the Sewol ferry disaster and a number of tax hike plans likely to take center stage. A key issue during the 20-day audit, which will subject a record 672 organizations to parliamentary scrutiny, is expected to be the Sewol ferry disaster. The 6,825-ton ferry sank off the country’s southwestern coast on April 16, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.Critics argue that the government’s poor initial response to the disaster c
Oct. 6, 2014
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Parliament to begin audit of gov't this week
The National Assembly's annual audit of the government is set to begin later this week amid controversy over the cause of April's deadly ferry sinking and the government's plan to increase tobacco taxes, among other issues.The audit is scheduled to kick off Tuesday for a 20-day run, with a record 672 government agencies subject to the inspection.However, the large number of agencies and the lack of preparation caused in part by a monthslong stand-off between rival political parties have led to d
Oct. 6, 2014
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Opposition leader apologizes over assault case
The leader of the main opposition party apologized Monday over allegations that a party lawmaker was involved in the assault of a driver and two passersby.Rep. Kim Hyun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is accused of playing a part in a scuffle between several relatives of the victims of April's deadly ferry sinking and the driver and passersby.The relatives, after drinking with Kim near the National Assembly building last month, allegedly beat the call driver whe
Oct. 6, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Visit by N.K. officials hogs limelight
The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 that ended on Saturday surprised the world ― not just for its spectacular K-pop performances or medals dominated by China, but because of an unprecedented visit by top officials from North Korea.The North Korean delegation consisted of the three confidants to North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong-un. They are known as the secretive state’s political and military heavyweights who buttress the leadership of the young ruler, who took over the reclusive regime in De
Oct. 5, 2014