Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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Cabinet endorses gov't reorganization bill
The government approved the reorganization bill at a Cabinet meeting on Friday.The endorsement came after the National Assembly earlier in the day passed a bill to reorganize the government under new President Park Geun-hye following a near-two-month parliamentary impasse that blocked the administration from fully forming.The revision endorses the creation of two ministries -- the future creation and science ministry and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries – and the promotion of finan
March 22, 2013
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New administration approves first private-level aid to N.K.
South Korea approved Friday the first shipment of humanitarian aid by a private charity group to North Korea since President Park Geun-hye took office last month.“This latest approval was given for the pure humanitarian need to help tuberculosis patients in North Korea,” unification ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk said.Under the approval, Eugene Bell, a South Korean charity group, will ship tuberculosis medicine worth 678 million won (US$606,500 to eight tuberculosis clinics run by the South Ko
March 22, 2013
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Malware originated from local bank computer: regulator
The malicious codes that crippled networks of broadcasters and banks in Korea on Wednesday originated from a local bank computer, the nation’s communications regulator said on Friday.Government investigators previously said the cyber attack used an Internet protocol address based in China, suspecting that North Korea might be behind the attack. The malware could have spread from an internal private IP of Nonghyup, the Korea Communications Commission said after looking into the network system of
March 22, 2013
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Assembly passes reorganization bills after 52-day impasse
The National Assembly approved the government reorganization bills on Friday, opening the way for President Park Geun-hye’s plans to be implemented 26 days after her inauguration. Under the plans the government will be restructured to 17 ministries and three lower-level ministries, from the current format of 15 ministries and two low-level ministries. Of the attending 212 lawmakers at the Assembly’s plenary session held in the afternoon, 188 approved the bill, while 11 opposed and 13 abstained.T
March 22, 2013
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Park retains defense minister after nominee quits over ethics
Incumbent Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin will stay in office to replace controversy-ridden minister-designate Kim Byung-kwan, who resigned upon spiraling allegations, to lead the nation’s defense at a time of heightened security tension on the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.Kim Byung-kwan’s resignation came 38 days after heavy opposition attacks against his alleged irregularities, leaving a sizeable dent on the credibility of President Park Geun-hye’s personnel appointment system. “A
March 22, 2013
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Besieged defense minister nominee offers to resign over ethical lapses
Defense minister nominee Kim Byung-kwan on Friday offered to resign after coming under fire for a series of ethical lapses, including a link with a local arms broker, real estate speculation and stock asset disclosure."As the defense minister nominee, I apologize for causing trouble to the people," Kim said in a brief statement. "I am stepping down from the defense minister nominee post to help normalize government affairs."I wish the present security crisis will be successfully overcome and our
March 22, 2013
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National Assembly fails to pass government reorganization bill
The National Assembly failed to pass a government reorganization bill on Thursday.The bill will be submitted to a general session at the National Assembly at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, according to reports.The parliament was expected to go on a vote to pass the bill as the ruling and main opposition parties reached an agreement over pending broadcasting-related issues at a parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday evening.If the bill gains the parliamentary approval, it is expected to give a boost
March 21, 2013
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Constitutional Court, SMBA chiefs named
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday nominated Constitutional Court justice Park Han-chul as its chief, and business administration professor Han Jung-wha to head the Small and Medium Business Administration.Park, who has been serving as a member of the top court’s nine-member bench since 2011, was chosen for his “expertise and capability,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Chang-jung said. Yoon also explained that Park was the first in line to succeed the top seat in terms of his tenure, the longest
March 21, 2013
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[Newsmaker] First prosecutor nominated to head top court
Constitutional Court presidential nominee Park Han-chul is set to become the first public prosecutor to head the top court in Korean history. The current justice at the Constitutional Court was nominated by President Park Geun-hye on Thursday. Park’s nomination comes more than a month after former justice Lee Dong-heub stepped down as the nominee amid a series of allegations of wrongdoing.Park is a lifelong public prosecutor who rose to some of the highest posts within the prosecutors’ office.Pa
March 21, 2013
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Park calls for shift in welfare policy
President Park Geun-hye called for a shift in welfare policy Thursday, saying it should be designed to help people support themselves.One of Park’s major administrative goals is to provide tailored welfare services for each period of a person’s life, from free childcare to additional monthly allowances for senior citizens aged 65 or older.“There’s a need to shift away from a social welfare system that does favors by distributing cash to one that helps people stand on their own feet and support t
March 21, 2013
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China frees activist who helped defectors
China has released one of two South Korean activists who were detained early this month after helping North Korean defectors hide there, a Seoul government source said Thursday. The two female activists were apprehended on March 9 in Yanji of China’s eastern Jilin province for allegedly helping North Koreans flee their totalitarian homeland. “One of the two South Korean nationals was released yesterday,” the source said on the condition of anonymity. On March 12, Rev. Kim Seung-eun of South Kore
March 21, 2013
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China coastal waters increasingly polluted
BEIJING (AFP) ― China’s coastal waters are suffering “acute” pollution, with the size of the worst affected areas soaring by more than 50 percent last year, an official body said.The State Oceanic Administration said 68,000 square kilometers (26,300 square miles) of sea had the worst official pollution rating in 2012, up 24,000 square kilometers on 2011.Under this classification the waters are deemed unsuitable for swimming, fish-farming and port use and not fit for some industrial purposes.The
March 21, 2013
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Vice minister resigns but denies allegations of sexual misconduct
Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui resigned Thursday amid alleged involvement in a sex-for-favors scandal, dealing a fresh blow to President Park Geun-hye. Police have reportedly obtained statements from a woman hired by a contractor to perform sexual services for the official in 2009 at a country house in Wonju, Gangwon Province. After his name was disclosed by news media earlier in the day, he denied having received sexual services in exchange for exerting his influence.“Though all these allegat
March 21, 2013
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Constitutional Court, SMBA chiefs named
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday nominated Constitutional Court justice Park Hanchul as its chief, and business administration professor Han Jung-wha to head the Small and Medium usiness Administration.Park, who has been serving as a member of the top court’s nine-member bench since 2011, was chosen for his “expertise and capability,”Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Yoon Chang-jung said. Yoon also explained that Park was the first in line to succeed the top seat in terms of his tenure, the longest amo
March 21, 2013
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Government revision bill stumbles on broadcasting
The National Assembly failed to approve President Park Geun-hye’s government overhaul plan as rival parties disagreed over the new science and technology ministry’s authority over broadcasters.Despite the tentative agreement that the Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party reached on the Government Organization Act on Sunday, clauses regarding cable system operators, or SOs, proved to be the main sticking point.Under the agreement drawn up by the leaders of the two parties,
March 20, 2013
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Park, Xi discuss N. Korea and bilateral relations
President Park Geun-hye requested Chinese leader Xi Jinping to persuade North Korea to return to dialogue during a phone call Wednesday to congratulate Xi on his inauguration as president. They also discussed ways to bolster bilateral relations during their first conversation since Park was inaugurated on Feb. 25 and Xi assumed presidency last week. The talks took place amid North Korea’s stepped-up saber-rattling in response to tougher international sanctions over the reclusive state’s Feb. 12
March 20, 2013
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Saenuri’s plan to reform nominations in peril
After a heated debate, the Saenuri Party leaders on Wednesday overruled its vetting committee’s proposal to refrain from nominating candidates for the April 24 local by-elections. “The Supreme Council discussed plans to not issue nominations in provincial government and council elections but a conclusion was not reached. The council will work on new plans,” Saenuri Party secretary general Seo Byung-soo told reporters. Seo also heads the nomination review committee. The proposal faced strong oppo
March 20, 2013
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[Graphic News] Airbus makes biggest sale in aviation history
Airbus set a new record in the aviation industry on Monday when it completed the biggest aircraft sale in history.The order for 234 Airbus aircraft by Indonesian carrier Lion Air was worth close to $24 billion, beating by some $2 billion the previous record held by Boeing and American Airlines.The achievement by the French aircraft manufacturer was welcome news for the French economy, which is currently struggling with an unemployment rate of over 10 percent. By John Power (john.power@heraldcorp
March 19, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Blind trust rule turns ‘thorny’ for Park
President Park Geun-hye has aptly compared regulatory and business hurdles plaguing smaller firms to a “thorn under the nail.” It turns out that she has her own obstacles right under her nose. On Monday, Park’s nominee to head the Small and Medium Business Administration, Hwang Chul-joo, withdrew, citing a rule that compels high-level officials to dispose of any personal assets related to their duties.Hwang, who is the CEO of a venture company called Jusung Engineering, was considered one of Par
March 19, 2013
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Park says N.K. nukes intolerable
President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday said North Korea’s nuclear threat was “a problem that cannot be simply let off the hook” and reaffirmed the South’s resolve to strongly counter any provocation.“We cannot live with the nuclear (threat) hanging above our head,” Park said in a luncheon with the country’s religious leaders at Cheong Wa Dae.“If North Korea should abandon its nuclear (programs) right now and step toward the right path, I promise to support North Korea by actively mobilizing the Kore
March 19, 2013