Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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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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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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Moon, Ahn to face off in TV debate
Presidential candidates Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo are poised to face off in their debate Wednesday, as they vie to become the main liberal candidate in the presidential election, with the winner likely to be decided by opinion poll later this week.The rivals are expected to renew their commitment to forming an alliance to prevent a continuation of conservative rule by beating the Saenuri Party’s Park Geun-hye in the Dec. 19 election. Their face-to-face duel, broadcast live by three TV networ
Nov. 21, 2012
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Ahn Cheol-soo aims to rally support around DUP if he wins ticket
Independent presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo said Tuesday that if he becomes the standard bearer for the liberal camp, his campaign will rally around the main opposition Democratic United Party to win the December poll.In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, the 50-year-old entrepreneur-turned-politician said there will be a need to reflect the wishes of all people who supported the liberal cause.The comments come as Ahn is engaged in talks with DUP candidate Moon Jae-in to decide who should
Nov. 20, 2012
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Candidates fine-tune skills before crucial TV debates
The three major presidential candidates are bracing for a series of televised debates starting this week that are likely to greatly affect voter sentiment ahead of the Dec. 19 election. The main opposition Democratic United Party’s Rep. Moon Jae-in and independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo are poised to battle it out in a 100-minute session Wednesday before conducting polls to select a single candidate between them. Rep. Park Geun-hye, flag-bearer of the ruling conservative Saenuri Party, will app
Nov. 20, 2012
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Discord deepens between Moon, Ahn
The camps of presidential candidates Ahn Cheol-soo and Moon Jae-in were ratcheting up criticism against each other Tuesday as they differed over the method of selecting a unified candidate.Aides to the Democratic United Party’s Moon and independent Ahn accused the other side of maneuvering with the media and breaking the rules.According to Rep. Woo Sang-ho, who is heading Moon’s communications team, Ahn’s negotiators suggested opinion polls and deliberative polls, with the latter being answered
Nov. 20, 2012
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Lawmakers under fire for pursuing pork barrel projects
With less than two weeks remaining until the deadline to approve next year’s government budget, negotiations in the National Assembly are being stalled, while some lawmakers have been accused of trying to enact legislation designed to funnel money into their constituencies.The mandated deadline for the National Assembly to approve the budget is Dec. 2. They agreed to advance the schedule to Nov. 22 in consideration of the Dec. 19 presidential election. The Democratic United Party has demanded th
Nov. 20, 2012
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Experts warn against too much reliance on opinion polls
With less than a week remaining until the date to finalize the progressive coalition ticket, public opinion polls are projected to play a critical role in deciding whose name will be on the ballot. But experts and analysts say public opinion polls may not always be an accurate indicator of people’s opinion nor conducive to the electoral process. “As the process of democratization and people’s political participation become more active, opinion polls yield greater influence on elections,” said Ha
Nov. 20, 2012
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Pyongyang steps up efforts to pare back military’s influence
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to be stepping up efforts to weaken the military’s political and economic influence as he seeks to establish a more flexible and efficient state management.In recent months, Kim has reportedly purged or demoted some high-level military officers in what analysts call a move to enable the North’s cabinet and ruling party smoothly lead economic and other affairs.“The recent moves appear to be aimed at quieting down the aftereffect of the purge of former top c
Nov. 20, 2012
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Lee departs for UAE after visit to Cambodia
PHNOM PENH (Yonhap News) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak headed to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after attending a set of annual cooperation summits with Southeast Asian and other Asia-Pacific countries in Cambodia.During a summit with the 10 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Lee pledged to expand South Korea's development assistance and other aid to the increasingly important region of vibrant economies with high growth potential.Lee also attended a mee
Nov. 20, 2012
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S. Korea kicks off negotiations for two massive free trade deals
PHNOM PENH (Yonhap News) -- South Korea declared the opening of two sets of ambitious negotiations toward potentially massive free trade deals Tuesday, which if realized, would create huge new markets in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.The two negotiating processes, one of them between South Korea, China and Japan, and the other involving 16 Asia-Pacific countries, are the most tangible outcomes of a series of annual summits in Cambodia led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nation
Nov. 20, 2012
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Senior prosecutor arrested over massive bribery
A ranking Seoul prosecutor was formally detained Monday pending trial on charges of receiving bribes worth hundreds of millions of won in return for favors, a special prosecution team looking into the case said.The Seoul Central District Court approved the special investigation team's request to issue an arrest warrant for the disgraced prosecutor Kim Kwang-joon.The 51-year-old prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office is accused of receiving a total of nearly 900 million won ($826,000) f
Nov. 20, 2012
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Two liberal candidates to hold TV debate for single candidacy
Running against time, two leading liberal opposition presidential hopefuls agreed on Monday to hold a TV debate as part of their efforts to merge their candidacies in December's election.The TV debate, scheduled for Wednesday, comes only six days before the Nov. 26 deadline set by the national election commission to register their candidacy. The two have earlier agreed to merge their bids before the deadline."The two candidates have moved ahead their merger negotiations by agreeing to hold a TV
Nov. 19, 2012
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Uncertainty looms over Sino-American rivalry
This is the fifth in a series of articles on the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China and its implications for the two Koreas and East Asia. ― Ed.The growing Sino-American rivalry has raised the question of whether their relationship will descend into a zero-sum contest for global primacy or continue to be a strategic mixture of collaboration and competition.Experts presume the latter is the most plausible for the next few decades, given their gaps in power, and domestic challenges. But it
Nov. 19, 2012
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Moon-Ahn talks down to the wire
Negotiators resumed talks for a single opposition presidential candidate Monday, focusing on the selection method and timing with only a week to go before the final candidate registration deadline.According to the merger schedule announced on Nov. 6 when Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party and independent Ahn Cheol-soo agreed on the merger, the unified candidate needs to be selected before Nov. 26, the final day of candidate registration. With only a week to go before the deadline, the tw
Nov. 19, 2012
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Ahn presses North to quit nuclear project
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo Monday urged North Korea to renounce its nuclear weapons project, to halt all military provocations, and to return to the negotiating table.In a press conference with the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Ahn stressed that the nation’s political and economic reforms may only be built upon the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.“If I become president, I shall first of all promote peace on the Korea Peninsula,” said Ahn.“For the past five
Nov. 19, 2012
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Controversy rises over drawing of Park GH
A woman clearly resembling Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye lies on an operating table, smiling, as a doctor holds up a newborn baby wearing sunglasses, a staple accessory of Park’s late father, President Park Chung-hee.The picture, drawn by painter Hong Sung-dam on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Yushin Constitution of the dictatorial rule of the senior Park, is drawing a massive backlash from the ruling party, which vows to take legal measures. The oil painting ti
Nov. 19, 2012
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Park struggles to improve poll ratings
In response to renewed alliance talks between her progressive rivals, Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye is stepping up a campaign emphasizing the prospect of electing the nations’ first female president. Her efforts, however, are being held back by support ratings that have stagnated below 45 percent.Park’s popularity ratings in various polls have remained between 37 percent and 41 percent for the past several weeks. The stifled support comes as the conservative candidate was se
Nov. 19, 2012
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Relations full of ups and downs
“Capitalism saved the isolated, poor, underdeveloped China about more than three decades ago. But now, it may be China’s turn to help the struggling capitalist world,” an observer said half in jest, underscoring the Asian power’s increasing economic clout.It was Washington that played a crucial role in helping China enter the global capitalist system as Beijing initiated a reform and openness policy in the late 1970s.Initially, labeling China as a wartime foe for its participation in the 1950-53
Nov. 19, 2012
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Big unknowns still cloud election outlook
Korea’s 18th presidential election remains surrounded by uncertainties with only 30 days to go until the ballots are cast.The largest variable continues to be the progressive bloc’s candidate unification that regained its momentum Sunday.The two main progressive candidates ― the Democratic United Party’s Moon Jae-in and independent Ahn Cheol-soo ― have resolved their differences and the talks on the unified candidate selection method have resumed after a meeting between the two late Sunday eveni
Nov. 18, 2012
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Candidates sharpen battle for economic democratization
“Economic democratization” has been a major campaign issue as widening income gaps and unrelenting chaebol power have increased calls for fairness, compassion and the rule of law in the market.The battle lines became clearer on Friday as conservative presidential candidate Park Geun-hye unveiled a set of prescriptions that differ from her progressive rivals Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo.The Saenuri Party flag-bearer’s version of economic democratization focuses more on a “fair market” than “chae
Nov. 18, 2012
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Moon, Ahn return to talks with agreement on reform
Presidential candidates Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo resumed their talks for a single progressive candidacy Sunday, signaling it with a joint political reform declaration, as they dramatically overcame their differences upon an en-masse resignation of the Democratic United Party’s leadership.The talks for the method of selecting a single progressive candidate between Moon of DUP and independent Ahn Cheol-soo are hence to resume Monday with some new representatives to freshen up the negotiation
Nov. 18, 2012