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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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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N. Korea slams planned S. Korea-US military drills, warns of 'catastrophic aftermath'
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[Robert J. Fouser] Social attitudes toward language proficiency
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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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 echo reform but split on how
Presidential candidates Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party and independent Ahn Cheol-soo clashed Wednesday on political reform, a key issue they must agree on if they are to form a potential alliance.Following Ahn’s proposal Tuesday to reduce the parliamentary seats and state subsidies for political parties, and scrap the central party system, Moon retorted, “It is unrealistic.”Instead, Moon released more of his own reform plans Wednesday, pledging to obligate the disclosure of assets ow
Oct. 24, 2012
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Warrants sought for UPP members involved in voting fraud
Prosecutors sought arrest warrants for 14 former and current members of a minor progressive party on Wednesday on charges of illegally casting votes in the leftist party‘s scandal-ridden election in April to select candidates for proportional representation seats.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said they applied for court-issued warrants to arrest four members of the Unified Progressive Party, with two other regional prosecution offices seeking warrants for 10 other party members.
Oct. 24, 2012
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Presidential candidates call for fair education environment
Presidential candidates on Wednesday called for creating a fair education environment in which students can freely develop their talents and pursue their goals.Until now, academic excellence along with high family income levels have often determined a student‘s success in the country’s highly competitive education environment. The job market has compounded that trend, with graduates of a select few prestigious universities dominating the senior and well-paying positions.In an apparent bid to woo
Oct. 24, 2012
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Concerns rise about S. Korea, U.S. policy differences on North Korea
Seoul and Washington could struggle to coordinate their North Korea policies when their new leaders are elected later this year as they could differ over how to handle the communist state, experts pointed out.All South Korean major presidential candidates appear to be leaning toward more dialogue and engagement as they share the view that President Lee Myung-bak’s strictly reciprocal policy was not effective given soured inter-Korean ties.But U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican rival
Oct. 24, 2012
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Lee's son to be summoned Thursday over retirement home scandal
President Lee Myung-bak's only son will be summoned this week for questioning in connection with his father's now-suspended retirement home project in which critics argue taxpayer money was used, an official of a special counsel probing the case said Tuesday.The summons comes as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that the 34-year-old son, Si-hyung, and the presidential security service violated real estate laws and used taxpayers' money to buy a plot of land for the retirement hom
Oct. 23, 2012
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High ratio of swing voters makes race hard to predict
Well-educated, female, 40-something, a white-collar worker and living in Seoul ― chances are that she may be one of the floating voters that hold the key to the cliffhanger race for the presidency.Adding drama and unpredictability to the Dec. 19 election is a higher percentage of swing voters than before. Polls show that fewer people are undecided, but more are open to changing their minds.Driven by demographic changes, this year’s voter makeup breaks a few records, too. Their number surpasses 4
Oct. 23, 2012
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Historical animosity with Japan still tricky problem for Lee
This is the second in a series of articles evaluating the Lee Myung-bak administration’s foreign policy. ― Ed.About a week after his swearing-in in February 2008, President Lee Myung-bak underscored that Korea and Japan should not give up future relations by being “fettered by the past.” The remarks at the March 1 Liberation Movement Day ceremony drew the ire of the public still harboring resentment over Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula. Political foes derided him as a “pro-Japan” p
Oct. 23, 2012
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Ahn calls for smaller parliament
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo on Tuesday called for the reduction of parliamentary seats and state subsidies for political parties, and the abolishment of the central party system.Ahn unveiled key elements of his political platform, which is seen as critical criteria for potentially unifying candidacy with opposition Democratic United Party nominee Moon Jae-in.Ahn said that the measures form the basis for his goal of relinquishing the privileges of those in power, which is one
Oct. 23, 2012
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DUP focuses on addressing losses from frozen ties
The Democratic United Party is pushing bills aimed at resuming inter-Korean cooperation and repairing the damage caused by frozen ties over the past four years.Most of the inter-Korean projects initiated by the former leaders of the party have been put on hold amid cross-border tension under the Lee Myung-bak administration. Tours to Mount Geumgang just north of the border on the east coast were halted in July 2008 after a South Korean woman was shot dead by a North Korean guard.The Seoul govern
Oct. 23, 2012
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Saenuri sets sights on long-term inter-Korean goals
Bills related to inter-Korean economic issues proposed by Saenuri Party lawmakers for the most part are concerned with the use of funds for relevant activities.The only exception is a bill proposed by Rep. Hwang Jin-ha that is aimed at increasing inter-Korean economic activities. The bill proposes the establishment of a “special unification economic zone” close to the border. The bill proposes that the economic zone be an independent entity free from taxation and state control from both Seoul an
Oct. 23, 2012
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Whither South-North economic cooperation?
Relations between the two Koreas have been spiraling downwards over the past four years, with heightened tension and confrontation pushing out the wider economic cooperation considered an agent for peace.With the Dec. 19 presidential election approaching in particular, the strain across the border is acute. The South Korean government is buttressing the security alertness over North Korea’s seeming attempt to sway the outcome.Behind the tension, however, stands the pledge by the three main presi
Oct. 23, 2012
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Think tank head offers to quit over Dokdo remarks
The head of the state-run think tank on North Korean studies said Monday he offered to quit his job last week over his controversial remarks on the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo.The move by Kim Tae-woo, president of the Korea Institute for National Unification, comes nearly two months after he said there was a need to discuss with Japan possible sharing of rights to use marine and seabed resources around Dokdo.In August, Kim floated his idea on conditions that Japan recognize Seoul's sov
Oct. 22, 2012
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Park draws fire from all corners for remarks on Jeongsu
Saenuri Party presidential candidate Rep. Park Geun-hye’s refusal to demand the resignation of the chief of Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation drew a backlash from all sides, including her own party.On Sunday, Park called a press conference to clarify her position. However, contrary to widespread expectations that she would put forth concrete measures to address the situation, Park reiterated her earlier position that she had no ties to the organization.Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation was established
Oct. 22, 2012
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Ahn inches toward unifying candidacy
Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo’s aides on Monday appeared his most positive yet toward the proposed unification of candidacy with the main opposition Democratic United Party’s Rep. Moon Jae-in.“It is the basic principle of candidate Ahn to leave the decision (on candidacy unification) to the people,” said spokesperson Yoo Min-young on Monday.With only a month left for candidate registration, pressure has been mounting for Ahn to ally with Moon, so as to not split the liberal vo
Oct. 22, 2012
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About 10 pct of overseas voters registered for presidential election
About 10 percent of South Korean citizens who live outside of the country have registered for the Dec. 19 presidential election, the state electoral commission said Monday.Voter registration for Korean expatriates began on July 22 and some 223,557 people, or 10.01 percent of the 2.23 million eligible citizens living abroad, were registered as voters as of Monday, or the final day of registration, according to the National Election Commission.Under a 2009 law, eligible South Koreans living abroad
Oct. 22, 2012
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Ruling party lawmakers request to see archives of 2007 inter-Korean summit
A group of ruling party lawmakers on Monday asked to see the archives of a 2007 inter-Korean summit meeting to verify whether then President Roh Moo-hyun tried to nullify the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in a meeting with his North Korean counterpart.The ruling Saenuri Party has claimed the late Roh made the remarks about the Northern Limit Line during a private meeting with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and has demanded an explanation from main opposition presidential candidate
Oct. 22, 2012
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China ties remain challenge for Lee
This is the first in a series of articles evaluating the Lee Myung-bak administration’s foreign policy. ― Ed.The first foreign policy challenge President Lee Myung-bak faced after his inauguration in February 2008 came from China. His pronounced goal of “restoring” a genuine Korea-U.S. alliance raised eyebrows among officials in Beijing, including one who publicly condemned the military alliance as a remnant of the Cold War while Lee was in Beijing for a state visit.During his administration, Le
Oct. 22, 2012
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'Double agent' acquitted decades after being executed
A Seoul court on Monday posthumously cleared a local man of espionage charges and apologized to his bereaved family a half century after he was executed for being a "double agent" for both Koreas.Shim Moon-kyu was sent to North Korea to carry out espionage activities in 1955, two years after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce. Shim, however, was detected by the North and trained for one year and seven months to become a North Korean spy. Upon returning home, Shim immediately turned himself
Oct. 22, 2012
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Candidates run tight race in one-on-one matchups
Unpredictability prevailed in the third week of October as the presidential candidates continued to run neck-and-neck in two-way matchups while trading barbs over security, history and a possible alliance.The ruling Saenuri Party’s flag bearer Rep. Park Geun-hye held on to her lead in a mock three-way race in various polls, but suffered further setbacks in one-on-ones against Rep. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party and independent Ahn Cheol-soo.The latest daily poll by Gallup Korea on Fr
Oct. 21, 2012
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Park seeks to shake off ties to foundation
Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye reaffirmed her position that she had no connection to the Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation, and called on its management to provide the answers. “I think that Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation should provide the answers. The chairman and the board should reveal (information), answer the public and leave no trace of doubt in order to stop being used as a tool for political maneuvering.” Park said. She says that she has had no connection to the foundat
Oct. 21, 2012