Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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[Herald Interview] Byun Yo-han's 'unlikable' character is result of calculated acting
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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[Photo News] Seoul seeks 'best sleeper'
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US expert says N. Korea might ignore Trump if he returns to White House
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Think tanks provide clue to presidential hopefuls’ platforms
Riding the trend of establishing “think tanks” in preparation to run for the presidency, candidates have mobilized their policy research institutes to the fullest in the run up to the December race.The size of each think tank seems to correspond to the prominence of the candidate it supports. Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party boasts one of the most extravagant lineups of experts in her think tanks.“Compared to several years back, there are increasing number of think tanks in Korea that tend to
July 17, 2012
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Liberal parties move to mend alliance
The liberal opposition parties on Tuesday hinted at reestablishing a left-wing alliance ahead of the December presidential election by calling for unified opposition against the ruling camp on pending issues.The main opposition Democratic United Party, led by floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, submitted a motion demanding that Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik be dismissed over the disputed Korea-Japan intelligence pact. The minority Unified Progressive Party pledged to support the motion in the upcomin
July 17, 2012
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Park blasted for defending late father
Assertion that ex-president made ‘best choice available’ sparks rage from liberals, conservativesSaenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye is drawing fire from all corners for her comments defending her father’s 1961 coup and his 16-year dictatorial rule.Speaking at a forum organized by the Korea News Editors Association on Monday, Park said that her father was forced to “make the best choice” available to him at the time. She also said that the coup played an essential role in national d
July 17, 2012
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DUP opposes rights chief’s 2nd term
Lawmakers cite plagiarism, forgery allegations against NHRC headThe main opposition Democratic United Party on Tuesday stepped up its opposition to the reappointment of National Human Rights Commission chief Hyun Byung-chul, who is under fire for alleged irregularities and abuse of authority.The DUP members of Hyun’s confirmation hearing committee held a joint press conference on Tuesday, the day after the disputed chief faced parliamentary questioning. They called for the reversal of Hyun’s nom
July 17, 2012
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DUP floor leader Park Jie-won to be summoned
Prosecutors have summoned the Democratic United Party floor leader for interrogation on Thursday regarding his involvement in a high-profile bribery case.According to the Central Investigation Bureau of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Rep. Park Jie-won of the main opposition party was notified on Tuesday to appear for questioning regarding a savings bank scandal involving several politicians.Howe
July 17, 2012
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Park: Always open to summit with N.K.
The ruling Saenuri Party’s leading presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye said Monday she was open to holding inter-Korean summit talks with North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un as part of her confidence-building policy for Pyongyang.“I am open to holding the summit talks if I should get a chance (as president). I deem that it is always positive to hold dialogue with the North,” Park said during a debate hosted by the Korea News Editors’ Association at Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul.“Nobo
July 16, 2012
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Lee names ex-prosecutor as legislation minister
President Lee Myung-bak named a law expert with decades of experience as a prosecutor to head the agency that handles the government’s legislative affairs, the presidential office said Monday.Lee Jae-won, currently deputy chief of the state-run Judicial Research and Training Institute, will replace Jeong Sun-tae as head of the Ministry of Government Legislation in a routine reshuffle, presidential press secretary Lee Jong-hyun said.Lee, 54, passed the bar exam in 1982 and worked as a prosecutor
July 16, 2012
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Human rights activist slams NHRC chief Hyun
When Kim Hyung-wan left the National Human Rights Commission in protest in 2010, it cost him financially and in terms of status. But despite being only four months away from 20 years of service and a corresponding lifetime pension at the time of his resignation, he doesn’t regret his decision. Kim’s departure was largely in opposition to the leadership of Hyun Byung-chul, whose appointment by President Lee Myung-bak in 2009 met with fierce criticism from within the commission and from most of th
July 16, 2012
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Park Geun-hye defends her father's 1961 military coup
Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential contender of the ruling Saenuri Party, on Monday defended her father Park Chung-hee's military coup in 1961, but offered an apology for victims of his authoritarian rule.The senior Park seized power in the coup and ruled the country as president until 1979 when he was assassinated by his top intelligence aide. Assessment of him is divided, with conservatives
July 16, 2012
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Reformist Kang takes UPP helm
Kang Ki-kab, the reformist interim chief of the embattled Unified Progressive Party, was elected Sunday as the new chairman with the task of hauling the party out of its months-long factional disputes.His election is expected to turn around the party’s broken relations with the main opposition Democratic United Party and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.In a nationwide in-party vote that continued late into Saturday night, Kang won 55.8 percent, or 20,861 votes, beating his rival Kang By
July 15, 2012
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South Jeolla governor declares presidential bid
Park Joon-yung, governor of South Jeolla Province, on Sunday declared that he would join the Democratic United Party’s presidential nomination race, bringing the number of contenders to seven.The journalist-turned-politician expressed confidence is his chance of winning based on his expectation that he could garner much support from the main opposition party’s stronghold.Park pledged to focus on enhancing the livelihood of ordinary citizens, promoting social integration and mapping out viable me
July 15, 2012
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Saenuri suffers fallout of immunity vote
Reformative lawmakers accuse leadership of sidestepping democracyThe fallout from last week’s rejection of an arrest motion for the Saenuri Party’s Rep. Chung Doo-un continued as reformative Saenuri lawmakers accused the party leadership of sidestepping democracy for the sake of Rep. Park Geun-hye’s presidential bid. While the party leadership tried to contain the backlash, growing in-house discontent with the pro-Park leadership reflected the widening gulf between party factions.“Yes, we need t
July 15, 2012
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Saenuri to submit tougher bills for corrupt chaebols
A group of ruling party lawmakers committed to reform of large family-run conglomerates, or chaebol, said Sunday they will table a bill to parliament that calls for toughening legal punishment of chaebol owners convicted of corruption.A revision of the Act of Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes, to be introduced Monday by Rep. Min Hyun-ju and 22 other Saenuri Party lawmakers, is intended to prohibit chaebol owners accused of embezzlement and breach of trust from avoiding prison se
July 15, 2012
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Reformist Kang Ki-kab elected new leader of embattled progressive party
The embattled Unified Progressive Party (UPP) on Sunday elected reformist interim leader Kang Ki-kab as its new chairman in a nationwide vote, hoping that it would end months of factional infighting that has thrown the minor left-wing party into chaos.Party officials said Kang, who has served as the interim leader of the UPP since late April, was elected to the top leadership over Kang Byung-gee w
July 15, 2012
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Park tells lawmaker to accept justice
Leading candidate expresses regret over parliamentary rejection of Chung’s arrestPark Geun-hye, top presidential candidate of the Saenuri Party, apologized to the public on Friday for the parliamentary rejection of an arrest motion for ruling party lawmaker Chung Doo-un who faces corruption charges.She urged Chung to bear responsibility and face the prosecutorial probe, as the incident is casting a cloud over her campaign for the December presidential election.“I am sincerely sorry that the arre
July 13, 2012
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Saenuri floor leader demands Chung leave
The ruling Saenuri Party’s floor leader Lee Hahn-koo, a day after offering his resignation, said Thursday that Rep. Chung Doo-un, who is facing bribery charges, must leave the party and be placed under arrest. Lee’s outburst escalated the turmoil within the ruling party prompted by the parliamentary rejection of the prosecution’s motion to arrest Chung on Wednesday, leading to an en masse offer of resignation by the floor leadership.Their resignations are set to be discussed at the party’s gener
July 12, 2012
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Clinton says N. Korea nuke pursuit threatens world
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and ``pattern of provocations'' are a serious threat to Asian and world security.North Korea released a statement later Thursday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' annual conference in Cambodia saying Washington's ``never-ending nuclear threat'' against the North has forced Pyon
July 12, 2012
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Gyeonggi Gov. Kim enters Saenuri primary
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo announced his presidential bid, becoming the fifth candidate to participate in the ruling Saenuri Party primary.“I decided to not avoid my calling and shall serve the people to build an advanced unified country for them,” Kim said at the party headquarters on Thursday.The right-wing party’s internal primary will thus be a five-way race, involving frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye, former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo, former Presidential Chief-of-staff Yim Tae-h
July 12, 2012
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Saenuri floor leader offers to resign over vote on lawmaker
Assembly rejects detention of Chung charged with bribery, but approves arrest of opposition memberThe Saenuri Party’s floor leadership offered to resign en masse Wednesday, after the National Assembly vetoed an arrest motion for the ruling party’s Rep. Chung Doo-un who was implicated in a bribery scandal.The Assembly earlier voted down the request by the prosecution to arrest Chung, who is suspected of colluding with former Saenuri Party lawmaker and President Lee Myung-bak’s older brother Lee S
July 11, 2012
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Parties vote down detainment of Chung Doo-un
Approves arrest of independent lawmaker convicted of illegal campaigningRuling and opposition parties Wednesday voted down the request by the prosecution to arrest the ruling party’s Rep. Chung Doo-un implicated in a high-profile bribery case involving the older brother of President Lee Myung-bak.The lawmakers, however, approved the arrest of independent Rep. Park Joo-sun sentenced with two-year jail term, with 148 of the 271 attending lawmakers voting in consent. Park was convicted last month f
July 11, 2012