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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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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[Herald Interview] Byun Yo-han's 'unlikable' character is result of calculated acting
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Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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[Photo News] Seoul seeks 'best sleeper'
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Ex-governor Kim joins Saenuri primary
Gyeonggi governor also plans to challenge leading candidate ParkFormer South Gyeongsang Governor Rep. Kim Tae-ho of the ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday announced his bid for the December presidential election. Also on Wednesday, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo decided to join the race despite his disagreement with the leadership over the party’s primary rules.The right-wing party’s internal primary to select a presidential candidate will be a five-way race, also involving frontrunner Rep. Park
July 11, 2012
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Two-term lawmaker announces presidential bid
Rep. Kim Tae-ho of the ruling Saenuri Party said Wednesday he will join the party's primary to compete with the leading candidate Park Geun-hye for the presidential nomination.The former South Gyeongsang Province governor is the fourth contender in the primary scheduled for late August, though former party chief Park is widely expected to clinch the nomination for December's election.Earlier this
July 11, 2012
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President’s brother arrested for bribery
A Seoul court issued Tuesday an arrest warrant for President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother on charges of taking bribes from savings bank executives.Former ruling party lawmaker Lee Sang-deuk became the first-ever sibling of an incumbent president to be arrested.Clients of failed savings banks threw water and eggs at his face when the 77-year-old politician arrived at the Seoul Central District Court at 10:30 a.m. The prosecution questioned Lee last Thursday over allegations that he took 300 mil
July 11, 2012
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Japan to revise PKO law to allow limited collective self-defense
Tokyo moves fast to bolster its military role in face of threats from China, North KoreThe Tokyo government is reportedly seeking to revise the law governing its Self-Defense Forces’ U.N. peacekeeping operations to allow them to use force if an international organization outside their base is attacked.The move has sparked controversy as the revision could contravene Article 9 in the “pacifist” constitution that bans Japan’s exercise of the right of collective self-defense ― the use of force to r
July 10, 2012
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Park vows to ‘feel people’s pain’
Declaring presidential bid, Park pushes jobs, welfare, economic democratizationThe ruling Saenuri Party’s frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye declared her presidential bid before a cheering crowd Tuesday at busy Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, western Seoul, pledging to share the citizens’ pain and bring contentment to their lives.Flanked by around a thousand supporters who gathered in the sweltering heat, Park stepped onto the outdoor podium decorated with her symbolic color, red. “I will devote my a
July 10, 2012
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Reformist Sim elected as UPP floor leader
Rep. Sim Sang-jeung was elected the new floor leader of the troubled Unified Progressive Party.The former labor activist was one of the party’s four co-chairs and is a leading figure in the reformist group that took control of the party leadership in the wake of a vote-rigging scandal involving the far-left faction. “Rep. Sim was recommended as a single candidate and elected unanimously by party lawmakers attending the meeting,” said Lee Jeong-mi, spokesperson of the party’s decision-making body
July 10, 2012
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Park stakes her claim to make history
Leading candidate needs to draw young voters to win Saenuri primary and Dec. pollPark Geun-hye, the daughter of assassinated former President Park Chung-hee, will make history in a male-dominated society if her campaign to become the country’s first female president succeeds.Park, who on Tuesday declared her candidacy for the conservative ruling Saenuri Party, lost both her parents to gunmen while she was still in her twenties but pressed ahead undaunted with her own political career.She enjoys
July 10, 2012
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Park Geun-hye announces presidential bid with jobs, welfare pledge
Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party officially announced her bid Tuesday to become South Korea's first female president, pledging to promote a fair economy, expand welfare and improve relations with North Korea."I will devote my everything to make the Republic of Korea a country in which everybody can achieve their dreams," Park said at a press briefing in front of a popular shopping ma
July 10, 2012
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Saenuri dropouts lambast Park; DUP’s Chung won’t run
Chung, Lee withdraw from ruling party’s primary raceReps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh of the ruling Saenuri Party lashed out at presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye for monopolizing partisan power as they declared they will drop out of the race in protest over the leadership’s refusal to change the primary rules.“Participating in the party’s primary at this point is the same as condoning and abetting the party’s return to authoritarianism, and therefore I will not be running in the primary,
July 9, 2012
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Yim’s camp claims Park copied campaign logo
A dispute over campaign logos erupted between two presidential hopefuls of the ruling Saenuri Party Monday as former presidential chief-of-staff Yim Tae-hee’s team claimed that frontrunner Park Geun-hye copied its image. Park’s campaign unveiled its logo Sunday featuring a red speech bubble with Park’s initials in hangeul, in a design made to look like a smiley face.Similarly, Yim’s logo, designed by a college student in May, features a blue circle and his initials in Korean. “The emoticon symbo
July 9, 2012
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Parties to vote on lawmakers’ arrest
Agree to vote on fate of independent, ruling party lawmakers WednesdayRuling and opposition parties agreed Monday to deal with motions on the arrest of two lawmakers, reflecting their pledge to give up lawmakers’ on Wednesday immunity from detention.The vice floor leaders of the Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party agreed that the prosecution’s requests for the arrests of independent Rep. Park Joo-sun, formerly affiliated with the opposition party, and the ruling party’s Rep. Chung Doo-
July 9, 2012
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Minor candidates quit ruling party's presidential primary
Two minor presidential candidates of the ruling Saenuri Party said Monday they have decided not to compete in the party's primary for the December race, as they consider it designed to comfortably select the long-time favorite Park Geun-hye.Reps. Lee Jae-oh and Chung Mong-joon had called on the party leadership to fully open its primary voting to non-party members in what is dubbed an "open primar
July 9, 2012
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Former governor Kim joins DUP race
Former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Doo-kwan on Sunday announced his intent to run in the presidential primary of the main opposition Democratic United Party. One of the closest allies of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kim resigned from the post on Friday. In a press conference at Ttangkkeut Village in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, he claimed himself to be the only one to unite the opposition forces and match frontrunner Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party.“This year’s
July 8, 2012
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Still undecided: Ahn Cheol-soo
A prominent software entrepreneur has said he remains undecided on whether to run in the presidential election, keeping South Koreans guessing about his political aspirations.Ahn Cheol-soo has been eyed as a potential candidate for the December presidential election since his stunning debut in the political community during last year’s Seoul mayoral election.The founder of AhnLab, South Korea’s biggest anti-virus software firm, also donated half of his stake in Ahnlab to charity, underpinning sp
July 6, 2012
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Park names key campaign managers
Lineup includes politicians, economists, former administrators and business executivesSaenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye is hitting her stride in the presidential race by releasing the schedule for her formal bid declaration and the composition of her election campaign team.Under the slogan “citizens’ happiness,” Park’s campaign is primarily focused on economic policies aimed to create a “fair” economy by curbing chaebol irregularities, supporting small businesses and expanding wel
July 6, 2012
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DUP to narrow presidential primary race to five candidates
The Democratic United Party will cut the candidates with the lowest scores in surveys later this month, ahead of the presidential primaries scheduled to be held in September.According to the DUP’s presidential election preparation committee Friday, the party will survey party members and the public on July 29 and 30, and the top five candidates will be allowed to run in the primaries.At present, five DUP lawmakers ― Moon Jae-in, Sohn Hak-kyu, Chung Se-kyun, Kim Yong-hwan and Choi Kyung-tae ― hav
July 6, 2012
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Rep. Yoo Seong-min to head defense committee
The ruling Saenuri Party elected Rep. Yoo Seong-min to head the 19th National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on Friday.The Saenuri Party’s election of Yoo wrapped up the composition of the parliament’s 18 standing committees, among which 10 are chaired by the Saenuri Party and eight by the main opposition Democratic United Party. The chairman seat for the Defense Committee was put to a vote by the Saenuri members as both Yoo and former military man Rep. Hwang Jin-ha vouched for the post.
July 6, 2012
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Kim Doo-kwan resigns from governor post
Kim Doo-kwan, one of the main opposition Democratic United Party’s presidential hopefuls, resigned from his post as South Gyeongsang Province governor on Friday to run for the presidency, vowing to become “a bigger man” to pay back local residents.“I am not leaving you or South Gyeongsang Province … Our society at present is faced with a desperately dangerous crisis of the Republic of Korea,” Kim said. He said he has chosen to take on the difficult path to create a different Korea and to become
July 6, 2012
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Arrest warrant sought for President’s brother and ex-aide
The prosecution on Friday sought arrest warrants for President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother Lee Sang-deuk and his former aide Rep. Chung Doo-un in connection with their alleged involvement in bribery cases.Lee Sang-deuk is suspected of taking a total of 700 million won ($608,700)in bribes from the management of ailing savings banks in return for exercising his influence in evading a shutdown orde
July 6, 2012
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Lee's former close aide quizzed for 14 hours in savings bank
Rep. Chung Doo-un of the ruling aenuri Party, a former close aide of President Lee Myung-bak, nderwent 14 hours of questioning until late Thursday night about llegations of receiving illegal political funds from a candal-ridden savings bank."I gave a full explanation on all allegations (of bribery),"Chung told reporters as he left the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul at 11:45 p.m. Thu
July 6, 2012