Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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‘Kim desperately wanted to denuclearize,’ Moon writes in memoirs
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Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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Korea set to finalize medical school expansion plans
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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DUP refuses anti-prosecution alliance with UPP
The main opposition Democratic United Party, rejected the suggestion of the Unified Progressive Party to form an inter-party unity against the prosecution’s forceful investigation.“Our top priority is to restore order within the party and to regain the people’s trust,” said the DUP’s interim chief Park Jie-won in the party’s primary in Jeju on Sunday.Park nevertheless expressed concerns over the p
May 27, 2012
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UPP taking steps to expel defiant lawmakers-elect
The Unified Progressive Party is to officially urge its Seoul branch Monday to strike off the proportional representatives who have refused to step down amid a vote-rigging scandal.“The expulsion of the disputed figures is inevitable to maintain progressive politics,” Kang Ki-kab, chief of the party’s interim emergency committee, said in a letter to party members on Saturday.“I understand that many party members are against the disciplinary actions but the disciplinary committee is obligated to
May 27, 2012
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Lee: Korea, China to strike FTA in 2 years
South Korea and China can conclude free trade negotiations in two years, and the deal can be expanded to include Japan, President Lee Myung-bak said in an interview broadcast Saturday, stressing the ambitious three-way trade pact can be reached earlier than expected.The three countries agreed earlier this month to launch free trade negotiations this year. The ambitious pact, if realized, would create one of the world’s largest markets as South Korea, China and Japan account for 20 percent of the
May 27, 2012
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Controversy over lawyer’s profane remarks on TV
A South Korean lawyer has become the topic of a heated debate after he used profane remarks to criticize North Korean leaders on Saturday.Jeon Won-chaek, who is well-known for his rightist stance, said that anyone who cannot insult North Korea’s authoritarian regime is pro-North Korean.“Simply put, are Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il -- former leaders of North Korea -- gaesaeki? If you can say yes to the question, you’re not pro-North,” Jeon said on “Late Night Debate” show on KBS.The word “gaesaeki
May 27, 2012
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Lee: S. Korea, China can conclude free trade deal in 2 years
South Korea and China can conclude free trade negotiations in two years, and the deal can be expanded to include Japan, President Lee Myung-bak said in an interview broadcast Saturday, stressing the ambitious three-way trade pact can be reached earlier than expected.The three countries agreed earlier this month to launch free trade negotiations this year. The ambitious pact, if realized, would cre
May 27, 2012
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Expelling members necessary for sustaining progressive politics
The interim head of a minor opposition party said Saturday that expelling two lawmakers-elect and two other candidates linked to a primary vote rigging scandal is critical for the survival of South Korea's progressive movement.Unified Progressive Party (UPP) chief Kang Ki-kab said in an open letter addressed to party members that failure to take firm action at this juncture will lead to the extinc
May 26, 2012
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UPP to expel two defiant lawmakers-elect
The emergency leadership of the scandal-ridden Unified Progressive Party on Friday decided to discipline two proportional lawmakers-elect allegedly involved in vote-rigging, signaling the beginning of a process to expel them from the party.The emergency committee held a meeting in the afternoon and agreed to place lawmakers-elect Lee Seog-gi and Kim Jae-yeon under the party’s disciplinary committee, along with two other proportional representation candidates, for defying the party’s decision.The
May 25, 2012
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Ahn lays groundwork for presidential bid
Appoints former Roh aide as spokespersonSoftware-mogul-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo appeared to be preparing to enter the presidential race by naming Yoo Min-young, a former presidential press secretary, as his spokesman.Ahn, 50, has recently been polling just behind Saenuri Party’s presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye in various popularity polls of potential presidential candidates. The founder of anti-virus software firm AhnLab emerged on the political scene before the Seoul mayoral by-electi
May 25, 2012
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Tricky diplomatic task for Seoul
Korean court makes unprecedented ruling on compensation for colonial forced laborSeoul faces another sensitive diplomatic task with Japan after the top court on Thursday recognized the responsibility of two Japanese firms to compensate Koreans forced to work during the colonial period.Overturning a lower court’s ruling, the Supreme Court made the landmark decision in favor of nine plaintiffs, who have demanded compensation for their forced labor and mental and physical suffering from Mitsubishi
May 25, 2012
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Ahn brings in ex-presidential press secretary as his spokesman
Potential presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo has recently brought in a former presidential press secretary as his spokesman in a move seen as suggesting the popular professor and software developer is gearing up his bid for the top office. Ahn, 50, has been widely considered a potential opposition candidate in December's presidential vote since he demonstrated powerful influence over voters during
May 25, 2012
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Saenuri reformists push for ‘progressive right’ agenda
Four reform-minded lawmakers of the Saenuri Party banded together to push for a “progressive” agenda and challenge a new, ever-enlarging mainstream loyal to presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye. Reps. Chung Doo-un, Nam Kyung-pil, Choung Byoung-gug and Kim Tae-ho said on Wednesday they will launch the “progressive right” group.Gatherings of self-proclaimed reformists are not new to the conservative party. Minbon 21, a gathering of first-time lawmakers with a reform agenda, featured in the last
May 24, 2012
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Saenuri moves to block UPP leftists
Ruling party seeks legal means to keep allegedly pro-North figures out of AssemblyThe ruling Saenuri Party started moves to disqualify two progressive lawmakers-elect accused of past involvement in alleged pro-North Korean organizations and election fraud.Saenuri floor leader Lee Hahn-koo said that the party is seeking to discuss with the main opposition Democratic United Party the possibility of expelling Lee Seog-gi and Kim Jae-yeon of the Unified Progressive Party, elected under the proportio
May 24, 2012
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UPP may expel four disputed lawmakers-elect
Rival factions in the Unified Progressive Party appear headed for a showdown over party control in the wake of a vote-rigging scandal.The new leadership panel led by reformers issued an ultimatum on Wednesday to four lawmakers-elect, demanding they voluntarily give up their seats by Friday or be expelled from the party. “Unless the four remaining figures submit their resignations by noon Friday, the council may take the ultimate and undesirable measure,” said Kang Ki-kab, chief of the party’s em
May 23, 2012
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Korea, Guinea agree to expand ties
President Lee Myung-bak and Guinea’s President Alpha Conde held a summit Wednesday and discussed expanding resource development and other economic cooperation, the presidential office said.Conde arrived Tuesday for a three-day trip as the first Guinean president to visit Seoul.During the summit, Lee asked for Guinea’s support for South Korean firms interested in resource development in the African nation. Guinea has one-third of the world’s bauxite reserves and is rich in other mineral resources
May 23, 2012
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Prosecution pledges stern action on UPP
The prosecution is set to expand its investigation into the Unified Progressive Party after party members blocked investigators from searching its headquarters on Monday. The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday pledged a thorough inquiry into law violations by the party including alleged vote-rigging, recent violence at a party meeting, and its obstruction of law enforcement.“The party mobilized hundreds of its members to deter the seizure and search illegally. We will take stern action with
May 22, 2012
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Three years on, Roh followers persevere
Tough challenges ahead to become resilient political forceThree years after the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, he remains a symbol in Korea’s modern politics, with his followers continuing efforts to carry on his legacy.Roh’s idealistic progressivism, prioritizing ordinary people, set the tone for the general election, and it appears it will remain that way through the Dec. 19 presidential election, observers said.But the so-called pro-Roh forces face a tough challenge in attesting them
May 22, 2012
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Pressure grows for China to free activist
Nearly 150 prominent figures in academia, politics, the press and civil society have joined a campaign for the freedom of four South Korean activists held in China since late March.They urged Beijing to stop the “illegal detention” of Kim Young-hwan and his three colleagues who campaigned against North Korea’s human rights abuses.The group accused China of denying them contact with Seoul officials, their families and legal assistance in a clear violation of the international law.“China is ignori
May 22, 2012
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Kang wins Gwangju vote in DUP race
In another twist in the ongoing leadership race in the Democratic United Party, Rep. Kang Gi-jung won the third round of regional voting for Gwangju and South Jeolla Province on Tuesday.Gwangju is Kang’s home turf, from which he won his third parliamentary seat in the upcoming 19th National Assembly.Kang received 488 out of 978 votes, trailed by Kim Han-gil with 437, Choo Mi-ae with 282 and Lee Hae-chan with 371.When combining all the votes from Ulsan, Busan, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province so
May 22, 2012
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Park Geun-hye sues opposition floor leader for libel
The ruling party's leading presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye has sued the floor leader of the main opposition party for libel over allegations of Park's possible involvement in a massive bribery scandal related to a suspended savings bank, officials said Tuesday.The suit came after Rep. Park Jie-won of the Democratic United Party (DUP) claimed last week Park Geun-hye met with a key lobbyist for t
May 22, 2012
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Images show more work on N.K. nuclear test site
North Korea has ramped up work at its nuclear test site over the last month, according to an analysis of satellite images released Tuesday, a day after the top U.S. envoy for North Korea warned Pyongyang that an atomic test would unify the world in seeking swift, tough punishment.Glyn Davies’ comments after meetings Monday in Seoul with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts reflect widespread worry that North Korea may follow a failed April 13 long-range rocket test with its third nuclear t
May 22, 2012