Most Popular
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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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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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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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N. Korea slams US subcritical nuclear test, vows measures to bolster nuclear deterrence
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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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Seoul City to open 'hotel' on river bridge
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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
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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 the now-suspended Busan Savings Bank on several occasions, calling on the prosecution to investigate
May 22, 2012
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N.K. must stand on its own before unification: Lee
President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday that North Korea’s economy should stand on its own feet before the two Koreas reunify, stressing that Seoul did not wish for its communist neighbor to collapse.Lee made the remark in an interview with CNBC television in Singapore early Tuesday, and emphasized that the international standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear programs and other issues could be resolved if the regime opens up and cooperates with the outside world.“It is not that we wish something will go
May 22, 2012
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Lee wins second round of DUP leadership race
Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan won the second round of the regional vote to elect new leaders of the opposition Democratic United Party in Busan on Monday.The leader of the pro-Roh Moo-hyun group beat Kim Han-gil, the surprise winner of the first round held in Ulsan the previous day.Of 615 eligible votes, Lee garnered 353 and Kim received 204. Woo Sang-ho came in third with 160 followed by Kan
May 21, 2012
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Presidential aide suspended over corruption allegations
A presidential aide was suspended Monday following allegations that he influenced a now-suspended savings bank to provide undue financial favors to his brother, an official said.A local newspaper reported earlier that the chairman of Mirae Savings Bank had given the brother financial benefits worth about 10 billion won (US$8.6 million) after the presidential official asked for help in salvaging a
May 21, 2012
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UPP blocks prosecution raid
Investigators attempted to search two buildings of the Unified Progressive Party Monday in an election fraud probe, meeting fierce resistance from party members.The action came as internal feuds deepened in the leftist party with rival factions forming separate leadership bodies, bringing it closer to disintegration.Prosecutors raided the party’s headquarters and a company that manages its server computers early in the morning. But their entry was blocked by party officials.They were acting on a
May 21, 2012
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Early surprises heat up DUP race
The leadership race in the Democratic United Party heated up as candidates continued to rally for support in their regional pre-votes that have grown unpredictable.The first round of votes conducted in Ulsan over the weekend showed surprising dynamics among the eight contenders when lawmaker-elect Kim Han-gil led ahead of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan by 55 votes among the 309 votes. Lee, who was considered a sure winner, came in fourth with just 48 votes. Coming in second was Rep. Choo Mi-
May 21, 2012
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Park loyalist named Saenuri sec.-gen.
A four-term lawmaker close to leading presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye was selected Monday as the secretary general of the ruling Saenuri Party in a move expected to further consolidate Park’s grip over the party seven months ahead of the presidential vote.The selection of Rep. Suh Byung-soo as secretary general is seen as completing a sweep of top party posts by those loyal to Park after the election of Rep. Hwang Woo-yea as party chief and Rep. Lee Hahn-koo as floor leader. Suh will be in ch
May 21, 2012
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Supporters of detainees to appeal to U.N.
Four South Korean human rights activists held in China for more than 50 daysA Korean civic group plans to petition the U.N. to pressure China to release four activists for North Korean human rights, its president told The Korea Herald.The North Korea Democracy Network is also contacting international non-governmental organizations to help Kim Young-hwan and three others arrested in the northeastern city of Dalian on March 29 on suspicion of “threatening national security.”“We learned that it is
May 21, 2012
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Lawmaker close to Park selected as ruling party's secretary general
A four-term lawmaker close to leading presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye was selected Monday as the secretary general of the ruling Saenuri Party in a move expected to further consolidate Park's grip over the party seven months ahead of the presidential vote.As secretary general, Rep. Suh Byung-soo will take care of the budget and other general affairs of the party. Suh's appointment completes a s
May 21, 2012
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Prosecutors raid progressive party over alleged primary fraud
Prosecutors raided the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP) over allegations of a rigged primary, an official said Monday, amid deepening factional infighting over how to revive the left-wing party.Prosecutors came to the party's headquarters in southeastern Seoul with a warrant, said Lee Jeong-mi, a party spokeswoman.A senior party official and a lawyer were believed to be checking th
May 21, 2012
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UPP on brink of breakup as main faction fights back
Faction launches another emergency panel, key figure Lee Seog-gi resists resignationA faction of the far-left Unified Progressive Party on Sunday launched its own emergency panel, bringing the party closer to the brink of disintegration.The faction is at the center of the devastating vote-rigging scandal that undermined the party’s proclaimed principles of democracy and morality. Its legitimacy as the third-largest party, having captured 13 seats in the April elections, is also being called into
May 20, 2012
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Lee Hoi-chang leaves LFP
Lee Hoi-chang, former leader of the Liberty Forward Party, announced on Sunday he was leaving the conservative minority party, expressing his frustration over last month’s election results.The 76-year-old justice-turned-politician, however, did not say whether he would quit politics altogether, sparking speculation that he may be preparing to ally with a different conservative group ahead of the December presidential vote.“I have led the party based on my conviction and belief that it is safegua
May 20, 2012
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Saenuri consults members on open primary
The ruling Saenuri Party has begun to collect views on the open primary system demanded by some of the party’s presidential hopefuls facing an uphill battle against frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye.Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, who was elected the new Saenuri chairperson on Wednesday last week, met with Rep. Chung Mong-joon over the weekend to discuss the nomination process.The party currently picks a presidential candidate through a combination of an electoral college and preliminary opinion polls. The vot
May 20, 2012
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Ha to fight for N.K. human rights bill
Activist-turned-lawmaker says motivated by left-wing resistance in AssemblyRookie Saenuri Party lawmaker Ha Tae-keung has one main aim ― supporting North Korean rights. One of a swath of outsiders recruited by the ruling party to run in the April parliamentary elections, Ha’s career path and political beliefs set him apart from his contemporaries. In the 1980s he was an active member of a student group which was praised for its pro-democracy activism but condemned for the pro-North Korea stance
May 20, 2012
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Japanese lobbying against N.Y. ‘comfort women’ memorial backfires
Japanese officials’ demand to remove a monument dedicated to the memory of wartime sex slaves in New Jersey has backfired, according to the New York Times. The Times said Japanese lobbying to remove the monument had made the Korean community there determined to build more of themAccording to the article, James Rotundo, the mayor of Palisades Park, where the monument is located, said the lobbying began late last month when Japanese officials sent e-mails requesting a meeting with the borough admi
May 20, 2012
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Presidential office holds charity bazaar for underprivileged
South Korea's presidential office held a charity bazaar to raise money for underprivileged people, official sources said Saturday. The event held in front of the main reception center attracted10,000 visitors including residents of nearby neighborhoods andfamily members of employees working at the executive office. President Lee Myung-bak donated a briefcase and necktie, whilefirst lady Kim Yo
May 19, 2012
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Key member of progressive party rejects calls to step down
A key member of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party embroiled in the ongoing internal feud has made clear he has no intention of giving up his parliamentary seat, sources said Saturday. Talks to convince Lee Seok-gi to step down have made littleheadway, according to Lee Jeong-mi, a spokeswoman for the party'semergency committee set up to deal with allegations of widespreadirregulariti
May 19, 2012
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UPP rocked by pro-North Korea allegations
Reeling from a devastating vote-rigging row, the Unified Progressive Party is now under siege over accusations of pro-communist views among its key figures.The party’s “mainstream” faction derives from the so-called National Liberation crusaders who fought dictatorship in the 1980s and followed North Korea’s political ideology. Some were convicted of pro-North Korean activities and even accused of spying for the communists in the 1990s.The ruling Saenuri Party threatened to veto the UPP lawmaker
May 18, 2012
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Prosecution indicts Lee’s cronies on bribery
The prosecution on Friday indicted Choi See-choong and Park Young-joon on bribery charges as part of its investigation into an influence-peddling scandal involving the members of President Lee Myung-bak’s most trusted circle. Choi, former chairman of the Korea Communications Commission known as Lee’s mentor, is accused of taking a total of 800 million won between July 2006 and February 2008 in bri
May 18, 2012