Most Popular
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Blinken calls on China to press N. Korea to end its 'dangerous' behavior
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New celebrity-endorsed therapy for face contouring requires only a pair of rubber bands
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[Weekender] How DDP emerged as an icon of Seoul
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Doctor group's incoming head renews call for govt. to scrap medical school quota hike for dialogue
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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2 lawmakers desert GNP
Reps. Jeong Tae-keun Kim Song-sik demand creation of new partyThe Grand National Party was seen as heading for a breakup after two reformist lawmakers on Tuesday decided to depart, citing the need to disband the embattled ruling bloc and create a new conservative party. More were expected to follow suit. Reps. Jeong Tae-keun and Kim Song-sik said they will desert party membership at a general meeting of GNP lawmakers, where participants clashed over how far they should push reforms to win back t
Dec. 13, 2011
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Preliminary candidate registration opens
Preliminary candidate registration for the April general elections began Tuesday, the National Election Commission said, partially kicking off the crucial polls that could impact the 2012 presidential race.It is the first time in 20 years that South Korea will elect a new parliament and a new president in the same year. Parliamentary elections are held every four years and the presidential votes occur every five years.The registration runs through March 21, while full-fledged official campaigns
Dec. 13, 2011
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Left-wing group gets off to rocky start
Dissenters pledge to file suit, citing procedural illegalitiesThe main opposition Democratic Party, in hand with the civic group-based Citizen Integration Party and the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, kicked off a joint consolidation committee Tuesday.Those who opposed the plan, however, once again pledged to file a suit, demanding that the court nullify the party’s decision, citing procedural illegalities.In Tuesday’s meeting, the joint body confirmed its list of 17 members, including Choi,
Dec. 13, 2011
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GNP turmoil deepens over reform
The Grand National Party is sinking further into turmoil after reformist members threatened to leave if the party did not disband and start anew, possibly without President Lee Myung-bak. In their meeting Tuesday, lawmakers of the conservative ruling group debated how far they should push reforms to win back the public’s confidence ahead of two crucial elections next year.The discord came a day after they agreed to ask Park Geun-hye, the party’s former chairwoman, to lead them out of the politic
Dec. 13, 2011
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Lee orders strong, effective measures against illegal Chinese fishermen
Diplomatic row over deadly incident feared amid growing public outragePresident Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday instructed his government to draw up “strong and effective measures” to prevent a recurrence of Monday’s violent clash with illegal Chinese fishermen that killed a Korea Coast Guard officer.The instruction came amid mounting calls for Seoul to sternly handle the incident, which observers said could escalate into a diplomatic row ahead of the 20th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic r
Dec. 13, 2011
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Arrest warrant sought for first lady's cousin over bribery suspicion
Prosecutors said Monday they were seeking an arrest warrant for a cousin of President Lee Myung-bak's wife on suspicion that he received bribes from a troubled savings bank in return for using his influence.Kim Jae-hong, the head of a welfare foundation under state-run tobacco distributor KT&G Corp.
Dec. 12, 2011
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Left unity tarnished by DP’s internal feud
The main opposition Democratic Party finally confirmed its unification with other liberal groups late on Sunday but faces in-party feuding and a possible legal dispute over the voting process.The party held a provisional national convention Sunday to confirm the plan to merge with the civic group-based Citizen Integration Party and integrate left-wing forces including the Korea Federation of Trade Unions.The results of the vote were delayed for hours amid violent protests against consolidation a
Dec. 12, 2011
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GNP in discord again over Park’s role
The ruling Grand National Party, reeling from a collapse of leadership, by-election defeats and a devastating hacking scandal, is betting on former chairwoman Park Geun-hye to reverse its fortunes ahead of crucial elections next year. Yet, the crisis-ridden party was embroiled in a factional struggle Monday over the issue of how much power Park should be given as interim chief. Nearly 30 senior members of the conservative group decided in a meeting earlier in the day that they need Park to lead
Dec. 12, 2011
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Rev. Pomnyun to speak at Blue House
A Buddhist monk, known for his social activism and considered a “mentor” to potential presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo, will deliver a special lecture at the presidential office this week, officials said Monday.Ven. Pomnyun, who has long worked as head of a Seoul-based North Korea aid group, has been in the political and media spotlight in recent months after it became known that he is close to Ahn, a public favorite in next year’s presidential election. The media calls him a political mentor
Dec. 12, 2011
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U.S. pivot toward Asia unlikely to have quick impact on Korea
The Obama administration’s foreign policy “pivot” toward Asia from the Middle East has drawn attention here as many wonder about its implications for the Korean Peninsula.Some painted a sanguine picture, saying that Seoul’s relations with Washington will deepen and broaden while others expressed concerns that Seoul will be further stuck between the “two whales” amid worsened Sino-American relations. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton recently said that the U.S. is pivoting towards the area a
Dec. 12, 2011
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Left declares unity in fractious meeting
The main opposition Democratic Party adopted a resolution Sunday to merge with the civic group-based Citizen Integration Party and integrate left-wing forces including the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, amid in-party strife and controversy over quorum.The party held a provisional convention at Jamsil Gymnasium on Sunday upon the request of its consolidation committee to vote on the merger and integration resolution.The vote, however, was caught up in a violent dispute over the quorum. The pa
Dec. 11, 2011
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Left declares unity in fractious meeting
By Bae Hyun-jungThe main opposition Democratic Party adopted a resolution Sunday to merge with the civic group-based Citizen Integration Party and integrate left-wing forces including the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, amid in-party strife and controversy over quorum.The party held a provisional convention at Jamsil Gymnasium on Sunday upon the request of its consolidation committee to vote on the merger and integration resolution.The vote, however, was caught up in a violent dispute over th
Dec. 11, 2011
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‘Reopening 6-party talks to help nuclear summit’
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan expressed hope Sunday for North Korea to halt uranium enrichment and take other steps to roll back its nuclear development, saying such moves will lead to resumption of six-party talks and contribute to next year’s Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.Kim made the remark in an interview with Yonhap News Agency held in part to promote March’s nuclear summit that is expected to bring together about 50 heads of state from around the world, including U.S. President Barack
Dec. 11, 2011
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April election candidates to register from Tuesday
The nation’s election watchdog said preliminary candidates who want to run in next year’s general elections can register from Tuesday until March 21. The National Election Commission said the starting date for preliminary candidate registration has been set for Dec. 13, 120 days prior to the general elections scheduled for April 11, 2012.Registered preliminary candidates allowed to run an election campaign through e-mails, mobile text messages and phone calls from Tuesday. They can hand out name
Dec. 11, 2011
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Senior GNP members to discuss party’s future
Senior members of the ruling Grand National Party will meet on Monday to discuss the future of the party reeling from mass resignations of its Supreme Council members and its party leader Rep. Hong Joon-pyo.The meeting will be attended by lawmakers who have been elected three or more times, who will discuss issues surrounding the GNP’s leadership crisis, including the question of who will lead the emergency committee and how to make the conservative party anew. “About 30 lawmakers elected three
Dec. 11, 2011
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Lee names senior journalist as new chief of staff
President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday named a senior journalist and former head of SBS television as his new chief of staff in a reshuffle that also affected six other posts at the top office, including appointing a spokeswoman for foreign media.Ha Kum-loul, 61, was tapped to replace Yim Tae-hee as chief of presidential staff, Lee‘s office said in a statement.Ha spent decades as a TV journalist and served as head of SBS TV, one of the three largest television networks in South Korea, from 2007-2009
Dec. 11, 2011
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Lee, Hong say won’t run in April election
Two ruling party lawmakers ― Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, the elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak, and Rep. Jungwook Hong ― said Sunday they will not run in next year’s general election.Reps. Lee Sang-deuk and Jungwook HongTheir annoucement came as the ruling party faces a virtual collapse in the wake of an election defeat and a series of scandals that have been bringing down its prospects for next year’s major elections. .Lee, a six-term lawmaker, was apparently put under pressure by last week’s al
Dec. 11, 2011
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Korea likely to announce fresh sanctions on Iran this week
South Korea plans to announce a set of fresh sanctions on Iran as early as this week, diplomatic sources said Sunday, after the United States asked for such punishment for the Middle Eastern nation accused of illicit nuclear programs. "Related ministries are finalizing positions and this week w
Dec. 11, 2011
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U.S. seeks more time for implementing FTA with Korea: report
South Korea is pushing hard for a free trade pact with the United States to take effect on Jan. 1, but Washington wants more time for preparations, a U.S. news provider reported Friday.The two sides had working-level discussions on a timetable on Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington, but th
Dec. 10, 2011
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NEC cyber attack was not ordered from above: police
The police Friday concluded that the Oct. 26 cyber attacks on the websites of the state election watchdog and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon were masterminded by the former secretary of a Grand National Party lawmaker. The conclusion dismissed the suspicion that the attack was ordered by those higher up in the GNP.The main opposition Democratic Party upbraided the police for their “insufficient” investigation and vowed to uncover the truth behind the attack through a parliamentary investigation or a
Dec. 9, 2011