Most Popular
-
1
Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
-
2
Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
-
3
[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
-
4
40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
-
5
[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
-
6
N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
-
7
Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
-
8
From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
-
9
Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
-
10
Defense chiefs of US, Australia, Japan decry NK-Russia military cooperation
-
Opposition prospects brighten for 2012 elections
Floor leader Park Jie-won (left front) and members of the main opposition Democratic Party cheer late on Wednesday as candidate Sohn Hak-kyu takes a lead in the by-election vote in Bundang. Yang Dong-chul/The Korea HeraldThe opposition seems to have made important progress in preparations for next year’s general and presidential elections as its candidates marked a better-than-expected performance
April 28, 2011
-
Ruling party suffers crushing defeat in by-elections
South Korea's ruling party suffered a humiliating defeat in Wednesday's by-elections, heralding a political upheaval ahead of next year's presidential polls. In the most closely-watched contest, Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), defeated Kang Jae-sup, former head of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP). Sohn's win bolstered his profile as a potential presid
April 28, 2011
-
Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which is considered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, according to an exit poll by a local TV station. Sohn's triumph, if confirmed, will boost his bid to become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to the Lee Myung-b
April 27, 2011
-
Turnout up on fierce campaigns, big names: experts
High voter turnout in the by-elections was a result of all-out campaigns by the parties, which had forecast the elections would be a prelude to the general and presidential elections in 2012, experts said Wednesday. They also said the presence of political heavyweights in the races and big-name politicians extending their support for candidates got the attention of apathetic voters.According to th
April 27, 2011
-
Voter turnout gets by-election boost
Candidacy of big-name politicians raises electorate participation, officials sayVoters in by-election constituencies headed to nearby polling stations on Wednesday, pulling the turnout rate up to an unprecedented level and reflecting the public’s keen interest in this year’s political races.The general voting rate in 1,353 stations in 38 constituencies nationwide as of 3 p.m. was 28.2 percent, or
April 27, 2011
-
Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which isconsidered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, accordingto an exit poll by a local TV station. If the forecast is correct, Sohn's triumph will boost his bidto become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to theLee Myu
April 27, 2011
-
Big issues to resurface after polls
Diverse issues put on hold due to the by-elections, which are expected to shake up the nation’s political circles.The government plans to submit the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement to the National Assembly for ratification in early May after finishing translation checks, according to local news reports.The trade pact will likely cause a clash between the rival parties, which are already fiercely d
April 27, 2011
-
Twitter is favored campaign tool
Experts voice concern over spread of false, malicious informationBy Song Sang-hoTo court voters and boost their turnout for this week’s by-elections, candidates and their election campaigners have heavily resorted to Twitter, one of the most popular online social networking services.As its influence has greatly increased with the number of smart phone users having soared to 10 million, Twitter has
April 27, 2011
-
Lee discusses FTA with visiting U.S. secretary
President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday discussed with visiting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke how to get the pending Korea-U.S. free trade deal approved by the parliaments of both countries.The bilateral free trade agreement, first signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, is yet to be ratified by the National Assembly and the U.S. Congress.Lee’s meeting with Locke Wednesday came a week
April 27, 2011
-
Political big picture hangs on by-election results
The futures of the ruling and opposition parties may hinge on the results of Wednesday’s by-elections, considered a preview of next year’s general and presidential races.The by-elections are relatively minor in size, involving the replacement of three lawmakers, one provincial governor and 34 municipal or district officials. Voters cast ballots Wednesday in 38 constituencies nationwide. (From left
April 27, 2011
-
Voting begins in S. Korea for by-elections
Polls opened Wednesday for small yet significant parliamentary and local by-elections seen as a test for the rival parties and some of the potential presidential candidates before South Korea elects a new parliament and a new president next year.Three parliamentary seats and one gubernatorial post are on offer in the elections, with the other 34 races vying for small local government heads and cou
April 27, 2011
-
Parties pitch in countdown to election fight
Fiercest battle expected in BundangParties and candidates were in last-minute campaign mode Tuesday, the day before the by-elections that may set the course for next year’s general and presidential elections.A major matter of interest for all is voter turnout.In the past, the higher the turnout, the better the chances for the opposition party.In a survey on residents of by-election constituencies,
April 26, 2011
-
Seoul to receive German records on reunification
The Seoul government is set to receive a massive database from Berlin on the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany to prepare itself for “sudden changes” in North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak has assigned the Ministry of Unification, which he initially planned to merge into the Foreign Ministry, with two main jobs ― preparation for reunification with the North and taking care of the increa
April 26, 2011
-
S. Korea, New Zealand agree to enhance defense cooperation
The defense chiefs of South Korea and New Zealand held talks in Seoul and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in defense procurement, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his New Zealand counterpart Wayne Mapp also exchanged their views on regional security issues and agreed to improve military cooperation in other areas, officials said.
April 26, 2011
-
Army keeps hold on JCS leadership
Army, Navy, Air Force to have two vice chiefs each under reform planThe Ministry of National Defense has decided not to introduce a system to rotate the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff among four-star generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force, officials said Tuesday.The decision has triggered concerns among military experts who said that the military’s reform drive aimed at enhancing inte
April 26, 2011
-
Seoul gov't, parliament close to removing last hurdle to EU trade bill
The ratification bill for South Korea's free trade agreement with the European Union is expected to pass the parliament's standing committee later this week, as the South Korean government has responded positively to rival parties' demand to offer transfer tax cuts to small livestock farms, removing the last remaining hurdle to the long-stalled free trade deal, officials and lawmakers said Monday.
April 25, 2011
-
Defectors, rights groups urge parliament to pass N. Korean rights bill
A group of North Korean defectors and civic activists on Monday urged South Korea's parliament to pass a bill aimed at improving the human rights situation in the reclusive communist state.In an opening ceremony for "North Korea Freedom Week," some 100 Seoul-based defectors, human rights advocates and lawmakers gathered in the National Assembly to discuss ways to abolish gulags in the North and pa
April 25, 2011
-
Legal feuds mar last-minute campaigns
With the by-elections taking place on Wednesday, last-minute competition between candidates has turned into a game of mudslinging and legal feuds.The main opposition Democratic Party on Monday accused Ohm Ki-young, the ruling Grand National Party candidate for Gangwon governor, of breaking election law, according to officials.“Ohm violated the public election law by operating an unregistered call
April 25, 2011
-
Oriental medicine expert named Lee’s family doctor
President Lee Myung-bak named Yu Bong-ha, chief of the Korean traditional medicine division at Kyung Hee Medical Center, as his second family doctor, Lee’s spokesperson Kim Hee-jung said Monday, upon lobbying by local practitioners of oriental medicine.Yu will be officially appointed to the vice ministerial position early next month.The president is allowed to appoint a physician and an oriental m
April 25, 2011
-
S. Korea’s legal system popular in Asian countries
South Korea’s judiciary systems, including the electronic litigation process and legal training programs, have been growing in popularity in other Asian countries, the top court here said Monday.According to the Supreme Court, a group of seven high-profile Vietnamese judicial figures, including the vice president of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam, arrived in Seoul on Sunday to visit South K
April 25, 2011