Most Popular
-
1
40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
-
2
Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
-
3
N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
-
4
Korean labor force to shrink by 10 million by 2044: report
-
5
Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
-
6
[AtoZ Korean Mind] Does your job define who you are? Should it?
-
7
Govt. asks hospitals to mitigate impact of medical professors' absence
-
8
Doggy patrol team on the move to protect their cities
-
9
S. Korea's working-age population to dip nearly 10m by 2044 amid low births
-
10
Allegations surrounding BTS resurface, enraged fans demand apology
-
Seoul mulls abolishing ‘elite’ high schools
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Wednesday it recently conducted a study on possibly abolishing the high school pecking order, which Seoul’s education chief Cho Hi-yeon has pointed to as one of the main problems of the education system here. Seoul’s education chief Cho Hi-yeon (Yonhap)A SMOE-commissioned research team has filed a report on “reforming the high school system to normalize primary and secondary education,” according to officials. Led by Kim Kyung-keun, a professor of
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Seoul offers subsidies to host global events
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday announced subsidies to groups winning bids to host international events that will be attended by at least 50 foreign participants.It will also offer consulting and other education on organizing global events and offer welcoming services to incoming foreign visitors. The city said these and other measures will be implemented to foster the MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) industry with a goal to become of the three best MICE citi
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Park says job creation key priority
President Park Geun-hye said Wednesday that job creation is a key priority of her government in the latest sign of challenges facing South Korea.Park has been struggling to create more jobs for people, especially young people, though her efforts have not paid off.The jobless rate among people between ages 15 and 29 reached a record high of 9.2 percent in 2015, the highest reading since 1999 and much higher than the 3.6 percent average for the country as a whole.Park said the government should st
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Appeals court upholds acquittal of ex-Navy chief over corruption
An appeals court on Wednesday upheld an acquittal of a former Navy chief for corruption in a deal to supply parts of the country's indigenous salvage ship, citing lack of evidence.The Seoul High Court found the retired Adm. Hwang Ki-chul, who served as the Chief of Naval Operations from 2013 to 2015, not guilty of allegations that he pressured his subordinates to forge a document in 2009 to help a firm win the contract.Prosecutors suspected that he made them manipulate a quality assurance docume
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Korea, U.S. to hold first high-level meeting on nuclear pact in April
South Korea and the United States will hold their first high-level meeting in April on implementing their new nuclear energy partnership accord, a top Seoul diplomat said Wednesday.Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said he plans to visit Washington next week to announce the official launch of the high-level committee tasked with discussing the details of the accord."In mid-April, the first meeting ... will be held in Seoul," he said during a keynote speech at a symposium on nuclear issues.Cho co
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Ruling party slams Chinese envoy's warning over THAAD
South Korea's ruling party on Wednesday strongly condemned a Chinese envoy's warning that the planned deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-ballistic missile defense system in South Korea could hurt Seoul-Beijing ties.Qiu Guohong, China's ambassador to Seoul, said Tuesday that the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system "could destroy bilateral relations in an instant." The remarks were made during his meeting with an interim chairman of South Korea's main opposition M
Feb. 24, 2016
-
New insurance plans for electric cars to be launched this year
The government plans to roll out new insurance plans reserved for electric cars around September, officials said Wednesday, in a move expected to help green car users pay less for premiums.The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) were to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Insurance Development Institute and other relevant agencies later in the day to jointly develop such programs, according the officials.The government has also agreed
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Korea dismisses China's concern over THAAD
South Korea's presidential office expressed displeasure Wednesday at China's ferocious opposition to its push for the deployment of THAAD, a U.S. missile defense system, here.It is a matter of "self-defense" against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk told reporters.He was responding to increased public pressure from China over the THAAD issue.Beijing's top envoy in Seoul warned Tuesday that bilateral ties will be destroyed "in an instant" if the Ter
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Young skaters hoping to show promise for future before home fans
When South Korea hosts the International Skating Union (ISU) World Sprint Speed Skating Championships this weekend, Kim Min-sun and Kim Tae-yun, two of the country's most promising young skaters, won't be feeling a lot of pressure, knowing they won't be expected to reach the podium against the world's fastest on ice.Instead, they want to show promise for the future before home fans at Taereung International Skating Rink in Seoul, the kind of potential that could be realized in the form of an Oly
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Korean firms claim huge losses from factory park shutdown
South Korean firms based in a jointly run industrial park in a North Korean border city have suffered more than 815 billion won ($660 million) in losses from its shutdown, their association claimed Wednesday.Earlier this month, North Korea expelled South Korean workers from the Kaesong Industrial Complex and froze the assets of companies operating there, a day after the South suspended operations in retaliation for Pyongyang's rocket launch. The shutdown of the industrial park, regarded as the
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Less fake goods sold in downtown Seoul
The amount of counterfeit items sold in the tourist hot spots in Seoul fell by half, the capital’s Junggu district said Wednesday, attributing the decline to intensified crackdown.A total of 33,957 fake items were seized from vendors and shops located in Myeong-dong and Namdamun and Dongdaemun markets last year, the district office said. The value of the seized goods amount to 20.7 billion won ($16.8 million) based on the retail prices of the genuine versions. Confiscated fake goods (Junggu dist
Feb. 24, 2016
-
Police catches man for allegedly beating 11-month daughter
Police said Tuesday that they booked a 29-year-old man on charges of abusing his 11-month daughter amid a growing number of child abuse cases across the nation. (Yonhap)The Jecheon Police Station is questioning the man who is suspected of kicking the crying infant in her face and stomach on multiple occasions while quarreling with his wife earlier this month. He also allegedly beat her until the baby bled in mid-January. A witness told police the man was violent with the baby once or twice a mo
Feb. 23, 2016
-
INU launches global integrated college
Incheon National University on Tuesday launched the College of Law, Commerce and Public Affairs, which encompasses various disciplines in its humanities program.According to officials, the integrated college would provide education covering economics, trade, law, political science and international studies, along with administration. The INU said it aims to offer students what it called “integrated globalization” education. Participants of the inaugural ceremony of the College of Law, Commerce a
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Zika sparks debate on South Korea’s abortion laws
Debate is brewing over whether or not South Korea should loosen its abortion laws to allow the procedure for Zika-affected pregnant women should there be an outbreak of the virus in the country. The Zika virus, which is transmitted through an infected mosquito, has been claimed to be linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization issued a worldwide warning that the virus is a glob
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Seoul to provide free WiFi at all public places by 2017
The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday it will provide free WiFi networks at every public place by 2017 as part of its efforts to strengthen its digital platform.It said free WiFi would also be available in moving subways and buses, adding that it will work with the central government to ensure the proposed networks are not compromised.Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said the metropolitan government plans to invest 460.5 billion won ($373.9 million) over the next five years to grow the so-call
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Korea rejects calls for nuclear armament
South Korea on Tuesday rejected public calls for the country's own nuclear armament, saying it remains firmly committed to the global nonproliferation regime.The issue has drawn attention as some politicians and analysts claim nuclear armament is the only effective deterrent against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and launched a long-range rocket on Feb. 7 in the latest clear signal that it will pursue technological advances for n
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Prosecutors expand probe into Yongsan development project
Prosecutors on Tuesday raided the residence and office of a close aide to an ex-chief of South Korea’s rail operator in its widening probe of suspected slush funds in connection with a now-defunct urban development project. Officials carry out boxes of confiscated items Tuesday from the office of an aide to the former president of the Korea Railroad Corp. in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. (Yonhap)The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said that investigators seized computer hard disks, internal re
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Woman gets suspended jail term for letting baby die at squat toilet
A local court on Tuesday handed out a two-year jail term, suspended for three years, to a woman who had allegedly given birth in a squat toilet and consequently killed the baby.The 27-year-old gave birth to the baby on her own at the traditional toilet in her residence in Jeonju in March last year. The baby fell inside the toilet and died as his airway was clogged with alien substance. She allegedly knew that childbirth in the toilet might kill the baby. (Yonhap)“Her crime is heavy as the defen
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Jeju Air to open Incheon-Taipei route in May
Jeju Air Inc., South Korea's top budget carrier, said Tuesday it will open a route between Incheon and Taipei in May to meet rising demand for air travel to the neighboring country.The Incheon-Taipei route will be the second Taipei line operated by Jeju Air. The budget carrier already runs the Busan-Taipei route that flies seven times a week since April last year."After obtaining government approval late last year, we are in preparations for kicking the route off on May 1," Jeju Air spokeswoman
Feb. 23, 2016
-
Police round up 479 suspects for drug-related crimes
Police said Tuesday that they have rounded up a total of 479 suspects in a special crackdown on drug-related crimes over recent months.The Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency said of that total, 122 were apprehended while another 356 were booked without physical detention during a crackdown that ran from November last year until Feb. 15.Among the suspects, 310 were arrested for either selling or using methamphetamine; 80 for illegally purchasing narcotics or medicines, including sleeping pills; 36
Feb. 23, 2016