Most Popular
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Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
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10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
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Hybe-Ador feud should have limited effect on Hybe's overall performance: analysts
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Second Gimpo civil servant found dead, after apologizing for not finishing work
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DP leader says he will meet Yoon without conditions
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Seoul to promote luxurious side of the city
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First-ever meeting of president, opposition chief set to finally happen
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NewJeans' singles, Japanese debut to proceed as planned, despite Hybe-Ador feud
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Experts raise concerns about Japan putting pressure on Naver over Line
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Samsung mobile chief, Google device head meet in Seoul
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Korea's ambassador to Myanmar admits Choi's involvement in his appointment
South Korea's Ambassador to Myanmar Yoo Jae-kyung admitted Tuesday that President Park Geun-hye's confidante, who is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal, was involved in his appointment last year, investigators said.An independent counsel team looking into the scandal recently began investigating suspicions that Park's jailed friend Choi Soon-sil attempted to gain financially by exploiting Korea's massive aid program in Myanmar. Choi allegedly recommended Yoo to the president after in
Jan. 31, 2017
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Investigators close in on Choi, seek Park grilling
While gearing up to question President Park Geun-hye in person over her alleged involvement in corruption, special prosecutors Tuesday added momentum to investigating Park’s close friend Choi Soon-sil and her purported meddling in key state affairs.They also made last-minute arrangements on the precise date and place to summon the incumbent president, an occasion likely to affect Park’s ongoing impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. Investigators, led by Independent Counsel Park Young-so
Jan. 31, 2017
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[Newsmaker] Chief Justice steps down with ‘heavy heart’
Park Han-chul, chief justice of the Constitutional Court, reiterated his calls for a speedy ruling in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye at his retirement ceremony Tuesday. “The public are united in the view that a conclusion (on the impeachment) should be made as soon as possible, given the gravity of the situation in which the president has been suspended from duty for nearly two months,” the justice said, ending his six-year term as a member of the nine-judge court. Park’s farew
Jan. 31, 2017
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City disallows pro-Park supporters’ protest tents
Seoul City is considering taking punitive measures against President Park Geun-hye’s supporters who installed tents without approval in front of the Seoul City Hall building to stage protests and advocate for the embattled leader.“Pro-Park civic groups installed some 40 tents illegally in the corner of the Seoul Plaza without getting the city government’s approval, where it is a public space open for all,” said the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s spokesperson Kang Tae-woong during a briefing Tue
Jan. 31, 2017
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Children with allergic diseases more likely to be overweight: study
Children who suffer allergic diseases are three times more likely to become overweight or obese, a recent study shows. According to the study led by professor Bang Kyung-sook at Seoul National University’s College of Nursing, children diagnosed with either atopic dermatitis, allergy rhinitis or asthma were 2.78 times more likely to be overweight or obese, compared to children with none of those diseases. The research team said that the result could be the result of different eating habits, since
Jan. 30, 2017
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Korea becomes less popular among Chinese travelers for Lunar New Year Holiday
Less Chinese tourists opted for Korea as a travel destination during the long Lunar New Year Holiday this year, Chinese media and travel agencies said Sunday.While as many as six million Chinese have gone or will go overseas during the holiday season from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, the number to come to Korea has significantly decreased compared to last year.According to Ctrip, a Chinese online travel platform, Korea slipped to seventh, from third a year ago, on the list of travel destinations for Chine
Jan. 29, 2017
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Special prosecutor likely to seek arrest warrant again for Samsung heir Lee
The independent probe team that is looking into the influence-peddling and corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her friend is likely to seek an arrest warrant again for Lee Jae-yong, sources said Sunday.The team, led by Special Counsel Park Young-soo, is mulling over whether to again try to get an arrest warrant for the Samsung Group's de facto heir apparent after it finishes a face-to-face investigation of the president early next month. "Since this is the last chance (to se
Jan. 29, 2017
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Korea's investigators to answer Denmark prosecution's request
South Korea's special prosecutors said Saturday that they will send documents requested by Danish authorities concerning the daughter of a woman at the center of a snowballing corruption scandal as soon as possible to speed up her repatriation.Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close friend Choi Soon-sil, was arrested in the northern Danish city of Aalborg earlier this year for illegal stay. She is suspected of receiving favors from a college in Seoul during its
Jan. 28, 2017
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Seoul Mayor Park to drop presidential bid
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon decided not to run in the presidential election after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea fixed its rule to pick its presidential candidate Thursday.Park has been cited as one of the potential candidates for the next presidential election. "Although I am withdrawing my candidacy, I will give my all for the change of government to reflect the people's desire as a member of the Democratic Party," Park said in a statement. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon"I will focus o
Jan. 26, 2017
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Monk-centric culture may be reason for Buddhist decline in S. Korea: expert
Korean Buddhism's monk-centric culture may be a major reason behind a steep drop in the country's Buddhist population in the last decade or so, a religious expert argued Wednesday."Many people consider Korean Buddhism a religion for monks. In Buddhist jargon, it's called monk-centric religion," said Park Soo-ho, a researcher at the Joong-Ang Sangha University's Institute of Buddhist Social Science at a pan-religion forum held in central Seoul. "On the outside, (the religion) claims to be a publi
Jan. 25, 2017
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Professor cleared of defaming ‘comfort women’
A South Korean university professor was found not guilty of defaming the Korean women sexually enslaved by Japan during World War II through her much-disputed book on Wednesday.The Seoul Eastern District Court ruled in favor to Park Yu-ha, 59, a professor of Japanese literature at Seoul’s Sejong University, citing importance of freedom of expression to encourage a public discourse. “The subject of the defamation was the comfort women as a whole,” the court said in the verdict. “Even if there wer
Jan. 25, 2017
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Pedestrian-friendly areas planned for Seoul
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday its plan to launch pedestrian-friendly districts in the capital, starting with the April opening of an urban sky garden, a transformation of the defunct Seoul Station flyover to an elevated walkway.The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would designate the new garden, dubbed “Seoul-lo 7017,” and streets in Jongno as pedestrian-friendly districts. Vehicles will be banned in such areas and the city government can fine those who drive there -
Jan. 25, 2017
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Govt. to release 884 inmates on parole in time for holiday
South Korea's justice ministry said Wednesday that it plans to release 884 inmates, including many entrepreneurs, on parole ahead of the Lunar New Year's holiday this week as part of efforts to promote economic recovery and national integration.It is the largest number of inmates to be released on parole since June 2009 when 896 convicts were set free, the ministry explained.The inmates will be released at 10 a.m. Thursday, a day before the four-day traditional holiday begins. "(Acting President
Jan. 25, 2017
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Reluctant Choi Soon-sil summoned by probe team after court order
The special prosecutor’s team investigating President Park Geun-hye’s corruption scandal has executed an arrest writ issued against Park’s close friend Choi Soon-sil for interrogation, who had been in custody under charges of extorting money from business groups using ties with the president.The execution took place on Wednesday, following the Seoul Central District Court‘s issuance of the warrant earlier at the request of the probe team’s independent counsel Park Young-soo. Choi had declined to
Jan. 25, 2017
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Chief justice calls for ruling on Park’s impeachment by March 13
Park Han-chul, the outgoing chief of the Constitutional Court, said Wednesday the final ruling on President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment should be made by March 13, which in turn will bring forward a presidential election as early as late April. “If the court proceedings are prolonged, the court faces a situation where only seven justices will hear the case,” Park said during the ninth hearing of the president’s impeachment trial, citing Justice Lee Jung-mi whose term ends on March 13. It was the
Jan. 25, 2017
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More suspected sexual assaults involving Korean women reported in Taiwan
Seven additional suspected sexual assault reports involving Korean tourists have been reported in Taiwan, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday.The seven cases involving eight women were reported to the Korean Mission in Taipei during Jan. 16-18, days after two Korean tourists were allegedly sexually assaulted by a taxi driver in the Taiwanese capital, according to a ministry official. The taxi driver, identified only by his surname Chan, is suspected of first rendering the women unconsciou
Jan. 25, 2017
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NK behind spread of malicious code posing as news on scandal: police
North Korea was behind the spread of malicious codes through e-mails in November posing as news reports on the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye, police said Wednesday, The National Police Agency said the Internet Protocol address used by the first sender was found to be located in Pyongyang.Attached to the e-mail was a file entitled "A worrying Republic of Korea." Inside the document was content related to the scandal on Park and her confidante Choi Soon-sil.Once a us
Jan. 25, 2017
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Monthly childbirths hit fresh record low in Nov.
The number of childbirths in South Korea hit a fresh record low in November last year as the country is experiencing rapid aging and fewer marriages, government data showed Wednesday.About 30,300 babies were born in November 2016, down 9.6 percent or 3,200, from a year earlier, extending the losing streak to 12 months, according to the data by Statistics Korea.The November figure marked the lowest monthly number of newborns, breaking the earlier record of 31,600 set in the previous month, since
Jan. 25, 2017
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Korea's population mobility slumps at slowest pace in 43 yrs in 2016
South Koreans changed residences from region to region at the lowest pace in 43 years last year due largely to the deepening economic downturn and rapid aging, government data showed Wednesday.The number of people who moved to other regions in the country dropped 4.9 percent on-year to 7.38 million throughout 2016, marking the lowest amount since 1979 when it posted 7.32 million, according to the data by Statistics Korea.Among them, 66.7 percent moved within their cities or provinces, while 33.3
Jan. 25, 2017
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Ex-university chief avoids arrest over favoritism allegations
A former university president avoided arrest Wednesday as a Seoul court rejected investigators' request to issue a warrant over allegations she gave admission and grading favors to the daughter of President Park Geun-hye's close friend.The Seoul Central District Court turned down the request sought against Choi Kyung-hee, saying it is hard to recognize the need for her detention over charges that she directed or collaborated with other professors in helping Chung Yoo-ra gain admission to the sch
Jan. 25, 2017