Most Popular
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Court refuses injunction on medical school expansion
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Why Korean crime stories typically feature nameless, faceless perpetrators
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Debate on 'no-seniors zones' heats up
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S. Korea, Cambodia forge strategic partnership
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Rare mid-May heavy snow warning issued over mountainous areas of Gangwon
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Is NewJeans headed for a long 'break'?
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[KH Explains] Hyundai-backed Motional’s struggles deepen as Tesla eyes August robotaxi debut
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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New Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office chief vows full-fledged probe into first lady
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Japanese reporter cleared of defaming president
A lower court cleared a Japanese reporter Thursday of defaming South Korean President Park Geun-hye by reporting rumors about her whereabouts during a deadly ferry disaster last year. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the not guilty verdict to Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief for Japanese right-wing daily Sankei Shimbun, citing press freedom in a democratic society. “Kato’s article was inappropriate in some ways, but press freedom, the core of democracy and its development, sho
Dec. 17, 2015
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[Graphic News] Male sexual abuse victims on rise
About 5 percent of all sexual abuse victims reported in South Korea last year were male, with the number of male victims having significantly increased since 2011, a government report showed Thursday.According to the report released by the Ministry of Gender Equality, the number of reported male victims increased from 749 in 2011 to 1,066 in 2014. In 2011, they accounted for 3.8 percent of all Korean victims, but the proportion increased to 5.1 percent last year. This was the first time the Kore
Dec. 17, 2015
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[HERALD INTERVIEW] ‘Smart branding essential in innovative economy’
In an innovative global economy, branding is no longer a nicety, but a necessity that guarantees the success of companies and countries worldwide, Danish business consultant Martin Roll argued.A long-time resident of Singapore, Roll, who authored “Asian Brand Strategy,” has offered advice for navigating the volatile international marketplace to Fortune 500 companies and leading Asian enterprises and family-owned businesses with a focus on Asia. “It’s time for Korea to project confidence for what
Dec. 17, 2015
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Court fines doctor 1m won in swimmer Park doping scandal
The Seoul court on Thursday handed down a 1 million won ($850) fine to a 46-year-old doctor on the charge of violating medical law by injecting Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan with a banned substance off the books.The doctor, identified by her surname Kim, was indicted in February for administering Nebido, a commercial drug used to treat testosterone deficiency, to Park. It is banned for use in athletic events by the World Anti-Doping Agency. “Although the defendant had the obligation to
Dec. 17, 2015
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Hyundai Steel loses suit over state’s carbon credit quota
Korean conglomerate Hyundai Steel lost its suit against the state’s move to allocate carbon credits to businesses, a court announced Thursday. The Administrative Court dismissed the steelmaker’s request to revoke the Environment Ministry’s action to allocate a set amount of carbon credits to the company. This is the first verdict released over the controversial carbon credit quota after a number of companies filed lawsuits against the state to nullify the carbon credit move earlier this year. In
Dec. 17, 2015
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Park Tae-hwan's doctor fined for injecting banned substance
The doctor of suspended swimmer Park Tae-hwan was fined on Thursday for injecting a banned substance that eventually caused the Olympic gold medalist to fail a doping test. The Seoul Central District Court ordered the doctor, a 46-year-old surnamed Kim, to pay a fine of 1 million won ($850) for failing to leave records of injecting Park with Nebido, which contains testosterone, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The court said the doctor had failed to properly explain that the
Dec. 17, 2015
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Right-hand man says his boss died in 2011
The right-hand man to the mastermind behind South Korea's largest pyramid scheme said Wednesday that his former boss has died.Kang Tae-yong told reporters that his boss, Cho Hee-pal, died in 2011 and he witnessed it.Cho was rumored to have died from cardiac arrest there four years ago, though his death had not been verified so far.Kang made the comment as he arrived in the district prosecutors' office in the southeastern city of Daegu for questioning from the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.The
Dec. 16, 2015
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Sewol hearing highlights lackluster rescue
A three-day hearing on matters related to last year’s ferry sinking wrapped up Wednesday with the fact-finding committee stressing a lack of sufficient rescue efforts, men in charge dodging responsibility and suspicions left unanswered.The hearing focused mainly on the rescue efforts taken by the now-defunct Korea Coast Guard, Maritime Ministry and other related government officials in the face of Sewol’s sinking, which left 304 dead or missing in April 2014. The five committee members recommend
Dec. 16, 2015
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Sculpture unveiled to mark International Migrants Day
Seoul City and the International Organization for Migration installed a sculpture work in Seoul Plaza to mark International Migrants Day, slated for Friday, officials said Wednesday. Titled “My Migrant Neighbor,” the large sculpture representing three multicultural siblings offers distinguished looks through different angles, delivering a message of importance of embracing diverse cultures, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. This is part of the IOM’s campaign to raise awareness of the migra
Dec. 16, 2015
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Union group stages strike to protest labor reforms
By Ock Hyun-ju South Korea’s second-largest umbrella labor union held a partial strike nationwide Wednesday in protest of the government’s push for labor market reform.The third partial strike of the year by the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions was staged for two to four hours in the afternoon in 12 cities ahead of the third antigovernment rally scheduled for this weekend.The KCTU, which encompasses 2,043 unions and more than 691,000 members from sectors including construction, public transpo
Dec. 16, 2015
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City seeks probe into Gangnam’s smear campaign
Seoul City said Wednesday that it has requested prosecutors to investigate Gangnam district’s alleged online smear campaign against the city government. Last week, Seoul Metropolitan Government said it caught signs that Gangnam-gu Office had systematically posted slanderous online comments against Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. The two parties have been in discord over various infrastructure projects since 2012. “The majority of suspicious comments are currently being deleted and there are concerns
Dec. 16, 2015
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Seoul to sell names of 10 subway stations
Seoul City will put the names of subway stations up for sale from next month to help subway operators raise profits, city officials said.Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would sell the names of 10 stations on Subway line Nos. 1-8 on a trial basis. The new names will be used together with the original subway names at subway entrances, platforms, metro maps and in announcements. Companies within 500 meters of the stations will get priority in being able to apply for the name change. The quali
Dec. 16, 2015
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China hands over swindler's right-hand man to Korea
Prosecutors said Wednesday that they have received the right-hand man to the mastermind behind South Korea's largest pyramid scheme from Chinese authorities. Prosecutors said they plan to take Kang Tae-yong to their office in the southeastern city of Daegu for questioning after he arrives from the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing. The extradition came two months after South Korea asked China to arrest Kang who faces nearly 30 charges, including embezzlement and fraud. Kang is accused of swindl
Dec. 16, 2015
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Korea's sea level up 10 cm in 40 years: data
The sea level around South Korea has risen about 10 centimeters in the last 40 years, a clear sign of global warming impacting the environment, the country's hydrographic administration said Wednesday. According to the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration, which has kept tabs on mean sea levels over the years, the rise is linked to the melting polar ice caps, blamed on the warming of water temperatures. The organization added that natural erosion by waves and wind and the develop
Dec. 16, 2015
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Former lawmaker arrested over accepting bribe
Prosecutors said Tuesday they have formally arrested a former lawmaker on charges of accepting a bribe in return for a business favor.The district court in the southeastern city of Daegu issued a warrant to arrest Sim Hag-bong, citing considerable reason to believe he committed the crime and concerns that he may try to flee or destroy evidence.Sim is accused of accepting 40 million won (US$34,000) from a company by arranging a public official so that the company could be selected in a government
Dec. 15, 2015
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Park renews call for correct history education
President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that history should be taught "correctly" for young South Koreans in what could be the latest move to advocate for state history textbooks."I think history achieved by our elders should be taught correctly in order for our country to leap forward," Park said during a luncheon she hosted for the elderly at Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office.The invited guests included those who turned 100 this year, aged residents of foreign countries, and retire
Dec. 15, 2015
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Graduate job seekers to outnumber employment openings for next 10 years
A government report showed Tuesday that the number of university and college graduates will exceed demands in the job market by 792,000 from 2014 to 2024.According to a Labor Ministry report on job prospects by college degree, 3.02 million four-year university graduates and 1.72 million two-year college graduates are expected to enter the job market from 2014-2024. But the number of available jobs for them in that time will be roughly 2.69 million and 1.25 million, respectively.The report pointe
Dec. 15, 2015
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More potential victims of humidifier disinfectants reported
Hundreds of more potential victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants were reported over the past month amid concerns over the government’s move to stop receiving health damage reports from next year, a civic group said Tuesday.The Asian Citizen’s Center for Environment and Health said a total of 310 potential victims made health complaints to the Environment Ministry to join the third round of the public health investigation into the humidifier disinfectant impacts. Of them, 38 were reported by
Dec. 15, 2015
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Sex trade exploits legal loopholes in South Korea
It’s been some 10 years since South Korea enacted its antiprostitution law, but new forms of sex trade have continued to evolve through legal loopholes, including sex services for women and overseas prostitution. With the law vocally opposed by an increasing number of sex workers, its efficacy has constantly been questioned. The Korea Herald is publishing a three-part series shedding light on the hidden side of Korea’s sex industry. The following is the second installment. – Ed. When Lucien Lee,
Dec. 15, 2015
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CJ chairman gets prison term in retrial
A Seoul appellate court on Tuesday sentenced the chairman of food and entertainment conglomerate CJ Group to two years and six months in prison for embezzlement, breach of trust and tax evasion. Chairman Lee Jay-hyun received the jail term in a retrial held three months after the nation's top court sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for reconsideration. The court also ordered the chairman to pay 25.2 billion won ($21.31 million) in fines, upholding a lower court's decision. Lee was in
Dec. 15, 2015