Most Popular
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Seoul vows action over Naver's Line, Yahoo dispute
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[KH Explains] Hyundai Motor’s plan for new landmark keeps hitting bumps
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Key S. Korean, USFK special operations officials to hold rare meeting amid NK threats
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Samsung doubles down on Vietnam
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In Beijing, S. Korean top diplomat aims to jumpstart ties with China
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[Grace Kao] American racism against Stray Kids
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Suspect behind murder of Korean tourist in Pattaya arrested
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Prosecutors summon pastor involved in Dior bag scandal
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NewJeans' members' parents complained to Hybe, email shows
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[Graphic News] Over 80% of people filing bankruptcy in Seoul in their 50s and older
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KT&G CEO booked on corruption charges
Police on Tuesday booked Min Young-jin, president and CEO of KT&G, the nation’s largest tobacco maker, and five other senior executives, on charges of breach of trust in connection with a real estate development project. They are suspected of overpaying a subcontractor hired last year, inflicting financial damage on their own company. The National Police Agency sent the case to the prosecution recommending indictment without detention.The contractor, identified by the initial N, was commissioned
Nov. 5, 2013
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SNU Hospital workers agree to end strike
The labor union at one of the largest general hospitals in Seoul reached a tentative collective agreement with the management on Monday, ending a 12-day strike.Union officials of the Seoul National University (SNU) Hospital said that the agreement, among other things, calls for a 1.3 percent wage raise and a transition of 100 nonregular workers to regular employees by 2014. The deal requires approval from union members.The trade union said all striking workers will return to work at 5 a.m. Tuesd
Nov. 4, 2013
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Asia-Pacific cities look to sustainable development
Leaders from some 50 Asian Pacific cities agreed Monday to boost cooperation for sustainable development, disaster response and poverty reduction around the world. They adopted the Seoul Declaration during the 7th CITYNET congress which started Sunday for a four-day run. CITYNET is the regional network of local authorities for the management of human settlements. Seoul was elected the same day as the chair city for a four-year term, succeeding Yokohama. Its secretariat moved to Seoul last March
Nov. 4, 2013
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One in four Korean adults have high blood pressure
South Korea's health authorities said Monday that high blood pressure and diabetes are among the most common diseases affecting South Korean adults.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said one out of every four people aged 30 or older suffered from high blood pressure as of last year, while one out of every 10 people had diabetes.The findings are based on a survey of 3,840 households across the country in 2012, according to the KCDC.Diseases caused by high blood pressure
Nov. 4, 2013
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KT executives grilled over chairman's corruption allegations
State prosecutors questioned several executives of telecom giant KT Corp. as part of their ongoing corruption probe into the company's chairman, prosecution officials said Monday. Chairman Lee Suk-chae, who tendered his resignation Sunday, is under suspicion of inflicting huge losses to KT, the country's top fixed-line operator and No. 2 mobile carrier, through poor investments and dubious business deals, they said.The executives, including the firm's official handling employee welfare only iden
Nov. 4, 2013
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[Graphic News] Level of toxic smog from China
The level of fine particulate matter in the air, known as PM2.5, on Saturday stood at between 31-80 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul city areas. But meteorologists say this week it will exceed the daily safe level of 100 micrograms per cubic meter due to smog blown in by northwesterly winds from China.
Nov. 3, 2013
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Local court orders Mitsubishi to compensate forced laborers
A local court on Friday ordered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to compensate five former Korean employees who were forced into hard labor during Japan’s colonial rule.The Gwangju District Court ruled that the engineering and aviation giant should provide each of four complainants, including 82-year-old Yang Kum-duk, with 150 million won ($141,000) and the family of a deceased laborer with 80 million won in overdue salary and other damages. The ruling marks the third victory for former conscrip
Nov. 1, 2013
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Telecom giant KT raided again over chairman's alleged graft
State prosecutors on Friday raided the offices of KT Corp., the country's top fixed-line operator and No. 2 mobile carrier, as part of their ongoing corruption probe into its chairman.A team of prosecutors and investigators obtained computer hard drives and confidential documents, including accounting books, from the company's three offices and houses of several executives to corroborate the charges, prosecutors said.The raid comes just 10 days after the prosecution office first swooped down on
Nov. 1, 2013
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[Graphic News] Share of university lectures by full-time faculty increases
The share of university lectures given by full-time faculty members increased slightly to 58.9 percent in the second semester in 2013, according to Education Ministry data released Thursday. By region, universities in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province have fewer lectures by full-time professors, with an average rate of 54.9 percent, compared to 61.1 percent in other areas.
Oct. 31, 2013
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Court says civic groups not liable for damages during 2008 street protests
A Seoul court ruled Thursday that local civic groups are not liable for damages the state allegedly suffered during massive street rallies against imports of U.S. beef in 2008.The former Lee Myung-bak administration, seeking to advance the bilateral free trade agreement process with the United States, resumed American beef imports in April 2008. The decision sparked weeks of massive anti-government street protests, the so called “candlelight movement,” as many people viewed it as a hasty decisio
Oct. 31, 2013
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Seoul ranked sixth for city competitiveness
Seoul City was ranked as the sixth-most competitive city for the second consecutive year in a survey by the Mori Memorial Foundation of Japan.According to the 2013 Global Power City Index, Seoul showed general improvements in all categories, especially in economy in which it jumped from 13th to 8th, the Japanese urban studies research center said. It has annually rated 40 cities since 2008 in the six categories: economy, research & development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and t
Oct. 31, 2013
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Actor Song Sae-byeok getting married
Actor Song Sae-byeok is to tie the knot with actress Ha Ji-hye on Saturday on Jeju Island, said Song’s agency on Thursday. “The couple has been preparing for a small wedding to celebrate quietly,” Wellmade STARM said. They started dating in 2010 after working for a stage drama together in Seoul. The groom-to-be has publically expressed his affection toward Ha. Song built his fame on the big screen with a supporting role in the film “Mother” in 2009. He also gained popularity through his roles
Oct. 31, 2013
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Police illegally monitor civilians to guard president: lawmaker
Police have blacklisted and inspected 16 civilians simply because they are deemed threats to the President, an opposition lawmaker claimed Thursday."A police blacklist that I recently acquired had personal information such as specific people's names, dates of birth and whether they are members of certain organizations just because they pose threats to escorting the president," Rep. Kim Hyun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said during a news conference at the national assembly.The do
Oct. 31, 2013
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Court says civic groups not liable for damages during 2008 street protests
A Seoul court ruled Thursday that local civic groups are not liable for damages the state allegedly suffered during massive street rallies against imports of U.S. beef in 2008.The former Lee Myung-bak administration, seeking to advance the bilateral free trade agreement process with the United States, resumed American beef imports in April 2008. The decision sparked weeks of massive anti-government street protests, the so called "candlelight movement," as many people viewed it as a hasty decisio
Oct. 31, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Korea’s jury system: Is it working?
Korea introduced a jury system six years ago as part of reforms to make court proceedings fair, transparent and more in tune with common sense. But the system has come under scrutiny following the separate jury acquittals in less than a week of progressive political satirists Ju Jin-u and Kim Eo-jun, and poet Ahn Do-hyun.They all were accused of spreading false information about President Park Geun-hye and her family members and charged with defamation.The verdicts troubled conservatives includi
Oct. 30, 2013
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Kids starting school know it all already
Looking bored and uninterested, scores of first-grade primary school pupils stare at a question on the blackboard, the answer to which they seem to know too well.“Can anyone guess what the answer is?” the teacher asks the class pointing to the question: 15-5=? One student replies, “That’s too easy, we have learned that already.”It is a typical interaction with her 38 pupils that frustrates Roh Eun-jin, 40, at Soongin Elementary School in northern Seoul. But she does not blame students.“For them,
Oct. 30, 2013
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SKKU hosts forum for Asia-Pacific universities
More than 500 educational officials and experts from 48 countries agreed to work together to enhance partnership and share new developments in higher education during an annual forum in Seoul on Tuesday.Sungkyunkwan University and QS-ASIA, the U.K.-based university evaluation firm’s Asia branch, is co-hosting the 9th QS ASIA Pacific Professional Leaders in Education Conference and Exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday at the school’s main campus in Seoul.Since its inception in 2005, the forum has
Oct. 30, 2013
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Civic groups may sue YBM over TOEIC fees
Two civic organizations are reviewing plans to sue for compensation as early as next week against YBM Korea TOEIC Commission for taking excessive cancellation fees and charging extra during a special application period.The Youth Community Union and the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy argued that YBM should refund all past English proficiency test applicants who were forced to pay too much due to these provisions. According to the YBM website, applicants who cancel their entrance
Oct. 30, 2013
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Elementary school teacher suspected of sex with 12-year-old
The Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency said Wednesday that it has forwarded the case of a 30-year-old elementary school teacher to the prosecutors on suspicion of statutory rape.“We will investigate further to see if there are any additional offenses, after which we will apply for an arrest warrant,” an official from the agency said. The suspect allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old elementary school student.The official added that the accused has willingly complied with the investigation and ther
Oct. 30, 2013
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Court approves change in ex-spymaster's indictment
A Seoul court on Wednesday accepted state prosecutors' request to press additional charges against a former national intelligence chief accused of meddling in last year's presidential election.Won Sei-hoon, who headed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) under former President Lee Myung-bak, was indicted in May on charges of leading an online smear campaign to sway public opinion ahead of the Dec. 19 poll in favor of the then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye.A team of state prosecutors in
Oct. 30, 2013