Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Yoon, Lee end first talks with differences, agree to meet more
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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China outpaces Korea in smaller OLED shipments for 1st time
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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Seoul Council passes student rights ordinance
The Seoul Metropolitan Council passed an ordinance granting more rights to students amid controversy over some contested issues in the ruling that has caused a confrontation between a progressive and conservative group. Until Monday when the ordinance was passed, the opposing groups protested four disputed points of the ordinance: respect of students’ sexual orientation, pregnancy and childbirth, religion and the right to hold collective protests. But with the ordinance expected to take effect n
Dec. 20, 2011
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Scholarships offered by Swede who served in Korean War
A Swedish woman who served as a nurse during the Korean War has contributed part of her donation to the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.The gift comes in gratitude to the Korean government, which has sent her thank-you letters for her service during the 1950-53 conflict. Kerstin Jonasson, 88, and her Rune Jonasson, 85, have asked the KTH to contribute part of their 11.8 billion won ($10 million) donation to a student exchange
Dec. 20, 2011
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Police and customs officials on alert in border areas
The National Police Agency has put provincial police agencies and stations with jurisdiction over areas near the border on high alert, officials announced Tuesday.The alert raises border security to a level similar to that during natural disasters and public disorder, putting 30 percent of the police force on standby. The move comes after North Korea’s state media announced Monday the death of its leader Kim Jong-il. The announcement has put the government and its citizens on alert for possible
Dec. 20, 2011
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Pull over or fork over for fire engines
The state’s emergency agency has begun cracking down on cars that fail to pull over for an emergency response vehicle.According to the National Emergency Management Agency, vehicles that fail to pull over for a fire engine responding to an accident will be charged up to 200,000 won ($171) according to a revised traffic law.According to the law that took effect Dec. 9, drivers must pull their vehicles to the side of the road or forfeit the right of way to oncoming emergency vehicles.Vehicles at a
Dec. 20, 2011
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No probation to be allowed for pedophiles
All those convicted of sexual assault against disabled people or children under 13 years old will face mandatory prison terms without suspension, the nation’s top court decided Tuesday. Heavier terms will be imposed on such criminals in order to stem repeat offenses, according to a subordinate committee of the Supreme Court, which passed new ruling guidelines for sex crimes. According to the committee head Lee Ki-su, the imprisonment terms for sexual assaults against a minor under the age of 13
Dec. 20, 2011
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Korea needs to boost female employment
Measures for work-family balance required to place more women into labor forceAfter spending more than two decades as a homemaker, 48-year-old housewife Kim, who has a master’s degree in education, hopes to get a teaching or welfare consultant job after her son enters college next year.Her husband, a doctor, also encourages her to find new meaning in her life.Their daughter, who studies hospitality management at a university in Seoul, is determined to pursue career success, placing marriage at
Dec. 20, 2011
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SK chairman summoned over suspected embezzlement
SK Group’s chairman appeared before prosecutors Monday morning to be grilled over suspicions that he embezzled a massive amount of group funds in collusion with his younger brother.Chey Tae-won entered the prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul around 9:25 a.m., after getting notice of the summons by prosecutors on Friday.“I apologize for causing worries due to personal matters,” Chey told reporters. “It seems that there are some suspicions and misunderstandings around me, but I will answer (the
Dec. 19, 2011
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Japan offers ‘condolences’
TOKYO (AFP) ― The Japanese government on Monday offered its condolences on the death of Kim Jong-il, the leader of North Korea, a country with which Japan has no diplomatic relations.“We express our condolences upon receiving the announcement of the sudden passing of Kim Jong-il, the chairman of the National Defense Committee of North Korea,” Japan’s top government spokesman Osamu Fujimura said.“The Japanese government hopes that this unexpected development would not bring any adverse impact on
Dec. 19, 2011
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Gangnam to promote medical services in China
Seoul’s southern district of Gangnam will hold a series of medical tourism events in China this week to promote its clinics to Chinese customers. The Gangnam medical tourism convention will take place in Shanghai from Dec. 20-22 and in Hangzhou from Dec. 22-24, the district office said Monday. “Chinese visitors are the biggest customers for medical tourism. We hope the medical convention will invite more Chinese people to Gangnam for medical services,” said Gangnam Mayor Shin Yeong-hee.More than
Dec. 19, 2011
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New method for accurate weather forecasts
A new system, or “scenario,” for accurate weather forecasts has been developed, as climate change continues to cause irregular weather patterns here, the state’s weather agency said Monday.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the new scenario will help better prepare preemptive measure for storms as it has a resolution 100 times that of the previous method.The new scenario divides the entire country into one-square kilometer segments and will be able to predict the temperature a
Dec. 19, 2011
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Chinese captain admits to killing S. Korean Coast Guard officer
A Chinese fishing boat captain accused of killing a South Korean Coast Guard officer last week admitted to his crime on Monday, reversing his previous denials.The 41-year-old captain’s admission came during an escorted visit by Coast Guard officers to a pier in Incheon, west of Seoul, for an on-the-spot investigation. Asked by reporters whether he admitted his crime, the captain said “Yes” through a Chinese interpreter. “I apologize for the victim who was killed because of my mistake as well as
Dec. 19, 2011
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Loucq appointed as new vaccine head
Christian Loucq on Monday was inaugurated the new head of the International Vaccine Institute, the only international organization headquartered in Korea.IVI is devoted to research in vaccine development and introducing vaccines to the developing world. He will serve a four-year term, succeeding John Clemens.“I am humbled, honored and very enthusiastic to be joining the IVI team as director-general. Since its establishment in 1997, IVI has been a pioneering organization in many aspects of vaccin
Dec. 19, 2011
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S. Koreans shocked but life goes on
South Koreans were hopeful, shocked and worried, but most of all, skeptical about the news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Monday that came like a bolt of lightning.Life went on as usual on the streets of Seoul, but, within, citizens were quietly pondering the truth of the news and its implications both good and bad.North Korea’s state media Korean Central News Agency announced that Kim Jong-il, 69, had died of a heart attack while riding a train within the country on Saturday
Dec. 19, 2011
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S. Koreans stunned by news of Kim Jong-il's abrupt death
South Koreans were shocked by the news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Monday, with some voicing concern over potential escalation of tensions on the peninsula.(Yonhap News)At noon, North Korea's state media (North) Korean Central News Agency announced the country's leader died of
Dec. 19, 2011
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North Koreans rally around Kim's heir
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) _ North Korea on Monday urged its 24 million people to rally behind 20-something heir-apparent Kim Jong Un as the nation mourned the death of supreme leader Kim Jong Il.South Korea, meanwhile, put its military on high alert, while people in the streets of Pyongyang broke
Dec. 19, 2011
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SK chairman summoned over suspected embezzlement
SK Group's chairman appeared before prosecutors Monday morning to be grilled over suspicions that he embezzled a massive amount of group funds in collusion with his younger brother. Chey Tae-won entered the prosecutors' office in southern Seoul around 9:25 a.m., after getting the notice of the summo
Dec. 19, 2011
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Seoul pushing to fine street smokers
Seoul is seeking to expand its non-smoking zones to include sidewalks and pedestrian roads, city officials said Sunday.The city council of the nation’s capital said it has introduced an ordinance on amending the current regulation that curbs second-hand smoking on streets. The ordinance is expected to reach the relevant standing committee at the council in February at the earliest. Under the revision, the city’s non-smoking areas will include sidewalks and pedestrian pathways as defined by the t
Dec. 18, 2011
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Court to toughen punishment for child sex offenders again
The local court is expected to further increase its recommended jail terms for child sex offenders early next year, complying with growing social calls for tougher punishments against violent and inhumane crimes, officials said Sunday.The measure, if implemented, would follow two similar moves over the past two years and is expected to additionally deter sex crimes against children, said the officials. The Supreme Court is scheduled to convene its sentencing committee on Monday to discuss revisi
Dec. 18, 2011
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Korea’s icebreaker Araon to join rescue mission
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Yonhap News) ― Korea’s first icebreaker, the Araon, is set to embark on a rescue mission to help save a Russian boat trapped in the Antarctic, ship operators said Saturday.The Korean ship, currently anchored at New Zealand’s second-largest city of Christchurch, will set sail later Saturday to head for the 500-ton Russian fishing boat, they said. The Russian ship is said to be slowly sinking since its hull was punctured in a collision with an iceberg. The ship is carryi
Dec. 18, 2011
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Seoul City passes cuts in foreign teacher funding
Seoul City’s budget committee passed funding cuts Saturday for all of its high school foreign English teachers next year, while funding for them at elementary and middle schools will fall about 7 percent.But the city hinted at further cuts in the middle of next year.The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will not renew funding for 255 foreign English teachers in high schools due to the cuts passed Saturday. Previous reports had said about 30 teachers would be spared.The budget, passed by the
Dec. 18, 2011