Most Popular
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Science Ministry expresses regret over Japan’s pressure on Naver
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Hostilities get out of hand as YouTuber murders another outside courthouse
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Yoon interacts with public for 1st time since election defeat
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[Weekender] Pet food makers bet big on ‘recession-free’ pet food market
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N. Korea says to deploy new multiple rocket launcher starting this year
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Seoul transit pass for travelers to be available starting July
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State-led adoption system to be established to ensure adoptees' well-being, minimize overseas adoption
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[Drama Tour] Romantic trip to ‘Queen of Tears’ filming spots
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Business moguls attend concert by Helene Mercier, wife of LVMH CEO
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Buddha's birthday lantern parade to light up Seoul
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[Newsmaker] An unlikely friendship forged by politics
Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo on Tuesday stopped by the National Assembly for the first time since assuming office last week, to carry out what is often considered a ceremonial visit.His visit was an emotional one though, as he shed tears with his former counterpart Rep. Woo Yoon-keun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy. The two met for the first time since Lee’s tough confirmation hearing earlier this month.Woo and Lee began an unlikely friendship last year as the floor lead
PoliticsFeb. 24, 2015
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[Newsmaker] ‘Birdman’: a satire about world of showbiz
HOLLYWOOD ― “Birdman,” which won the best picture Oscar on Sunday, is a quirky black comedy about the dark side of fame in the entertainment industry, starring Michael Keaton in the performance of his career.The film directed by Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu was the big winner of the night, taking four Oscars out of nine nominations ― including best director and best original screenplay.Alejandro G. Inarritu accepts the award for best director for “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ign
FilmFeb. 23, 2015
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[Newsmaker] FSC chief nominee to face tough hearing
Yim Jong-ryong, the nominee for chairman of South Korea’s top financial regulator, is expected to face stiff criticism during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, as the Assembly is divided over his suitability.The opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy likened Yim to previous heads of the Financial Services Commission, calling the former vice finance minister a member of the “mofia” ― a portmanteau of the Ministry of Finance’s initials and the word “mafia.”The party questioned whethe
Feb. 22, 2015
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[Newsmaker] New P.M. faces tough task of restoring trust
When new Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo takes office Tuesday, he will face the herculean task of winning back the public trust he lost through reports of conscription evasion, property speculation and intimidation of journalists.In South Korea, prime ministers are often limited to nominal roles, with executive power centered in the presidential office. But Lee faces daunting challenges as he is taking office at a critical time, with the Park Geun-hye government seeking a way out from a deepening pol
PoliticsFeb. 17, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Would-be China envoy to face daunting task
Former top presidential security adviser Kim Jang-soo faces the daunting task of addressing lingering political distrust between South Korea and China, after he was tapped last week as Seoul’s new ambassador to Beijing. President Park Geun-hye’s decision to field the former defense minister illustrates her desire to cement her country’s strategic partnership with China, which has recently suffered a setback due to the possibility that Washington will deploy an advanced missile defense system to
Foreign AffairsFeb. 16, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Both sides cry foul in Ukraine cease-fire
KIEV ― A cease-fire was declared in eastern Ukraine at a minute after midnight Sunday, kindling slender hopes of a reprieve from a conflict that has claimed more than 5,300 lives.But within two hours of the cease-fire’s scheduled start, the warring sides were already trading accusations of fresh attacks. International attention will be focused in the coming days on the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve, where Ukrainian government forces have for weeks been fending off severe onslaughts from p
World NewsFeb. 15, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Assembly begins 'resource diplomacy' probe
Lawmakers from the ruling and main opposition parties began hearing from state-run energy companies Thursday, as part of their probe into former President Lee Myung-bak’s “resource diplomacy” initiative.The project spearheaded by Lee, President Park Geun-hye’s predecessor, aimed to reduce South Korea’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil by investing state money in foreign energy projects. Lawmakers agreed to launch the parliamentary probe amid escalating criticism that many of its investment decis
PoliticsFeb. 12, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Can Ssangyong Motor regain its past glory?
For Ssangyong Motor, spring appears to have arrived earlier than expected. The labor strife-marred automaker is poised to celebrate the high unexpected sales of its new compact sport utility vehicle Tivoli and select its new leader in six years.The automaker said on Wednesday it sold more than 8,000 Tivoli vehicles in the first month since its market debut on Jan. 13.“The morale of employees is riding high due to the sales,’’ a company official said. The Tivoli, rival to small SUVs like Renault
MobilityFeb. 11, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Whistleblower’s tale worthy of a spy novel
PARIS ― Herve Falciani was once just an IT worker at a big bank, but since running off with hundreds of thousands of damaging documents from banking giant HSBC he has been alternately called a hero and a thief.“He is brave. We have the highest opinion of Mr. Falciani’s work, whatever his motivations may be. He has served the public interest,” said Eric Alt, vice president of the French antitax fraud group Anticor.Swiss authorities however have charged him with data theft for taking the documents
World NewsFeb. 10, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Korea’s Formula 1 dream coming to an end?
The ambitious plan to make the southern part of the Korean Peninsula a stop on the global racing circuit may have come to a halt as the organizing committee of the Formula 1 race in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, on Monday was reported to be considering disbanding. According to local media reports, the organizing committee of the Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix recently decided to disband after the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile dropped the Korean race from its calendar. The reports note
More SportsFeb. 9, 2015
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[Newsmaker] U.S. anchor accused over war ‘lie’
NEW YORK ― One of America’s most prominent TV anchors, Brian Williams, faced calls for his resignation Friday for embellishing an Iraq war story from 2003.Brian Williams. (AP)Williams, 55, who reportedly earns $10 million a year and is watched by an estimated 9 million Americans a night, admitted that a story he often repeated on air about coming under fire was not true.“I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago,” Williams said in an apology broadcast live Wednesday on the “NBC Ni
World NewsFeb. 8, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Pilot’s murder boosts anti-IS sentiment
AMMAN― The burning alive of a Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State group has shocked and angered Jordanians, uniting them behind their government’s vow to intensify its military action against the jihadists.Activists carry posters with a portrait of the Jordanian pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh. (AFP)Jordan is one of several Arab states to have joined the U.S.-led campaign against IS in Syria and Iraq, and has taken part in air strikes against jihadist positions since September.Concerns were raised at t
World NewsFeb. 5, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Britain authorizes ‘three-parent’ babies
LONDON ― Britain on Tuesday became the first country in the world to allow the creation of babies with DNA from three people after MPs voted for the controversial procedure.The results of the vote is returned in the debating chamber at the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. (AP-Yonhap)Lawmakers at the House Commons voted by 382 to 128 in favor of allowing the creation of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) babies with DNA from three people, a move aimed at preventing serious inherited diseases bein
World NewsFeb. 4, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Obama submits record budget for fiscal 2016
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on his proposal for budget for fiscal 2016 at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C., Monday. (Xinhua-Yonhap)WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama set up another clash with Republicans by sending Congress a $4 trillion budget that seeks to raise taxes on wealthier Americans and corporations and increase domestic spending. In a message accompanying the massive budget books on Monday, Obama said his proposals are "practical, not
World NewsFeb. 3, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Hostage crisis poses test for pacifist Japan
TOKYO (AFP) ― The apparent beheading of two Japanese hostages by Islamic State militants poses a stark diplomatic test for pacifist Japan, underscoring how Tokyo’s image as a benign aid donor offers no immunity from violence, analysts say.Tokyo has long avoided getting embroiled in tinderbox conflicts across the Middle East and is rarely the target of religious extremism, something many ordinary Japanese see as a faraway problem.But the dangers came into focus after IS militants on Saturday post
World NewsFeb. 2, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Stielike praised for success in Asian Cup
SYDNEY ― Uli Stielike coached his first match for South Korea last October, barely three months before the start of the AFC Asian Cup. He would coach only four more friendly matches before the continental tournament kicked off in Australia in early January, and the general expectation was that there wouldn’t be enough time for him to do much with South Korea at the Asian Cup.South Korean coach Uli Stielike. (Yonhap)Yet the German-born coach took South Korea to the final against steep odds. Tho
More SportsFeb. 1, 2015
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[Newsmaker] N.K. demanded cash for summit: Lee memoir
Former President Lee Myung-bak has revealed a series of sensitive foreign policy dealings, including the failed negotiations over an inter-Korean summit, during his term in his memoir obtained by the media ahead of its publication next Monday.In the 800-page memoir, entitled “The President’s Time 2008-2013,” he includes details about his administration’s diplomacy with Pyongyang, Beijing, Washington and Tokyo, and defends his much-criticized resource diplomacy.As for the North’s proposal for an
North KoreaJan. 29, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Nexon starts battle for control of NCSoft
A battle has begun for control of NCSoft, the nation’s second-biggest game developer, as Nexon, its largest shareholder, has officially vowed to participate in its management. Nexon, the largest online game firm in South Korea, said Tuesday that it would shift from merely investing in NCSoft, the runner-up in the domestic market, to taking part in its management.“The company made the decision since it has found it difficult to swiftly respond to the rapidly changing IT industry with the previous
TechnologyJan. 28, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Kim faces tough choice over overseas trips
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is facing a tough diplomatic decision over when and where to make his international stage debut ahead of a series of foreign events this year, including Russia’s 70th anniversary celebration of the victory in World War II.The decision calls for Pyongyang’s careful calibration of strategic interests amid diplomatic estrangement from China, Russia’s engagement with the North, the U.S.’ harsh criticism of its cyberattacks and military threats, and an impasse in inter
North KoreaJan. 27, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Greek ‘Che Guevara’ on brink of power
ATHENS ― Alexis Tsipras, whose Syriza party won the Greek general election for the first time in its history on Sunday, is set to become the country’s first radical left-wing prime minister, and the youngest in over 150 years.He brings to the job a burning passion to dump the austerity policies that his party says have brought a “humanitarian crisis” to Greece.“Greece is turning a page, leaving behind disastrous austerity ... and 5 years of humiliation,” Tsipras told a jubilant crowd of supporte
World NewsJan. 26, 2015