Most Popular
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Opposition mulls delay of financial investment income tax
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Immigration policy must go beyond labor supply: experts
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‘Korea crossed the line too far’ disgraced singer’s lawyer cries foul after 3rd visa denial
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Psy's touch or new trend in music? P Nation’s solo stars lose their shine
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S. Korea to showcase Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile on Armed Forces Day ceremony for 1st time
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Park Zi-a, the actor who played 'The Glory' heroine's mother, dies
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Nasrallah's killing reveals depth of Israel's Hezbollah penetration
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Korean American documentary ‘Free Chol Soo Lee' wins Emmy
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KMA chief under pressure after surveyed doctors refuse to back him
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Meditation brings calm to Gwanghwamun
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[Yu Kun-ha] A financial chokehold on North Korea
South Korea has decided to indefinitely suspend the joint industrial complex in Gaeseong of North Korea, demonstrating its resolve to lead international efforts to punish the communist country for its latest nuclear and missile provocations. Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo announced the stunning move in a news briefing Wednesday, saying that it was intended to prevent South Korean money from being funneled into the North’s nuclear weapons and missile development programs. The unilateral actio
ViewpointsFeb. 11, 2016
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South Korean lawmaker seeks cooperation from regional powers over North Korea
The chairwoman of South Korea's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs sent letters to her counterparts in the United States, China, Japan and Russia Thursday seeking cooperation in sanctions against North Korea due to its recent nuclear and long-range missile tests.In the letters, Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Saenuri Party denounced North Korea for carrying out its fourth nuclear test and missile launch in violation of U.N. resolutions.On Sunday, North Korea launched a long-range rocket
North KoreaFeb. 11, 2016
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North Korea to expel South Koreans from joint industrial park
North Korea said Thursday it will expel all South Korean nationals from a joint industrial park in the North and freeze all assets of South Korean firms operating there in retaliation for Seoul's suspension of the complex.The North has ordered all South Koreans to immediately leave the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the North's border city, according to a statement issued by the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which handles inter-Korean affairs.It said that it will freeze all a
North KoreaFeb. 11, 2016
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KB Financial to strengthen nonbanking services
KB Financial Group, one of the country’s largest financial groups, seeks to improve its management structure by strengthening its nonbanking business, the lender said last week.The group hopes to enhance its portfolio by maximizing the synergy created among its financial subsidiaries, which include KB Asset Management and KB Investment and Securities. According to statistics released by the group, some 67 percent of KB’s main profits currently come from KB Kookmin Bank, the country’s largest com
Feb. 11, 2016
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[Herald Interview] Korea’s buzzing classical music scene
A classical music craze has swept over the country ever since young pianist Cho Seong-jin’s historic win at last year’s International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. He is the first Korean ever to win the prestigious title and his win has helped revive classical music here. Costa Pilavachi, senior vice president of classical artists & repertoire for Universal Music International Group, is among those looking to capitalize on the current buzz in the classical music scene. “Korea is a hot place
PerformanceFeb. 11, 2016
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Conan O'Brien to take 'Conan' to S. Korea: blogger
American talk show host Conan O'Brien will shoot his "Conan" show in South Korea, a local fan who claims to have been contacted by the Conan team said Thursday.O'Brien will arrive here on Sunday for a five-day journey that involves trips to downtown Seoul and a traditional Korean village in the city's outskirts, a Naver blogger who goes by the alias KIMMYS said in a blog post. More than 1,100 people are subscribed to the blog which has been posting updates on O'Brien's schedule in South Korea.He
TelevisionFeb. 11, 2016
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Korea, U.S. in 1st joint air force infiltration drill
South Korea said Thursday it is conducting an unprecedented joint air force drill with the United States on special wartime infiltration operations as part of efforts to boost the combined defense posture following North Korea's recent long-range missile test."The joint combat control team exercise is being conducted from Feb. 3-18 in areas near Pocheon and Osan, Gyeonggi Province," South Korea's Air Force said in a statement.CCT represents special air forces that are ordered to infiltrate the e
DefenseFeb. 11, 2016
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Man back in jail for stalking his ex-girlfriend
A 42-year-old man was placed back into detainment on Feb. 6 in Seoul for continuing to stalk his ex-girlfriend after being jailed for harassing her last year.According to police, the man identified by his surname Moon continued to intimidate the woman by sending improper text messages and threatening to harm her after he was released from prison in July when the appeals court suspended his original term.The two had begun dating in January last year, but the woman broke off the relationship after
Social AffairsFeb. 11, 2016
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[News Focus] Pullout sets Koreas decades back
It took the two divided Koreas 42 years to start official communication and another decade to agree on a joint industrial complex in the hopes of creating a buffer zone on the tense peninsula. But the recent spate of military provocations from the North and the consequent decision by the South to close the factories showed that decades of gradual fence-mending can turn to naught in one stroke. South Korea’s Unification Ministry on Wednesday announced the closure of the Gaeseong industrial comple
PoliticsFeb. 11, 2016
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North Korea kicks out South Koreans, freezes assets in Gaeseong
Pyongyang on Thursday froze South Korean assets in the inter-Korean industrial complex in its border city of Gaeseong, closed the factory park and declared it as a military off-limit zone in an angry response to Seoul’s decision to pull out of it. The unpredictable regime ordered South Koreans to leave the complex by 5:30 p.m. on the day and allowed them to bring to the South only “personal belongings,” according to a statement from the North’s Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherlan
North KoreaFeb. 11, 2016
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Seoul shares tumble 2.93% on global market setbacks
South Korean stocks plunged 2.93 percent Thursday as investors were spooked by continued setbacks in the global market and growing geopolitical tensions following the North's rocket launch. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 56.25 points to end at 1,861.54. Trading volume was moderate at 381.07 million shares worth 4.64 trillion won ($3.86 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 767 to 92. KOSPI (Bloomberg)"All t
Feb. 11, 2016
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U.N. sanctions should be beyond N. Korea’s imagination: Yun
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Wednesday that the U.N. Security Council should adopt international sanctions for North Korea’s recent nuclear and rocket tests that are “way beyond its imagination” to completely end its persistent provocations.During a meeting with reporters in New York, Yun stressed that Pyongyang’s repeated violations of UNSC resolutions through banned activities were an “affront to the authority of the Security Council.”“This time, the UNSC sanctions resolutio
North KoreaFeb. 11, 2016
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Seoul city to run four night markets this year
The Seoul metropolitan government said Thursday it will open four night markets at different locations starting next month to attract more tourists and offer more business opportunities to small vendors.The city administration said three more night markets will be operated next year, depending on the success of the night markets this year. It also plans to expand the number of night markets to 10 in 2018.According to a city official, a night market will open at Hangang Park in Yeouido, southwest
CultureFeb. 11, 2016
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Parties at odds over Gaeseong complex closure
The South Korean government’s decision to shut down the cross-border Gaeseong industrial park following North Korea’s rocket launch sparked heated debate among political parties Thursday over the unprecedented measure.While the ruling Saenuri Party hailed the move as an “inevitable” call to counter the reclusive regime’s relentless attempts at developing nuclear programs, the opposition parties denounced the government for undermining reconciliation efforts between the two Koreas.“Given the grav
PoliticsFeb. 11, 2016
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Lawyers’ group questions Gaeseong shutdown
A civic group of lawyers Thursday demanded the presidential office and the Unification Ministry disclose the legal grounds on which the authorities decided to close the Gaeseong industrial park in North Korea. “The shutdown of the factory should have a legal basis and follow legal procedures as it directly restrains business activities and property rights,” Song Ki-ho from the Lawyers for a Democratic Society said in a statement. Seoul announced a complete suspension of the jointly run industria
Social AffairsFeb. 11, 2016
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Seoul City pushes for ‘economic democratization’
Seoul City vowed to push for aggressive “economic democratization” as part of efforts to better promote the economic well-being of conglomerates and local small businesses in the city, officials said Thursday. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and 14 organizations, including large companies, small business entrepreneurs and civic groups, pledged to establish an economic environment that promotes fair trade and protects against economic vulnerability. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon (center) and business repr
Social AffairsFeb. 11, 2016
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Two Thais arrested on drug charges
Police said Thursday they have arrested two Thais in regions near Daegu on charges of selling and taking illegal drugs.The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said a 23-year-old suspect is under custody, accused of selling Yaba, a popular drug in some Southeast Asian regions, since February 2015 and taking it regularly once or twice a month.The other man, aged 37, is suspected of taking the drug with his acquaintances after purchasing them from the 23-year-old suspect. The two suspects' identitie
Social AffairsFeb. 11, 2016
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Kai to join EXO's North American tour after absence in Dallas
Kai, a member of South Korean boy band EXO, will join the band's second North American concert in Vancouver after he missed the first show in Dallas due to visa problems, the group's agency said Thursday."Kai will leave for Vancouver tonight to join the band's second concert as he has received visa," S.M. Entertainment said.Concert organizer MyMusicTaste said earlier that Kai was absent from the band's performance in Dallas on Wednesday evening (local time) due to a visa delay, adding S.M. Ente
PerformanceFeb. 11, 2016
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Military chiefs of South Korea, U.S., Japan vow stern action against Pyongyang
The chief military officers of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Thursday to boost their intelligence sharing on North Korea's recent long-range missile test and react "resolutely" to it, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.JCS Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin held talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts -- Gen. Joseph Dunford and Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano -- to coordinate their joint response to North Korea's recent provocations.On Sunday, North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying
North KoreaFeb. 11, 2016
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[Photo News] Gifts for adoptees
GIFTS FOR ADOPTEES -- LG Uplus’ employees participate in a corporate social responsibility program in which they make dolls for babies who have been put up for adoption, at the company’s head office in Seoul on Thursday. (LG Uplus)
TechnologyFeb. 11, 2016