Most Popular
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Ex-presidential official’s leaked phone call rattles conservative bloc
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Pay debate plagues foreign nanny pilot
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K-pop star lip-syncing controversy flares up again
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35% of S. Koreans view unification 'unnecessary'
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Man escapes DUI charges by downing bottle of soju while pulled over
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Pianist Lim Yunchan double winner at Gramophone Awards
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[Reporter’s Notebook] Was Netflix film opening BIFF really a bad thing?
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N. Korean leader's sister derides Seoul's Hyunmoo-5 missile as 'useless'
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Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years
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S. Korea, US clinch 2026-30 defense cost-sharing deal in pre-election push
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[Cai Hong] Japan must resolve historical issues
China in all sincerity invited Abe to attend commemorative events on Sept. 3, but Japan assumed it to be an invitation for humiliation. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not have the courage to attend the commemorative activities organized by China on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II and Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45). Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga went so far as to say that China did not even try
ViewpointsSept. 10, 2015
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[Kim Kyung-ho] Heterophobia among young Koreans
Young Korean men and women now seem more ready than ever to find fault with what they see as the selfish attitude and behavior of the opposite sex. In a reflection of this atmosphere, many online communities have recently sprung up to provide a space for men to ridicule or vent their anger at women they deem to be insensible, and vice versa. Posts there are often filled with vitriol and even swear words, prompting their operators, who themselves are far from neutral and objective, to ask users n
ViewpointsSept. 10, 2015
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[Editorial] More culture for all
The government-led Culture Day program which offers free or reduced price admissions to various cultural and sporting events may be expanded into a weeklong program, providing greater opportunities for people to enjoy cultural activities. Culture Day, introduced as part of Park Geun-hye administration’s efforts to promote culture, has been enjoying growing recognition and participation. A survey of 2,000 people conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last month showed that 45.2
EditorialSept. 10, 2015
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[Editorial] Agonizing wait
Five hundred people were selected by computer Wednesday from some 66,000 people who had applied for a chance to meet their families living in North Korea, the first step in what must be a gut-wrenching wait for the families separated by the Korean War to see if they will be among the 100 people chosen from South Korea to meet their families in the North at next month’s reunion. The first reunion to be held since the last one was held in February 2014, the agreement on the inter-Korean family reu
EditorialSept. 10, 2015
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TV industry ponders monetization of online content
With unconventional and new entertainment media platforms emerging and disrupting conventional media platforms, the industry stands at a crossroads to change its traditional content business to one that suits the digital and mobile age.A variety of experiments using traditional and new production methods have been tested to create and distribute content via new media platforms, including multichannel networks for digital consumers. New technology and media environment have lowered the entry barr
FilmSept. 10, 2015
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Samsung Pay gains footing on home turf
Samsung Pay, Samsung Electronics’ new mobile payment system, is gaining a footing in Korea before its U.S. launch later this month. According to the company on Thursday, more than 25,000 people have registered to use the mobile wallet every day since its launch on Aug. 20, with the average daily transactions surpassing 750 million won ($630,000). “More than half the Galaxy Note 5 users are using Samsung Pay. This is a big number considering Koreans rarely use mobile payments offline,” said Rhee
TechnologySept. 10, 2015
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Director Ryoo Seung-wan mulls sequel to ‘Veteran’
Director Ryoo Seung-wan on Wednesday said he is considering making a sequel to his hit film “Veteran,” which sold more than 12 million tickets. "We’re currently researching what social issues the public is interested in and what kind of individual they are curious to know more about,” Ryoo told reporters. (CJ Entertainment)The high-flying “Veteran” portrayed a seasoned investigator’s struggle and cathartic victory in uncovering criminal acts of a corrupt corporate heir. Kang Hye-jeong, CEO of Fi
Sept. 10, 2015
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Kim Hyun-joong’s ex-girlfriend gives birth
Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong’s ex-girlfriend gave birth to a child last week, according to local news outlets Thursday. The legal battle between the two flared up in April when Kim’s ex-girlfriend, surnamed Choi, filed a suit seeking 1.6 billion won ($1.33 million) in damages for Kim’s alleged physical assault. She had also claimed that she was pregnant with Kim’s baby, but refused to hand over a medical certificate to prove her pregnancy.
TelevisionSept. 10, 2015
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[Herald Interview] Family trio dropping a little opera to the club scene
Classical opera is getting a modern and chic revamp, leaving behind the fancy orchestra concert halls and heading out to the mecca of pop music culture and youth.After hitting it big in their native country of New Zealand with its 2013 self-titled debut album, up-and-coming opera crossover family trio Sol3 Mio will be performing its first concert in Korea in the most unlikely of venues -- Gangnam, Seoul nightclub Octagon. Contemporary classical opera trio Sol3 Mio (Universal Music)As part of the
PerformanceSept. 10, 2015
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Netflix's Korea plan excites TV fans
Video streaming service website Netflix’s announcement that they would be rolling out in South Korea early next year has been received with enthusiasm by local TV fans.The expansion plans are welcome news to a market that has a high demand for content from the U.S. and the U.K., with past seasons of various TV shows being aired on cable and fans searching for ways to stream shows online. Many Korean fans unable to find their favorite shows locally have turned to piracy. A quick search for “mi-de
TelevisionSept. 10, 2015
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S. Korea's household debt risks easing: S&P official
South Korea's household debt is potentially detrimental to the local bank industry, but the risks are expected to fizzle out in line with policy efforts aimed at improving the quality of such liabilities, a Standard & Poor's official said Thursday."It's a threat, but we also see mitigation. The household debt level increased sharply this year. (But) we saw the government put out measures to slow it down and help banks to change the structure of mortgage loans," said Ryan Tsang, an analytical man
Sept. 10, 2015
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Youku chief wants to work with S. Korean creators
The president of Youku Inc., China's largest video-streaming website, said Thursday he hopes to cooperate with South Korea as his company pushes for a paid membership system and a peer-to-peer video-sharing technology."I try extremely hard to adjust to new changes with South Korean (content) creators," Frank Ming Wei told reporters ahead of a session at the Broadcast Worldwide conference in southern Seoul."That's the biggest reason I visited South Korea."Youku was founded in 2006 and now boasts
IndustrySept. 10, 2015
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N. Korean taekwondo athletes invited to Seoul
North Korea has been invited to send a taekwondo demonstration team to Seoul next month, the sport's top official said Thursday, as negotiations between the two Koreas for sports exchanges gain momentum.The Seoul-based World Taekwondo Federation sent the invitation to the Pyongyang-led International Taekwondo Federation last Friday and is awaiting a response, Choue Chung-won, president of WTF told Yonhap News Agency.This is the second time Choue has invited the ITF. He wrote a similar letter to
North KoreaSept. 10, 2015
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Seoul shares shot up 1.44 pct on eased China woes
South Korean stocks rose two sessions in a row on Thursday on rising hopes for additional stimulus measures by China. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 27.91 points, or 1.44 percent, to 1,962.11, paring its earlier losses. Trading volume was slim at 454.8 million shares worth 5.4 trillion won ($4.52 billion), with winners beating decliners sharply at 631 to 175."The index started lower as overnight global markets finishe
Sept. 10, 2015
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MERS victims file lawsuits against gov't, hospitals
Bereaved families and people who were isolated for suspected cases of the MERS virus have filed lawsuits against the government and hospitals for physical and mental damages, a civic group said Thursday.In the 10 complaints filed with the Seoul Central District Court, the 34 plaintiffs are seeking a total of 1.1 billion won ($920,000) in compensation, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice said. It is the second set of such lawsuits since July.The government had kept private the list of ho
Social AffairsSept. 10, 2015
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Multinationals with huge domestic sales avoided taxes: report
Multinational companies generating sizable revenue and profits have managed to avoid paying corporate taxes by taking advantage of loopholes in the present taxation system, a report said Thursday.According to data provided by the National Tax Service to Rep. Lee Man-woo's office for the parliamentary audit, of the 9,532 foreign companies in the country, 4,752 paid zero corporate taxes in 2013.Of those that did not pay, 15 may have had annual sales exceeding 1 trillion won ($839 million) and also
Sept. 10, 2015
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Black Lion vows to be Korea’s next top outdoors brand
Black Lion (www.blacklion.co.kr) is an outdoor brand that promotes an energetic image, known for its Korean-made products, customer service and moderate prices.“Despite the fact that there is no difference at all in functionality or materials used, prices vary according to brands. This is the reality with outdoor brands. I wanted to change this reality,” said CEO Lee Chun-sik.Black Lion’s apparel is also known for its functionality, design and colors. The brand offers over 200 products, includin
IndustrySept. 10, 2015
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Absence of viable security frame necessitates military alliances in NE Asia: U.S. official
The absence of a viable security system among Northeast Asian countries necessitates the military alliances the United States maintains in the region, a former U.S. official said Thursday."From the organization perspective, we see that (security) architecture in Northeast Asia has historically been woefully underdeveloped ... we also had limited security cooperation in multilateral context," David Helvey, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, said during the three-da
InternationalSept. 10, 2015
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Lotte Group chief to be summoned to parliamentary audit
Rival parties agreed Thursday to summon Shin Dong-bin, chairman of Lotte Group, which underwent a family power struggle, to an annual parliamentary inspection next week. Shin, along with 40 other businessmen, will be notified to appear as a witness to face questioning at the audit organized by the National Assembly's Fair Trade Committee on Sept. 17.Shin is being called up as part of the long-standing ritual of parliamentary questioning, which started Thursday. The annual questioning will be run
Social AffairsSept. 10, 2015
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South Korea's only smartphone film festival opens
South Korea's only smartphone film festival opened here, featuring more than a thousand entries, the most in the festival's history, organizers said on Thursday.Launched in 2011 under the motto that everyone can use their mobile phones to make films, the annual festival has developed into one of the world's largest smartphone film festivals in four years.A total of 1,003 entries were submitted for the 5th Olleh International Smartphone Film Festival, more than twice the number in 2011.This year'
Social AffairsSept. 10, 2015