Most Popular
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‘Korea crossed the line too far’ disgraced singer’s lawyer cries foul after 3rd visa denial
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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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Psy's touch or new trend in music? P Nation’s solo stars lose their shine
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Seoul to hold grand military parade on Tuesday, disrupting major city routes
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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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Israel targets Palestinian group in first strike on Beirut center
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NewJeans fans corner Hybe amid PR backlash, looming National Assembly audit
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KMA chief under pressure after surveyed doctors refuse to back him
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Gov't to expand merit pay to all public-sector workers
The government decided Thursday to expand a performance-based wage system to all public agency employees as part of its plan to improve efficiency in the public sector, the finance ministry said.The decision, made at a public agency management meeting in Seoul, calls for all public institutions to adopt the merit-based pay system by the end of 2016.Until now, the government has only implemented the performance-based system with executive members of public institutions since 2010.Under the merit
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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Wartime sex slave victims ask U.N. to determine legitimacy of Seoul-Tokyo deal
Elderly South Korean women forced to serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II sent a petition to the United Nations on Thursday, asking the international body to determine the legitimacy of the recent deal between Seoul and Tokyo over the issue, their legal representatives said.South Korea and Japan reached a landmark deal last month to resolve the issue of the so-called comfort women.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave an apology and Japan agreed to offer 1 billion yen
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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Ex-big league pitcher Seo Jae-weong retires with Korean club
Former major league pitcher Seo Jae-weong announced his retirement Thursday with his South Korean hometown club.The Kia Tigers in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Seo, 38, informed the club Thursday that he has thrown his last pitch. Through the club, the right-hander said he wanted to open up more opportunities for younger players.The Tigers said they would be willing to bring Seo back to their coaching staff if he desired to stay in the game. They added they will schedule a retiremen
BaseballJan. 28, 2016
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Big three Korean entertainment agencies win 13 awards at iF Design
South Korea's big three entertainment agencies said Thursday they won a total of 13 prizes at the iF Design Award 2016 in Germany, one of the world's three largest design awards events.S.M. Entertainment said three of its albums won prizes in the field of packaging design including boy band Super Junior's 7th album "THIS IS LOVE." The two other albums that won prizes were girl group f(x)'s album "4 Walls" and boy group EXO's "Miracle in December." S.M. said that it also won a prize in the interi
PerformanceJan. 28, 2016
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Seoul shares close higher after volatile session
Despite renewed concerns over a global economic downturn, South Korean stocks rose 0.48 percent Thursday as gains for financials and retailers effectively offset tech losses. The local currency closed higher against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 9.07 points to end at 1,906.94. Trade volume was moderate at 306.8 million shares worth 4.61 trillion won (US$4.15 billion), with winners beating losers 539 to 262.The index started lower following overnigh
BusinessJan. 28, 2016
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Samsung beats Apple in Q4 smartphone shipment
Samsung Electronics Co. emerged as the sole leader in the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter of last year, beating its archrival Apple Inc., data showed Thursday.The South Korean tech giant sold 81.3 million smartphones in the October-December period, up 6 million units from a year earlier, the data compiled by industry tracker Strategy Analytics showed. The figure translates into a market share of 20.1 percent. Samsung Galaxy A8 (Yonhap)Industry watchers said the increase is attribu
BusinessJan. 28, 2016
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[Herald Interview] Korean science prodigies seek sustainability in school
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Climate change has become a hot global issue of concern, with 195 countries adopting the first-ever legally binding global climate deal at the Paris climate conference in December.With each government contemplating measures to fulfill their pledge to limit global average temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, a group of Korean science prodigies have stepped up to the plate, boldly vowing to pursue sustainability starting from t
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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Abu Dhabi a model for sustainable urban city
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has long been a strategic business hub for foreigners with a zero-tax jurisdiction that offers 100 percent foreign ownership within free trade zones. Along with such a business-friendly environment, the city is taking ambitious initiatives to turn itself into a sustainable urban city with various renewable energy development projects for its next generations, including the signature project of Masdar City. L
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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Top court orders expenses to be paid for treatment after decision to die with dignity
South Korea’s top court Thursday ruled in favor of a hospital, ordering family members of a now deceased patient, who had refused life-extending treatments, to pay for related medical expenses.The Supreme Court ruled that the bereaved family of the patient -- the first patient allowed to “die with dignity” in South Korea -- should pay medical expenses totaling 86.4 million won ($71,500) to Yonsei Severance Hospital. She died at the age of 78 in 2010.This was the second legal dispute between the
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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More than just a bookstore
Bookstores these days do not just sell books. To keep afloat in the digital age, they are boosting their offerings by including art galleries in their stores, organising activities such as workshops and even selling alcoholic beverages. Such efforts seem to be paying off, at least at some places. At about 40 minutes past noon, Kyobo Book Center in downtown Seoul is crowded with people wanting to browse through the latest books.Visitors sit down to read books at the Kyobo Book Center in Gwanghwa
BooksJan. 28, 2016
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Over 26,000 South Koreans decorated in 2015
The government said Thursday that it had awarded merits to 26,602 people last year – nearly double the number given out in 2013 and the highest number since 1954. According to the Ministry of Interior, the number of merits have been on the rise over the past few years. In 2013, 13,601 merits were awarded and 21,669 in 2014.Last year's figure -- 26,602 merits -- is the highest since the Korean government was established in 1948, with the exception of 1954 when the government decorated war veteran
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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Chung seeks compromise on Assembly vote rules
Parliamentary Speaker Chung Ui-hwa offered a compromise version of the National Assembly Advancement Act revision, seeking to bridge the ruling conservative party’s move for drastic changes and the main opposition camp’s backlash against it.While parties continued to lock horns over the issue, the Constitutional Court held an open hearing to debate the legitimacy of the contended procedural bill. National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa YonhapChung’s bill was signed by 14 other lawmakers and sub
PoliticsJan. 28, 2016
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‘French Oscars’ celebrate diversity in nominations
PARIS (AFP) - Nominations for the Cesars, France‘s version of the Oscars, were announced on Wednesday, honoring a diversity of talent and themes at a time when the Academy Awards are being accused of ignoring minorities. Screen legends such as Gerard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert got nods, and Hollywood star Michael Douglas will be given a lifetime achievement award. But the top choices have placed the spotlight on films with very diverse actors, directors and storylines --
FilmJan. 28, 2016
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Childhood exposure to domestic abuse has life-long effects
A brain scan study by a South Korean psychiatrist found specific changes in key circuits that process fear in the brains of Korean adults who were exposed to domestic violence as children. It claims that such experiences can have serious lifelong consequences on victims both emotionally and clinically. The study raises concerns about South Korea’s current child protection legislation, as well as child welfare policies that do not specifically include childhood exposure to domestic violence in de
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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‘Show Me the Money’ season 5 to hold U.S. auditions
The fifth season of “Show Me the Money,” a Korean rap competition show, will hold auditions in the U.S., accepting international candidates for the first time, cable channel Mnet said Wednesday. Open call poster for “Show Me the Money” season 5 (CJ E&M) Applications will be accepted until March 6 for a chance to appear on the season that will begin airing in May. “So many rappers overseas have asked to be part of the show,” Mnet said in a statement. “We‘ve decided to expand this opportunity to r
PerformanceJan. 28, 2016
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SM founder talks new boy band, future localization strategy
SM Entertainment, one of the country’s leading forces in the K-pop industry, is adopting localization as its main strategy going forward, announcing its plans to launch new boy band NCT (Neo Culture Technology), which will break away from convention. At a press conference at SMTOWN Coex Artium in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Wednesday, SM founder Lee Soo-man presented the company’s new hallyu localization strategy as part of his “New Culture Technology” project. SM is looking to expand its footprint wor
PerformanceJan. 28, 2016
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[NEWS ANALYSIS] Prospects of tough North Korean sanctions dim
The prospects of adopting harsher international sanctions against Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test have dimmed with Beijing reluctant on a sanctions-centric approach and Russia seeking to expand trade with the reclusive state.China’s stance -- out of tune with that of South Korea and the U.S. -- has further deepened skepticism about the allies’ approach focused mostly on pressuring China to exert more influence to curb its wayward ally’s nuclear program.Beijing’s opposition to extremely str
North KoreaJan. 28, 2016
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Sewol salvage operations face month-long delay
The government said Thursday that the salvage operations of Sewol ferry are expected to conclude by around late July, a month behind schedule.According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, unfavorable work conditions have led to delays at nearly every step. The waters off the coast of Jindo, South Jeolla Province -- where the ill-fated vessel lies -- contain strong, volatile currents and murky water which hindered rescue efforts after the ship’s sinking on April 16, 2014. Divers from China’s
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2016
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[Photo News] Chapel for Muslim Buyers
PRAYER ROOM -- The Korea International Trade Association opened a prayer room at the Coex mall in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Thursday for visiting Muslim buyers. It is the first time a Korean business association has opened a Muslim prayer room. KITA
BusinessJan. 28, 2016
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KEPCO on prowl for power plant acquisitions
Korea Electric Power Corp. is on the prowl for acquisitions to boost its alternative-energy portfolio. The firm, listed on Korea’s KOSPI and the U.S.’s New York Stock Exchange, said Thursday that it has signed M&A advisory firms in preparation for potential deals in the fields of both alternative energy and conventional fossil-fuel-based power generation. Solar panels (123rf)“We have completed the selection of advisory firms,” the Naju, South Jeolla-based firm said in a regulatory filing in Seo
IndustryJan. 28, 2016