Most Popular
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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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Yoon warns North Korea against nuclear attack attempt
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Shut up and dance
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NewJeans fans corner Hybe amid PR backlash, looming National Assembly audit
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Israel targets Palestinian group in first strike on Beirut center
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Miss Universe Korea names 80-year-old model 'best dressed'
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Brit pop legend Oasis to perform in Seoul next year
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[KH Explains] Is Hyundai-GM partnership win-win to beat Tesla, Chinese rivals?
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Koreas back in confrontational mode after 4-month lull
The outlook for Inter-Korean relations remains bleak as South Korea resumed its anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts in response to the North's latest nuke test, a move certain to agitate the North.On Friday, South Korea re-started its cross-border loudspeaker broadcasts carrying anti-North Korea messages in about four months in retaliation for North Korea's claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test earlier this week. The North has yet to show any response to Seoul's resumed psychological war
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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Former state oil firm head found not guilty of breach of trust
A local court on Friday acquitted the former head of the national oil company of causing a huge loss to state coffers in the purchase of two Canadian firms.The Seoul Central District Court ruled Kang Young-won, the former CEO of the Korean National Oil Corp. (KNOC), should not be held responsible for losing 550 billion won ($464 million) of state funds by acquiring two Canadian resource companies -- Harvest Oil Operation Corp. and its affiliate North Atlantic Refining Limited -- in 2009.Prosecut
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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PM calls for regulatory reform for ICT venture growth
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn called Friday for a dramatic reform in regulations to foster the growth of venture firms in the information communication technology (ICT) sector."More dramatic reform of the regulation is needed to revitalize ICT ventures such as fintech and Big Data," Hwang said, referring to a combination of finance and technology.He made the remarks in a luncheon meeting with 12 heads of local venture firms.Hwang also said that the government will make more efforts to boost suppo
PoliticsJan. 8, 2016
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Seoul shares bounce back from 4-month low, China risks still persist
South Korean stocks pared early losses to close 0.7 percent higher on Friday, rebounding from their 4-month low, as China tried to attempt to ease concerns over the devaluation of its currency. The Korean won gathered ground against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added13.29 points to end at 1,917.62. Trade volume was moderate at 401 million shares worth 4.99 trillion won ($4.17 billion), with losers beating winners 454 to 360.The index opened sharply lowe
Jan. 8, 2016
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S. Korea prudent about Gaesong complex despite N.K.'s nuke test
South Korea said Friday it is still premature to consider the shutdown of a joint industrial park in North Korea or the withdrawal of South Koreans there despite Pyongyang's latest nuclear test.There has been speculation that South Korea may push for the temporary closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex."At this stage, we don't think it is appropriate to talk about the withdrawal or closure of the complex," Jeong Joon-hee, the Unification Ministry's spokesman told a regular press briefing, whe
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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Pitchers sanctioned for overseas gambling charges
Two South Korean baseball pitchers facing illegal gambling charges were suspended by the nation's top professional league on Friday.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Lim Chang-yong and Oh Seung-hwan, both currently free agents, will be banned for half of their team's games should they return to the South Korean league.Lim and Oh were recently investigated over charges that they'd illegally gambled in Macau in 2014, but Seoul prosecutors in December applied for a summary order and sought
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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S. Korea resumes anti-N. Korea loudspeaker broadcasts
South Korea restarted propaganda broadcasts Friday along its border with North Korea, two days after Pyongyang tested a nuclear bomb.Military tensions are expected to escalate on the peninsula as the North is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its leadership and system.Seoul's move came on the purported birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, known to be in his early 30s.The South's military carried out the psychological campaign using loudspeakers for weeks last year in retali
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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Gov't warns budget airlines of safety lapses
The government will launch a special inspection into domestic budget airlines next week over their safety practices and impose heavy sanctions on violators of related rules, the transportation ministry said Friday.Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have been under fire for two recent problems, which have sparked concerns over their safety.An airplane of Jeju Air Co., owned by mid-sized retailer Aekyung Group, dived to an altitude of 8,000 feet from 18,000 ft on its way to Jeju Island from Seoul on Dec. 23
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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Lawmaker gets 16-month jail term for receiving illegal political
A sitting lawmaker, formerly affiliated with the main opposition party, received a jail sentence Friday for taking bribes from a businessman.The Seoul Central District Court handed down a 16-month jail term to Rep. Park Ki-choon, formerly of the Minjoo Party of Korea, for receiving some 270 million won ($225,800) from the head of a distribution agency, only known by his surname Kim, in return for business favors. The court also ordered Park to forfeit 278 million won. Prosecutors alleged that Pa
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Robert B. Reich] Ending vicious circle of wealth
What’s at stake this election year? Let me put as directly as I can. America has succumbed to a vicious circle in which great wealth translates into political power, which generates even more wealth, and even more power. This spiral is most apparent in declining tax rates on corporations and on top personal incomes (often in the form of wider tax loopholes), along with a profusion of government bailouts and subsidies (to Wall Street bankers, hedge-fund partners, oil companies, casino tycoons and
ViewpointsJan. 8, 2016
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Park says strong countermeasures under way against N. Korea
President Park Geun-hye said Friday that South Korea is taking strong countermeasures against North Korea over its hydrogen bomb test.She also called for the people's unity at a time when South Korea "is closely coordinating with the international community" on how to handle the North's latest provocation.Tensions are high on the Korean Peninsula over South Korea's anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along the heavily fortified border with North Korea.South Korea resumed the propaganda broadcasts at noon
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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S. Korea resumes anti-N. Korea broadcasts along their border
South Korea restarted propaganda broadcasts Friday along its border with North Korea, two days after Pyongyang tested a nuclear bomb.Military tensions are expected to escalate on the peninsula as the North is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its leadership and system.The South's military carried out the psychological campaign using loudspeakers for weeks last year in retaliation for the North's land mine attack.It was halted with the Aug. 25 inter-Korean deal.At that time, Seoul s
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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[Chris Stone] The public sphere’s new enemies
Before November’s terrorist attacks in Paris, it was legal to stage a demonstration in a public square in that city. Now it isn’t. In Uganda, although citizens campaigning against corruption or in favor of gay rights often faced a hostile public, they didn’t face jail time for demonstrating. But under a frighteningly vague new statute, now they do. In Egypt, government authorities recently raided and shut down prominent cultural institutions – an art gallery, a theater, and a publishing house –
ViewpointsJan. 8, 2016
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S. Korea prudent about Gaesong complex despite N.K.'s nuke test
South Korea said Friday it is still premature to consider the shutdown of a joint industrial park in North Korea or the withdrawal of South Koreans there despite Pyongyang's latest nuclear test.There has been speculation that South Korea may push for the temporary closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex."At this stage, we don't think it is appropriate to talk about withdrawal or closure of the complex," Jeong Joon-hee, the Unification Ministry's spokesman told a regular press briefing, when as
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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Parliament approves education minister nominee
The National Assembly on Friday approved President Park Geun-hye's new pick for education minister.Lee Joon-sik, a seasoned engineering professor at South Korea's top-notch Seoul National University, won the approval of the parliamentary education and culture committee after he underwent a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.Lee will double as deputy prime minister for social affairs.Born in the southern port city of Busan, the 64-year-old Lee graduated from SNU with a degree in mechan
PoliticsJan. 8, 2016
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World sets out to detect traces of radioactive gases
South Korea, the U.S., Japan and other countries and organizations are spurring efforts to discover traces of radioactive materials released during North Korea’s recent nuclear test to better decipher the event and ratchet up pressure on the wayward regime. Officials work at Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety in Daejeon. (Yonhap)Seoul’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has launched an emergency operation team with the Korea Meteorological Administration and Korea Institute of Nuclear Safet
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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KOSPI bounces back on China gains
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index managed to close in gain on strong institutional buying Friday, after moving either side of the 1900-point mark in the wake of a stock crash in China. Korean traders gave a sigh of relief after the KOSPI rose 13.29 points to 1,917.62, despite pessimistic expectations throughout morning trading. Trading volume was at 400.6 million shares worth 5.00 trillion won ($4.2 billion), with 454 firms falling and 360 gaining. (123RF) The KOSPI opened at a fou
Jan. 8, 2016
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South restarts loudspeaker broadcasts
YEONCHEON/SEOUL -- Tension prevailed across the Demilitarized Zone after South Korea reactivated sets of loudspeakers for anti-Pyongyang broadcasts on Friday in a first punitive step against the North’s fourth nuclear test two days ago. South Korean military resumed propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers at the border on Friday. (Yonhap)At noon, the “Voice of Freedom” show began with the host’s comment expressing his resolve to quit smoking this year, followed by the 1980s rock band Gun Son’s p
North KoreaJan. 8, 2016
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Former state oil firm head found not guilty of breach of trust
A local court on Friday acquitted the former head of the national oil company of causing a huge loss to state coffers in the purchase of two Canadian firms. The Seoul Central District Court ruled Kang Young-won, the former CEO of the Korean National Oil Corp. (KNOC), should not be held responsible for losing 550 billion won (US$464 million) of state funds by acquiring two Canadian resource companies -- Harvest Oil Operation Corp. and its affiliate North Atlantic Refining Limited -- in 2009.
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Album Review] EXO packs winter album with catchy pop
EXO“Sing For You - Winter Special Album, 2015”KT Music The best thing about EXO’s “Winter Special Album” for 2015 is that it doesn’t feel like a winter album. There are no thinly veiled Christmas carol rip-offs or songs about being giddy about the holidays. Thank goodness.Instead, the five-track EP brings catchy tunes and pop beats that would have made the songs hits at any time of the year. With the double lead tracks “Unfair” and “Sing for You,” the members of EXO show that they can handle bot
PerformanceJan. 8, 2016