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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Yoon, Ishiba discuss cooperation on N. Korea in 1st phone talks
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Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years
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Social economic mobility, creativity key to overcoming S. Korean woes: KDI report
South Korea must strive for greater social economic mobility and creativity if it wants to overcome the myriad of challenges in its path, a report by a state-run think tank said Sunday.The report titled "Mobility and Creativity - the Keywords to Structural Reforms" claimed that rising frustrations among the youth, who are hard pressed to find good jobs, and drops in corporate earnings all stem from structural problems in Asia's forth largest economy.The Korea Development Institute paper stressed
Sept. 20, 2015
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Top 30 biz groups invest 61 tln won in H1
South Korea's top 30 conglomerates spent 61.1 trillion won ($52.4 billion) in investment for facilities and research activities in the first half of this year despite economic uncertainties at home and abroad, data showed Sunday. The nation's 30 largest conglomerates by assets executed 45.1 percent of their 2015 investment plan in the first six months of this year, spending 46.5 trillion won in facilities and 14.6 trillion won in R&D, the Federation of Korean Industries said.The FKI said the lar
Sept. 20, 2015
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Ex-head of opposition party proposes ways to reform party
The former head of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy proposed ways on Sunday to fight corruption in a bid to reform the political party embroiled in internal factional strife.Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said that party members involved in corruption allegations should be immediately kicked out regardless of their status, calling for "zero tolerance" toward corruption."If we do not fight corruption within our party, we cannot cope with corruption in the country. Now is the time for t
PoliticsSept. 20, 2015
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Samsung Electronics faces grim Q3 earnings outlook
Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest handset maker, is expected to post worse-than-expected earnings in the third quarter due to worsening profitability from its mobile division, analysts said Sunday. The earning guidance by 22 brokerage houses averaged at 6.61 trillion won ($5.68 billion) as of Sept. 17, 6.4 percent down from the estimate a month earlier, according to the data compiled by corporate researcher FnGuide. "The operating profit in the IT and mobile division is expected to ho
Sept. 20, 2015
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Remains of 115 Korean wartime forced laborers buried at home
More than 100 Korean laborers were buried at home Sunday, over seven decades after they were taken to Japan for forced labor during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea in the first half of the 20th century.The 115 sets of remains brought back from Hokkaido, Japan, Friday, by group of bereaved families and members of a civic group named Steppingstone for Peace were laid to rest at a public cemetery in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.The people were initially mobilized to build a Japanese military airfiel
Social AffairsSept. 20, 2015
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Park to focus on preparation for U.N. sessions
President Park Geun-hye will focus on preparations for the upcoming U.N. sessions she will attend later this month, where she plans to call for global attention to North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, a source at Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.Park is scheduled to visit New York from Friday to Monday to attend the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. summit for sustainable development.Without any appointments scheduled outside the presidential office, she plans to only focus on preparing for speec
PoliticsSept. 20, 2015
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[Album Review] Up10tion makes a splashy start with ‘Top Secret’
Up10tion"Top Secret"(Loen Entertainment)Ten-member boy band Up10tion is the latest addition to the K-pop scene, and their debut EP “Top Secret” shows they are determined to get attention with flashy music reflecting the latest trends. After an intense intro, the album heads straight into the lead track “So, Dangerous,” produced by the composer who wrote EXO’s megahit “Growl.” The pounding dance track is reminiscent of “Growl,” with a dramatic structure and lyrics about wanting to protect a girl
PerformanceSept. 20, 2015
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[Album Review] LYn demonstrates stylistic range on 9th album
LYn“9x9th”Loen EntertainmentLYn amplifies the emotional depth of her voice to express the wistfulness of a woman who longs for an absent love on her ninth studio album “9x9th.” With six tracks having lyrics written by LYn, the album also represents her growth as a singer-songwriter.The album steps away from her well-known R&B style to take on overarching blues and jazz themes. The lead single “Love Moves On” features a waltz rhythm that allows LYn’s voice to meander in a gypsy style, while “A Bi
PerformanceSept. 20, 2015
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[Album Review] Kangnam escapes hip-hop for solo EP
Kangnam“Chocolate”CJ E&MOn the first two tracks of “Chocolate,” hip-hop vocal Kangnam of M.I.B. teams up well with heavyweight rappers Microdot (on “Tell Me What”) and San E (on lead track “Chocolate”). The lead track is lighthearted and flirty, with a piano theme and San E’s naughty lyrics putting a mischievous turn on Kangnam’s seemingly innocent song.The album suddenly goes pop rock with “Stay,” where listeners can see what Kangnam is like as a standalone vocal, without his fellow M.I.B membe
PerformanceSept. 20, 2015
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'Zombie companies' on rise in S. Korea
A growing number of South Korean companies failed to generate enough operating profit to pay tax and interest payments on their debt, data showed Sunday. The number of listed companies that logged pre-tax operating loss last year amounted to 541 companies, or 31.1 percent of the total, according to corporate tracker Chaebul.com. The number of companies that were exempt from corporate tax due to operating loss rose to the highest level in five years, adding 30 firms from 2010, the website said. T
Sept. 20, 2015
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S. Korea, Russia to hold high-level security dialogue
South Korea and Russia are expected to hold their first high-level security dialogue, government sources said Sunday, amid growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea ahead of a key anniversary next month.Nikolai Patrushev, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is likely to visit South Korea before heading to Japan late this month, according to the sources asking not to be named.North Korea has hinted at launching what it called "a series of satellites" ahead of the 70th ann
DefenseSept. 20, 2015
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U.S. nuclear envoy willing to hold talks with N. Korea in Pyongyang
The United States is genuinely interested in holding talks with North Korea about how to resume the long-stalled denuclearization negotiations and it does not matter whether such discussions take place in Pyongyang or elsewhere, the chief U.S. envoy said Saturday.Amb. Sung Kim, special representative for North Korea policy, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency, stressing the North should come back to the negotiating table and honor its own commitment to give up its n
North KoreaSept. 20, 2015
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S. Korea urges transparency in Japan’s defense policy
South Korea reminded Japan on Saturday of the need for “peace spirit” and transparency in implementing its new defense policy supported by the passage of controversial security bills by its parliament.“In deciding and implementing defense and security policy down the road, Japan will have do so with transparency and in the direction of contributing to regional peace and stability, while maintaining the spirit of the pacifist constitution,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.It was respondi
InternationalSept. 19, 2015
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Japan enhances military’s role as security bills pass
Japan’s parliament early Saturday approved contentious legislation that enhances the role of the country‘s military by loosening post-World War II constraints, after the ruling bloc defeated opposition parties’ last-ditch effort to block a vote.The upper house’s approval makes the legislation into law, reinterpreting Japan’s constitution and fundamentally changing the way it uses its military. Opponents say it violates Japan‘s constitution and puts the country at risk of becoming embroiled in U.
InternationalSept. 19, 2015
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Moon sticks to hold vote of confidence
A confidant of the main opposition party leader said Friday evening that the chairman has decided to stand pat to conduct an official vote of confidence next week, despite repeated requests by other lawmakers to cancel the plan.The decision was made hours after Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, held a meeting with key members of the party in the afternoon. At the meeting, Moon said he would think about withdrawing the vote as lawmakers including Rep. Park Bye
PoliticsSept. 18, 2015
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Fulfilling the ‘vocation to be human’
“Welcome to our happy house!” A warm message written in a child’s handwriting on a door greets guests entering the apartment in central Seoul. Opening the door is Alexandre Jollien, a best-selling Swiss author and philosopher. His easygoing smile further comforts the visitor.Jollien speaks and walks slowly due to his cerebral palsy, but it does not deter him from pursuing intellectual work. Instead, it motivates him to create his renowned literature pieces.Since 1999, he has written six French b
Social AffairsSept. 18, 2015
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Uncertainty lingers on despite U.S. rate freeze
The uncertainty about financial volatility at home and abroad is expected to linger on until late October as the U.S. Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates on hold in its September meeting amid split predictions in the market, analysts said Friday.As Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen took an ambiguous position over the timing of an increase, South Korea’s financial indexes moved in a limited boundary on the day, despite the relief from a variety of risks upon a U.S. rate hike. The benc
Sept. 18, 2015
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N. Korea renews its vow to launch satellite
North Korea reiterated its resolve Friday to launch a satellite, calling it a sovereign right, in its latest show of defiance against growing international calls against the provocation. "The more enemy forces will hamper our plan for space development, the more severe our counteraction will be," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch. North Korea said it is determined to exercise its right to launch a satellite into orbit, no matter what others say about its plan
North KoreaSept. 18, 2015
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Security cameras to be mandatory at day cares in S. Korea
New day care centers are required to set up security cameras, the welfare ministry said Friday, as part of South Korea's efforts to curb child abuse. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said security cameras should be installed in places where babies and kids spend most of their time, and store footage for more than 60 days. The move is mandatory for new day care centers to win approval from the ministry, and is set to take effect Saturday. Existing centers were given a three-month grace pe
Social AffairsSept. 18, 2015
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S. Korea confirms 2 avian flu cases
South Korea on Friday confirmed two cases of avian influenza in the country for the first time in more than three months. The Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said ducks at farms in Naju and Gangjin, some 350 kilometers and 400km southwest of Seoul, respectively, tested positive for avian influenza (AI). The ministry has dispatched a quarantine team to the sites and started to restrict the movement of animals, people and vehicles at the farms for 24 hours. A combined 14,800
PoliticsSept. 18, 2015