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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Man escapes DUI charges by downing bottle of soju while pulled over
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35% of S. Koreans view unification 'unnecessary'
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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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S. Korea, US clinch 2026-30 defense cost-sharing deal in pre-election push
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Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years
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AIIB president-designate meets Korean officials, biz leaders
President-designate Jin Liqun of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank met with Korean officials including Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan and business leaders in Seoul on Tuesday. The AIIB leader’s visit comes as the multilateral development bank led by China is ready to start funding infrastructure projects. It was not immediately known the results of the meeting between Jin and Choi, but sources said the two leaders might have discussed ways for cooperation between Seoul and the banking i
Sept. 8, 2015
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[Herald Interview] Air France-KLM sees strong demand in Korean market
Air France-KLM, Europe’s second-largest network carrier, is enjoying its best summer in Korea with its drive to beef up online presence here. Celine Balmelle, Air France-KLM general manager for Korea talks to The Korea Herald in Seoul. (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)“This morning, we celebrated that we’ve reached the highest number of passengers in July and August. The Korean market is strongly growing and leisure demand to Europe keeps on increasing,” said Celine Balmelle, newly-appointed head
IndustrySept. 8, 2015
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[Graphic News] Most Korean salary workers paid less than average
About 63 percent of South Korean wage workers earned less than the average annual salary in 2014, indicating the country’s widening economic polarization. According to the joint report by Rep. Yoon Ho-joong of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy and the Korea Taxpayers Association released Tuesday, the average annual salary of South Korean earners in 2014 stood at 31,724,658 won ($26,386.58). The average monthly pay was slightly above 2.64 million won. Yet a total of 10,225,4
Sept. 8, 2015
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Ministry proposes 3% budget boost
The government proposed a 3 percent increase in its 2016 budget formulation from this year to continue to push for an expansionary economic policy next year despite concerns over worsening fiscal soundness.The Finance Ministry said Tuesday that the budget proposal reflects the administration’s full-fledged effort to invigorate sagging private consumption and exports.The budget scheme, which is to be proposed before the National Assembly on Sept. 11, amounts to 386.7 trillion won ($322.2 billion)
Sept. 8, 2015
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Foreign students quitting studies in Korea on rise
More than 60 foreign students sponsored by the Korean government quit their studies and return to their home countries every year, mostly due to cultural differences, a report showed Tuesday. According to a report by the National Institute for International Education submitted to Rep. Ahn Min-suk of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, an average of 63 foreign students benefiting from the government’s sponsorship program each year discontinued their studies and went back to t
Social AffairsSept. 8, 2015
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[SUPER RICH] Superrich who spent money for independence and the people
There is a zeitgeist in every time period. In Korea, the zeitgeist during the Japanese occupation was independence, and after independence it was to live well and reunite the two Koreas.Koreans typically hold in high regard those who have dedicated themselves to one of these causes. They realize that although such ideals are easily relatable, it is more difficult to perfectly ascribe to them.Several of the superrich have also devoted their lives to these causes, donating their riches to realize
IndustrySept. 8, 2015
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Tobacco sales bounce back despite price hike
Despite the price hike aimed at curbing cigarette consumption, tobacco sales in South Korea recovered to the level of a year earlier in July, raising questions over the effectiveness of the government policy. According to a report by the Korean Smokers’ Association submitted to Rep. Yoon Ho-joong of the main opposition New Politics Alliance of Democracy, the number of cigarette packs sold in July stood at just over 350 million, close to the average monthly sales over the past three years, 362 m
Social AffairsSept. 8, 2015
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Prudential wings young community leaders
Prudential International Insurance Asia president Jan van den Berg (front row, far left), Prudential Foundation of Korea chairwoman Sohn Byoung-ok (front row, second from left) and Prudential Life Insurance of Korea CEO Kurtis Jang (front row, far right) pose with the awardees at the Spirit of Community Awards ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday. (Prudential Foundation of Korea)The Prudential Foundation of Korea cohosted its 17th Spirit of Community Awards with the Korea Association of Secondary Educat
Latest NewsSept. 8, 2015
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[Lee Jae-min] At crossroads of life and death
The Los Angeles Times on Aug. 9, 2004, featured a rare reunion. In Santa Ana, California, 200 Vietnamese-Americans wholeheartedly welcomed a retired Korean commercial vessel captain Jeon Je-yong. Jeon was the captain of Gwangmyeong 87 that rescued 96 boat people in November 1985 in South China Sea.Upon encountering the people adrift in the sea, he immediately contacted the company headquarters in Busan but the order from the company was not to get involved in the refugee issues: Understandably,
ViewpointsSept. 8, 2015
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Assembly approves Supreme Court judge nominee
The National Assembly on Tuesday approved a nominee for Supreme Court justice, ending weeks of postponement triggered by the ongoing confrontation between rival parties on state offices’ special allowances.Of the 260 attending lawmakers, 178 voted in favor of the appointment of Lee Ki-taek to the Supreme Court while 74 disapproved and eight abstained in the secret vote.With the parliament’s approval, Lee will replace Min Young-il, a retiring judge, nearly a month after President Park Geun-hye so
PoliticsSept. 8, 2015
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[Editorial] Reform or ruin?
The reform panel of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy unveiled its 10th and last package of proposals Monday. The Innovation Committee will soon end its operations which started in June in the wake of the party’s successive defeats in major elections. The latest proposals call on the party to form an electoral college of nonparty members to nominate candidates for the next parliamentary elections in April. The panel also suggested offering extra points to “fresh figures,”
EditorialSept. 8, 2015
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[Editorial] Reason for reform
The labor dispute at Kumho Tire, which forced the management to impose a lockout at its three plants, reveals the problems with the unions of many big Korean companies — they are overly protected and excessively selfish. It is not the first time that the nation’s second-largest tire-maker has been embroiled in a severe labor dispute. Its union is notorious for its hardline stance and the company has a long history of serious disputes that have resulted in strikes and lockouts. The union’s milita
EditorialSept. 8, 2015
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[Kim Seong-kon] A trustworthy society and a reliable country
Although I am not much of an outdoors person, I like to hike up the mountain near my home every morning. This daily ritual, which takes about half an hour, replenishes and invigorates me. There is one minor problem though. As soon as I start climbing, I am attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes that want to revel in an orgy of blood.I bought a liquid mosquito repellent and sprayed it all over my body before trekking. The brand was famous, so I trusted it wholeheartedly. To my great disappointment, ho
ViewpointsSept. 8, 2015
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Finding originality in Korean contemporary art
Following a series of unprecedented shows of support for art museums from last year, Hyundai Motor Co. is holding an art exhibition in Seoul that highlights the creativity of Korean contemporary artists and the traditional elements and aesthetics that inspired them. The “Dream Society” exhibition, now in its third year, brings together leading artists, architects and designers, who converge with innovative ideas of “Koreanness” in their installations, sculptures and paintings. Installation by
PerformanceSept. 8, 2015
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China welcomes Koreas' deal on family reunion
China on Tuesday welcomed an agreement by South and North Korea to hold a reunion next month for families separated by the Korean War. Following overnight talks, Red Cross representatives from Seoul and Pyongyang agreed earlier in the day to hold reunions from Oct.20 to 26. The last reunions were held early last year. Asked about the agreement, China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei replied, "We have noted these reports and welcome the decision made by the two sides to hold family reunions.
North KoreaSept. 8, 2015
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In IAEA session, S. Korea to seek support for its nuke agenda
South Korea will brief the international community next week on its non-military nuclear program and request support for its efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.The government plans to send a delegation to the 59th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency to be held in Vienna, Austria, from Sept. 14-18. It will be led by Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.In a keynote speech, Cho will "explain our policy on nonproliferation, nu
InternationalSept. 8, 2015
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Lotte, China's JD.com sign partnership deal
A Chinese online retailer, JD.com Inc., said Tuesday that it has signed a partnership deal with South Korea's retail group Lotte. The deal allows Lotte to sell more household, beauty, fashion and electronics goods to Chinese consumers through JD.com's online shopping site. Seeking to reach Chinese consumers, Lotte opened a store on JD.com's online shopping site in March this year. JD.com said the partnership deal with Lotte could help boost sales, citing a growing demand for Korean goods. (Yonha
IndustrySept. 8, 2015
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Auto industry body calls for curbing wage growth
The chief of South Korea's automobile industry association called for local carmakers Tuesday to rein in salary growth, saying that the burden from labor costs has been increasing faster than other global rivals. Speaking at a seminar held by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, Chairman Kim Yong-geun also demanded that labor unions cooperate to prevent the wage issue from hurting overall competitiveness.KAMA represents the interests of five major automakers operating in South Korea.
IndustrySept. 8, 2015
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GM, Renault Samsung bolster imported car business
General Motors Korea and Renault Samsung Motors, both of which are categorized as Korean automakers, are expanding their imported car business on the back of the rising popularity of foreign car brands in all market segments. Renault Samsung’s QM3, manufactured in Spain, and the recently-introduced Chevrolet Impala, produced in the United States and imported by GM Korea, are creating new success stories in the local mass vehicle market. Renault Samsung`s QM3 (Renault Samsung) The two brands targ
IndustrySept. 8, 2015
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Forum to draw world defense officials, experts
High-level defense officials from some 30 countries and global organizations are set to gather in Seoul this week to discuss pressing security issues around the region and the world and explore ways to counter emerging unconventional threats. Hosted by the Defense Ministry, the Seoul Defense Dialogue will kick off on Wednesday for a three-day run with the theme “70 years of the Post-WWII Era and the Division of Korea.” The vice-ministerial conference is its fourth edition this year.The participa
DefenseSept. 8, 2015