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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Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military
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S. Korea, US clinch 2026-30 defense cost-sharing deal in pre-election push
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Korea’s minting agency diversifying business
Challenged by the expanding cashless society, South Korea’s state-run minting agency is diversifying its business domain and actively tapping more export destinations to offset a sharp drop in demand for coins and banknotes.Rapidly increasing credit card usage and the digital payment revolution are making Koreans’ wallets slim. Under its initiative in finding a prospective niche, the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. is strengthening its non-minting segment. Among the in
Sept. 1, 2015
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Park touts inter-Korean deal as unification step
President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday touted a recent breakthrough between the two Koreas, saying its thorough implementation starting with a fresh round of reunions of separated families would bring the peninsula closer to lasting peace and eventually a unification.The sides are scheduled for a working-level meeting on Sept. 7 at the border village of Panmunjeom to arrange the family reunions, following their three-day high-level talks that ended last Tuesday. “If we safeguard the hard-won agreeme
North KoreaSept. 1, 2015
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Korean Air's first B747-8i jumbo jet
Korean Air’s cabin attendants give a demonstration of its newest Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental’s prestige class during an opening event held at the airliner’s maintenance hangar in Incheon. The plane is the first of 10 such aircraft that the airline has on order. (Korean Air)
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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Shinsegae to hire over 20,000 new employees
Major South Korean retailer Shinsegae Group will hire over 20,000 workers from the second half of this year through next year, the group said Tuesday. “It’s time to work together to resolve the worst youth unemployment rate since the 1997 Asian financial crisis,” Shinsegae vice chairman Chung Yong-jin said. Under “Vision 2023,” a management plan unveiled by Shinsegae last year, the company pledged to recruit more than 10,000 employees every year for 10 years. This year, Shinsegae plans to employ
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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Hallyu star Jang Keun-suk to hold concert in Seoul
Actor-singer Jang Keun-suk will hold a solo concert in Seoul on Saturday. Jang’s concert, titled “Jang Keun-suk Live in Seoul 2015,” will take place at Jangchung Gymnasium at 7 p.m. It is his first Seoul concert in three years since “2012 Jang Keun-suk Asia Tour Cri Show 2 in Seoul.” Concert poster of Jang Keun-suk (Tree J Company)For the upcoming show, the 27-year-old star will perform a string of his hit songs, including “What Should I Do?” and “Can You Hear Me Part 2.” “Jang has high expect
Sept. 1, 2015
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[Graphic News] Border tensions in EU migrant crisis
Luxembourg, which holds the EU presidency, said Sunday that countries including Germany, France and Britain were to meet to discuss immediate action on the migrant crisis. Amid growing tension throughout European nations regarding the issue of refugees, Europe as a whole is urging one another to share the burden of taking care of asylum seekers. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said efforts were needed to avoid any “prejudice, coldness, even hate in their hearts” targeting the newcomers. Her gove
World NewsSept. 1, 2015
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Court rules against release of U.S. forces crime data
An appeals court ruled Tuesday that the government does not have to unveil the information of cases involving U.S. soldiers if it has relinquished its right to exercise jurisdiction over them under the South Korea-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, upending the original judgment. Under SOFA, which governs the legal status of some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed across the southern part of the peninsula, South Korea can primarily invoke judicial power when a serviceman is implicated in crimes, except
DefenseSept. 1, 2015
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KRC’s global exchange center to open in 2017
(Korea Rural Community Corp.)The Korea Rural Community Corp. vowed to spread Korea’s advanced agricultural technologies to developing countries by establishing a new global education center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. The KRC on Tuesday hosted a groundbreaking ceremony of the Rural Community-International Education Exchange Center, or RC-IEEC, set to open by January 2017. The center aims particularly at sharing the know-how that Korea has accumulated in developing the rural regions, best exem
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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[Robert J. Fouser] North Korea as a brand
No country produces more rumors and theories than North Korea. Every new photograph of the young leader Kim Jong-un is scrutinized for clues about his intentions. North Korea watchers look wishfully for signs of “change” that will eventually lead to an opening up a la China or a collapse a la East Germany. As in the past, the recent wave of tension over South Korean propaganda broadcasts near the DMZ has produced a flurry of news coverage about North Korea’s strategy and tactics. Seasoned pundit
ViewpointsSept. 1, 2015
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New Samsung C&T adopts collective leadership
The new Samsung C&T, the construction and trading arm of Samsung Group, was officially launched on Tuesday under a collective leadership led by four top executives.The new entity, given outright shareholder approval on July 17 to merge with Cheil Industries, is expected to serve as the group’s de facto holding company, with estimated sales of 60 trillion won ($50.9 billion) by 2020. Market insiders believe the new Samsung C&T will be one of the group’s core affiliates alongside Samsung Electroni
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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[Kim Seong-kon] Remembering Edward Said’s call for reconciliation
When September comes around every year, I remember my mentor, Edward W. Said, who sadly passed away in September 2003. More than 10 years have passed since he left this world, but Said’s influence can still be felt all over the world. When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, Walt Whitman lamented his abrupt death, exclaiming, “O Captain! My Captain!” So did scholars of postcolonialism and cultural imperialism when Said died of leukemia when he was at his best. He was only 67. A few days ag
ViewpointsSept. 1, 2015
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[Newsmaker] Sankei under fire again for attack on Park
Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun came under fire again for an online column that called President Park Geun-hye’s plan to attend China’s World War II victory event “toadyism” and likened her to a 19th-century Korean empress assassinated by Japan.President Park Geun-hye presides over a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. (Yonhap)In its Monday edition, the conservative daily carried the column accusing Korea’s diplomacy of being historically subservient to big powers -- China, Russia or
Foreign AffairsSept. 1, 2015
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KEB Hana Bank sets sail as No. 1 lender
Hana Financial Group chairman Kim Jung-tai (center, front row) and KEB Hana Bank president Ham Young-joo (fourth from right, front row) attend the launching ceremony of KEB Hana Bank in the bank’s headquarters in central Seoul on Tuesday. (KEB Hana Bank)KEB Hana Bank, the result of a merger between Korea Exchange Bank and Hana Bank, was launched on Tuesday, vowing to lead the banking industry with stronger asset management services. Upon officially capping the KEB-Hana merger, the new entity ros
Sept. 1, 2015
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[SUPER RICH] Business tycoons shun payroll disclosure
More and more high-level “registered” executives at business conglomerates are resigning from their official positions at corporate affiliates, apparently fearing a public backlash following the disclosure of their salaries. Registered executives have the legal power to participate in the overall management of the companies while unregistered executives have less power in the boardroom.According to Chaebul.com, a website devoted to tracing the wealth of the superrich, among the country’s top 30
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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[Editorial] Eliciting Chinese action
When President Park Geun-hye leaves for Beijing today, it will not be with a light heart. The decision to attend China’s Victory Day celebrations, including the military parade, was reached after weighing the pros and cons of participating in the events that are being shunned by Western leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, as well as Japan’s Shinzo Abe. In considering the visit, the denuclearization of North Korea appears to have been the priority. Following the recent heightened mili
EditorialSept. 1, 2015
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[Editorial] Highest suicide rate
The latest OECD Health Statistics held dismal news for Korea. The country’s suicide rate stood at the top among the 25 of the 34 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member states for which figures were available. The average suicide rate among the 25 countries stood at 11.9 persons per 100,000. At 29.1 persons per 100, 000, the suicide rate in Korea was more than double the average OECD figure for 2012. In fact, the country has topped the list since 2003 when the suicide rate r
EditorialSept. 1, 2015
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Seoul announces post-MERS plan for infectious diseases
All general hospitals with 300 or more patient beds in South Korea will be required to establish negative air pressure rooms to prevent cross-contamination, Seoul announced on Tuesday as part of its post-Middle East respiratory syndrome plan to better deal with contagious diseases. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also announced that the head of Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention will be appointed as the ministry’s joint vice minister to strengthen public health sector, and establ
Social AffairsSept. 1, 2015
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Star producer reunites old crew for 'New Journey to the West'
The star producer behind hits like “Grandpas Over Flowers” and “Three Meals a Day” is bringing together old friends for a new travel-themed variety show.That familiar chemistry was what producer Na Young-suk and cast members Kang Ho-dong, Lee Seung-gi, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun -- who previously appeared together on another travel variety show called “1 Night, 2 Days” -- emphasized at a press conference at the 63 Convention Center ahead of the premiere of “New Journey to the West.”“It was the
TelevisionSept. 1, 2015
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Korea mulls more Iranian crude imports
Iran is expected to become a solid business partner of Korea in the near future as officials of both governments vowed to beef up ties. Once U.S.-led sanctions against Iran are lifted, Seoul will likely increase the import of Iranian crude oil and help companies invest more in the natural resources-abundant country that has had a rocky relationship with Korea since 2010. Still, Iran is Korea’s third largest export destination in the Middle East with exports of $4.2 billion in 2014. Iran exported
IndustrySept. 1, 2015
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Lexus debuts all-new ES sedans
Lexus, the luxury vehicle brand of Toyota Motor, launched its two new ES sedans -- the 2016 Lexus ES 300h and ES 350 -- in Korea on Tuesday, heating up competition in the premium mid and large sedan market here.The all-new ES 300h is the latest version of Lexus’ best-selling hybrid sedan, while the ES 350 is built on a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine.“Korean customers will be able to experience exceptionally elegant and technologically advanced ES sedans at reasonable prices,” said Lexus Korea CEO
MobilitySept. 1, 2015