Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
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Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
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[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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US missile defense aims to deter 'limited' nuclear attack from N. Korea: Hicks
The United States' missile defense system provides deterrence against "limited" nuclear attacks from countries such as North Korea, Deputy Defense Secretary nominee Kathleen Hicks said Tuesday. Hicks said if confirmed, she would work to further improve the missile defense system. "As currently constructed, the relationship between US missile defense and the US nuclear arsenal is complementary," she said in written response to her pre-confirmation-hearing questions from the
North KoreaFeb. 3, 2021
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Iran allows crew of seized Korean tanker to leave: reports
Iran said Tuesday it has allowed the crew of a South Korean oil tanker it seized last month to leave the country, according to news reports. The MT Hankuk Chemi had 20 sailors, including five Koreans, aboard when it was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps for alleged oil pollution on Jan. 4. The release comes in a "humanitarian move" by Tehran following a request from the South Korean government, Reuters quoted a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry as telling state med
Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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S. Korea speeds up approval process of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments
South Korean health authorities have stepped up efforts to speed up the approval process for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments amid a third wave of coronavirus outbreaks. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Tuesday it would apply for a special import procedure for Pfizer's vaccines. The nation seeks to bring in 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine, enough to inoculate 60,000 people, this month through the COVAX Facility, the World Health Organization's global vaccine provisi
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Nine inmates at Seoul prison test positive for COVID-19
Nine inmates at a Seoul prison have tested positive for the coronavirus, all of whom worked in the kitchen, the justice ministry said Tuesday. The Nambu Correctional Institution in southwestern Seoul conducted COVID-19 tests on dozens of inmates and staff after one prisoner who worked in the kitchen recently showed signs of fever and subsequently tested positive. The ministry said a total of nine inmates who worked in the kitchen were found to have contracted the virus, leading officials to is
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Women's football Olympic qualifiers for S. Korea postponed from Feb. to April due to pandemic
South Korea's final Olympic women's football qualifiers against China have been pushed back from later this month to April due to effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Tuesday the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) informed it of the postponement earlier in the day. The two Asian countries had been scheduled to meet on Feb. 19 in South Korea and again on Feb. 24 in China, with a spot at the Tokyo Olympics at stake. The two-legged series will now be
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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FM nominee Chung rejects allegations of push to help build nuke power plant in N. Korea
Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong on Tuesday rejected allegations that the Moon Jae-in administration had pushed to help build a nuclear power plant in North Korea, stressing the government has never discussed the idea with Pyongyang. During a press availability, Chung also said the conditions for the construction of such a plant in the North were "impossible," given that the idea can be reviewed only after the conclusion of denuclearization negotiations with the North, the lif
PoliticsFeb. 2, 2021
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French language teacher shortage leaves schools stuck
For over a decade, preferences for foreign language classes have favored some languages over others, and by 2022, only one French teacher will be left in Seoul's public schools. To guarantee that students have a choice of subjects and maintain a diverse range of language education offerings, growing concerns have risen over the need to appoint new eligible teachers. According to the Korea Association of French Professors and Teachers (ACPF), on Wednesday, there are currently nine French teac
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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‘It’s time to rethink S. Korea’s pandemic response’
South Korean experts say the country’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic needs restructuring to address the unequal cost of social distancing. The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday invited a panel of experts across various fields, ranging from public health to economics, to deliver their recommendations ahead of planned revisions to its social distancing guidelines. Health policy and management professor Dr. Kim Yoon of Seoul National University said it was time Korea
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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64-year-old man dies during fitness test for forest fire watchers
A 64-year-old man, who ran a fried-chicken restaurant located in Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, passed away in a tryout for forest fire watchers, police said Monday. The man lost consciousness during the fitness test held at a gym in Jangsu in the afternoon on Jan. 29, then later died, according to the Jeonbuk Police Station. At the time of the accident, the man had been carrying a 15-kilogram backpack equipped with an oxygen pump while running along a 1.2-kilometer track. The man reportedly c
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Seoul calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release
South Korea on Tuesday expressed “deep concern” over the takeover of Myanmar by the country’s military and called for the immediate release of detainees including the country’s top civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. “Our government voices deep concern over the recent political situation in Myanmar,” Choi Young-sam, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said, reiterating that Seoul respects the desire for democracy that Myanmar’s people expressed
Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Korea to deploy new 3D forecasting system for forest fires
The Korea Forest Service will set up a three-dimensional prediction system in a bid to minimize damages from forest fires this year, after a devastating year that has ravaged forests nationwide. The new 3D forest fire spread forecast program, which recreates the shape of the mountains in digital form, utilizes advanced information and communication technology, the KFS said Monday. More precise extinguishing missions will be possible when the new 3D program replaces its two-dimensional predece
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Ambassador Xing calls for S. Korea to respect China's position on Taiwan, Hong Kong
China hopes South Korea will respect its position on Taiwan and Hong Kong, Ambassador Xing Haiming was quoted Tuesday as saying amid simmering Sino-US tensions over Beijing's policies toward them. Xing made the remark during a meeting Monday with Kwon Ki-sik, head of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, as the administration of US President Joe Biden reaffirms support for Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory, and remains concerned about crackdowns on pro-democracy moveme
Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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More than half of S. Koreans want eased virus curbs on family gatherings for Lunar New Year: poll
Over half of South Koreans want eased virus curbs for family gatherings of more than four people during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, a survey showed Tuesday. The country has banned gatherings of five or more people across the country to further slow down the COVID-19 pandemic since last month. On Sunday, health authorities decided to extend tough social distancing guidelines for another two weeks until Feb. 14. The Lunar New Year holiday falls on Feb. 11-13. According to a survey on 1,
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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Minors account for 9% of virus cases in S. Korea, appear less susceptible to COVID-19
South Koreans aged 18 and below accounted for about 9 percent of the total new coronavirus cases reported here, with youngsters being less susceptible to COVID-19 compared to adults, the health authority said Tuesday. Minors accounted for 8.9 percent of the 75,084 virus patients confirmed here through Sunday, according to the data compiled by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case back on Jan. 20, 2020. No fatalities have
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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President, first lady send New Year’s gift boxes
President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook are sending out gifts to some 15,000 people, including front-line health care workers fighting COVID-19, ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays next week, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Possibly in reflection of the president’s wish for national unity, the gift box consists of specialties from across the nation. These include Andong soju, a distilled liquor from the city in North Gyeongsang Province; fried rice cakes from Yeoju, Gyeonggi P
PoliticsFeb. 2, 2021
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Seoul again refrains from declaring North ‘the enemy’
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense did not single out North Korea as “the enemy” in this year’s white paper, revealed Tuesday. That is the second time since 2019, when it removed the designation amid a flurry of diplomatic activity to build an inter-Korean detente. The Moon Jae-in government is seen as trying not to upset North Korea while working to repair inter-Korean ties frayed over disagreement on denuclearization and sanctions relief. In the paper, an enem
DefenseFeb. 2, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Cheong Wa Dae rules out disclosing USB handed over to North during 2018 summit
Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday ruled out disclosing the contents of a flash drive containing a broad cross-border economic cooperation vision that President Moon Jae-in handed over to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their first summit meeting in 2018. “It is an irresponsible request,” Choi Jae-sung, the president’s senior secretary for political affairs, said in a radio interview in response to the opposition bloc’s demand for a full disclosure of the contents of the
PoliticsFeb. 2, 2021
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S. Korea voices 'deep concern' over Myanmar coup, urges release of Aung San Suu Kyi
South Korea voiced "deep concern" Tuesday after Myanmar's military detained its top civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in an apparent coup and declared a one-year state of emergency the previous day. "Our government expresses deep concern over the recent political situation in Myanmar," Choi Young-sam, spokesman of the foreign ministry, said, stressing Seoul respects Myanmarese people's aspirations toward democracy witnessed in last year's general elections. &quo
Foreign AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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[News Focus] Plastic waste crisis thwarts Korea’s efforts towards greener future
Korea’s progress towards a cleaner environment is being pushed back by the surge in plastic waste fanned by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic pushing people to buy food and drinks via takeaway or deliveries that come in plastic packaging, the amount of waste has surged, causing concerns the changes in consumption trend could permanently damage Korea’s green initiatives and disrupt people’s everyday lives. According to the Ministry of Environment, the number of food de
Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2021
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[Herald Interview] Former opposition leader vows to improve Seoul’s gender equality, child safety
Na Kyung-won, former floor leader of the conservative opposition, has vowed to improve gender equality and curb crimes against women and children if she becomes the first female mayor of Seoul. “Korea’s perception on gender has not yet reached an advanced level,” said Na in an interview with The Korea Herald. As to why sexual harassment is still rampant in the workplace, Na pointed to “a closed, vertical organizational culture as well as weak law enforcement and insti
PoliticsFeb. 2, 2021