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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Ex-coach of local triathlon team sentenced to 7 yrs in prison in abuse case
DAEGU -- A former triathlon coach accused of abusing triathlete Choi Sook-hyeon was sentenced to seven years in prison on fraud and assault charges on Friday. The Daegu District Court handed down the term to Kim Gyu-bong, former head coach of the triathlon team at Gyeongju City Hall, for verbally and physically abusing Choi and taking money from athletes. Jang Yun-jung, the team's former captain, and teammate Kim Do-hwan were given a four-year prison term and a suspended prison term of 1 1/2 ye
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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Seoul city to close some charnel facilities during Lunar New Year amid pandemic
The Seoul city government said Friday that some of its charnel houses will close during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The city-affiliated Seoul Facilities Corp. (SFC), which operates 15 cemeteries and memorial parks, will close five indoor charnel houses in Goyang and Paju in nearby Gyeonggi Province from Feb. 6-7 and Feb. 11-14. The Lunar New Year holiday falls on Feb. 11-13 this year. Many Koreans, as a custom, visit their ancestors' g
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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One Army official tests positive for new coronavirus
An Army official stationed in the inter-Korean border city of Hwacheon tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Friday. The official underwent a virus test after showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 while on vacation ahead of his planned discharge from the military, according to the ministry. The latest case raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 547. Currently, 170 service members are in isolation in accordance with heal
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Another suspected bird flu case reported, total now at 79
South Korea's agricultural ministry said Friday it is investigating another suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu, with the total confirmed caseload reaching 79. The latest suspected case of the malign H5N8 strain of avian influenza was reported from Anseong, 77 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The farm was raising 790,000 chickens. The number of cases from wild birds also piled up to reach 117. Authorities have so far destroy
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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New virus cases in 400s again; virus curbs set to be tweaked
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 500 again Friday due to fewer tests amid cold weather despite a continued rise in clusters tied to religious facilities, which has put health authorities in a more prudent mode about relaxing virus curbs. The country added 469 more COVID-19 cases, including 445 locally transmitted infections, raising the total caseload to 77,395, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure was down from 497 on Thur
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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Double taxation avoidance pact between S. Korea, Cambodia takes effect
A tax agreement signed between South Korea and Cambodia to prevent double taxation went into force Friday, the foreign ministry said. The pact allows countries to avoid taxing the same income twice and helps ease the tax burden on companies doing business in another country. South Korea and Cambodia signed the agreement in November 2019, and both countries gained parliamentary approval last month. South Korea has now signed the double taxation avoidance pacts with all 10 members of the Associ
Foreign AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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Remains of two Korean War soldiers returned to families after over 70 years
South Korea has identified the remains of two soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War through DNA analysis after they were recovered from former battle sites near the inter-Korean border, the defense ministry said Friday. Pfc. Kim Sung-geun was presumed to have been killed during a battle in 1950 that took place in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and his remains were excavated in the region in April 2010. The identification was possible as his 73-year-old son registered his DNA sample with the
DefenseJan. 29, 2021
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OPCON transition will be conditions, not time-based: Pentagon spokesman
WASHINGTON -- The planned transition of the wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops will take place when all necessary conditions are met, not because of a simple passage of time, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday. John Supple also said a "conditions-based" transition is not only what has been agreed on but also what is necessary to ensure peace and security. "Wartime Operational Control will transition when the mutually-agreed upon conditions are fully me
Foreign AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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5 USFK-affiliated people test positive for new coronavirus
One US service member based in South Korea and four individuals affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK) have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US military said Friday. The service member stationed in Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, tested positive Wednesday after undergoing a virus test as part of the command's enhanced surveillance scheme, according to the USFK. One civilian worker based in its Yongsan garrison in central Seoul and two family mem
Social AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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US committed to keeping readiness of USFK through exercises: Pentagon official
WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains committed to maintaining the readiness of American troops in South Korea through military exercises, a Pentagon official said Thursday. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby also highlighted the importance of troop readiness amid North Korea's continued pursuit of new advanced weapons, such as the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). "We recognize the value of training and exercises to keep forces ready, and no place is that
Foreign AffairsJan. 29, 2021
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Prosecution indicts former Busan mayor for sexual assault
The prosecution has indicted former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don on charges of sexual assault, officials said Thursday. He resigned as the leader of the nation's second largest city on April 23, 2020, after admitting to his misconduct. The Busan District Prosecutors Office charged him on four counts, also including attempted indecent assault, inflicting injury and false accusation. Oh is accused of sexually assaulting two female employees and injuring one of them in 2018 and 2020. He is also charg
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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S. Korea launches task force to strengthen policy communication with Biden govt.
South Korea's foreign ministry on Thursday launched a task force aimed at strengthening policy-related communication with the new administration of US President Joe Biden and American experts. The launch came amid Seoul's efforts to beef up cooperation with the Biden government in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang and advancing its stalled agenda of fostering a lasting peace on the divided Korean Peninsula. The need for policy communication with the United States has also arisen amid criticism
Foreign AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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3 in 10 drivers use smart devices on the road: report
Koreans have broken less traffic rules last year, but concerns still remain as an official report showed an increasing frequency of jaywalking and a growing number of drivers using smart devices on the road, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday. The Transport Culture Index, which measures driving and walking behaviors and the level of transport safety across 229 cities and counties, recorded a score of 78.94 last year, increasing by 2.30 points compared to 2019. A
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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1 in 2 job seekers not confident about getting job: survey
Half of job seekers in South Korea were not confident landing a job in the first half of this year mostly due to a grim economic outlook amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a survey by job search engine Job Korea of 934 people preparing to enter labor force in the first half of this year, 49.3 percent of the respondents said they were not confident in landing a job. Those who majored in humanities were less confident (55.4 percent) than those who studied science-related subjects (46.5 pe
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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S. Korea voices 'deep concerns' over air attack on Saudi capital
South Korea voiced "deep concerns" Thursday over a recent aerial attack on Saudi Arabia, renewing its opposition to any destabilizing activity in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a "hostile air target" going toward Riyadh on Saturday, according to media reports. The culprit behind the attack remains unknown, though Houthi rebels in Yemen had mounted a series of attacks against the kingdom. "Our government expresses deep concerns over the fact tha
Foreign AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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South Korea, Uzbekistan agree to begin free trade talks
President Moon Jae-in and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, declared the kickoff of free trade talks between the two countries to further strengthen their strategic partnership during an online summit Thursday. Uzbekistan is one of the key partners in the South Korean government’s New Northern Policy, which aims to explore ways to step up economic cooperation with Central Asian countries under a vision of peace and prosperity in Eurasia. If the pact, called the Agreement for Su
Foreign AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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Korea unveils plans to raise healthy life expectancy by 2030
South Korea has unveiled plans to promote healthy lifestyles in order to help extend one’s period of prime health by three years, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. The ministry said it has earmarked a 2.5 trillion-won budget to carry out a comprehensive blueprint to promote public health, which will be implemented from this year through 2030. Korea’s life expectancy recorded 82.7 years in 2018, exceeding the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s ave
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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South confident of missile defense against North
South Korea stands fully capable of countering the latest short-range missiles that North Korea has test-fired, South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday. Speaking at a New Year’s press conference, Suh highlighted Seoul’s missile defense, saying it could bring down even some of Pyongyang’s untested new missiles. The military is seeking a foolproof shield against the remaining missiles, Suh said. “Our defense is airtight and we’re superior. We hav
DefenseJan. 28, 2021
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Restaurants, internet cafes demand longer opening hours, compensation
Owners of restaurants, internet cafes and other small businesses called on the government Thursday to extend their opening hours and compensate their losses amid ongoing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. At a press conference outside the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, leaders of small business groups said the government's social distancing rules have pushed many shops to the brink of closure, as most are required to close at 9 p.m. and bars and nightclubs are subject to an as
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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Moon vows no let-up in fight against corruption
President Moon Jae-in pointed out Thursday that South Korea's yearslong campaign to root out corruption has won a positive assessment from the international community, citing an annual survey of Transparency International. In its updated report on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the country ranked 33rd, up from 39th last year. "The international community's assessment of the transparency and integrity of our society has greatly improved," Moon wrote on his social messaging ac
PoliticsJan. 28, 2021