Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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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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First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
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New virus cases around 500 for 2nd day amid continued rise in cluster infections
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed around 500 for the second straight day on Thursday as cluster infections traced to religious facilities continued ahead of an adjustment of the level of social distancing measures this week. The country added 497 more COVID-19 cases, including 479 locally transmitted infections, raising the total caseload to 76,926, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure was down from 559 on Wednesday. The new daily cases
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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Court upholds constitutionality of new anti-corruption probe body
The Constitutional Court said Thursday that the establishment of a powerful anti-corruption investigation agency is constitutional, clearing the way for the new body's full operation. The court said the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) essentially belongs to the executive branch and thus a law governing its status does not violate the principle of separation of powers stipulated in the Constitution. It noted that running the agency independently from the execut
PoliticsJan. 28, 2021
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Biden stresses need for complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula: White House
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday highlighted the need to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Biden made the remarks in a call with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, according to the White House. "They discussed regional security issues, including China and North Korea," a White House readout of the call said. "They together affirmed the necessity of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and the early resolution of the abductions issue," it a
North KoreaJan. 28, 2021
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NK calls on beefed-up efforts for 'self-reliance' to achieve five-year economic plan
North Korea's official newspaper Thursday urged stepped-up efforts to realize a self-reliant economy and carry out key policy goals unveiled in a rare party meeting earlier this month. At the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admitted the failure to meet the country's previous five-year development goals and put forward a new five-year plan focusing on self-reliance. "The socialist economic construction is the most crucial tas
North KoreaJan. 28, 2021
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Over 60% of N. Koreans face food insecurity amid global pandemic: US report
More than 60 percent of North Korea's population is facing food insecurity as the global coronavirus pandemic has undercut food supplies in the impoverished country, a US Department of Agriculture report showed Thursday. According to the report by the department's Economic Research Service, 63.1 percent or 16.2 million people in North Korea suffered food insecurity in 2020. Food insecurity occurs when people fall short of the nutritional target of 2,100 kilocalories per day. The 2020 figure f
North KoreaJan. 28, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Heavy snow advisory issued for Seoul, northern Gyeonggi
A heavy snow advisory was issued for Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province on Thursday, the state weather agency said, predicting up to two hours of snowfall in the morning. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the advisory took effect in northwestern Gyeonggi at 8:30 a.m. and in Seoul and northeastern Gyeonggi at 9 a.m. The warning is issued when the expected snowfall is 5 centimeters or more within 24 hours. Incheon, the western coast of Gyeonggi and northwestern Gyeonggi will likely
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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S. Korea confirms 4 more cases of bird flu, caseload now at 77
South Korea's agricultural ministry said Thursday it has confirmed four additional cases of highly pathogenic bird flu, raising concerns over the further spread of the disease in the country. Of the new cases, one case each was confirmed in Pocheon, Paju, Icheon, and Anseong the previous day, all in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. A seven-day standstill order has been issued on all poultry farms in the four ar
Social AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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Biden administration seeking foreign policies that will stand test of time: Blinken
The Biden administration will work to create foreign policies that will endure, even through a change of US administrations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. The top US diplomat said that is why the new administration seeks to work closely with Congress. "The members of Congress are the representatives of the American people. They provide advice and consent to our policies, and I think one of the things you are going to see from our administration is working as closely
Foreign AffairsJan. 28, 2021
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US will work with China, Russia to denuclearize N. Korea: UN envoy
The United States will work with its Japanese and South Korean allies, but also with China and Russia to denuclearize North Korea, the appointee for US ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday. Linda Thomas-Greenfield also said the former Donald Trump administration may have failed to rid the North of its nuclear weapons because it tried to go "alone." "We certainly have to reengage with our allies. Again, this is not something we can do alone," she said in her confi
North KoreaJan. 28, 2021
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S. Korea extends suspension of flights from Britain till Feb. 11
South Korea on Wednesday extended its suspension of direct flights from Britain for two more weeks, amid its stepped-up efforts to block the inflow of a more transmissible variant of the new coronavirus. The suspension, which was set to end on Thursday, will remain in place until Feb. 11, according to the South Korean Embassy in Britain. Seoul introduced the ban on flights from Britain in December. As of Monday, South Korea reported 27 cases of mutated virus strains, including 19 from Britai
Foreign AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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Navy chief urged to take 'special caution' after defense ministry inspection
The defense ministry called Wednesday on the Navy chief to take "special caution" in conducting his duties, a measure that followed an inspection into the allegations he failed to attend an emergency meeting on a missing officer earlier this month after drinking alcohol. But the ministry dismissed the claims that Adm. Boo Suk-jong failed to properly handle the case involving the officer, stressing he had faithfully carried out his role as the chief of naval operations at the time of
DefenseJan. 27, 2021
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Moon briefs global leaders on S. Korea's inclusive policy amid pandemic
President Moon Jae-in introduced global political and business leaders Wednesday to South Korea's policy measures designed to promote inclusive growth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was delivering a special speech at an online meeting of the World Economic Forum as part of its Davos Agenda Week event. He enumerated Seoul's policy measures to help households and businesses that have suffered a heavy blow from the virus spread, including three batches of emergency cash handouts and f
Foreign AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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Moon appoints new justice minister
President Moon Jae-in appointed Park Beom-kye, a ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, as his new justice minister Wednesday, Cheong Wa Dae said. Park's tenure is to begin the following day, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Hours earlier, a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation report on Park amid a boycott by members of the main opposition People Power Party. The party has argued that Park, who used to a judge, is not qualified for the ministerial post, citing multip
PoliticsJan. 27, 2021
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Worsening slump hits Korea’s magazine industry
Amid the drop in demand for print media, the local magazine industry has seen a huge loss in both sales and number of workers over the past two years. According to the “2020 Magazine Industry Status Survey,” published by the Korea Press Foundation on Wednesday, the total magazine sales profit was 777.5 billion won ($703 million) in 2019, a 24.9 percent drop from 2017. A total of 1,264 publishers were surveyed, and the average annual sales for a single company was estimated to be 4
Social AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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Washington could revive four-party, six-party talks with NK under Blinken
Washington could seek the now-defunct four-party or six-party talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear issue with Antony Blinken, a strong advocate of multilateral diplomacy, at the reins of the US State Department, experts said on Wednesday. Blinken, a long time foreign policy aide to President Joe Biden, was sworn in as the new Secretary of State Tuesday (US time), after being approved by the Senate with a vote of 78-22. With the top diplomat in place, Washington will kick off a re
Foreign AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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Moon briefs global leaders on S. Korea's inclusive policy amid pandemic
President Moon Jae-in introduced global political and business leaders Wednesday to South Korea's policy measures designed to promote inclusive growth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was delivering a special speech at an online meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as part of its Davos Agenda Week event. He enumerated Seoul's policy measures to help households and businesses that have suffered a heavy blow from the virus spread, including three batches of emergency cash handouts
PoliticsJan. 27, 2021
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Delivery workers announce strike in protest of unchanged conditions
Delivery workers said Wednesday they will launch a strike later this week, accusing logistics firms of violating the terms of their recent agreement to improve working conditions. The Parcel Delivery Workers' Solidarity Union said the walkout will begin Friday with the participation of 2,800 members working for private logistics firms, such as Hanjin Transportation Co., Lotte Global Logistics Co. and CJ Logistics Co. Another 2,650 members affiliated with the state postal service, Korea Post, w
Social AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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'Woman of steel' charts a new course for Seongnam
Seongnam Mayor Eun Soo-mi is famous for her fight against COVID-19. The Seongnam Citizens Medical Center has saved hundreds of COVID-19 patients. “Two years ago, I was chosen by a million citizens to become mayor,” Eun said. “I put in full effort and achieved abundant results. This is all thanks to the citizens.” Since her election, Eun has ranked No. 1 two consecutive years in the National Local Government Evaluation among the 16 cities with populations of more than 5
Social AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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More people suffer from ‘unfair’ online subscription services
A man in his 30s surnamed Kwak signed up for an online subscription service that provides movies. Kwak tried to download videos from the webpage, but it never worked, even after multiple tries. So he contacted the service provider and asked for a refund. The service provider turned him down, saying that the error in Kwak’s case could not be identified. Amid the increasing demand for online subscription services, especially video or music streaming content, Kwak’s case is an exa
Social AffairsJan. 27, 2021
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Moon’s tough job of striking balance between US, China
A phone call between President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping underscored again South Korea’s tough job of striking a delicate balance between the US and China, whose relations enter a new phase under the Joe Biden administration. The South Korean and Chinese presidents held the phone conversation Tuesday night to discuss a slew of topics ranging from Xi’s delayed visit to Seoul to Moon’s role in the frosty US-North Korea diplomacy and coronavirus respons
Foreign AffairsJan. 27, 2021