Most Popular
-
1
Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
-
2
Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
-
3
Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
-
4
[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
-
5
Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
-
6
First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
-
7
[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
-
8
4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
-
9
SM founder Lee Soo-man is back with A2O Entertainment
-
10
'1 million' Christians join anti-LGBTQ+ marriage rally
-
Prosecutors demand 9-year prison term for Samsung heir, final ruling on Jan. 18
Prosecutors demanded a nine-year prison term for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was indicted on bribery charges involving former President Park Geun-hye, at a final retrial Wednesday. The court designated Jan. 18 next year as the date for a final ruling. Prosecutors also demand seven-year jail terms for two other former Samsung executives, Jang Choong-ki and Park Sang-jin. “Samsung is a group with such overwhelming power that it is said that Korean companies are
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
5 NK defectors face forcible repatriation after arrest in China: UN human rights office
Five North Korean defectors, including a teenager and a pregnant woman, are facing forcible repatriation after they were arrested in China in September, Five North Korean defectors, including a teenager and a pregnant woman, are facing forcible repatriation after they were arrested in China in September, according to a letter released by the UN human rights agency. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) disclosed a letter that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
North KoreaDec. 30, 2020
-
Moon picks former judge as inaugural chief of anti-corruption agency
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday nominated a former judge to head the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, a new body handling corruption among senior government officials like prosecutors. After the confirmation hearing report is passed at the National Assembly within 20 days, the new anti-corruption agency, key to the president’s prosecutorial reform, will finally kick off in the weeks to follow. “I’m asking for support for the prompt launch
PoliticsDec. 30, 2020
-
Korea mulls toughening social distancing rules
South Korea is contemplating whether to raise its social distancing measures to the highest level, as the country continues to report high numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths under the third and deadliest wave of the pandemic here. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged in a meeting Wednesday that the country thoroughly prepare virus control strategies following the end of this weekend, when the Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the Greater Seoul area and Level 2 rules in the rest of th
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
Foreign Minister Kang hopes NK joins new regional health initiative
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha expressed hope for North Korea to join a new regional cooperative initiative on public health, noting Pyongyang’s participation could lay the foundation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. She made the remarks during the inaugural session of the Northeast Asia Conference on Health Security on Tuesday evening. The forum is based on President Moon Jae-in’s proposal at the United Nations in September to launch a “Nort
Foreign AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
Military reports 2 new COVID-19 cases
One civilian worker for the Navy and a Navy officer have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The worker affiliated with a Navy unit in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, contracted the virus after coming into contact with a colleague who recently tested positive following a business trip to the metropolitan area, according to the ministry. The Navy officer stationed at a unit in the southeastern city of Changwon was confirmed to have been infect
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
Nine in 10 Koreans willing to get COVID-19 vaccination
South Koreans were more positive about receiving COVID-19 vaccination than people in most other countries, with nearly 9 out of 10 people expressing willingness to get vaccinated, a survey showed. According to a survey by Gallup Korea on 1,500 Koreans last month, 32 percent of the respondents said they were “certain” and 55 percent said they were “likely” -- for a combined 87 percent -- to get vaccinated when the vaccines become available. This was higher than the ave
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
Pastor acquitted of pre-electioneering, libel against Moon
A conservative pastor, best known for his mass anti-government rallies in central Seoul, was acquitted Wednesday of charges of premature electioneering and libel against President Moon Jae-in. The Seoul Central District Court made the ruling in the case of Jun Kwang-hoon, 64, head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, who was indicted in March over remarks he made during some of the protests and prayer services. He was charged with violating election laws for rallying participants be
PoliticsDec. 30, 2020
-
Justice minister decides not to appeal injunction reinstating top prosecutor
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said Wednesday she will not appeal a court injunction that returned Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to his post last week. Earlier this month, the justice ministry suspended Yoon from duty for two months over four counts of alleged misconduct, including the surveillance of judges hearing cases involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and some presidential officials. Yoon filed for an injunction and the Seoul Administrative Court granted it last Thursday. The pros
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] S. Korea decides to allow troops, citizens working for USFK to get COVID-19 vaccinations
The defense ministry decided Wednesday to allow South Korean soldiers and civilian workers affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK) to get COVID-19 vaccinations with doses shipped from the US for its service members stationed here, officials said. The South Korean troops affiliated with the Korean Augmentation to the US Army, known as KATUSA, as well as civilians working for USFK, are eligible for the inoculation according to the US government's vaccination plan, and USFK and Seoul's def
DefenseDec. 30, 2020
-
S. Korea investigating 2 suspected cases of highly pathogenic bird flu
South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it is investigating two suspected cases of highly pathogenic bird flu from local farms, amid growing concerns that the disease may penetrate deeper into the local poultry industry. Authorities are investigating the two suspected cases from ducks farms in North Jeolla Province and South Chungcheong Province, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Since identifying the first infection in late November, South Korea has
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
Cold wave grips many parts of S. Korea
A cold wave swept across the country Wednesday, with temperatures dipping into the double digits below zero in the northern and central parts of the country. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has issued cold wave alerts for Seoul and the provinces of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Gyeongsang and North and South Chungcheong. Morning lows ranged from minus 10 C to minus 15 C in the greater capital area and other northern and central regions. Incheon, west of Seoul, experienced the coldest
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
6 countries provide $10m in food aid to N. Korea this year: UN data
Russia, Switzerland and four other countries have provided about $10 million in food assistance to North Korea this year to help its choric food shortages, UN data showed Wednesday. According to the data provided by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the countries, also including Sweden, Norway, Canada and Bulgaria, have provided food assistance worth $10.5 million this year through the World Food Programme (WFP). Switzerland offered $5.22 million in food aid to
North KoreaDec. 30, 2020
-
Military finalizes requirement plan for light aircraft carrier
The military decided Wednesday to push for a project to acquire a light aircraft carrier in earnest in an effort to boost its defense capabilities, officials said, despite controversy over its effectiveness. During the closed-door meeting presided over by Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul, military leaders also discussed the need to introduce vertical landing jets, according to the officials. The Navy has sought to build a 3,000 ton-class light aircraft carrier, stressing
DefenseDec. 30, 2020
-
[Graphic News] S. Korea ranks 10th in world arms exports: report
South Korea was the 10th-largest arms exporter in the 2015-2019 period, accounting for 2.1 percent of the world's total defense exports, an annual government report showed. According to the Global Defense Market Yearbook 2020 published by the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, Britain, Iraq and Indonesia were the main buyers of South Korea’s defense products during the period. South Korea ranked 11th in last year's report. The United States remained the top arms exporte
DefenseDec. 30, 2020
-
New infections above 1,000 for 2nd day, variant cases rise to 5
South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 1,000 for a second straight day Wednesday and variant cases rose to five as the government is mulling the toughest distancing rules to curb the pandemic. The country added 1,050 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,025 locally transmitted infections, bringing the total caseload to 59,773, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily infections fell slightly from 1,046 cases a day earlier amid the stricter Level 2.5
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
[Newsmaker] Search under way for crew members from capsized fishing boat near Jeju
JEJU ISLAND -- Search operations were under way off the coast of Jeju Island on Tuesday night for the crew members of a capsized fishing boat, authorities said. The coast guard said it received a report that the 39-ton vessel overturned at around 7:44 p.m. in waters some 2.6 kilometers northwest of the Port of Jeju, which is located near the middle of the island's north coast. Seven crew members were presumed to be aboard the vessel. Rescue workers found the vessel at the site and are attempti
Social AffairsDec. 30, 2020
-
NK leader helms politburo meeting to prepare for party congress in early January
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a politburo meeting of the Workers' Party and decided to hold a party congress early next month, state media reported Wednesday. The politburo meeting, held Tuesday, "examined and made confirmation as to the qualifications of the delegates" and "proposals for forming the presidium, members of the platform and secretariat of the 8th Congress of the Party," according to the Korean Central News Agency. It also adopted a decision on
North KoreaDec. 30, 2020
-
S. Korea, Japan on smooth course to replace ambassadors, source says
South Korea is expected to get Japan's formal diplomatic consent in the near future for its pick of Kang Chang-il, a former four-term lawmaker, as new ambassador to the neighboring country, an informed source said Tuesday. In late November, President Moon Jae-in picked Kang as Seoul's new top envoy in Tokyo, saying his wide web of Japanese contacts will help improve bilateral relations badly frayed over wartime forced labor and Tokyo's export curbs. But Japanese media reported that some rulin
Foreign AffairsDec. 29, 2020
-
Packaged meals in convenience stores gain popularity amid pandemic
Park Su-min, who works for a production company in Seoul, starts his day late in the afternoon, grabbing a packaged meal, or “dosirak” in Korean, at a convenience store on his way to work. One reason is to avoid public transportation when it’s most crowded, and the other is to keep up with the toughened social distancing guidelines. “Before the level hit 2.5 in Seoul, I used to hang out with colleagues during lunchtime, often waiting in lines to try out popular restaura
Social AffairsDec. 29, 2020