Most Popular
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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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[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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Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030
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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
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S. Korea joins CEPI to support vaccine research, development
South Korea joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative (CEPI) and pledged to donate $3 million this year to help develop vaccines for COVID-19 and other emerging epidemics, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The CEPI is a global partnership joined by public, private and civil society organizations to fund research projects to develop vaccines for emerging diseases like the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. Sou
Foreign AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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Childbirths in S. Korea down 2.2% in Sept.
The number of babies born in South Korea edged down 2.2 percent in September from a year earlier, data showed Wednesday, in yet another sign that the country's population is on the verge of a sharp decline. The data compiled by Statistics Korea showed that 23,566 babies were born in September, compared with 24,090 tallied in the same month of 2019. It marked the lowest number of newborns for any September since 1981, when the statistics agency started compiling data on newborns on a monthly ba
Social AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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FM Kang calls for Central Asia's cooperation for Korea's peace efforts
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called Wednesday for Central Asian countries' steadfast support for South Korea's drive to foster lasting peace on the peninsula, stressing it would be part of efforts toward peace for all of Eurasia. Kang made the call during the 13th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, a dialogue platform launched in 2007 to strengthen cooperation in economic, cultural and educational and other areas. "Peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula is also a journey towa
Foreign AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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S. Korea, Czech Republic sign amended air services agreement
South Korea and the Czech Republic have signed a revised air services agreement allowing airlines run by European Union (EU) member states to fly between the two countries, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The agreement was signed in Prague on Tuesday (local time) by South Korean Ambassador to Prague Kim Tae-jin and Czech Transport Minister Karel Havlicek, the ministry said in a release. The agreement needs to be ratified by the Czech parliament. The amended agreement eases the requi
Foreign AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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Four more service members test positive for new coronavirus
An airman, two soldiers, and one Army officer have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the latest in a series of infections reported at barracks, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The airman in the central city of Seosan showed symptoms while being quarantined after his unit reported an infection cluster recently, according to the ministry. The total number of COVID-19 cases at the Air Force unit came to 15. The Army officer stationed in the border town of Paju was infected after comin
Social AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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NK paper calls for quality over quantity to achieve self-reliance
North Korea's official newspaper called Wednesday for putting quality ahead of quantity in construction and manufacturing, saying an obsession with speed will end up with defects and a waste of money and efforts. "By focusing solely on the speed without ensuring quality, we cannot avoid re-production and re-construction and our precious materials and funds will only go to waste," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said in an editorial. The paper stressed the im
North KoreaNov. 25, 2020
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Some 84% of newspapers, magazines in crisis due to pandemic: survey
Around 84 percent of local newspapers and magazines have experienced severe business difficulties due to the new coronavirus pandemic, a recent survey showed. According to the survey published Tuesday by the Korea Press Foundation, 33.4 percent of newspaper and magazine companies said the management crisis was "very severe," while 50.8 percent answered it was "somewhat severe." Only 13.3 percent of respondents said the crisis was "not that severe," while a mere 2.
Social AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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Labor group set to stage nationwide rallies despite virus surge
An umbrella labor group staged nationwide rallies Wednesday despite calls for restraint following the recent resurgence of the coronavirus. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of the country's two largest umbrella labor organizations, held the rallies in addition to a strike to protest the Moon Jae-in government's labor reform policies. The rallies involved no more than nine people in Seoul, in line with the city government's new social distancing rules. But rallies in
Social AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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Chinese FM Wang to arrive in S. Korea as Biden envisions stronger alliances
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and others, as US President-elect Joe Biden envisions solidifying America's democratic alliances to reassert its global leadership. After his two-day trip to Japan, Wang is scheduled to fly in amid expectations that he could use the trip to try to bring South Korea closer to its side as a strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing is expected to continue under the Biden a
Foreign AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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COVID-19 cases see largest daily increase since August
South Korea reported the highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases since late August on Wednesday, amid the continued emergence of infection clusters from every corner of daily life. The country reported 382 new coronavirus cases -- 363 locally transmitted and 19 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Tuesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Wednesday’s case tally marked the highest figure since Aug. 27, when it stood at 434 amid a re
Social AffairsNov. 25, 2020
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S. Korea, Indonesia reaffirm commitment to cooperation in defense industry
Senior defense officials of South Korea and Indonesia have held a videoconference and reaffirmed their commitment for cooperation in the defense industry, Seoul's arms procurement agency said Wednesday. During the annual consultations session held Tuesday, the two sides agreed to beef up cooperation to protect defense technologies and discussed other pending issues, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Maj. Gen. Sung Il, an international cooperation officer at the agenc
DefenseNov. 25, 2020
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PM urges labor union to cancel nationwide strike amid rising virus concerns
The prime minister on Wednesday urged a major labor union to immediately cancel its plan to stage a large-scale strike, amid fears that walkouts could potentially exacerbate the COVID-19 situation ahead of next month's nationwide college entrance exam. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's largest umbrella trade union, will hold a nationwide one-day walkout later in the day to oppose the government's plan to revise the law to ratify key International Labor Organization
PoliticsNov. 25, 2020
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Choo orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty, in an unprecedented move amid a feud over prosecution reforms and various investigations involving Yoon‘s aide and family members, according to Yonhap News. “The ministry has been investigating various allegations against the top prosecutor and found out some serious misconduct,” the justice minister said during a briefing. As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinar
PoliticsNov. 24, 2020
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Ex-UN chief Ban Ki-moon awarded ‘Strait of Magellan’
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday was awarded the “Strait of Magellan” Award by the Chilean government for his global leadership to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Ban, who now serves as chairman of the National Council on Climate and Air Quality as well as president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, won the award for his contribution in leading the international community to adopt Sustainable Development Goals and in reaching th
Social AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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KDCA commissioner named among BBC’s 100 women
Jeong Eun-kyeong, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, has been named among the top 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020 by the BBC, the British broadcaster said Monday. “This year 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times,” it said. Introducing the commissioner as the “virus-hunter,” it said Jeong, a preventive-medicine specialist, has led Sout
Social AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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USFK reports one COVID-19 patient at Pyeongtaek headquarters
One member of US Forces Korea (USFK) stationed at its headquarters in the city of Pyeongtaek tested positive for the new coronavirus Tuesday, the US military said. It is the first case of COVID-19 that USFK has reported at Camp Humphreys since early last month. The latest case brought the total number of new coronavirus cases among USFK-affiliated people to 369, most of whom tested positive upon arrival here from the United States. "Notifications to those affected, case trace, and team
Social AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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Vice FM Lee voices hope S. Korea's New Deal initiative will help SDG implementation
Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho expressed hope Tuesday that South Korea's New Deal initiative to create jobs and stoke stable growth in the post-COVID-19 era will help the implementation of UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Lee's remarks came amid concerns that the pursuit of SDGs could slow, as the world is struggling to curb the new coronavirus, with the economic fallout weakening its capacity to pursue the goals aimed at fighting poverty, inequality and injustice and tackling
Foreign AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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Cafes, movie theaters adjust to new social distancing rules
South Koreans in the greater capital area were forced to adjust to toughened social distancing rules Tuesday as cafes banned indoor seating and moviegoers were told to eat popcorn outside theaters. The new Level 2 guidelines took effect at the start of the day after the government raised the scheme to stem the recent surge of the coronavirus. Most notably, cafes were ordered to offer takeout and delivery only, while restaurants were told to do the same after 9 p.m. Small cafes, in particular,
Social AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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As bed shortage looms, National Medical Center proposes home care for mild COVID-19
As resurgence in Seoul rapidly fills hospital beds, public doctors at the National Medical Center on Tuesday proposed home care as an option for mildly sick patients with COVID-19. Seoul saw a near-record rise in daily new infections of 132 on Tuesday, continuing the weeklong streak of summer wave numbers. Health care facilities, especially intensive care units, are once again being strained to their limit in the capital area, the NMC doctors warned. There are 125 critical care beds that can
Social AffairsNov. 24, 2020
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Moon requests public support for antivirus campaign, says sorry for fallout from social distancing rules
President Moon Jae-in appealed to the public Tuesday to continue supporting the government's fight against the rapid spread of COVID-19. He posted the message on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, as tougher social distancing restrictions took effect at the start of the day in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, where around half of South Korea's 52-million population reside. "I am very sorry for the increased inconvenience again in daily life and difficulties in the people's livelihood
PoliticsNov. 24, 2020