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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103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
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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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About 60,000 take teacher exam despite virus spike
About 60,000 people took a state-run teacher employment examination across the country Saturday despite a new spike in coronavirus cases. The education ministry went ahead with the test to pick new teachers for public middle schools despite a cluster infection at a private institute for aspiring teachers in southeastern Seoul. As of Saturday morning, a total of 67 students at the cram school have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. The first case occurred there Wednesday. The exam
Social AffairsNov. 21, 2020
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County raises social distancing to third-highest level
The small southern county of Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province started to enforce the third-highest level of social distancing Saturday to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus. The provincial government said it raised social distancing by one notch to Level 2 under the new five-tier social distancing scheme in the Hadong county, about 360 kilometers south of Seoul, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday. The move came as 29 new cases had been confirmed in the past five days in the count
Social AffairsNov. 21, 2020
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US military in S. Korea to tighten coronavirus restrictions
The US Forces Korea was set to enforce new coronavirus restrictions for its members amid a resurgence of COVID-19 in South Korea. The US military said on its homepage Friday it will implement a two-week travel ban for the greater Seoul area, effective Saturday at 6 p.m. "USFK has declared that all travel to or within Area II -- except for those who reside within Area II or for individuals conducting official and necessary duties -- is off-limits for the next 14 days," the military s
DefenseNov. 21, 2020
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Moon to join virtual G-20 summit, focused on pandemic response
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will participate in a virtual conference along with the leaders of 19 other major economies Saturday, Cheong Wa Dae said. The two-day Group of 20 (G-20) summit, chaired by Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to open at night (Seoul time) for discussions on pending global issues -- from climate change to growing inequality. This year's event comes as the world is gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic and its crippling economic impact. With the theme of "Realizing the
Foreign AffairsNov. 21, 2020
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New virus cases exceed 300 for 4th day amid concerns of 3rd wave of infections
The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea exceeded 300 for the fourth consecutive day Saturday due to sporadic cluster infections across the country, casting concerns over a third wave of the pandemic. The country added 386 more COVID-19 cases, including 361 local infections, raising the total caseload to 30,403, according to the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily caseload has stayed in the triple digits since Nov. 8, with the figure exceeding 300 f
Social AffairsNov. 21, 2020
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APEC nations vow cooperation against pandemic, adopt Vision 2040
Leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states on Saturday agreed to continue cooperating in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and adopted a vision that aims to strengthen trade and investment, and seek sustainable and inclusive growth until 2040. Following the APEC summit, held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic, the countries announced their resolve to work together against the pandemic, referring to it as “one of the most challenging health and economic crises
Foreign AffairsNov. 21, 2020
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US commander says ‘premature’ to set date for wartime role handover
United States Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said Friday that it was premature to speculate on a date for South Korea taking wartime operational command from the US. Washington first exercised the role in the 1950-53 Korean War that still leaves the two Koreas technically at war. In a press conference, the US commander said he had seen press speculation about a potential timeline for the transfer, but that he had never been informed of this. “I haven’t had a declarative
DefenseNov. 20, 2020
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Prime minister asks Koreans to stay home
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Friday asked Koreans to stay home as rising COVID-19 cases feed concerns of another wave of infections. In what is his sixth address about COVID-19 to the Korean people, Chung asked Koreans to refrain from year-end gatherings and stay home save for essential activities. “Those of you in the age group of over 60, please take good care yourselves during the winter; please stay home and minimize unnecessary gatherings,” the prime minister said. &ldqu
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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Unification minister renews calls for inter-Korean virus cooperation amid criticism
South Korea will push actively ahead with cooperation with North Korea once coronavirus vaccines and cures are developed, Unification Minister Lee In-young said Friday, after coming under fire for calling for sharing coronavirus vaccines with the North. "When vaccines and treatment for COVID-19 are developed and distributed in the near future, a new environment will be created in the Korean Peninsula in which people and goods can come and go," Lee said during a meeting with medical ex
North KoreaNov. 20, 2020
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Foreign ministers of S. Korea, China to hold talks in Seoul next week
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Seoul next week, her ministry announced Friday, amid expectations the two sides will likely focus on bilateral relations and cooperation ahead of a leadership change in the United States. The talks will take place on Thursday, a day after Wang arrives in Seoul for a three-day visit, according to the ministry. Wang will fly in from Japan after a two-day trip there. He last visited Seoul in December last yea
Foreign AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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Olympic judo silver medalist Wang Ki-chun sentenced to 6 years in prison for sexually assaulting minors
DAEGU -- A court here sentenced on Friday the 2008 Olympic judo silver medalist Wang Ki-chun to six years in prison for sexually assaulting minors. The Daegu District Court also ordered Wang to be banned from working at children-related facilities for eight years and to undergo 40 hours of a therapeutic program for his sexual misconduct. The sentencing was based on the fact that Wang "denied his wrongdoing and pressed his victims to settle, causing them great pains," the court said.
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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Court keeps Chun Doo-hwan’s home off auction block
A local court ruled Friday to partially bar the prosecution from putting former President Chun Doo-hwan’s house up for auction as a means to collect outstanding fines. The Seoul High Court ruled that the prosecution could not take away Chun’s residence in Yeonhui-dong, western Seoul, in collecting fines, as the house cannot be verified as a property purchased with illegal funds. The prosecution will not be allowed put the house and its front garden up for auction. But the court did
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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AI education to begin in high schools next year
Artificial intelligence (AI) will be introduced as a new subject in local high schools next year before being expanded to the curriculums of kindergartens and elementary and middle schools by 2025, the education ministry said Friday, declaring a bid to strengthen AI education in preparation for a digital future. The government's AI education blueprint was announced after Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae presided over a meeting of social affairs ministers for discussions on adjusting its educat
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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Court orders match organizer to compensate fans for Ronaldo's no-show
A court on Friday ordered a sports agency to compensate fans for Cristiano Ronaldo's no-show at a friendly football match in Seoul last year. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of 162 plaintiffs who sued The Fasta, which organized the exhibition game between Italy's Juventus and South Korea's K-League All Star team on July 26, 2019. The company advertised that Ronaldo would play for at least 45 minutes, but he stayed on the bench throughout the game, angering a sellout crowd of
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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Defense committee passes bill allowing distinguished pop stars to defer enlistment
The National Assembly's defense committee on Friday approved a bill that would allow distinguished male pop culture artists to postpone their mandatory military duties. The committee gave its nod to the bill to revise the Military Service Act to grant an exceptional right to defer military duties of acclaimed pop artists, such as BTS, who are recognized to have contributed to the elevation of the country's global reputation. The bill must pass parliament's plenary session for final approval.
DefenseNov. 20, 2020
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Study in Europe Fair to be held on Nov. 23-24
An online education fair for South Koreans interested in pursuing higher education in Europe will be held on Nov. 23-24, the Delegation of the European Union to Korea said Friday. The EU Delegation to Korea, together with embassies of the European nations in Seoul, will host “Study in Europe Fair 2020” in a fully virtual format, to be attended by 53 European universities and institutions from 17 countries, according to the EU Delegation to Korea. At the fair, which will be held e
Diplomatic CircuitNov. 20, 2020
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Japan willing to work with S. Korea on monitoring of Fukushima water treatment: embassy official
Japan is willing to work with South Korea on the monitoring of the envisioned treatment and release into the ocean of contaminated water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, a senior embassy official said Friday. The official's remark comes as Tokyo is expected to soon announce its plan to gradually discharge into the sea more than 1.2 million tons of radioactive water stored in tanks since the 2011 meltdowns following an earthquake and tsunami. Tokyo has pushed for the disposal int
Foreign AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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At least 26 virus cases tied to cram school in southwestern Seoul
At least 26 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in cases tied to a cram school in southwestern Seoul used for preparation for a state exam to pick public school teachers, the district office said Friday. Two people who attended the private education institute in Noryangjin were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 early this week and 24 more attendees and staff members contracted the virus, according to the office of Dongjak Ward. Noryangjin is home to a slew of cram schools d
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020
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[Newsmaker] UNICEF to spend $22.7 million on North Korean aid in 2021
UNICEF will direct $22.7 million in 2021 to aid projects in North Korea, where socioeconomic conditions are thought to be worsening due to the coronavirus pandemic, a report showed Friday. According to the Humanitarian Action for Children 2021-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea report released Wednesday, UNICEF calculated it would need a greater amount than this year’s $19.5 million initial budget for North Korea when physical access is again possible next year. UNICEF originall
North KoreaNov. 20, 2020
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Military reports sporadic COVID-19 infections across country
Seven more service members have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Friday, raising concerns over the fast spread of the virus into barracks. One enlisted soldier stationed in the border town of Paju was confirmed to have been infected following two earlier cases this week. "Some 500 members of the unit underwent virus tests, and we found no additional COVID-19 patients," a ministry official said. A service member at a unit located inside the defense
Social AffairsNov. 20, 2020