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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[Graphic News] Over 60% of N. Koreans live in urban areas
North Korea’s urban population increased this year compared with five years ago, with more than 60 percent of its total population now living in urban areas, though the figure is still one of the lowest in the region, a UN report showed. According to the “World Cities Report” by UN-Habitat, the number of North Koreans living in urban areas, including the capital city of Pyongyang, came to 16.12 million as of midyear, accounting for 62.4 percent of the total population, u
North KoreaNov. 17, 2020
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S. Korea extends advisory against overseas travel amid continued spread of pandemic
The foreign ministry said Tuesday it extended the special advisory recommending against traveling overseas, as the coronavirus pandemic is continuing. The advisory, now effective until Dec. 17, also calls for South Koreans to cancel their trips and for those staying outside of the country to take extra precautions. The measure was first imposed in March. The ministry said the extension was made as a substantial number of countries maintain their entry restrictions and flight suspensions amid
Foreign AffairsNov. 17, 2020
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S. Korea adopts tougher distancing in greater Seoul as new cases over 200 for 4th day
South Korea is set to raise the social distancing scheme in the greater Seoul area by one notch to rein in the upward trend of coronavirus infections as the number of new cases hovered above 200 for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday. The country added 230 more COVID-19 cases, including 202 local infections, raising the total caseload to 28,999, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Daily infections stayed in the triple digits for the 10th consecutive day, with t
Social AffairsNov. 17, 2020
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Biden hints at pushing for regional FTA to bring order, counter China
WASHINGTON -- US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday underlined the need for his country to push for a multilateral free trade agreement (FTA), partly to keep China and others from having their way when it comes to global trade. His remarks came as South Korea and 14 other countries in the Asia-Pacific signed a new FTA, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), that, if enacted, would become the world's single-largest free trade pact. The deal was signed by Australia, Ch
Foreign AffairsNov. 17, 2020
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2.6 magnitude natural quake hits N. Korea's northeastern region: KMA
A 2.6 magnitude natural earthquake struck North Korea's northeastern region early Tuesday, South Korea's state weather agency said. The quake was detected around 3:10 a.m., 38 kilometers northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, and 8 km away from the site of North Korea's sixth nuclear test in 2017, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. "This area used to be solid terrain without the occurrence of earthquakes, but there have been frequent natural earthquakes since the
North KoreaNov. 17, 2020
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Seoul in final stage of vaccine deals
The government said Tuesday it is in the last stage of negotiations to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, including those being developed by Pfizer and Moderna. “There are about 10 vaccine candidates in Phase 3 trials. Excluding those lacking data or information about the clinical trials, there are about five vaccines we can purchase,” Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Korea Disease Control Agency, refusing to elaborate on details of the deals. He said the government is seeking to s
Social AffairsNov. 17, 2020
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Former presidential security adviser named chief of state-run think tank
Kim Ki-jung, a former senior aide to President Moon Jae-in for national security affairs, has been tapped as the new head of a think tank operating under the state spy agency, officials said Monday. The Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), affiliated with the National Intelligence Service, held a board meeting on the day and picked Kim as its head, according to INSS officials. He plans to assume the post later this week, they added. In 2017, Kim was appointed as the deputy direct
Foreign AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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GM Korea workers to go on partial strike this week over wage dispute
Unionized workers at GM Korea Co. decided to go on a partial strike this week as they failed to narrow differences with management in ongoing wage negotiations, the union said Monday. They vowed to stage a four-hour walkout on Tuesday through Friday, and to continue to reject overtime work that began last month, according to the union. The workers have staged partial strikes on and off since late last month, as they failed to reach an agreement with management on this year's wages and co
Social AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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8 members of voice phishing ring arrested amid suspicions of link to NK hacker
Eight members of a voice phishing ring have been arrested in South Korea and China and investigators are looking into suspected links to a North Korean hacker, officials said Monday. Police and the National Intelligence Service worked together to arrest the members for allegedly stealing around 2 billion won ($1.8 million) from about 200 South Koreans by operating a phishing scam from China. All of them are South Koreans in their 20s and 30s. Four of them were arrested between January and June
North KoreaNov. 16, 2020
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Seoul, Tokyo agree on compensating forced labor victims: report
Seoul and Tokyo have agreed in principle to compensate victims of forced labor, a local news network reported Monday. Citing an unnamed high-level official within the ruling bloc, Yonhap News Television reported that President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga agreed that the victims should be compensated. “The two leaders have agreed on compensating the forced labor victims. The plan is for Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with their Japan
Foreign AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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Speculations grow on Seoul facing pressure to join trans-Pacific trade deal
Cheong Wa Dae downplayed speculations Sunday that the US could press South Korea into joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, as a balancing measure between China and the US. Such speculations are being fanned by the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP on Sunday. The deal creates one of the world’s largest free trade blocs, with the noticeable absence of the US. RCEP spans the 10 Association of Southeast Asian nations,
PoliticsNov. 16, 2020
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[News Focus] Does government have double standards on virus?
Criticism is mounting over the government’s response to labor rallies held in Seoul and other major cities over the weekend, with some accusing the authorities of applying double standards in regulating rallies depending on their political inclinations. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the two major umbrella labor groups in the country, and its affiliated groups held 31 rallies with 99 participants each in 61 locations throughout Seoul, while hosting 13 additional demonstr
Social AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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Ultrafine dust levels remain 'bad' in Seoul, western areas
Ultrafine dust levels remained "bad" in Seoul and other western parts of the country on Monday amid an influx of particles from China, environmental authorities said. As of noon, the PM 2.5 reading in Sejong, 120 kilometers south of Seoul, was 58 micrograms per cubic meter, followed by 55 micrograms per cubic meter in North Chungcheong Province, 50 micrograms per cubic meter in the northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces and 44 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul, according to the Nat
Social AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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Chinese FM Wang Yi may visit South Korea this month: report
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit South Korea later this month for talks on bilateral cooperation and to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Seoul, according to media reports Monday. Citing diplomatic sources, the report said Seoul and Beijing officials have been in talks to arrange Wang’s visit to happen within this month, around his reported trip to Japan. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, however, declined to confirm the report, adding the t
Foreign AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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Military toughens distancing rules as COVID-19 cases rise
On Monday, South Korea’s military raised the social distancing rules in Greater Seoul to Level 1.5, a notch higher than its least restrictive level now, as coronavirus cases started rising. The military imposed tougher Level 2 rules in neighboring Gangwon Province. Effective Tuesday through Nov. 29, all military personnel are instructed not to visit entertainment facilities and to reduce on-duty travel and meetings. Those living near infection clusters in Seoul and neighboring Gangwon P
DefenseNov. 16, 2020
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NK’s Kim chairs politburo meeting in first public appearance in weeks
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party on Sunday to discuss COVID-19 measures, marking his first public appearance in 25 days, its state media said Monday. During the meeting, Kim evaluated the country’s coronavirus situation and ordered that the emergency antivirus system be tightened in preparation for the worsening global public health crisis, the Korea Central News Agency said. Kim stressed the “need to keep a h
North KoreaNov. 16, 2020
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National Assembly starts reviewing 556 trillion-won 2021 budget proposal
The National Assembly on Monday began deliberations on the government’s 556 trillion won ($502.12) budget for next year. The parliament’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held its first meeting Monday to tackle the government’s spending requests. The Moon Jae-in administration drew up the 555.8 trillion won budget bill for 2021, up 8.5 percent from 2020’s budget, with a focus on creating new jobs and reinvigorating the economy, which is struggling as a result
PoliticsNov. 16, 2020
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Gwanghwamun Square to get W80b face-lift
Seoul has embarked on a 79.1 billion-won ($71.4 million) project to make Gwanghwamun Square at the heart of the capital city greener and more pedestrian-friendly, city officials said Monday. The 555-meter-long, 34-meter-wide square, which is currently located at the center of a 12-lane road, is expected to turn into a more vibrant public space where people can rest and socialize, with a new park and wider pedestrian-only street. “Gwanghwamun Square, which is the heart of the city, wil
Social AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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7 in 10 Koreans support imposing fines on mask violators: poll
More than 70 percent of Koreans are in favor of the fines imposed on violators of face mask rules that went into effect Friday, a poll showed Monday. According to a Realmeter survey of 500 adults, 72 percent of respondents said they support penalizing those violating the face mask mandate. Some 24.8 percent said the fines are excessive, and the rest replied with no opinion. Starting Friday, South Korea began imposing fines of 100,000 won ($90) on those who do not wear masks in designated publi
Social AffairsNov. 16, 2020
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S. Korea decides to spend W1.95b to transform DMZ guard post into museum
The government decided Monday to spend 1.95 billion won ($1.76 million) to transform a guard post on the border with North Korea into a museum underscoring inter-Korean reconciliation efforts and honoring soldiers killed during the Korean War. The guard post at Arrowhead Ridge inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has since been used as a place to display items unearthed from the former battlefield under a project to uncover remains of soldiers killed in the 1950-53 war. On Monday, a civilian-go
North KoreaNov. 16, 2020