Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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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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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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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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Ruling party floor leader proposes relocation of Cheong Wa Dae to Sejong
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Kim Tae-nyeon on Monday proposed relocating the National Assembly and the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, from Seoul to the administrative city of Sejong to curb housing prices. “Through active discussions, the National Assembly, Cheong Wa Dae and central government ministries should move to Sejong in order to alleviate overcrowding and real estate problems in the Greater Seoul area,” Kim said during a floor negotiation speech at
July 20, 2020
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Moon backs preserving 'greenbelt' development restriction zone, govt. says
President Moon Jae-in has decided to preserve the "greenbelt" development restriction zones around Seoul, dismissing a call for using parts of the areas as land for the construction of housing, the prime minister's office said Monday. Moon revealed the position during a weekly meeting with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, it said in a press release. They agreed instead to strive to find available sites in land owned by the state and public institutions, it added. The government is se
July 20, 2020
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Govt. to expand employment insurance to all workers by 2025: minister
South Korea plans to put all working citizens under employment insurance coverage by 2025 as part of its ambitious policy project aimed at overcoming the new coronavirus pandemic, the labor minister said Monday. With the plan, some 21 million people are forecast to be covered by the state employment insurance scheme by 2025, compared with the current figure that falls short of 14 million. The five-year project does not include soldiers, public servants and faculty at private schools who are
July 20, 2020
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PM Chung calls for 'caution' in mulling opening greenbelt zones
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called Sunday for "caution" in considering lifting greenbelt zones in the Seoul metropolitan area to address the country's housing supply shortage, warning they can't be restored once damaged. The ruling Democratic Party and the government have been weighing the option of lifting the development restrictions on greenbelt zones, although activists and other opponents raised concerns over its environmental impact and claimed it should be mulled only as a &
July 19, 2020
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Local governments pushing to hand out additional pandemic relief money
Several local governments are again planning to dole out pandemic relief funds to help their residents cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, informed officials said Saturday. The government of Daegu, the city hit hard by a massive COVID-19 outbreak months earlier, announced a plan earlier this week to pay 100,000 won ($83) each to all its 2.42 million citizens this fall, as part of its second disaster relief package. The city, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, said
July 18, 2020
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Govt. to expand job insurance, IT jobs under New Deal project
President Moon Jae-in's ambitious policy project aimed at helping overcome the new coronavirus pandemic is expected to include expansion of employment insurance coverage and fostering of IT jobs for young job seekers. Earlier this week, Moon announced plans to invest 160 trillion won ($133 billion) by 2025 to create 1.9 million jobs under the Korean version of the New Deal. He described it as a campaign for the "grand transformation" of the nation in preparation for the post-coronavi
July 18, 2020
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S. Korean assembly speaker proposes peace talks with N. Korean counterpart
National Assembly Speaker Rep. Park Byeong-seug on Friday proposed talks with his North Korean counterpart to discuss ways to enhance peace and cooperation between the two countries. The dialogue offer by Park, who left the ruling Democratic Party last month to serve as the assembly speaker, came as inter-Korean relations are stalemated after the North's provocative detonation of an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory a month earlier. "The arbiters of the Korean Peninsula's fate
July 17, 2020
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S. Korea to airlift more nationals from virus-hit Iraq next week
South Korea will airlift more Korean workers next week from Iraq where new coronavirus infection cases are spiking, the prime minister said Friday as the country is on alert over imported virus cases from the Arab country. South Korea has confirmed 34 infection cases among the about 100 Korean construction workers who returned from Iraq on a chartered flight earlier this week. Health authorities warned that infection cases from the group could rise further, given COVID-19's incubation period,
July 17, 2020
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Moon urges prudent approach on levying more capital gains taxes on stock investors
President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed the need to keep encouraging retail stock investors here with a focus on boosting South Korea's equity market, Cheong Wa Dae said. The statement came in response to a strong backlash against the government's taxation law revision plan to expand capital gains taxes for retail investors. "It should not be (implemented in) a way to shrink the stock market or discourage retail investors," the president was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokes
July 17, 2020
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Moon vows bold investment in offshore wind power industry
President Moon Jae-in pledged Friday to expand South Korea's offshore wind power capacity hundredfold by 2030 as a key engine for the nation's transition to renewable energy and environmentally-friendly growth. Moon visited a wind power plant and a turbine research center on the southwestern coast in his first field inspection since unveiling a "New Deal" policy Tuesday to recover from the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus crisis. "The government's goal is clear and
July 17, 2020
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Opposition lawmakers criticize Supreme Court ruling on Gyeonggi governor
The Supreme Court has become the target of more criticism since it ruled Thursday in favor of Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, saying he had not violated the election law. The highest court overturned a lower court’s decision and found Lee not guilty of spreading false information during a TV debate in the run-up to the gubernatorial election. The ruling Democratic Party welcomed the judgment, calling it a brave and historic decision that protected freedom of expression. The deci
July 17, 2020
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8 world leaders call for equal access to COVID-19 vaccine
President Moon Jae-in and seven other heads of state on Wednesday called for equal access to an eventual vaccine against the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post, the leaders said ensuring equal access to any potential vaccine was just as important as developing an effective vaccine. “What happens next is equally important. This cannot be a race with one winner. When one or more vaccines are successful, it must be a win for a
July 16, 2020
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Moon urges National Assembly to support ‘Korean New Deal,’ peace drive
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday urged the National Assembly to realize “politics of cooperation” and called on political parties to support his administration’s social and economic reforms, and peace drive. The 21st National Assembly held a ceremony officially marking the start of parliamentary proceedings, 48 days after its term began on May 30, due to discord between the ruling and main opposition parties. Addressing the parliament at the opening ceremony, Moon said th
July 16, 2020
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[News Focus] On Moon’s apartment policy, disapproval outstrips approval for 30 months
SEJONG -- Opponents of the Moon Jae-in administration’s real estate policy have outnumbered its supporters for the past 2 1/2 years, a poll showed. According to Gallup Korea, opposition to the administration’s real estate policy overtook support in January 2018, within months of President Moon taking office in May 2017. In January 2018, the gap between the two sides was 10 percentage points, with 24 percent looking favorably on the policy vs. 34 percent unhappy with it. Based on
July 16, 2020
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Gyeonggi Gov. keeps his post on top court’s ruling
The highest court on Thursday ruled in favor of Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung in an election law violation trial, effectively saving his governorship as well as ambitions to contend in the race for the presidency. The Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision that found him guilty of spreading false information during a TV debate in the runup to the 2018 gubernatorial election. The Suwon High Court had levied a fine of 3 million won ($2,500) on Lee, which, if finalized, w
July 16, 2020
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Moon’s approval ratings lowest in 9 months
President Moon Jae-in’s approval ratings fell to their lowest point in nine months, a poll suggested. The latest dip in ratings comes days after the mayor of Seoul killed himself amid allegations of sexual misconduct. At the same time, property tax hikes and a policy to grant permanent job status to irregular workers at state-funded companies drew backlash from homeowners and from those studying for tests in hopes of landing stable public sector jobs. The ruling Democratic Party’
July 16, 2020
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National Assembly proceedings to kick off Thursday, Moon to address parliament
The 21st National Assembly is set to begin its official proceedings Thursday, 48 days after the newly elected lawmakers’ terms began on May 30. President Moon Jae-in will address the parliament at the opening ceremony. “President Moon Jae-in will address the parliament at the opening ceremony that will be held at 2 p.m.,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said, adding that Moon’s original schedule for Thursday concerned the Korean New Deal. The Korean New Deal is t
July 15, 2020
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Fate of yet another progressive heavyweight hangs in balance
The political life of yet another progressive heavyweight will be decided Thursday, with the Supreme Court set to make the final ruling on Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung’s case. Lee is on trial on charges of abuse of power and violating the Public Official Election Act for spreading false information. The charge of abuse of power concerns allegations that he used his authority as the mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to institutionalize his brother against his will in 2012.
July 14, 2020
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Moon says his 'New Deal' plan aims to transform S. Korea into 'pacesetter'
President Moon Jae-in unveiled details of his ambitious "New Deal" plan Tuesday designed to transform South Korea into a global "pacesetter" with low-carbon economy. The president first came up with the idea of pursuing a Korean-version of the "New Deal" project during a government meeting on April 22. It was pursued as part of the government's efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis at an early date and prepare for the post-coronavirus era to be led by the fourth
July 14, 2020
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Main opposition ups pressure to get to bottom of alleged sex abuse by late Seoul mayor
On the funeral day of late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday, the main opposition party launched what is likely to become an all-out campaign to press for a probe into allegations that the deceased sexually harassed his former secretary. The pressure by the United Future Party (UFP) highlights deepening political division over the death of the late Seoul mayor. Park was found dead at a mountain in Seoul after apparently taking his own life on Thursday. He was facing a criminal complaint on
July 13, 2020