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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Main opposition embarks on charm offensive with new leadership
In an attempt to refresh its heritage brand, the United Future Party stressed forward-looking policies and protection of the weak, proposing its first bill for the new parliament on Monday. The conservative party launched a nine-member emergency leadership committee, led by veteran politician Kim Chong-in, with a mission to restore voter support by April next year. With the new slogan of “accompanying the weak,” the conservative faction plans to undergo drastic changes to depart
June 1, 2020
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New Assembly begins term, ruling party leader calls for opposition cooperation
The new parliament, now heavily tilted to the left, began its four-year term Saturday, with a full plate of work amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. And ruling Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Kim Tae-nyeon on Sunday called on opposition parties for cooperation to allow the 21st National Assembly to set out to handle pandemic-related legislation swiftly. “The Democratic Party will open the National Assembly on June 5 to pick the speaker and deputy speaker of the assembly,” K
May 31, 2020
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Moon replaces seven secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae
President Moon Jae-in replaced seven presidential secretaries on Sunday, including naming a former Cheong Wa Dae staffer known as one of Moon's closest aides as his new protocol secretary. Park Kyung-mee, a former ruling party lawmaker, has been named secretary for education, with Tak Hyun-min, a former Cheong Wa Dae staffer, appointed as new protocol secretary, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Park was a professor of mathematics education at Hongik University and lawmaker with the Democratic Part
May 31, 2020
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Prosecution requests arrest warrant for ex-mayor over alleged sexual assault
Prosecutors on Thursday sought an arrest warrant against a former mayor of South Korea's second-largest city over alleged sexual assault. The Busan District Prosecutors Office said it has filed a warrant to detain ex-Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don on charges of indecent act by compulsion. Oh is alleged to have sexually assaulted a city employee at his office in early April. He stepped down from the post on April 23 after apologizing to the victim in a press conference. The court is expected to hold
May 28, 2020
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Moon urges ‘cooperative politics’ in meeting with floor leaders
President Moon Jae-in, meeting with floor leaders of the two main political parties on Thursday, asked for bipartisan cooperation in the government’s response to unprecedented challenges amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. In the meeting with Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Joo ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party, Moon also stressed the importance of communication among the leaders of both parties and the president, saying that discussions on c
May 28, 2020
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Moon to replace several secretaries, except powerful old guards
A shake-up of President Moon Jae-in's secretary lineup seems to be in the offing. He plans to replace several secretaries soon, including some key players in the protocol and public communication teams at Cheong Wa Dae, according to multiple sources. Moon plans to name Tak Hyun-min, a former Cheong Wa Dae staffer, as new protocol secretary, according to multiple sources. Tak has experience and expertise in organizing events. The president will also tap Han Jung-woo, director of the Chunchu
May 27, 2020
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Moon calls for bold fiscal strategy in light of COVID-19
Addressing the officials responsible for drawing up the national fiscal strategy, President Moon Jae-in on Monday called for bold support measures, saying the state must spearhead efforts to soften the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting, Moon also downplayed concerns that his administration’s fiscal policies could threaten the country’s fiscal stability, saying Korea was more economically stable than average compared with other OECD s
May 25, 2020
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Rival parties bracing for launch of new National Assembly term
With mergers and shakeups, rival political parties are quickening steps to consolidate their party fronts in the run-up to the start of a new parliamentary term this week. The unicameral National Assembly is set to kick off its 21st four-year term Saturday, slightly over midway through President Moon Jae-in's five-year term. After securing a mega majority of 180 seats in the 300-member chamber in last month's general elections together, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and its sister
May 25, 2020
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With Kim at helm, conservative opposition party sets out to rebuild
The main opposition United Future Party is set to embark on a reform process, with an 80-year-old party outsider at its helm. The party on Friday voted Kim Chong-in, a veteran politician well-versed in economy, as the head of its envisioned emergency leadership body, ending weeks of internal strife over how to revive the faction’s political fortune after a crushing defeat in the April elections and who will map out strategies for it. Kim will serve until the parliamentary by-election
May 24, 2020
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Moon to meet ruling, opposition party leaders Thursday
President Moon Jae-in will have a luncheon meeting with the new floor leaders of South Korea's ruling and main opposition parties this week, a Cheong Wa Dae official announced Sunday, with the new National Assembly scheduled to open a week later. Moon has invited Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and his United Future Party counterpart, Joo Ho-young, to the Cheong Wa Dae session slated for Thursday, according to Kang Gi-jung, senior presidential secretary for politica
May 24, 2020
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Memorial service held to mark 11th anniv. of ex-President Roh's death
SEOUL/GIMHAE -- South Korea held a commemorative event to mark the 11th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday. The ceremony, which took place at Bongha Village in the country’s southeastern city of Gimhae, Roh‘s hometown, brought key political figures, including ruling Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Hae-chan, former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party. The event used to be attended b
May 23, 2020
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Ex-Busan vice mayor gets suspended jail sentence in bribery case
Yoo Jae-soo, a former vice mayor of Busan, was given a suspended prison sentence at a Seoul court on Friday after being found guilty of taking bribes, mostly during his earlier stint at a financial watchdog. The Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Yoo to imprisonment of 1 1/2 years, suspended for three years, and a fine of 90 million won ($72,820) after convicting him of bribery and solicitation. Yoo was indicted last December for pocketing cash and goods worth some 40 million won in bribe
May 22, 2020
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Cheong Wa Dae says still early to respond to Trump's new geoeconomic strategy
Cheong Wa Dae has no "conclusive" position on US President Donald Trump administration's stated push for the Economic Prosperity Network, an official said Friday, reflecting Seoul's cautious approach toward the sensitive issue apparently involving China. The initiative is understood to be "still in a planning stage" as part of various ideas on the economic sector from a global perspective, the official said. "So, we have no conclusive answer to share with you," h
May 22, 2020
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Democratic Party seeks to revisit ex-PM Han’s bribery case
Controversy surrounding the conviction of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who served a two-year jail term for bribery, has been rekindled, after the ruling Democratic Party sought to revisit the case. Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, on Thursday hinted that Han may have been politically targeted, referring to a 100-page diary written by a late businessman, the bribe-giver. He passed away in 2018. “The investigation was launched just ahead of the local e
May 21, 2020
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Moon vows to shore up economy, lay foundation for future
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday pledged to quickly roll out the “Korean New Deal” saying that the country can emerge from the COVID-19 crisis as a leader in the era of digital economy. Speaking at a meeting with leaders of industries experiencing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moon said that the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic is spreading to a wider range of industries, but the country has built opportunities from crisis. “We have shaped our future by
May 21, 2020
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Prosecutors demand 35-year prison sentence for former President Park in her retrial
Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded an imprisonment of 35 years for former President Park Geun-hye in an appellate court's retrial for her bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement charges. In a hearing at the Seoul High Court, prosecutors demanded Park be punished with a 25-year prison sentence, a fine of 30 billion won (US$24.36 million) and a forfeit of 200 million won on bribery charges. In addition, they demanded an imprisonment of 10 years and a forfeit of 3.3 billion won for the former p
May 20, 2020
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S. Korea to include green projects in 'New Deal' plan
Cheong Wa Dae formalized a plan Wednesday for the Green New Deal project, saying relevant authorities will unveil details early next month. President Moon Jae-in announced a bold push for the Korean version of the New Deal meant to help overcome the coronavirus crisis and develop new growth engines, addressing the nation on the third anniversary of his inauguration on May 10. He focused on the so-called Digital New Deal. But there have since been calls from the international community and civ
May 20, 2020
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Assembly rushes through over 100 bills
The 20th National Assembly held its final plenary session Wednesday and approved 141 pieces of legislation, including a bill to prevent online sex crimes and another addressing historical human rights violations committed by the state. The sex crime bill obligates service providers, including internet giants Naver and Kakao, to remove illegal pornographic materials and block access to them. Recently the so-called “Nth Room case” caused a furor over the circulation of illegal sex
May 20, 2020
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Rep. Park Byeong-seug close to becoming next National Assembly speaker
Rep. Park Byeong-seug, a veteran politician with close ties to President Moon Jae-in, has effectively been confirmed as the inaugural speaker of the National Assembly. Park, a six-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party and the longest-serving lawmaker in the 21st National Assembly, was the sole candidate for the post on Wednesday after his competitor Rep. Kim Jin-pyo from the same party announced he was dropping out in a social media post. “After contemplating for the past month,
May 20, 2020
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Ruling party absorbs sister party, cementing mega-majority for new term
The ruling Democratic Party (DP) has merged with its sister party, cementing its mega-majority status for the National Assembly's new term, according to the National Election Commission (NEC) on Tuesday. The DP and the Platform Party, a satellite party that the ruling party created as an election strategy for the April 15 parliamentary elections, submitted a declaration of their merger to the NEC a day earlier. Approving the declaration, the NEC officially announced the merger the same day. U
May 19, 2020