Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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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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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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First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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Moon to hold press conference for new year next week
President Moon Jae-in plans to hold his press conference for 2020 next week, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday, a couple of days after he detailed this year's policy priorities, including a renewed push for various inter-Korean programs.Moon will meet with more than 200 local and foreign reporters at Cheong Wa Dae for the event to be televised starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. It's scheduled to last for 90 minutes, according to his spokesperson Ko Min-jung. In a format similar to his press conference fo
Jan. 9, 2020
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S. Korea's NSC checks emergency response system in Middle East
South Korea's top security officials on Thursday reviewed the country's "emergency response system" for its citizens and firms in the Middle East and ships sailing through the area where military tensions have increased, Cheong Wa Dae said.In a standing committee session of the National Security Council, they assessed the current security conditions involving the stand-off between Iran and the United States, which have traded tit-for-tat attacks. Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom and
Jan. 9, 2020
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S. Korea replaces senior prosecutors leading investigations into high-profile scandals
The Justice Ministry on Wednesday replaced senior prosecutors in charge of investigations into two major scandals involving presidential officials.Among those affected are Han Dong-hoon, the head of the anti-corruption department, who led probes into alleged irregularities by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and Cho's suspected role in ending an inspection into bribery allegations involving a former Busan vice mayor. Han was assigned to the No. 2 post in the High Prosecutors Offices in the southe
Jan. 8, 2020
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PM nominee attends parliamentary confirmation hearing for second day
Prime minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun attended a parliamentary confirmation hearing for the second day on Wednesday, with lawmakers zeroing in on his qualifications and ethical standards.A day earlier, his career as former National Assembly speaker was mainly targeted by opposition lawmakers due to concerns that the nomination of the ex-parliamentary speaker to the No. 2 Cabinet post could hamper the principle of separation of powers.On Wednesday, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party continue
Jan. 8, 2020
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Cheong Wa Dae says it's receiving real-time briefings on Iran situations
Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday it's keeping a close watch on the current situations involving Iran, taking relevant reports on a real-time basis.With regard to what's going on there, the government, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is "in close consultations" with local authorities with a top priority on the security and safety of South Korean nationals, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung. She added the presidential office is receiving "real-time reports and
Jan. 8, 2020
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Moon pledges to continue reform drive, improve ties with neighbors
During his New Year’s address on Tuesday, President Moon Jae-in pledged to continue his reform drive and revitalize the economy while seeking to improve ties with neighboring countries including North Korea. Moon also called for inter-Korean cooperation to establish conditions that would allow North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit the South. Furthermore, the president once again highlighted his administration’s drive to establish peace on the peninsula. However, unlike his pr
Jan. 7, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Former Blue House officials race to enter general elections
Individuals who served in President Moon Jae-in’s Cheong Wa Dae are entering the general elections in droves, fanning both criticism and expectations in the political arena. According to the ruling Democratic Party, about 60 individuals who have held Cheong Wa Dae posts at various levels have informed the party of their intentions to run in the April 15 general elections. Although not all of them will get party nominations, the number of Cheong Wa Dae-linked hopefuls amounts to a fifth of
Jan. 7, 2020
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PM nominee says he will propose inviting opposition politicians to Cabinet
Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday he plans to propose forming a Cabinet that involves opposition politicians after the April parliamentary elections.Speaking at a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Chung, a six-term lawmaker, said his idea is aimed at promoting the "cooperative" governance of state affairs in the face of deepened partisan tensions."I am planning to propose to President (Moon Jae-in) an idea of forming a Cabinet that involves the participation of
Jan. 7, 2020
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Moon calls for inter-Korean dialogue on cooperation
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for inter-Korean dialogue to seek ways to increase cooperation, saying that the need for such measures has grown more urgent. “The need to seek practical measures to increase inter-Korean cooperation has become more pressing,” Moon said in his New Year address, saying that inter-Korean relations are backsliding amid US-North Korea denuclearization deadlock. “An international solution is needed to uphold the three principles of disal
Jan. 7, 2020
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PM nominee Chung’s confirmation hearing set to kick off
A confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun will begin Tuesday as the main opposition party questions the appropriateness of a parliamentary speaker taking the top government post. The six-term ruling party lawmaker and former National Assembly speaker will face two days of questioning to determine whether he is to replace Lee Nak-yon, who will return to the ruling Democratic Party to lead its April parliamentary election campaign. The main opposition Liberty Korea Part
Jan. 6, 2020
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Cheong Wa Dae replaces secretaries in organizational change
Cheong Wa Dae announced an organizational change and the replacement of some secretaries Monday as part of efforts to streamline its operations and put fresh vigor into state affairs.The measure was made public a day before President Moon Jae-in's formal New Year's address in which he will detail the direction of his policy this year.It also came as two senior officials are leaving Cheong Wa Dae apparently to run in the April 15 general elections. They are Youn Kun-young, director for the state
Jan. 6, 2020
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New conservative party gears up for elections
A new conservative party led by eight lawmakers who left the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party held their first supreme council meeting on Monday.Reps. Yoo Seong-min, Ha Tae-keung, Oh Shin-hwan and five others announced the launch of the party, tentatively named the New Conservative Party, on Sunday, vowing to represent younger, reform-minded conservatives. “The New Conservative Party has set sail for the rebuilding and revival of conservatives, not a division or failure of conservat
Jan. 6, 2020
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S. Korea to hold NSC meeting on Iran issue
South Korea's top security officials will have a National Security Council meeting to discuss the current Iran crisis on Monday afternoon, Cheong Wa Dae said.President Moon Jae-in instructed the members of the NSC standing committee to closely review security conditions, the safety of South Koreans in the region and crude oil supply, in particular, according to Cheong Wa Dae's spokesperson Ko Min-jung. Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo also plans to attend the session at the call o
Jan. 6, 2020
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PM nominee calls for efforts to resume economic projects with N. Korea
President Moon Jae-in's choice for prime minister called Sunday for joint efforts with North Korea for the resumption of their long-stalled economic projects.Chung Sye-kyun said in a written answer to parliament ahead of his confirmation hearing that the two Koreas need to make efforts to normalize their joint factory park in the North's western border town of Kaesong and a tour program to Mount Kumgang, North Korea's scenic mountain on the east coast, as soon as conditions are met. Chung did no
Jan. 5, 2020
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[Newsmaker] New conservative party sets sail ahead of April parliamentary elections
A new conservative party was launched Sunday, spearheaded by eight lawmakers who defected from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party to build a right-wing party pursuing reforms.Rep. Yoo Seong-min and seven other lawmakers officially announced the launch of the party, tentatively named the New Conservative Party, at the National Assembly, less than four months before the April 15 parliamentary elections."Those who are willing to guard new conservative values have gathered here ... I am sur
Jan. 5, 2020
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Partisan strife looms over police-prosecution power reform
A partisan battle looms over the National Assembly this week on how to reshape investigative powers of the nation’s two law enforcement agencies. The ruling Democratic Party plans to introduce a bill on the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code to curb the power of prosecutors, the last piece in President Moon Jae-in’s judicial reform initiatives. The revision is designed to expand the authority of police in criminal investigations and scrap the prosecution’s power to command
Jan. 5, 2020
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[News Focus] Political parties gear up for April 15 elections
With around 100 days before the April 15 parliamentary elections, South Korean political parties are gearing up with ambitious goals, viewing the polls as a possible vote of confidence for the Moon Jae-in government.With the 100-day mark falling on Monday, rival parties are betting their political survival on the general elections as the outcome could hugely affect the 2022 presidential polls. The National Assembly is elected every four years.Taking office in May 2017, President Moon passed the
Jan. 4, 2020
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Moon vows to boost eco-friendly car industry
President Moon Jae-in on Friday visited the Pyeongtaek-Dangjin port -- where this year’s first shipment of eco-friendly vehicles were exported -- emphasizing his administration’s focus on aiding the development of next-generation automobile technologies. “Today, we export over 4,200 vehicles including the electric car Niro and hydrogen truck Neptune to Europe,” Moon said. He was referring to Kia’s Niro, and Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen-powered truck Neptune,
Jan. 3, 2020
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Four lawmakers-turned-ministers won't run in April's general election
Four lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party, who are concurrently serving as ministers in President Moon Jae-in's Cabinet, said Friday they won't run for reelection in April's general election, vowing to devote themselves to the success of the Moon government.SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mi and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae held a joint news conference at the National Assembly in the morning to announce their decisions not to
Jan. 3, 2020
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Moon’s prosecution reform drive gains traction with new justice minister
President Moon Jae-in’s drive for prosecution reform is expected to gain traction with his appointment of the new justice minister and the passage of a bill designed to ease power concentrated in the state prosecution. Buoyed by these major steps that will help his key election pledge for reformation to materialize, Moon vowed to make “clear change” this year, saying revamping powerful institutions and pursuing a fair society are the beginning of the process.“No powerful
Jan. 2, 2020