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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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030
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'1 million' Christians join anti-LGBTQ+ marriage rally
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Ruling, minor parties hail Koreas' agreement on third summit this month
The ruling and minor opposition parties on Thursday hailed the two Koreas' agreement to hold a summit of their leaders later this month during special presidential envoys' recent trip to North Korea.But the main opposition Liberty Korea Party expressed doubts about North Korea's willingness for giving up its nuclear weapons, dismissing the outcome of their travel.Earlier in the day, the country's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong, who led the five-member delegation, said that President Mo
Sept. 6, 2018
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Seoul Mayor postpones unveiling of master plan amid real estate price row
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon indefinitely postponed the unveiling of his master plan for the next four years, saying making the announcement at this point could worsen the continued escalation of real estate prices. “We will postpone the announcement of the plans until Seoul’s real estate market is stabilized,” an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. Park was scheduled to unveil the plan on Sept. 13, including a major project to build a public park, the biggest in Seoul, in Mago
Sept. 5, 2018
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PM to visit Vladivostok for economic forum
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon will visit Vladivostok next week to attend an annual international economic forum and hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his office said Wednesday.About 6,000 people are expected to attend the Eastern Economic Forum that Putin has hosted in Vladivostok every year since 2015, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga.The three-day trip starting Monday will be Lee’s first to Rus
Sept. 5, 2018
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Ruling party voices optimism about special envoy's trip to N. Korea
The chief of the ruling Democratic Party expressed anticipation Wednesday that President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to North Korea could help bring peace to the Korean Peninsula amid impasses over the North's denuclearization.Earlier in the day, the five-member delegation led by national security advisor Chung Eui-yong arrived in Pyongyang for a trip aimed at fine-tuning details about a proposed third inter-Korean summit and moving forward stalled denuclearization talks. (Yonhap)"We expect that
Sept. 5, 2018
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Main opposition party says now is not time to ratify April summit deal
The floor leader of the main opposition party said Wednesday that now is not the time to push for parliamentary ratification of the April inter-Korean summit deal, citing a lack of North Korea's sincerity toward denuclearization.Kim Sung-tae of the Liberty Korea Party delivered a speech at the National Assembly, which began its 100-day regular session Monday."We need to gauge North Korea's sincerity toward denuclearization from a cool-headed perspective, not with an emotional approach," Kim said
Sept. 5, 2018
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Cabinet approves proposal to shorten military service period
The Cabinet approved a proposal Tuesday to shorten the mandatory military service period for South Korean men by up to three months over the next couple of years.The proposal was part of the defense ministry's reform measures dubbed the Defense Reform 2.0 made public in May. Reducing the service period was one of President Moon Jae-in's campaign promises. (Yonhap)Starting in October, the service period will be gradually reduced in the coming years to 18 months in the case of the Army from the cu
Sept. 4, 2018
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PM calls for measures to improve military duty exemption system
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon instructed the Cabinet on Tuesday to come up with measures to improve the military service exemption system for top Olympic and Asian Games athletes amid criticism the benefit is unfair.By law, all able-bodied South Korean men should serve in the military for about two years. But all Olympic medal winners and Asian Games gold medalists are exempt from the service in recognition of their contribution to the country's reputation and prestige.(Yonhap)The issue came to the
Sept. 4, 2018
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Indonesian president due in Seoul next week for summit with Moon
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will visit South Korea next week for a summit with President Moon Jae-in, which will focus on ways to enhance the countries' bilateral cooperation, Moon's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.The Indonesian leader will make a three-day state visit from Sunday. The leaders will hold their summit meeting the next day, when Moon will also host a state dinner for his visiting Indonesian counterpart, according to Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap)"At the upcoming summit
Sept. 3, 2018
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New minor party head calls on Moon to revise income-driven growth policy
The new chief of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party on Monday called on President Moon Jae-in to revise his signature "income-driven growth" policy if he wants cooperation from rival parties.Sohn Hak-kyu, a veteran politician, made the remark after he was elected chief of the third-largest party Sunday, vowing efforts to achieve political reform."President Moon said there is nothing wrong with the income-driven growth policy. In this situation, promoting what's called joint governance is not
Sept. 3, 2018
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Moon's approval rating dips to new low
President Moon Jae-in's approval rating continued to drop last week amid worsening economic conditions, a poll showed Monday.Moon's approval rating came to 55.2 percent in a survey conducted by Realmeter, down 0.8 percentage point from the week before.The weekly survey was conducted Monday through Friday, involving 2,507 adults throughout the nation. (Yonhap)The reading was the third consecutive week the rating had dropped and was a record low since the president took office in May 2017.Moon fac
Sept. 3, 2018
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Parties at loggerheads over key bills, budget as regular session opens
The National Assembly opened its regular session Monday with rival parties clashing over the government's proposal for a record budget for 2019 and key bills on the economy and business deregulation.The ruling Democratic Party is calling for bipartisan cooperation to support the Moon Jae-in government entering the second year in office. But opposition parties have sharpened their attack on the government, demanding the revision to Moon's signature economic policy of "income-led growth." (Yonhap)
Sept. 3, 2018
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Gov't, ruling party stick to 'income-driven' growth policy
The South Korean government and the nation's ruling party agreed Saturday to maintain the policy of boosting economic growth with a focus on expanding the income of ordinary people.The decision was made in spite of growing criticism of the signature policy of the left-leaning Moon Jae-in administration amid slower-than-expected job creation.In an unprecedented gathering of all ruling party lawmakers, Cabinet members and presidential officials, the participants also agreed to seek ways to minimiz
Sept. 1, 2018
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Prosecution requests 4 years prison for ex-president’s chief of staff
The prosecution on Friday requested four years in prison for Kim Ki-choon, ex-President Park Geun-hye’s chief of staff, on charges of abuse of power and perjury in relation to his involvement in the drafting of a white list to illicitly provide support in the form of hundreds of millions of won to pro-Park civic organizations. The prosecution also requested six years in prison and a fine of 100 million won ($90,000) for Cho Yoon-sun, who served as minister of culture, minister of gender equali
Aug. 31, 2018
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Speaker seeks parliamentary ratification of April summit deal next month
South Korea's parliamentary speaker on Friday raised the need to ratify the April inter-Korean summit agreement in September prior to President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang for his third inter-Korean summit.Moon Hee-sang said that the ratification would lend support to President Moon when he meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month amid impasses in nuclear talks between the United States and the North."It would be desirable for ruling and opposition lawmakers to accompany Moon o
Aug. 31, 2018
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Opposition lawmaker gets suspended sentence for violating political fund, election laws
CHUNCHEON -- A regional court on Friday meted out a suspended prison term for a three-term opposition lawmaker for misusing funds and making donations over the legal limit.The Chuncheon District Court sentenced Rep. Hwang Young-cheul of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party to 2 1/2 years in jail, suspended for four years. The court ordered him to pay a 5 million won ($4,492) fine and to forfeit 287 million won. (Yonhap)If convicted by the Supreme Court, he will lose his parliamentary seat. By
Aug. 31, 2018
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Moon calls for progressive interpretation of Constitution
President Moon Jae-in on Friday urged the Constitutional Court to interpret the Constitution in a way to reflect changes in what people want."The Constitution is neither flawless nor eternal," the president said in a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the court."Interpretation of the Constitution too cannot be unchangeable or mistake-free. I believe interpretation of the Constitution ceaselessly evolves in accordance with the spirit of the age and how the people view t
Aug. 31, 2018
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Profiles of minister nominees
Defense chief nominee seen as joint ops expert, fit for defense reformDefense Minister nominee Jeong Kyeong-doo, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is seen as an expert in joint military operations and fit for defense reform long marred by inter-service rivalries.Following a parliamentary hearing process, the 58-year-old Air Force general will replace Song Young-moo, a retired admiral. It will be the first time for a retired Air Force officer to take the ministerial post in nearl
Aug. 30, 2018
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Moon replaces five ministers in first reshuffle
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday nominated five new ministers, including ministers of defense and education, and four vice minister-level officials, carrying out his first Cabinet reshuffle since taking office. For the post of Minister of National Defense, Moon tapped Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Jeong Kyeong-doo, who built his career in the Air Force. Jeong is to replace Song Young-moo, a former Navy admiral who has been at the center of numerous controversies during his term in offic
Aug. 30, 2018
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Parliament set to hold plenary session over key bills
The National Assembly is set to hold its plenary session Thursday amid attention over whether bills on easing Internet-only banks' ownership restriction and other business deregulation will be passed.Rival parties earlier agreed to handle key proposals on the economy and deregulation at the ongoing extraordinary session in August.The bill aimed at raising nonfinancial firms' ownership limit in web-only banks from the current 4 percent is one of contentious proposals pending in parliament. (Yonha
Aug. 30, 2018
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Agriculture minister vows to stabilize food prices ahead of Chuseok
South Korea's agriculture minister said Wednesday that the government will increase supplies of key fruits and vegetables from its storage to stabilize market prices ahead of the Chuseok holiday. Lee Gae-ho, the new minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, expressed concerns over a sharp price hike in major crops, affected by weeks of hot and dry weather, and the ensuing typhoon that brought heavy rain and strong wind. (Yonhap)"We will expand farmers' markets and release 1.5 times the n
Aug. 29, 2018