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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Prosecution traces down alleged slush fund by Optimus CEO in fraudulent fund scheme case
The prosecution is said to have been tracking down secret money allegedly hidden by the CEO of a financial company involved in a fraudulent fund scheme scandal, industry sources said Wednesday. Prosecutors have secured testimony from a person familiar with the matter that Optimus CEO Kim Jae-hyun had stashed away around 20 billion won ($17.7 million) in a real estate development company, which is constructing a resort in Incheon with an aim to finish in February 2022, according to the sources.
Oct. 28, 2020
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Opposition raises call for special probe of financial scams
The main opposition party doubled down on its demand for a special counsel investigation into high-profile financial scam scandals Wednesday, chanting slogans as President Moon Jae-in arrived at the National Assembly to deliver a speech on next year's state budget. The leadership of the People Power Party (PPP) boycotted a meeting among leaders of three parties and Moon that was held ahead of the budget speech, in protest of Moon and the ruling Democratic Party's refusal to launch a special cou
Oct. 28, 2020
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In budget speech, Moon says time for full-scale push to revitalize economy
President Moon Jae-in declared a full-fledged policy drive Wednesday for the clear recovery of South Korea's economy, coupled with the firm stabilization of the COVID-19 situation here. In his parliamentary speech on the state budget, Moon assured lawmakers that the government would create a record high budget, proposed for 2021, with a focus on creating jobs, reinvigorating the economy and winning the fight against the coronavirus. His administration has drawn up a 555.8 trillion-won ($469.8 b
Oct. 28, 2020
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[US elections and Korea] US presidential election to bring changes, challenges for Seoul
The fate of US President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will be decided in a week, but for South Korea difficulties lie ahead regardless of the winner. For South Korea, Special Measures Agreement issue -- the negotiations over Seoul’s share of the cost of maintaining US Forces Korea -- will be the most immediate issue, experts say. The talks began late 2019, but the two sides have so far failed to narrow their differences. The US is said to be requesting an increase
Oct. 27, 2020
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Ruling party steps up push for new anti-corruption agency
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is stepping up its push for the launch of a new investigation body for high-ranking public officials, a flagship project of President Moon Jae-in’s prosecution reform initiative, by proposing bills to amend related laws and seeking to move up the launch by a month. According to the National Assembly’s bill information site on Tuesday, 10 ruling party lawmakers jointly tabled 13 bills on Monday to create a legal framework for the Corruption Inv
Oct. 27, 2020
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Moon requests Canada's backing for S. Korea in WTO chief race
President Moon Jae-in had phone talks with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday mainly as part of efforts to broaden international support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's candidacy to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the conversation that lasted around 25 minutes, Moon and Trudeau exchanged opinions on issues of mutual concern, which include the WTO chief race, cooperation in the response to the new coronavirus and partnerships on the global stage, accord
Oct. 27, 2020
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Presidential panel members call for increasing medical school quotas
Public interest members of a presidential panel on social dialogue on Tuesday issued written advice calling for increasing quotas at local medical schools starting in 2022. In the controversial recommendation, Seoul National University professor Kim Yoon and five other public interest members of the Economic, Social & Labor Council's health care committee said that expansion of medical school quotas is inevitable to raise the number of doctors in South Korea to the average of member countri
Oct. 27, 2020
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Choo hits back at chief prosecutor
The Ministry of Justice is looking into allegations that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl met with heads of major conservative dailies, as well as developments that led to an investigation into alleged financial fraud being terminated. Speaking at the parliamentary audit of her ministry, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said that the allegation that Yoon met with the largest shareholders of two leading conservative dailies will be looked into as such actions could violate prosecutors’ code o
Oct. 26, 2020
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Public divided over who should direct the financial fraud scandal investigation: poll
Koreans are divided over which authority should take charge of the investigation into controversial fund scams, a poll showed Monday, following reports suggesting politicians and prosecutors may have been involved in the cases surrounding two asset management firms. According to a Realmeter poll of 500 adults conducted last week, 43.6 percent of respondents said a special counsel probe should be launched for the probe, a measure that has been demanded by the main opposition People Power Party.
Oct. 26, 2020
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Moon says expanding flu shots needed with no link found with recent deaths
President Moon Jae-in stressed the need Monday to expand flu vaccinations this year, as South Korea strives to stem the potential simultaneous spread of the novel coronavirus and seasonal influenza. He advised the people not to be excessively concerned about the safety of flu shots administered under a state-led free vaccine program. The president said it is "being confirmed" that there is no direct link between the recent deaths of dozens of people and the flu shots they had taken.
Oct. 26, 2020
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Defense ministry reviewing possible provision of intelligence on slain official to UN
South Korea is considering providing the United Nations with military intelligence collected in the course of North Korea's killing of one of its citizens if the UN launches an investigation, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Monday. On Sept. 22, North Korea fatally shot the 47-year-old official, who was adrift in its side of the Yellow Sea, and burned his body, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the western border island of Yeonpyeong. The
Oct. 26, 2020
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Approval rating for ruling party rebounds amid ballooning fund scam scandal: poll
The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) rebounded last week, widening its lead over the main opposition party amid allegations of opposition politicians' possible implication in a ballooning fund scam scandal, an opinion poll showed Monday. According to the Realmeter poll conducted on 2,527 voters nationwide from last Monday-Friday, the approval rating for the DP came in at 35.1 percent, up 2.9 percentage points from a week ago. The previous week, the DP saw its approval rati
Oct. 26, 2020
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Tributes pour in for late Samsung tycoon
Tributes poured in from across the worlds of politics, business, the arts and sports for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee on Sunday. Lee died at the age of 78 at a hospital in Seoul on Sunday morning with family members by his side, including his son and de facto Samsung Group chief Lee Jae-yong, the conglomerate said in a statement. He had been bedridden since May 2014 after suffering a heart attack. President Moon Jae-in sent floral wreaths to the late tycoon’s funeral alt
Oct. 25, 2020
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ASEAN Plus Three group vows to step up cultural, arts exchanges despite COVID-19
Culture ministers of the ASEAN Plus Three countries, including South Korea, China and Japan, have agreed to strengthen multilateral cultural and arts exchanges despite the coronavirus pandemic in their videoconference earlier this week, officials in Seoul said Friday. The agreement was reached during the session joined by South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo and his counterparts from China, Japan and 10 ASEAN member countries Thursday, they said. The ninth biennia
Oct. 23, 2020
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Moon asks Kazakhstan, Chile to support S. Korean candidate for top WTO post
President Moon Jae-in held phone talks Thursday with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Chile in his latest round of diplomacy to secure support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee‘s bid for the top post of the World Trade Organization. Moon has so far spoken by phone with the leaders of 13 countries to ask for their backing for Yoo who is competing with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria in the final round for the selection process. The new WTO chief is expected to be announced early n
Oct. 22, 2020
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Moon unveils plan to pour 10tr won into 'smart city' scheme by 2025
President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that the government will invest 10 trillion won ($8.8 billion) into South Korea's "smart city" project nationwide by 2025, as the country aims to become a global leader in the field under the so-called Korean version New Deal initiative. The government plans to supply a relevant data integration platform to each of a total of 108 local authorities by the end of this year that would enable 60 percent of South Koreans to feel the impact of the smart c
Oct. 22, 2020
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[News Focus] Choo-Yoon clash divides politics, public
Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl continue to clash over investigations, with their discord dominating headlines and parliamentary proceedings. Both Choo and Yoon were elevated to their current posts by President Moon Jae-in, and for similar reasons. Choo, a former judge and five-term lawmaker, was chosen to oversee the prosecutorial reform that started during her predecessor’s term. Yoon was touted by Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party as t
Oct. 22, 2020
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Japanese envoy accepts DP's request for info sharing on irradiated water release: party chief
The head of South Korea's ruling party met with the top Japanese envoy to Seoul on Thursday and requested that Tokyo share all information on its planned release of contaminated water from a disabled nuclear power plant in Fukushima, the party leader said. "I urged that all information regarding the disposal of the Fukushima (Daiichi) nuclear power plant's contaminated water should be disclosed transparently and the country should proceed with the plan with consent from the international c
Oct. 22, 2020
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Main opposition submits bill calling for special counsel probe into fund scam scandal
The main opposition party, allied with outside lawmakers, on Thursday submitted a bill calling for the launch of an independent special counsel investigation into a snowballing fund scam scandal currently under investigation by prosecutors. Rep. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), submitted the legislation proposal to the National Assembly on behalf of his party earlier in the day. All 103 PPP lawmakers signed on to support the bill, while seven lawmakers from outsi
Oct. 22, 2020
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Key suspect in Lime fund scandal makes additional claims in 2nd letter from prison
A key suspect in the Lime fund scam case has made additional claims that he identified two prosecutors he lobbied during a justice ministry probe and that he was tipped off about an ongoing investigation against him. In a second letter sent from prison to Yonhap News Agency on late Wednesday, Kim Bong-hyun, a prime suspect in the financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management Co., reiterated that he did lobby sitting prosecutors but strongly denied his alleged relations with ruling party
Oct. 22, 2020