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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USFK commander pays tribute to late war hero Paik
US Forces Korea commander Gen. Robert Abrams visited the funeral home for late Korean War hero Paik Sun-yup on Monday, saying he is deeply grateful for Paik's service. Abrams visited the funeral altar set up at Asan Medical Center in eastern Seoul, together with South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki, in a demonstration of the alliance between the two countries. Abrams and Park each placed a flower before the altar and saluted Paik's portrait. "We offer our d
July 13, 2020
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Moon's approval rating dips to 4-month low on real estate, N. Korea policies
President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dipped to 48.7 percent, the lowest point in four months, a poll showed Monday amid growing controversies over his policies on the real estate market, irregular workers and North Korea. The result is based on Realmeter's survey of 2,515 eligible voters nationwide, conducted from July 6-10 at the request of the cable news-only channel YTN. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points at the confidence level is 95 percent. The latest fi
July 13, 2020
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Moon to launch govt.-ruling party task force on his New Deal project
President Moon Jae-in plans to launch an inter-agency council this month for the so-called Korean-version New Deal project aimed at creating jobs and fostering economic growth against the impact of the new coronavirus, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday. Moon earlier announced his administration's ambitious push for the massive digital infrastructure and green growth initiative, with detailed programs and budget plans scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday. "A pan-governmental strategic council will be
July 12, 2020
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S. Korea court slashes ex-president's jail term by 10 years
A Seoul court on Friday slashed disgraced former president Park Geun-hye's prison terms by 10 years, in what should be the final ruling over the corruption scandal that brought her down. The country's first female president was impeached in 2017 after huge street protests against her rule. She had been serving a combined 30-year jail term for bribery, abuse of power and receiving money from the national spy agency. But on appeal the Seoul High Court sentenced Park to 15 years in prison
July 10, 2020
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Political community expresses shock, condolences over Seoul mayor's death
The political community expressed shock and condolences over the death of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, with the ruling Democratic Party, the political home of Park, cancelling most of its events for Friday. The three-term mayor was found dead on a path of Mount Bukak in Seoul shortly after the midnight by police. Park, 64, was reported missing by his daughter Thursday evening, who said he left a message that seemed like a will before he vanished. He is presumed to have died of suicide. News re
July 10, 2020
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Seoul city to hold mayoral funeral for Park Won-soon
The Seoul city government said Friday it plans to hold a mayoral funeral for Park Won-soon and run on a contingency plan for the time being following the abrupt death of the liberal heavyweight and three-term mayor. Park, 64, was found dead in the woods of Mount Bugak near his official residence in central Seoul, shortly after midnight. Police said there were no signs of foul play, adding they plan to investigate the exact cause of his death. His body was found after an hourslong search invol
July 10, 2020
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Ruling party likely to push for further hike of real estate tax
The ruling Democratic Party is leaning towards raising the highest gross real estate tax rate to 6 percent. According to reports citing ruling party officials, the new top tax rate will be included in the party’s latest real estate tax reform measures that could be announced as early as Friday. At present, the gross real estate tax is levied at rates ranging from 0.5 percent to 3.2 percent, depending on the number, value and location of properties. The government has proposed raising th
July 9, 2020
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Top prosecutor stands back from case involving his aide
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol accepted Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s directive Thursday to back down from an investigation in a case involving a senior prosecutor believed to be close to him. With the decision, tensions between Choo and Yoon appear to have eased over who should oversee the ongoing inquiry into allegations that prosecutor Han Dong-hoon colluded with a former Channel A journalist in an attempt to frame a leading liberal figure for corruption. “The Seoul Centra
July 9, 2020
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Justice minister rejects top prosecutor's offer to form new team to probe case involving key aide
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Wednesday rejected the chief prosecutor's offer to create an "independent" investigative team to handle an alleged blackmail case at the center of friction between the two. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office made the recommendation to the justice ministry earlier in the day, six days after the minister issued a rare directive ordering Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to take his hands off the sensitive case involving one of Yoon's key aid
July 8, 2020
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Top prosecutor orders creation of independent team to handle case involving key aide
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl on Wednesday ordered the creation of an independent investigative team to handle an alleged blackmail case at the center of his friction with the justice minister. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced Yoon's decision six days after Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae issued a rare directive ordering the chief prosecutor to take his hands off the sensitive case involving his key aide and a now fired TV reporter. Earlier in the day, Choo sent an ultimatum for
July 8, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Controversy over multiple homeownership grips government, ruling party
The government and ruling Dmocratic Party of Korea are taking unprecedented steps to douse the controversy over multiple homeownership among their ranks faced with mounting criticism from both conservative and progressive blocs. On Wednesday, Noh Young-min, President Moon Jae-in’s chief of staff, announced that he will sell his southern Seoul home within the month, saying that he has failed to meet public expectations. Noh’s Seoul home became a focal point in the growing controv
July 8, 2020
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Seoul to invest 2.6 trillion won for green projects
Seoul City plans to invest 2.6 trillion won ($2.17 billion) for its version of the “Green New Deal” that intends to cut carbon dioxide emissions while creating jobs. “The Seoul version of the Green New Deal is a core strategy for the post-coronavirus era that will help us to overcome climate crisis and economic crisis simultaneously,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a press conference held at City Hall on Wednesday. President Moon Jae-in announced in May his pu
July 8, 2020
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Justice minister issues ultimatum to prosecutor general
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae issued an ultimatum to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol to respond by Thursday morning to her directive to forgo his authority to supervise an investigation in the case involving a senior prosecutor known to be loyal to him. “A week has passed. I will wait one more day until tomorrow 10 a.m.,” Choo said in a statement released by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. Choo has been exerting pressure on Yoon after having a disagreement over who shou
July 8, 2020
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Moon to address ILO's global summit on coronavirus impact on work
South Korean President Moon Jae-in plans to present his labor policy vision in a video message to the virtual global summit of the International Labor Organization (ILO) later Wednesday, a Cheong Wa Dae official said. Moon's pretaped speech is scheduled to be played during the Global Leaders' Day event in the summit on the impact of COVID-19 on the world of work, according to the official. The session is scheduled to open at around 5 p.m. (Seoul time). Moon will speak about the importance of
July 8, 2020
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[News Focus] Government, ruling party scramble to control real estate market
The government and ruling party are scrambling to roll out measures to curb real estate prices, faced with mounting criticism that the Moon Jae-in administration’s related polices have failed. On Tuesday, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s Rep. Kang Byung-won proposed an Income Tax Act revision outlining the toughest-yet measures to curb real estate speculation, which could see a capital gains tax rate as high as 90 percent imposed on certain transactions. The bill comes a d
July 7, 2020
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Ex-PM Lee announces bid to head ruling party
Former Prime Minister Rep. Lee Nak-yon announced Tuesday his bid to become chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. With Lee in, the contest for leadership of the liberal camp is shaping up to be a two-horse race -- between him and Kim Bu-gyeom, both with ambitions of being South Korea’s president. “I have come to the conclusion that I have to mobilize all-available capabilities to take responsibilities given to the Democratic Party and help overcome the national crisis
July 7, 2020
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Cabinet OKs govt. motion to seek ratification of key ILO conventions
South Korea's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a government proposal to seek parliamentary ratification of key International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions as part of ongoing efforts to improve workers' rights here. South Korea joined the ILO in 1991, but has yet to ratify four of the eight core conventions aimed at protecting workers' basic rights. The conventions approved in Tuesday's meeting are three of those -- No. 87 on freedom of association, No. 98 on the right to organize and collec
July 7, 2020
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Process to launch corruption investigation office poised to spark another bipartisan spat
After the troubled first month since the new assembly term began in late May, rival parties are poised to lock horns again over the ruling party-led initiative to launch a special investigative body targeting corruption by high-ranking public officials. Despite vigorous protest by the opposition bloc, the ruling majority Democratic Party (DP) last Friday officially kicked off its process to launch the probe body, tentatively called the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials
July 6, 2020
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Moon calls for lawmakers' support in curbing housing prices, launching anti-corruption probe agency
President Moon Jae-in pressed the National Assembly on Monday to help the government's efforts to stabilize the property market and establish a special unit to investigate corruption among senior civil servants, as lawmakers opened a temporary parliamentary session earlier in the day. He was referring to two of his administration's major and urgent policy tasks, speaking in front of pool reporters at the outset of his weekly meeting with senior Cheong Wa Dae aides. "The foremost undertak
July 6, 2020
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Ruling party vows swift legislation on stabilizing housing prices
The ruling Democratic Party vowed Monday to enact real estate tax hikes against owners of multiple houses and companies as the government strives to stabilize the overheated property market. The government is under growing pressure to fundamentally review its real estate policy, as its 21 rounds of measures announced over the past three years to curb property speculation especially in Seoul and its adjacent areas have largely failed to attain their goals. It released the latest set of measur
July 6, 2020