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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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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First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
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National Assembly approves bills on sex crimes, internet-only banks
The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a set of bills designed to strengthen punishment for digital sex crimes, amid a public outcry over a recent high-profile online sex abuse case involving minors. The package includes a revision to the sex crime act, under which people who possess, buy, store or watch illegally filmed obscene materials can face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$24,610). Under current laws, possession of illegally filmed sexual foo
April 29, 2020
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Opposition party in disarray over new leadership
The main opposition United Future Party has found itself in a state of confusion after the veteran politician who was picked to head its interim leadership committee turned down the job. On Tuesday, the conservative group voted for Kim Chong-in, who joined the party to lead its April 15 election campaign, to take the helm as emergency leader for about four months until the next national convention. But Kim rejected the offer, complaining about the short tenure. Previously, Kim has said he
April 29, 2020
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W14tr extra budget bill moves closer to passage
The National Assembly moved closer on Tuesday to a final vote on the second extra budget bill, which would provide 14 trillion won to help the country deal with COVID-19, including 4.6 trillion more for coronavirus relief for households. Several parliamentary subcommittees conducted legislative reviews of the government’s plan, with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki in attendance. Rival parties earlier agreed to vote on the bill at a plenary session schedul
April 28, 2020
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Politician rejects opposition party's pick as caretaker head in tenure dispute
South Korea's main opposition party on Tuesday picked its former campaign chief, Kim Chong-in, as its caretaker leader, but the veteran politician virtually rejected the decision, taking issue with its failure to guarantee an extensive term. The United Future Party (UFP), reeling from the shock of a crushing parliamentary election defeat, convened its National Committee and approved the nomination of Kim as head of the party's interim leadership committee. But the party failed to hold the S
April 28, 2020
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Boosting domestic demand start of economic measures: Moon
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday stressed the importance of the third supplementary budget in shoring up the economy, saying that the novel coronavirus-triggered economic crisis will begin in earnest. “The third supplementary budget bill will include comprehensive measures for rebounding domestic demand. The economic crisis will unfold in earnest. The third supplementary budget must not miss the timing,” Moon said at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, stressing that measures must be
April 28, 2020
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Lee widens lead, Hwang plummets in presidential poll
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has consolidated his lead among potential presidential candidates, posting an overwhelming lead of 40.2 percent in the latest poll conducted by Realmeter. Lee, who served as prime minister under President Moon Jae-in and won a parliamentary seat in the April 15 general elections, saw his popularity climb by 10.5 percentage points from a month earlier, the local pollster said. He held the lead for the 11th consecutive month and exceeded the 40 percent mark for
April 28, 2020
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Moon joins Thank You Challenge campaign for medical workers
President Moon Jae-in took a trendy way Monday to express his gratitude to medical workers nationwide for their dedicated services in the monthslong fight against the coronavirus: the Thanks to (You) Challenge. He joined the campaign using sign language, also known as the Thank You Challenge, along with his senior Cheong Wa Dae secretaries just ahead of their meeting at the presidential compound. They showed the gesture briefly in front of pool reporters and camera crew, shouting "Thanks
April 27, 2020
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Rival parties agree to vote on disaster relief funds Wednesday
South Korea's rival parties said Monday they have agreed to vote this week on the provision of disaster relief funds to all households to minimize the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition United Future Party agreed to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly on Wednesday to handle this year's second supplementary budget bill centered on the nationwide payment of disaster relief money totaling 1 million won ($814) each for hou
April 27, 2020
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Moon warns about protracted war against coronavirus
President Moon Jae-in said South Korea needs to brace for a longer-term war against the coronavirus, warning the public not to lower its guard too early. "COVID-19 is not over yet," he emphasized, speaking at a weekly meeting with his top Cheong Wa Dae aides at the presidential compound in Seoul. "The situation is that we have to get prepared for living uncomfortably with the coronavirus with a longtime war in mind." Moon's prudent stance came amid expectations that his co
April 27, 2020
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Veteran prosecutor tapped as new vice justice minister
Cheong Wa Dae announced the replacement of the vice justice minister Monday, as the ministry looks set for a strong drive to reform the prosecution service following the ruling party's overwhelming general election win. President Moon Jae-in picked Koh Ki-young, chief the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, to replace Kim O-su for the position, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Born in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, Koh studied law at Seoul National University and earned a master o
April 27, 2020
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Kim Chong-in agrees to head main opposition party despite resistance
Kim Chong-in, a veteran politician who joined the party to lead its election campaign, was made interim leader of the main opposition United Future Party during a party meeting Friday. The development comes amid objection from conservative heavyweights who raised concerns over granting Kim excessive authority, as the party struggles to restore itself after a crushing defeat in the general election. After days of conflict on the how much power to give Kim, the party and the economist-turned-
April 25, 2020
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Govt. to allow citizens to buy three masks each week, send 1m masks to foreign war veterans
The government said Friday it will allow people in South Korea to buy three discounted face masks per week under a public distribution system and also announced a plan to supply Korean War veterans abroad with 1 million masks. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said citizens would need more masks once they increase economic activities, going forward. South Korea suffered a mask supply crisis when the country's coronavirus outbreak peaked in late February and early March. The government stepped in
April 24, 2020
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S. Korea. US hold combined air exercises in apparent warning to N. Korea
South Korea and the United States have been holding combined air exercises this week, military officials here said Thursday. According to the officials, the air forces of South Korea and the US Forces Korea began their squadron-level exercises on Monday. The exercises will end Friday. "This is an annual, typical combined exercises designed to improve execution of our joint operations," a South Korean Air Force official said. "The length and the size of the exercises are on par
April 24, 2020
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[News Focus] Flat virus curve lifts Moon’s popularity
President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating is at its highest level in over a year, buoyed by the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a survey conducted by local pollster Realmeter, Moon’s approval rating came to 64.3 percent in the fourth week of April, the highest figure since September 2018. Surveys conducted earlier by other pollsters show similar results. In a poll conducted by Gallup Korea two days before the April 15 general elections, Moon’s approv
April 23, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Busan mayor resigns over sexual harassment allegations
Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don stepped down from his post Thursday, admitting to “unnecessary physical contact” with a female subordinate. “I realized the contact that occured during a short meeting that lasted five minutes could be taken as sexual harassment,” Oh said in a press briefing, adding that what he had done -- however light or heavy -- could not be forgiven. “As a responsible public servant, I apologize to victims and will spend the rest of my life repenti
April 23, 2020
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Ruling party, govt. reach compromise on blanket coronavirus relief payouts
The ruling party and government reached a compromise Wednesday to offer blanket payouts to all citizens in a proposed coronavirus relief package that includes a plan to encourage high-income earners to voluntarily return the payments later, a party official said. The compromise capped a days-long debate among key Democratic Party and government officials over whether to offer targeted support to those in need or handouts to all, with the finance ministry fretful over the potential impact on
April 22, 2020
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Seoul to inject additional W85tr into COVID-19 economic response
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday revealed plans for 85 trillion won ($68.8 billion) worth of additional support packages to shore up the economy, including plans to create 500,000 new jobs. Speaking at an emergency economy meeting, Moon also revealed plans to roll out a South Korean version of the New Deal. “Protecting jobs is the central task in overcoming the crisis, and it is a matter of survival,” Moon said. Saying Korea had just seen the beginning of the crisis, Moon warned
April 22, 2020
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Panel accuses former president's aides of obstructing Sewol probe
A state truth commission on Wednesday accused senior members of the Park Geun-hye administration of obstructing a fact-finding team on the 2014 deadly ferry sinking. The Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters said it will request a prosecution probe this week into 19 former and incumbent officials and 10 government bodies on charges of interfering with personnel affairs of a now defunct state panel tasked with probing the Sewol ferry's sinking and the government's mishandling of
April 22, 2020
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Ruling, opposition parties fail to narrow gap over virus relief funds
The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday continued to press the main opposition party over its changed stance on doling out funds to minimize the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, as President Moon Jae-in called for an early conclusion of the matter. In a meeting with his top aides, Moon stressed the need to resolve the issue as early as possible, given the importance of speed in implementing the emergency measure, according to a Cheong Wa Dae official. The rival parties ha
April 22, 2020
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Moon unveils W40t relief package for key industries, job retention
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday announced a massive relief package, worth 40 trillion won ($32 billion), for South Korea's key industries disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The funds are meant to help them weather the crisis, which Moon characterized as the worst since the 1997 financial meltdown, and to help maintain employment. Moon also unveiled an additional job protection scheme that involves spending 10 trillion won to cushion the COVID-19 impact on the country's job market. Har
April 22, 2020