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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Ruling party hopes to extend dominance in Incheon, Gyeonggi
With more than a quarter of the constituencies in the balance in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, the ruling and main opposition parties are concentrating much of their firepower in the region in the run-up to the general elections. On Thursday, both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition United Future Party fielded heavyweights in the region to support their candidates’ campaigns, as they each seek at least half of the 72 constituencies there. The ruling party is said
April 10, 2020
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S. Korea begins 2-day early voting for April 15 parliamentary elections
South Korea kicked off two days of early voting for the April 15 parliamentary elections on Friday in the midst of its fight against the new coronavirus pandemic. Eligible voters will be able to cast ballots at 3,508 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6.p.m. through Saturday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The country will conduct the polls in the midst of its battle against COVID-19, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases here. Guaranteeing voter safety at polli
April 10, 2020
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Moon vows W210b funds for COVID-19 vaccine R&D
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday pledged 210 billion won ($172 million) for the development of medicines and vaccines, including one for the novel coronavirus, saying he wants the country to lead the world not just in virus control but also in the prevention and cure of COVID-19. Presiding over a meeting of five related parties -- the government, academia, research institutions, hospitals and pharmaceutical firms -- Moon promised to cut the red tape to expedite clinical trials. “Wit
April 9, 2020
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2-day early voting for April parliamentary elections to kick off Saturday
South Korea's election watchdog said Thursday the country will begin two days of early voting for the April 15 parliamentary elections the following day in the midst of the fight against the new coronavirus outbreak. Eligible voters will be able to cast ballots at 3,508 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Friday and Saturday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The parliamentary elections that occur every four years will be held in the midst of the battl
April 9, 2020
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Opposition campaign chief apologizes for candidates' remarks
The campaign chief of South Korea's main opposition party apologized Thursday for two candidates' controversial remarks a week ahead of the parliamentary elections. The United Future Party (UFP) decided Wednesday to expel candidate Kim Dae-ho for disparaging those in specific age groups and people with disability. The conservative party also referred Cha Myeong-jin to its ethics committee for slandering families of the victims of the 2014 ferry disaster. "I sincerely apologize for the tw
April 9, 2020
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In bellwether Seoul, ruling Democratic Party ‘confident’ of victory
Seoul, which is the largest metropolis in South Korea that comprises one-fifth of the country’s 50 million-strong population, is a key battleground in the April 15 parliamentary elections between liberals and conservatives. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea said it has a clear lead in at least 33 out of 49 constituencies in the capital. The main opposition United Future Party projected it would secure 17 seats. The governing party expects to pick up seats in its traditional liberal
April 9, 2020
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Election candidates run eye-catching campaigns amid coronavirus pandemic
Some candidates running in the April 15 parliamentary elections have been running eye-catching campaigns without having close contact with voters, in a bid to maintain social distancing and boost morale amid the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has changed conventional methods of campaigning due to concerns that reaching out to voters could increase the risk of infection. Instead of shaking hands with voters, politicians are using fist bumps at election rallies. But quarantine auth
April 8, 2020
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3 out of 4 Koreans dissatisfied with political situation: poll
Three out of 4 South Koreans said they were dissatisfied with the country’s political situation, according to the results of a survey summarized in a recent report. The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and Seoul National University’s Center for Social Welfare conducted the poll of 6,331 households between February and May last year. The topics were political participation, political orientation and perception of welfare. Of the respondents, 74.88 percent said they wer
April 8, 2020
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Korea mulls temporary lifting of self-isolation for general elections
The government is considering limited lifting of self-isolation measures to enable individuals whose movements have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to vote in the general elections. According to the National Election Commission, concerned government agencies are considering a number of measures for those affected by the isolation and quarantine measures. Korea currently enforces a two-week isolation period -- at home or in government facilities -- on those arriving from ove
April 8, 2020
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Hit by coronavirus, overseas voter turnout at record-low
Disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, overseas citizens' voting in South Korea's parliamentary elections recorded the lowest-ever turnout of 23.8 percent, the National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday. Only 40,858 of 171,959 people eligible for overseas voting for the April 15 elections cast their ballots, amounting to the lowest rate since the system was introduced in 2012. The number was 45.7 percent in 2012 and 41.4 in 2016, according to NEC. Overseas voting was conducted from April
April 7, 2020
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Moon appreciates quarantine workers' service at Incheon airport
President Moon Jae-in visited Incheon International Airport on Tuesday for a meeting with quarantine workers fighting the coronavirus on World Health Day, according to his Facebook message. He expressed gratitude to them for their dedicated service at the main gateway of South Korea, the front line of the country's fight against COVID-19. It is located an hour's drive west of Seoul. "Thank you, and thank you again," Moon wrote, praising them for working "day and night" to
April 7, 2020
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Ruling party pledges virus relief money for all income levels
Scrambling to make appeals to voters ahead of elections next week, rival political groups on Monday proposed coronavirus relief subsidies for all South Korean citizens to mitigate the economic fallout from the pandemic. Lee Hae-chan, the leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said Monday that the ruling party will push to expand the scope of the government’s stimulus program to have all income brackets benefit from it. The government’s plan, announced last week, envis
April 6, 2020
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Moon urges finance industry’s support for economic measures
President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged South Korean banks to ensure that the government’s financial measures against the COVID-19 pandemic are executed as smoothly as possible. Speaking at a meeting with heads of major private and state-run financial institutions, Moon stressed the importance of the financial sector’s role in shoring up the economy against the impact of the pandemic. “The finance (sector) is like the medical staff on the frontlines of quarantine. Just as th
April 6, 2020
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S. Korea to hold April 15 elections at 14,330 polling stations across nation
South Korea will hold the April 15 parliamentary elections at 14,330 polling stations across the nation, the election watchdog said Monday. To promote voters' accessibility, 99.1 percent of the polling stations will be set up on the first floor of designated facilities or at those with elevators, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). South Korea will hold the general elections in the midst of its fight against the new coronavirus outbreak. To prioritize voter safety, the NEC e
April 6, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Korea to push for abolishing statute of limitations for child sex crime
The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the government have agreed to push for abolishing the statute of limitations for sex crime involving children and minors. DP and government officials held a consultative meeting Sunday to discuss ways to strengthen the punishment of digital sex crime in response to a high-profile sex exploitation case at online chat rooms involving minors, widely known as the "Nth room case." At least 103 people, including 26 underage girls, are known to have been
April 6, 2020
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Moon's approval rating hits this year's high at 53.7%: Realmeter
President Moon Jae-in's approval rating has ascended to this year's highest of 53.7 percent, a poll showed Monday, amid a widespread view that his administration is coping effectively with the coronavirus. In the five-day phone survey of 2,521 people nationwide, age 18 or older, through last Friday, Moon's popularity rose 1.1 percentage points from a week earlier, while the portion of those critical of his leadership fell 0.9 percentage point to 43.2 percent, according to Realmeter. The margin
April 6, 2020
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[Graphic News] S. Korea halts overseas election process in US, 24 other nations
South Korea will stop overseas election affairs for the April polls in 41 diplomatic missions of 25 nations, including the United States, over the coronavirus pandemic until April 6, according to the National Election Commission. The move followed last week’s decision to suspend the election process in Italy and 16 other countries and territories over the COVID-19 pandemic. The total affected diplomatic missions reached 65 in 41 countries, the NEC said. An estimated 80,500 voters
April 5, 2020
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Rival parties project victories in half of constituencies
The campaigns for the April 15 general elections are heating up, with the ruling and main opposition parties each hoping to secure the majority of constituencies. While there are only 253 constituencies up for grabs, both the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition United Future Party are projecting victory in 123 to 130 constituencies. The Democratic Party considers its candidates to have the upper hand in 134 of the 253 constituencies, while the United Future Party considers victo
April 5, 2020
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Ahn urges parties to return campaign subsidies
Ahn Cheol-soo, head of the centrist People’s Party, called on political parties to return campaign subsidies they received from the government, saying the coronavirus pandemic has dampened conventional campaigning activities, bringing down overall costs. “Our economy is in a total disarray and many people are pushed to their limits. (...) Are we going to spend all the taxpayers’ money at a time like this? Are we even entitled?” the politician wrote on Facebook on Frid
April 3, 2020
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Moon vows support for proposed legislation on April 3 Jeju incident
President Moon Jae-in assured Jeju residents Friday that his administration would make every possible effort to legislate compensation for the victims and bereaved families of the April 3 massacre there seven decades ago. He was addressing an annual ceremony to commemorate the tragic incident, during which tens of thousands of civilians were killed by the authorities in a yearslong bloody crackdown on the southern island. They were protesting against US military-led rule following Korea's liber
April 3, 2020