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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S. Korea halts overseas voting in 5 more countries
South Korea's election watchdog said Thursday it has decided to stop absentee voting for the April 15 parliamentary elections in five more overseas missions due to the coronavirus pandemic. The process will be suspended at Seoul's embassies in India, El Salvador and Oman, and two consulates in Russia and Iraq, according to the National Election Commission. Following the move, votes will not be cast at a total of 91 missions in 55 countries and territories. An estimated 87,252 voters will be
April 2, 2020
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Outlook for general elections remains uncertain
Campaigns for general elections have kicked off, with both mainstream parties vowing victory, but the outlook remains unclear. Thursday saw the start of the official campaign period for the April 15 general elections, which includes proportional representative parties for the first time, adding new variables to the mix. Recent polls show that both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition United Future Party’s support ratings, and those of their satellite parties, have
April 2, 2020
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Govt. vows to ensure safe voting environment amid virus outbreak
The government vowed Thursday to take measures to create a safe voting environment for the April 15 general elections, including disinfecting polling stations at home and abroad. The government also asked for understanding regarding its decision to suspend overseas voting in 51 countries, including the United States and many European countries, due to health risks, movement restrictions and lockdowns over the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was a decision made considering the impact on the safety
April 2, 2020
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Overseas voting for general elections kicks off
South Korean nationals living abroad began casting ballots for the April general elections Wednesday, but the global coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the process. A total of 171,959 overseas nationals registered to vote over six days through Monday, but some 80,000 won’t be able to do so in the aftermath of the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has killed over 42,000 people around the world. The National Election Commission has suspended election-related affairs at 65 diplomati
April 1, 2020
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S. Korea to use longest ballots for proportional representation voting
South Korea will have the longest ballots for proportional representation (PR) voting in the April parliamentary elections, as political parties targeting seats have sprung up due to the revised election law. The 48.1-centimeter ballots are the longest since the country adopted the current form of parliamentary elections in 2004. To elect the 300-member National Assembly, voters have to cast two ballots to pick a candidate running in a district and a political party. The ballots will be count
April 1, 2020
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Moon seeks tougher measures against imported cases
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday stressed the need to limit an influx of COVID-19 cases from overseas, calling for stern legal measures against those who violate related regulations. At the meeting, the government also postponed the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, or P4G, summit scheduled to be held in Seoul in June to next year. Speaking at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Moon said that while the outbreak is slowing in Korea, the country must remain vigilant as each
March 31, 2020
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S. Korea to put off P4G climate summit amid coronavirus outbreak
South Korea said Tuesday it has decided to postpone a major international summit on climate change to next year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It had been set to host the second P4G summit in Seoul in June. The government made the decision during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in earlier in the day, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. "(We) had prior consultations with major countries to be invited in connection with the issue," Cheong Wa
March 31, 2020
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Seoul hopes to soften economic impact with cash subsidies
South Korea will offer up to 1 million won ($820) in disaster relief subsidy to households as part of the efforts to soften the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Moon Jae-in revealed Monday. The government plans to submit a bill for another supplementary budget to raise the required funds. Speaking at an emergency economy meeting, Moon said that the subsidies will be given to households in the bottom 70 percent income group. The amount will vary depending on the number of
March 30, 2020
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S. Korea halts overseas election process in US, 24 other nations
South Korea's election watchdog said Monday it will stop overseas election affairs for the April polls in 41 diplomatic missions of 25 nations, including the United States, over the coronavirus pandemic. South Korea will halt the polling affairs for the April 15 parliamentary elections in the US, Canada and 23 other countries until April 6, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The move followed last week's decision to suspend the election process in Italy and 16 other countrie
March 30, 2020
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S. Korea to grant 'disaster relief money' for households, vows extra budget plan
The South Korean government will grant "emergency disaster relief money" to a majority of the country's households in a one-off stimulus program to help with the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis, President Moon Jae-in said Monday. He also unveiled a plan to seek another supplementary budget during a third session of the emergency economic council at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. "The government has decided to pay emergency disaster relief money" directly
March 30, 2020
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Parties head for showdown in polls over coronavirus handling
With rival political groups set to go head to head in the April parliamentary elections, the Moon Jae-in administration’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak is dominating election campaigns. The outbreak has killed at least 152 people in South Korea and infected 9,583 so far. The conservative opposition United Future Party is urging voters to pass judgment on the “failed” response of President Moon Jae-in and his ruling camp, while the liberal bloc is pinning hopes on a
March 29, 2020
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[Newsmaker] S. Korean coronavirus test kit firms earn US FDA pre-approval
Three South Korean COVID-19 test-kit companies have obtained preliminary approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the foreign ministry said Saturday. The initial FDA approval will allow the Korean test-kit makers to sell the products in the United States, where the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surpassed 100,000, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said over the phone. The official did not provide the names of the three approved test kits or a time frame
March 29, 2020
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Govt. mulling financial support for 10m households in wake of coronavirus
South Korea said Sunday it is considering providing financial support to 10 million lower-income households as part of emergency measures in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the plan, a four-member household whose income is below the median income can receive a one-time lump sum of up to 1 million won ($820), according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The proposed measure worth up to 6 trillion won is set to be discussed in this week's emergency economic council meeting to b
March 29, 2020
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S. Korea likely to maintain suspension of visa-waiver program for Japan over pandemic: PM
South Korea's prime minister said Friday the government is expected to continue suspending a visa-free entry program for Japanese nationals for the time being, citing the rising number of new coronavirus cases in Tokyo. On March 9, South Korea halted a visa-waiver program for Japan in a tit-for-tat response to Tokyo's decision to impose new entry restrictions for South Korean visitors over COVID-19. "Tokyo has recently reported a considerable number of confirmed cases. If the situation c
March 27, 2020
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Parties focus on virus responses for April elections
Appealing to voters with measures to tackle the new coronavirus, political parties ramped up election campaigning on Friday, the second and last day of candidate registration for the April 15 elections. The candidate registration for the parliamentary polls will end at 6 p.m. according to the National Election Commission (NEC). A total of 300 National Assembly seats will be up for grabs, with the number of the directly elected slots reaching 253 and that of proportional representation spots 47
March 27, 2020
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S. Korea begins mandatory 14-day self-quarantines on arrivals from US
South Korea reported 91 new novel coronavirus cases Friday, bringing the total infections to 9,332, as the government began to impose mandatory 14-day self-quarantine on arrivals from the US to contain imported cases from abroad. Under the new quarantine measures, incoming travelers from the US -- citizens and foreign nationals with long-tern visas -- must self-quarantine at their homes or designated facilities for 14 days. They are required to get tested for the virus only if they develop sy
March 27, 2020
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Full text of joint statement from G-20 virtual summit
The following is a full text of a joint statement adopted at the G-20 2020 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders Summit. It was provided by Cheong Wa Dae. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities. The virus respects no borders. Combatting this pandemic calls for a transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale and science-based global response in the spirit of solidarity. We are strongly committed to presenting
March 27, 2020
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S. Korea halts overseas absentee ballot processes in 17 countries
South Korea's election watchdog said Thursday that it has decided to stop the absentee ballot process for next month's general elections for citizens living in Italy and 16 other countries due to the coronavirus outbreak. The National Election Commission said the process will be suspended at 23 South Korean diplomatic missions in the 17 countries until April 6, meaning that eligible South Korean voters cannot cast their absentee ballots for the April 15 elections. Th
March 26, 2020
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Candidate registration for general election begins
Candidate registration for the April 15 elections began Thursday -- at stake are 300 seats in the 21st National Assembly. Largely overshadowed by the coronavirus outbreak, the poll outcome will shape the country’s political landscape two years before the next presidential election and serve as a litmus test of public sentiment for President Moon Jae-in and his liberal Democratic Party. Currently, the Democratic Party controls 121 seats in the unicameral parliament, which is
March 26, 2020
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President Moon’s approval rating rebounds on virus response
President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating rose to its highest level in more than 16 months, owing to the government’s COVID-19 response, local pollster Realmeter said Thursday. The country’s aggressive tracing and testing early in the pandemic has helped it to avoid drastic lockdowns. According to the poll, conducted between Monday and Wednesday, Moon’s approval rating stood at 52.5 percent, up 3.2 percentage points from the previous week. It was the highest since the
March 26, 2020