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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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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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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Proposed new merged conservative party has 25% approval rating
One in four South Koreans said they would support a new party created after the merger of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the minor New Conservative Party, receiving a lower rating than the ruling Democratic Party, a poll showed Wednesday. Commissioned by online news outlet OhmyNews, Realmeter conducted a survey of 1,002 people adults nationwide between Monday and Tuesday. In the survey, the approval rating for the new integrated conservative party came to 25.1 percent. Under th
Jan. 22, 2020
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LKP vows push for constitutional revision through election victory
The head of South Korea's main opposition party said Wednesday it will seek a new constitutional system to check the "regal" power of the country's president, claiming its harmful consequences are prevalent under the Moon Jae-in administration.To that end, it is important for the conservative bloc to score an overwhelming victory in the April 15 general elections, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, stressed in his New Year's press conference."A general election vict
Jan. 22, 2020
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Hormuz troop dispatch plan causes political controversy
The South Korean government's decision to send troops to the Strait of Hormuz triggered political debate, with the ruling and opposition parties at odds over the highly controversial issue, especially on the subject of whether parliamentary approval is needed.The Ministry of National Defense announced its plan on Tuesday to provisionally expand the operational area of the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit stationed in the Gulf of Aden so it can be deployed to the critical transportation chokepoint.The
Jan. 22, 2020
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Moon picks Cho Kuk's ex-assistant as new presidential secretary
President Moon Jae-in appointed a lawyer who worked as a policy assistant to former Justice Minister Cho Kuk as a new presidential secretary Monday, a choice expected to trigger public controversy.Moon named Kim Mi-kyoung as his secretary for balanced personnel affairs, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Kim served as deputy secretary at Cheong Wa Dae from 2017-2019 under Cho, who was senior secretary for civil affairs.Cho was later picked to lead the Ministry of Justice, causing weeks of massive stree
Jan. 20, 2020
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Moon to hold 1st weekly meeting with new prime minister
President Moon Jae-in will have his first weekly consultation with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Monday, Cheong Wa Dae officials said, as the president is seeking to give him more authority over state affairs.Moon used to have a luncheon meeting with Chung's predecessor Lee Nak-yon at the presidential compound on Mondays for discussions on major policies."President Moon will continue such a meeting with Prime Minister Chung," a Cheong Wa Dae official said. "This will be their f
Jan. 20, 2020
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Ahn pledges to present centrist political vision
Ahn Cheol-soo, founder of the Bareunmirae Party and former presidential contender, said Sunday that he will challenge Korean politics, characterized by idealistic rivalries and partisan strife, with a new centrist political movement. Upon his arrival from Canada, Ahn pledged, in front of hundreds of his supporters at the Incheon International Airport, a practical and realistic political vision to better the livelihood of the people. “I will take the lead in correcting the current governmen
Jan. 19, 2020
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Ahn set to return home to resume political activity ahead of April elections
With fewer than 100 days before the April parliamentary elections, Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate, was set to return home Sunday to resume his political career after a year-long hiatus.Ahn, once popular with his "new politics" mantra, retreated from politics following his defeat in the Seoul mayoral race in June 2018. He left for Germany to study in September 2018 and then moved to the United States.Early this month, he made a surprise announcement of his plan to return
Jan. 19, 2020
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Ex-Semo chairman's family ordered to pay 70% of state expenses on Sewol ferry disaster
Three children of a former chairman of Semo Group, which was involved in the operation of the Sewol ferry that sank off South Korea's southwestern coast in 2014, were ordered by a local court Friday to cover 70 percent of the state funds spent to deal with the ferry sinking.The Seoul Central District Court ordered former Semo Group Chairman Yoo Byung-eun's three children -- 53-year-old daughter Yoo Sum-na, 51-year-old daughter Yoo Sang-na and 47-year-old son Yoo Hyuk-ki -- to pay a total of 170
Jan. 17, 2020
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Moon to have dinner with ruling party officials
President Moon Jae-in has invited senior ruling party officials to a dinner with him at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday to thank them for the passage of several key reform bills, his aides said.The meeting will be joined by Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party, and 13 other party officials who led negotiations with some opposition parties in the process of handling the bills, especially those on electoral and prosecution reform. It will be Moon's first dinner with the ruling party lea
Jan. 17, 2020
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Moon urges 'tangible' results from New Northern Policy this year
President Moon Jae-in called Friday for all-out efforts to pull off "tangible" accomplishments from his administration's New Northern Policy aimed at improving South Korea's partnerships with Russia and other countries located north of the peninsula.He made the comment while receiving a briefing from Kwon Goo-hoon, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation, on the panel's major policy goals this year.Moon launched the body weeks after taking office in May
Jan. 17, 2020
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Growing numbers of illegal stayers leave Korea voluntarily
A growing number of foreigners staying illegally in South Korea are voluntarily leaving the country after the government offered various incentives, including an opportunity for reentry, to overstayers choosing to voluntary depart, a government agency said Friday.According to the Incheon Immigration Office, the number of illegal stayers leaving the country of their own free will soared 66 percent from 433 last November to 720 last December. In the first 14 days of this month, the number already
Jan. 17, 2020
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Moon stresses govt. role in fostering AI sector
President Moon Jae-in said Thursday his government will make every effort to promote South Korea's artificial intelligence industry on the basis of its information technology prowess.He emphasized that the country has great potential to become an AI powerhouse while starting a meeting to receive a briefing from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission on this year's core policy goals.It was held at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in
Jan. 16, 2020
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Moon says no letup in 'peaceful Korea' bid based on alliance with US
President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his unswerving push for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, delivering a message to ethnic Koreans living in the United States.He pointed out that 2020 marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in his statement for an annual Korean American Day event held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (local time), according to Cheong Wa Dae. It was read by Ambassador to Washington Lee Soo-hyuck on behalf of the president."(I) feel like that all Korea
Jan. 15, 2020
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Ruling party expects ex-PM to play pivotal role in general elections
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon returned to the Democratic Party on Wednesday, amid expectations that he will be a key candidate for the ruling camp in the general elections in April.Korea’s longest-serving prime minister wrapped up his term of two years and eight months on Tuesday, kicking off the day by attending the ruling party’s Supreme Council meeting. Democratic Party Chairman Lee Hae-chan said he expects Lee Nak-yeon to play a core role when the party launches its in
Jan. 15, 2020
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Rights committee chief raises worries over eased data regulations
The head of the national human rights committee on Wednesday voiced concern over a set of bills aiming to ease regulations on the use of personal information, citing the possibility of privacy breaches.Despite opposition from some civic groups, the National Assembly passed three data-related bills last week that are intended to enable the use of personal information offered under aliases for compiling statistics and industrial research.While the identity of people whose personal information have
Jan. 15, 2020
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PM urges monitoring of economic impact of US-Iran tensions, response readiness
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed government officials Wednesday to closely monitor the repercussions of tensions between the United States and Iran on the South Korean economy and boost their readiness to make a swift response.Chung, who took office Tuesday, said there has been no reported damage to South Korean companies in the Middle East and South Korea's oil imports and trade remain stable."But if the unstable situation in the Middle East continues, it could have repercussions o
Jan. 15, 2020
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Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson to quit for upcoming election
Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung has tendered her resignation, seeking to run in the April 15 general elections, an informed source said Wednesday.President Moon Jae-in is expected to accept it later in the day, as his office is in the final stage of selecting her successor, according to the source."Her replacement will likely be announced soon, probably before the Lunar New Year holidays," the source added, requesting anonymity. Lunar New Year starts late next week. Two other pr
Jan. 15, 2020
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Conservatives reel from blistering encounters
A day after suffering two painful setbacks, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party ratcheted up its rhetoric toward the liberal ruling camp, condemning almost every bit of President Moon Jae-in’s New Year’s press conference. Calling the Moon administration “a tyranny,” the party’s spokesperson Jun Hee-kyung said, “How dare the government praise itself when it entered the path of judicial control, public welfare debacle and security breakdown?” The heigh
Jan. 14, 2020
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Moon says denuclearization talks still open, too early for pessimism
President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that hope remains for the denuclearization of North Korea and resolving the current Seoul-Tokyo discord. Speaking at a New Year’s press conference, Moon said that both North Korea and the US have shown they are open to dialogue. He expressed hopes for renewed momentum, saying prolonging the current deadlock would be detrimental to the process. “The North-US dialogue is not active, but the trust between President Trump and Chairman Kim, and the
Jan. 14, 2020
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[News Focus] Centrist voters hold key to April election outcome
SEJONG -- In South Korea, swing voters have often determined winners in the past presidential, general and local elections, playing a pivotal role.The swing voters who usually are ideologically neutral are estimated to take up 30-40 percent of the total voters across the nation. They are also roughly called centrists.Once more, the ruling and opposition parties are paying close attention to the opinion of centrists, three months ahead of the April 15 general election.According to recent surveys
Jan. 14, 2020