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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Chung Sye-kyun tapped for prime minister
Six-term lawmaker Rep. Chung Sye-kyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was nominated for the post of prime minister on Tuesday. “The government has endeavored to reform old systems, and (establish an) innovative and inclusive economy to create a country (where) the people ‘live well together,’” President Moon Jae-in said in announcing the nomination. “To do this, the most important thing is concentrating the strengths of the people through unity and harmony,
Dec. 17, 2019
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Preliminary candidate registration begins for April parliamentary elections
Preliminary candidate registration for the parliamentary elections in April began Tuesday, while a fast-track bill on electoral reform remains pending at the National Assembly amid continued partisan strife.The National Election Commission said preliminary candidacy registration is open from Tuesday through March 25 for the April 15 general elections for the 21st National Assembly.Those who register as preliminary candidates can begin certain campaign activities such as opening campaign offices,
Dec. 17, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Cho Kuk appears for questioning
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk appeared at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning Monday. Cho is accused of wrongly suspending an internal investigation of former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo in 2017, then a senior official at the Financial Services Commission. Yoo, who is detained, was indicted Friday. Yoon Do-han, senior secretary to the president for public communication, denied that the Blue House stopped the inspection. He said Cho’s office ran the ins
Dec. 16, 2019
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Moon urges special measures to create jobs for those in 40s
President Moon Jae-in emphasized the urgency Monday of introducing "special measures" to create jobs, in particular, for South Koreans in their 40s, while striking an upbeat note on the overall economic situations here next year."(The government) has tried to support economic vitality and growth with expansionary fiscal policies, bringing hope that it will be better next year than this year," he said during his weekly meeting with senior Cheong Wa Dae aides. Moon's opening re
Dec. 16, 2019
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Conservative ex-mayor summoned in ‘BH election-meddling’ scandal probe
Former conservative Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon, who lost his reelection bid to liberal opponent Song Cheol-ho in 2018, faced questioning by the prosecution for the second consecutive day Monday over suspected election meddling by Cheong Wa Dae.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office summoned Kim at 10 a.m. Monday for a second round of questioning regarding suspicions Cheong Wa Dae was behind the police probe into Kim’s close associates ahead of the elections last year. Kim was q
Dec. 16, 2019
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Moon names new anti-corruption secretary amid political scandals involving Cheong Wa Dae
President Moon Jae-in appointed a prosecutor-turned-lawyer as his new secretary for anti-corruption Monday, as state prosecutors are looking into allegations that Cheong Wa Dae is involved in influence-peddling scandals.The pick of Lee Myung-shin working at the Kim & Chang law firm based in Seoul followed the resignation of Park Hyoung-chul from the post. Park quit his Cheong Wa Dae job recently, facing state prosecutors' probe into the alleged cover-up of a 2017 internal inspection into Yoo
Dec. 16, 2019
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Moon in dilemma over next prime minister
Having picked a nominee to become justice minister after long consideration, President Moon Jae-in faces a similar kind of major task: deciding whether to replace his prime minister and, if so, whom to choose.Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is the front-runner to become Moon's successor in various opinion polls, while the next presidential race is more than two years away.Lee is reportedly hoping to return to the ruling Democratic Party (DP) to play a role in the April 15 general elections in 2020.Le
Dec. 14, 2019
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Moon cites history lessons over 'fairness, freedom, equality' from
President Moon Jae-in on Friday emphasized lessons from a couple of historic events here against Japan's colonial rule in the 1900s, saying South Korea still has a ways to go to promote fairness, freedom and equality.This year, South Korea has commemorated the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement and the establishment of a provisional government in Shanghai. The two are highlights of Korea's fight against Japan's brutal colonization from 1910-45."The most important reaso
Dec. 13, 2019
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[News Focus] Only 1 in 5 support Moon’s apartment policies: poll
SEJONG -- The approval ratings for President Moon Jae-in have recently inched up to hover around 45 percent, according to a variety of surveys by major pollsters.A noteworthy point in the latest polls was that citizens showed wide disparity in their approval or disapproval of the president according to policy segments. This was seen in support ratings for Moon between real estate policies and prosecution reform.According to a survey from Gallup Korea -- conducted Dec. 3-5 and released Dec. 8 --
Dec. 12, 2019
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Six-term lawmaker Chung rises as potential prime minister
The presidential office is looking into six-term lawmaker Rep. Chung Sye-kyun as a possible replacement for Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, local news outlets reported Thursday. According to reports, Cheong Wa Dae received written confirmation from Chung agreeing to be subjected to the presidential office’s vetting process, Wednesday. Chung is a six-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. He served as National Assembly speaker from June 2016 to May 2018. He has also served
Dec. 12, 2019
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New chiefs of three key govt. agencies appointed
Cheong Wa Dae appointed new vice minister-level heads of three major government agencies Thursday in a routine shake-up. Roh Suk-hwan, deputy commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, has been promoted to lead the organization. The office of President Moon Jae-in also named Mo Jong-hwa, a retired Army general who serves as vice chairman of the Korea Defense Industry Association, as chief of the Military Manpower Administration.It promoted Park Chong-ho, deputy head of the Korea Forest Serv
Dec. 12, 2019
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Moon vows govt. efforts to transform agricultural system
President Moon Jae-in said Thursday his government will push for the epoch-making development of the country's agricultural and fisheries sectors in tandem with a response to the fourth industrial revolution. He laid out a vision for the "bold transformation" of the farming field during a town hall meeting at the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, some 240 kilometers southeast of Seoul.The liberal Moon administration's policy motto is
Dec. 12, 2019
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[Exclusive] Corrupt prosecutors unheard of in Germany: Berlin anti-graft chief
In South Korea, the heated debate on the introduction of prosecution reform bills continues to rage on, leaving the National Assembly paralyzed over their passage and deepening a social divide. The proposals have been prompted by the prosecution’s long history of failing to dig deep into corruption allegations involving prosecutors, among other misconducts. The bills create an independent anti-corruption body to investigate corruption allegations involving senior public officials, inclu
Dec. 11, 2019
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Court rebukes prosecutors during trial of ex-justice minister’s wife
The court has turned down prosecutors’ request to make changes to the initial complaint filed against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, a professor at a private university.Chung was indicted Sept. 6, the day of her husband’s confirmation hearing, on suspicion of having forged a document to influence her daughter’s admission to medical school.During a pretrial hearing held Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecutors’ pro
Dec. 11, 2019
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Moon asks for confirmation hearing for justice minister nominee
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday sent to the National Assembly a request for a confirmation hearing for justice minister candidate Choo Mi-ae, the presidential office said. Moon approved the request earlier in the day, according to the office. In South Korea, nominees for ministerial positions are subject to nonbinding confirmation hearings by the Assembly. According to a related law, the Assembly is supposed to complete a confirmation hearing and send the president a report on it within
Dec. 11, 2019
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National Assembly passes 512.3tr won budget bill
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed next year's budget bill, worth 512.3 trillion won ($ 429.9 billion), after fierce partisan strife.The government had proposed a 2020 budget worth 513.5 trillion won, but the ruling Democratic Party put forward the revision bill after consultations with four minor opposition parties. The national budget for 2020 would increase 9.1 percent from this year.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party presented its own revision bill worth 499.2 trillion won at
Dec. 10, 2019
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Parliament passes children safety bills in plenary session
South Korea's parliament passed uncontested bills, including those on children safety, in its morning plenary session Tuesday, without reviewing the budget bill and other contentious bills on electoral and prosecution reform.Among the 16 bills that were passed in the morning session were those on children's road safety. The bills, each named after the two boys who died from safety accidents, are aimed at reinforcing road safety by mandating surveillance cameras in school zones to prevent speedin
Dec. 10, 2019
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National Assembly suspends voting on fast-tracked reform bills
The National Assembly decided Monday to suspend voting on the fiercely contested fast-tracked bills, including election and prosecution reforms, and to postpone its plenary session until Tuesday. With the help of the National Assembly speaker, the three major parties – the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Liberty Korea Party and minor conservative Bareunmirae Party – came to the interim agreement. The longstanding battle over the reform proposals came to a cease-fire as the Liber
Dec. 9, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Centrist third party on course to split
Minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, formed in February last year to challenge the bipartisan establishment, is on the verge of splitting.The party’s meeting for “nonpartisan initiative” has launched a committee to prepare for the formation of a new party with “a centrist reform agenda.”Heading the committee is Rep. Ha Tae-keung, a conservative politician who helped integrate factions supporting two former third-party presidential candidates, Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Se
Dec. 8, 2019
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Speaker to put election, prosecution reform bills to vote this week
The National Assembly will vote on fiercely contested fast-tracked bills -- including election and prosecution reforms -- during its plenary session Monday and Tuesday. But the bills could come to a vote Wednesday, when the parliament convenes a special session, as the main opposition Liberty Korea Party is keen to stage a filibuster to block voting. On Friday, the floor leaders of the three parties – the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Liberty Korea Party and minor conservative Bareu
Dec. 8, 2019