Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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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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[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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Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030
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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
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[Newsmaker] Main opposition party leader steps down over election defeat
Hong Joon-pyo, the chief of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, resigned Thursday after his party suffered a crushing defeat in the previous day's local elections.The LKP won only two of the 17 big mayoral and gubernatorial races contested in Wednesday's local elections. It also won only one parliamentary seat in by-elections held concurrently with the local elections.Hong's resignation was widely expected as he wrote a message on his Facebook saying "The buck stops here." Liberty Korea Pa
June 14, 2018
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[Newsmaker] Minor opposition party leader resigns after election fiasco
A co-leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party resigned Thursday after the party fared so poorly in Wednesday's local elections in a fiasco that even raised questions about whether it can continue to exist.The party won only 20 minor races in the elections, where more than 4,000 local administrative, legislative and educational posts, including 17 big-city mayoralties and provincial governorships, were up for grabs, in addition to 12 National Assembly seats."I solemnly accept the people's
June 14, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Election victory to enhance Moon's reform, peace drive
The landslide victory of the ruling Democratic Party in the local elections and parliamentary by-elections is expected to greatly enhance President Moon Jae-in's grip on domestic politics, also strengthening and accelerating the administration's ongoing reform drive.In the latest local elections held Wednesday, the ruling party won 14 out of the 17 major races for top administrative posts in provincial and metropolitan city governments, showed ballot counting by the National Election Commission.
June 14, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Ruling party scores sweeping victory in June elections
Taking place in the sophomore year of the Moon Jae-in administration and at the height of pivotal peninsular dialogue, the June 13 local and parliamentary by-elections -- dubbed the “mini-general election” -- ended in a landslide victory for the ruling progressive party, reflecting the political sentiment here.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea grasped 14 of the 17 metropolitan mayor and governor posts in Wednesday‘s local elections, while the main opposition Liberty Korea Party secured only t
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Turnout rate records second highest at 60.2 percent
The tentative voter turnout at this year’s local and gubernatorial elections is 60.2 percent, recording the second highest figure ever for local elections, the election watchdog said on Wednesday. As of 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, about 22.7 percent of the ballots were counted. If the figure surpasses 60 percent, it will be the first time the turnout rate has passed the 60 percent mark in 23 years. The highest turnout rate was recorded in the very first local and gubernatorial election in 1995, at
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Ruling party expands seats, paves way for 2020 election
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday won most of the parliamentary seats at the June 13 by-elections, confirming its position as the leading political party. This year‘s set of local and parliamentary by-elections were dubbed the “mini-general elections,” and seen as a crucial step leading to bigger political events in the coming years, including the general and presidential elections.While the victorious ruling party is set to enjoy greater political momentum, the opposition camp i
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Liberal educators re-elected for Seoul, Gyeonggi superintendents
The June 13 local elections determined 17 new education chiefs across the country where education is a big focus, along with other administrative and legislative posts. Seoul’s superintendent hopeful Cho Hee-yeon celebrates Wednesday after exit polls showed his victory in local elections after vote closed at 6:00 p.m. YonhapAmong the 59 candidates was Cho Hee-yeon, an incumbent education superintendent in Seoul, whose liberal education policies and ideas often invited criticism from conservative
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Heads of two opposition parties likely to resign over election defeat
The chiefs of two opposition parties are likely to step down as a result of their crushing defeat in Wednesday's local elections, party officials said.Hong Joon-pyo, the chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, is expected to offer to resign as early as Thursday, an official said. Hong Joon-pyo, the chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (Yonhap)An exit poll suggested the party won only two out of 17 major mayoral and gubernatorial posts up for grabs, while the ruling De
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] President Moon spends Election Day hiking mountain
President Moon Jae-in spent a rare free day on the local and gubernatorial Election Day on Wednesday by hiking Bugaksan with his dog, Maru.Moon had already cast his vote Friday, the first day of the three-day advance voting weekend. First lady Kim Jung-sook had accompanied him at the temporary voting station set up at Samcheong-dong community service center. So on Election Day itself, a state-designated holiday encouraging people to spend their free day by going to the polls, President Moon took
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Exit poll suggests ruling party overwhelmingly wins local elections
A joint exit poll by three major TV broadcasters suggested the ruling Democratic Party won 14 of the 17 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial posts contested in Wednesday's local elections. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party probably secured only two seats, according to the poll released just after the vote ended at 6 p.m. In parliamentary by-elections, held simultaneously with local elections for the first time, the DP was forecast to secure 10 of the 12 seats up for grabs, while the
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] Women urge voters to write ‘more female candidates’ on ballot
On the day of the quadrennial local elections in South Korea, a movement went viral to cast invalid votes as a protest against the lack of female candidates. A Korean hashtag, which translates into “(write) ‘female politicians’ on ballot,” started appearing on Twitter several days before the June 13 elections kicked off. As of Wednesday afternoon, tens of thousands of posts with the hashtag or those mentioning the issue have poured out online. (Yonhap)One Twitter user who used the hashtag clarif
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] A numerical look at local elections
In the quadrennial local and gubernatorial elections and by-elections this year, South Korea is electing 4,028 local administrative, legislative and educational officials, and 9,363 candidates made their bids for the positions, according to the National Election Commission. According to the NEC, this year’s budget for the elections was 1.7 trillion won ($1.58 billion), of which 511 billion won was used for voting facilities, staff and necessary materials. As by-elections for parliamentary repres
June 13, 2018
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[2018 Local Elections] June elections reflect political sentiment in midst of peninsular talks
Taking place in the sophomore year of the Moon Jae-in administration and at the height of pivotal peninsular dialogue, the June 13 local and parliamentary by-elections -- dubbed the “mini-general election” – have functioned as an intermediary gauge for political sentiment here.While Moon’s ruling party focused on securing more parliamentary seats for the sake of policy leverage, the largely conservative and fractured opposition camp has seen the event as restructuring momentum ahead of bigger fi
June 13, 2018
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South Korean voters go to polls in local elections
South Korea began voting Wednesday in local elections and parliamentary by-elections which are seen as a referendum on liberal President Moon Jae-in's administration.At stake are 4,016 local administrative, legislative and educational posts, including 17 metropolitan mayoralties and provincial governorships. The by-elections are to fill 12 vacant parliamentary seats.Voting kicked off at 6:00 a.m. and was to run until 6:00 p.m. at 14,134 polling centers nationwide, according to the National Elect
June 13, 2018
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South Korea’s local elections kicks off day after US-NK summit
South Korea’s quadrennial local elections will kick off Wednesday at 6 a.m. across 14,134 polling centers nationwide, one day after the historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. Officials from the Dobong District Office set up one of the polling centers in the northern side of Seoul ahead of the local elections. YonhapIn the elections, 4,016 local administrative, legislative and educational posts are up for grabs, including the posts of 17 provincial
June 12, 2018
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Moon calls for active participation in local elections
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called on the people to actively participate in the local elections, also urging government efforts until the last minute to make them the fairest elections in history."I ask you to take special efforts to make the elections fair elections as they will be the first nationwide elections under this government," the president said in a Cabinet meeting held at his office Cheong Wa Dae one day before the elections."I ask you to do your utmost until the very last minut
June 12, 2018
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Parties appeal for support on final day of election campaign
South Korean parties made last-ditch efforts to appeal for voter support Tuesday, one day ahead of the local elections and parliamentary by-elections, which are seen as a barometer of public sentiment toward President Moon Jae-in.Up for grabs are 4,016 local administrative, legislative and educational posts, including 17 metropolitan mayors and provincial governors. The by-elections also will be held to fill 12 vacant parliamentary seats.The local elections will be held Wednesday from 6:00 a.m.
June 12, 2018
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Prosecution recommends 8-year sentence for ex-finance minister over bribery
Prosecutors on Monday sought an eight-year jail term for former Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan over bribery charges.Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office asked the court to sentence Choi to eight years in prison and to fine him 200 million won ($185,870) on charges that he took 100 million won from the National Intelligence Service in 2014, while serving as finance minister. (Yonhap)The prosecution also recommended that the court require Choi, currently a lawmaker of the main opposition L
June 11, 2018
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Controversies heat up as local elections nears
With two days to go before South Korea’s local elections, controversies started heating up Monday, surrounding political scandals. Former spokesman for the major conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party Chung Tae-ok. YonhapCandidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Gyeonggi Province residents said Monday that they are set to sue Chung Tae-ok, a former spokesman for the major conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party, for defaming the province’s regions. On Thursday, Chung sai
June 11, 2018
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[2018 Local elections] 100,000 foreign resident voters miss out on election information
South Korea became the first country in Asia to allow voting rights to foreign residents in local elections in 2005. At this year’s local elections on June 13, over 100,000 non-Korean nationals are eligible to vote. Although it has been more than a decade since the voting rights were granted, the non-Korean electorate still misses out on details of the elections and candidates’ platforms.Shah Rafiq, a Pakistani who has lived in Korea for over 14 years, said he would not vote in the upcoming elec
June 11, 2018