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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103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
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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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When two worlds collab: K-pop flexes power with global stars
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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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Special pardons aimed at helping ordinary people: Cheong Wa Dae
The latest pardon extended to more than 6,000 people here is only aimed at helping working-class citizens who deserve to be brought back into society and not those with power or money, an official from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday."The special pardon was designed from the very start to help those convicted of crimes while trying to make a living," the official told reporters while speaking on the condition of anonymity."And so, those convicted of disturbing public peace and
Dec. 29, 2017
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[News Focus] Is multiparty system viable in Korea?
A four-day vote of confidence in the People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo kicked off Wednesday, as he called for an all-member ballot to make a final decision on a proposed merger with the fellow minor opposition Bareun Party. The two minor opposition parties have long struggled to gain a foothold at the National Assembly, as two major parties dominate the legislative process. As a way of reaching a breakthrough, the leaders of the center-left People‘s Party and center-right Bareun Party have p
Dec. 28, 2017
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Political parties call on government to resolve comfort women deal
Political parties on Thursday expressed anger and called on the government to come up with a solution, as they reacted to the Foreign Ministry’s task force findings on Wednesday that revealed the former Park Geun-hye administration had deliberately kept secret parts of the 2015 agreement made with Japan on military sex slaves issue. The task force also concluded that the 2015 deal failed to resolve the issue and did not reflect the public sentiment.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party, howeve
Dec. 28, 2017
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Moon paints positive growth outlook, renews pledges for inclusive, innovative growth
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday voiced confidence that South Korea would continue to post economic growth of 3 percent or more next year and stressed that the benefits from it must filter through to ordinary citizens.During a meeting with top economic policymakers and experts, Moon also reaffirmed his drive for job creation in the public sector, swift deregulation to buttress "innovative" growth and fairness in market competition that has long been dominated by big conglomerates."I am confide
Dec. 27, 2017
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People’s Party begins vote of confidence to decide on merger
A four-day vote of confidence began Wednesday for People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo to decide on a proposed merger with the center-right Bareun Party. The vote is being conducted online from Wednesday to Thursday, and by ARS poll for another two days. The People’s Party has about 270,000 members. People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo (right) and Bareun Party Chairman Yoo Seong-min speak at a conference on political merger at the National Assembly on Wednesday. (Yonhap)The question being pos
Dec. 27, 2017
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Ruling party bashes main opposition over parliamentary deadlock
The ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday lashed out at the main opposition party over a parliamentary deadlock on a constitutional revision, pressuring it to join efforts to pass a series of pending bills aimed at enhancing people's livelihoods.Amid the stalemate over when to hold a referendum on the revision, the parties have failed to convene a legislative plenary session at which the ruling party hopes to pass a dozen bills and motions to approve the nominees for chief state auditor and two S
Dec. 27, 2017
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Moon stresses need for 'fundamental, effective' measures to tackle low fertility rate
President Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for more effective measures to boost South Korea's low fertility rate, warning the country with its fast-graying population could face a serious demographic crisis.During a session of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, Moon also stressed that now is the "golden time" for crafting a resolution to the demographic challenge that has eluded his predecessors. (Yonhap)"What the committee should do is to devise more fundamental, ef
Dec. 26, 2017
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Ex-President Lee faces rising heat over business, political allegations
The prosecution on Tuesday officially launched a probe into allegations surrounding DAS, an auto parts maker linked to former President Lee Myung-bak. Although Lee Sang-eun, the former president’s eldest brother, is the company’s largest shareholder, it has been alleged that the former president is the company’s real owner. Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors` Office where the team investigating allegations surrounding DAS was set up on Tuesday. YonhapThe company’s management allegedly set up a
Dec. 26, 2017
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Blue House denies UAE rumors; opposition calls for investigation
The presidential office on Tuesday again rejected speculations surrounding chief of staff Im Jong-seok’s recent trip to the Middle East, denying media reports. After more than a week of simply denying the related reports, Moon’s Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Han Byung-do on Tuesday told reporters that Im’s visit to the UAE was to deliver a handwritten letter from Moon aimed at enhancing bilateral ties, and that Moon and the president of the United Arab Emirates had talked about improvin
Dec. 26, 2017
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Political divide on constitutional reform delays plenary session
The divide between political parties over when to hold a public referendum on constitutional revision has delayed the opening of a plenary session, raising concerns that pending bills will be held off until next year.The one-month parliamentary session for December, which was to end Saturday, was automatically extended to Jan. 9 after a plenary session scheduled Friday was canceled. First-term lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea urge opposition parties to cooperate on holding a
Dec. 26, 2017
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Korea to impose tax on clergy
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a controversial law revision that imposes income taxes on clergy members.Under the revision to the Income Tax Law, religious leaders, such as the clergy, priests and Buddhist monks, will pay income taxes starting in 2018.There has been heated disputes among the religious circle, with some claiming they should not be subject to taxation as their work is a spiritual service, not labor.Catholic priests have been voluntarily paying income taxes since the mid-1990s, an
Dec. 26, 2017
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Korea's ODA project tainted by corruption scandal of ex-President Park: probe
Impeached President Park Geun-hye's close friend who was charged with meddling in state affairs had been illegitimately involved in designing South Korea's official development assistance program, a probe result showed Tuesday. "(The presidential office) Cheong Wa Dae appears to have mobilized the foreign ministry and other ministries to execute (an ODA) project pre-designed by the foundation Mir," Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told reporters, referring to the result of a recent probe into the
Dec. 26, 2017
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Moon's aide dismisses controversy over presidential chief of staff's UAE visit
President Moon Jae-in's senior politics secretary on Tuesday dismissed a nagging controversy over his chief of staff's recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, saying it was aimed at delivering handwritten letter from Moon aimed at enhancing bilateral ties.Han Byung-do also called speculation over Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok's trip to the Middle East earlier this month "groundless" and noted that the presidential office could not elaborate much on Im's talks with UAE leaders due to diplomatic p
Dec. 26, 2017
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Partisan dispute escalates over constitutional revision
Political tensions over a constitutional revision deepened Tuesday, as rival parties blamed one another for a deadlock in talks over extending the term of a special parliamentary panel on the highly polarizing issue.Last week, the parties failed to pass a motion to extend the panel's term, slated to end this month, due to their differences over when to hold a public vote on rewriting the basic law that many say fails to reflect social and political changes since its last revision in 1987.The rul
Dec. 26, 2017
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Korean diplomat to visit China for follow-up discussion on recent summit
A senior South Korean diplomat will visit China this week to have a follow-up discussion on the recent summit between the leaders of the two countries, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.Yoon Soon-gu, a deputy foreign minister, will leave for Beijing late in the day for a two-day stay during which he is to discuss with his counterpart Kong Xuanyou how to implement what was agreed upon during President Moon Jae-in's Dec. 13-16 trip to the country. During their summit on Dec. 14, Moon and Chin
Dec. 26, 2017
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Prime minister says large firms 'irreplaceable partners' for growth
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Friday called large companies irreplaceable partners in the government's drive for economic growth, apparently seeking to quell any criticism the incumbent government may be leaning toward siding with the labor."No one can deny the contribution the economic leaders have made to the Republic of Korea," the prime minister said while meeting with 18 leaders of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "Also, the KCCI's role has been growing, and it will continue to g
Dec. 22, 2017
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[PyeongChang 2018] Trump pledges support for safety of PyeongChang Olympics: Moon
US President Donald Trump has promised to help ensure the safety of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said, apparently from North Korean threats."We have secured a promise from President Trump to do his utmost to make the PyeongChang Olympic Games safe, and more strongly, we have been given an assurance that the US will guarantee security during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics," Moon said in a recent interview with US broadcaster NBC, according to
Dec. 22, 2017
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Moon vows all-out efforts to create jobs, urges concessions from all sides
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday reaffirmed his efforts to create more quality jobs, while calling for efforts by all sides, including the workers."Our government firmly recognizes laborers as a partner in managing state affairs. But my or the government's efforts alone cannot achieve our goals. We will be able to achieve so much more when the laborers are with us," Moon said while meeting with some 120 union leaders and officials from various firms and organizations that are considered role mo
Dec. 21, 2017
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Supreme Court justice nominee ‘supports’ ban on same-sex marriages
Supreme Court justice nominee Min Yoo-sook made her position clear on homosexuality. “I am not taking the view that favors homosexuality,” Min said during a parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday. (Yonhap)Through a written response submitted to the National Assembly last Monday, she said, “Homosexuality, an individual’s sexual orientation, is not a matter to be resolved through banning or opposing.”She also made her stance on same-sex marriage, “The court ruled that same-sex marriage cann
Dec. 21, 2017
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Chief auditor nominee pledges to ensure independence, shore up discipline in officialdom
President Moon Jae-in's pick for the chief state auditor vowed Thursday that if appointed, he would strive to protect the independence of the watchdog and enhance efficiency and discipline in officialdom.During a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Choe Jae-hyeong, tapped to lead the Board of Audit and Inspection, also stressed that he would work to strengthen transparency in the audit process so as to shore up public trust."I will make all my efforts to ensure that all members of the BAI carry
Dec. 21, 2017