Most Popular
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Torrential rainfall forces 1,500 to evacuate, causes widespread damage to homes, roads
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[KH Explains] Can smart chargers ease tensions over EV fires?
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1 in 5 households to have breadwinner over 80 in 30 years
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[Online Predators] Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate
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Assembly to review disputed appointment of national soccer team coach
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New Fifty Fifty off to strong start
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Arrival of fall calls for more outdoor festivals
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[Herald Review] 'Culinary Class Wars': fresh, creative survival show minus the drama
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Evicted guest burns down inn; 3 killed
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[Herald Interview] US election may unleash growth for Korea: Laffer
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Paraguay seeks Korean investors
Rich in natural resources and with a foreigner-friendly environment, Paraguay is rife with business opportunities for Koreans, the Paraguayan Ambassador said on Friday.Ceferino Valdez said in an interview with The Korea Herald that Paraguay also has no restrictions for foreign companies when buying land.And both governments are working to help Korean companies in Paraguay by eliminating double taxation.“The negotiation is already quite advanced and a delegation is coming to finish the matters,”
Aug. 5, 2012
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Foreign ministers discuss Korea-Myanmar ties
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan hailed Friday the progress made by both South Korea and Myanmar in improving bilateral relations, saying he believes that ties with the Southeast Asian country “have been strengthened almost every day.” Kim made the remarks as he held talks with his Myanmarese counterpart Wanna Maung Lwin, who is on a four-day visit to South Korea. Following a landmark visit by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to Myanmar in May and summit talks with President Thein Sein, how to
Aug. 3, 2012
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Seoul to push consular pact with China
South Korea is pushing for a consular agreement with Beijing as part of its measures to step up protection of its citizens living overseas amid controversy over alleged torture of a North Korea human rights activist during his detention in China. The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it plans to speed up efforts for the pact to facilitate consular access to Koreans in Chinese custody. “We see the agreement as contributing to better protection of our citizens in China,” spokesman Cho Tai-young said
Aug. 2, 2012
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S. Korean activist seeks to prove torture through medical checkup
A South Korean human rights activist who has accused Chinese security agents of torture during his four-month arrest said Thursday he will prove his claims through a medical checkup amid Beijing's denial of the alleged abuse.The dramatic story of Kim Young-hwan, who was expelled from China and returned home on July 20, has taken another turn in recent weeks following his revelations of torture und
Aug. 2, 2012
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Police clamp down on child pornography
Police on Wednesday launched a nation-wide crackdown on child pornography as part of a government drive to root out sex-related crimes in the wake of brutal sexual offenses against children.The move comes after a 10-year-old girl was killed by a convicted sex offender who allegedly owned almost 70 items of child pornography, the police said. Police suspect the girl was also raped. “We will strengthen monitoring of activities related to child pornography, judging that watching pornography featuri
Aug. 1, 2012
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Kim named to U.N. panel on global development
UNITED NATIONS (Yonhap News) ― South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan was selected as a high-profile international adviser Tuesday to recommend agenda for global development and prepare visions for social and environmental targets beyond 2015. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked the 26-member panel to present “a bold yet practical development vision next year” to the193 U.N. member states to replace the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, the U.N.-initiated anti-poverty and sustainable
Aug. 1, 2012
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Seoul hardens line in China torture dispute
The alleged torture of North Korean human rights activist Kim Young-hwan by Chinese investigators is escalating into a diplomatic dispute between the two governments.Seoul’s Foreign Ministry toughened its stance Tuesday, promising to assist Kim’s and his supporters’ plans to take China’s human rights abuses to the United Nations.Earlier in the day, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman denied the claim of torture, saying China had “proceeded with the investigation according to the law” and “prote
July 31, 2012
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Seoul protests Tokyo’s claim to Dokdo
Foreign Ministry summons Japanese official over defense white paperSeoul strongly protested Tokyo’s fresh claim on Tuesday to the South Korean islets of Dokdo in its latest defense white paper. In the annual document approved by its cabinet, Japan identified the rocky islets as its territory and said the ownership issue “still remains unsolved.” The description has not been changed since 2005. The Korean government dismissed the claim as “unacceptable,” urging an immediate rectification.“We stro
July 31, 2012
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China rejects allegations of torture against S. Korean activist
China rejected allegations Tuesday that a South Korean rights activist was severely tortured while under its custody for questioning, saying the investigation went according to law and his legitimate rights were guaranteed.The comments from China's foreign ministry represented Beijing's first official reaction to claims that the prominent activist, Kim Young-hwan, was tortured with electric shocks
July 31, 2012
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Korea, Australia launch strategic dialogue
South Korea and Australia launched a regular high-level meeting here on Monday to boost cooperation in politics and defense between the two middle powers in the Asia Pacific, Seoul officials said. The first strategic dialogue was designed to provide a wider framework for detailed bilateral discussions to better cope with the region’s changing security environment, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.It is an integration of two high-level talks between the two sides, which have separately co
July 30, 2012
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Activist considers petition over alleged torture
A South Korean activist who claimed have been tortured by Chinese authorities while under detention is considering bringing his case to the International Criminal Court, his close aides said Sunday.Kim Young-hwan and three other activists trying to help North Korean refugees in China were arrested in late March and accused of endangering Beijing’s national security. After being deported to South Korea last week, Kim said he was physically abused and criticized the Seoul government for taking a c
July 29, 2012
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Korea to allow CCTV on trekking courses
The government has revised laws to allow surveillance cameras on major trekking courses, officials said Sunday, after growing safety concerns over a recent murder of a female hiker.Concerns over unfrequented trekking paths mounted after a 40-year-old woman was killed while walking a popular coastal walking trail on the southern resort island of Jeju earlier this month. Following the incident, some parts of the trekking paths have been temporarily closed. In response, the Ministry of Public Admin
July 29, 2012
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Czech photographer’s work tours Korea
The hand-tinted photographs of Jan Saudek, one of the Czech Republic’s most famous photographers, are on display at the Chuncheon Art Gallery in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, until Aug. 1.According to the Czech Embassy, more than 150 of Saudek’s works from the past 40 years will be displayed at the gallery on a traveling tour. The exhibition was featured at the Insa Art Center in Seoul and will continue on to Daegu, Busan, Gwangju and Incheon.The 77-year-old’s work is largely characterized by pro
July 29, 2012
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Indian probationary workers train in Korea
India has sent probationary officers from its foreign service division to Korea on a familiarization trip, according to the embassy on Wednesday.The 10 Indian Foreign Service Probationary Officers met with Korean Trade Minister Bark Tae-ho and the Foreign Ministry’s director general for South Asia Park Hae-yun, and will meet other dignitaries during their week-long trip.The first-ever training visit from India’s Foreign Service is seen as a reflection of the increasing relations and the strength
July 29, 2012
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Paraguayan ambassador to help single mothers
Paraguayan Ambassador Ceferino Valdez on Wednesday was named honorary ambassador of a Korean non-profit campaign to help single mothers in Korea.According to officials from the Korea Sarangbat Society which leads the campaign, Valdez showed keen interest in the campaign and was happy to be named honorary ambassador.“It would be nice to deliver Benet Chogoris to Paraguay,” said the ambassador.The Benet Chogori campaign seeks to provide newborn baby clothes, called “benet chogori” here in Korea, t
July 29, 2012
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Israel, Korea hope to start negotiations on free trade pact
Israel and Korea hope to begin formal free trade negotiations next year, according to Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister on Thursday.Both countries have already concluded preparations for free trade agreement negotiations, which they are looking to begin next year, Danny Ayalon told reporters.“I hope we will do it sometime during next year,” replied Ayalon when asked when Korea and Israel would begin negotiations.Ayalon met Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan during his visi
July 29, 2012
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Swiss-Korean science, trade ties bloom
Switzerland and Korea can expect a long future of good relations and increased economic ties, according to Swiss Ambassador Thomas Kupfer.“I see two countries that don’t have major problems on the horizon,” said Kupfer, adding that both countries have enjoyed “very positive relations.”And through these positive relations both countries could benefit from more cooperation in science and technology, which is considered a forte for Korea and Switzerland, according to the soon-to-depart ambassador.S
July 29, 2012
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Seoul hopes U.S. gives more professional visas
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― South Korea is pushing to expand the quota of non-immigrant U.S. visas for its citizens with a “specialty occupation,” a diplomatic source said Thursday.With the U.S. stuck in high jobless rates and politicians preoccupied with upcoming elections, South Korea is aiming to achieve the goal next year, added the source.“Riding on the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the South Korean government will step up efforts to increase the number of H-1B visas for its c
July 27, 2012
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Supporters appeal to U.N. over activist’s treatment
Group of some 130 activists demands probe into alleged Chinese torture of South KoreanLawmakers and activists said Friday they plan to appeal to international bodies over alleged physical abuses, including electrical torture, by Chinese investigators of an activist for North Korean human rights.They sharply criticized the South Korean government for its tardy and tepid response to the claims by Kim Young-hwan. He was deported to Seoul last week after 114 days of detention in China alongside thre
July 27, 2012
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Gov’t under pressure after activist claims abuse in Chinese prison
Controversy has sparked over the South Korean government’s mishandling of a diplomatic issue surrounding a human rights activist who was allegedly the victim of brutal treatment during his four-month detention in China. The North Korea-sympathizer-turned-human rights activist Kim Young-hwan was deported from China following a 114-day detention on charges of endangering China’s national security.Kim went to China to discuss cooperation on North human rights improvement and assistance for North Ko
July 26, 2012