Most Popular
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Actor Jung Woo-sung admits to being father of model Moon Ga-bi’s child
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Wealthy parents ditch Korean passports to get kids into international school
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Man convicted after binge eating to avoid military service
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First snow to fall in Seoul on Wednesday
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Final push to forge UN treaty on plastic pollution set to begin in Busan
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Korea to hold own memorial for forced labor victims, boycotting Japan’s
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Nvidia CEO signals Samsung’s imminent shipment of AI chips
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Job creation lowest on record among under-30s
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NK troops disguised as 'indigenous' people in Far East for combat against Ukraine: report
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Opposition leader awaits perjury trial ruling
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Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Denmark to attend nuclear security summit
Azerbaijan, Lithuania and Denmark have agreed to take part in a global summit aimed at bolstering international safeguards and preventing nuclear terrorism to be held in March in South Korea, organizers said Thursday. Their inclusion will bring the number of nations participating in the March 26-27 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul to 50. The Seoul summit will be second since U.S. President Barack Obama launched the global gathering in Washington in 2010, with top leaders from 47 nations attendin
Feb. 9, 2012
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South Korea, Saudi Arabia vow to expand cooperation
RIYADH (Yonhap News) ― South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud agreed Wednesday to expand cooperation to health care, defense, Internet technology and all other areas beyond the traditional sector of construction, officials said.“It is necessary to expand cooperation in various sectors between South Korea and Saudi Arabia. In particular, I hope more attention will be paid on projects for the Saudi people,” Lee said during the summit, according to the p
Feb. 9, 2012
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S. Korea, Saudi Arabia agree to boost defense cooperation
South Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed Wednesday to significantly bolster their defense cooperation to elevate relations in non-economic sectors to match those of their prospering business ties, an official said Wednesday.President Lee Myung-bak reached the agreement in talks with Saudi Defense Ministe
Feb. 8, 2012
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S. Korea to tighten audit of overseas diplomatic missions
The foreign ministry plans to tighten its rules of internal audits on overseas diplomatic missions to combat wrongdoings and corruption by diplomats, an official said Wednesday. Under the tougher rules, the ministry will carry out its own audit into all missions at least once every three years, the official said on the condition of anonymity. South Korea has nearly 170 missions abroad.The move follows a stock manipulation scandal in which diplomats were accused of playing a role in inflating the
Feb. 8, 2012
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Saudi oil minister pledges Seoul stable crude supply
RIYADH (Yonhap News) ― Saudi Arabia’s oil minister promised Tuesday to help ensure a stable supply of crude to South Korea, officials said, as Seoul prepares to cut back on imports from Iran in line with U.S. sanctions.Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali al-Naimi made the commitment during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, the presidential office said. Lee arrived in the Saudi capital earlier in the day for a three-day visit.The pledge is expected to help alleviate co
Feb. 8, 2012
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Seoul to propose arbitration panel with Tokyo on wartime sex slaves
South Korea will soon propose forming an arbitration panel with Japan in what would be the latest diplomatic bid to resolve long-standing grievances regarding Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II, a Seoul official said Monday.The subject of former wartime sex slaves, euphemistically called “comfort women,” is one of the most emotional and unresolved issues between South Korea and Japan, which occupied the Korean Peninsula as its colony from 1910 through 1945.South
Feb. 6, 2012
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China seeks to appease S. Korea over illegal fishing
China has taken stronger action against illegal fishing by its fishermen in South Korean waters, details of which were delivered in a letter to the South Korean Embassy in Beijing, a Seoul official said Sunday.The official letter from the Chinese agricultural ministry was sent to the South Korean Embassy on Jan. 18, several weeks after Beijing drew fire for its lukewarm response to the Dec. 12 killing of a South Korean Coast Guard officer by a Chinese fisherman in the West Sea. Chinese fishing b
Feb. 6, 2012
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Efficiency of ‘resource diplomacy’ hit after presidential aides’ books
Since its inauguration in 2008, President Lee Myung-bak’s administration has focused on securing overseas resources pivotal for sustainable growth.However, two books ― written by two close aides to Lee and published last year ― have been overtaken by events suggesting that the current administration’s so-called “resource diplomacy” may have been ineffective and shortsighted.Park Young-june, a protg of the president who until recently served as vice minister of knowledge economy, published a book
Feb. 6, 2012
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Lee calls for closer economic ties, free trade deal with Turkey
ISTANBUL (Yonhap News) ― South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called Saturday for closer economic ties with Turkey befitting the “brotherhood” relationship between the wartime allies, saying a free trade deal would be a good way to lift economic relations.Lee made the remark during a meeting with Turkish and South Korean business CEOs after arriving in the ancient city of Istanbul for a four-day visit focused on bolstering economic cooperation and upgrading the traditional friendship between the
Feb. 6, 2012
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Preparations for Nuclear Security Summit in full swing
With 50 days to go, preparations for the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul are in full swing at various levels of government, society and industry, organizers said Sunday.The two-day summit from March 26-27 is expected to draw more than 50 heads of state and international organizations to the South Korean capital for the country’s largest-ever international conference. The event is aimed at holding discussions over measures to prevent nuclear terrorism as well as nuclear safety in the wake of the
Feb. 6, 2012
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ASEAN and Korea exchange tourism tips
Southeast Asian countries have gained tips on improving their tourism industry from Korea. The ASEAN-Korea Centre hosted a tourism workshop from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Members of the National Tourism Organization and industry representatives from 10 ASEAN member states and Korea attended the ASEAN Tourism Promotion Workshop in Seoul. The workshop included lectures on tourism trends and prospects for ASEAN and Korea, tourism promotion policies, marketing strategies and tourism development plans for m
Feb. 5, 2012
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Foreign community to take to the slopes
The Irish ambassador is urging Korea’s foreign community to come together for an international ski festival. Irish Ambassador Eamonn McKee is the chairman of the YongPyong Ski festival to take place from Feb. 10-12. “It has been one of the highlights of the year for expatriate families living in Korea for thirty years and the festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary,” he said. “It has been my honor to be selected as this year’s chairman. Previous Irish ambassadors have served in this role, i
Feb. 5, 2012
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U.S. Embassy brings Ali to Korean youth
A film about American boxing icon Muhammad Ali will be screened at the American Center on Feb. 17.The 2001 movie “Ali” is a biographical film directed by Michael Mann and starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Jon Voight. It tells the story of the legendary heavyweight boxer, reflecting his role in American sports, politics and social history and his continued fights against racism and the Vietnam War.The film also discusses the great turmoil in American society following the assassination of two A
Feb. 5, 2012
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Investment needed in Nepal
Korean investors could reap rewards by helping Nepal develop, the country’s ambassador has said. Raja Ram Bartaula hopes that the country bordered by China and India can become a trade transit corridor between the two larger economies. “We are a least-developed country and we are trying to develop our country’s industry in order to develop economically, socially and for the lives of the people. We need development and we need technology,” Nepal Embassy’s charge d’ affaires Raja Ram Bartaula told
Feb. 5, 2012
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Wind energy speeds Samsung to Scotland
A multi-million pound wind energy deal between Samsung Heavy Industries and a U.K. firm will be followed by more high-profile business partnerships, the British ambassador to Korea has said. The deal that could be worth up to 100 million pounds ($158 million) will see U.K. engineering specialist David Brown Gear Systems help SHI create cutting-edge offshore wind turbines. U.K. ambassador Scott Wightman welcomed SHI’s investment in the company headquartered in Yorkshire, which will design, develo
Feb. 5, 2012
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New flight draws Africa, Asia closer
First Korea-Kenya air link can give wings to business, tourismThe first chartered flight from Kenya to Korea shall be a “breakthrough” for tourism and trade, the Kenyan ambassador has said. The flight set to start this summer will allow travelers to make the trip between the two countries in under 14 hours, according to Kenyan ambassador Ngovi Kitau. The Korean Air flight will cut out a 10-hour stopover in Thailand that has hampered convenient travel between Incheon and Nairobi until now. Detai
Feb. 5, 2012
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Lee calls for closer economic ties, free trade deal with Turkey
ISTANBUL (Yonhap News) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called Saturday for closer economic ties with Turkey befitting the "brotherhood" relationship between the wartime allies, saying a free trade deal would be a good way to lift economic relations.Lee made the remark during a meeting with T
Feb. 5, 2012
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Foreign ministry tightens discipline on diplomats
Ministry received lowest grade in anti-corruption commission’s transparency evaluationApparently appalled by the scandal over a diplomat’s alleged stock-rigging attempts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has begun tightening discipline, especially on diplomats working overseas.The Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it has recently summoned a consul general from Wuhan in central China over opaque accounting practices. The ministry has been internally auditing the case after the diplomat w
Feb. 2, 2012
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Ministry summons diplomat over CNK scandal
Unnamed official stationed abroad suspected of trading diamond miner stockThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday summoned an official from an overseas diplomatic mission suspected by the state watchdog of gaining personal profits through insider trading of CNK International stocks.“As the Board of Audit and Inspection ordered disciplinary measures on the unnamed official, we summoned the official from Europe. The BAI’s audit will be strictly reflected on the future course of pers
Feb. 1, 2012
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Lee celebrates 20th anniversary of relations with Kyrgyzstan
President Lee Myung-bak celebrated the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, pledging to further develop the countries’ ties in an exchange of messages with President Almazbek Atambaev.In their messages, both leaders expressed satisfaction that relations between the two countries have developed steadily since the 1992 opening of diplomatic ties, and agreed to work together to boost the relationship, the presidential office said in a statement.Lee also hoped for con
Jan. 31, 2012
