Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
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N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise
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[Herald Interview] K-pop’s 'best years are ahead of us': Spotify’s general manager for Asia Pacific
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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[Newsmaker] LX Hausys enters race for top furniture maker Hanssem
LX Hausys, formerly LG Hausys, which specializes in windows and interior materials, has entered the race to acquire South Korea’s top furniture maker Hanssem. The company, which is part of LX Group – a new entity that was separated from LG Group earlier this year, is the latest to show interest in buying a controlling stake in the firm, following other retail giants including Lotte, according to multiple reports. For its bid, LX Hausys will be joining a private equity fund set up
ConsumerSept. 7, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Over 90% of public says climate crisis should be major presidential election issue: survey
More than 90 percent of South Koreans think the climate crisis should be a prominent issue in the upcoming presidential election, a survey showed Sunday. According to the Gallup Korea poll, conducted at the request of environmental group Green Korea and involving 1,500 people nationwide, 91.1 percent of the respondents said Korea’s climate crisis response should be a major topic ahead of the March 9 election. Where most public opinion polls target people over 19, Green Korea said, the m
Social AffairsSept. 6, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Sales of local restaurants dropped during COVID-19 pandemic
Sales of local restaurants and bars have dropped to their lowest level due to toughened social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed Sunday. According to the Korean Statistical Information Service, the retail sales index of restaurants and bars for the first seven months of this year marked 77, the lowest since it started to compile related data in 2015 with a benchmark of 100. The data showed the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on the already-struggling restaur
IndustrySept. 5, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Demand for apartments higher despite rate hike
South Korea’s demand for apartments in the capital and its surrounding areas only got higher, despite the central bank’s recent decision to end 15 months of record-low interest rates, data showed Friday. According to the Korea Real Estate Board, the index measuring supply and demand for apartments in Seoul and the surrounding area inched up 0.9 point on-week to 111.7 as of Monday, compared with 110.8 last week. When the index is higher than 100, it signals that there are more buyer
MarketSept. 3, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Hyundai Heavy readies to become first-mover for eco-friendly ships via W1.08tr IPO
Hyundai Heavy Industries announced a blueprint to usher in a paradigm shift in the global shipbuilding industry of its planned market debut on the South Korean main board Kospi on Sept. 16. The major shipbuilder here unveiled its vision of being a first mover for eco-friendly ships during an online press conference with reporters Thursday, while also detailing specific plans for its initial public offering. “Developing eco-friendly and digitalized vessels, constructing smart shipyards
MarketSept. 2, 2021
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[Newsmaker] A majority of Koreans support ban on raising dogs on short leash
Dogs living outside on a short leash are a common sight in Korea, but the majority of people here feel such practices should be banned by law, a survey shows. Private animal welfare research institute Aware recently published survey results on the public perception of animal welfare policies. It surveyed 2,000 adults in 17 cities nationwide on laws and awareness of animal protection. According to the survey, 82.5 percent of respondents agreed that raising animals tied to short ropes or locke
Social AffairsSept. 1, 2021
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[Newsmaker] 'It is regrettable that I failed to kill more'
The Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for a 56-year-old sex offender surnamed Kang, who is suspected of murdering two women, saying he could flee. Kang with 14 prior criminal convictions, including sex crimes, is accused of murdering women in their 40s and 50s before and after damaging his electronic anklet on Friday. On Monday, police applied for an arrest warrant and the prosecution immediately filed it with the court. Kang attended the court for the arrest warrant hearing Tuesday m
Social AffairsAug. 31, 2021
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[Newsmaker] S. Korea proposes record W604tr budget for 2022 amid pandemic
South Korea on Tuesday proposed a record high budget of 604.4 trillion won ($519 billion) for next year as it plans to maintain expansionary fiscal spending to cement the economic recovery and narrow social gaps caused by the pandemic. The proposed budget, endorsed by the Cabinet, marks an 8.3 percent on-year rise from this year's 558 trillion-won budget, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The increase is lower than the 8.9 percent increase for this year. The government plans to
EconomyAug. 31, 2021
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[Newsmaker] 7 in 10 Koreans agree with granting long-term stay visas for Afghan evacuees: survey
Nearly 7 out of 10 Koreans agree with the government’s plan to grant long-term visas for Afghan evacuees, a survey showed Monday. The government evacuated 390 Afghan nationals, including people who worked for Korean organizations and their families, and plan to grant them long-term stay visas. According to Realmeter’s survey, 68.7 percent of the respondents said they “empathize with” the government’s plan whereas 28.7 percent said they do not agree with it. By
Social AffairsAug. 30, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Chances grow for ‘fake news’ bill to be voted on a later date
Lawmakers on Monday continued to debate the timing of a final vote on a bill on penalizing the press for “fake news,” with fierce opposition from those outside the ruling party likely pushing the date back. In face of fierce protest from the media and opposition lawmakers, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was debating within its members whether to walk back from its plan to push the bill through the National Assembly within this month’s provisional session. The bill has f
PoliticsAug. 30, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Opposition lawmakers warn of conflict of interest involving FSC nominee
Despite the Parliament’s approval of the nomination of the Financial Services Commission’s new chairman on Friday, concerns remain over his familial ties with the chairman of Korea Investment Holdings, the parent group of a major South Korean brokerage firm. The FSC chief nominee, Koh Seung-beom, is the brother-in-law of Kim Nam-goo, chairman and CEO of Korea Investment Holdings, which controls Korea Investment & Securities, the nation’s second-largest securities company
EconomyAug. 29, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Doctors protest operating room surveillance bill
Doctors in South Korea are fiercely opposing the passage of a bill that would require surveillance cameras being installed inside operating rooms, as they believe the move would negatively influence surgical procedures and serve as potential leak of personal data. The Korean Medical Association has been staging a one-person rally since Tuesday to oppose the bill from being enacted on coming Monday during the next plenary meeting of the National Assembly. KMA head Lee Pil-soo started the rally o
Social AffairsAug. 27, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Public remains poles apart over accepting Afghan refugees
A public debate over whether Korea should accept Afghan refugees continues to heat up with the government granting special stay permits for Afghans here while airlifting nationals who worked for Korea in the war-torn country. Since the Taliban took control of Kabul earlier this month, opinions are split over whether Korea should help Afghan nationals. A national petition against the idea of taking in Afghan refugees posted on the presidential website of Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday has gained ove
Social AffairsAug. 25, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Controversial media bill passes last hurdle to go on parliamentary plenary vote
A controversial bill on curbing fake news passed the last parliamentary hurdle Wednesday to be put to a final plenary vote at the National Assembly amid heated protests from opposition parties and journalists' associations. The bill to revise the Act on Press Arbitration and Remedies, Etc. for Damage Caused by Press Reports received the green light from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the final gatekeeping committee for all bills before they go on a final vote at a parliamentary plenar
PoliticsAug. 25, 2021
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[Newsmaker] HMM workers vote for strike; governments drawing up measures
The South Korean government said Monday that it was taking measures to cope with any potential disruptions in maritime shipping as a labor strike loomed at the country’s largest shipper, HMM. Earlier in the day, nearly 88 percent of the 453 unionized longshore workers at HMM voted in favor of the collective action, as their wage negotiations with the company management remained deadlocked. If realized, it would be the first labor strike at the company. It is unclear when the union pl
IndustryAug. 23, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Seoul subway workers to launch strike next month to protest restructuring plan
Seoul’s subway workers on Monday warned of a full strike next month to protest Seoul Metro’s massive restructuring plan, the company’s response to continuing financial losses. Unionized workers at Seoul Metro said at a press conference Monday that they will stage a full-scale walkout on Sept. 14 unless the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government withdraw the restructuring plan and devote the funds to improving the corporation’s financial standing. The u
Social AffairsAug. 23, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Rival parties' leading contenders in tight race for president, poll shows
Two leading contenders in South Korea's presidential race -- Yoon Seok-youl and Lee Jae-myung -- are still neck and neck, with the election less than seven months away, a survey showed Monday. In the two-day poll on 1,007 voters nationwide through last Saturday by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI), former Prosecutor General Yoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) had 29.8 percent of support, down 0.8 percentage point from a week earlier. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee of the
PoliticsAug. 23, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Seoul’s riverside parks to have cleaner restrooms, more women’s toilets
Seoul will upgrade the restrooms at its riverside parks and install new ones over the next four years to make the parks more inviting for visitors. The city government said Sunday that it will make investments starting this year to improve the ventilation of the restrooms at Seoul’s riverside parks and increase the number of toilets for women. Some public restrooms at the parks have been criticized over the years for being run-down and unhygienic. “As the number of visitors at riv
Social AffairsAug. 22, 2021
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[Newsmaker] PPP presidential contenders in slugfest
People aiming to be the main opposition party‘s candidate for president are busy attacking each other ahead of the primary. Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the People Power Party has been blasting Yoon Seok-youl for his lack of experience; former legislator Yoo Seung-min and ex-chief state auditor Choe Jae-hyeong have been arguing over adding a clause in the primary rules; and former Jeju governor Won Hee-ryong has been harassing PPP leader Lee Jun-seok. “Someone who has been doing only pros
PoliticsAug. 20, 2021
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[Newsmaker] COVAX allocates 3m Sinovac vaccines to North Korea
The UN-backed vaccine-sharing program COVAX has allocated around 3 million doses of the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine to North Korea, but it remains to be seen whether the reclusive regime will accept them. According to Radio Free Asia on Thursday, Edwin Salvador, head of the World Health Organization office in Pyongyang, said the program allotted 2.97 million shots of China’s Sinovac to the North during the latest round of vaccine allocation. COVAX is a multinational program that distri
Foreign AffairsAug. 19, 2021