Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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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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Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
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Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
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[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
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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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[Newsmaker] Ex-vice minister summoned for questioning over sex bribery scandal
Former Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui appeared before the prosecution for the first time Thursday, to undergo questioning with regard to allegations of rape, abuse of power, and accepting bribes in the form of sexual services. Ex-Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-eui (Yonhap)Kim, who retired from public service in March 2013, is accused of having received sexual services in return for business favors at an orgy hosted by local contractor Yoon Jung-cheon. It is the first time Kim has appeared in
Social AffairsMay 9, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Minor opposition party floor leader offers to step down amid fast-track row
The floor leader of a minor opposition party offered to step down Wednesday, apparently taking responsibility for internal strife over the push to "fast track" key reform bills. Rep. Kim Kwan-young of the Bareunmirae Party said he will serve his term as floor leader until his successor is elected next week. (Yonhap)"I decided to take all the responsibility for offending many lawmakers in the process of pushing for the 'fast-tracking' (of the bills) and other difficulties faced by the party," he
PoliticsMay 8, 2019
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[Newsmaker] 27 hospitals violate narcotics law: ministry
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found instances of overprescribing or giving patients illicit access to drugs at 27 clinics and hospitals, the ministry’s report said Wednesday.Out of the 36,000 medical institutions that handle medical-use drugs, the ministry singled out 52 medical institutions for suspicion of misuse of drugs, using data from a drug management system. Of the 52 singled out, 27 were found to be in violation of the Narcotics Control Act.(Yonhap)Administrative measures will be
Social AffairsMay 8, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Top prosecutor holds meeting on investigation rights bill
The contention over revising the investigative powers of police and the prosecutors’ office appears set to intensify, with Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il holding a senior prosecutors’ meeting Tuesday. According to reports, Moon reiterated his stance that the bill on altering the investigative rights of the police agency and the prosecutors’ office violated fundamental principles of democracy at the meeting. Moon Moo-il. YonhapThe bill, which has been put on the fast track by the ruling Democrati
Social AffairsMay 7, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Tension mounts over police-prosecution investigative rights reform
Tension is rising over plans to redistribute investigative rights between the prosecution and police in South Korea, in the wake of a public denunciation from the country’s top prosecutor. (Yonhap)Last week, Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il publicly criticized the recent parliamentary decision to approve the fast-tracking of reform bills, backed by the ruling Democratic Party and three minor opposition parties, saying the bills would undermine democratic principles mandating a system of checks and
Social AffairsMay 6, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Justice minister urges prosecution and police to end judicial reform dispute
Amid an escalating conflict between the prosecution and the police over investigative rights reform, the justice minister called on both sides to approach the issue from the "perspective of the people" Friday.Justice Minister Park Sang-ki said now is the time to overhaul the prosecution's investigative practices and rights in accordance with the principle of checks and balances."Both the prosecution and the police should approach the issue of rearranging investigative rights from the people's st
PoliticsMay 3, 2019
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[Newsmaker] N. Korea chides THAAD training by USFK
North Korean state media on Friday chided a weeklong Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense drill by the US Forces Korea, calling on the South Korean government to “behave with discretion.”The exercise at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, focused on reloading inert munitions in launchers of a THAAD battery.(Yonhap)North Korea’s propaganda website Uriminzokkiri said in its commentary that the recent drill was a “military provocation that ruins the hard-won peace atmosp
North KoreaMay 3, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Ex-Korean Air vice president admits to illegally hiring Filipino maids
Former Korean Air Vice President Cho Hyun-ah admitted Thursday to illegally hiring Filipino maids as the trials began for her and her mother Lee Myung-hee, who faces the same charges. Cho, 45, and Lee, 70 -- the daughter and wife of recently deceased Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho -- were indicted for hiring Filipino women as maids after inviting them under the guise of employment at Korean Air between 2013 and early last year, in breach of immigration law. (Yonhap)Cho, who earned global infa
Social AffairsMay 2, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Seoul mayor condemns Liberty Korea Party sit-in plans
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Wednesday said he will “not stand idly by” as the main opposition Liberty Korea Party plans to set up tents at Gwanghwamun plaza in central Seoul as part of its protest against key reform bills that have been fast-tracked.Pledging to take firm action against the Liberty Korea Party, Park posted on social media that “taking over the plaza without authorization from Seoul government is illegal. I will not stand idly by as (Liberty Korea Party) tramples on the plaza.”“I
PoliticsMay 1, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Labor Day rallies held nationwide, ILO conventions at issue
Tens of thousands of South Korean workers marked Labor Day with a rally in central Seoul on Wednesday, urging the government to adopt major international regulations on promoting labor rights.Commemorating International Workers' Day simultaneously, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, an umbrella labor union, said it's urgent for the country to ratify key conventions of the International Labor Organization. (Yonhap)But business lobby groups here have claimed it's premature to do so, citing
Social AffairsMay 1, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Ex-KT chairman faces arrest over alleged hiring irregularities
Lee Suk-chae, former chairman of telecom firm KT Corp., appeared before a local court Tuesday morning to attend an arrest warrant hearing in connection with allegations that he gave preferential treatment in hiring to a high-profile opposition lawmaker’s daughter. (Yonhap)Lee, who served as KT chairman from 2009 to 2013, is suspected of involvement in giving preferential treatment to job applicants with ties to powerful figures -- including a daughter of Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the then-ruling Libe
Social AffairsApril 30, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Politics take over Blue House petitions board
The petitions board of the presidential office website is once again making headlines, this time over calls for the dissolution of political parties.A petition filed on April 22 requesting the dissolution of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party had garnered over 461,177 signatures as of 5:30 p.m. Monday.Liberty Korea Party lawmakers hold a protest at the National Assembly on Monday. YonhapThe petition claims the party is hampering legislative activities by staging protests outside the parliam
PoliticsApril 29, 2019
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[Newsmaker] [Feature] Debunking Saxenda myth
In recent months, an unusual buzzword has spread among trendsetters, social media influencers and the general public. Injectable medicine “Saxenda” is being touted across various circles as one of the quickest and most efficient ways to lose weight, by suppressing one’s appetite.Although a prescription-based medicine, there were soon reports of people buying them in bulk through backdoor dealings and others reselling them. Saxenda (liraglutide) injections soon soared to the No. 3 spot in Korea’
IndustryApril 28, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Singer-actor Park Yoo-chun arrested over suspected meth use
K-pop singer-actor Park Yoo-chun was arrested Friday (early Saturday) on suspicion of purchasing and using methamphetamine. (Yonhap)Park, 33, is suspected of buying 1.5 grams of methamphetamine on three occasions and taking it on five occasions earlier this year with his former fiancee, Hwang Ha-na. Hwang, 31, is the granddaughter of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products. Park, a member of the K-pop band JYJ, appeared before the Suwon District Court at around 1:50 p.m. on Friday to attend the h
Social AffairsApril 26, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Singer Park Yoo-chun appears for arrest warrant hearing
K-pop singer and actor Park Yoo-chun appeared before a local court for a hearing on his arrest Friday, over suspected use of an illegal drug after he recently tested positive for methamphetamine. The result is likely to come late Friday or early Saturday. (Yonhap)Wearing a gray suit, Park, 33 and one-third of K-pop band JYJ, appeared before the Suwon District Court at around 1:50 p.m. to attend the hearing. He did not answer a barrage of questions by reporters at the scene. He is suspected of b
Social AffairsApril 26, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Prosecution rejects ex-president’s stay of execution request
The prosecution concluded Thursday that former President Park Geun-hye, who was jailed for corruption, should not be allowed a stay of execution of her prison sentence as her state of her health does not warrant it. Park, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison and a fine of 20 billion won ($17.2 million) for bribery and abuses of power by the appeals court, asked for a stay of execution last week, citing her “searing” back pain that cannot be treated in custody. Former President Park Geun-hye (
Social AffairsApril 25, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Ex-environment minister indicted on power abuse charge
Prosecutors on Thursday indicted a former environment minister and presidential secretary for alleged abuse of authority, obstruction of business and coercion in replacing an auditor of an agency under the ministry.Kim Eun-kyung is the first ex-minister of the Moon Jae-in administration to be indicted.(Yonhap)Prosecutors cleared of charges Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and others involved in the alleged surveillance of civilians by a Cheong Wa Dae special inspection t
Social AffairsApril 25, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Speaker okays change of judiciary reform panel member amid political turmoil
National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang on Thursday approved a minor opposition party's plan to replace its member on the special parliamentary committee on judiciary reform, a crucial move in efforts to fast-track a relevant bill.Earlier in the day, the center-right Bareunmirae Party sent a document by fax to Moon suggesting Rep. Oh Shin-hwan be replaced by his party colleague Rep. Chae Yi-bae as a member of the committee. National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang (Yonhap)Moon signed it without h
PoliticsApril 25, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Singer Park Yoo-chun to retire from showbiz over suspected meth use
K-pop singer and actor Park Yoo-chun was expelled from his agency on Wednesday, after results revealed that he had tested positive for methamphetamine. A hearing on whether to arrest him is scheduled for Friday.(Yonhap)His management agency, C-JeS Entertainment, announced in a statement it had terminated its contract with Park, of K-pop boy band JYJ, and he would retire from the entertainment industry. All of his engagements have been called off, and the three-member JYJ is expected to disband.
Social AffairsApril 24, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Parliament to fast-track election reform, investigation unit bills this week
The National Assembly is expected to fast-track bills on electoral reform and establishing a unit to investigate high-ranking government officials over corruption this week, party officials said Tuesday.Four parties on Monday reached a package deal on the adoption of a new proportional representation election system, the establishment of the investigative unit and enhancing the police's authority to conduct probes.(Yonhap)Earlier in the day, they approved the agreement at their respective meetin
PoliticsApril 23, 2019