South Korea's prosecutors indicted Wednesday a Japanese reporter from a conservative Tokyo newspaper without detention on charges of damaging President Park Geun-hye's reputation for raising questions about her whereabouts on the day of April's deadly ferry sinking.Tatsuya Kato, head of the Seoul bureau of Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper, was indicted on defamation charges for reporting that Park and an unidentified man had an alleged secret meeting on the day of the ferry disaster, citing rumo

Social Affairs Oct. 8, 2014

South Korea said Wednesday that a proposed revision of the defense guidelines between the United States and Japan should be made in a way to promote peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.Seoul’s foreign ministry unveiled its stance as the U.S. and Japan earlier in the day unveiled an interim report that removes geographical limits on their security partnership, in line with Japan’s move to increase the role of its military such as the use of the right to collective sel

Foreign Affairs Oct. 8, 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has called on Europe to engage with North Korea to prod Pyongyang to improve its human rights record, a news report said, as she prepares for a visit to Italy for a biennial summit of dozens of Asian and European leaders.“It is necessary to continue ‘critical engagement’ to urge the North to change its course and to make ceaseless efforts to improve human rights in the North,” Park said in an interview published by Europolitics, a European affairs daily.Park’

Foreign Affairs Oct. 8, 2014

South Korea's rhythmic gymnastics star Son Yeon-jae grabbed a berth for the individual all-round finals after finishing first in the qualifying round at the Asian Games on Wednesday.She received a combined 71.732 points from the four apparatus of ball, hoop, ribbon and clubs in the individual qualification, edging Chinese rival Den Senyue with 70.183 points.Anastasiya Serdyukova from Uzbekistan finished third with 68.315 points and her teammate Djamila Rakhmatova placed fourth with 68.299 points

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Powered by right back Ryu Eun-hee's eight goals, South Korea thrashed Japan 29-19 to win the women's handball gold medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday.The Seonhak Handball Gymnasium in the western port city was filled with thousands of South Korean spectators waiting to see their home country get back on top. The arena burst into an uproar every time a South Korean player snatched the ball into her hands. The South Korean team set the pace early on as it gradually widened the score 9-3 just 15

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North Korea defeated Japan 3-1 for the women's football gold medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday.Kim Yun-mi, Ra Un-sim and Ho Un-byol scored a goal apiece to give their country a third Asiad title and first since 2006.North Korea also avenged a loss to Japan in the final at the2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.Cheered on by hundreds of South Korean fans and members of the North Korean delegation to the Asiad, North Korea capped off an impressive tournament at Munhak Stadium with a solid vic

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Student leaders of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong warned Wednesday that if the territory’s leader doesn’t resign by the end of Thursday they will step up their actions, including occupying several important government buildings.By raising the stakes in the standoff, the protest leaders are risking another round of confrontation with the police who are unlikely to allow government buildings to be stormed. It also puts pressure on the Chinese government, which has so far remained mostly silen

World News Oct. 1, 2014

South Korea raked in two gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games on Wednesday, fewer than it had hoped for but enough to dispel concerns that it had ceased to be a premier wrestling force on the continent.Ryu Han-su opened the night with a 2-0 victory over his Japanese rival Ryutaro Matsumoto in the men's 66㎏ to claim the top podium spot.Earlier in the semis, the Asian Games debutant had beat Uzbekistan's Elmurat Tasmuradov in a dramatic come-from-behind victory.Defending Olympic

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South Korea reached the gold medal games in both the men's and women's basketball at the Asian Games on Wednesday.In the men's semis, South Korea defeated Japan 71-63 to advance to the final where It will take on Iran, which edged out Kazakhstan 80-78 in the other semis. The men's final tip-off will be 6:15 p.m. Friday at Samsan World Gymnasium.In the women's event, South Korea beat Japan 58-53 to reach the gold medal game against China, which earlier defeated Chinese Taipei 75-63.The women's fi

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South Korea swept up three taekwondo gold medals at the Asian Games on Wednesday, showcasing its dominance in the traditional Korean martial art.Kim So-hui triumphed in the women's under-46㎏ division with a10-4 victory over Chinese Taipei's Lin Wan Ting in the final at Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium on Ganghwa Island, just northwest of Incheon.Kim, the reigning world title holder in the division, brought the first gold to the host country, which had only picked up one silver and two bronze medals on

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South Korea defeated Vietnam 3-0 for the women's football bronze medal at the Incheon Asian Games on Wednesday.Kwon Hah-nul, Jung Seol-bin and Park Hee-young each scored a goal in the second-half, as South Korea earned its second consecutive Asiad bronze.South Korea had lost to North Korea 2-1 in the semifinals Monday to fall into the bronze medal contest, while Vietnam had lost to Japan 3-0 in the other semifinal match.After a scoreless half at Incheon Football Stadium, Kwon got the team's firs

Soccer Oct. 1, 2014

In a measure of redemption after four years, South Korea beat China 1-0 to clinch the gold medal in women's hockey at the Asian Games on Wednesday.Kim Da-rae scored the winner with 4:20 left in the third quarter, and South Korea held on to beat the defending Asiad champion China in the final match at Seonhak Hockey Stadium in the country's western port city of Incheon, securing the country's first title at the continental competition in 16 years.At the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, China had beat

More Sports Oct. 1, 2014

South Korean earned its first-ever silver medal in the rhythmic gymnastics team event at the Incheon Asian Games Wednesday.The team of Son Yeon-jae, Lee Da-ae, Gim Yun-hee and Lee Na-kyung collected a combined 164.046 points from the four apparatus routines in the team final held in Namdong Gymnasium, southern Incheon, after Uzbekistan with 170.130.South Korea had previously collected two team bronzes in 1998 and 2002.For the team event, a team of four gymnasts compete in 12 routines, with the t

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