Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered South Korean President Park Geun-hye to "jointly hold memorial activities" next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japan's colonial rule as well as the end of World War II, according to China's foreign ministry on Friday. The proposal, which would mark a significant effort for China to join with South Korea in criticism of Japan, was made during summit talks between Park and Xi in Seoul on Thursday, the Chinese min

Foreign Affairs July 4, 2014

A South Korean civic group on Friday placed a half-page advertisement in one of China's influential state-run newspapers, promoting the Korean name of the "East Sea," the body of water that separates South Korea and Japan. South Korea and Japan have locked horns for decades over the name of the body of water, with Seoul calling it the "East Sea" while Tokyo uses the name "Sea of Japan." The ad in the Beijing Youth Daily was published while Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day state visit

Social Affairs July 4, 2014

Exports of kimchi to China may finally get a boost following the bilateral summit meeting between South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.At talks held Thursday, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation and exchanges in the food sector as well as review various regulatory standards that Seoul has argued effectively made it impossible to export kimchi to China.Kimchi is a salted, spicy fermented side dish made with either pickled cabbage, cucumber or radish

Foreign Affairs July 4, 2014

South Korea and China signed a pact Thursday to expand cooperation in joint film production, Seoul officials said, a move that could pave the way for facilitating South Korean movies' advance into the Chinese market.The landmark pact was signed in Seoul by South Korea's Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong and his Chinese counterpart Cai Fu Chao, director of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. The signing came after a summit between South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Chin

Film July 3, 2014

The Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that the current ban on dual citizenship by South Koreans is constitutional as allowing dual nationality could leave much room for abuse and confusion.   In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the court ruled against a 72-year-old South Korean, identified only by his surname Kim, who filed a petition claiming the ban violates his fundamental human rights. He became a permanent resident in the United States back in 1984."Allowing dual citizenship would complicate the

Social Affairs July 3, 2014

자폐증을 앓는 아들을 철장에 가둬 키운 비정한 미국 부부가 경찰에 붙잡혔다고 3일 외신이 보도했다. 영국 일간지 텔레그래프에 따르면, 미국 캘리포니아주에 사는 베트남 출신의 한 부부는 동물용 철장에 11살 자폐아 아들을 감금시킨 채 양육한 것으로 드러났다. 경찰 조사 결과 아이는 매트리스가 구비되어 있는 철장 안에서 생활해 온 것으로 밝혀졌다. 구조 당시 아이는 의사소통이 불가능한 상태였으며 "얼마 동안 철장에 갇혀 있었는지는 현재 조사 중”이라고 덧붙혔다. 경찰은 또한 “부모가 아이의 자폐 증상 때문에 많이 힘들어 했던 것 같다”며 아이를 철장에 넣은 것은 “아이를 컨트롤하기 위한 시도로 보인다”고 전했다. 다른 아동 학대 행위는 발견되지 않았다고 경찰은 밝혔다. 이들 부모는 아동을 위험에 빠뜨리고 불법 감금한 혐의로 현재 구속된 상태이다. 부모가 체포된 이후, 자폐아 아들과 다른 자녀들은 현재 아동 보호 센터에서 생활 중이다. (onlinenews@heraldcorp.com) 　

한국어판 July 3, 2014

South Korea's football governing body said Thursday it will retain beleaguered men's national team head coach Hong Myung-bo, despite the country's poor showing at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.Huh Jung-moo, vice president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), said Hong will stay on board for the duration of his contract, which runs through the Asian Cup tournament in January next year.South Korea had one draw and two losses in Group H in Brazil, for its first winless World Cup since 1998. Hong

Soccer July 3, 2014

Foreign residents in South Korea account for slightly over 3 percent of the country's population, government data showed Wednesday, as a growing number of ethnic Koreans apply to stay here permanently.According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, the number of residents from outside the country came to 1.57 million as of Jan. 1, up 8.6 percent from a year ago and taking up 3.1 percent of the nation's population of 51 million. It marks the eighth consecutiv

Social Affairs July 2, 2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit South Korea this week for talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, an official said Wednesday, amid regional tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons program and Japan's growing nationalism.Xi is scheduled to hold summit talks with Park on Thursday that are expected to focus on how to further boost their relations and how to deal with North Korea's nuclear weapons program as well as the Japanese leader's nationalistic policies.South Korea has ex

Foreign Affairs July 2, 2014