Park Jie-won, floor leader of the minor opposition People's Party, said Tuesday that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon could run in South Korea's presidential race under the right conditions if he receives the support of conservatives."Ban has considerable political ambitions, and if the pro-Park Geun-hye faction in the ruling Saenuri Party rallies around him, he could run for president," the three-term lawmaker who was again elected in the April 13 polls said during an interview held with SBS

Politics May 24, 2016

Four out of 100 South Koreans subscribed to life insurance policies died from suicides, the biggest cause of death for those in their teens to 30s, an institute's tally showed Tuesday.A close study of life insurance payments in the 2012-2014 period showed that of 177,706 deaths of policyholders, 7,490, or4.2 percent, were from suicides. Researchers at the institute said the number of suicides is likely higher since deaths from suicides were applied limitedly, leaving out many forms through which

Social Affairs May 24, 2016

South Korea plans to seek ways to increase military cooperation with Africa as President Park Geun-hye embarks on her trip to three African countries including Uganda this week, a government official said Tuesday.Seoul's move will help weaken North Korea's military network with Africa and make it possible to strengthen cooperation over the international sanctions regime imposed on the communist country, according to the official.The chief executive will embark on her African tour and trip to Fra

Defense May 24, 2016

Nearly 6 out of 10 South Koreans are supporting their parents financially, but people's thinking about bearing responsibility for aging parents has changed considerably over the past decade, as they demand more from society and less from children, a recent survey showed Tuesday.The survey, conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, canvassed 1,000 people aged 20-64 by telephone between August and September last year. Responses were drawn from those with at least one of their

Social Affairs May 24, 2016

North Korea's ambassador to Geneva reportedly downplayed U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's willingness to hold talks with the North's leader, Kim Jong-un, as a gesture for campaign purposes."It is up to the decision of my supreme leader whether he decides to meet or not, but I think his idea of talk is nonsense," Reuters quoted Amb. So Se-pyong as saying in Geneva. "It's for utilization of the presidential election, that's all. A kind of a propaganda or advertisement ... This is useless

North Korea May 24, 2016

The statute of limitations for a misdemeanor sexual abuse allegation against former South Korean presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung has expired, his lawyer said Monday.Yoon was accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a young intern working as his temporary secretary while he was in Washington to accompany President Park Geun-hye on her first visit to the U.S. since taking office earlier that year.Yoon was fired in the middle of the trip, immediately after the allegations surfaced.S

Politics May 24, 2016

Former U.S. nuclear negotiator Robert Gallucci expressed condolences Monday over the passing of his former North Korean counterpart Kang Sok-ju, saying the veteran diplomat was a "creative thinker" and a "skilled negotiator."Kang, a former first vice foreign minister of the North, died Friday of esophageal cancer at age 76. He has long been a top foreign policy brain of the North and negotiated the Agreed Framework deal with the U.S. that defused the 1993-94 nuclear crisis."In 1993 and 1994, Kan

North Korea May 24, 2016

U.S. President Barack Obama said North Korea poses the "biggest challenge" to efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons.Obama made the remark in an interview with Japan's NHK television, saying one of the purposes of his planned visit to the Japanese city of Hiroshima is to demonstrate his commitment to a nuclear-free world."I think the biggest challenge we have right now with respect to nuclear weapons is the dangers of the nuclear program in Pyongyang, in North Korea. And there has be

North Korea May 24, 2016

A 66-year-old woman who squeezed 16 million won ($13,500) from an acquaintance with the promise of employment for the victim’s nephew was given one year in prison suspended for two years on Monday. 　The Jeonju district court said the woman misused her daughter’s position as a university professor to promise employment at the university as part of the management staff. 　She is also accused of taking another 16 million won from a group of people with whom she was in a “gye.” A gye is a traditional

Social Affairs May 23, 2016