Korea International School said Monday that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its effective implementation of technology to help redefine learning.According to KIS, Apple Distinguished Schools are defined as “centers of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence that use technology to inspire creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.” Students of the Korea International School engage in class. (Korea International School)Institutions recognized as such s

Social Affairs April 8, 2019

An extraordinary session of the National Assembly began Monday, but the latest feud between the two main rival parties appears likely to bog down the business of the legislature. On Monday, President Moon Jae-in appointed Rep. Park Young-sun as the new minister of SMEs and startups, and scholar Kim Yeon-chul as the new unification minister. Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn (right) and floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won attend the party`s supreme council meeting on Monday. YonhapThe main op

Politics April 8, 2019

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday emphasized the importance of freedom of the press, saying the press has helped shape his great and free nation.Moon also stressed, however, the need for the press to adapt to rapid change in the newspaper business and to strive for fairer and more accurate reporting. President Moon Jae-in gives a speech at the event marking the country`s newspaper day on Thursday. Yonhap“The reduction in the readership of print newspapers may be an inevitable change in the busin

Social Affairs April 4, 2019

The results of Wednesday’s by-elections have sent ripples through the political arena, with the ruling and opposition parties taking contrasting positions. The parliamentary by-elections in South Gyeongsang Province saw main opposition Liberty Korea Party’s Jeong Jeom-sig take the Goseong constituency of Tongyeong, in a landslide win. Yeo Young-guk of the Justice Party took the Changwon-Seongsan constituency.  Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn speaks at the party`s supreme council meeti

Politics April 4, 2019

North Korea continues to ship coal despite sanctions and a South Korean ship has been held at port for nearly six months for suspected involvement in related activities, it was revealed Tuesday. According to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a South Korean ship suspected of transferring petroleum products to a North Korean vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer is currently being held in Busan. The South Korean ship suspected of being involved in violating sanctions on North Korea sits at anchor a

North Korea April 3, 2019

South Korean and US national security officials met in Washington on Monday to fine-tune the agenda for the upcoming summit between the two countries. Kim Hyun-chong, the second deputy chief of Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office, held talks at the White House with US deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman. Kim Hyun-chong, the second deputy chief of Cheong Wa Dae’s National Security Office, speaks to reporters in Washington on Saturday. YonhapDuring the meeting, Kim and Kupperma

North Korea April 2, 2019

Summit conferences among South Korea, ASEAN members and countries along the Mekong will be held in Busan in November, Cheong Wa Dae announced Monday. The presidential office also said the suggestion of inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the event has been reviewed, and that Seoul is discussing the matter with ASEAN nations.  Yoon Do-han, the senior secretary to the president for public relations, announces the plans for the summit conferences in Seoul on Monday. YonhapAccording to Seoul

Foreign Affairs April 1, 2019

The debate over two failed ministerial nominations continues, with the opposition parties now raising the heat on Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Cho Kuk and Secretary for Personnel Affairs Hyun-ok. President Moon Jae-in withdrew the nomination of Cho Dong-ho for the post of science minister and the land minister candidate Choi Jeong-ho, following controversies raised in the parliamentary confirmation hearings.  Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Cho Kuk (left) and S

Politics April 1, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom on Friday expressed his intention to resign, following controversy over alleged real estate speculation. (Yonhap)In a message sent out to the Cheong Wa Dae press corps, Kim said that he was leaving his post, and apologized for the controversy, and his shortcomings while serving as the presidential spokesperson. “It was a decision my wife made without consulting me. It was already too late when I found out,” Kim said, saying that that he was not aware of the

Politics March 29, 2019

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold a summit meeting in Washington on April 11, Seoul’s presidential office announced Friday. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon will set out to Washington on April 10, and return immediately after the summit the following day. At the meeting, Moon’s seventh with Trump, the South Korean leader will focus on North Korea issues, and South Korea-US alliance, according to Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap)“The two leaders will discuss ways to strengthen t

Politics March 29, 2019

Nestled against the ancient city walls of Seoul, Bukjeong is a small village with a much larger character. Although Bukjeong Village has been linked to redevelopment projects, it remains one of the last standing Daldongne – a hillside shanty town so named for being on steep hillsides and therefore closer to the moon – in Seoul.The village is also symbolic of contrasting characteristics of Seoul. While the village itself is packed with small, aging properties it overlooks one of the wealthier nei

Culture March 29, 2019

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday pledged to increase support and to reduce regulations to aid foreign companies operating here, as he highlighted their contributions to the Korean economy. Speaking at his first meeting with leaders of foreign businesses and related organizations at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon emphasized the significance of their role.  President Moon Jae-in addresses leaders of foreign businesses and organizations at the presidential office on Thursday. Yonhap“When a foreign company in

Politics March 28, 2019

Seoul and local governments will seek to secure diverse communication channels with their Russian counterparts to achieve the goals of the Moon Jae-in administration’s New Northern Policy, the presidential committee for the policy said Wednesday. The New Northern Policy aims to boost economic and political ties with countries to the north of South Korea. It is one of President Moon’s main foreign policy projects, along with the New Southern Policy.  Chief of New Northern Policy committee Kwon Go

Politics March 27, 2019

The parliamentary confirmation hearings of seven minister nominees kicked off Monday, heralding yet another round of political wrangling. The latest confirmation hearings began with one for Choi Jeong-ho, who has been nominated to lead the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.As with most, if not all, confirmation hearings for Cabinet nominees, the opposition’s attacks focused on Choi’s personal affairs. Choi, who rose to the rank of vice minister at the ministry before serving as depu

Politics March 25, 2019

Former Minister of Environment Kim Eun-kyung is to be questioned by the court in an arrest warrant hearing Monday. Kim faces allegations of pressuring heads of public organizations under the Ministry of Environment to step down to make room for individuals with ties to the Moon Jae-in administration. A file photo shows former Minister of Environment Kim Eun-kyung at a Cabinet meeting in July 2018. YonhapThe request for the warrant was filed by the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office on Fr

Social Affairs March 24, 2019