Host South Korea will finalize their final squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup after playing two friendly matches with local soccer clubs next week.The country is in the final stretch of their preparations for the U-20 World Cup that will run from May 20 to June 11. The men’s national U-20 team, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, is in Group A with Argentina, England and Guinea at the 24-team tournament. South Korean national U-20 football team head coach Shin Tae-yong speaks to reporters after his

Soccer April 20, 2017

South Korea's prosecution said it signed an agreement with Microsoft Corp. on Thursday to protect against growing cyber threats. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office inked the Government Security Program with the US software giant at the office of its local unit in central Seoul.  (Yonhap)The GSP is a program Microsoft runs targeting governments and public organizations worldwide to more effectively respond to cybersecurity incidents, the prosecution said. It is an upgraded version of the company's S

Social Affairs April 20, 2017

Mystery persists over US President Donald Trump's dispatch of an "armada" toward the Korean Peninsula, leaving many people here puzzled and concerned about defense coordination between the allies.Early this month, the US Pacific Command announced the departure of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its strike group from Singapore for waters near the peninsula.On April 12, Trump said in an interview with Fox News, "We are sending an armada (to the area). Very powerful." A day later, a US Pac

Foreign Affairs April 20, 2017

K-pop girl group EXID has secured the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s World Albums chart with its third EP “Eclipse” for the week of April 29.On Thursday, the group broke its own record, setting its highest ranking and making its first top five entry. K-pop group EXID (Banana Culture Entertainment)“EXID is the only Korean artist to be listed in the upper ranks of the Billboard’s chart,” Banana Culture Entertainment said. The five-member group first featured on the chart in 2015 with its second EP “Ah

Performance April 20, 2017

South Korea's defense ministry said Thursday that North Korea is clearly the country's enemy, although it has formally jettisoned the politically sensitive expression "main enemy."A longstanding controversy over labeling the communist neighbor has been rekindled by the television debate Wednesday night of five politicians running for the May 9 presidential elections.South Korean Defense Ministry's spokesman Moon Sang-gyun (Yonhap)Asked if the North is the South's main enemy, Moon Jae-in of the l

Defense April 20, 2017

A South Korean research institute on freshwater organisms and biodiversity conservation said Thursday it will sign a business pact with Japan's Lake Biwa Museum this week to push ahead with joint research, education and exhibitions on freshwater animals and plants.The state-run Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources will tie up with the Japanese research center on Friday when officials hold a joint seminar at the South Korean research institute located near the Nakdong River in s

Technology April 20, 2017

The average age of South Koreans was 41.2 as of end-March, up 4.2 years from 2008, data from the Ministry of the Interior showed Thursday. The average age of the country's registered population was 37 when the government started to compile the data in 2008. The number has been on a constant rise, with the 40-year mark topped in 2014, according to the data.Among cities and provinces, Sejong in the middle of the country had the youngest population with an average of 36.8. It was also the only city

Social Affairs April 20, 2017

South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday that it has imposed a combined 70.2 billion-won ($61.4 million) fine on four local builders for rigging bids for a state railway project.The four companies -- Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. and KCC Engineering & Construction Co. -- allegedly colluded to participate in the bidding process to build a 58-kilometer-long railroad arranged by the Korea Railway

Industry April 20, 2017

MONACO -- Top-ranked Andy Murray returned from an elbow injury to beat Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.　 The right elbow injury prompted Murray to withdraw from last month‘s Miami Open and he also missed Britain’s recent quarterfinal loss to France in the Davis Cup.　 “Missing Miami was a shame because it’s one of my favorite ones, but I needed it,” Murray said. “Sometimes having a break, if you’re feeling tired or fatigued is great

More Sports April 20, 2017

MONACO -- Rising teenage star Kylian Mbappe and resurgent forward Radamel Falcao scored early goals as free-scoring Monaco beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to reach the Champions League semifinals Wednesday.　 Dortmund trailed 3-2 from the first leg of the quarterfinal in Germany and conceded twice inside 20 minutes -- meaning it needed to score three times to have a chance. Attacking midfielder Marco Reus pulled one back in the 48th minute.　  Monaco's Kylian Mbappe (L) celebrates with his teammate Rad

Soccer April 20, 2017

BARCELONA, Spain -- A distraught Neymar left the field in tears as Juventus held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at the Camp Nou on Wednesday to reach the Champions League semifinals 3-0 on aggregate.Barca had overcome a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 with a dramatic 6-1 win back on home soil.But Juventus showed why they boast the best defensive record in the competition as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were blunted as the Italians gained revenge for their defeat

Soccer April 20, 2017

Production of "Housewife Detective," a South Korean drama starring actress Jang Na-ra and 2PM's Chansung, has been suspended due to budget issues, sources said Thursday. (M Star Media Group)"We're waiting for filming to resume, as the production company has asked us to wait amid production cost issues," said a representative of one of the lead stars, who asked not to be named.The unfinished drama is about an single mother going through economic difficulties working as an assistant to a private d

April 20, 2017

U-Know Yunho of K-pop idol duo TVXQ finished his mandatory military service Thursday, promising fans a comeback for the team in the near future. (Yonhap)"Please look forward to the complete TVXQ to return. Now is the start," the 31-year-old singer told an estimated crowd of 800 fans and reporters in front of the Army's 26th Mechanized Infantry Division at Yangju, north east of Seoul.The singer, whose original name is Jung Yun-ho, said he cherishes his experience in the military: "It was an oppor

April 20, 2017

South Korea has been re-elected to the governing body of UNICEF, the United Nations' fund for children, the foreign ministry here said Thursday.In the elections held during the UN Economic and Social Council's Coordination and Management Meetings earlier this week, South Korea retained its seat on UNICEF's 36-nation executive board, as well as its membership in the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which promotes women's rights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.  (Yonhap)South Korean has

Foreign Affairs April 20, 2017

Leading candidates in the country's upcoming presidential election pledged to increase spending for people with disabilities Thursday, marking the locally observed Day of People with Disability.Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, noted that government spending for people with physical and mental disabilities accounted for only 0.61 percent of the country's gross domestic product in 2013, far lower than the OECD average of 2.1 percent that same year.A ceremony

Politics April 20, 2017