The floor leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party said Thursday the acting president could be impeached by parliament if he fails to extend the term of the independent counsel looking into the corruption scandal of President Park Geun-hye.The independent counsel, which is investigating the influence-peddling scandal, must end its probe at the end of this month unless the acting president gives permission to extend the investigation by a month. Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader

Politics Feb. 23, 2017

Choe Ryong-hae, a senior North Korean party official, has returned to public view after a three-week hiatus, Pyongyang's media report showed Thursday, amid rumors that he may have visited China over the country's missile test or the death of the leader's half brother.Choe, a vice chairman of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, was among those who watched a performance to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State Merited Chorus, according to the Korean Centra

North Korea Feb. 23, 2017

A local association of exporters in South Korea on Thursday vowed all-out efforts to boost the country's exports this year, despite what it called many lingering risks at home and abroad."The ongoing political turmoil continues to have a great impact on our economy and exports," said Kim In-ho, head of the Korea International Trade Association. Kim In-ho, president of the Korea International Trade Association, speaks at the general assembly of KITA in Seoul, South Korea on Feb. 23, 2017. (KITA)"

Feb. 23, 2017

North Korea on Thursday rebuffed the results of Malaysia's probe into the death of its leader's half brother, calling Seoul's claim that Pyongyang is behind the incident a conspiracy against the North.In its first official response, North Korea repeated that Malaysia colluded with South Korea in the investigation into the death of Kim Jong-nam, the first son of late former leader Kim Jong-il.Kim Jong-nam (Yonhap)"What merits more serious attention is the fact that the unjust acts by the Malaysia

North Korea Feb. 23, 2017

South Korea needs to hike the state pension age to keep its rapid population aging from worsening the financial health of the government-run pension fund down the road, a report showed Thursday.Currently, South Korean subscribers to the state pension fund are entitled to receive payments starting at the age of 61, but the state pension age will be raised to 65 in 2033 under a reform plan. The logo of South Korea's state pension fund operator (Yonhap)In the policy report, Lee Yong-ha, a senior re

Feb. 23, 2017

A US senator called Wednesday for adding North Korea back to the State Department list of states sponsoring terrorism, saying the regime's recent assassination of its leader's half brother shows its "brutality."Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), a leading voice in Congress for greater pressure on Pyongyang, made the comments to Yonhap News Agency after Malaysian police identified two additional North Koreans, including a diplomat, as suspects in the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the leader's estranged brother

Foreign Affairs Feb. 23, 2017

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Wednesday North Korea's apparent killing of the half brother of leader Kim Jong-un will serve as a chance for the international community to take a series of steps against the communist nation."Should North Korea be confirmed to be behind this, the international community will view this as a state-led act of terrorism that infringes upon Malaysia's sovereignty, leading to the creation of an atmosphere where this can be discussed naturally on the in

North Korea Feb. 23, 2017

South Korea will soon come up with a detailed plan for the development and use of fuel cell vehicles, the government said Thursday, launching a special task force to work toward that end.The task force will map out a detailed strategy aimed at promoting sales and the use of fuel cell cars, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a press release. The photo, taken on Dec. 13, 2016, shows new fuel-cell electric taxis launched in Ulsan, South Korea. (Hyundai Motor Co.)The task-specific co

Mobility Feb. 23, 2017

South Korea's draconian anti-graft law has hit flower shops, bars and karaoke rooms hard since its implementation in September last year due to decreased use of corporate credit cards there, data showed Thursday.However, overall use of company credit cards has increased nearly 7 percent on-year, indicating the law's negative impact on private consumption has not been as great as previously feared. (Yonhap)According to the data by the Credit Finance Association and the credit card industry, use o

Industry Feb. 23, 2017

South Korea said Thursday that it will expand flexible working hours in the private and public sectors in an effort to boost domestic consumption and stimulate the economy, while expanding financial support to lower income brackets.The government unveiled a set of measures to reinvigorate private consumption at a ministerial-level meeting presided over by Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn in Seoul. (Yonhap)"Domestic demand is showing some signs of slowdown, offsetting a slight upturn in exports, as

Feb. 23, 2017

A Danish court on Wednesday decided to extend the detention of the daughter of South Korean President Park Geun-hye's close friend at the center of a high-profile corruption scandal. Chung Yoo-ra, 21, has been in the custody of Danish authorities since she was arrested in this northern city of Aalborg last month.She is under suspicions of receiving undue favors in admission to Seoul-based Ewha Womans University and other academic affairs based on her mother Choi Soon-sil's ties to the president.

Politics Feb. 22, 2017

Shinsegae Inc., South Korea's leading retail chain, has turned a corner in the duty-free business as its new flagship branch posted its first turnaround last month amid fierce industry competition, company data showed Wednesday. Shinsegae DF, the conglomerate's affiliate in charge of its duty-free business, said the Myeongdong branch recorded 1.2 billion won ($1.05 million) in operating profit in January, with sales coming in at 75 billion won.  (Yonhap)The company said in a statement that it is

Industry Feb. 22, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is notorious for his reign of terror, but his late father Kim Jong-il purged more people in his early years in power than the incumbent ruler, a researcher here said Wednesday."Many experts are claiming that more ranking North Korean officials are being purged at the whim of Kim Jong-un compared to Kim Jong-il's early days, but this is not true," Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, said in a presentation at a seminar focused on the cha

North Korea Feb. 22, 2017

Artificial intelligence language software by US Internet giant Google Inc., scored higher than its rival AI machines in a translation battle between humans and machines held in South Korea earlier this week, industry officials said Wednesday.On Tuesday, a group of four professional translators competed against three AI-powered programs provided by Google, South Korea's top Internet provider Naver Inc. and leading automated interpretation company Systran International.  (Yonhap)Without revealing

Technology Feb. 22, 2017

Special prosecutors on Wednesday questioned Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung Group, for the third time since he was arrested over bribery allegations in connection with a corruption scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye's impeachment late last year.The investigation team, led by Independent Counsel Park Young-soo, called in the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., as its investigation deadline approaches. Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung G

Social Affairs Feb. 22, 2017