Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday clashed with some members of the Democratic Party over an advanced US missile defense system being rolled out in South Korea.During his meeting with the members of the largest party in South Korea's special panel on the security issue, Hwang highlighted the urgency of installing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system here to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-

Politics March 20, 2017

North Korea on Monday hinted at additional provocations by vowing that it will continue to take nuclear deterrent steps against the US' hard-line policy toward it. "Our army and people will continuously bolster up our nuclear deterrent for self defense down the road under the conditions that high-level US government officials adamantly stick to their hostile policy toward us," the Rodong Sinmun, a daily of the ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary titled "The Root of Intensification of Ten

North Korea March 20, 2017

About four in 10 unmarried South Korean adults think they can lead a life without children, according to a survey released on Monday.The poll of 1,073 single men and women aged between 20 and 39 by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education found 42.9 percent believed they would be better with the presence of kids.Only 14.8 percent said a child is a must for their life.But the remainder had reservations about child rearing. It showed 36.2 percent said they can do without children, while 6.1

Social Affairs March 20, 2017

South Korea's four major parties agreed Monday to push for an independent investigation into a massive political funding and influence-peddling scandal surrounding a lucrative property development project.However, the special probe into the case involving high-profile politicians will be launched after the May 9 presidential election, party officials said. Floor leaders of the four major political parties hold a weekly meeting at the National Assembly on March 20, 2017. They are (from L) Joo Seu

Politics March 20, 2017

North Korea has recently changed the name of its military development agency, which had been deceitfully called a science lab, in a way that clarifies its mission of weaponry research, a source said Monday.Early last year, North Korea returned the Second Academy of Natural Sciences to its old name of the Academy of the National Defense Science, according to the source familiar with North Korean affairs.The ANDS was set up in 1964 as an institute dealing with defense development. It is known to h

North Korea March 20, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye will deliver a message before being questioned by the prosecution this week over a string of corruption allegations, her lawyer said Monday."Park Geun-hye has prepared a message. She will deliver it as she heads to the prosecutors' office," her lawyer Son Bum-kyu said in a text message sent to reporters. He declined to elaborate.  A journalist sets up a photo zone at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on March 20, 2017, one day before the appearance of forme

Social Affairs March 20, 2017

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's No. 2 carmaker, announced Monday it has sold 100 units of its electric vehicle to a car rental company based on the small resort island of Udo.The carmaker said it has shipped 100 units of the Soul EV, the electrified edition of the popular box-typed vehicle, to the scenic island located just east of Jeju Island. The Soul EV is stopped on a road on Udo, an island located near the southern resort island of Jeju, on March 20, 2017, in this photo released by Kia Moto

Mobility March 20, 2017

The large-screen edition of Samsung Electronics Co.'s upcoming flagship smartphone is expected to come with a price tag of 899 euros ($967), a technology blogger said Monday.According to the blogger, Evan Blass, the regular Galaxy S8 is expected to be priced at 799 euros, with the Galaxy S8 Plus expected to be sold at the slightly higher price. Industry watchers expect the two models to be released at 1 million won ($890) and 1.1 million won here, respectively.The models may become the most expe

Industry March 20, 2017

Gaeko of South Korean hip hop act Dynamic Duo will release his second solo album next month, according to his agency Monday."Gaeko has led the album's production as well as the overall artistic direction of the music video," Amoeba culture said, and asked fans to expect new songs with Gaeko's distinct color and style.Amoeba Culture released a teaser image for Gaeko's new album, featuring what appears as an anthropomorphized elephant wearing a robe on a cloud, shooting beams from its eyes.  A tea

Performance March 20, 2017

From mainstream idol groups to indie acts, South Korean musicians representing today's Korean music scene have thrown a heated gig at this year's South by Southwest festival in the United States, according to organizers Monday.Seven South Korean acts -- Red Velvet, Tiger JK, Hyolyn of girl group Sistar, Yoon Mi-rae, No Brain, Galaxy Express and Big Phony -- took part in the "K-pop Night Out" at the 2017 SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 17 local time, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency.

Performance March 20, 2017

Popular K-pop stars held successful concerts in East Asian nations over the weekend, in a positive sign that the region can fill the hole left in the wake of a diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing over a US anti-missile system.On Saturday, Kim Jae-joong, a member of JYJ, performed in Bangkok, Thailand. It was his first visit to the country since March 2014.Around 5,000 fans, not only from the country but also from neighboring nations including Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, flew in to see the Ko

Performance March 20, 2017

South Korea has lagged behind the United States in key economic indicators as its economy remains in the doldrums in contrast with America's full-fledged recovery, data showed Monday.South Korea has underpeformed the world's largest economy in terms of growth for two quarters running while posting a higher unemployment rate for the first time in 16 years. In addition, the US policy interest rate is feared to overtake that of South Korea within this year as the US Federal Reserve has shifted to a

March 20, 2017

South Korean shares traded lower late Monday morning, tracking their cue from the decline on Wall Street as investors opted to cash in part of their recent gains.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 11.53 points, or 0.53 percent, to 2,153.05 as of 11:20 a.m.Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.99 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix down 0.21 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 0.66 percent, while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors traded

March 20, 2017

Sales of red ginseng and other health-related products surged in recent years despite a slumping economy as people are becoming more health conscious, data showed Monday.Such a trend shows consumers opening their pockets on products they deem valuable despite challenging economic conditions, industry analysts said.Sales of health food rose 72 percent in 2016 from a year earlier on the online shopping mall 11th Street, a company official said. The comparable figures were 27 percent in 2015 and 44

Industry March 20, 2017

The top US nuclear envoy will visit Seoul this week to discuss cooperation with his South Korean counterparts against North Korea amid the growing nuclear and missile threats from the reclusive state, government officials said Monday.Joseph Yun, special representative for North Korea policy of the State Department, will fly to Seoul late Monday from his stay in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials, according to the officials.Joseph Yun (Yonhap)Details of his itinerary in Seoul have yet to be

Foreign Affairs March 20, 2017