Although it has been 25 years since South Korea and the Czech Republic forged diplomatic ties, it was only in 2005 that Koreans were introduced to the central European state’s culture, history and food, through the popular Korean drama “Lovers in Prague.”A decade after the hit drama bridged mutual interests in both countries, South Korea and the Czech Republic are now ready to expand their ties in major fields including politics, economy and technology. President Park Geun-hye’s visit to the Cze

Foreign Affairs Dec. 6, 2015

One out of 5 teenagers in South Korea do not think there is a need to have children in life, a report showed Sunday.The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs surveyed 1,179 students in middle and high schools to look into teen perceptions of marriage and childbirth. (123rf)While 21.1 percent said they did not think they “must have children” when they became adults, 55.1 percent said they should. Some 23.6 percent said they were not sure yet. The response also varied between genders, with

Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2015

College students who defected from North Korea feel the need for unification more than South Korea-born students, a survey showed Thursday.The survey was compiled by Story K, a youth forum, by interviewing 257 native South Koreans and 180 North Korean defectors currently attending universities here over a seven-day period this month.According to the report, 44 percent of South Korean students said they “mostly disagreed” with the statement that “unification should be realized as soon as possible

Social Affairs Nov. 26, 2015

 [Reporter's Column]President Park Geun-hye, according to a number of her staff at Cheong Wa Dae, is a very meticulous, strict boss. Though it is a staff member’s job to write the first draft of her speeches, Park has, many times, taken a few hours to complete the final version -- replacing some words to add stress or defend against the opposition, and perhaps to express her emotions.After three years in office, her choice of words has become a window to understanding the president, who veils he

Politics Nov. 22, 2015

The rival parties on Monday traded accusations over the violence at a rally in central Seoul on Saturday that left dozens of protesters and police officers injured with one in critical condition.The ruling Saenuri Party defined it as an “illegal political rally” that was attended by a police-estimated 64,000 people against the government’s state-authored history textbooks, labor sector reform and free trade agreements. The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy accused the authoriti

Politics Nov. 16, 2015

Antibiotics are prescribed for children suffering from acute ear infection too rampantly in South Korea with the rate reaching 84.2 percent, a report showed Monday.Of 7,610 medical facilities nationwide, more than eight out of 10 prescribed antibiotics for children suffering from the infection, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service said. The rate, however, marked a slight annual decrease since 88.7 percent in 2012, although still high compared to other countries like the Netherlands

Social Affairs Nov. 16, 2015

 President Park Geun-hye on Friday once again urged Japan to resolve the issue of its sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II through a sincere apology and compensation, emphasizing the “universal” nature of human rights of women. In a written interview with eight news wire services from around the world, she also said she is open to holding one-on-one talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as long as he abandons his nuclear ambitions and makes progress in cross-border ties. 

Politics Nov. 13, 2015

While grieving for the loss of loved ones, mourners in Korea usually stay up all night in funeral halls to support the bereaved families. Drinking beer and soju, the guests console the family members during the three-day funeral period, sharing a common human bond during tough times.For politicians in Korea, this tradition often serves as not just a somber chance to pay condolences but also as an opportunity to gather, recollect forces and even strategize against political foes.Taking their armo

Politics Nov. 10, 2015

President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday spoke up about her administration’s controversial reintroduction of state history textbooks, saying inaction threatened the “souls” of young Koreans.“One would have no soul without knowing the history of one’s country, and learning it in a wrong way would turn one’s soul into an abnormal one,” she said at a Cabinet meeting. President Park Geun-hye speaks during a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday. (Yonhap)Park urged the National Institute of Korean History in charge of

Politics Nov. 10, 2015

Officials of Seoul and Tokyo will resume their negotiations over Japan’s colonial-era sexual enslavement of Korean women on Wednesday, the first to be held after their leaders agreed to speed up the talks during a summit last week.Observers say that this round of talks led by directors general of each side would be a touchstone for the neighbors’ will to settle the long-festering issue within this year. They have held talks since April 2014, but no significant progress has been made.Park Ok-seon

Foreign Affairs Nov. 10, 2015

Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson received an honorary doctorate from Kookmin University on Monday during his visit to South Korea this week.“We highly praise President Grimsson’s accomplishments as a politician and in preserving the global environment and contributing to international peace, and therefore decided to give him the honorary doctorate degree on the occasion of his first visit,” said Kookmin University President Yu Ji-soo. Grimsson also delivered a special lecture for the uni

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2015

Former National Intelligence Service director Kim Man-bok said Monday that he plans to run in an open primary to appear on the ruling Saenuri Party’s ticket to run in Gijang, Busan, his hometown, on April 13 next year.His announcement came on the heels of Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-sup’s press conference Sunday to resign from his post, with heavy indications that he would be running in the parliamentary race. Kim Man-bok (Yonhap)The two join a host of other former Cabinet and Cheong Wa Dae

Politics Nov. 9, 2015